【推荐1】It is often said that Western Europeans speak English. From traveling all through Europe, I know that this is not entirely true. Some regions of Europe have a 90% of English speaking rate, while in other parts, English is generally a tongue which is impossible to understand. The divide, it seems, lies with the Romance languages.

In Scandinavia, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the rest of the Western European non­Romance language speaking regions, English seems to be understood and spoken just like the people's first tongue. In Iceland, I have never experienced English was spoken so well and so widely by a non­native speaking country. And I have almost never met a Dutch person who did not speak English almost as well as my countrymen.

But when you move to the south of Western Europe a little, something happens. English becomes a less useful language for traveling. You just cross over the Romance language barrier (障碍) and into Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy, where English is spoken at a rate that does not seem to be much higher than in China, Latin America, or Southeast Asia.

Traveling through Europe and working in hotels around the world that are popular with Europeans have given me a deeper view of their usage of foreign languages. The northern Europeans can often speak five or six languages, while the Romance speakers hardly know more than their birth tongue. And if you think that Spanish and Italian are so similar that their speakers can understand each other, I tell you that this is completely wrong. Spaniards and Italians don't even understand each other. It is also not a fact that people from both of these countries can communicate in French; only those who put a large amount of effort into learning English or have lived abroad for years can speak English well.

People often say that French people really understand English but refuse to speak it, but from watching hundreds of French travelers over the years struggle with English abroad as well as friends in France trying in vain   to communicate with me, I know that this is not true. English is simply not widely spoken there outside the large cities.

1. What can we learn from the passage?

A．In Iceland, English is not spoken very well.

B．A Dutch person can almost speak English as well as the author himself.

C．Spanish and Italian are so similar that their speakers can understand each other easily.

D．English is as widely spoken as French in France.

2. The author is probably a(n) ________.

A．American

B．Dutchman

C．Frenchman

D．Chinese

3. What does “this” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Western Europeans speak English.

B．French people really understand English but refuse to speak it.

C．Hundreds of French travelers struggle with English abroad.

D．Friends in France try in vain to communicate with me in English.

4. Where is the passage most probably taken from?

A．A geography textbook.	B．A fashion magazine.
C．A travel journal.	D．A news report.

【推荐2】At your next meeting, wait for a pause (停顿) in conversation and try to measure how long it lasts.

Among English speakers, it is probable that it will be a second or two at most. But while this pattern may be universal, our understanding of silence differs greatly across cultures.

What one culture considers a confusing or embarrassing pause may be seen by others as a valuable moment of thought and respect for what the last speaker has said. Research in Dutch (荷兰语) and also in English found that when a silence in conversation lasts four seconds, people start to feel uneasy. However, another study of business meetings found that Japanese people are happy with silences of 8.2 seconds—nearly twice as long as in Americans’ meetings.

In Japan, it is recognized that the best communication is when you don’t speak at all. It’s already a failure to understand each other by speaking because you’re repairing that failure by using words.

In the US, it may originate from the history of colonial (殖民地的) America as a crossroads of many different races (种族). When you have difference, it’s hard to reach common understanding unless you talk and there’s understandably a kind of anxiety unless people use words to establish a common life. This applies also to some extent to London.

However, when there’s more homogeneity, perhaps it’s easier for some kinds of silence to appear. For example, among your closest friends and family it’s easier to sit in silence than with people you’re less well know.

1. Which of the following people might have the longest silence in conversation?

A．The Dutch

B．The American

C．The English

D．The Japanese

2. What might the Japanese agree with in a conversation?

A．Speaking more gives the upper hand.

B．Speak out what you have in your mind.

C．Great minds think alike without words.

D．The shorter talking silence, the better.

3. What can we learn from the text?

A．A four second silence in conversation is universal.

B．It’s hard for American to reach a common agreement.

C．English speakers are more talkative than Japanese speakers.

D．The closer we and our family are, the easier the silence appears.

4. What does the underlined word “homogeneity” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Similarity

B．Difference

C．Disagreement

D．Misunderstanding

【推荐3】If you are fond of learning languages, you must start learning Chinese. English is the most widely spoken language in the world and it is a more powerful language in all fields. But it is expected that Chinese, which is one of the six official languages of the United Nations (UN), will be the most important language in the coming years. What are the reasons behind the rapid spread of this language and why should you learn it?

