【推荐1】Do you have any friends from other countries? Do you know what they are like?

The Germans are very quiet and they don’t get excited easily. They don’t want to say more words. They look serious, but they like all kinds of amusements (娱乐). They work hard and like tidiness. Most German women like to keep their houses clean.                                      

In some ways, the English look the same as the Germans. They are also quiet and never talk too much with others. They are really polite, so we often hear “Thank you.” or “Sorry.” from them.

The French have long holidays. They like travelling and usually spend their long time in other countries. The French are more outgoing (外向的) than the Germans. It is very easy to make friends with them.

Compared to (与……比较) the French, the Americans are more outgoing. And they are even opener. They don’t like to depend on (依靠) others. So it is very popular that students do part-time jobs. In Americans’ eyes, working and success are important.

1. From the passage, we can learn that ________ are very quiet.

A．only the Germans	B．only the Englishmen
C．only the French	D．both the Germans and the English

2. What does the underlined word “tidiness” mean in Chinese?

A．整洁

B．安静

C．时尚

D．随意

3. What can we learn about the French from the passage?

A．They are more outgoing than the Americans.

B．It is very easy to make friends with them.

C．They like travelling in their own country.

D．They don’t like to be too excited and are always hard-working.

4. Which is the best title of the article?

A．Different people’s hobbies.

B．Who are more outgoing?

C．Characteristics (特征) of the people in different countries.

D．Working hard is an important part in people’s life.

【推荐2】Foreign visitors are often puzzled in Japan because most streets there don’t have names. In Japan, people use landmarks 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 past a fruit market. The post office is just across the bus stop.”
In the Midwest of America, usually there are not many landmarks. So people will tell you directions(方向) and distance. In Kansas(堪萨斯州), for example, 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(测量) distance by telling time. “How far away 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(希腊) sometimes do not even try to give directions because few visitors understand the Greek language. Instead of giving you the direction, a Greek 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. A New Yorker might say, “Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico(墨西哥), no one answers “I don’t know.” People in Yucatan think “I don’t know” is not polite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A visitor can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
One thing will help you everywhere. You might not understand a person’s words, but maybe you can understand his body language. He or she will usually turn and then point in the correct direction. Go on in that direction, and you may find the post office!
1. What do you think of the word “landmarks” mean?

A．Names of streets or roads in a place.

B．Hotels, markets and bus stops in a city.

C．Buildings or places which are easily seen.

D．Building or places with great importance.

2. How many countries are mentioned(提及到) by the writer?

A．Four.	B．Five.
C．Seven.	D．Eight.

3. Which of the following is NOT right?

A．The Japanese often use landmarks when they give directions.

B．People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance.

C．People in Yucatan think “I don’t know” is not polite.

D．People in Greece often give wrong directions.

4. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．There are not many landmarks in the Midwest of America.

B．We needn’t carry a map when we travel around the world.

C．People give directions in the same way in different parts of the world.

D．There are different ways to give directions in different parts of the world.

【推荐1】Every year there is a Spring Festival in China. Usually it is in January or February. It is the most important festival in China. So before it comes, everyone has to prepare things. They buy pork, beef, chicken, fruits and many other things. And they often make a special kind of food—“dumplings”. It means “come together”. On the day before the festival, parents buy new clothes for their children. Children also buy presents for their parents. On the Spring Festival Eve (除夕), all the family members come back to their hometown. This is a happy moment. Some sing and dance, some play cards and others get the dinner ready. When they enjoy the meal, they give each other the best wishes for the coming year. They all have a good time.

1. Which is the most important festival in China?

A．The Mid Autumn Festival.	B．Lantern Festival.
C．Children’s Day.	D．The Spring Festival.

2. When is the Chinese Spring Festival usually celebrated?

A．In March or April.	B．In May or June.
C．In January or February.	D．In December.

3. ________ is the special kind of food for the Spring Festival in China.

