【推荐1】This dictionary tells you about English words and how to use them in reading, writing and speaking English. It not only gives the meaning of words, it can also help you with spelling, word-building, grammar and pronunciation.

To use your dictionary correctly, you need to understand how the dictionary works. At the front of the book, you will find some exercises to help you make the most use of your dictionary.

If you look up the word “ colour ”, you will find two spellings for this word. “Colour” is used in British English, while “ color” is used in American English. When there are differences between British English and “AmE” for American English.

The dictionary also helps you pronounce words correctly. We use a special alphabet (特殊字母表) to show pronunciation. If you turn to the inside back face, you will see all the phonetic letters（音标）with some words to show you how they are pronounced. Just look at the inside back cover when you’re not sure how to say a word.

The most important reason for using a dictionary is to find out the meaning of a word---its DEFINITION.

In this dictionary, the definitions have been written using only 2000 words. This means that the definitions of even the most difficult words are simply explained（简单 解释）and easy to understand.

1. This dictionary cannot help you with ________.

A．singing

B．grammar

C．spelling

D．pronunciation

2. ________ of the words in the dictionary have two spellings.

A．All

B．One

C．Few

D．Some

3. The phonetic alphabet helps you ________ each word correctly.

A．understand

B．write

C．say

D．know

4. The Chinese meaning of “definition” here is ________.

A．词性

B．词意

C．词条

D．词库

【推荐2】Learning a new language like English can be a challenge, but with regular study, it can be done. Classes are important, but so is disciplined practice.    1    Here are some guidelines to help you become a better English student.

    2    Instead of focusing on one single task for the entire study session, try mixing things up. Study a little grammar, then do a short listening exercise, and then perhaps read an article on the same topic. Don't do too much; 20 minutes on three different exercises is plenty. The variety will make studying more fun.

React watch and listen. By reading English-language newspapers, listening to music or watching TV repeatedly, you’ll unconsciously absorb things like pronunciation, speech patterns and grammar. Keep pen and paper handy and write down unfamiliar words you encounter. And do research to learn what those new words mean.    3    

Play vocabulary and grammar games. For example, if you’re going to study English on topics that focus on vacations, take a moment to think about your last trip and what you did.    4    

And if you’re going to study verbs in the past tense, stop to think about what you did last weekend. Write down the verbs you use and review the various tenses. These games will make you think critically about vocabulary and usage.

Write it down. Take 30 minutes at the end of class to write down what happened during our day. Once you’re comfortable writing about your day, challenge yourself with creative writing exercises.    5    Or write a poem about someone you know well. You’ll have fun and study English effectively.

A．Study every day.

B．Keep things fresh.

C．It can even be fun.

D．Then use them the next time you are role-playing dialogue in class.

E．Make a list of all the words you might use to describe your activities.

F．Don’t be afraid to consult reference materials when studying grammar.

G．Choose a photo from a book or magazine and describe it in a short paragraph.

【推荐3】Make the Most of Holidays

Holidays are a wonderful time to spend with friends and family, eating and sharing stories.     1     These situations can give you great chances to learn English. Here are some ideas that you can use to improve your English over the holidays.

Blogs

The Learning English Broadcast is a 30-minute daily blog that features the audio (音频) from our main stories each day. Listening to the blog will help develop your ability to understand spoken English.     2     Once you have finished a program, tell someone what you have learned.

Published materials

    3     Buy an English- language publication to read it while you are waiting or spending quiet time at a hotel or in a home. Look at the images and read the lines below them. Even if you do not understand all the words, you can use the images to help you understand some of them. Later, you can use an online dictionary to look up the words you want to learn.

Conversation

While traveling, it is not unusual to see people from other countries.     4     If you hear someone asking for information in English, you might offer to help or simply greet them in English to talk. A friendly chat is usually welcome as travelers share their experiences.

Writing about your day

Writing about your day is a great way to practice your English writing skill. Using English to describe how you spent your holiday will help you to put new words to use and make them stay in your memory longer. And you will have a wonderful record of your travel.     5     It is a good reminder of your past holidays.

A．We hope you enjoy your travels this year.

B．You can read it long after the holiday is over.

C．They are also waiting or exploring a new place.

D．We have spent too much time at home the past two years.

E．And it can also keep you informed of news and information.

F．Airports and train stations often have stores selling published materials.

G．You may celebrate at home, wait at airports or spend time on trains, buses or cars.