“Have a nice day!” may be a pleasant gesture or a meaningless. When my friend Maxie says “Have a nice day” with a smile, I know she sincerely cares about what happens to me. I feel loved and secure since another person cares about me and wishes me well.

“Have a nice day. Next!”This version of the expression is spoken by a salesgirl at the supermarket who is rushing me and my groceries out the door. The words come out in the same tone（腔调）with a fixed procedure. They are spoken at me, not to me. Obviously, the concern for my day and everyone else’s is the management’s attempt to increase business.

The expression is one of those behaviors that help people get along with each other. Sometimes it indicates the end of a meeting. As soon as you hear it, you know the meeting is at an end. Sometimes the expression saves us when we don’t know what to say “oh, you may have a tooth out? I’m terribly sorry, but have a nice day.”

The expression can be pleasant. If a stranger says “Have a nice day” to you, you may find it heart-warming because someone you don’t know has tried to be nice to you.

Although the use of the expression is an insincere, meaningless social custom at times, there is nothing wrong with the sentence except that it is a little uninteresting. The salesgirl, the waitress, the teacher, and all the countless others who speak it without thinking may not really care about my day. But in a strange and comfortable way, it’s nice to know they care enough to pretend they care when they really don’t care all that much. While the expression may not often be sincere, it is always spoken. The point is that people say it all the time when they like.

1.How does the author understand Maxie’s words?

2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 mean?

3. By saying “Have a nice day,” a stranger may _____.

4.According to the last paragraph, people say “Have a nice day”_______.

5.What is the best title of the passage?

At a primary school in a small town in the east of South Carolina, second-grade teachers Garneau and Lynne are convinced that separating elementary-age boys and girls produces immediate academic improvement in both genders(性别).

       David Chadwell, South Carolina’s coordinator of single gender education says, “Boys and girls learn, hear and respond to their surroundings differently. We can teach boys and girls based on what we now know.”

       Male and female eyes are not organized in the same way, he explains. The composition of the male eye makes it sensitive to motion and direction. “Boys interpret the world as objects moving through space,” he says.

       The male eye is also drawn to cooler colors like silver and black. It’s no accident boys tend to create pictures of moving objects instead of drawing the happy colorful family, like girls do in their class.

       The female eye, on the other hand, is drawn to warmer colors like red, yellow and orange. To attract girls, Chadwell says, the teacher doesn’t need to move as much as in boy’s class. Using descriptive phrases and lots of colors in presentations or on the blackboard gets their attention.

       Boys and girls also hear differently. “When someone speaks in a loud tone, girls interpret it as yelling,” Chadwell says. “They think you’re mad and can shut down.” Girls are more sensitive to sounds. He advises girls’ teachers to watch the tone of their voices. Boys’ teachers should sound more forceful, even excited.

       A boy’s nervous system causes him to be more cautious when he is standing, moving, and the room temperature is around 69 degrees Fahrenheit. Stress in boys, he says, tends to increase blood flow to their brains, a process that helps them stay focused. Girls are more focused when seated in a warmer room around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Girls also respond to stress differently. When exposed to threat and conflict, blood goes to their guts(肠道), leaving them feeling nervous or anxious.

       These differences can be applied in the classroom, Chadwell adds. “Single gender programs are about maximizing the learning.”

What is David Chadwell’s attitude toward separating elementary-age boys and girls while learning?

       A. Supportive               B. Worried            C. Concerned                D. Uninterested

To engage boy in a class, the teacher ______.

       A. must have a moving object in this hand   B. needs to wear clothes in warm color

       C. has to speak politely                              D. had better move constantly while teaching

Which of the following shows the organization of the passage?

       (??= Paragraph 1  ??= Paragraph 2  ??= Paragraph 3  ….. ??= Paragraph 8)

       A.                                  B.

C.                                     D.

Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

       A. Ways of teaching boys and ways of teaching girls

       B. Boys and girls should be separated

       C. How boys and girls learn differently

       D. How to teach more effectively

Which of the following students is most likely to be focused?

