Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here’s what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station .We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car´s back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, who almost caused a big accident, started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was friendly. So, I said, Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital! And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call The Law of the Garbage Truck.
Many people are like garbage (rubbish) trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy with what you did.
I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets? It was that day I said, I’m not going to do anymore.
Successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? If you let more garbage trucks pass you by, you’ll be happier. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don’t.
1. What happened one day when the author was taking a taxi?| A．The taxi almost hit another car. |
| B．The taxi driver was injured. |
| C．The author scolded the driver of the other car. |
| D．The author learned a lesson from the driver of the garbage truck. |
| A．He yelled back at the driver. |
| B．He sent the driver to the hospital. |
| C．He was friendly towards the driver. |
| D．He dumped some garbage in front of his car. |
| A．The author used to have a lot of garbage trucks. |
| B．The author used to complain a lot. |
| C．The author used to have a lot of money. |
| D．The author used to be a good manager |
| A．Ignore them and go on with our own work. |
| B．Try our best to persuade them not to do that again. |
| C．Tell them to dump the garbage in the right place. |
| D．Take over their work and carry the garbage to somewhere else. |
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【推荐1】It was Monday. Mrs. Smith’s dog was hungry, but there was not any meat in the house.
Considering that there was no better way. Mrs. Smith took a piece of paper, and wrote the following words on it: “Give my dog half a pound of meat.” Then she gave the paper to her dog and said gently: “Take this to the butcher (*person whose job is selling meat), and he’s going to give you your lunch today.”
Holding the piece of paper in its mouth, the dog ran to the butcher’s. It gave the paper to the butcher. The butcher read it carefully, recognized that it was really the lady’s handwriting and soon did it as he was asked to. The dog was very happy, and ate the meat up at once.
At noon, the dog came to the shop again. It gave the butcher a piece of paper again. After reading it, he gave it half a pound of meat once more.
The next day, the dog came again exactly at noon. And as usual, it brought a piece of paper in the mouth. This time, the butcher did not take a look at paper, and gave the dog its meat, for he had regarded the dog as one of his customers (*people who buy sth. from a shop).
But, the dog came again at four o’clock. And the same thing happened once again. To the butcher’s more surprise, it came for the third time at six o’clock, and brought with it a third piece of paper. The butcher felt a bit puzzled. He said to himself,“This is a small dog. Why does Mrs. Smith give it so much meat to eat today?”
Looking at the piece of paper, he found that there were not any words on it!
1. Mrs. Smith treated her little dog quite_________.| A．cruelly | B．fairly |
| C．kindly | D．friendly |
| A．before he felt sure that the words were really written by Mrs. Smith |
| B．when he found that the words on the paper were not clear |
| C．because he had sold out all the meat in his shop |
| D．until he was paid enough by Mrs. Smith |
| A．only the paper with Mrs. Smith’s words in it could bring it meat |
| B．the butcher would give the meat to it whenever he saw it |
| C．Mrs. Smith would pay for the meat it got from the butcher |
| D．a piece of paper could bring it half a pound of meat |
【推荐2】I’ve been in an 18-year love-hate relationship with a black walnut tree.
It’s a unique tree. In late September or early October, falling fruits as hard as baseballs threaten the skulls (头骨) of you, your children, your neighbors and those that live next door to them. Umbrellas in the yard are a must while dining in early August, and as for me, I wear my bike helmet while working in the garden.
The black walnut also releases a chemical substance through its roots as a competitive strategy. It’s poisonous to several common plants. There have been many new plant varieties that I brought home with hopes that maybe the black walnut would accept them, but they failed to grow well.
What does work are native plants that naturally grow in the area. Native plants are important to have around since they provide beneficial pollinators (传粉者) like birds, bees and butterflies with seeds and contribute to a healthy and biodiverse environment. Native plants for this area are generally easy to grow, so they experience less stress.
Have I thought of getting rid of this giant pain in my tiny backyard? Yes, however, getting rid of this tree standing at 50 feet with an 87-inch trunk is next to impossible. It’s also protected under the law. Rightfully so. Trees are important to the urban forest and for all of those that inhabit it.
Sometimes I think about my life without the black walnut. I can’t imagine a spring without the birds who arrive every year and loudly sing their songs before dawn. I’d miss falling asleep on lazy weekend afternoons as I look up into its leaves.
