In our life, we have rarely expressed our gratitude to the one who'd lived those years with us. In fact, we
don't have to wait for anniversaries to thank the ones close to us-the ones so easily overlooked. If I have
learned anything about giving thanks, it is this: give it now！While your feeling of appreciation is alive and
sincere, act on it.
     Saying thanks is such an easy way to add to the world's happiness. Saying thanks not only brightens
someone else's world, but it also brightens yours. If you're feeling left out, unloved or unappreciated, try
reaching out to others. It may be just the medicine you need.
     Of course, there are times when you can't express gratitude immediately. In that case don't let
embarrassment sink you into silence-speak up the first time you have the chance.
     Once a young minister, Mark Brian, was sent to a remote parish of Kwakiutl Indians in British Columbia.
He had been told that the Indians did not have a word for thank you. But Brian soon found that these people
had exceptional generosity. Instead of saying thanks, it is their custom to return every favor with a favor of
their own, and every kindness with an equal or superior kindness. They do their thanks.
     I wonder if we had no words in our vocabulary for thank you, would we do a better job of communicating
our gratitude? Would we be more responsive, more sensitive and more caring? Thankfulness sets in motion a
chain of reaction that transforms people all around us-including ourselves, for no one ever misunderstands the
melody of a grateful heart.

1. In the first paragraph the writer mainly encourages us _____.

A.to express our sincere thanks timely to those around us
B. never to overlook our close friends in daily life
C. to wait for a proper occasion to show our gratitude
D. to increase the world's happiness by saying thanks

2. When we say something for what others do for us, it ______.

A. is good for both us and people who help us
B. benefits the people who do something for us
C. wastes our and our friends' time at the same time
D. does harm to both us and people who help us

3. According to the writer, _____ could be the best way to prevent ourselves from being left out.

A. seeing a doctor to find the right medicine we need
B. expressing our gratitude in an easy way
C. speaking up the moment we have the chance
D. showing others actively we are willing to help them

4. Mark Brain's story is mentioned in the passage in order to show the fact that _____.

A. the Indians didn't have any words for appreciation
B. the Indians were particularly generous to others
C. some people may express their gratitude through different approaches
D. Mark Brain set the Indians an example to show saying thanks is very important

     Few of us haven't read Cinderella, the story of a young woman living in poverty who meets the prince
of her dreams. Some might not want to admit it, but there is a hidden Cinderella in everyone's heart-we all
wish we could achieve recognition or success after a period of obscurity (默默无闻).
     Mary Santiago has that secret dream, too. Her story is featured in Another Cinderella Story, a film set in
a US high school.
     Mary is shy but loves to dance. Compared with other girls, she is invisible. However, her world changes
completely when a famous teenager pop singer, Joey Parker, appears.
     Joey is everything the rest of the boys in her class are not-kind, handsome and desirable. Mary and
Joey's paths cross at a ball. They meet and fall in love with each other. But when Mary has to rush back
home, she leaves behind her MP3 player, which becomes the only clue Joey has to find the girl of his dreams.
Of course, there is a wicked (邪恶的) stepmother, who turns out to be Dominique Blatt and she takes in
Mary after her dancer mother dies. Dominique treats Mary like a maid and does everything she can to make
sure Mary doesn't get into the top dance school. Her two daughters are equally determined to stop Joey falling
for Mary, even if that means embarrassing her. 
     The story, though it mostly follows Cinderella, does add a few modern day twists to the classic fairy tale.
Refreshingly, the film, unlike many high school films, does not focus on looks, although the actors are all
beautiful. There is also a lot less materialism in Another Cinderella Story than in many similar movies.
     "The movie takes the Cinderella fairytale as its jumping off point," writes movie critic Amber Wilkinson.
"The focus is firmly on following your dream."

1. The first paragraph is mainly to ______.

A. build interest and lead us to Mary's secret dream
B. remind us why Cinderella is popular all the years
C. inform us of the main topic of the whole passage
D. tell us how interesting the fairy tale Cinderella is

2. In the movie, Mary Santiago is the main character who _______.

A. is brave in expressing her love
B. is attended badly by the stepmother
C. has a dream of meeting a prince
D. is embarrassed by the pop singer

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A. Joey is just like other boys in Mary's class.
B. Mary's mother influences her a lot in singing.
C. Not many people have a dream to be realized.
D. The MP3 player helps Joey in finding Mary.

