Giving someone good news is easy, but what about bad news? Are there any good ways to give bad news without making people too upset? The following steps might help:
Say something positive. Try to start or end the conversation with some good news, so that it’s not all bad. For example, “ You did very well in the interview, but unfortunately we’ve given the job to somebody else.”
Prepare your listener for the news. Use phrases to introduce what you’re going to say, like “Unfortunately, …”, “ I’m really sorry , but…” or “ I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news.” This gives the listener time to prepare for what you’re going to say.
Try to give a reason. People like know why things go wrong. Try to explain the decision. If someone doesn’t get the job, can you explain why? If you have to cancel an appointment, try to give a reason.
Use a soft tone of voice. If you’re giving someone bad news, try to use a soft, calm voice to make your sound kind. Say things to show you understand, like “I’m really sorry.” Or “I know this must be disappointing.”
【小题1】 Which step isn’t mentioned in the passage?

A．Talk about problems

B．Try to give a reason

C．Say something positive

D．Prepare your listener for the news

【小题2】What does the underlined word “ tone” mean in Chinese?

A．词语

B．语气

C．眼神

D．手势

【小题3】Linda failed the test. She could tell her mum the news beginning with “__________”.

A．You lucky thing!

B．You’ll never guess what.

C．Bad news, I’m afraid.

D．That’s really wonderful.

【小题4】 Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．“Unfortunately” can be used to tell the bad news.

B．You can start the conversation with some good news.

C．Tone of voice is important when giving the bad news.

D．Nobody likes to know the reason why things go wrong.

【小题5】The best title for the passage is “ _______”.

A．Bad news can be good news

B．Good ways to give bad news

C．It’s easy to give bad news

D．Giving bad news without any trouble

One night I was sitting in my room half-listening as my 15-year-old brother Tommy fought with my 12-year-old brother Kevin. I didn’t pay attention when Kevin rushed up the stairs with the hurt on his face.

About 20 minutes later, as I was walking upstairs I heard Kevin crying inside the bathroom. I knocked on the door and asked, “Hey Kevin, do you want to talk?”

No answer.

I tried again, “Why don’t you come out of there?”

Again, no answer.

So, joking around, I grabbed a stack of （一摞）cards and a pencil and wrote, “If you don’t want to talk, we can write notes to each other.”

An hour later I was still sitting on the floor outside the bathroom with two stacks of cards in front of me. One was blank and one was cards from Kevin on which he had translated all his yucky feelings into words for me. As I read one of Kevin’s notes, tears came to my eyes. It said, “Nobody in this family cares about me. I’m not the youngest, and I’m not the oldest. Tommy thinks I’m silly and Dad wishes he had the other Kevin as a kid because he’s better at basketball. And you’re never around to even notice me.”

Tears came to my eyes as I wrote back to him. “You know Kevin, I really do love you and I’m sorry I don’t always show it. I am here for you and you are loved in this family.”

There was no answer for a while, but then I heard a tearing sound coming from inside the bathroom. Kevin, who had run out of cards wrote on a torn paper cup. “Thanks.”

I wrote back “For what?” it returned to me with “Loving me” on it.

Since then, I try my best to never only half-notice my family members any more. Kevin and I have a closer relationship now. And sometimes when one of us notices that the other is upset, we’ll smile and say “Write it on a paper cup.”

1.The underlined word “yucky” most probably means ____.

     A. upset     B. exciting     C. terrible     D. amazing

2.What could be the reason that Kevin’s Dad doesn’t like him?

A.Kevin is not as clever as his brother.

B.He is neither the youngest nor the oldest.

C.Kevin doesn’t like to make friends with others.

D.Kevin is not good at playing basketball.

3.What do we know about the writer?

A.She has two children in her family.

B.She didn’t pay enough attention to Kevin before.

C.She used to show her love to Kevin.

D.She has a closer relationship with Tommy after that.

4.What does the writer want to tell us?

A.Everyone should show how they love their family members.

B.It’s hard to get on well with family members.

C.It’s important to keep peace in the family.

D.We should try our best to stop our children from fighting.

