The British are known for their sense of humour. However, it is often difficult for foreigners to understand their jokes. The main point to remember is that the British often use understatement.
Understatement means saying less than you think or feel. For example, if someone gets very wet in a shower of rain, he might say, “It’s a little damp outside.” Or, if someone is very impolite and shouts at another person, someone else might say, “She isn’t exactly friendly.” Understatement is often used in an unpleasant situation or to make another person look silly. Understatement plays an important part in British humour.
Another key to understanding British humour is that the British like to make fun of themselves as well as others. They often laugh about the silly and unpleasant things that happen in our everyday life when someone accidentally falls over in the street. They also like to make jokes on people from different classes of society. They like to make jokes about their accents, the way they dress and the way they behave. What’s more, the British love to watch comedies about people who do not know how to behave in society. The comedy series Mr Bean is a good example of this kind of humour.
Mr Bean is the character created by British actor Rowan Atkinson in 1990. Mr Bean doesn’t talk often, and instead he uses his body movements and facial expressions to make people laugh. Perhaps what makes Mr Bean so funny is that he does things that adults in the real world cannot do. Mr Bean is popular in many countries around the world because you do not have to speak English to understand the humour. Because of this, many people have become familiar with the British sense of humour.
1. How does the author mainly explain the understatement?| A．By describing a process. |
| B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following the time order. |
| D．By using examples. |
| A．By using his body movements and facial expressions. |
| B．By making jokes about others’ accents. |
| C．By copying others’ behaviour. |
| D．By telling funny stories. |
| A．The British often stick to the facts. |
| B．British jokes are involved with many different cultures. |
| C．British jokes are not as funny as jokes in other countries. |
| D．The British try to make out that something is less important than it is. |
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“Funny”, a made-in-China emoji, seems to have recently moved beyond China. Now, it is more than an emoji, but a cultural expansion.
Reaching Global Markets
A series of “funny” emoji-based bolsters (抱枕) have attracted the attention of Japanese customers. Even if one bolster is more than three times as expensive as in China, it doesn’t kill their desires to buy it. One Japanese customer Miki said, “They are just so cute and I bought three bolsters at one time for my family. And every time I see them, my mood just brightens suddenly.”
A Japanese netizen Kiro Kara said, “I think the emoji implies very complicated meanings. My dad will send it when he doesn’t agree with someone but he has to say something and behave politely.”
Addition to Domestic Social Media
Compared with Japanese impressions of the “funny” emoji, Chinese netizens prefer to use the emoji to tease one another on social media.
One commonly seen online comment is, “We strongly suggest stopping the usage of the emoji. Because every time other people send me the emoji, I feel very uncomfortable and consider myself as a fool.”
Regarded as the most popular emoji, the “funny” emoji has received much attention since its release in 2013. In fact, the “funny” emoji is the updated version of its original one; “funny” has a smiley mouth, two eyebrows and a naughty look. All these characteristics present users a sense of satire (讽刺).
In Everyday Use Abroad
It’s not the first time the Chinese emoji takes the world stage. Earlier this year, one emoji from the Chinese basketball celebrity Yao Ming has been spread through the Middle East region. In a city in southern Egypt, Yao’s smiling emoji has appeared frequently in local traffic signs to remind people the road ahead is one-way. Many locals do not know Yao Ming but are familiar with his emoji and nickname “Chinese Funny Face”.
As a new online language, emojis have become a necessary part of people’s daily life, helping people express their views in a more vivid and precise way. Also, it can help foreigners learn about Chinese culture. But how to properly use “the fifth innovation in China” without hurting others and turn them into commercial advantages still need answers.