4. The passage is mainly about _______.

A. an introduction to a film
B. a review about a film
C. an essay about dreams
D. an advertisement of Cinderella

     Engineering students are supposed to be examples of practicality and rationality (理性), but when it comes
to my college education I am an idealist and a fool. In high school I wanted to be an electrical engineer and, of
course, any reasonable student with my aims would have chosen a college with a large engineering department, many famous professors and lots of good labs and research equipment. But that's not what I did.
     I chose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts (文科) university that doesn't even offer a major in
electrical engineering. Obviously, this was not a practical choice; I came here for more noble reasons. I wanted
a broad education that would provide me with flexibility and a value system to guide me in my job. I wanted to
open my eyes and expand my vision by communicating with people who weren't studying science or
engineering. My parents, teachers and other adults praised me for such a wise choice. They told me I was
wise and grown-up beyond my 18 years, and I believed them. 　
     I headed off to the college and sure I was going to have an advantage over those students who went to big
engineering "factories" where they didn't care if you had values or were flexible. I was going to be a complete
engineer: technical expert and excellent humanist all in one. 　
     Now I'm not so sure. Somewhere along the way my noble ideas crashed into reality, as all noble ideas
finally do. After three years of struggling to balance math, physics and engineering courses with liberal-arts
courses, I have learned there are reasons why few engineering students try to reconcile engineering with
liberal-arts courses in college. 　
     The reality that has blocked my path to become the typical successful student is that engineering and the
liberal arts simply don't mix as easily as I supposed in high school. Individually they shape a person in very
different ways. The struggle to reconcile the two fields of study is difficult.

1. Why did the author choose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts university?

A. He intended to become an engineer and humanist.
B. He intended to be a reasonable student with noble ideals.
C. He wanted to be an example of practicality and rationality.
D. He wanted to communicate with liberal-arts students.

2. According to the author, by communicating with people who study liberal arts, engineering students
   can _______.

A. become noble idealists
B. broaden their knowledge
C. find a better job in the future
D. balance engineering and liberal arts 

3. Which word below can replace the underlined word "reconcile"?

A. confuse
B. compare
C. combine
D. compete

4. The author suggests in this passage that _______.

A. liberal-arts students are supported to take engineering courses
B. technical experts with a wide vision are expected in the society
C. successful engineering students are more welcomed in the society
D. engineering universities with liberal-arts courses are needed

      Saturday, March 24th
      We have arrived in the hot, wet city of Bangkok. This is our first trip to Thailand (泰国). All the different
smells make us want to try the food. We are going to eat something special for dinner tonight. The hotel we
are staying in is cheap, and very clean. We plan to stay here for a few days, visit some places in the city, and
then travel to Chiang Mai in the North.
      Tuesday, March 27th
      Bangkok(曼谷) is wonderful and surprising! The places are interesting. We visited the famous market
which was on water, and saw a lot of fruits and vegetables. Everything is so colorful, and we have taken
hundreds of photos already! Later today we will leave for Chiang Mai. We will take the train north, stay in
Chiang Mai for two days, and then catch a bus to Chiang Rai.
      Friday, March 30th
      Our trip to Chiang Rai was long and boring. We visited a small village in the mountains. The village people
here love the quiet life-no computers or phones. They are the kindest people I have ever met. They always
smile and say "hello". Kathy and I can only speak a few words of Thai, so smiling is the best way to show our
kindness. I feel good here and hope to be able to come back next year.

1. From the diary, we can know the author has stayed for ______ days in Thailand. 

A. 3
B. 7
C. 15
D. 30

2. It seems that visitors ______ in Bangkok.

A. often feel hungry
B. can always find cheap things
C. can't take any photos
D. can enjoy themselves

3. How did the author go to Chiang Mai?

A. by bus
B. by train
C. by air
D. on foot

4. Which word can't describe Chiang Rai?

A. small
B. mountainous
C. quiet
D. highly-advanced

5. Which of the following is TRUE?

A. Chiang Mai is a beautiful city in the south of Thailand.
B. The writer stayed in Chiang Mai for two days.
C. Chiang Rai is a boring city in the mountains.
D. The writer is traveling alone in Thailand.

     As is known to all, colors appear in every language to express people's feeling and thoughts. Then, what is
the situation in American English?
     Red is a hot color. Americans may say they are red hot about something unfair. They are red hot when they
are very angry about something. The small hot-tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hot
for their color and their fiery taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is
red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland Jazz.
     Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The
expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It comes from the fact that
many babies are born with nice pink skin that shows that they are in good health.
     The color black is often used in expressions. People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a
black day. People or things on a blacklist are connected with things illegal now. But at one time, some
businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.
     The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has
a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick
from high waves may look very green.
     Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has. That
person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars
or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because green is the color of the back side of the paper money.

