【推荐1】       On October 19, 1959, the first Special English program was broadcast on the Voice of America. It was an experiment. The goal was to communicate by radio in clear and simple English with people whose native language is not English. Experts said the goal was admirable, but the method would not work. They were proved wrong. The Special English programs quickly became some of the most popular on VOA. And they still are.
       Forty years later, Special English continues to communicate with people who are not fluent in English. But during the years its role has expanded. It also helps people learn American English. And it provides listeners, even those who are native English speakers, with information they cannot find elsewhere.
       Today, Special English broadcasts around the world seven days a week, five times a day. Each half-hour broadcast begins with ten minutes of the latest news followed by 20 minutes of feature programming. There is a different short feature every weekday about science, development, agriculture and environment, and on the weekend, about news events and American idioms.
       Three elements make Special English unique. It has a limited vocabulary of 1500 words. Most are simple words that describe objects, actions or emotions. Some are more difficult. They are used for reporting world events and describing discoveries in medicine and science. Special English is written in short, simple sentences that contain only one idea. No idioms are used. And Special English is spoken at a slower pace, about two-thirds the speed of Standard English. This helps people learning English hear each word clearly. It also helps people who are English speakers understand complex subjects.
       Through the years, Special English has become a very popular tool for teaching English, even though it was not designed as teaching program. It succeeds in helping people learn English in a non-traditional way. Individuals record the programs and play them over and over to practice their listening skills. In countries around the world, English teachers assign Special English to their students. They praise it for improving their students’ ability to understand American English and for the content of the programs. Universities and private companies in many countries produce packages of Special English materials for student use.
1. At the beginning, Special English program was        .

A．well received

B．rejected by native people

C．doubted by some professionals

D．intended for teaching English

2. What kind of English is spoken on Special English?

A．British English.

B．American English.

C．Both British and American English.

D．Not certain.

3. Which of the following are the elements that make Special English unique?
a．limited vocabulary
b．short simple sentences
c．good communication method
d．slow speed
e．interesting feature programming

A．a, b, c

B．a, c, d

C．a, b, d

D．b, d, e

4. From the last paragraph we can infer that       .

A．listening to Special English can be a student’s homework

B．listening to Special English can improve the content of the program

C．some student record the Special English material for sale

D．learning English from VOA is a traditional way for English learner.

【推荐2】English is changing faster than ever with the development of society. Do you long to keep up with the times? If so, here are some old-fashioned words you should remove from your vocabulary list.

Whippersnapper

As an alteration of the term "snippersnapper'', the word first appeared in the 17th century, expressing our ancestors' annoyance at ill-mannered children. In its more contemporary version, the word relates to a young person who is too confident and does not show enough respect to older.

Tape

Are you born in the 1980s? If so, you may still be using the term "tape" when speaking of recording music or TV shows. Today, though digital media has made data storage on magnetic an outdated thing, this old linguistic habit still exists.

Stewardess

In the earlier age of air travel, female crew members serving airline passengers were called stewardesses. It was due to the development of women's rights movement in the 1960s that the word fell out of use. "Stewardess" was replaced by a more gender-neutral term, "flight attendant”.

Dungarees

What we know as "jeans" today were once called “dungarees" to refer to trousers made of denim (蓝粗棉布). As traders began importing the cloth from Genoa in Italy, this kind of trousers got a new name ’jeans”. So don't be surprised if you catch your grandpa saying dungarees.

1. Who can be described as a whippersnapper nowadays?

A．An elder who has confidence and influence.

B．An elder who doesn't like children.

C．A teenager who is overconfident and impolite.

D．A child who is bad-tempered

2. Which of the following has become out of date with women's rights movement?

A．Whippersnapper.

B．Tape.

C．Stewardess.

D．Dungarees.

3. What is the author's purpose in writing the passage?

A．To analyze the differences among modern words.

B．To propose readers not using some old-fashioned words.

C．To show readers the inconvenience the old-fashioned words have brought us.

D．To explain how to keep up with the times.

【推荐1】Noticing the signals that people send out with their body language is a very useful social skill.    1    Fortunately, with a little extra effort, you can learn to read body language, and with enough practice it’ll become second nature.

    2    The closer they are, the warmer they are thinking of you. The farther away that someone is, the less they actually care about the situation or person. If you move slightly closer to them, do they move slightly further away? That means they don’t want your communication to be any more personal than it already is.    3    And if they respond by getting even closer to you, they probably really like you or are very comfortable around/by you.

It is worth noting that personal space is culturally different; keep in mind that what is considered close in one country is far away in another.

Check their arms.    4    Though some people just cross their arms as a habit, it may indicate that the person is slightly reserved, nervous or embarrassed about their appearance and trying to cover it, or just trying to hide something on their shirt. If their arms are crossed while their feet are wider apart, this is a position of toughness or authority. If someone rests their arms behind their neck or head, they are open to what is being discussed or just easy-going in general. If their hands are on their hips(双手叉腰), they might be waiting, impatient or just tired.    5    

A．If they don’t move further away, then they are willing to listen and accept.

B．How to read body language needs to be learned.

C．Some of us can read it naturally and some of us can’t at all.

D．If their hands are closed, they may be angry, or nervous.