A．Chicken

B．Dumpling

C．Fish

D．Fried rice

4. What’s the meaning of the food “dumplings” for Chinese people in the Spring Festival?

A．Come together.

B．Help yourself.

C．Look up.

D．Congratulate.

5. The family ________ when they are having dinner together on the Spring Festival Eve.

A．give each other the best wishes

B．buy each other presents

C．sing, dance

D．play cards

【推荐2】Deadly flooding (洪水) has swept a China’s central city. More than hundreds of thousands of people have been influenced. According to the report, a total of 302 people have been killed and 50 missing.

Like many other natural disasters, floods can happen with little or no warning. Flash floods move quickly and have strong currents (水流). They are known to bring down trees and destroy buildings. Besides, floods can cause power cuts (停电), traffic jams and other problems. But the flood itself isn’t the only problem to deal with. After a flood, its influence can be just as deadly, as it may not be feasible to send basic supplies, such as water and food to the area.

So, in the face of a flash flood, how should we save ourselves?

Avoid bridges that rapidly-moving water is crossing, as floodwaters can cause bridges to break. Listen to emergency broadcasts (应急广播) for further instructions. If told to move to another place, do so. Stay inside the car if it’s caught in a fast-moving water. Only get out if the water begins to flood the car itself, and then move to the roof of the car. If caught within a flooded building, move to the higher floor. Only move to the roof (屋顶) if necessary. Once there, signal for help, such as drawing SOS on the roof. Stay away from power lines, as they are often destroyed or knocked down during strong storms.

Besides, here are also some tips to keep in mind after a flood. Do not drink flood water, or use it to wash food. Return to your home only after local governments have said it is safe to do so. Use only bottled or boiled water for drinking, cooking and bathing. Avoid driving through flooded areas.

1. Before a flood is coming, ________ can be noticed.

A．few signs

B．power cuts

C．traffic jams

D．strong currents

2. What does the underlined word “feasible” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Important.

B．Dangerous.

C．Expensive.

D．Possible.

3. Which of the following is correct when we are in a flood?
①Don’t stay on a bridge to be broken.
②Always stay in the car.
③Move to the roof at once whatever happens.
④Don’t get close to power lines.
⑤Pay attention to the broadcasts.

A．②③

B．①④⑤

C．①②④⑤

D．②③④⑤

4. What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．What life is like after a flood.	B．When we can go back home after a flood.
C．What to do or not to do after a flood.	D．How to choose drinkable water after a flood.

5. The purpose of the passage is ________.

A．to report the latest news in a China’s central city

B．to tell readers how a flood happens

C．to tell readers to stay away from flooded areas

D．to give readers some advice on keeping safe in floods

【推荐3】

Taiwan has been part of China since ancient times, which lies in the southeast of China, facing the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest island in China, covering an area of about 36, 000 square kilometers with a population of over 20, 000, 000. Taiwan is rich in natural resources, having world-famous agricultural products, such as pineapples, sugarcane (甘蔗) and tea. This island, with rich resources, beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate, attracts (吸引) tourists from all over the world each year. If you have an opportunity to visit Taiwan, make sure to include the most famous scenery, Sun Moon Lake in your travel plan.

1. Taiwan is the ________ island in China.

A．richest

B．largest

C．smallest

D．oldest

2. People grow ________ in Taiwan.

A．pineapples

B．sugarcane

C．tea

D．all of them

3. If you travel from Kaohsiung to Sun Moon Lake, you should go ________.

A．northeast

B．northwest

C．southwest

D．southeast

4. What attracts tourists from all around the world?

A．Beautiful scenery.

B．Pleasant climate.

C．Rich resources.

D．A, B and C.

5. What can we learn about Taiwan from the passage and map?

A．Taiwan has a population of 36, 000.

B．Diaoyu Island lie to the south of Taiwan.

C．Sun Moon Lake is a famous scenery in Taiwan.

D．Taiwan only produces pineapples and sugarcane.