The speed and convenience of modern travel means that destinations that used to take a long time to travel to can now be reached quickly and easily. Even though” faraway” countries may now seem closer thanks to air travel, they may still be different from your home country. 【小题1】  Following are some fundamental rules that will make communication easier, and your trip more enjoyable.
【小题2】   If you don not know the word for something in local language, or can not make yourself understood verbally, try drawing a picture, or pointing to an object.
Avoid topics of conversation that you think may be sensitive. 【小题3】  .Feel free to show interest in the history and customs of the place you are visiting, but don’t ask too many questions about why things are done a certain way; you may offend the local people.
    【小题4】  Kissing on the street or in public places is unacceptable behavior and should be avoided. If you are unsure of how to behave, watch the local people and copy them---if they don’t behave in a certain way, you probably shouldn’t either.
Finally, if you are traveling on business, or plan to stay with a host to family, and you wish to take a gift, do some research.   【小题5】    . One of the easiest ways to offend somebody is to give the wrong gift.
Wherever you go in the world, always be tolerant of the local customs. Avoid being critical; try instead to show respect for the values of the country you are in, even if you do not necessarily agree with them

A．Keep in mind that in many cultures, display affection in public is considered taboo.

B．Consider the main lifestyle of the country you plan to visit.

C．Never raise your voice in order to make yourself understood.

D．If a topic is sensitive in your own culture, it will more than likely be the same in other cultures.

E．The idea of the perfect gift varies greatly from country to country.
F．The opening of gifts is also treated very differently around the world.
G．Therefore, it is important to adapt your behavior not to offend the local people.

On October 19, 1959, the first Special English program was broadcast on the Voice of America. It was an experiment. The goal was to communicate by radio in clear and simple English with people whose native language is not English. Experts said the goal was admirable, but the method would not work. They were proved wrong. The Special English programs quickly became some of the most popular on VOA. And they still are.
Forty years later, Special English continues to communicate with people who are not fluent in English. But during the years its role has expanded. It also helps people learn American English. And it provides listeners, even those who are native English speakers, with information they cannot find elsewhere.
Today, Special English broadcasts around the world seven days a week, five times a day. Each half-hour broadcast begins with ten minutes of the latest news followed by 20 minutes of feature programming. There is a different short feature every weekday about science, development, agriculture and environment, and on the weekend, about news events and American idioms.
Three elements make Special English unique. It has a limited vocabulary of 1500 words. Most are simple words that describe objects, actions or emotions. Some are more difficult. They are used for reporting world events and describing discoveries in medicine and science. Special English is written in short, simple sentences that contain only one idea. No idioms are used. And Special English is spoken at a slower pace, about two-thirds the speed of Standard English. This helps people learning English hear each word clearly. It also helps people who are English speakers understand complex subjects.
Through the years, Special English has become a very popular tool for teaching English, even though it was not designed as teaching program. It succeeds in helping people learn English in a non-traditional way. Individuals record the programs and play them over and over to practice their listening skills. In countries around the world, English teachers assign Special English to their students. They praise it for improving their students' ability to understand American English and for the content of the programs. Universities and private companies in many countries produce packages of Special English materials for student use.
【小题1】At the beginning, Special English program was        .

A．well received

B．rejected by native people

C．doubted by some professionals

D．intended for teaching English

【小题2】What kind of English is spoken on Special English?

A．British English.

B．American English.

C．Both British and American English.

D．Not certain.

【小题3】Which of the following are the elements that make Special English unique?
a．limited vocabulary
b．short simple sentences
c．good communication method
d．slow speed
e．interesting feature programming

A．a, b, c

B．a, c, d

C．a, b, d

D．b, d, e

【小题4】From the last paragraph we can infer that       .

A．listening to Special English can be a student’s homework

B．listening to Special English can improve the content of the program

C．some student record the Special English material for sale

D．learning English from VOA is a traditional way for English learner.

If you have no friends around you, it’s time that you should know about your neighborhood. Not all of your neighbors out there are friendly, but at least you need to communicate with them. It is common that when you are new to the neighborhood, your neighbors might actually greet you in an inspiring way.
In other words, they are pleased to welcome you in their neighbor-hood. Both you and your neighbors may start in getting known to each other by introducing yourselves. This is a sign that you and your neighbors are actually friends. Instead of watching television and playing computer games all the time, you also need to take a break and have some fun talking with your neighbors. But if you want to make friends with them, you need to do something that might please them. The only problem for this situation is that you are afraid to approach and greet them in a nice way.
This is a challenge that you or your fellow neighbors must be aware of. You need to get as many friends as possible in your neighborhood, and one of them is to get closer with the unfriendly. If you want to get closer with him but he refuses to be friends with you, don’t force him anymore. Treat him with some respect if you don’t like to create any more problems. However, if he agrees to be your friend, you are lucky and start treating him like a friend. It is very tough to approach a person in your neighborhood, but it is a good challenge. This is how important for you to get closer with your neighbors, even if they’re unfriendly. This is better than sticking yourself alone at home and not having time for social interactions (交往) with real people.
【小题1】The passage is mainly about ______.

