Email helps workers to communicate at any time, from any place. Email is an important tool, but it can also lead to a waste of time. How can workers make sure that email is a tool and not a time-waster? Here are some simple tips to follow. They can help you use email more efficiently (高效地) at work.

First of all, turn off the sound in your computer that tells you that you have a new email message. That “You’ve got mail!” sound is like a telephone or a doorbell. It interrupts your work. When you hear it, you will want to check your messages. And it will take you at least a few minutes to get back to work after that. Can you imagine how much time you waste because of that little sound?

Second, limit how often you check your email. Try checking it only three times a day, for example, at 9:00, 12:00 and 16:00. Also, limit the time you spend reading and answering email each time. Fifteen minutes is usually long enough.

Third, use a separate email account for work and personal life. Do not give your work address to friends or family, and do not give your personal address to people at work. If you are working on several projects at one time, use a separate email account for each one. So you can focus on the most important project.

Fourth, you won’t have to read all the email messages every time you open your email. You can look quickly at the subject lines and then decide which messages to answer right away. You can read the others later.

Finally, do not always use “reply to all” to answer email. Only send the message to people who need to read your answer. That way, you won’t fill your workmates’ inboxes with messages that they don’t need. And they won’t waste time reading them.

If you follow these simple steps, you will be a more efficient worker. Best of all, you will be able to leave the office earlier.

【1】Does email help workers to communicate at any time?

【2】How long should you spend reading and answering email each time?

【3】Why is it necessary to use a separate email account for each project?

【4】How can you decide which messages to answer right away?

【5】What is the passage mainly about?

P. I. C. K. the Right Books for You

The secret to learn how to choose the right book is simple. It’s one word you can depend on when you’re in a library or a bookstore. All you need to remember is “ P. I. C. K. “ P. I. C. K. ” stands for Purpose, Interest，Comprehend, and Know the Words.

P= Purpose. Why are you looking for a book——reading for pleasure or trying to learn something? Reading silently for yourself or reading out loud for someone else? Most often, your purpose for reading can be found with a quick answer.

I = Interest. With the many millions of books on shelves today, there must be something out there for everyone. If you are interested in cars，consider books about history of racing, race car drivers, or car design. Even if you havea short amount of time to choose books, you can determine interest by looking at the front cover， flipping through(快速翻阅）the pages to have a quick look at photos or illustrations, or reading the back cover or the chapter titles.

C = Comprehend. It’s important to choose a book right for your level or ability. How to choose such a book? If you read books at Level A, for example, you’d better not choose a book at Level D. If the book isn’t labeled(贴标签）with a level, you can open the book and choose a page——then you can decide whether the book is at a right level for you by asking yourself：

Did I understand what I just read?

Do I remember what I read?

Was I able to read most of the words?

This brings us to our final letter；

K=Know the Words. Readers should be able to understand most of the words on the page. The key is the ‘‘Five Finger Rule” ： Choose a book you would like to read， look at a page in the middle and put one finger down for every word you don’t understand. The “Five Finger Rule” shows a general idea of the relationship between the number of unknown words and the difficulty

level of a book；

0 — 1 unknown word = too easy

2 — 3 unknown words=just right

4~5 unknown words = too difficult

You want to know how to choose books right for you一books that are enjoyable， fun and exciting. P. I. C. K. is all about giving you the tools to be a strong and confident reader.

【1】What does “P. I. C. K. ” stand for?

【2】According to the passage, what is one possible purpose for reading?

【3】What books does the writer advise you to read if you’re interested in cars?

【4】What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

【5】If you put three fingers down when you’re reading a page, what’s the

difficulty level of the book?

Mom's Recipe for Life

I have a lot of Mom's recipes in a blue box where all my special ones were put，like the

pumpkin pie she made during my growing up years. Even so，the recipe I treasure most is not on any index card， nor did she send it to me in a letter. Instead，she lived this recipe all of her life.

My mother grew up in a small coal mining town in southwest Iowa. My grandfather once told me that she knew no stranger;she considered everyone in that community her friend. That attitude

continued wherever she lived for the rest of her life.

As a teen，I was embarrassed(尴尬的 )every time my mother talked to strangers and offered a smile to everyone in the store or on the city bus. Almost all of them responded(回 应 )with a bright smile of their own. Some spoke，others nodded their heads at this elderly woman who brought a little light into their day.

What really sold me on Mom's approach to life was her experience on the senior bus. The weeks I could not be there， she used this low cost transportation to the grocery store. After her first trip， I asked her how it went.

“ Ha!”she said，“ I got on that bus and what did I see?Thirteen little old ladies and one old

man，and not one word was spoken.”

I wondered how long it would be until the silence on that bus would change. On my next visit，Mom mentioned the 13 little old ladies on the bus and something one of them had told her.