 

When Kyle walked into Ernie's Pet World, he looked very worried. He walked quickly to the front counter（柜台）. The owner of the shop, Ernie, jumped out to greet Kyle. He was the shop's first shopper of the day.
"Good morning, sir!" Ernie said. "What can I help you with?"
"Well, I...," Kyle started to say.
"Wait, don't tell me," Ernie interrupted (打断) him. "You're looking for a … a little dog... for
your daughter 's birthday.  Right?"
"No T really, l just..."
Ernie didn't let him finish. "Ah, I've got it, You just moved into a new house, and you want some fish for it. I have some very nice tanks over here."
"In fact, I..." Kyle was starting to look very nervous (紧张的). His face had a strange expression（表情）on it.
"No fish? Ah, a cat! You look like a cat person. At Ernie's Pet World, we have the best kinds. Take a look at this Persian — long, white hair, and look at that cute expression. She's looking at you. She's thinking, ‘Take me home. Take me home.’ Would you like some cat food and toys as well?"
"No, thank you," Kyle said. By this time, he was walking up and down. He had a pained (痛苦的) look on his face. "Really, I'm not interested in cats or fish or little dogs."
"What do you want, then?" Ernie asked.
Kyle looked like he was going to cry. "I just want to know if I can use your bathroom!" he finally said.
【小题1】What does the writer want to tell us?

A．A good pet owner.	B．A funny story.
C．A wonderful shopkeeper.	D．A strange pet shop.

【小题2】What was true about Ernie's Pet World?

A．The shop was not busy.	B．Kyle went there often.
C．The shop was about to close.	D．Kyle knew the shop owner well.

【小题3】What do you think of Ernie?

A．He is careful.	B．He is helpful.
C．He likes talking.	D．He is clever.

【小题4】Why did Kyle look anxious and pained?

A．He wanted to get a cat very much.	B．He didn't like animals.
C．He was late for work.	D．He was not comfortable.

Farmer John and Farmer Bob were neighbours. For more than 30 years, they had been getting along very well.
Then their good relationship broke. It began with a small thing, then bitter words, and then weeks of silence. One morning Farmer John woke up to find a stream between the two farms. “It must be Bob,” John thought.
Then one day there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a carpenter(木匠) standing at the doorway.
“I’m looking for a few days’ work,” the carpenter said.
“I do have a job for you,” John said. “Look across the stream at that farm. That’s my neighbour Bob. He dug a stream between the two farms. I want you to build a fence—an 8-foot fence. I don’t want to see his place or his face any more. I don’t have such a neighbour!”The carpenter said, “I think I know what to do, sir, and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.” Farmer John helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide. There was no fence there at all!
It was a bridge! And the neighbour, Bob, was coming across, with his hand outstretched(伸出). “Hi, John! You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!”
Then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hands. “I’m terribly sorry for what I have said and done. We should be good to each other.” said Farmer Bob. Then they turned to see the carpenter, who was ready to go. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I have a lot of other jobs for you,” said Farmer John. “I’d love to stay,” the carpenter said, “but I have more bridges to build.”
【小题1】What does the sentence “You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!” mean?

A．John was great to build this bridge.

B．John was not good at building bridges.

C．John was foolish to build such a bridge.

D．John should build the bridge earlier.

【小题2】What do you think of the carpenter?

A．Shy.

B．Wise.

C．Proud.

D．Careless.

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

A．What a Big Fence!	B．A Strong Bridge.
C．Three Kind Men	D．A Fence or a Bridge ?

阅读理解（二）（本题共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）

阅读下列短文回答问题：

  The most unusual museum in London is the Science Museum. In most museums, there’s no shouting and no running, and you aren’t allowed to touch the exhibits. But the Science Museum is different… because it’s noisy ! People talk about what they can see and do there, and some of the machines are noisy as well. Visiting the Science Museum is fun and it’s a great way to learn about science because you can work things out and try out ideas.

  When I visit the Science Museum, I go to the Launch Pad. This is my favorite room because you can do physics experiments. For example, if you want to fill a bag with falling sand, you have to move a kind of truck on wheels into the correct position. I also go to the Rocket Show. You can learn how we travel into space and back again.

Then I go upstairs to the Human and Nature room. You can compare your speed with animals there. You hear a noise and push a button. If you aren’t fast enough, the lion catches you! I’m faster than all my friends, but the lion still catches me.

  You can do a lot of things in this museum, but you have to obey some rules as well. For example, you mustn’t take photos of the exhibits in the museum. But you can buy postcards of them in the museum shops.

  Above all, the Science Museum is free. That means you can drop in for a few minutes or you can stay as long as you like – it’s open every day, from 10 am to 6 pm. So if you ever go to London, make sure you visit the Science Museum. It’s my favorite museum in the whole world.

1.Where does Tony go first when he visits the Science Museum?

2.What can you try out in the Human and Nature room?

3.How much does it cost to go in the Science Museum?

4.How long can you stay at the Science Museum ?

5.What does the writer think of the Science Museum?