A．the importance of friendship in our life

B．how to build good neighborhood relations

C．methods to communicate effectively with people

D．how to get rid of misunderstandings with neighbors

【小题2】Which of the following statements does the writer agree with according to the passage?

A．It’s just natural that all our neighbors are not friendly.

B．Neighbors are usually unwilling to greet newcomers.

C．Television and online games help reduce one’s loneliness.

D．Making friends with the unfriendly neighbors needs patience.

【小题3】What’s the most difficult in making friends with neighbors?

A．Staying away from television and games.

B．Knowing more about neighbors’ situations.

C．Getting known to each other by introducing.

D．Getting close with the unfriendly neighbors.

【小题4】The main purpose of the passage is to ______.

A．share experience	B．provide facts
C．give advice	D．compare opinions

India is an ancient civilization with rich cultural heritage (遗产), and its cultural heritage has something to do with all major religions of the world. Here we take a look at some of the top heritage destinations in India.
Sun Temple, Konark
As the name suggests this temple is all about the power of the sun God. A huge chariot (二轮战车) drawn by seven horses and twelve pairs of wheels reflect the importance which ancient people placed on the power of the sun. The pictures of animals and humans give this place a special look.
Churches Goa
Goa is the only Indian state which was under the Portuguese (葡萄牙人), so the scene in Goa is dotted with (点缀着) Portuguese style churches. Some of the famous churches include the church of Saint Catherine, church of Saint Augustine and church of saint Francis of Assisi. These churches exhibit beautiful paintings and flower designs which make them a must visit.
Ajanta and Ellora Caves
These caves contain well designed paintings which are widely regarded as the most outstanding works of Buddhist religious art.
Taj Mahal, Agra
Built on the bank of the Yamuna River, it is an excellent building. The writing and paintings on the outside structure provide the finest examples of the outstanding style of buildings.
Sanchi
Sanchi is a UNESCO world heritage site with numerous Buddhist temples dating back to the seventh and eighth centuries.
On your visit to India, be sure to visit some of these heritage destinations. An Indian journey is not wonderful without experiencing the beauty of these heritage destinations.
【小题1】What can we learn from the passage?

A．Ellora Caves only have statues of animals.

B．The Portuguese controlled the whole India two centuries ago.

C．Indian cultural heritage is related to religions.

D．The church of Saint Catherine is the earliest one in the world.

【小题2】The ancient people in India attached importance to      .

A．animals

B．the sun’s power

C．ancient temples

D．ancient civilization

【小题3】What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Several top heritage destinations in India.

B．The great effect that Indian religion has on culture.

C．India has rich cultural heritage in the world.

D．India is famous for its cultural heritage.

This is the SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, I’m Barbara Klein.
Animal experts say one of the world’s most beautiful and rare kinds of big cat is close to disappearing from the wild. A study earlier this year found that about thirty Amur leopards(豹) still live free. The cats are also called Far Eastern leopards.
Recently, their numbers have been reduced by one. Some person shot a female Amur, then beat her to death. The animal’s body was discovered last month in the Barsovy National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Russia.
An official of the World Wildlife Fund, Darron, said this was the third such killing in the area in the past fives years. Mr. Collins said the death of even one adult female is a huge loss for the endangered cat. He noted that the killing reduces the possibility for cubs(幼兽) or young.
It is not clear how many Amur leopards still live free. One population count was performed in February and March. Wildlife expert Dmitry Pikuuov led this study. It found evidence of seven to nine males. The study identified(确定) three to seven females without cubs. Four leopards were identified as females with cubs. In all, five or six cubs were recorded. Six to eight animals could not be identified.
Most of the land where the Amur leopard once lived was in China. New roads and climate change there threatened(威胁) the animals. So did hunters who kill big cats for their body parts.
Mr. Pikuuov says adult Amurs need about five hundred square kilometers with good forests to survive. He said they also need a large and continuing supply of animals like deer for food. He believes the answer to saving the Amur leopard is for governments to provide protected spaces for wildlife.
【小题1】This passage is probably from____________.

A．a magazine

B．a newspaper report

C．a TV report

D．a film

【小题2】Why is the killing of an adult female a huge loss?