1. Americans use "red hot" to describe the following EXCEPT _______.

A. something unfair
B. small hot-tasting peppers
C. the person who is very angry
D. popular music like Dixieland Jazz

2. People use "in the pink" to express they are in good health because ______.

A. the expression has a very long history
B. the color pink makes people feel happy
C. people think the color pink is gentler than red
D. healthy babies are born with nice pink skin

3. When we say someone feels a little green, it means he/she _______.

A. enjoys himself in boating
B. is hit by a high wave
C. has a stomachache
D. likes trees and grass

4. In the writer's eyes, what is related to a black day?

A. Being sent a beautiful gift.
B. Passing a very difficult test.
C. Failing in an important interview.
D. Being invited to an exciting party.

5. Someone got upset because he/she wasn't as rich as others, so we can say he/she is ____with jealousness.

A. red
B. green
C. pink
D. dark

     Some businesses and apartment buildings are telling kids to buzz off. A device (设备) called the Mosquito
is being used in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New York to keep kids from gathering in big groups and
causing trouble.
     The Mosquito makes a noise that only kids can hear. About 3,000 Mosquito units have been fixed in the
United Kingdom. In the United States, managers of an apartment building in New York City recently fixed
one to keep noisy kids from taking over the building's entrance-hall.
     A children's tights agency in England wants the device forbidden. The agency says the device unfairly
targets teens. Some also worry that the high sounds could hurt young ears. Fans of the Mosquito say it keeps
kids out of trouble and off private property.
     "Mosquito devices violate (侵犯) the human rights of kids. The use of the devices is targeted at kids
because it considers all kids as troublemakers.The devices are also harmful because the noise could hurt kids'
hearing. Besides violating our rights, the Mosquito is dangerous. It could hurt the ears and the hearing of teens,
babies and animals because they are more sensitive," says California eighth grader Kelly Straky."It is not right
to place the device in a public place. Teenagers have as much right to public places as adults. I listened to the
Mosquito sound, and it was extremely loud. It hurts no only your ears but also your whole head. It isn't just
annoying; it's painful. It should not be allowed."
     Fans of the Mosquito believe that property owners have a right to decide who can be on their property and
who cannot. Mosquito devices are a method of protecting private property and keeping the peace. Property
laws are put into to protect the public.
     "Yes, I do believe that the rights of teens should be valued, but we must always put ourselves in other
people's shoes and see the other side. In this case, doing so allows people to understand the negative effects,
such as crime, that loitering (滞留) can have on an area or a community," said Kayla Hill from New York.

1. The underlined phrase "buzz off" in Paragraph 1 probably means _____.

A. stay inside
B. go away
C. sit down
D. play games

2. According to the passage, the Mosquito_____ .

A. gives off a special smell
B. is a safety tool aimed at youths
C. is mostly purchased by the police
D. is intended for adult troublemakers

3. We can learn from the passage that Kelly Straky _____.

A. values the rights teens
B. keeps a close eye on her private property
C. hears the noise of the Mosquito frequently
D. believes many kids are causing annoying problems

4. In the last paragraph, Kayla Hill _____.

A. expresses her anger at kids
B. suggests protecting kids' hearing
C. argues against the use of the mosquito
D. stresses the need to fix the Mosquito

5. Who are probably fans of the Mosquito?

A. Pet owners.
B. Teachers.
C. Shop owners.
D. Parents.

     It tastes just like chicken away from home, and eating is more than just a way to keep your stomach full.
It is a language all its own, and no words can say "Glad to meet you...glad to be doing business with you..."
quite like sharing a meal offered by your host.
     Clearly, mealtime is not the time for you to say, "No, thanks." Acceptance of the food on your plate means
acceptance of host, country, and company. So, no matter how difficult it may be to swallow, swallow. Or,
as one experienced traveler says, "Travel with a cast-iron stomach and eat everything everywhere."
     Often, the food offered represents proudly your host country's eating culture. What would Ataiericans think
of a French person who refused to take a bite of homemade apple pie or sirloin? Our discomfort comes not
so much from the thing itself; it comes from our unfamiliarity with it. After all, an oyster has remarkably the
same look as a sheep's eye; and a first look at a lobster would remind almost anybody of a creature from a
science fiction movie, not something you dip in butter and eat. By the way, in Saudi Arabia sheep's eyes are
a famous dish.
     Can you refuse such food without being rude? Most experienced business travelers say no, at least not
before taking at least a few bites. It helps, though, to slice any item very thin. This way, you minimize the
taste and the reminder of where it came from. Or, "Swallow it quickly," as one traveler recommends. "I still
can't tell you what sheep's eyeballs taste like." As for dealing with taste, the old line that "It tastes just like
chicken" is often thankfully true. Even when "it" is really rat or snake.
     Another useful piece of advice is not knowing what you are eating. What's for dinner? Don't ask. Avoid
glancing into the kitchen or looking at English-language menus. Your host will be pleased that you are eating
the food he offers, and who knows? Maybe it really is chicken in that soup.

