Informal conversation is an important part of any business relationship. Before you start a discussion, however, make sure you understand which topics are suitable and which are considered taboos(禁忌) in a particular culture. Latin Americans enjoy sharing information about their local history, art, and customs. They expect questions about their family and are sure to show pictures of their children. You may feel free to ask similar questions of your Latin American friends. The French think of conversation as an art form, and they enjoy the value of lively discussions as well as disagreements. For them, arguments can be interesting — and they can cover pretty much or any topic — as long as they occur in a respectful and intelligent manner.

In the United States, business people like to discuss a wide range of topics, including opinions about work, family, hobbies, and politics. In Japan, China, and Korea, however, people are much more private. They do not share much about their thoughts, feelings, or emotions because they feel that doing so might take away from the harmonious business relationship they’re trying to build. Middle Easterners are also private about their personal lives and family matters. It is considered rude, for example, to ask a businessman from Saudi Arabia about his wife or children.

As a general rule, it’s best not to talk about politics or religion  with your business friends. This can get you into trouble, even in the United States, where people hold different views. In addition, discussing one’s salary is usually considered unsuitable. Sports is typically a friendly subject in most parts of the world, although be careful not to criticize a national sport. Instead, be friendly and praise your host’s team.

1.The author considers politics and religion ________.

A. cheerful topics                        B. taboos

C. rude topics                             D. topics that can never be talked about

2.Which is typically a friendly topic in most places according to the author?

A. Sports.                                   B. Children.   

C. Personal feelings.                  D. Families.

3.Why are people from Asia more private in their conversation with others?

A. They don’t want to talk with others much.

B. They don’t want to have their good relationship with others harmed by informal conversation.

C. They are afraid to argue with their colleagues.

D. They want to keep their feelings to themselves.

4. What shouldn’t you do when talking about sports with colleagues from another country?

A. Praising your own country’s sports.

B. Criticizing your own country’s sports.

C. Praising the sports of your colleagues’ country.

D. Criticizing the sports of your colleagues’ country.

 

Informal conversation is an important part of any business relationship. Before you start a discussion, however, make sure you understand which topics are suitable and which are considered taboo (禁忌) in a particular culture. Latin Americans enjoy sharing information about their local history, art and customs. Expect questions about your family, and be sure to show pictures of your children. You may feel free to ask similar questions of your Latin American friends. The French think of conversation as an art form, and they enjoy the value of lively discussions as well as disagreements. For them, arguments can be interesting - and they can cover pretty much any topic - as long as they occur in a respectful and intelligent (智慧的) manner.

In the United States, business people like to discuss a wide range of topics, including opinions about work, family, hobbies and politics. In Japan, China and Korea, however, people are much more private. They do not share much about their thoughts, feelings, or emotions because they feel that doing so might take away from the harmonious (和谐的) business relationship they're trying to build. Middle Easterners are also private about their personal lives and family matters. It is considered rude, for example, to ask a businessman from Saudi Arabia about his wife or children.

As a general rule, it's best not to talk about politics or religion (宗教) with your business friends. This can get you into trouble, even in the United States, where people hold different views. In addition, discussing one's salary is usually considered unsuitable. Sport is typically a friendly subject in most parts of the world, although be careful not to criticize a national sport. Instead, be friendly and praise your host's team.

Why are people from Asia more private in their conversation with others?

A. They don't want to talk with others much.

B. They don't want to have a good relationship with others harmed by informal conversation.

C. They are afraid to argue with their colleagues.

D. They want to keep their feelings to themselves.

The author considers politics and religion ________.

A. cheerful topics                 B. taboo

C. rude topics                   D. topics that can never be talked about

Which is typically a friendly topic in most places according to the author?

A. Sports.         B. Children.       C. Personal feelings.       D. Families.

 BROOKSVILLE — It’s the time of year again, when young bears are on their own for the first time. And that means more sightings where bears usually aren’t supposed to be.

This weekend, a 258-pound black bear took a brief tour of Brooksville, with police and firefighters chasing.

Another black bear, weighing just 100 pounds, was spotted Saturday, crossing busy U. S. 19 near a retirement community in Spring Hill. Several other bear reports have come from Citrus County.

" It is really difficult for the younger bears to find their own land around here, " said Niki Everitt, bear hot line director for the Gulf Coast Conservancy.

Brooksville’s bear first was spotted late Thursday crossing State Road 50, headed toward Tom Varn Park. Police and firefighters tracked the bear through the park and the Brooksville Quarry golf course.

The bear then wounded down the middle of Broad Street before being surrounded near Luigi’s Pizza. An official with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission came with a tranquilizer spear(加入镇静剂的矛).planning to stick the bear by hand. "The guy saw the size of the bear and figured that wasn’t a great idea, "said Capt. Frank Phillips of the Brooksville Fire Department.

Emergency officials waited until a tranquilizer gun was brought from Land O’ Lakes. The bear then got a free ride to the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area.

It is not unusual for bears to move into living areas this time of year, experts say. Mothers give their male baby bears the boot once the youngsters are 2 years old. With living areas growing, the young bears keep finding smaller and smaller areas in which they can set up their own land.

"They’ re trying to find a land of their own, where they won ‘t get beat up, " said Lt. Rip Stalvey, a game commission spokesman.

Everitt said people should not be too concerned about the recent bear sightings, since" we have never had a bear attack in Florida."

Black bears mainly eat the tender and fresh leaves of Sabal palms, as well as acorns and berries. Recent weeks of dry weather likely have reduced their food supply.