A．It could lead to the death of an adult male.

B．It means it can not give birth to the young any more.

C．It is worth more money than a male.

D．There is only one adult female in the world.

【小题3】The number of the Amur leopards in China is becoming smaller because of all the following EXCEPT

A．new roads

B．climate change

C．human hunting

D．rare diseases

【小题4】According to the experts the Amur leopards ____________.

A．are living on plants	B．are living in the zoo
C．are well protected by people	D．are endangered

Few of us haven’t read Cinderella(灰姑娘), 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(特点) 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.”
【小题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．tell us what is the Cinderella Story

D．tell us how interesting the fairy tale Cinderella is

【小题2】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.

【小题3】The passage is mainly about ____________.

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

It was the summer of 1965. Deluca, then 17, visited Peter Buck, a family friend. Buck asked Deluca about his plan for the future. “I'm going to college, but I need a way to pay for it，” Deluca recalls saying. “Buck said, ‘you should open a sandwich shop.’”
That afternoon, they agreed to be partners. And they set a goal: to open 32 stores in ten years. After doing some research, Buck wrote a check for $1,000. Deluca rented a storefront (店面) in Connecticut, and when they couldn't cover their start­up costs, Buck kicked in another $1,000.
But business didn't go smoothly as they expected. Deluca says, “After six months, we were doing poorly, but we didn't know how badly, because we didn't have any financial controls.” All he and Buck knew was that their sales were lower than their costs.
Deluca was managing the store and to the University of Bridgeport at the same time. Buck was working at his day job as a nuclear physicist in New York. They'd meet Monday evenings and brainstorm ideas for keeping the business running. “We convinced ourselves to open a second store. We figured we could tell the public, ‘We are so successful; we are opening a second store.’” And they did—in the spring of 1966. Still, it was a lot of learning by trial and error.
But the partners' learn­as­you­go approach turned out to be their greatest strength. Every Friday, Deluca would drive around and hand­deliver the checks to pay their supplies. “It probably took me two and a half hours and it wasn't necessary but as a result, the suppliers got to know me very well, and the personal relationships established really helped out，” Deluca says.
And having a goal was also important. “There are so many problems that can get you down. You just have to keep working toward your goal，” Deluca adds.
Deluca ended up founding Subways Sandwich, the multimillion­dollar restaurant chain.
【小题1】Deluca opened the first sandwich shop in order to ________.

A．support his family

B．do some research

C．help his partner expand business

D．pay for his college education

【小题2】Which of the following is true of Buck?

A．He put money into the sandwich business.

B．He was a professor of business administration.

C．He was studying at the University of Bridgeport.

D．He rented a storefront for Deluca.

【小题3】What can we learn about their first shop?

A．It stood at an unfavorable place.

B．It lowered the prices to poor management.

C．It made no profits due to poor management.

D．It lacked control over the quality of sandwich.

【小题4】They decided to open a second store because they ________.

A．had enough money to do it

B．had succeeded in their business

C．wished to meet the increasing demand of customers

D．wanted to make believe that they were successful

【小题5】What contributes most to their success according to the author?

A．Learning by trial and error.

B．Making friends with supplies.

C．Finding a good partner.

D．Opening chain stores.

What does the word“youth” mean to you? Many define it as a precious time in their life when they are young, when fun, passion, and imagination seem limitless. But for most high school students, youth is a time of determination and willpower for achieving their goals.
This is vividly shown in Mark of Youth, a movie that opened on Feb 5. Mark of Youth tells the story of four Senior 3 students in a top high school in the days leading up to the national college entrance examination.
Each character represents a different type of student, ranging from the most mischievous(调皮的)to the most motivated. Like most teenagers, they enjoy carefree moments and like to talk about their schoolmates. But the tension of the approaching exam, probably their first life-changing event, is common—they must memorize seemingly endless English words and Chinese poems, work through piles of practice test papers, and improve their scores despite the increasing pressure.
But life exists beyond campus. That the college entrance examination is coming up doesn’t mean they can escape family changes, such as when one character’s parents get divorced or another’s father is arrested. Can these four young people handle their problems and eventually make it to their ideal universities despite their on –and –off campus stress?
The story is set in Hubei Huanggang Middle School, known for its students’ outstanding performances on the big exam. The four students are played by the actors who played in the reality shows Happy Boys and Happy Girls. HongKong actor Alex Fong plays their teacher.
Students may look more fashionable in Mark of Youth than in real life, but it is the story about the final year of high school that many viewers relate to.
“The film is very inspiring,” said Senior 2 student Yao Lingqian, 16, from Leshan Foreign Language School in Sichuan province. “A total commitment(投入)to hard work, though it can be lonely and no fun at all, will leave precious marks on my youth.”
And for Senior 3 student Gao Jing, the film has given her optimism. “The characters taught me that what you score is not the only important thing. The way you approach the exam matters the most,” said the 17-year-old from Zhenping County No 1 High School in Nanyang, Henan province.
“The film really reflects senior 3students’life.” Zhang Ping, a teacher from a senior high school in Qingdao, commented.
【小题1】What is the function of the first paragraph in the passage?