Every spring, I wonder what the season holds: What are the chances of being knocked unconscious while barbecuing? Like any good relationship, I’ll never be pleased. I’m stuck with this tree, so I’ll listen to its needs and give it the space it requires. In return, my walnut offers a habitat for wildlife and a reminder.
1. Why does the author wear a bike helmet while working in the garden?| A．To protect the injured skull. | B．To prevent herself from sunburn. |
| C．To avoid being hit by the nuts. | D．To reduce the chance of getting bitten by bees. |
| A．It attracts beneficial pollinators. | B．It lets out poison to drive away pests. |
| C．It produces a chemical harmful to some plants. | D．It competes for nutrition with similar species. |
| A．The tree provides beneficial pollinators with its fruits. |
| B．The tree is a source of joy despite the inconvenience. |
| C．The tree outcompetes the native plants in the garden. |
| D．The tree takes up only a little space of the garden. |
| A．it’s better to give than to take |
| B．a good relationship is always trouble-free |
| C．trees and plants have their own ways to grow |
| D．acceptance, instead of resistance, is the better way to be |
【推荐3】A Singaporean woman will return to normal life today after spending three days in a glass box. 26-year-old Cheyenne Lu has been living in full view of the public on a busy shopping street in an effort to quit smoking (戒烟)．
Lu, who has been smoking for the last 12 years, knows how difficult it is to quit. Her previous (以前的) efforts all failed because she didn't tell her family and friends that she was trying to give up. So this time she has made her decision very public. The experiment was organized by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) as part of an effort to encourage young Singaporean women not to smoke. There has been a large increase in the number of women smokers in recent years.
Lu has been eating and sleeping in a glass room for the last three days, with an Internet connection and a collection of DVDs to help her pass the time. Besides, she has been having yoga (瑜伽) classes with a fitness trainer. Lu, who is a writer, has been keeping an online blog of her experiences in the glass house.
Lu says she has received a lot of encouragement from people passing by. However, some people have tried to make it more difficult by stopping in front of her window and smoking. One stranger even offered to give her $500 to smoke with him. “Surprisingly, it made me want to stop smoking even more,” said Lu.
Although Lu has tried not to smoke for three days, she knows this is only the beginning of her smokefree journey. But she has something to look forward to. She is a supporter of Arsenal Football Club, and she plans to use all the money she saves by not smoking to travel to London. She wants to see her hero Cesc Fabregas in real life.
1. Why is Lu living in a glass box?| A．She needed more public support. |
| B．She failed to quit smoking in private. |
| C．She wants to make money from HPB. |
| D．She hopes to ask other women to join her. |
| A．She recorded her experiences online. |
| B．She slept for most of the time. |
| C．She talked with passersby. |
| D．She taught yoga classes. |
| A．It made her angry. |
| B．It worried her a lot. |
| C．It attracted her attention. |
| D．It strengthened her will. |
【推荐1】You have the ability to decide if you are happy or not. Happiness is a choice. You can't on someone else to make you happy.
You can choose your emotions（情感）. True happiness comes from within; it can't be forced by outside forces. So how do you choose happiness? The same way you choose a new pair of shoes. When you're buying new shoes, you choose a pair that you like and feel good. You wouldn't buy a pair of shoes that you don’t like or that don't fit well, right? You choose it because that's what you want to experience in your life. So why do we keep choosing emotions and feelings that don’t make us feel good?
Choosing to be after you realize your anger has shown up can be beneficial. We choose our feelings; no one can do that for us. If we let others influence our emotions, we are giving them power over us. When others cause us anger or pain, we are giving them our power.
We need to keep in check our feelings and not react immediately to what is thrown at us. We need to think our actions out instead of just reacting to what someone says or does.
Remember that we can always choose happiness. At first it will be difficult to just change your thoughts and feelings from anger, self-doubt, or fear to joy and happiness. But it is only a thought away. Don’t be lost in what happens to you unnecessarily but realize what is causing you to feel that way. Realize that thoughts, feelings and emotions can change. Then move on and choose to be happy.
