1 . Can you imagine there being a community where boys and girls growing up together can finally speak different languages? In Ubang Nigeria, it really happens. It’s not exactly clear what percentage of the words in the men’s and women’s languages are different, but there are enough examples to make sentences sound different when spoken by the opposite sex. For “clothing”, men use the word “nki”, while women say “ariga”; “kitchi” means tree for men, while women say “okweng”. These are not just some slight pronunciation differences, but totally different words. “It’s almost like two different lexicons (词汇集),” a language expert, Chi Chi Undle said. “There are a lot of words that men and women share in common, but there are others which are totally different depending on your sex. They don’t sound alike, and don’t have the same letters. They are completely different words.”
Interestingly, both men and women are able to understand each other perfectly in Ubang, as both boys and girls grow up around their parents and get to learn both languages, but by the age of 10, boys are expected to speak in the male tongue. It seems that there is a stage the male will reach and he discovers he is not using the rightful language. When he starts speaking the men’s language, you know the maturity is coming into him.
No one really knows how or why the double-language tradition of Ubang began. Chi Chi Undie believes the two languages are the result of a “double-sex culture” where men and women operate in two separate spheres (范围) and live in separate worlds that rarely come together. However, she admits this is a weak theory, as the double-sex culture is present in many parts of Africa, where there are no different languages for men and women.
Today, with English words constantly entering the lexicon of young Nigerians, Ubang’s two languages are in danger of being lost forever. Worse still, neither the male nor female language is written down, so they both rely on young people passing them down to the next generation.
1. What do we know about languages in Ubang?| A．Word differences account for a high percentage. |
| B．Men and women speak totally different languages. |
| C．Word differences partly exist between the opposite sex. |
| D．Men and women pronounce differently on the same word. |
| A．Their lexicons sound alike. |
| B．They learn both languages at school. |
| C．The men can speak two different languages. |
| D．They are exposed to both languages in their childhood. |
2 . 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.
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 . Today’s world is not an easy adjustment for young adults. A key skill set for success is persistence (毅力), a characteristic that researchers say is heavily influenced by fathers. Researchers from Brigham Young University discovered that fathers are in a unique position to help their adolescent children learn persistence.
BYU professors Laura Padilla-Walker and Randal Day arrived at these findings after following 325 American families over several years. And over time, the persistence gained through fathers led to higher achievement in school.
“There are relatively few studies that stress the unique role of fathers,” Padilla-Walker said. “This research also helps to prove that characteristics such as persistence — which can be taught — are key to a child’s life success.”
Researchers determined that dads need to practice an “authoritative” parenting style. Authoritative parenting is not authoritarian: rigid, demanding or controlling. Rather, an authoritative parenting style includes some of the following characteristics: children feel warmth and love from their father; responsibility and the reasons behind rules are stressed; children are given an appropriate level of autonomy (自主权).
In the study, about 52 percent of the dads exhibited above-average levels of authoritative parenting. A key finding is that over time, children raised by an authoritative father were significantly more likely to develop persistence, which leads to better outcomes in school.
This particular study examined 11 to 14-year-olds living in two-parent homes. Yet the researchers suggest that single parents still may play a role in teaching the benefits of persistence, which is an avenue of future research.
Which of the following is the best title for the text?| A．Three Characteristics of Authoritative Fathers |
| B．Key Skills for Young Adults to Succeed in Future |
| C．Children Tend to Learn Determination from Father |
| D．Family Relationship Influences School Performance |
THE FRESHMAN CHALLENGE
Hi! My name is Adam and I’m a freshman at senior high school. Going from junior high school to senior high school is a really big challenge. The first week was a little confusing.
First, I had to think very carefully about which courses I wanted to take. The school adviser helped me choose the suitable ones;maths, English, chemistry, world history, and Chinese. I know that Chinese is a very difficult language, but I hope to be fluent when I graduate. My adviser recommended that I should sign up for advanced literature because I like English and I’m good at it.
I had to choose extracurricular activities, too. I tried to join the school football team, but the coach told me that I didn’t play well enough. Obviously, I was unhappy, but I won’t quit. I’ll find a way to improve on my own so that I can make the team next year. I joined a volunteer club instead. Every Wednesday, we work at a soup kitchen and hand out food to homeless people in the community.
I know I’ll have to study harder as a senior high school student and get used to being responsible for a lot more. I’m a bit worried about keeping up with the other students in my advanced course, and it’ll be quite difficult to get used to all the homework. Still, I’m happy to be here. Studying hard isn’t always fun, but I’ll be well prepared for university or whatever else comes in the future.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The importance of taking courses. |
| B．Why Adam joined a volunteer club. |
| C．How Adam dealt with the freshman challenge. |
| D．Adam is worried about his advanced course. |
Para.1: Senior high school: a
Para.2: How to choose
Para.3: How to choose
Para.4: How to
3. What is the function of Paragraph 1?
| A．To introduce the topic. |
| B．To arouse the interest of readers. |
| C．To stress the importance of challenge. |
| D．To open a new stage for high school. |
| A．Excited. | B．Interested. |
| C．Confused. | D．Worried. |
| A．He felt disappointed and gave up. |
| B．He felt confused and left the football team. |
| C．He felt worried and signed up for a new team. |
| D．He felt unhappy but didn’t give up and tried to improve. |
| A．Hardworking and responsible. | B．Shy and strongwilled. |
| C．Humorous and confident. | D．Careful and clever. |
①Obviously, I was unhappy, but I won’t quit.