1. Why do the bolsters attract Miki’s attention?| A．They are inexpensive. |
| B．They help reach an agreement. |
| C．They help brighten the mood. |
| D．They are helpful to express desire. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．express their views more vividly |
| B．present their sense of satire directly |
| C．imply very complicated meanings properly |
| D．tease one another on social media purposely |
| A．promote the emoji worldwide |
| B．teach us how to use the emoji |
| C．explain the meaning the emoji |
| D．show us the popularity of the emoji |
【推荐2】A Fluent Advantage
When schools go through budget cuts, foreign language classes are often placed on the cutting block. School administrators often do not understand how important foreign language study is for their students’ success in the real world. Far from cutting language classes, schools should be demanding them for all students. Studying a foreign language should be required in middle schools.
Language study strengthens students’ minds. Many studies have indicated that multilingual people—people who speak more than one language—are better at certain tasks. Specifically, multilingual people have better executive function than people who speak only one language. Executive function is the way the brain manages all the information it’s given, such as performing different tasks and deciding what to focus on. In brain scans, multilingual people show increased activity in the areas of the brain that control executive function. Researchers have guessed that this advantage exists because multilingual people must constantly decide which words from which language to use. As a result, multilingual people get lots of practice with executive function. Their brains can then apply those skills to other tasks, like paying attention or multitasking. This effect is especially strong for people who grow up speaking more than one language. The earlier students start language classes, the more benefits they may get from language study.
Moreover, language study helps prepare students for their future careers. Today, language skills are in high demand on the job market and more and more businesses work in many countries across the world. As businesses become global, they need people who can communicate easily across national borders. To prepare for their careers, more students should be learning foreign languages. From 2010 to 2015, the demand in the United States for workers who speak a second language doubled. This trend included workers of all skill levels and backgrounds.
Of course, in order to make better use of the advantages of foreign language study, middle school foreign language classes should not just make students memorize new words and sounds.
They must also teach students about new cultures. Foreign language classes should be required to include lessons about history, literature, customs, and government along with the languages themselves. These subjects will help students become better global citizens and support their studies in other subjects.
Requiring middle schoolers to study a foreign language offers them opportunities to sharpen their brains. It also gives them tools that will help them become productive members of today’s global society.
1. How does the author feel about foreign language study in middle schools?| A．More foreign language classes should be offered in middle schools. |
| B．Taking a foreign language class in middle schools should be a choice. |
| C．Foreign language classes should be cut because of the limited funds. |
| D．Studying a foreign language should be a middle school requirement. |
| A．people who speak more than one language have better executive function |
| B．being able to work in another country doubles people’s job opportunities |
| C．people learn languages better as young people than when they are older |
| D．people’s executive function improves after foreign language classes |
| A．To sum up his argument. | B．To put forward a solution. |
| C．To emphasize his point of view. | D．To introduce an additional suggestion. |
I: Introduction P: Point Sp: Sub-point (次要点) C: Conclusion
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
【推荐3】The Wampanoag language was not dead. To call it dead would be an insult to the ancestors who left it for future generations as a way to communicate-and a way to teach. But it was “unspoken” until linguist Jessie “Little Doe” Baird brought it back. Her project’s Wampanoag dictionary holds more than 11,000 entries.
Words on paper are not a language. A language lives through the people who speak it. So Baird founded the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project. She teaches community classes and family camps. Kids in grade school and high school have the opportunity to learn the language.
The Wampanoags have lived for 12,000 years in Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. When the Pilgrims (清教徒) met the first Indigenous people, those were the Wampanoags. The English settlers brought disease that killed thousands-an estimated two-thirds of the Wampanoag Nation died-as well as war and rules that fragmented (分裂) the tribes. There once were 69 tribes in the nation; now there are three. Baird is a citizen of the Mashpee tribe. Her ancestors left a key to their language. They translated the King James Bible into Wampanoag. They left hundreds of documents in their written alphabet (字母表).
Baird describes a vision she had where her ancestors helped her see it was time to bring the language home. She began her research, which led her to a graduate degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she learned from and worked with other linguists. In 2010, she was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow, earning a “genius grant” to further her work.
“It’s incredibly difficult to reclaim a language, even more so when there are no speakers alive, and even more so when you’re driving 90 minutes a day, each way, to attend graduate school, with four small children at home.”