E．People with crossed arms are closing themselves to social influence

F．Pay attention to how close someone is to you.

G．Some people tend not to move further away.

【推荐2】One of the simplest and the most effective forms of communication involves nothing more than the movement of facial muscles.     1     Smiling! Everyone understands what a smile means. Everyone also understands what a frown means. In fact, these two basic facial expressions can be recognized, regardless of the language spoken or the culture lived in.

Hugs are so beautiful! When you give someone a hug or someone comes up and gives you a hug, this simple act of a hug can “speak” volumes about how much you care for the other person.     2    , and how much you have missed the other person. This hug has so much to say, and yet there never has to be any words spoken.

And, who needs to say the words “yes” or “no” when a movement of the head says the same thing.     3    .Just knowing how to read and use body language effectively makes it really easy to see-why it is not always a bad thing to be lost for words.

    4    . And, most of the time, body language is the very first words “spoken” before any words are. The old saying is “love at first sight”, not “love at first word”. Across a crowded room, their eyes meet and linger, he winks at her, and she raises an eyebrow.     5    , These displays of body language say it all. In fact, sometimes they can say more than words can.

A．Body language in the world of love is a very common thing.

B．The world is full of love.

C．how much love you want to share with the other person

D．These basic examples show just how powerful body language can be.

E．The connection is made without any words needed.

F．What am I talking about?

G．how much information we can get.

【推荐1】The Internet has become part of teenagers’ life. There’s a report on 3,375 students aged from 10 to 18 in seven Chinese cities. It says that 38% of them believe they use the Internet often. While most of them get useful information and use the Internet to help in their studies, some are not using it in a good way. Many are playing online games too much. A few even visit Web sites they should not look at. Bad things can happen if young people spend too much time on the Internet.

In order to help young people use the Internet in a good way, a textbook on good Internet behavior has started to be used in some Shanghai middle schools this term. It uses real examples to teach students all about good ways of using the Internet. Some students also make online friends. But if you are meeting a friend offline, let your parents know.

Teachers and parents all think the book is a very good idea. It will teach students how to be a good person in the online world. It will be a guide for teens using the Internet and keep students away from bad sites.

1. The underlined word “it” means________?

A．the book

B．the report

C．the Internet

D．the information

2. From the report, about________ students between 10—18 years old in the seven cities use the Internet often.

A．3,375

B．1,280

C．2,100

D．5,523

3. Why do teachers and parents think the book is a good idea?

A．Because it helps with the students’studies.

B．Because it is used in Shanghai middle schools.

C．Because it teaches students how to use the Internet in a good way.

D．Because it is easier to understand.

4. Which is the best title for the passage?

A．The Internet is very useful.	B．Students can’t use the Internet.
C．Be careful when using the Internet.	D．The advantages and disadvantages of Internet.

【推荐3】

Located in the northeast of Italy, Venice is well-known for its cultural treasures, romantic atmosphere and unusual living-on-water experience. The city spreads out over 118 islands, which are linked by more than 400 bridges, in the Venetian Lagoon.

Venice’s historical center consists of six regions. San Polo in the middle and San Marco in the south, the busiest main regions, are linked by the Rialto Bridge. The famous stone arch bridge crosses Venice’s main waterway — the Grand Canal. When night falls, many tourists enjoy dinner at the outside tables by the Grand Canal while watching colorfully lit boats going by.

Near the end of the S-shaped Grand Canal lies St. Mark’s Basilica, a must-see. Inside, beautiful mosaics tell stories of Bible figures. Nearby are the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. These were made famous by Lord Byron, “I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace and prison on each hand.” Legend has it that if a couple passes under the bridge, their love will last forever.

In the square outside the Basilica, lovers of literature can sit at Caffe Florian, regarded as the oldest coffee house in Europe. Charles Dickens, Henry James as well as Lord Byron enjoyed the wonderful drink here.

Art lovers should buy a museum pass and visit some of the city’s unusual museums. They can view works by Venetian masters like Giovanni, Titian and Tintoretto.

On five small islands in the Venetian Lagoon, Murano has been home to glass-makers since 1291. Tourists can visit factories, studios and the Glass Museum. Glass artists produce everything from simple souvenir pieces to beautiful works of modern art. Only glassworks made using traditional methods on Murano can be called Murano Glass. The nearby island of Burano is famous for lace making and colorful houses. Looking at the colorful houses and kaleidoscopic streets makes people feel as if they were walking in the fairy tale.

The City of Water promises beauty of all kinds, and it definitely lives up to its promise.

1. Why does the author mention Lord Byron’s words?

A．To introduce the famous British poet.

B．To explain why the two places are famous.

C．To show why St. Mark’s Basilica is a must-see.

D．To compare the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs.

2. Where should you go in Venice if you love art?

A．Caffe Florian.	B．The city’s museum.
C．St. Mark’s Basilica.	D．The Bridge of Sighs.

3. What is Murano well-known for?

A．Bridges.

B．Lace making.

C．Glassworks.

D．Colorful houses.

4. What’s the text mainly about?

A．Venice’s modern art.	B．Venice’s local customs.
C．Venice’s natural scenery.	D．Venice’s attractions with its beauty.