Many people believe that English is an easy language．Indeed, the author of a popular book on the history of English says that English “… has a grammar of great  1 ”． But if you have read the  2  articles in this series, it will be clear that I have a  3 opinion． My intention  4, not always so seriously, that English is in fact full of difficulties to the non-native speakers．The biggest book of English grammar contains 1800 pages and 5   3 kilos, which doesn’t necessarily prove that English grammar is  6 , but it  7 , undoubtedly, show that there is a lot of  8 !

So is English easy or not? Actually, English can be said to be difficult 9  we can point to many other languages that are  10．But English, like every language, is a hugely complex system  11  many aspects（方面）．It may be that some aspects of the language system are easier in English but  12  aspects are more difficult．For example, English spelling is more difficult than German spelling, but on the other hand adjectives are easier to use in English because they do not 13  their endings as they do in  14

And it seems that some languages are easier at the beginning but get 15  harder,    16  for other languages the opposite is true．I remember struggling terribly in my first few years of learning German to  17  terms with the interaction of articles（冠词）, case（格）and word order．However, once I had mastered this aspect of grammar,  18 else seemed very difficult in learning German．  19， I have the feeling that English gets more and more difficult  20  the learner advances．

1． A． difficulty               B． complexity            C． simplicity              D． difference

2． A． first few                B． few first                C． a few first          D． first a few

3． A． similar                   B． complex                C． public               D． different

4． A． has been to show   B． has been shown    C． has shown            D． shows

5． A． is weighed             B． are weighed           C． weighs                  D． weigh

6． A． easy                      B． difficult                 C． useful                   D． useless

7． A． did                        B． does                      C． has                       D． have

8． A． it                          B． them                     C． that                      D． those

9． A． only if                   B． if only                   C． even if                  D． as if

10． A． more difficult       B． more complex        C． easier                    D． closer

11． A．consisted of        B．being consisted of    C． consists of            D． consisting of

12． A． another                B． the other                C． others                   D． other

13． A． change                B． learn                     C． use                       D． spell

14． A． Germany          B． German             C． German language   D． the Germans

15． A． eventually            B． progressively         C． previously             D． finally

16． A． when                   B．as                           C． while                    D． since

17． A． come to               B． come up                C． come through        D． come into

18． A． anything              B． something             C． everything             D． nothing

19． A． On the other hand B．On the contrary      C． On average            D． On the whole

20． A． farther                 B． the farther             C． further             D． the further

In Finland, home of Nokia, which makes 30 percent of the mobile phones sold around the world, and veritable mobile phone capital of the world, a mobile phone is not just a phone. It is a credit card, a menu, a stock ticker, and an entertainment center. It is a multifunction server. It is a passport to the future. In the high-tech world of telephones, Finland clearly leads the world. By pressing their phone’s buttons and reading text messages on small screens, the Finns can tinnier money in their bank accounts, trade stocks, purchase products used daily, rent videos, buy movie tickets, order flowers, and pay for parking—all without ever talking to anyone, that is to say, without using a phone for its traditional purpose.

In a shopping center, you stand before a vending machine, and dial a number on your mobile phone. Seconds later, the food will fall on a shelf in the machine. It is a very easy way to get something to eat, the cost of which will show up on your mobile phone bill at the end of the month. In some restaurants, you dial a number after the waitress hands you your bill and get a receipt from the cashier. Mobile phones have become so important a part of life here that many people can not leave home without their phones. Nearly 80 percent of Finland’s five million people own mobile phones.

There are many more mobile phones than fixed ones in the country. That Finns describe themselves as perfect mobile phone users is not because they like to talk much but on the contrary. Finns are not very eager to talk. They are shy, but they are very eager to enjoy high-tech. Among teenagers, mobile phone ownership hits 100 percent. Many log on Web sites to download personalized music or pictures for their phones. Surveys show that Finns send an average of 25 messages a month on their mobile phones. Teachers have to ban the phones during exams to prevent cheating.

Mobile phones and related hand-held devices will make it technically possible to eliminate cash within ten years. Making that socially acceptable, however, may take longer. About 75 percent of all transactions in Finland are already performed with credit and debit cards. Except for mortgage(抵押) payments, which still require paperwork, mobile phones can perform any traditional banking function. Checks have not been used for at least five years. These provide a good start for mobile commerce. More and more people accept the mobile payment devices because of its fast and convenient service. Banks are beginning to join with enterprises to test a system that integrates(使一体化) the mobile payment devices with a cash register. Mobile commerce, as the theory goes, is entering people’s life step by step.

1. It can be concluded from the passage that ______.

A. mobile phones in Finland can perform all traditional banking functions

B. every teenager in Finland possesses a Nokia-brand mobile phone

C. Finns make full use of the cell phone

D. Finns are so active that they are eager to enjoy high technology

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned when describing the multi-functions of mobile phones?

A. If one uses a mobile phone, he or she needn’t pay cash when shopping.

B. Mobile phones are so important that without it no Finns can leave home.

C. The cost of the food will show up on your cell phone at the end of the month.

D. In some other countries, cell phones are not made that multi-functional.

3. According to the passage, we can infer that ______.

A. in Finland, some students use cell phones to cheat in exams

B. Finn’s listening and speaking ability will degenerate

C. there are more fixed phones than mobile phones in Finland

D. mobile phones and related hand-held devices will eliminate cash within 10 years technically, meanwhile they will be accepted by the society

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. About four million Finns own cell phones.

