The Vieira family moved to the United States in 1981. At that time, they decided to stop speaking Spanish at home and only communicate in English. This was because they were now living in an English-speaking country.

     Now the Vieira children are adults, and they sometimes travel to Spain to visit their family and friends. But they cannot communicate with them. Unfortunately this is common. When people move to new countries, they often leave their own customs and mother language behind. This is a mistake because there are many benefits to knowing more than one language.

     One advantage of speaking more than one language is that you can communicate directly with more people around the world. You do not have to depend on others to talk for you, so you’re more independent. People who know only one language must use others to help them communicate.

     Furthermore, speaking a second language also allows people to experience other cultures and customs more effectively. Local expressions, vocabulary, and even jokes can have a powerful effect on a person’s understanding of another culture. So, knowing more than one language increases your knowledge of other cultures.

     Finally, having more multi-language speakers improves relationships between countries. If people from different countries can communicate well, the world can become closer. Countries will then have more respect for each other and better understand each other’s problems.

     The benefits of knowing more than one language are clear. In fact, there are no disadvantages. It is very sad that many people don’t try to learn another language. It is even worse when people let themselves forget their mother language and become silenced.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The benefits of learning other languages.

B. The reasons why people come to America.

C. The importance of learning English.

D. How to learn another language.

2.The passage begins with the experience of the Vieira family in order to_______.

A. discuss the need for teaching a new language

B. introduce the passage’s main characters to the readers

C. describe the advantages of moving to another country

D. show the problems of speaking only one language

3.The underlined phrase “multi-language speakers” (Paragraph 5) means “people who know ______.”

A. their mother language          B. a new language

C. more than one language        D. body language

4.According to the passage, if you can speak more than one language, you can____.

A. find a better job

B. make more friends

C. better understand history

D. communicate more independently

5.Based on the last paragraph, which of the following is the worst?

A. Not knowing another language.

B. Forgetting one’s mother language.

C. Refusing to learn another language.

D. Failing to communicate with others.

Dear Laura,
Thanks for your message. Yes, I’m having  a great time on my exchange program in France. It’s even  better  than I thought it would be. I was a bit nervous before I   arrived  here, but there was no reason to be. My host family is really nice. They go out of their way to  make  me feel at home. And you  wouldn’t  believe how quickly my French has improved! I’m very comfortable  speaking  French now. Although I still make lots of mistakes, it doesn’t bother me like it used to. My  biggest  challenge is learning how to behave at the dinner table. As you can imagine, things are really different from the way they are at home.  For example, you’re not supposed to  put  your bread on your plate. You’re supposed to put it on the table! I thought that was pretty strange at first, but now I’m used to it. You’re not supposed to eat  anything  with your hands except bread, not even fruit! (You have to cut it up and eat it with a fork). Another thing is that it is very rude to  say  you’re full. If you don’t want any  more  food, you should just say, “It was delicious.” Also, it’s rude to put your hands  in  your lap. You should always keep your hands ,but not your elbows, on the table. I have to say, I find it difficult to  remember  everything, but I’m gradually  getting  used to things and don’t find them so strange any more. I’ll write soon and  tell you more about life in France. Hope you’re having a good school year.
Wang Kun
【小题1】How was Wang Kun before  she arrived in France?
_____________________________________________.
【小题2】Why did she have no reason to be nervous?
______________________________________________.
【小题3】How has her French improved?
________________________________________________.
【小题4】What  is  one particular challenge she is facing?
________________________________________________.
【小题5】What does she find surprising?
_________________________________________________.

Because earthquakes happen without warning, it’s important to take steps now to prepare. Because you don’t know where you will be when an earthquake happens, prepare some supplies for your home, workplace, and car.

1. Water.

A person needs at least 1/2 gallon of water daily just for drinking. Store at least1 gallon of water per person per day and be prepared for a 72-hour period. It’s suggested that you buy bottled water. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need to use it. Also, do check the “use by” date.

2. Food.

It’s always a practical idea to keep a supply of non-perishable(不易腐烂的) food on hand. Have an enough supply of canned food, dried milk, dried fruits, non-salted nuts and canned juices for at least 72 hours.

3. Flashlights and spare batteries.

Keep a flashlight beside your bed, at your place of work, and in your car. Do not use matches or candles after an earthquake until you are sure that no gas leaks.

Prepare a battery –powered radio and spare batteries. Most telephones will be out of order, so radios will be your best source of information.

4. Clothes.

If you live in a cold place, you must think about warmth. You might not have heat after an earthquake. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies.

1.You should prepare all of the following except _______________.

A．canned juices

B．dried fruits

C．fresh vegetables

D．dried milk

2.If you live in a cold place, you should prepare _______________ .

A．some warm clothes and bedding supplies

B．some hot water

C．some batteries

D．some flashlights

3.According to the article we know that _________________.

A．clothes are used to protect your head

B．a telephone is the most important prepared thing

C．flashlights but not matches are first used after earthquakes

D．we need to prepare some supplies only at home

阅读下文并回答问题。
Good afternoon! Welcome to England .  We  hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Now, I would like to tell you something about our laws.
The first one is about drinking. Now, you may not buy wine in the country if you are under 18 years of age, nor may your friends buy it for you.
The second one: noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don’t make unnecessary noise, especially at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet.
The third one: crossing the road. Be careful. The traffic moves on the left side of the road in the country. Use pedestrian crossings(人行横道) and do not take any chances when crossing the road.
My next point is about rubbish. It isn’t lawful to drop rubbish in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put it in your pocket and take it home, or put it in a dustbin.
Finally: smoking. It is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobaccos if you are under 16 years of age.
I’d like to finish by saying that if you need any kind of help, you can contact the police. The police will be pleased to help you. You can call, write or directly go to ask any policeman.
According to the passage, answer the following questions:
【小题1】How many points are discussed in the speech?
_____________________________________________________
【小题2】How can you contact a policeman if you need help?
_____________________________________________________
【小题3】Can you buy cigarettes if you are under 16 years of age?
_____________________________________________________