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.

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?”

If you are invited for dinner in your Canadian friend’s home, ________.

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

When a Canadian shop assistant says “How are you?” to you, it suggests that _______.

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

What can we learn from the passage?

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.

What would be the best title for this passage?

A.    Some customs in Canada

B.    Dinner party rules in Canada

C.    Studying in Canada

D.    Doing business in Canada

—Excuse me, I wonder if you can help me?

—Sure. _______?

A. What help       B. What is this     C. What is it    D. What do you want

B
Faced with a tough job market, fresh graduates are dreaming of running their own businesses instead. But a recent survey has showed that such ambitions lack the required support and remain just that — dreams.
The Shanghai Municipal Employment Promotion Center poll of 1,276 graduates in several universities and colleges in the city, released last Friday, showed 59.78 percent of respondents considered the possibility of setting up a company or at least a small store. "But they just stop at the 'thinking' stage," it stated.
Respondents put the top reasons for not going it alone down to a shortage of investment and a lack of business opportunity. They also listed lack of business experience and social networks, the need for advanced study and objections from family members as factors that stood in their way.
More than 90 percent of the interviewees said they would rather take up a job after graduating and then consider starting their own business two or three years down the road.
Guo Bing, a senior student in Shanghai International Studies University majoring in English, decided he wanted to be his own boss last year. But he is looking for a job first. "If I fail to find a satisfying job, I would like to establish a company in exhibition services," Guo said.
The Shanghai native has some relatives working in a local printing plant. With their help, Guo hopes to produce exhibition brochures at a relatively low price. He is also confident that his English language skills can help him do well in the industry.
"Social networking is an important factor leading to business success," Guo said.
Guo said that the shortage of graduate jobs is the main reason driving more university students to set up a business right after their graduation.
Jiang said the university sets up a business guide team made of government officials and professionals. They regularly give training courses to students who show an interest in having their own business. The parents of university graduates are more willing to help their children start up alone, the survey showed" Once you win the support of your family, you have won half the battle," Guo added.
61. Which of the following can be the best title?
A. A Tough Job Market                   B. Graduates Who Can Only Dream of Being Boss 
C. The Ambitious Fresh Graduates                 D. The Story of Guo Bing
62. Which of the following does NOT stop fresh graduates realizing their dreams of being bosses?
A. The lack of business opportunity and investment.                
B. The shortage of business experience.
C. Less skilled English language.     
D. Their family members’ objections.
63. In the view of Guo Bing, what is the key factor that makes fresh graduates dream of being boss soon after graduation?
A. Their family don’t support them.                   B. Their social networking is not good.
C. There are not enough graduate jobs.                D. They want to achieve greater success.
64. Which of the following statements is NOT true about Guo Bing?
A. He has started his own business with the help of his relatives.
B. English is his major in the university.
C. He is trying to find a job which can satisfies him.
D. He is a Shanghai native.
65. Who is this article mostly intended for?
A. The parents whose child graduates from university soon.
B. Those who will graduate from university.
C. Those who want to be bosses.
D. The officials who work in the government.

—Excuse me, I wonder if you can help me?

— Sure. ______ ?

A．What help         B．What is this        C．What is it          D．What do you want

Faced with a tough job market, fresh graduates are dreaming of running their own businesses instead. But a recent survey has showed that such ambitions lack the required support and remain just that — dreams.
The Shanghai Municipal Employment Promotion Center poll of 1,276 graduates in several universities and colleges in the city, released last Friday, showed 59.78 percent of respondents considered the possibility of setting up a company or at least a small store. "But they just stop at the 'thinking' stage," it stated.
Respondents put the top reasons for not going it alone down to a shortage of investment and a lack of business opportunity. They also listed lack of business experience and social networks, the need for advanced study and objections from family members as factors that stood in their way.
More than 90 percent of the interviewees said they would rather take up a job after graduating and then consider starting their own business two or three years down the road.
Guo Bing, a senior student in Shanghai International Studies University majoring in English, decided he wanted to be his own boss last year. But he is looking for a job first. "If I fail to find a satisfying job, I would like to establish a company in exhibition services," Guo said.
The Shanghai native has some relatives working in a local printing plant. With their help, Guo hopes to produce exhibition brochures at a relatively low price. He is also confident that his English language skills can help him do well in the industry.
"Social networking is an important factor leading to business success," Guo said.
Guo said that the shortage of graduate jobs is the main reason driving more university students to set up a business right after their graduation.
Jiang said the university sets up a business guide team made of government officials and professionals. They regularly give training courses to students who show an interest in having their own business. The parents of university graduates are more willing to help their children start up alone, the survey showed" Once you win the support of your family, you have won half the battle," Guo added.
【小题1】Which of the following can be the best title?