Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a  relationship.
Different cultures emphasize (强调) the importance of relationship building to a greater or less degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in “small talk”,usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many European countires--- like the UK or France--- people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had expected may speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better, I realised that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural diffeerences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment (多元文化环境)will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
【小题1】In some countires, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to ___________.

A．develop closer relations	B．share the same culture
C．get to know each other	D．keep each other company

【小题2】The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that ______.
A, the English prefer to make long speeches
B.too many words are of no use
C.people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature
D.even talk and silence can be culturally different
【小题3】According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better?

A．By sharing different ways of life

B．By accepting different habits.

C．By recognizing different values

D．By speaking each other’s language.

【小题4】What would be the best title for the text?

A．Multicultural Environment

B．Cross-Cultural Differences

C．How to Understand Each Other

D．How to Build Up a Relationship

I came to India a year ago to find a village in which I could live and write but it was many months before I settled down happily in this Himalayan community.I wasted a lot of time looking for the “typical” village, yet no such thing exists. Conditions vary too widely.But the villages I stayed in had much in common—poverty, dirt, ignorance. Often the villagers themselves were puzzled, suspicious. Why had I come? I had put aside my work as a political journalist because my ideas had changed. I had come to believe that what was happening in the Third World was more important than anything else. But to understand how three quarters of the world’s people live, and how their future might affect ours, I felt that I first had to try and share their way of life.In the end I chose a mountain village because it was a little cooler than those in the plains. I took the bus from town along a bumpy road. Then came a rough walk down a steep path to the river. After this I began the climb into the Mils. Whenever I stopped to catch my breath, there was a magnificent view. After several hours’ walk the village came into view.
【小题1】After the writer had arrived in India,________.

A．he spent a year writing about the place he lived in

B．he spent quite some time looking for a suitable place to live in

C．he stayed in an Indian village working for the poor

D．he lived in a Himalayan community for many months.

【小题2】While looking for a typical village, the writer found__________.

A．he was searching for the impossible

B．all the villages were exactly the same

C．he was doing something enjoyable

D．the villagers were curious about him

【小题3】Before coming to India, the writer________.

A．had been a successful politician

B．had made a decision to work for India

C．had studied India culture for some months

D．had worked for newspapers and magazines

The new mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan, is a man of the people, ready to listen to their problems, but only until 6 p.m. Then he has to do his homework. Michael Sessions, 18, beat former mayor Douglas Ingles, 51, by just two votes and became the new mayor of Hillsdale. He is America's youngest mayor.
As Sessions was too young to enter the election in the spring of 2005, he registered- to vote on Sept. 22, one day after his 18-year-old birthday. The day after that he started his write-in campaign, which means he should persuade voters to remember his name and write it by hand on the voting ballots（选票）.
To help get his name known, Sessions earned＄700 by selling apples over the summer. He spent the money on posters and put them on the Hillsdale's lawns.
Sessions' month-long campaign included going door to door, explaining his ideas of the town's future in the kitchens of his neighbors. "They'd look at me, and say‘How old are you again? How much experience do you have?'And I say‘I'm still in high school', "he said. Sessions promised Hillsdale's voters he would renew local economy. “I was hopeful the whole time, ”he explained. One day he spent so long out on the streets knocking on the doors that he ended up in a hospital emergency room.
Sessions said that his schoolwork will not get in the way of his job as a mayor. “From 7:50 a.m. to 2:30p.m., I'11 be a student. From 3 to 6, I'11 be the mayor of Hillsdale," he said.
“He did a very brave thing that couldn't have been easy for him to do, "said Jack Vettel, a councilman in Hillsdale, a city of 8,200 about 75 miles southwest of Detroit. "He does care about this town. He's been here all his life. ”
Sessions will receive＄3, 600 a year during his four-year term, and will work out of his bedroom since the town does not provide the mayor with an office.
【小题1】What is TRUE of Sessions' election campaign according to the text?

A．Sessions launched his election campaign on Sept. 22.

B．Sessions worked so hard that he once tried to persuade people in a hospital.

C．Sessions won the election campaign by a very close outcome.

D．Sessions felt disappointed when asked about his age and experience.

【小题2】In order to gain more support from the voters Sessions had to do all these things EXCEPT＿.

A．put up posters'	B．renew the economy
C．sell apples	D．talk to neighbors in kitchens

【小题3】What can we infer from the passage?

A．American mayors usually work from 3 p. m. to 6 p. m.