“ Oh，are you talking with them now?”I asked.

“ Of course，”she said. “ One day I climbed up the steps of the bus and before I looked for a

seat，I gave them a big smile and I said，‘ Isn't it a wonderful day? I noticed a few shy smiles.”

Mom didn't give up. She greeted them all each time she got on the bus and before long，the

whole group was laughing and talking to one another. The bus became more than just transportation.

When we went to the various stores，I watched as she smiled and chatted with perfect strangers. Some of them looked like the poorest person you'd ever met，but once Mom smiled at them and started a conversation， most responded favorably. My mother didn't embarrass me any longer. I found myself admiring her.

She's been gone for ten years but I've carried on her recipe for life. It was me who had done the

smiling first and all those people had responded. My mother didn't lecture but taught me by example. She'd given me a recipe for life.

【1】Where did the writer's mom grow up?

【2】Did the people talk on the bus on Mom's first trip?

【3】What did Mom do to make the bus more than transportation?

【4】How did the writer feel about Mom in the end?

【5】What is Mom's recipe for life?

同学们，中考后就会迎来漫长的暑假了，班会课上老师组织大家讨论假期学习和生活计划。假如你是李华，请根据以下内容提示用英语向同学们汇报一下你的计划。

内容提示：

注意：

1. 表达中必须包括所给要点，可以适当发挥，不要简单翻译。

2. 词数90左右。开头和结尾已经写好，不计入总词数。

3. 表达中请勿提及真实校名及姓名。

Dear classmates,

Summer holiday is coming, and here is my plan for it.

____________________________________________________________________________

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I hope all of you can enjoy the coming holiday. That’s all. Thank you.

Once again, I argued with my son, which I never really wanted to do. When I told my friend about my problems with Paul, he showed me a short article that he had read. It was titled “Disagreeing, with Good Results”.

The article said that understanding another person is never easy, but it is most difficult when we do not agree with the other person. If we want to have good relationships with other people, we must learn to disagree fairly, so that we can solve our problems.

The article went on to say the first rule for a good disagreement is: we must want to solve the problem. Sometimes when people argue, they do not really want to end the disagreement. Therefore, they usually shout at each other, and one person walks away just to end the disagreement. Nothing is changed. The problem is still there.

The second rule is: we should make the problem clear in the simplest way possible. What exactly are we arguing about?

The third rule is: we need to listen actively. In active listening, we listen to understand what the other person says rather than thinking only about what we want to say next. Before we react to the other person’s ideas, we should be sure that we understand them. While we are listening, we should look for similarities in our ideas, not difference. We should look for a way to compromise — to find a solution that both of us can be happy with.

【1】What’s the name of the writer’s son?

________________________________________________________________________

【2】How can we solve the problems with the other people according to the article?

______________________________________________________________________

【3】What will happen if one person walks away to end the disagreement?

______________________________________________________________________

【4】Which solution should we find while listening actively?

_______________________________________________________________________

【5】How can we get along well with others in your opinion? （请自拟一句话作答）

_____________________________________________________________________

In recent years researchers have also discovered that this built-in mechanism (内在机制) can influence everything from the way we react to medicines to how well we learn music.

The latest example, from experts at Harvard University in the US, shows that the human body clock can even influence whether or not we are likely to tell the truth. Researchers found it was easier for people to tell lies in the afternoon because as they were tired, the self control that would normally prevent them from lying started to break down. Tiredness made it easier for them to tell lies ---especially if it meant they got a financial reward at the end.

“The body clock has a great effect on us all,” says Professor Jim Horne from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University. “Most people tend to feel good around late morning and then decline in the early afternoon. But the time most of us will feel our sharpest is between 6pm and 8pm. That’s because sleepiness tends to build up throughout the day. By early evening our body clock kicks in to wake us up. One reason may be to ensure we get home safely. When our ancestors (祖先) were coming home after hunting all day, their internal clocks kicked in to get them home in one piece.”

So what effects do circadian rhythms have and what’s the best time of day to take advantage of them?

【1】The underlined word “They” in the first paragraph refers to_____ .

A. our health and behaviour B. scientists and experts

C. our daily routines D. circadian rhythms

【2】The research referred to in Paragraph 3 found that people would rather ______ .

A. tell lies when they are tired B. tell lies if they are rewarded

C. get angry as they become tired D. break down because they are tired

【3】According to the passage, when are people most quick-thinking?

A. In the morning. B. Around midday.

C. In the late afternoon. D. In the early evening.

【4】What information will the writer probably give following the last paragraph?