B. Finland leads the world in the field of high-tech.

C. Checks have not been used for at least five years.

D. Finland is the home of “Nokia”.

 

In Finland, home of Nokia, which makes 30 percent of the mobile phones sold around the world, and veritable mobile phone capital of the world, a mobile phone is not just a phone. It is a credit card, a menu, a stock ticker, and an entertainment center. It is a multifunction server. It is a passport to the future. In the high-tech world of telephones, Finland clearly leads the world. By pressing their phone’s buttons and reading text messages on small screens, the Finns can tinnier money in their bank accounts, trade stocks, purchase products used daily, rent videos, buy movie tickets, order flowers, and pay for parking—all without ever talking to anyone, that is to say, without using a phone for its traditional purpose.

In a shopping center, you stand before a vending machine, and dial a number on your mobile phone. Seconds later, the food will fall on a shelf in the machine. It is a very easy way to get something to eat, the cost of which will show up on your mobile phone bill at the end of the month. In some restaurants, you dial a number after the waitress hands you your bill and get a receipt from the cashier. Mobile phones have become so important a part of life here that many people can not leave home without their phones. Nearly 80 percent of Finland’s five million people own mobile phones.

There are many more mobile phones than fixed ones in the country. That Finns describe themselves as perfect mobile phone users is not because they like to talk much but on the contrary. Finns are not very eager to talk. They are shy, but they are very eager to enjoy high-tech. Among teenagers, mobile phone ownership hits 100 percent. Many log on Web sites to download personalized music or pictures for their phones. Surveys show that Finns send an average of 25 messages a month on their mobile phones. Teachers have to ban the phones during exams to prevent cheating.

Mobile phones and related hand-held devices will make it technically possible to eliminate cash within ten years. Making that socially acceptable, however, may take longer. About 75 percent of all transactions in Finland are already performed with credit and debit cards. Except for mortgage(抵押) payments, which still require paperwork, mobile phones can perform any traditional banking function. Checks have not been used for at least five years. These provide a good start for mobile commerce. More and more people accept the mobile payment devices because of its fast and convenient service. Banks are beginning to join with enterprises to test a system that integrates(使一体化) the mobile payment devices with a cash register. Mobile commerce, as the theory goes, is entering people’s life step by step.

1. It can be concluded from the passage that ______.

A. mobile phones in Finland can perform all traditional banking functions

B. every teenager in Finland possesses a Nokia-brand mobile phone

C. Finns make full use of the cell phone

D. Finns are so active that they are eager to enjoy high technology

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned when describing the multi-functions of mobile phones?

A. If one uses a mobile phone, he or she needn’t pay cash when shopping.

B. Mobile phones are so important that without it no Finns can leave home.

C. The cost of the food will show up on your cell phone at the end of the month.

D. In some other countries, cell phones are not made that multi-functional.

3. According to the passage, we can infer that ______.

A. in Finland, some students use cell phones to cheat in exams

B. Finn’s listening and speaking ability will degenerate

C. there are more fixed phones than mobile phones in Finland

D. mobile phones and related hand-held devices will eliminate cash within 10 years technically, meanwhile they will be accepted by the society

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. About four million Finns own cell phones.

B. Finland leads the world in the field of high-tech.

C. Checks have not been used for at least five years.

D. Finland is the home of “Nokia”.

 

Teenagers need to be aware of the emotional, intellectual, and physical changes that young adults experience. And they also need to give serious   1   to how they can best accommodate such   2  . Growing bodies need movement and   3  , but not just in ways that emphasize(强调) competition,   4   they are adjusting to their new bodies and a whole host of new intellectual and emotional challenges, teenagers are especially self-conscious and need the   5   that comes from achieving success and knowing that their accomplishments are   6   by others. However, the typical teenage lifestyle is already filled with so much competition that it would be   7   to plan activities in which there are more winners than losers8  , publishing newsletters with many student-written book reviews,   9   student artwork, and sponsoring book discussion clubs. A variety of small clubs can provide   10   opportunities for leadership, as well as for practice in successful   11   work. Making friends is extremely important to teenagers, and many shy students need the   12   of some kind of organization with a supportive   13   barely visible in the background.

    In these activities, it is important to remember that young teenagers have   14   attention spans(持续时间). A variety of activities should be organized   15   participants(参与者) can remain active as long as they want and then go on to   16   else without feeling guilty and without letting the other participants   17  . This does not mean that adults must accept irresponsibility.   18  , they can help students acquire a sense of commitment by   19   for roles that are within their   20   and their attention spans and by having clearly states rules.

1．A．thought                 B．idea                     C．opinion                D．advice

2．A．strength                B．changes               C．experience           D．attention

3．A．care                      B．nutrition              C．exercise              D．relaxation

4．A．if                          B．although              C．however              D．because

5．A．assistance             B．guidance              C．confidence          D．tolerance

6．A．ignored                 B．admired               C．criticized             D．approved

7．A．improper               B．risky                   C．fair                     D．wise

8．A．in effect                B．as a result            C．for example         D．in a sense

1,3,5

9．A．displaying              B．describing            C．creating               D．exchanging

10．A．extra                   B．various                C．expensive            D．dynamic

11．A．group                  B．single                  C．individual             D．personnel

12．A．insurance            B．admission            C．agreement           D．security

13．A．adult                   B．teenager              C．partner                D．kid

14．A．similar                 B．long                    C．different              D．short

15．A．if only                 B．now that              C．so that                D．even if

16．A．everything           B．anything              C．nothing               D．something

17．A．off                      B．down                  C．out                     D．alone

18．A．On the contrary   B．On the average     C．On the whole       D．On the other hand

19．A．making                B．standing              C．planning              D．taking

20．A．abilities              B．responsibilities      C．efficiency          D．activity