It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “If I finish my work, I'll meet you in the cafe at 7 o'clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?

　　In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure. By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic. If the girl doesn't want to go out with the boy, she won't turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working. If she wants to go out with him, but doesn't want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!

　　The conditional is often used by people in the news－politicians, for example－who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of workers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.

　　“If” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First－probability－if I can come to your party, I will; the Second－improbability－if I saw you tomorrow, I'd give you the book; and the Third－impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened)－if you have told me, I would have helped you.

　　注：conditional structure表示条件的句式，avoid避免，diplomatic婉转的，achieve达到，politician政客

1．The using of the conditional can make a speech ________.

[　　]

2．Which of the following is TURE according to the passage?

[　　]

A．Language used in the news should make room to argue.

B．Usually English girls are not easy to catch.

C．English people never speak out their ideas in public.

D．The word “if” can show different meanings.

3．In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means ________.

[　　]

A．the workers will make more money

B．the spokesman doesn't give any promise

C．the spokesman keeps his word

D．the workers' problems aren't difficult

4．This passage is mainly talking about ________.

[　　]

A．the conditional in communication

B．how to invite a girl in Britain

C．British people and their life

D．some language points in daily English

阅读理解

　　It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “I finish my work, I'll meet you in the cafe at 7 o'clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?

　　In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure(表示条件的句子). By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic(婉转的). If the girl doesn't want to go out with the boy, she won't turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working, if she wants to go out with him, but doesn't want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!

　　The conditional is often used by people in the news－politicians, for example－who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of workers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.

　　“If” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First－probability－if I can come to your party, I will; the Second－improbability－if I saw you tomorrow, I'd give you the book; and the Third－impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened)－if you have told me, I would have helped you.

1．The using of the conditional can make a speech ________.

[　　]

2．Which of the following is true according to the passage?

[　　]

A．Language used in the news should make room to argue.

B．Usually English girls are not easy to catch.

C．English people never speak out their ideas in public.

D．The word “if” can show different meanings.

3．In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means “________.”

[　　]

A．the workers will make more money

B．the spokesman doesn't give any promise

C．the spokesman keeps his word

D．the workers' problems aren't difficult

4．This passage is mainly talking about ________.

[　　]

A．the conditional in communication

B．how to invite a girl in Britain

C．British people and their life

D．some language points in daily English

If you knew you had only three years left to live, how would you use your time? It’s a hard question and few of us would even like to think about it. But 18-year-old Huang Ge has to answer this question and he says, “I want to thank the people who have helped me.”
At the age of one, Huang’s mother left the family. Six years later, he was badly ill. He has been using a wheelchair（轮椅）since 9 years old. Doctors said he would only live to be 18.
After Huang’s story went on TV, hundreds of Chinese sent money to help him. The boy was so moved （感动）that he decided to thank everyone of them. But it is not an easy job, because Huang was too sick even to drive a mosquito(蚊子) away from his leg. Huang has to be tied（系）to his wheelchair to stop him from falling out. And the family can only afford a three-wheeled motorcycle(三轮摩托). Since 2003, the father and son have traveled 14,000 kilometers to 10 provinces, and thanked more than 30 helpers.
“I am moved by the story of this boy. We need the courage(勇气) to face death, and we should also feel the thankfulness for those who help us,” reads an online article on CCTV，com.
【小题1】After hundreds of people sent money to help him, ________.

If you knew you had only three years left to live, how would you use your time? It’s a hard question and few of us would even like to think about it. But 18-year-old Huang Ge has to answer this question and he says, “I want to thank the people who have helped me.”

At the age of one, Huang’s mother left the family. Six years later, he was badly ill. He has been using a wheelchair（轮椅）since 9 years old. Doctors said he would only live to be 18.

After Huang’s story went on TV, hundreds of Chinese sent money to help him. The boy was so moved （感动）that he decided to thank everyone of them. But it is not an easy job, because Huang was too sick even to drive a mosquito(蚊子) away from his leg. Huang has to be tied（系）to his wheelchair to stop him from falling out. And the family can only afford a three-wheeled motorcycle(三轮摩托). Since 2003, the father and son have traveled 14,000 kilometers to 10 provinces, and thanked more than 30 helpers.

“I am moved by the story of this boy. We need the courage(勇气) to face death, and we should also feel the thankfulness for those who help us,” reads an online article on CCTV，com.

1.After hundreds of people sent money to help him, ________.

A．Huang Ge decided to ask for more

B．Huang Ge decided to thank everyone who had helped him

C．Huang Ge’s story went on TV

D．Huang Ge had a happy life with his father at home

2.They_________to thank the helpers.

A．took a train                            B．took a ship

C．took a motorcycle                       D．took a bus

3.What does the underlined word “thankfulness” mean?

A．感恩             B．宽容             C．诚信             D．奉献

4.Put the following sentences into correct order(顺序). 

a.Hundreds of Chinese sent money to help Huang Ge

b. Huang Ge decided to thank everyone who had helped him.

c. Huang’s story went on TV.

d. Huang’mother left the family.

e. Huang Ge was badly ill.

A．dceba            B．edbca            C．cdeab            D．decab

5.Which is the best title （标题）of the passage?

A．A way to success.                       B．An interesting trip

C．A thankful heart.                        D．A TV show