Don’t be surprised when strangers talk to you in Canada! You will find that many Canadians will smile at you as they pass in the street, or say something to you like “Hi!” or “How’s it going?” Just reply with something similar. In the UK the reply would be “I’m fine”, but in Canada they say “I’m good”.
In company, when someone is offering you a second helping of food or more wine, if you don’t want any more, use the same expression— “I’m good”. In this case, it means “No, thank you. I’ve had enough”. Most Canadians don't press you to eat more than you want.
In restaurant, your plate will be cleared away almost immediately you have finished eating. When you go into a shop or store, the shop assistant asks you how you are or if they can help you, it is their way of being friendly and making conversation with the customers.
Canadians eat early and go home early. When you are invited to a Canadian’s home, you may be asked to arrive at 5:30 pm or 6 pm. But guests in Europe don’t expect to arrive until 7:30 pm or 8 pm. Remember to take off your shoes and leave them inside the door without being asked. It’s not a religious custom, but it’s practical. In winter, there can be a lot of snow and dirt on your shoes, once you are in the warm house it melts and falls off, making a mess. Canadians tend to have light colored carpets or hardwood floors.
If you’re invited for dinner, it will be a full sit- down meal. Meat is usually barbecued in the freezing cold of winter. Do take something with you, like a bottle of wine. Arrive on time and don’t stay over 10 pm.
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
| A. | “I’m good” can mean you do not need more food in Canada. |
| B. | In Canada, you will meet strangers in the street saying “Hi” to you. |
| C. | In a Canadian restaurant, the plates will stay at the table until you leave. |
| D. | Canadians usually say “I’m good” to answer the greeting of “How’s it going?” |
| A. | you will have a full sit-down meal |
| B. | you don’t have to bring any gift for the host |
| C. | you are expected to arrive at 7:30 or 8 pm |
| D. | you don’t have to take off your shoes when you enter the room |
| A. | they hope to make friends with you |
| B. | they want to ask you for help |
| C. | they are very friendly to customers |
| D. | they are your good friends |
| A. | Canadians like dark colored carpets. |
| B. | In Canada, meat will not be barbecued even in the cold winter. |
| C. | You will always be asked to eat more food than you want in Canada. |
| D. | It is usually rude to stay over 10 pm in your Canadian friend’s home. |
| A. | Some customs in Canada |
| B. | Dinner party rules in Canada |
| C. | Studying in Canada |
| D. | Doing business in Canada |
Onceupon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the sea to do his writing. Hehad a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.One day he waswalking along the shore. As he looked down at the beach, he saw a human figuremoving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought that someone woulddance on the beach. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, hesaw that it was a young man and the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead he wasreaching down to the shore, picking up something and throwing itinto the ocean. As he got closer, he called out, “Good morning! What are youdoing?’’
Theyoung man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwingstarfishes(海星)in theocean.”
“I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfishes in the ocean?”
“The sun is up and the tide is going out.And if I don’t throw them in, they’ll die”
“But, young man, don’t you realize thatthere are miles and miles of beach and starfishes all along it. You can’tpossibly make a difference!”
Theyoung man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked another starfish andthrew it into the sea, and said, “It made a difference for that one.”Thereissomething very special in each and every one of us. We have all beengifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can know that gift, wewill gain through the strength of our vision the power(力量) toshape the future.
We musteach find our starfish. And if we throw our starfish wisely and well, the worldwill be better.
【小题1】One day, the wise man saw a young man _______.
| A.dancing along the beach | B.walking with a dancer |
| C.picking up starfish for sale | D.trying to save as many starfishes as possible |
| A.the gifts from friends | B.the strength of making decision |
| C.our own starfish | D.the ability to make a difference |
| A.the wise man realized something new and important |
| B.the wise man thought it was foolish of the young man to throw starfishes in the ocean. |
| C.the young man had the ability to make a difference |
| D.it is necessary for us to save starfish on the beach |
| A.how and where we can write a good article |
| B.everyone can do something for the future |
| C.wise men are sometimes stupid |
| D.young men are in fact wiser than old people |
To Whom It May Concern:
My husband and I got married in 1965 and for the first ten years of our marriage I was very happy to stay home and raise our three children. Then four years ago, our youngest child went to school and I thought I might go back to work.
My husband was very supportive and helped me to make my decision. He emphasized all of the things I can do around the house, and said he thought I could be a great success in business.
After several weeks of job-hunting I found my present job, which is working for a small public relations firm. At first, my husband was very proud of me and would tell his friends , "My clever little wife can run that company she's working for."
But as his joking remark approached reality, my husband stopped talking to me about my job.I have received several promotions and pay increases , and I am now making more money than he is. I can buy my own clothes and a new car. Because of our combined incomes, my husband and I can do many things that we had always dreamed of doing , but we don't do these things because he is very unhappy.
We fight about little things and my husband is very critical of me in front of our friends. For the first time in our marriage, I think there is a possibility that our marriage may come to an end.
I love my husband very much, and I don't want him to feel inferior, but I also love my job.I think I can be a good wife and a working woman, but I don't know how .Can you give me some advice? Will I have to choose one or the other or can I keep both my husband and my new career?
Please help.
"Distressed"
【小题1】The letter was most probable written ________.
| A.in 1975 | B.around 1980 | C.four years ago | D.in 1965 |
| A.was very critical of her | B.felt disappointed |
| C.was proud of her | D.was happy but critical |
| A.scolding | B.criticism | C.prize | D.advancement |
| A.she found a gap emerged between her and her husband |
| B.she bought more clothes and a house |
| C.she did the many things she and her husband dreamed of |
| D.she felt very proud of herself |
阅读理解(共20小题; 每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。
I felt encouraged by his words and began to swim more calmly.But my clothes stuck to me like a heavy weight.I could hardly stay above the surface.
Counsel saw this.“Shall I cut them?”he asked.
With a knife he cut my clothes from top to bottom and took them of quickly while I swam for both of us.
Then I did the same for Counsel,and we continued to swim near each other.
But we were in serious trouble.The crew(船员)might not have noticed our disappearance.
And if they had,they could not return because the rudder(舵)had broken.Counsel thought of all this,and calmly made his plans.We decided to wait for the ship as long as possible,because we had no other hope of safety.I suggested that we save our strength so that both of us would not be tired out at the same time.This was how we did it:While one of us lay on his back,quite still,with arms crossed and legs stretched out(伸直),the other would swim and push him along.We changed every ten minutes or so.In this way we could swim for hours,perhaps till daylight.The crash(破裂声)of the ship and the whale(鲸)had appeared at about eleven o’clock.We had about eight hours to swim before daylight.This seemed possible,if the sea remained calm.
【小题1】What happened to the man who told the story?
| A.He and his companion got into the water to test their strength. |
| B.He jumped into the water to save the broken rudder. |
| C.He was knocked into the water by his enemy. |
| D.He was thrown into the sea when the ship struck a whale. |
| A.Because no people helped them to take off their clothes. |
| B.Because they couldn’t take off their clothes on the sea. |
| C.Because they wanted to get rid of their clothes quickly. |
| D.Because they wanted to lifebuoys(救生圈)with their clothes. |
| A.not moving | B.even | C.yet | D.however |
| A.one of them pushed the other while swimming and then they changed |
| B.they both swam calmly |
| C.they crossed their arms and stretched their legs on the water |
| D.they lay on their backs instead of swimming |
| A.Neither of the two men was good swimmers. |
| B.The sea was calm before eleven o’clock that night. |
| C.The story took place at night. |
| D.The two men had to swim eight hours to catch up with the ship. |