B．In America, young people are encouraged to get involved in politics.

C．All teenagers are allowed to enter political elections.

D．American mayors receive a salary of 3, 600 a year during their 4-year term.

【小题4】Which of the following would best summarize the text?

A．Schoolboy becomes American's youngest mayor.

B．How to become a teenage mayor.

C．Hard work is the ticket to success.

D．Never too young to shake the world.

Introduction: Speaking English is not only about using proper grammar. To use English effectively, you need to understand the culture in which it is spoken. Here are a number of important tips to remember when speaking English in the United States.
General Points to Remember Most Americans only speak English. While it is true that more and more Americans speak Spanish, most Americans only speak English. Don't expect them to understand your native language. Americans have difficulty understanding foreign accents. Many Americans are not used to foreign accents. This requires patience from both of you!	Conversation Tips Speak about location. Talk about work. Americans commonly ask "What do you do?" It's not considered impolite（as in some countries）and is a popular topic of discussion between strangers. Talk about sports. Be careful when expressing ideas about race, religion or other sensitive topics.
Addressing People Use last names with people you do not know. Always use “Ms.” when addressing women. Many Americans prefer first names. Americans prefer informal greetings and using first names or nicknames when speaking with colleagues and acquaintances.	Public Behavior Always shake hands. Look your partner in the eye. Don't hold hands: Same sex friends do not usually hold hands or put their arms around each other in public in the United States.

【小题1】"When speaking to a stranger, ask them where they are from and then make a connection with that place”can be used as a supporting sentence to _____.

A．talk about sports	B．address people
C．talk about work	D．speak about location

【小题2】If you are introduced to a woman called Pearl S. Buck, how should you address her usually?

A．What are you doing, Madam Buck?

B．How do you do, Ms. Buck?

C．How are you doing, Mrs. Pearl?

D．How are you, Miss Pearl S.?

【小题3】The underlined word “acquaintance” in the table may probably mean______.

A．things that are precious

B．foreigners that you can talk to

C．persons who you are familiar with

D．languages that you can speak

【小题4】We can infer from the text that ______.

A．smoking is allowed in public in the modern United States

B．different sex friends should hold hands during the first meeting

C．when you speak to others, it's polite not to look into their eyes

D．Americans shake hands when greeting the same sex friends

TANG Dynasty writer Du Mu once wrote in a poem titled Qingming: "The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day; So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.Where can a wine house be found to drown his sadness ?A cowherd points to Almond Flower (Xing Hua) Village in the distance."
Qingming, the traditional tomb-sweeping day on the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on April 4 this year. Qingming Jie was proclaimed a Chinese national holiday in 2008. It is a time for remembering loved ones who have departed (去世). People visit their ancestors’ graves to sweep away the dirt and get rid of any weeds. They also leave offerings (祭品) of food and flowers, and burn incense (香) and paper money. Chinese tombs are usually built in the woods or on mountains, far from the city. It is believed that an area that faces south, with many pine trees, is a proper place for a tomb. People believe such a place will make the ancestors happy, and in return, they will look after the living family.
Nowadays, more and more residents are choosing environmental-friendly ways to spend the holiday such as flower sacrifices and memorial ceremonies on the Internet or at home. As one of the traditional ways to celebrate Tomb-sweeping Day – burning paper or incense – isn't exactly good for air quality.
In contrast to the sadness of the tomb sweepers, people also enjoy hope of Spring on this day. The Qingming Festival is a time when the sun shines brightly, the trees and grass become green and nature is again lively. Since ancient times, people have followed the custom of Spring outings. At this time tourists are everywhere.
Many people fly kites on Tomb Sweeping Day. They are usually made from a bamboo crossbow with coloured paper. The kite vibrates and buzzes as it rises into the sky, counterbalanced by its tail. Large kites can be as broad as three metres across, with a tail of six to ten metres. Most kites have a rectangular shape, and many have patterns of crabs, centipedes, butterflies, dragonflies, or Chinese characters such as "good fortune" or "long life". (361words)
【小题1】What’s the main idea of the second paragraph?

A．The cultural difference between the east and the west.

B．The traditional customs on tomb-sweeping day.

C．Various ways to care for the dead in the world.

D．Qingming Festival

【小题2】All of the following practices are mentioned on tomb-sweeping day EXCEPT_____ .

A．Weeping over the passed-away.

B．Flying kites made from bamboo and paper

C．Sending flowers to their ancestors’ graves.

D．Burning incense and paper money for the dead.