1. How did the author develop her idea in Paragraph 2?| A．By making a comparison. | B．By referring to a social problem. |
| C．By giving reasons. | D．By describing her own experience. |
| A．We're making others happy | B．We're better controlling our feelings. |
| C．We're getting to know our emotions. | D．We’re sharing power with others. |
| A．Express. | B．Set down. | C．Improve. | D．Hold back. |
| A．How to choose our feelings. | B．Where to find happiness. |
| C．Making decisions to be cheerful. | D．Thinking twice before actions. |
【推荐2】In a world where comparisons (比较) happen non-stop, it is difficult to look outside yourself and to ever be content with who you are.
My opinion is that you are only allowed to compare yourself to someone else if their life situation is the same as your own. Good luck finding that match. And one thing is for sure. No matter how hard you work, there will always be someone who can run a little faster, jump a little higher, score a little better or look a little nicer in a swimsuit.
Having an image of your most recent past limits is the perfect thing to push you to the next level. If you ran 7 flights of stairs yesterday, then do 8 today. Who cares if the guy next to you did 15? You are a more fit person today than you were yesterday.
| A．It is a fool’s game. |
| B．Your own progress is all you need. |
| C．You will always be motivated (有积极性的). |
| D．There’s always someone who’s a bit better. |
| E．You will continuously be your personal best. |
| F．Nothing useful ever comes from comparison to others. |
| G．And if there’s not, you can bet someone is coming up fast behind you. |
【推荐3】It wasn’t until I got into college and took a class on creative writing that I began to trust my own madness. The professor encouraged us to color outside the lines and trust our abilities as a writer. We had weekly sessions where we read each other’s work and had to give constructive criticism.
On our first assignment, I struggled with getting my ideas onto paper. I knew that kind of story I wanted to tell, but as a reserved young man, I was terrified of judgement from my peers. I was afraid they would think my writing was too dark or really messed up. But finally, after spending hours thinking of making the writing more socially acceptable, I decided to write it like I felt it.
In the next critique session, I was shocked at the reaction from my peers. There was some constructive criticism, which really helped me improve, but overall, they loved how realistic and convincing my writing was. At the end of the class, the professor asked me if she could use my assignment as a sample for her other classes to know that they can trust their own madness with their writing.
For the final we had a huge paper for which we had to write on Henry V. The professor encouraged me to write it in the voice I had developed in the creative writing class, so I did. The consequence was that she called it a graduate level paper and asked to use it as another sample.
That year I ended up winning a writing award. I also entered a writing contest online and out of hundreds of entries, got an honorable mention. And that was when I decided to have a shot at fiction.
1. What does the underlined phrase “color outside the lines” mean in the first paragraph?| A．Stress the words. | B．Generate new ideas. |
| C．Add color to the lines. | D．Take risks. |
| A．He messed it up. | B．He didn’t know how to do it. |
| C．He felt insecure about it. | D．He adjusted it in an acceptable way. |
| A．His peers thought his writing was persuasive. |
| B．His peers criticized his writing style. |
| C．The professor asked him to teach others to write. |
| D．His writing reached graduate level. |
| A．His persistence in writing. | B．Trust in his own madness. |
| C．His professor’s encouragement. | D．Constructive criticism from his peers. |
【推荐1】Last week, my younger brother visited me for five days, To ensure I could spend as much time with him as possible, I worked extra hard during the weekend before he arrived.
It amazed me how much I could accomplish when I had a strong motivation to be efficient During the week, I put in a couple of hours in the mornings to handle pressing issues and then spent the afternoons and evenings going out with him. Once again, I was surprised to realize just how much free time was available to me if I consciously chose to be more effective while working. This made me think of Parkinson's Law: Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.
I realized then that I'd given myself more time than necessary for work, and as a result, I ended up spending lot of toe procrastinating （拖延）and entertaining myself online.
How might things change for me, I wondered, it I chose to commit to more social and recreational （休闲娱乐）activities, made them priorities(优先事项）and was motivated to finish work quicker?
I realize not everyone has flexibility in their work schedules, but 1 believe we could all create more time for ourselves if we were motivated to cut out the choices that don't match our strongest desires and intentions. Maybe It's zoning out in front of the TV or searching the web. If there's one thing that's consumed my time the most, it's researching how I actually want to spend it.
I believe what English musician John Lennon said is true: Time that you enjoyed wasting was not wasted. I don't think there's anything wrong with using technology if We've consciously chosen to do it.
However, we owe it to ourselves to get out in the world and explore different possibilities -to be playful curious, engaged and just to be.