“I might have been afraid to do the work had I known that,” Baird says with a laugh now. “But I didn’t, and so here we are.”
1. What is the situation of the Wampanoag language?| A．It has entirely gone by now. | B．It is being brought back to life. |
| C．It is a compulsory course in schools. | D．It has got well-recognized in the USA. |
| A．The wide use of English in the new land. |
| B．The religious change of the Wampanoags. |
| C．The sharp reduced population of Wampanoag. |
| D．The shortage of reference books on the language. |
| A．The local linguists lend a timely hand. |
| B．Children are asked to learn the language. |
| C．The government gives the financial support. |
| D．The materials ancestors left lay the foundation. |
| A．Determined and responsible | B．Considerate and ambitious |
| C．Intelligent and kind-hearted | D．Independent and adaptable |
【推荐1】What would you say if you had to eat no food for a whole season? It sounds like a conundrum for humans, but ground squirrels, a common species from North America, however, achieve this very easily every winter. A new discovery has revealed why, and the finding can really help astronauts with their physical health during long missions.
Long periods of inactivity are known to lead to muscle wastage in most animal species. But for hibernating (冬眠) animals, things happen in a different way. Not only can they survive without eating, but they also use minimal levels of energy while preserving their muscle mass and function during and after the whole winter.
It was Matthew Regan, an animal physiologist from the University of Montreal, who discovered why. In his research published in Science, he confirms a theory from the 1980s called “urea nitrogen salvage” (尿素氮回收) through the study of ground squirrels.
According to the theory, the gut microbes (肠道细菌) from these cute hibernators can recycle the nitrogen inure a and reuse it to build new proteins. In short, they can take advantage of waste, and turn it into something vital.
“Urea nitrogen salvage may help with the hibernating squirrels’ muscle function and contribute to their reproductive success during the mating season,” Regan said. “This way, when squirrels recover from hibernation, they are in good shape to deal with the intense physical activity that a successful reproduction demands.”
Regan’s findings could have a meaningful impact on the future of space travel. According to the researcher, if astronauts manage to copy the salvaging of urea nitrogen, they will be able to prevent muscle loss, a common issue among space travelers.
“Because we know which muscle proteins are prevented during spaceflight, we can compare these proteins with those that are enhanced by urea nitrogen salvage during hibernation,” Regan said. The researcher continued, “If there are the same parts between the proteins in spaceflight and the ones from hibernation, then it suggests astronauts can gain health benefits by learning this process.”
1. What does the word “conundrum” underlined in the first paragraph probably mean?| A．Difficult problem. | B．Funny fact. | C．Daily routine. | D．Simple task. |
| A．Paragraph 1. | B．Paragraph 2. | C．Paragraph 3. | D．Paragraph 5. |
| A．eating disorders | B．muscle loss |
| C．sleeping issues | D．protein identification |
| A．How Do Hibernators Survive in Cold Winter? |
| B．Why Are Astronauts Faced With Muscle Loss? |
| C．What Can Ground Squirrels Teach Astronauts? |
| D．Can Humans Survive Without Eating in Space? |
【推荐2】Finding a mask which offers you a high protection level is crucial to filtering (过滤) out any particles for a long time. However, after a few hours, the mask becomes contaminated (污染) by the particles and you need to replace it with a new one. See, you have to get a mask offering active protection in addition to passive filtration.
The first rule of a mask offering you any kind of protection is that it needs to fit well. The mask also needs to be comfortable and allow you to breathe easily for you to be able to keep it on for as many hours as you need.
During long hours of wear, food and dirt may remain on the inside of your mask. All the hours spent in a place with less-than-ideal conditions for human health are wonderful news for bacteria that thrive on food particles and muck left behind on the inside of your mask. This growth opportunity for bacteria could not just be dangerous but could also cause a bad smell. So you’d better have a kind that kills off the smell-causing bacteria, leaving your mask smelling fresh.