【小题3】Which of the following is correct according to passage?

A．Du Mu ,the well-known poet in Song Dynasty wrote a poem about Qing Ming.

B．Qingming Festival used to be a Chinese national holiday.

C．People have the custom of flying kites on Qing Ming.

D．Those whose ancestors were buried in proper places will have a bright future.

【小题4】The writer write the passage in order to____________ .

A．enable us to observe traditional tomb-sweeping day.

B．show traditional and present ways to spend Qingming Festival .

C．educate people to show their respect to the ancestors

D．raise people’s awareness of environmental protection.

The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. It was one of the poorest nations in the region. Within the last five years, however, it has become a hot spot for adventure travelers. In 2006 it was voted the happiest place on Earth. The reason is not that Vanuatu are the richest but that Vanuatu has white-sand islands, clear waters, the world’s most accessible live volcano, great diving and food that grows faster than it can be picked.
With a population of about 221,000, Vanuatu has 113 languages, which is a result of 3,000 years of immigration from many Pacific countries. There are three official languages: English, French, and Bislama. Bislama developed from South Pacific English, a simplified language that traders and other foreigners used it to communicate with speakers of the many local languages.
Most of the islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin. There are several active volcanoes in Vanuatu, including Yasur on the island of Tanna, one of the world’s most accessible volcanoes. If you’ve ever fancied getting close to a volcano, here’s your chance.

Vanuatu Post’s Underwater Post Office has quickly become one of the busiest post offices for postcards in the world! Visitors from around the world want to experience the world’s first underwater post office. The Post Office is only 50 meters offshore and at just three meters below the surface, very appealing to the young and young at heart. Since opening in 2003, the underwater post office has received about 100,000 visitors. They have posted one of the waterproof（防水的）postcards available in Vanuatu; these cards are collected regularly by one of Vanuatu Post’s four trained divers. The underwater branch is manned daily for usually about an hour, longer with demand.
【小题1】Vanuatu was voted the happiest place on Earth because _______.

A．it’s the poorest nation in the region

B．it’s Vanuatu that are the richest

C．it’s a favorite place for adventurers

D．it’s blessed with abundant nature

【小题2】 From the text, _______ led to over one hundred languages spoken in Vanuatu.

A．immigration

B．location

C．dialects

D．foreigners

【小题3】Which of the following is true about Vanuatu? 

A．Bislama developed from local Pacific French.

B．Yasur is one of the live volcanoes in Vanuatu.

C．Vanuatu has more than 113 official languages.

D．Underwater Post Office has opened for 5 years.

【小题4】Which of the following would be the most proper title for the text?      

A．Working at the underwater branch	B．Great diving in amazing Vanuatu
C．A hot spot for adventure travelers	D．The busiest post office on Earth

【小题5】What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

A．Various languages.	B．Underwater diving.
C．Food in Vanuatu.	D．History of Vanuatu.

If Confucius(孔子)were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles（蜡烛）. He’d need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.
While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. It’s nothing personal. Most Americans don’t even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.
But this doesn’t mean that Americans don’t care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.
In the past twenty years, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes(孔子学院) in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually included Chinese art, history and philosophy(哲学). Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing(比赛)to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.
So the old thinker’s ideas are still alive and well.
Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.
As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the west, even if his birthday is.
【小题1】The opening paragraph is mainly intended to______.

A．provide some key facts about Confucius

B．attract the readers’ interest in the topic

C．show great respect for the ancient thinker

D．prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations

【小题2】We can learn from Paragraph 4 that American students______.

A．have a great interest in studying Chinese

B．take an active part in Chinese competitions

C．try to get high scores in Chinese exams

D．fight for a chance to learn Chinese

【小题3】What is the best title for the passage?

A．Forgotten Wisdom in America

B．Huge Fans of the Chinese Language

C． Old Thinker with a Big Future

D．Chinese Culture for Westerners

【小题4】The passage is likely to appear in a _______.

A．leaflet	B．history paper
C．newspaper	D．philosophy textbook

The iPhone, the iPad: each of Apple’s products sounds cool and has become a fad (一度时髦的风尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i” — and many other brands are following suit. The BBC’s iPlayer — which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet — adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear — popular in the US and the UK — that plays music and video is called “iTeddy”. A slimmed-down version of The Independent newspaper was launched last week under the name “i”.
In general, single-letter prefixes have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came into use.
Most “i” products are aimed at young people and considering the major readers of The Independent’s “i”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.
But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i”. Why not use “a”, “b”, or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, former head of the Language Center at King’s College London, “i” works because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBCMagazines. “Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition,” he says.
“However, thanks to Apple, the term is now associated with portability (轻便).” Adds Thorne.
Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western world is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason.
Along with “Google” and “blog”, readers of BBCMagazines voted “i” as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.
But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the trend unavoidably disappeared.
【小题1】People use iPlayer to _________.