1. The purpose of the article is to _____.

A. introduce unfamiliar food
B. share the writer's personal experiences
C. suggest ways to overcome a cultural barrier in eating
D. advise on how to politely refuse to eat foreign food

2. According to the writer, people hesitate at strange food mainly due to _____.

A. the way it looks
B. safety worries
C. lack of information about it
D. the unfamiliar atmosphere

3. From the article we can infer that _____.

A. an American may feel comfortable with sirloin
B. one should refuse strange food after a few bites
C. English-language menus are not always dependable
D. one needs a cast-iron stomach to travel in any country

4. One may say "It tastes just like chicken" when _____.

A. showing respect for chicken-loving nations
B. greeting people with different dieting habits
C. evaluating chefs at an international food festival
D. getting someone to try a visually unpleasant meal

     The way Westerners communicate tends to (倾向于) be relatively explicit (直率的) and direct. In other
words, Westerners tend to put most of their ideas and feelings into words, and then state these ideas and
feelings clearly and openly. It is generally considered a good thing to"get to the point" and "say what you
mean," and it is largely the speaker's responsibility to ensure that his/her message is stated in a way that is
clear and easy to understand.
     In contrast (比照), Chinese people tend to communicate in a way that is more indirect and subtle. They
often view direct, explicit communication as unsophisticated (不成熟的) or even rude. They are more likely
to preserve good feelings and relationships by not saying something that might upset or offend (冒犯) another
person. If a Westerner makes a request and a Chinese person responds by saying something like "I'll think it
over", the Westerner may assume that there is a good chance that the answer will be "yes". In fact, there is a
better chance that the implied answer is"no".
     One interesting example of the Western preference for very direct communication can be seen in what
Western students are taught about how they should organize their writing. Writers are generally expected to
state their point as clearly as possible, generally right at the beginning. Students are taught to begin paragraphs
with a "topic sentence" that states the point of the paragraph. Also, articles should generally begin with a brief
statement of the points to be made -and also conclude with a review of those same points. In contrast, in
Chinese writing it is more acceptable to build up to the point rather announcing it right form the start, although
it is also acceptable to state the point up front.
     It is important to note that Westerners are not all equally direct in their communication styles. For example,
the direct communication style is more typical of Western men than of Western women. Furthermore, even in
Western culture it is generally not considered good to communicate so directly that you hurt other people's
feelings, offend them, or create conflict.

1. What is the subject of the passage?

A. Communication styles
B. Features of Western culture
C. Communication skills
D. Politeness in communication

2. When communicating with others, Western people _____.

A. pay more attention to others' feelings
B. prefer to express their ideas openly
C. often communicate in an indirect way
D. consider direct communication as rude

3. When writing an article, Westerners _____.

A. generally state their point in the middle
B. tend to let readers guess their point
C. usually announce their point from the start
D. like ending each paragraph with a topic sentence

4. According to the author, which of the following are more likely to communicate directly?

A. Western men
B. Western women
C. Chinese men
D. Chinese women

5. The passage is developed mainly by_____ .

A. showing the effects and then explaining the causes
B. providing figures to support its main point
C. describing the changes in space order
D. giving examples and making comparisons

     Life may not always seem fair, but we can learn to deal with it and make new choices along the way.
     I remember so clearly sitting next to my dad as we drove through the town. I was complaining about
something unfair that had happened to me. Dad looked directly at me and said,"No one ever said life was fair."
I was shocked at his answer. Later on as my marriage had problems even though I tried to save it. I could still
hear"It's not fair" in my heart. Now as I raise two kids alone, try to create new relationships and build a
business, I am forced to face the inevitable (不可避免的) truth every day. Gradually I've found that I have
accepted my dad's wisdom.
     We all will face loss or unexpected changes. But unfairness should not be the only thing in our life. We
choose for ourselves what seems fair by comparing our lives with others', and this can lead us to feel that our
own lives are unfair. People need to ignore what others have and set their own plans. Certainly, there're so many unhappy events in the world and in our lives, and when we deal with them, we try to control as many things as we can. Then, the sense of" it's not fair" often comes when we can't control the things in our lives. So please
put your efforts into the process rather than the result. You should learn that life is unfair, but you can be fair
and learn how to enjoy life.

1. How did the author feel when she heard her father's answer?

A. She felt surprised.
B. She thought it was wise.
C. She was happy.
D. She felt it was useless to her.

2. People usually feel things are unfair when ______.

A. they compare their situation with other people's
B. they talk to successful people
C. they have a great plan for themselves
D. they help friends recover from difficulties

3. When people deal with unhappy things, they often ______.

A. try to control them all
B. use all their efforts
C. ask others for help
D. complain to others

4. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 2 mean?

A. People said it was unfair to me.
B. I thought life was unfair to me.
C. I thought what my father said was right.
D. I could hear my heart beat.