Have you ever noticed advertisements which say “Learn a foreign language in 6 weeks, or your money back! From the first day your pronunciation will be excellent. Just send…” and so on? Of course, it never happens quite like that. The only language that is easy to learn is one’s mother tongue. And think how much practice that gets! Before the Second World War people usually learnt a foreign language in order to read the literature of the country.

Now speaking a foreign language is what most people want. Every year millions of people start learning one. How do they do it? Some people try at home, with books and records of tapes; some use radio or television programs; some use computers and network; others go to evening classes. If they use the language only 2 or 3 times a week, learning it will take a long time, like learning a foreign language at school. A few people try to learn a language fast by studying for 6 or more hours a day. It is clearly easier to learn the language in the country where it is spoken.

However, most people cannot afford this, and for many it is not necessary. They need the language in order to do their work better. For example, scientists and doctors chiefly need to be able to read books and reports in the foreign language. Whether the language is learnt quickly or slowly, it is hard work. Machines and good books will help, but they cannot do the student’s work for him.

According to some advertisements, you ______ .

A. have to pay your money if you cannot master a foreign language in 6 weeks.

B. needn’t pay you money if you cannot learn a foreign language in 6 weeks

C. must pay your money if you cannot master a foreign language in 6 weeks

D. will be paid much money if you cannot learn a foreign language in 6 weeks

Now most people try to learn a foreign language in order to ______.

A. read the literature of the country    B. read books and reports

C. do their work better                D. go to foreign countries

Learning a foreign language is a hard job ______.

A. only for scientists and doctors   B. only for the students at school

C. for those people at home        D. for most people

 

D

Sandeep Mukerji was on his first visit to Thailand but would leave the “Land of Smiles” with a frown and an empty pocket.

A stone’s throw from the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the 26-year-old Canadian ran into a monk in a robe. The monk told him that the attraction he was hoping to visit had been closed.

The monk then introduced Mukerji to a jewellery store instead. On the way there, three different people told him that it was the last day of a once-a-year, tax-free jewellery promotion to encourage tourism.

They said that tourists can make a lot of money by buying gems（宝石）in Thailand and selling them once at home.

Two hours later, Mukerji had spent US $ 1, 250 on a set of almost worthless jewellery in the jewellery store.

“The whole process took me by surprise. They take advantage of your greed,” he said.

In fact, Mukerji is just one of a huge number of tourists who are cheated by the promise of making a fortune. The scam（诡计）brings Thailand more than US $ 10 million each year.

Although tourist police stations have displayed posters to warn of the scam, many fresh-faced tourists still fall prey to the trick.

The police say they receive 5～10 complaints a day. Many more may not realize they have been cheated until they go back home.

That authorities say that the jewellery scam is harmful to Thailand’s image, but getting rid of the cheats is hard.

Sanit Miphan, head of the police, said the scam has been running for about 15 years but not one jewellery shop owner has been arrested.

The shops usually open for two weeks and then close. They reopen and register under a new name. What’s more, overcharging（要价过高）itself is not breaking the law.

Yet, to keep the tourism business alive, the police said they would take action against any shop receiving more than 10 complaints.

73. Sandeep Mukerji was cheated probably because of all the following EXCEPT that_______.

A. he was young

B. he believed that the monk wouldn’t cheat others

C. he had more or less the wish to try his fortune

D. the cheat scam was too skillful to be found out

74. How many people cheated Sandeen Mukerji?

A. Two         B. Three       C. Four           D. Five

75. Suppose everyone who was cheated lost as much as Mukerji did, how many visitors to Bankok would be cheated each year?

A. About 6, 000   B. About 8, 000   C. About 10, 000.    D. About12, 000.

76. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Thai tourist police are carrying out their task very efficiently.

B. The management of Thai tourist market is very strict.

C. Any shop receiving complaints will be punished as seriously as possible.

D. It is hard for the police to crack down（制裁） the cheats efficiently partly because many cheats’ deeds seem not to break the law.

 

 

We are all called upon to make a speech at some point in life , but most of us don’t do a very good job . This article gives some suggestions on how to give an effective speech .

So , you have to give a speech—and you’re terrified . You get nervous , you forget what you want to say , you stumble over words , you talk too long , and you bore your audience . Later you think , “Thank goodness , it’s over . I’m just no good at public speaking . I hope I never have to do that again .”

