---Does anyone know __________?   

---I hear that he was born in Sweden.

“USA? Britain? Which country is better to study in?” We often hear such discussions. As China open its door, it is a dream for many Chinese students to study abroad. They want to learn about the outside world.
It’s true that studying abroad can help students develop themselves. Their foreign language skills will be improved and it may be easier to find jobs.
But there are problems that should be considered. Language is the first. Students must spend a lot of time learning another language.
Students must also learn to live without parents’ care and deal with all kinds of things they haven’t to do before, like looking after themselves. There are reports about Chineses students abroad running into an ocean of difficulties and giving up finally. When they have to take care of themselves, it is hard for students to study well.
Finally, studying abroad brings a heavy burden to the family. For most Chinese parents, the cost of studying abroad is very high. But is it worth it?
We know that there are many famous people who have achieved success through their hard work in China. Liu Xiang is a good example. Once an American teacher invited him there, but he refused. He kept training hard with his Chinese teacher. He surprised the world when he won a gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games. So when you winder which country is better to study in, think it again.

It is well-known that the “prom”, a formal dance held at the end of high school or college, is an important date in every student’s life. What is less well-known is that the word “prom” comes from the verb “to promenade”, which means to walk around, beautifully dressed, in order to attract attention. The idea is that you should see and be seen by others.

The prom is not just an American tradition, though most people believe that it started in America. In Canada the event is called a “formal”. In Britain and Australia the old fashioned word “dance” is more and more frequently being referred to as a “prom”. Most countries have some form of celebration when students finish high school: after all, it means the end of life as a child, and the beginning of life as an adult.

The prom is expensive to organize and the tickets can cost students a lot of money. The tradition is that students themselves have to raise the money to pay for it. Selling the students newspapers is one way to raise money; so is taking a part-time job at the weekend.

Although the prom should be the experience of a lifetime, it also worries many students. There is the problem of what to wear, who to take as your partner, who will be voted “prom queen”, etc. And it is not only students who feel worried. What many parents find difficult is the realization that their children’s school days are almost over. However, for most people at the prom, once the music starts playing, everyone relaxes and stops worrying.

1.In which country is the prom called a “formal”?

A. America.         B. Canada.        C. Britain.      D. Australia.

2.Why is the prom important in the students’ lives?

A. It’s the sign of becoming an adult.

B. It’s an old tradition in many countries.

C. There are many problems to work out.     

D. The students can raise money by themselves.

3.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The history of the prom. 

B. The traditions of the prom.

C. The development of the prom.

D. The general information of the prom.

 ---Does anyone know __________?   

---I hear that he was born in Sweden.

Dear friends,

My name is Tony. I am English. I am thirteen years old this year. I am tall, and I am good at playing football. I am in Grade Seven. There are thirty boys and twenty girls in my class. We are learning Chinese in our school. Our Chinese teacher is Mr. Wu. He is a little short, but he is very strong. He is very nice to us. I have some good friends in my class. Tom is a tall boy and has short black hair. He is good at playing football, too. Alice is short and she loves wearing red dresses. She is good at English. Shelly has long hair. She can speak Japanese and she likes running. We all study hard.

What about your school and your friend?  Please write soon.

Yours,

Tony

1.Which country is Tony from?

A．America.          B．England.           C．China.            D．Japan.

2.Who is Mr. Wu?

A．He is Tony’s English teacher.

B．He is Tony’s father.

C．He is Tony’s friend.

D．He is Tony’s Chinese teacher.

3.How many students are there in Tony’s class?

A．30               B．20               C．50               D．52

4.Who likes running?

A．Tom              B．Alice             C．Shelly            D．Mr Wu

5.Who writes this letter?

A．Tony                                 B．Tom

C．Shelly                                D．We don’t know