【推荐1】It can be really hard to learn a new language. I had always enjoyed learning languages in school. Only recently did I start learning German. I found that I could understand and learn individual words easily, but when it came to literature, I really struggled. That happened when my tutor at university suggested reading some children's books printed in the target language.

    At first, I felt a bit silly going on a hunt for a book designed for someone half my age, but then I realized that everyone has to start somewhere. As children, we are given these basic texts to familiarize our brains with certain vocabularies and writing structures, and from there, we can learn and develop. I started with books which are taught to us as children in the UK. I managed to find Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl.
    The beauty of reading books that were introduced to you as a child is that you are already familiar with the plot. Therefore, you can work out some words with your knowledge of the story. At first, I used to read with the book in one hand and a dictionary in the other, but this did not work well. The method I would recommend is to read a chapter first and at the end of that chapter, highlight the new words and then look up the definitions. If you can wait a bit before using a dictionary, you may be surprised at what you can understand merely from the context. Additionally, a lot of children's books have pictures which may give you a clue as to what or whom the passage is referring to.
    If you can find translations of the books you have read as a child, I would strongly advise you to read those if you are a complete beginner. However, if you feel a bit more confident of reading in English, I would personally recommend the series of Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling or any of the Roald Dahl's children's books.
1. Why did the author find it hard to learn German?

A．The author had a poor memory.

B．The author had no interest in it.

C．The author had no one to ask for help.

D．The author couldn't read German books fluently.

2. What did the author think of reading children's books in the target language at first?

A．Interesting.

B．Stupid.

C．Helpful.

D．Boring.

3. What does the author try to express mainly in Paragraph 3?

A．How to deal with new words while reading.

B．Why it is helpful to read children's books at first.

C．How to choose a proper book to match your level.

D．How to form the habit of reading in the target language.

4. Why does the author write this text?

A．To give tips on how to learn a new language.

B．To persuade readers to learn a new language.

C．To stress the importance of reading in language learning.

D．To share stories of learning a new language.

【推荐2】Prepare Yourself for a Better TOEFL Score

The TOEFL is the most widely used language assessment exam for American colleges or universities. Many foreign students worry about taking the TOEFL because it is essential to meet their goals.     1    But a low test score will limit their choices for financial aid and admission to top schools. So how to prepare yourself for a better TOEFL score?

What will you focus on?

Plan when you will take the TOEFL. If possible, register to take the test, even if the date is several months from now. This will give you a good reason to study. Take a sample test online or from a test preparation book to find out where you need to improve the most.     2    This will help you to plan your studies to develop the skills you need to get a better score.

    3    

The Educational Testing Service website has a free online course to help you prepare for the TOEFL. There are also sample preparation questions. Apart from answering those questions, try to surround yourself with English. Listen to stories on VOA's Learning English website. Watch movies where English is spoken. Read English-language newspapers to keep up with new words that relate to current events and technology.

When will you study?

    4    But if your practice test score is more than 20 points below your goal, you may need to improve your overall English ability, and that may take years. To get a good score, you need to set aside time to study, set goals, and measure your progress.

The real goal of the test is to measure how well a student can communicate in an English-speaking classroom.    5    

A．Do you do well in reading, but not so well in listening?

B．Good marks on the test will open many doors.

C．TOEFL score may be a necessity for a student to graduate from an American school.

D．How will you study?

E．Experts say that you should study for at least two months before taking the test.

F．Expose yourself to English on a daily basis and improvement is sure to follow.

G．Keep in touch with an American friend and learn more about the country.

【推荐3】Every day I see advertisements in the newspapers and on the buses claiming that it is easy to learn English. According to them, with little effort, a student will be able to speak the language fluently in three months or even ten days. When I see advertisements like this, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. If it were that easy, I would have to look for another job, because very few qualified teachers would be needed.

    1     Otherwise the advertisements would not appear.

It is natural for students to be attracted to methods that will teach them quickly and efficiently.     2    

And it is no use pretending that anyone has discovered a perfect way of teaching English. Some experts even argue that there are many good methods of teaching a language. No doubt this is true to a certain extent, but it is not very helpful to students.

    3     Of course it is clear that students who go to England, America, or Australia to learn English have a great advantage over others. But many students cannot afford to do so. Other students go to the opposite extreme.     4     But it is wrong to assume that each word in English has a precise word in another language.

In my personal opinion, no one can ever learn to speak a language unless he is interested in it. Human beings, unlike animals, do not like making noises unless they understand and can relate them to their own lives. It is worth remembering that language is a means of communication.     5     It will be helpful if we practise the unfamiliar forms in real situations, talking to each other about real life in real language.

A．We need other people to talk to and listen to.

B．They teach themselves at home with dictionaries.

C．Every teacher is an individual with his own personality.

D．But a large number of people must believe these ridiculous claims.

E．It’s impossible for any translation method to produce good pronunciation.

F．But it is difficult for anyone to explain why one method is better than another.

G．Some students believe that the only way to learn a language is to stay in that country.