A．listen to music

B．make a call

C．read newspapers

D．watch TV programs online

【小题2】We can infer that The Independent’s “i” is aimed at _________.

A．engineers

B．old readers

C．fashionable women

D． young readers

【小题3】Nowadays, the “i” term often reminds people of the products which are _________.

A．environmentally friendly

B．easy to carry

C．advanced

D．recyclable

【小题4】The writer suggests that _________.

A．“i” products are often of high quality

B．iTeddy is a living bear

C．the popularity of “i” products may not last long

D．the letter “b” replaces the letter “i” to name the products

In England, people often talk about the weather because they can experience (经历) four seasons in one day. In the morning the weather is warm just like in spring. An hour later black clouds come and then it rains hard. The weather gets a little cold. In the late afternoon the sky will be sunny, the sun will begin to shine, and it will be summer at this time of a day.
In England, people can also have summer in winter, or have winter in summer. So in winter they can swim sometimes, and in summer sometimes they should take warm clothes.
When you go to England, you will see that some English people usually take an umbrella (伞)or a raincoat with them in the sunny morning, but you should not laugh at them.
If you don't take an umbrella or a raincoat, you will regret (后悔) later in the day.
【小题1】Why do people in England often talk about the weather?

A．Because they may have four seasons in one day

B．Because they often have very good weather

C．Because the weather is warm just like in spring

D．Because the sky is sunny all day

【小题2】From the story we know that when _________come, there is a heavy rain.

A．sunshine and snow	B．black clouds
C．summer and winter	D．spring and autumn

【小题3】"People can also have summer in winter." Means "it is sometimes too ______in winter."

A．warm

B．cool

C．cold

D．rainy

【小题4】In the sunny morning some English people usually take a raincoat or an umbrella with them because ________.

A．their friends ask them to do so	B．it often rains in England
C．they are going to sell them	D．they are their favourite things

【小题5】The best title (标题)for this passage is ________.

A．Bad Seasons	B．Summer or Winter
C．The Weather in England	D．Strange English People

The island Fiji has always been around me in my life. My parents met in Fiji when my father was a teacher as a Peace Corps volunteer and my mother a student. They taught me about its people, culture, foods and religious beliefs.
At the age of two, I made my first trip across the Pacific Ocean to Fiji. My mother and I made that trip unexpectedly because my grandma was ill and longed to see her American granddaughter. Although I have few memories of that first trip, I do remember grandma braiding (编辫子)my hair every day. The brush gliding through my hair is a feeling I will treasure forever because she passed away soon. I returned to America when I was five years old. This time I had a brother, Martin, who was two.
I resisted my third trip to Fiji when I was 15, being a teenager who did not want to spend the summer away from friends. It was this trip, however, that made me realize that Fiji is not just a place to visit but a part of who I am. The smells and sounds and sights came back to me, but the best part was getting to know my relatives.
Vishal was one cousin I quickly bonded with. Born two days before me, I had only known him through pictures before. Though raised oceans apart in different cultures, we talked and laughed about everything from American sports to Fijian dancing. I was able to form close ties with all my cousins, and when I talk about them now, it’s as if I have known them my whole life. Spending time with them helped me understand the traditions and values my mother grew up with. Hospitality and care and respect for family members are central values in Fijian culture.
I truly enjoyed learning about my roots during this trip. Fiji is just like a second home, and I will never forget the time I have spent there.
【小题1】From the passage, we can learn that _______.

A．the author’s parents had been classmates before

B．the author had lived in Fiji for about five years

C．the author had no memories of her grandma

D．people value family in Fijian culture

【小题2】The author resisted her third trip to Fiji because _____.

A．she didn’t want to separate from her brother

B．she didn’t know her cousins there very well

C．she didn’t want to separate from her American friends

D．her grandma had passed away

【小题3】Which of the following is TRUE about Vishal?

A．He is younger than the author.

B．The author had met him on her first trip to Fiji.

C．He and the author had lots of common interests.

D．He and the author held different opinions about Fijian culture.