You should look for cloth masks that have multiple layers of breathable fabric that is tightly woven, include a robust (结实的) nose wire for you to adjust the mask to the shape of your face and prevent air escaping from around your nose, do not have gaps around the nose or sides of the face and that block out the light if you hold the mask up to a bright light source. It is good for the mask to come with your choice of either head straps or ear straps, both adjustable. It is also good if the mask has different sizes ranging from kids to adults to ensure everyone stays protected.
1. What is most important about a mask according to the first paragraph?| A．Offering passive filtration. |
| B．Offering active protection. |
| C．Working for long hours. |
| D．Filtering out all particles. |
| A．To shape your face. |
| B．To block out the light. |
| C．To offer different sizes ranging from kids to adults. |
| D．For you to adjust the shape and prevent air escaping. |
| A．The size. | B．The ear strap. |
| C．The nose wire. | D．The head strap. |
| A．Kids. | B．Doctors. |
| C．Citizens. | D．Mask makers. |
【推荐3】A new study on 26 chimpanzees (黑猩猩) from zoos around the world found that chimpanzees can recognise family members and long lost friends even after decades of separation.
The participating chimpanzees were given juice while staring at a screen flashing side by side photos of other chimps. One animal from each pair of photos had lived with the group for at least a year, while the other was a stranger. An eye-tracking camera recorded where the participants were looking and for how long. Data showed their eyes rested longer on familiar groupmates, suggesting “rich recognition of each other.”
There is also evidence that they became more intent when shown a picture of a chimpanzee with whom they’d had more positive interactions, compared with conflicting relationships.
In the most impressive case, a 46-year-old chimpanzee named Louise repeatedly demonstrated “intense” attention upon seeing photographs of her sister Loretta and nephew Erin, whom she hadn’t seen in more than 26 years. The team said Louise’s results represent the longest-lasting social memory documented in any non-human animal to date.
“We tend to see ourselves as unique special creatures with incredible intellectual (智力的) capacities that are very different from other animals on earth,” said Laura Simone Lewis, a postdoctoral fellow in Berkeley’s psychology department and lead author of the study. “This study is showing us how similar we are to chimpanzees.” She noted that the findings support the theory that long-term social memory in humans and modern day chimps has come from “our last common ancestor that lived somewhere between 5 to 7 million years ago” who also likely had long-term social memory.
Now that they have definitive evidence that these endangered species possess long-term social memories, researchers have more questions, including whether chimpanzees miss the individuals they’re no longer with, especially their friends and family. “Our study doesn’t determine they are doing this, but it raises questions about the possibility that they may have the ability to do so,” Lewis said.
1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The nature of chimps. | B．The method of the study. |
| C．The analysis of the recorded data. | D．The layout of experimental equipment. |
| A．Attentive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Hesitant. | D．Emotional. |
| A．To stress chimps are as intelligent as human beings. |
| B．To explain where chimps’ social memory comes from. |
| C．To better demonstrate the chimps’ memory length. |
| D．To further prove the existence of chimps’ social memory. |
| A．Whether chimps feel strong emotions to their long lost friends. |
| B．How to strengthen chimps’ long-term social memories. |
| C．How chimps recognised their close contacts after long separation. |
| D．Why chimps possess the amazing social memories. |
【推荐1】I moved to the Spanish capital, Madrid, nearly two months ago. I am here for a year teaching English in a secondary school as a language assistant. Before I arrived I thought I would be able to adapt to Spanish culture very easily, but my previous expectations have been very different from the reality of Spanish life.
Firstly, I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to adapt to the Spanish day and the timings of meals. Spanish “midday” is at 14: 00, meaning lunch is never before then. My expectation was that I would be eating lunch at 12: 00-13: 00, but most days it’s 15: 30 before I eat lunch. Can I really still call this lunch?! The same applies to dinner or tea. In the UK, dinner is between 18:00 and 19: 00, but now that dinner time is 21: 30. The thing I didn’t realize is that this affects the Spanish sleeping routine. Eating dinner so late of course means that Spaniards go to bed so much later. It is such a British thing to go to bed at 22:00!