Perhaps it would be easier to do that if we asked ourselves: How can I be more effective? Can I minimize what I am currently doing? How can I start using the time I've created in a way that will excite and inspire me?
1. How did the author feel when she finished her work in advance?| A．Guilty. | B．Exhausted. | C．Stressed. | D．Surprised. |
| A．The change in her work efficiency. |
| B．Ways of dealing with pressing issues. |
| C．Her working motivation to be different |
| D．The time spent with her younger brother. |
| A．Commit to more personal activities. |
| B．Get your priorities right with your work. |
| C．Create a tight work schedule for ourselves. |
| D．Ddn’t waste time on technology for any reason. |
| A．To explain what Parkinson's Law is. |
| B．To reflect on better time management. |
| C．To introduce how to balance work and life. |
| D．To show the importance of accompanying family members. |
| A．Creating More Time. |
| B．Living Life to the Fullest |
| C．Skills for Doing Work Effectively |
| D．Relationship Influences Work Performance |
【推荐2】I’ve been teaching college for many years, long enough to note the steady relaxation of attention in matters of student dress. I’ve long grown used to the tom jeans, flip-flops, shorts in the dead of the Maine winter, and ball caps worn backward. Still, I took note recently when one of my students showed up in pajama bottoms. I couldn’t help stopping him and remarking, “Did you just roll out of bed?”
His response: “Five minutes ago.”
I'm familiar with the school of thought that says that how students dress is irrelevant, so long as they’re learning. I deposit it in the same category as “Grammar and spelling don’t matter, so long as they’re expressing themselves.” Perhaps. But I also wonder about the wisdom of confusing the line between bed and desk. I should think that dressing properly before entering a formal environment, such as a college lecture hall, is a sort of visible reminder to oneself (and one’s teachers) that impressions are important and that we have come together to get down to business.
I smile when I think back on the occasions that my parents associated with needing to look presentable. Once, when I was 11 and my brother 9, my father announced that he was taking us into Manhattan (just a subway ride away) to see the film of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” My brother and I were happy at the prospect, but were soon deflated when my father directed us to put on our best clothes, including jackets and ties. “But why?” I begged, not wanting to change out of my comfortable jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers.
“Because,” he said, “we’re going to New York. Other people would observe and assess us based on our appearance.”
So yes, I’m all for freedom of choice in matters of dress, and yes, I do want my students to be comfortable. But I also want to pay my respects to those students who believe that appearances count.
1. Why did the author stop the student?| A．He got up too late. |
| B．He was late for class. |
| C．He disobeyed the rules. |
| D．He wore pajama bottoms. |
| A．Discouraged. | B．Relaxed. |
| C．Surprised. | D．Worried. |
| A．To introduce the topic. |
| B．To entertain the reader. |
| C．To remember his father. |
| D．To support his argument. |
| A．Students should have a dress code. |
| B．Pajama bottoms should be banned. |
| C．Bad behavior leads to poor learning. |
| D．School uniforms matter to students. |
【推荐3】A bunch of brilliant yellow flowers was dedicated to my mother.She was amazed at its shape and something strange but eventually lost passion. It didn’t matter a lot that the stems felt sticky or that both my parents cursed（诅咒） the presence of these flowers in the lawn. I thought they were gorgeous!
And there were a ocean of them! We spent hours picking the flowers and then popping the blossoms off with a snap of our fingers. But the supply of dandelions (蒲公英) never ran out. My father or brothers would cut off all the heads with the lawnmower (割草机) at least once a week, but that didn't stop these hardy wonders.
And for those flowers that escaped the honor of being hand-delivered to my mother or the miserable destiny to be killed by the lawnmower, there was another level of existence. The soft roundness of a dandelion gone to seed caused endless laughter of delight as we unconsciously（无意识地） spread this flower across the yard.
As I worked in my garden last week, pulling unwanted weeds（野草）out of the space that would become a haven（避风港） for tomatoes, corn, peas and sunflowers, I again marveled at the flower that some call a weed.
And I thought, I hope I had the staying power of a dandelion. If only I could stretch my roots so deep and straight that something tugging on my stem couldn’t separate me completely from the source that feeds me life. If only I could come back to face the world with a bright, sunshiny face after someone has run me over with a lawnmower or worse, purposely attacked me in an attempt to destroy me. If only I could spread love and encouragement as freely and fully as this flower spreads seeds of itself.