My desire to learn languages was the reason why I studied many Latin languages and in the process, I deepened my knowledge of the languages and literature. However, I did not feel self-sufficient (自给自足的) from this knowledge. I gained a lot of information about the Western world. But my thinking was always about Asian civilizations. I always felt I needed to learn Chinese to be a global citizen because “without learning Chinese, we see with one eye”.

My contact with many international organizations and government institutions (机构) made me believe that Chinese is one of the most important languages of our time.After visiting the world’s most celebrated capitals such as Paris and London, I discovered that Chinese language can be seen everywhere in these places. In the subway in Paris, you will hear instructions in French, English and Chinese. In London, for example, the Chinese language was introduced for instruction in schools.

China is an important political (政治的) and economic country because it is making great economic progress that has never been seen before. The world is watching China with great surprise, and this peaceful Chinese rise makes us decide to focus on learning the Chinese language and knowing more about Chinese culture.

To be a global citizen these days, I would advise you to learn Chinese. It will add more beauty to your life and allow you to better understand Chinese civilization.

1. What can we learn about languages in the future according to the first paragraph?

A．Some of them will disappear.

B．More official languages will be added to the UN.

C．English will still have an advantage over others.

D．Chinese language will probably be second to none.

2. What can be inferred from Paragraph 2 about the author?

A．He realized the necessity of learning Chinese.

B．He got bored with learning Latin languages.

C．He was doing a research about Chinese language.

D．He was satisfied with his knowledge of language learning.

3. What do the examples in Paragraph 3 show?

A．Paris is a wonderful capital city worth a visit.

B．Chinese learning is very popular in schools in London.

C．People in some western countries like speaking Chinese.

D．Chinese language is playing an important role in the world.

4. What mainly causes Westerners to start learning Chinese according to the text?

A．The rise of Chinese economy.

B．Their love for language learning.

C．The long history of Chinese civilization.

D．Their curiosity about Asian culture.

【推荐1】Owls(猫头鹰) are mysterious creatures. We often think of them as scary. They sometimes live in abandoned houses. They fly without a sound through backyards at night. In stories, they appear with ghosts. When we hear an owl's familiar “wh­ooo...whooo...”，it can make us feel very frightened. Owls fly silently, without even a whisper of wings moving through the air. It's as though they appear out of nowhere—like ghosts on wings. Owls fly and hunt on the darkest of nights. An owl's night habits make it unique. Do these creatures of the night possess strange powers?
Owls possess unusual powers of sight and hearing, but they are not supernatural powers. They are natural adaptations that let them live most efficiently(高效地) at night. There is no reason to fear owls. Their habits make them helpful to humans. By hunting mice and other rodents(啮齿目动物)，owls help to keep a natural balance between plant and animal life. Without owls, there would be a large number of rodents in farmers' fields and storage barns.
More than 100 species of owls occupy a variety of habitats around the world. A few oceanic islands and the Antarctic have no owls. The world's owls come in large, medium, small, smaller, and smallest. For example, the Eurasian eagle owl—one of the largest—has a body that is two to three feet long, with a wingspan(翼展) of up to five and one­half feet. The North American elf owl (the world's smallest owl) is five to six inches long and has a wingspan that measures slightly more than one foot.
Most male and female owls of the same species look alike, although females are usually larger. In some species, the female's colors are like those of the trees or grass where she makes her nest.
Baby owls, called chicks, stay with their parents until they are about three months old. They soon find their own hunting areas, where they may stay for the rest of their lives. Some owls can live 20 years or more.
1. Most people regard owls as________.

A．clever

B．hard­working

C．terrifying

D．shy

2. Owls help humans in that they________.

A．help preserve the balance of nature

B．frighten rodents away from humans

C．have unusual powers

D．help guard backyards

3. What is special about owls?

A．They fly silently.

B．They are night hunters.

C．They possess supernatural powers.

D．They can be found around the world.

4. The third paragraph is mainly about owls'________.

A．habitats

B．sizes

C．species

D．wingspans

【推荐2】Technology use seems to be the new wave of addiction hitting people of all ages. Its extreme use can be compared to the use of drugs, which is called Plug-in Heroin.

The next time you’re in a crowded public place, look at the people around you. It’s hard to find someone who isn’t glued to (专注于) the tiny screen, fingers moving at lightning speeds, texting their friends, emailing co-workers or listening to music. It may seem ridiculous (滑稽可笑的) that someone is that addicted to such a small object. I’ve seen people who seem to be at their wits’ end (不知所措) if their phone or iPad has been taken away, lost or left at home.