       A. A boy sitting in a warm room                 B. A standing boy who is faced with stress

       C. A girl standing in a cold room                D. A girl who is facing a lot of pressure

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. 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 two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities.  More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually include Chinese art, history and philosophy（哲学）. Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantages of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks of Westerners philosophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing 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 popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, that’s not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn’t matter if the words come from someone’s else or ourselves --- the positive and negative effects are just as lasting.

  We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We’re usually too embarrassed to admit it, though. In fact, we really shouldn’t be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.

This “self-talk” helps us motivate ourselves, remember things, solve problems, and calm ourselves down. Be aware, though, that as much as 77% of self-talk tends to be negative. So in order to stay positive, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying “Good job!”

Often, words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have. But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clerk will probably respond in a similar manner. Or harsh（刻薄的）and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive.

Words possess power because of their lasting effect. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking, we should always ask ourselves: Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn’t pass this test, then it’s better left unsaid.

Words possess power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self-esteem（自尊）and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.

The main idea of the first paragraph is that ________.

A. words have a lasting effect on us       B. not sticks and stones but words will hurt us 

C. inspiring words give us confidence          D. negative words may let us down 

There is no sense for us to feel embarrassed when we talk to ourselves because _______

A. it does no harm to have “self-talk” when we are alone

B. almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves

C. we can benefit from talking to ourselves

D. talking to ourselves always gives us courage

The underlined part in the third paragraph means that we should also timely _______

A. give ourselves amusement                    B. praise ourselves  

C. remind ourselves                                   D. make ourselves relaxed   

The author would probably hold the view that ___________

A. it is better to think twice before talking to others  

B. encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers

C. negative words may stimulate us to make more progress

D. people tend to remember friendly words

Top islands in the Mediterranean
Desiring a sun-and –sea summer holiday destination where you can also party the night away? Travel website TripAdvisor has come up with a list of the top islands in the Mediterranean sea. “All of these islands offer pristine (原始的) beaches and their own unique features,” said TripAdvisor spokeswoman Michele Perry. “Our travelers have identified the hot islands in the Med this summer, especially if you want sun, sea and dancing all night”.
Cyprus, Republic of Cyprus
Visit Aphrodite’s birthplace in the eastern Mediterranean. Beaches are the draw for many visitors to the island, but so is the nocturnal (夜间的) activity with Ayia Napa being the town to party in. According to one TripAdvisor traveler, “we would have to say the Troodos Mountains were our highlight. You will know what we mean if you take the journey. Breathtaking!”
Crete , Greece
As the former centre of the Minoan civilization, it’s no wonder that Crete features lots of historical attractions. Those in search of adventure on the largest Greek island can hike down Samaria Gorge for wonderful scenery. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, “Crete is an amazing place to explore ancient culture.”
Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain
Visit the party capital of Ibiza and feel honoured by joining thousands of revelers(狂欢者) at Privilege, the largest club in the world. Besides the vast nightlife, check out one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as God’s Finger, a large rock at the entrance of Benirras Bay.
Sicily, Italy
The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has the three Cs—culture, cuisine and calm. Laden with orange and lemon orchards, the countryside boasts natural beauty, great for relaxing. One
TripAdvisor traveler recommended, “If you are in Sicily, go on the sunset tour off Mount Etna. You can see the steaming ground and smell the sulfur(硫磺).”
65. Where should you go if you like ancient culture?
A. Cyprus.        B. Crete.          C. Ibiza, Balearic Islands.        D. Sicily.
66. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. In Cyprus and Ibiza, Balearic Islands, you can enjoy various activities at night.
B. The largest island in the Mediterranean is part of Greece.
C. Perhaps you can read the passage on the Internet.
D. God’s finger is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
67. What is a common feature of the places mentioned in the passage?
A. They have a lot of historical attractions.
B. They all boast natural beauty and natural resources.
C. They offer sun, sea and dancing all night.
D. They are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.