Queuing politely and being cautious around strangers is also something that is very British. I only realized it when I arrived in Spain. I took it for granted that queuing patiently is as the normal thing as in Britain or countries like China, Japan and America. But this definitely isn’t the case in Spain. If there’s a free table in a restaurant, you quickly take it, even if there’s other people who have been waiting longer than you.
Finally, the reality of the Spanish diet is very different from my expectations. Food products that are so normal in the UK aren’t nearly as popular here.
1. According to the passage, lunch time in the UK probably is ______.| A．12:00-13:00 | B．14:00 | C．after 15:30 | D．15:30 |
| A．eating dinner so early | B．eating dinner so late |
| C．going to bed so early | D．going to bed so late |
| A．China | B．America | C．Spain | D．British |
| A．3. | B．4. | C．5. | D．6. |
【推荐2】Each year millions of people go abroad to work, study or travel. It’s a great way to find out what life is like in another part of the world! You’ re probably hoping to make new friends and learn about the culture in your host country. But constantly having to deal with new situations can be frustrating, even stressful.
Have an open mind. While it’s certainly OK to feel frustrated or confused in your new surroundings, try not to form an opinion about the new culture too soon. You may be quick to judge the food, manners and communication styles and as a result, you may want to do things the way you are used to.
Participate in your new life. This is obvious, but everybody needs to be reminded. Just watching life go on around you isn’t good enough. You really need to try things for yourself. Don’t worry about making a mistake; people in your host country will generally be very understanding and willing to help if you have problems.
Your study abroad experience is a unique and special time in your life, one that you’ll never forget. If you follow our suggestions, you’ll be able to handle it well and have a wonderful time. Good luck!
| A．Try to form the opinion about the new culture as soon as possible. |
| B．Keep in touch. |
| C．Talk to someone about your problem. |
| D．Don’t think of the host culture as better or worse, just different. |
| E．Homesickness, stress, fear, and confusion are all symptoms of “culture shock”. |
| F．If you are unsure of what to do in a formal setting, follow others’ lead. |
I have a special rule for travel: never carry a map. I prefer to ask for directions. Sometimes I get lost, but I usually don’t mind. I can practice a new language, meet new people, and learn new customs. And I find out about different “styles” of giving directions every time I ask, “How can I get to the post office?”
Foreign tourists are often confused in Japan because most streets don’t have names. In Japan, people use landmarks in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go pasta fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop. ”
In the countryside of the American Midwest, there are not usually many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat; in many places there are no towns, or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. In Kansas or Iowa, for instance, people will say, “Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.”
People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map: they measure distance in Los Angeles in time, not miles. “How faraway is the post office?” you ask. “Oh,” they answer, “it’s about five minutes from here. ”You say, “Yes, but how many miles away is it?” They don’t know.
People in Greece sometimes do not even try to give directions because tourists seldom understand the Greek language. Instead, a Greek person will often say, “Follow me. ”Then he’ll lead you through the streets of the city to the post office.
Sometimes a person doesn’t know the answer to your question. What happens in this situation? A New Yorker might say, “Sorry, I have no idea. ”But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers, “I don’t know. ”People in Yucatan believe that “I don’t know” is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A tourist can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
One thing will help you everywhere—in Japan, the United States, Greece, Mexico, or any other place. You might not understand a person’s words, but you can probably understand the person’s body language: He or she will usually turn and then point in the correct direction. Go in that direction, and you may find the post office.
1. Why doesn’t the writer mind getting lost? (不多于 14 个单词)2. Please list three examples of landmarks mentioned in Paragraph 2. (不多于 10 个单词)
3. How do people in Los Angeles measure distance? (不多于 2 个单词)
4. What is the passage mainly talking about? (单词数不限)