The lawns at my parents' home are now beautiful green blankets. The only patches of color come from well-placed, well-controlled flowerbeds. Chemicals have managed to kill what human interference couldn’t. I hope you and I can be different. I hope that we can stretch our roots deep enough that the strongest poison can't reach our souls. I hope that we can overcome the poisons of anger, fear, hate, criticism and competitiveness.
1. The author’s parents probably viewed the dandelions in the lawn as ________.| A．supplies of seeds | B．beautiful wonders |
| C．unwanted weeds | D．inspiring colors |
| A．The flowers were meant as a joyful gift to her mother. |
| B．The flowers developed into a stronger species because of frequent mowing. |
| C．The flowers were tough enough to spread new lives themselves. |
| D．The flowers that some called a weed were difficult to recover. |
| A．The author’s family enjoyed the dandelions as much as she did. |
| B．The author purposefully replaced some dandelions with crops. |
| C．The dandelions were finally successfully removed from the lawn. |
| D．The author felt sorry but encouraged by the destiny of the dandelions. |
| A．share the inspirations she acquired from the plain dandelions |
| B．arouse public awareness to pay close attention to the beauty in life |
| C．show the importance of considering things from diverse angles |
| D．express the regret that few people could figure out the beauty of the dandelion |
【推荐1】World heritage is a tricky thing to protect. Even when something makes it onto UNESCO's list, other factors can still put it at risk of being damaged. The environment, climate change, tourists and development-all these can affect world heritage sites.
Recently, the National Geographic listed the best-and worst-protected heritage items in the world.
The Kathmandu Valley in Nepal scored last because the ancient temples there are surrounded by modern construction and dense air pollution.
Sometimes it is difficult to protect a world heritage site because the factors that threaten it, like climate, are hard to control. The Great Barrier Reef in northeastern Australia;for example, is suffering because of ultraviolet(紫外线的)sun rays coming through the hole in the ozone layer(臭氧层).
These rays affect the coral(珊瑚)there and kill off smaller ecosystems. There are things that can be done to preserve the life in the reef and help it survive, but repairing the hole in the ozone layer itself-the root cause of the problem-would be a difficult task.
Often the biggest damage is done by people. The Amazon Rainforest, for example, is threatened by companies wanting to chop down its trees, some of which have been there for centuries. Mining companies want to dig deep into the Amazon basin to reach the valuable resources there.
The cost of all these human actions is enormous. It's not just that whole species of animals are disappearing, or that natural beauty is being destroyed. Scientists have not had the chance to study all the plants in the Amazon, and believe some could hold potential cures for diseases.
The area is now called the Central Amazon Conservation Complex and there are rules banning or limiting destructive practices. But people-often ignore them and the destruction goes on
However, many UNESCO sites are success stories of how world heritage can be protected. The Alhambra Palace in Spain and Te Wahipounamu in New Zealand are great examples of how UNESCO and the local community can work together to save priceless landmarks. Both gained top spots on the National Geographic list as the best-protected heritage sites in the world. “Local people are all active protectors. All tourists need reminding that they are entering an exceptional place, that it is a privilege to be there, “ commented the magazine.
1. What is the biggest problem facing the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal?| A．The sharp deerease in the number of ancient temples. |
| B．Serious air pollution and modernization. |
| C．Ultraviolet sun rays coming through the hole in the ozone layer. |
| D．The stream of tourists threatening ancient temples there. |
| A．little can-be done to preserve the life in the reef |
| B．the root cause of the problem is still unknown |
| C．the factor threatening it is almost beyond control |
| D．the ecosystems there have been badly destroyed. |
| A．Climate change is a major threat to the Amazon Rainforest. |
| B．The measures taken to protect the Amazon Rainforest have turned out to be highly effective. |
| C．Local people living around the Amazon Rainforest are all active protectors. |
| D．It's expected that the medical value of some unknown plants in the Amazon Rainforest will be discovered. |
| A．special advantage | B．clear signal |
| C．total failure | D．dramatic change |
【推荐2】Twelve years ago, Danny called me from a dark, damp subway station. “A baby!” he shouted. “Get down here, and flag down a police car or something.” By nature, Danny is a remarkably calm person, so when I felt his heart pounding through the phone line, I ran.
