Do you have things that your family no longer uses? Things like old toys, clothes or TVs? In Britain,
people collect things and sell them in a garage or yard. People often hold these sales at the weekend. They
put up an ad before the day. Then on the day they put out all the old things in front of their house. Usually
these things are cheap.
     These sales are a good way for people to clean up their houses. Instead of just throwing things away,
people can make a little bit of money from them. Sometimes if the things are very old, people will give them
to charity. Some kids sell their old toys. Perhaps they played a game many times and now it bores them.
With the money they can buy a new toy!

1. In which country do people have yard sales?

A. China.
B. The United Kingdom.
C. The United States.
D. France.

2. When do they usually have the yard sale?

3. The writer thinks it's _____ to have yard sales.

A. good
B. expensive
C. difficult
D. strange

4. What do some people in Britain do with things that are too old?

A. They sell them.
B. They collect them.
C. They give them to charity.
D. They throw them away.

A. In Britain, people often sell old things in the street.
B. Selling old things is a good way for people to clean up their houses.
C. People can't make any money from selling old things.
D. When people sell old things, they don't put up ads.

      Fashion never ceases to surprise us. Recently, a fashion designer came up with another strange creation.
His idea comes straight from the garbage, so to speak. 1.            What a strange sweater that is going to be! 
      2.            They will, therefore, be especially attractive to outdoor people such as fisherman, hunters and
mountain climbers. 3.            They are sold at prices from $100 to $150. 4.            Don't you think so?

A. However, they are not cheap.
B. This new kind of sweater will protect you from the rain and cold.
C. He makes sweaters from used plastic bottles.
D. What a great idea for making money!

5. What is the best title for this passage?

A. Garbage could mean money.
B. Garbage is useful.
C. Where is the garbage?
D. Try to use the garbage.

Dear Boris,
     Thanks for your nice letter. After I had spent a week with my English family, I slowly began to
understand their English a little better. It's very different from what I learned at school! Students in
my group are from different cities of Britain and their dialects (方言) are different too! Some of their
accents (口音) are quite strong and they also have their own words and expressions. 
      But it's not the language that's different and surprising. Before I came to England I had thought
that fish and chips were eaten every day. That's quite wrong! I had expected to see "London fog".
Do you remember our texts about it? We had no idea that most of this 'thick fog' disappeared many
years ago when people stopped using coal in their homes. But the idea to speak about the weather
was very helpful. The weather in London is really changeable.
     On the other hand habits are different. People tell me what is typically British here in London is
not always typical in Wales or Scotland. Local habits and traditions are not the same as what we knew. 
     But what is ordinary for all British is that they follow traditions. Probably Britain has more living
signs of its past than many other countries. And people have always been proud of having ancient
buildings in capitals, big cities and the countryside. I will tell you more about Britain in my other letters.
                                                                                                                    Love from Britain, 
                                                                                                                    Peter

1. What does Peter feel about the English language?

[     ]

A. At first it was difficult for him to understand people.
B. He can understand different dialects and accents.
C. He can speak English better than others.
D. People can't understand his English.

2. Typical English food ______.

[     ]

3. The British people like to talk about weather because ______.

[     ]

A. there is thick fog in London
B. they like the weather in Britain
C. the weather changes a lot
D. it can be helpful

4. What do you know about habits in Britain from the passage?

[     ]

A. They are not the same in different parts of Britain.
B. Habits in Wales and Scotland are typically British.
C. There are no typical British habits in Britain.
D. All that typically British is in London.

[     ]

A. What he's seen is quite different from what he'd learned.
B. British people like to follow traditions.
C. Peter had learned about Britain before.
D. Peter doesn't like his life in Britain.

     In the US and many other countries. Tipping (给小费) is a way of saying thank-you to someone for his
good service. Who do you tip? And how much? Below are some tips (提示) for travelers in the US.
     1. Taxi drivers: $2 to $3; you give more if he helps you with your bags.
     2. Porters (搬运工): A standard tip (标准的小费) for porters is $1 each bag; more if your suitcases are
         very heavy.
     3. Hotel bellboy (青年侍者): Again, $1 for each bag. Tip him when he shows you to your room.
     4. Doorman (看门人): A $1 tip for calling a taxi. However, you may tip more for special service, such
         as shielding (挡住) you with an umbrella in the rain. You don't have to give the doorman anything just
         for opening the door or greeting you.
     5. Hotel maid (女佣): If you stay for more than one night, $1 each night is standard.
     6. Waiters and waitresses: 15-20% of your pre-tax (税前的) bill. In restaurants and bars in the US and
          Canada, 15% is the standard tip.
     7. Tour guides (导游): If a tip is not included in your bill, tip $1 for half-day tour, $2 for a one-day tour,
         and anywhere from $5 to $10 for a week-long tour.
     Now, it's sad to say that people have to give tips, even though the service is not good at all. So if you go
to the US, remember to carry a lot of change (零钱) for tips.

根据短文内容填空。
1. If a taxi driver helps you with your bag, you should pay for             $3 tips.
2. Tip the hotel bellboy             dollars if you have 3 bags to carry and you do not need him to show you
    to your room.
3. If a doorman             the door or              you, you needn't give the doorman anything.
4. You should give at least             dollars to the tour guide if you want a week-long tour.
5. You should give             dollars to a tour guide if you need a one-day tour.

     Here are some facts about homes in the United States and the people who live in them. In the early
1990s, about 50% of the Americans owned their homes and the rest rented (租) their homes. The rented
homes were usually apartments (公寓).
     74% of the people in the US make their homes in or around cities. 26% live in the country. Dogs live
in about 40% of all homes in the US. About half that number have cats.
     Families in the US are becoming smaller. On the average (平均), 2.64 people lived at home in early
1990s. In 1960, the average was 3.5. 
     Half of the teenagers in the US have their own bedrooms.
     An American moves, on the average, twelve times in his or her life. In Japan a person moves about
five times, and in England a person moves eight times.

1. Most Americans live ______, according to the passage.

[     ]

A. in or around the cities
B. in cities
C. around cities
D. in the country

2. How many American families own a cat?

[     ]

3. On the average, there were ______ people in an American family in 1994.

[     ]

A. more than 3
B. only 3.5
C. less than 2
D. about 2.64

4. ______ in the US have their own bedrooms.

[     ]

A. All of the people
B. Most of the children
C. Half of the teenagers
D. Only some of the teenagers

[     ]

A. In the early 1990s, most of the Americans owned their homes.
B. Families in the US are becoming bigger and bigger.
C. A Japanese moves more often than an American.
D. An American moves more often than an Englishman.

      Here are two letters to George and his replies.

1. Alice is worrying about ______.

[     ]

A. her friends
B. her marks
C. her height
D. her weight

2. Bob should ______ according to George's letter.

[     ]

3. George advises Alice to talk to             for help.

[     ]

A. her mother
B. her teacher
C. Bob's teacher
D. Bob's friends