Some people may ask, “What’s wrong with technology use? It’s a way for people to communicate: ”While this is true, the overuse of technology isn’t always proper in certain settings. Schools are becoming stricter about the use of cell phones, iPads and other electronics in classrooms. Various workplaces have signs hanging on their walls warning employees that “Cell phone use is not permitted” or “Cell phones are forbidden”.

Electronics may be a way for people to communicate and stay in touch with each other, but the disadvantages may outweigh (大于) the benefits. People are losing the ability to hold face-to-face conversations with others. However, it’s hard to avoid electronics nowadays because almost everything is turning into an electronic format. Books, originally meant for paper design, are now being transferred (转存) to electronic forms. Photo albums, and even yearbooks, can now be viewed via the Internet. With this growing trend, future generations are bound to become even more addicted to technology.

Is there a cure for electronic addiction? Simply turning electronics off for an hour or two a day may help to an extent, but it will not completely rid electronic addiction. There only seems to be one cure left, and it may be the hardest: self control.

1. What is Plug-in Heroin?

A．The unreasonable dependence on electronics.

B．The growing popularity of electronics.

C．The serious results of technology use.

D．The future possibility of technology development.

2. The second paragraph is intended to ________.

A．prove electronics are harmful to people	B．advise people to quit electronics
C．show people’s addiction to electronics	D．tell people it is ridiculous to use electronics

3. Why is it difficult to avoid electronics nowadays?

A．Fewer choices are left for communication.

B．Too many things are available in electronic forms.

C．It is a must to use electronics to keep in touch.

D．The design of paper books is less interesting.

4. In the author’s opinion, what is the best way to cure electronic addiction?

A．Turn off the electronics for an hour or two.

B．Learn to control yourself.

C．Cell phones are forbidden in the workplaces.

D．Be stricter about the use of cell phones, iPads and other electronics in classrooms.

【推荐3】Although many Chinese students say that their knowledge of English grammar is good, most would admit that their spoken English is poor. Whenever I speak to a Chinese student they always say, “My spoken English is poor.” However, their spoken English does not have to remain “poor”! I would like to suggest that there may be some reasons for their problems with spoken English.

First, they fail to find suitable words to express themselves because of a limited vocabulary. Obviously the better answer is to expand their vocabulary. However, you can speak with a limited vocabulary, if your aptitude is positive. Others will follow you as long as you use the words that you know.

Second, they are afraid of making mistakes. Sometimes they make mistakes when they are speaking because they are shy and nervous. Yet students should remember that their goal should be FLUENCY (流利) NOT ACCURACY (准确性). Your aim in writing is to be accurate following the rules for grammar and using the right words and spelling them correctly. However, in speaking your aim is fluency. You want to get your message across, to talk to someone in English, as quickly and as well as you can, even though sometimes you may use a wrong word or tense, but it doesn’t matter because the person you are speaking to will understand you and take into consideration any mistakes he hears.

The third reason is that not enough attention is paid to listening. You have one mouth but two ears! All that hearing was necessary for you to start speaking.

Forth, most Chinese students are reactive (反应式的) rather than proactive (积极主动的) language learners. Instead of actively finding out opportunities (机会) to improve their spoken English, they passively wait for speaking opportunities to come to them and wonder why their English always remains poor. If you have this proactive outlook, then you will see English opportunities wherever you go.

If you do not use your English out of the classroom you will forget what English you know. Remember: USE IT OR LOSE IT! You can learn how to speak English better by speaking English more.

1. What can be inferred from the third paragraph?

A．Don’t be fluent. Just be accurate!

B．Don’t be nervous, don’t be shy. Just write!

C．Don’t be shy, don’t be fluent. Just listen and write!

D．Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Just speak!

2. To improve their spoken English, students should do the following things EXCEPT ______.

A．try to be as reactive as possible in learning English

B．try their best to enrich their vocabulary

C．try to avoid being afraid of making mistakes

D．pay more attention to listening before opening mouth

3. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．More hurry, less speed.	B．Practice makes perfect.
C．Silence is gold.	D．Better late than never.

4. Where does the passage probably come from?

A．A sports newspaper.	B．A movie magazine
C．A report on study.	D．A teacher’s diary.