When I got to the subway station, Danny was holding a light-brown-skinned baby, about a day old. The baby had been wrapped in an oversize black sweatshirt and left on the ground in a corner behind the gate.
What neither of us knew, or could have predicted, was that Danny had not just saved an abandoned infant; he had found our son.
Three months later, Danny appeared in family court to give an account of finding the baby. Suddenly, the judge asked, “Would you be interested in adopting this baby?” The question surprised everyone in the courtroom, except Danny, who answered, simply, “Yes.”
“But I know it’s not that easy,” he said.
“Well, it can be,” assured the judge before barking out orders to allow me to be a parent-to-be.
My first reaction, when I heard, went something like, “Are you crazy? How could you say yes without consulting me?”
In three years as a couple, we had never discussed adopting a child. I was an ambitious playwright working as a part-time word processor. Danny was a respected yet wildly underpaid social worker. We had a roommate, who slept in our living room, to help pay the rent.
We knew how many challenges couples usually faced when they wanted to adopt. And while Danny had patience and selflessness, I didn’t know how to change a diaper (尿布), let alone nurse a child. I didn’t trust the system and was sure there would be obstacles. Also, I couldn’t handle parenthood. So I promised myself I wouldn’t get attached.
The caretaker held him and then placed him in my arms. But when the baby stared up at me, with all the innocence and hope he represented, I, like Danny, was completely hooked.
1. Why did the author rush to the subway station?| A．Because Danny finally found their lost son. |
| B．Because she sensed Danny met something urgent. |
| C．Because Danny had a heart attack. |
| D．Because someone gave birth to a baby there. |
| A．Surprised by the question. |
| B．Crazy to be a parent-to-be. |
| C．Annoyed at Danny’s decision. |
| D．Angry at challenging her authority. |
| A．the author will adopt the baby |
| B．the couple were tempted to take the baby |
| C．the baby will bring hope to the family |
| D．the couple love each other very much |
| A．To introduce a story of a poor family. |
| B．To inform people of the difficulty of adopting a baby. |
| C．To call on people to donate money to them. |
| D．To show human’s kindness and love by nature. |
【推荐3】The Scandinavian languages consist of Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic and Faroese. Danish is closely related to other Scandinavian languages such as Swedish and Norwegian. In fact, they are so similar that a Dane, a Swede, and a Norwegian can all have a conversation while each person is speaking his or her own language. You might wonder why, if the three languages are mutually understandable, they aren’t considered a single language.
Well, language isn’t only about communication; it’s an important part of a nation’s cultural and political identity. For centuries, Denmark, Sweden and Norway have worked to maintain separate identities, and having distinct languages helps. Besides, communication between the three languages isn’t easy; speakers have to work hard to understand each other.
In medieval times, Sweden was under Denmark’s control, and Danish was the language of government. When Sweden became independent in 1523, its officials decided to establish its own writing conventions, changing the spelling of words to reflect Swedish pronunciation and changing the alphabet to make it look less Danish. Soon after these changes were complete, the Bible was translated into Swedish. The Bible made the new Swedish more official, and the differences between written Danish and Swedish were solidified.
Spoken Swedish sounds pretty similar to Danish. The problem is that the two languages have rather different vocabularies. For example, pocket is lomme in Danish, but ficka in Swedish. Also, some words that sound similar have different meanings. The word frokost means lunch in Danish, but Swedish frukost, which sounds almost the same, means breakfast. This kind of difference is pretty common and can cause a lot of misunderstandings.
Norway was under Danish control for 400 years, until 1814. During this time, all official documents were written in Danish, and written Norwegian entirely died out. As a result, contemporary Norwegian looks very similar to Danish. The two languages also have similar vocabularies, although Norwegian pronunciation can be very different.
The relationship between the languages can be seen in a vast number of cognates, words that are similar in different languages.
1. What did Sweden and Norway do to maintain their cultural and political identities?| A．To have their own languages. |
| B．To keep exchanges with Denmark. |
| C．To copy the Danish language. |
| D．To create a lot of new words. |
| A．How Sweden won its independence. |
| B．Why Sweden created a new language. |
| C．Why the Bible was important to Swedish. |
| D．How Sweden established its writing system. |
| A．ficka | B．lomme | C．frokost | D．frukost |
| A．Danish pronunciation. | B．Swedish vocabulary. |
| C．Danish vocabulary. | D．Swedish pronunciation. |