"If we don’t get some relief soon," Everitt said," we’re probably going to see a lot more of it."

1. What’s the main idea of this passage?

A. Bear sightings in living areas worry people.

B. Policemen try hard to get the bears controlled.

C. People take up too much land from bears.

D. ears come out to disturb people’s lives.

2. Which is true according to the passage?

A. The 100-pound bear was caught near Luigi’s Pizza.

B The Gulf Coast Conservancy makes bears homeless.

C. Brooksville’s bear was too large to be caught by hand.

D. Bears frequently visit humans’ living areas.

3. Bear sightings can usually be expected ______.

A. in the cold season         B. in the warm season

C. near lakes or rivers      D. near Luigi’s Pizza

4. The underlined phrase "give their male baby bears the boot" means______.

A. make them wear the boots       B. find new homes for them

C. drive them away from home     D. keep them in safe places

Is there a magic cutoff period when children become responsible for their own actions? Is there a wonderful moment when parents can become spectators （audiences） in the lives of their children and shrug, “It’s their life,” and feel nothing?

       When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital  passage waiting for doctors to put a few stitches（缝线） in my son’s head．I asked, “When do you stop worrying?” The nurse said, “When they get out of the accident stage．” My mother just smiled faintly and said nothing．

      When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and heard how one of my children talked continually and disrupted the class．As if to read my mind, a teacher said．“Don’t worry．They all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them．” My mother just smiled faintly and said nothing．

      When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to ring, the cars to come home, the front door to open．A friend said, “They’re trying to find themselves．Don’t worry; in a few years, you can stop worrying．They’ll be adults．” My mother just smiled faintly and said nothing．

    By the time I was 50, I was sick and tired of being weak．I was still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle．There was nothing I could do about it．My mother just smiled faintly and said nothing．

     I continued to suffer from their failures, and be absorbed in their disappointments．My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and lead my own life．I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted（萦绕心头） by my mother’s warm smile and her occasional “You look pale．Are you all right? Call me the minute you get home．Are you depressed about something?” Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry?

    One of my children became quite anxious about me recently, saying, “Where were you? I’ve been calling for three days, and no one answered．I was worried．”

     I smiled a warm smile．

The author intends to tell us in the passage that_______．

     A．parents long for a period when they no longer worry about their children

     B．there is no time when parents have no worry about their children

     C．it’s parents’ duty to worry about their children

     D．there should be a period when parents don’t have to worry about their children

We can infer from the underlined sentence “My mother just smiled faintly and said nothing．” that ______．

     A．her mother shared the same idea as the nurse

     B．her mother didn’t agree with the nurse

     C．her mother thought the nurse was lying

     D．her mother wouldn’t express her opinion upon the matter

The author mentioned her ages of twenties, thirties, forties and fifty in order to show_______．

      A．the hard times she experiences in her life

      B．the different stages of her children

      C．the support she received from her mother

      D．she had been worrying about her children in her life

What can we infer from the last sentence?

      A．The mother was happy that her child began to worry about her, too

      B．Finally the mother didn’t have to worry about her children

      C．At last the mother could live her own life without worry．

      D．The mother succeeded in turning her children into adults．

Which of the following should be the best title?

     A．Life             B．Parents   C．Worry          D．Children

 

Good nutrition and a balanced diet will help your children grow up healthily. No matter how old your kids are, you can take steps to improve nutrition and to encourage smart eating habits. Here are some suggestions.

Family Meals

Family meals are comforting for both parents and kids. Children like to guess what they are going to have and parents get the chance to introduce new foods to children and to find out which foods they like and which ones they don’t.

Teens may turn up their noses at your plan of a family meal. It is not surprising because they’re trying to establish independence. Yet studies find that teens still want their parents’ advice, so they use the mealtime as a chance to reconnect.

Stocking Up on Healthy Foods

Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what they can get at home. That’s why it’s important to control the supply lines—the foods which you serve for meals and have on hand for snacks. You should have enough fruits, vegetables, lean meat and other good sources of protein, such as eggs and nuts, and healthy snacks, such as yogurt, peanut butter and whole-grain biscuits.

Being a Good Example

The best way for you to encourage healthy eating is to eat well yourself. Kids will follow the lead of the adults they see every day. By eating fruits and vegetables and avoiding fast food and sugary drinks, you’ll be sending the right message.

No Conflicts over Foods

Parents might find themselves shouting at children to get them to have healthy foods in front of them. This in fact can make children dislike what they are asked to eat.

Get Kids Included

Most kids will enjoy making the decision about what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. It can help prepare them to make good decisions on their own about the foods they want to eat.

1. Family meals provide the chances for parents to do the following things EXCEPT        .

A. guessing what kids are going to have                                      B. finding what kids like and dislike  

C. introducing new foods to kids                                           D. reconnecting with kids

2. The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably means         .

A. teenagers may be interested in your plan of a family meal

B. teenagers may help you to make a plan of a family meal

C. teenagers may show no interest in your plan of a family meal

D. teenagers may refuse to help you to make a plan of a family meal

3. According to the article, which should NOT be done by parents?

A. Forming a healthful eating habit themselves.            B. Forcing kids to have vegetables.

C. Stocking up on some fruits at home.                             D. Making meal plans with kids.

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A. How to eat healthily.                                                 B. How to grow up healthily.

C. Help kids form healthful eating habits.                 D. Help kids know what a healthful meal is.