A．To tell us what the word “youth” means.

B．To introduce what will be mainly talked about.

C．To tell youth is a time of determination and willpower.

D．To introduce some famous actors.

【小题2】Why must the four Senior 3 students memorize seemingly endless English words and Chinese poems?

A．They want to enjoy carefree moments.

B．They want to gossip about their schoolmates.

C．They want to work through piles of practice test papers.

D．They want to improve their scores.

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

A．Mark of Youth tells a story that happened on Feb 5.

B．The characters in the film have to face the pressure from both study and their families.

C．The film tells a story that really happened in Hubei Huanggang Middle School.

D．Most characters in the film are played by actors from HongKong.

【小题4】What kind of belief does the film convey?

A．Youth is a wonderful thing.

B．We youth should face challenge with smile.

C．Entrance examination is very important in our life.

D．The entrance examination isn’t so terrible.

【小题5】Which of the person can we see in the film?

A．Alex Fong

B．Yao Lingqian

C．Gao Jing

D．Zhang ping

People from East Asia tend to have more difficulty than those from Europe in distinguishing facial expressions — and a new report published online in Current Biology explains why.
Rachael Jack, University of Glasgow researcher, said that rather than scan evenly(均匀的) across a face as Westerners do, Easterners fix their attention on the eyes.
"We show that Easterners and Westerners look at different face features to read facial expressions," Jack said. "Westerners look at the eyes and the mouth in equal measure, whereas Easterners favor the eyes and neglect (忽略) the mouth."
According to Jack and her colleagues, the discovery shows that human communication of emotion is more complex than previously believed. As a result, facial expressions that had been considered universally recognizable cannot be used to reliably convey emotion in cross-cultural situations.
The researchers studied cultural differences in the recognition of facial expressions by recording the eye movements of 13 Western Caucasian and 13 East Asian people while they observed pictures of expressive faces and put them into categories: happy, sad, surprised, fearful, disgusted, angry, or neutral. They compared how accurately participants read those facial expressions using their particular eye movement strategies.
It turned out that Easterners focused much greater attention on the eyes and made significantly more errors than did Westerners. "The cultural difference in eye movements that they show is probably a reflection of cultural difference in facial expressions," Jack said. "Our data suggests that whereas Westerners use the whole face to convey emotion, Easterners use the eyes more and mouth less."
In short, the data show that facial expressions are not universal signals of human emotion. From here on, examining how cultural factors have diversified these basic social skills will help our understanding of human emotion. Otherwise, when it comes to communicating emotions across cultures, Easterners and Westerners will find themselves lost in translation.
【小题1】What were the people asked to do in the study?

A．To make a face at each other.

B．To get their faces impressive.

C．To classify (分类) some face pictures.

D．To observe the researchers' faces

【小题2】What does the underlined word "they" in Paragraph 6 refer to?

A．The participants in the study.	B．The researchers of the study.
C．The errors made during the study.	D．The data collected from the study.

【小题3】In comparison(比较) with Westerners, Easterners are likely to         .

A．do translation more successfully

B．study the mouth more frequently

C．examine the eyes more attentively

D．read facial expressions more correctly

【小题4】What can be the best title for the passage?

A．The Eye as the Window to the Soul

B．Cultural Differences in Reading Emotions

C．Effective Methods to Develop Social Skills

D．How to Increase Cross-cultural Understanding

February has long been a month of romance. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the emperor (皇帝) decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow marriage.
But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.
【小题1】Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?

A．Because there were few women in his country at that time.

B．Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.

C．Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people.

D．Because he wanted to control the birth rate.

【小题2】Valentine was put into prison because _____.

A．he killed one of the soldiers	B．he stole a lot of food
C．he didn’t obey the emperor’s order	D．he didn’t want to be a soldier

【小题3】The last paragraph mainly tells us _____.

A．students in China send cards to their teachers

B．it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China

C．it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China

D．Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now

【小题4】The best title for this passage should be _____.

A．Valentine’s Day	B．A Brave Priest
C．Valentine’s Day in China	D．A Romantic Man