A. An explanation of how the human body clock controls the body.

B. Examples of how the human body clocks control the body.

C. Examples of the most suitable time to do different activities.

D. Some practical suggestions to prevent people from lying.

To play the lead role in Beauty and the Beast, Watson turned down the offer of La La Land, which won six awards besides the Best Actress at this year’s Oscars. However, she does not regret it. She told Vanity Fair that she believes the movie says something that is important for people to hear.

This is not her first time being invited to play a Disney princess. She refused the offer to play Cinderella. But she happily took on Belle because she saw her as a better role model. Belle doesn’t mind Beast’s ugly appearance and sees his good heart within. “She remains curious, compassionate (有同情心) and open-minded,” she told Total Film. “She’s not easily swayed by other people’s ideas.”

But to build her own version of Belle, Watson had a hand in shaping the character. She wanted Belle to be busy instead of just playing in the castle all day. So she had the idea of turning Belle into an inventor, like her father. And Belle even made a washing machine herself, though people broke it. She wanted it to free girls from chores (杂务) and allow them to learn how to read. She told Entertainment Weekly that people who broke the washing machine was symbolic (象征的) of people who broke Belle’s spirit and pushed her to become the woman they wanted her to be.

【1】According to the passage, what does the movie Beauty and the Beast tell us?

A. The reason why the beast has an ugly appearance.

B. Beauties always fall in love with the ugly beasts easily.

C. Belle loves the beast and doesn’t care about his appearance.

D. A cursed man-beast is changed into a handsome prince by love.

【2】Why did Watson play the lead role in Beauty and the Beast?

A. Because she refused to play Cinderella.

B. Because she had no chance to play in La La land.

C. Because she saw Belle as a better role model.

D. Because she thought the movie was important for people.

【3】Why did people break Belle’s washing machine?

A. Because they thought the machine was useless.

B. Because they had an idea of turning her into an inventor.

C. Because they wanted to push her to be the woman they liked.

D. Because they wanted her to be busy instead of playing in the castle.

【4】Which may be the best title for this passage?

A. A Disney’s Princess. B. More than a Beauty.

C. Beauty and the Beast. D. A beauty’s love story.

You choose to be a winner!

The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers. It has been made to help you better manage your money. The Winners Club is a transaction account(交易账户)where you receive a key-card so you can get to your money 24/7-that's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

It's a club with impressive features for teenagers:

No account keeping fees!

You're no millionaire so we don't expect you to pay large fees. In fact, there are no account keeping or transaction fees!

Excellent interest rates!

You want your money to grow. The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better if you make at least two deposits(储蓄)without taking them out in a month.

Convenient

Teenagers are busy-we get that. You may never need to come to a bank at all. With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers and to bank from home using the phone and the Internet. You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account. This could be your pocket money or your pay from your part-time job!

Mega magazine included

Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money. There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members.

The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers. And it is so easy to join. Simply fill in an application form. You will have to get permission from your parent or guardian(监护人)but it is easy. We can't wait to hear from you. It's the best way to choose to be a winner!

【1】Which of the following is TRUE about the Winners Club?

A. Special gifts are ready for parents.

B. The bank opens only on work days.

C. Services are convenient for its members.

D. Fees are necessary for the accounting keeping.

【2】The underlined word “permission” in the last paragraph probably means___.

A. promise B. agreement C. trust D. praise

【3】What is the purpose of this passage?

A. To set up a club. B. To provide part-time jobs.

C. To organize kid-parent activities. D. To introduce a new banking service.

It all started when Adam Braun was a college student. He was visiting India when a boy s【3】 him and asked for money on the street. Mr. Braun asked the boy w【4】 he would want, if he could have anything in the world.

“I thought the answer was going to be ‘a house’ or ‘a car’ or ‘a boat’. His answer was ‘a pencil’. So I gave him my pencil and he was just happy and e【5】. I realized he had never been to s【6】 before ,and that was the reality(现实) for 57 million children around the world.” Braun said.

Adam Braun started working in finance(金融) after he graduated from college, but he n【7】 forgot the boy and the problem he realized.

“We live in a world in which every child can have a c【8】 to get a good education, because we have everything necessary already. We are able to educate every child. So I promised to help c【9】 that world .” Braun said.

Mr Braun r【10】 money for his project. He paid for building the first Pencils of Promise school in Laos five years ago. Since then, his organization has helped pay for more than 200 schools in the countryside of Laos and Ghana.

explain think paint fall shut

【1】The young couple ________ in love with each other when they first saw each other.

【2】— _______ the teacher ________ the game rules to us?

-—Yes, she is. You’d better listen carefully then.

【3】—Isn’t it time for you to go to bed, Mike?

-— I _____________ all afternoon, so I have to finish my homework now.

【4】Who _________ the door? I can’t get into my room.

【5】—What’s wrong with my pet dog, please?

-— Don’t worry. Nothing is as serious as you ________.