Cheer up ! It doesn’t have to be that bad . Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech making . Ask yourself the purpose of your speech . What is the occasion ? Why are you speaking ? Then , gather as many facts as you can on your subject . Spend plenty of time doing your research . Then spend plenty of time organizing your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow . Use as many examples as possible , and use pictures , charts , and graphs if they will help you make your points more clearly . Never forget your audience . Don’t talk over their heads , and don’t talk down to them . Treat your audience with respect . They will appreciate your thoughtfulness .

Just remember : be prepared . Know your subject , your audience , and the occasion . Be brief . Say what you have to say and then stop . And be yourself . Let your personality come through so that you make person-to-person contact with your audience .

If you follow these simple steps , you’ll see that you don’t have to be afraid of public speaking . In fact , you may find the experience so enjoyable that you volunteer to make more speeches! You’re not convinced yet ? Give it a try and see what happens .

1．The main idea of this article is______________ .

         A．you can improve your speaking ability     B．a poor speaker can never change

         C．always make a short speech    D．it is hard to make a speech

2．Paragraph 2 implies that______________ .

         A．many people are afraid of giving a speech      

         B．many people are happy to give a speech

         C．many people do not prepare for a speech

         D．many people talk too long

3．The phrase “talk over their heads” means______________.

         A．speak too loudly                 B．look at the ceiling

         C．look down upon them       D．use words and ideas that are too difficult

4．All of the following statements are true except that______________.

         A．few people know how to make good speeches

         B．a lecturer does not need to organize his speech

         C．research is important in preparing a speech

         D．there are simple steps you can take to improve your speaking ability

5．The title for this passage may be ______________.

         A．Do Not Make a Long Speech    B．How to Give a Good Speech

         C．How to Prepare for a Speech   D．Try to Enjoy a Speech

 

One is never too old to learn. Life learning (sometimes called un-schooling or self-directed learning) is one of those concepts that are almost easier to explain by saying what it isn’t than what it is. And that’s probably because our own schooled backgrounds have convinced us that learning happens only in a fine building on certain days, between certain hours, and managed by a specially trained professional.

Within that schooling framestudy, no matter how hard teachers try and no matter how good their textbooks, many bright students get bored, many slower students struggle and give up or lose their self-respect, and most of them reach the end of the process unprepared to enter into society. They have memorized a certain body of knowledge long enough to rush back the information on tests, but they haven’t really learnt much, at least of the official curriculum.

Life learners, on the other hand, know that learning is not difficult, that people learn things quite easily if they’re not compelled and forced, if they see a need to learn something, and if they are trusted and respected enough to learn it on their own timetable, at their own speed, in their own way—no matter what age and no matter whether we’re at school or at home.

Life learning is independent of time, location or the presence of teacher. It does not require mom or dad to teach, or kids to work in workbooks at the table from 9 to noon. Life learning is learner-driven. It involves living and learning—in and from the real world. It is about exploring, questioning, experimenting, making messes, taking risks without fear of making mistakes, being laughed at and trying again.

Furthermore, life learning is about trusting kids to learn what they need to know and about helping them to learn and grow in their own ways. It is about providing positive experiences that enable children to understand the world and their culture and to interact with it.

1.It is implied in the text that it is hard to ______.

A. tell the nature of life learning 　　      B. carry life learning through

C. learn without going to school 　　      D. find a specially trained teacher

2.According to the author, the schooling framestudy often ______.

A. produces slow students with poor memories

B. ignores some parts of the official curriculum

C. fails to provide enough knowledge about life

D. gives little care to the quality of teaching materials

3.Life learners recognize that learning will not be difficult if they are ______.

A. able to respect other people　                  B. careful to make a time table

C. clear about why to learn　　                     D. cautious about any mistakes

4.According to the author, life learning ______.

A. could prevent one from running risks

B. teaches a kid how to avoid being laughed at

C. makes a kid independent of his parents

D. could be a road full of trials and errors

5.Through life learning, children ______.

A. will grow without the assistance from parents

B. will be seperated from the negative side of society

C. will be driven to learn necessary life knowledge

D. will learn to communicate with the real society