Learning English for 2008 Beijing Olympics

Yang Zhenhua has been a taxi driver for years．He knows every comer of the city．His work usually wins him thanks except when he meets foreigners，for Yang doesn’t know any English．

“Now I study English in my free time，”said Yang in his 40s．He pulls an English textbook from the toolbox．“I study English to help with Beijing Olympics，”he said proudly．Yang is just one of the millions of common people in Beijing who started to learn English when Beijing became the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games．Learning and speaking is hot among the people of this 3,000 - year - old city．From schools to factories，men and women，old and young are studying their“ABC”．Books teaching useful expressions for everyday communication are the most popular．

Some people，such as taxi drivers，bus conductors and the policemen，are asked to learn basic English．Nearly 3,000 students from 50 universities in Beijing went to the streets last August as volunteers to teach English to the people of this city．They taught common and useful sentences， such as greetings and asking and answering simple questions．Official figures show that about 15% of Beijing citizens can speak English．It is said that it will rise to 70% or 80% during the following years．Besides，the government encourages the use of English in many places．The city underground railways give messages by radio in both English and Chinese．English，not Chinese， is used as the most important working language for the Olympic Committee．Nearly all the committee members can speak English freely．Many are good at the language．

1．Yang zhenhua can hardly win himself thanks from foreigners because       ．

A．he isn’t polite to them at all         B．he is a common taxi driver

C．he can’t speak English             D．he doesn’t know the city well

2．According to the passage，the English beginners in Beijing like to learn        best．

A．the letters A，B and C．            B．everyday English

C．English texts                      D．English news

3．Nearly 3,000 students from 50 universities in Beijing went to the streets last August to      ．

      A．practice their spoken English         B．show their love of Beijing

      C．tell people the importance of English   D．teach the Beijing citizens English

4．Which of the following is TRUE?

      A．All the people in Beijing are asked to speak English．

      B．Beijing citizens are encouraged to use as much English as possible．

      C．All the taxi drivers in Beijing must speak English．

      D．Beijingers study English to take part in the Beijing Olympics．

5．The passage is about                   ．

A．the importance of English

B．how to learn English well

C．the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games．

D．more and more people are learning English in Beijing．

Meet Beijing’s Mascots

     BEIJING surprised the world last Friday，by unveiling(揭晓)five 2008 Olympic mascots. The doll—like figures represent the Olympic Flame and four of China’s most popular animals. Their design represents a circle of five children at play．

    The fish and water are symbols of prosperity and harvest in Chinese traditional culture．A  fish is a symbol of surplus in China，a measure of a good year and a good life．

    Jingjing makes children smile and that’s why he brings the blessing of happiness wherever he  goes．He is noted for strength

    Huanhuan is the big brother．He is a child of five，symbolizing the Olympic flame and the  pillion of sport．He stands in the centre as the core of the Olympic spirit．Huanhuan is open and  inviting．

    Yingying，an antelope is a symbol of the vastness of China’s landscape．He carries a wish  for harmony with nature．The figure shows Beijing’s commitment to host a green Olympics．

    Nini is a lovely and happy swallow．Her design draws on the shape of a kite．In traditional  Chinese thought，the swallow stands for good luck．

1．How many animals are there among the mascots?

   A．4            B．5                  C．3              D．none

2．What does the word“surplus”mean?

   A．充足的     B．多余的                 C．不足的         D．强盛的

3．Based on the passage，what’s Jingjing noted for?

   A．He is very weak                   B．He is very clever

   C．He is very strong                    D．He is very lovely

4．What place does Yingying like to live in possibly?

   A．山东       B．北京             C．蒙古    D．西藏

5．What does Nini stand for?

   A．Surplus          B．Happiness     C．Harmony D．Good luck

When talking about the 2008 Olympic Games, you must think of the host city—Beijing. But maybe you don’t think of the other cities—Qingdao, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

   Qingdao held the Olympic sailing competition. Horse-riding events was held in Hong Kong. Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang and Shanghai held football preliminaries (预赛).

 The following form tells you more.

根据短文和表格内容，选择正确的答案

1.How many cities were getting ready for the2008 Olympic Games?

A. One.     B. Six.       C. Seven.              D. Eight.

2._______ held horse-riding events.

A. Qingdao International Sailing Center    

B. Existing Competition Venue

C. Qinhuangdao Olympic Center Stadium 

D. Shanghai Stadium

3.How long did football preliminaries take?

A.13 days.    B.12 days.   C.7 days.             D.3 days. 

4.The sailing was held in _______.

A. Qingdao      B. Hong Kong     C. Qinhuangdao          D. Shanghai 

5.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Football preliminaries for the 2008 Olympics were held in four cities in China.

B. Horse-riding events for the 2008 Olympics lasted from Aug. 9 to Aug. 20.

C. Sailing for the 2008 Olympics lasted from Aug. 9 to Aug. 21.

D. Sailing events for the 2008 Olympics was held in Qinhuangdao.

When talking about the 2008 Olympic Games, you must think of the host city—Beijing. But maybe you don’t think of the other six cities—Qingdao, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Qingdao will hold the Olympic sailing competition. Horse-riding events will be held in Hong Kong. Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang and Shanghai will hold football preliminaries (预赛). Now the six cities and Beijing are busy building their Olympic stadiums.

The following form tells you more.

1. How many cities are getting ready for the 2008Olympic Games?

2. _______ will hold horse-riding events.

3. How long will football preliminaries take?

4.The sailing will be held in _______.

5. Which of the following is NOT true?

When talking about the 2008 Olympic Games, you must think of the host city—Beijing. But maybe you don’t think of the other cities—Qingdao, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Qingdao held the Olympic sailing competition. Horse-riding events was held in Hong Kong. Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang and Shanghai held football preliminaries (预赛).

The following form tells you more.

根据短文和表格内容，选择正确的答案

1.How many cities were getting ready for the 2008 Olympic Games?

A. One. B. Six. C. Seven. D. Eight.

2._______ held horse-riding events.

A. Qingdao International Sailing Center

B. Existing Competition Venue

C. Qinhuangdao Olympic Center Stadium

D. Shanghai Stadium

3.How long did football preliminaries take?

A. 13 days. B. 12 days. C. 7 days. D. 3 days.

4.The sailing was held in _______.

A. Qingdao B. Hong Kong C. Qinhuangdao D. Shanghai

5.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Football preliminaries for the 2008 Olympics were held in four cities in China.

B. Horse-riding events for the 2008 Olympics lasted from Aug. 9 to Aug. 20.

C. Sailing for the 2008 Olympics lasted from Aug. 9 to Aug. 21.

D. Sailing events for the 2008 Olympics was held in Qinhuangdao.