②I’m a bit worried about keeping up with the other students in my advanced course...
③Still, I’m happy to be here.
④The first week was a little confusing.
8. 细读短文并找出描写Adam爱好与性格的句子
①
②
③
④
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England—many people are confused by what these different names mean. So what is the difference between them, if any? Getting to know a little bit about British history will help you solve this puzzle.
In the 16th century, the nearby country of Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. Later, in the 18th century, the country Scotland was joined to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the 19th century, the Kingdom of Ireland was added to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, in the 20th century, the southern part of Ireland broke away from the UK, which resulted in the full name we have today: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most people just use the shortened name: “the United Kingdom” or “the UK”. People from the UK are called “British”, which means the UK is also often referred to as Britain or Great Britain.
The four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together in some areas. They use the same flag, known as the Union Jack, as well as share the same currency and military defence. However, they also have some differences. For example, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have different education systems and legal systems. They also have their own traditions, like their own national days and national dishes. And they even have their own football teams for competitions like the World Cup!
The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore, which can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions. Almost everywhere you go in the UK, you will be surrounded by evidence of four different groups of people who took over at different times throughout history. The first group, the Romans, came in the first century. Some of their great achievements included building towns and roads. Next, the AngloSaxons arrived in the fifth century. They introduced the beginnings of the English language, and changed the way people built houses. The Vikings came in the eighth century and left behind lots of new vocabulary, as well as the names of many locations across the UK. The last group were the Normans. They conquered England after the wellknown Battle of Hastings in the 11th century. They had castles built all around England, and made changes to the legal system. The Normans were French, so many French words slowly entered into the English language.
There is so much more to learn about the interesting history and culture of the United Kingdom. Studying the history of the country will make your visit much more enjoyable. The capital city London is a great place to start, as it is an ancient port city that has a history dating all the way back to Roman times. There are countless historic sites to explore, and lots of museums with ancient relics from all over the UK. The UK is a fascinating mix of history and modern culture, with both new and old traditions. If you keep your eyes open, you will be surprised to find that you can see both its past and its present.
1. Match the main idea of each paragraph| A. The four countries of the UK. B. How the UK came into being. C. The four groups of people in the history. D. Introduce the topic to the readers. E. The history and modern culture make the UK fascinating. |
2. What can help us find out the difference between some different names of the UK?
| A．British languages. | B．British history. |
| C．British location. | D．British education. |
| A．Britain. | B．Scotland. |
| C．Wales. | D．Ireland. |
| A．The flag. | B．The currency. |
| C．The military defence. | D．The education system. |
| A．Building towns and roads. |
| B．Changing the way of building houses. |
| C．Leaving behind many new vocabulary. |
| D．Changing the legal system. |
| A．Teachers. | B．Students. |
| C．Tourists. | D．Guides. |
| What’s in a name | Rise a question | What is the |
| Explain the question | How did the UK come into being? | |
| The same and different areas | The share the same | |
| The have different | ||
| A long and interesting history | You will be surrounded by | |
| The advantage of studying the history | Make you visit much more |
A.标出句中含有情感变化的词汇。
(1)The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England—many people are confused by what these different names mean.
(2)Getting to know a little bit about British history will help you solve this puzzle.
(3)The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore, which can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions.
(4)Studying the history of the country will make your visit much more enjoyable.
B.在课文中找出表示情感变化的句子。
(1)
(2)
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
(10:45 p.m.)
Han Jing’s World
7:00 a. m.
So this is it — senior high school at last! I’m not outgoing so I’m a little anxious right now. I want to make a good first impression. Will I make any friends? What if no one talks to me?
12:30 p.m.
I just had my first maths class at senior high school! The class was difficult, but the teacher was kind and friendly. He even told us a funny story, and everyone laughed so much! I found most of my classmates and teachers friendly and helpful.
5:32 p.m.
This afternoon, we had our chemistry class in the science lab. The lab is new and the lesson was great, but the guy next to me tried to talk to me the whole time. I couldn’t concentrate on the experiment. I really wanted to tell him to please be quiet and leave me alone!
10:29 p.m.
What a day! This morning, I was worried that no one would talk to me. But I was wrong. I didn’t feel awkward or frightened at all. I miss my friends from junior high school, but I believe I will make new friends here, and there’s a lot to explore at senior high. I feel much more confident than I felt this morning. I think that tomorrow will be a great day!
1. What’s mainly talked about in the text?| A．Han Jing’s first day at junior high school. |
| B．Two classes at senior high school. |
| C．Han Jing’s first impressions of her first school day. |
| D．A first-year senior high school student. |
Han Jing’s World
Post 1(7:00 a.m.): Han Jing was
Post 2(12:30 p.m.): Han Jing felt
Post 3(5:32 p.m.): Han Jing became
Post 4(10:29 p.m.): Han Jing didn’t feel awkward or
3. How was the maths teacher?
| A．Kind and friendly. |
| B．Strict and cold. |
| C．Learned and handsome. |
| D．Outgoing and kind. |
| A．She is much more frightened. |
| B．She is afraid to go to school. |
| C．She is much more confident. |
| D．She is unwilling to make friends. |
| A．Because she didn’t like chemistry. |
| B．Because she didn’t feel well. |
| C．Because the teacher was not friendly. |
| D．Because a guy tried to talk to her all the time. |
| A．In a newspaper. |
| B．In WeChat Moments. |
| C．In a diary. |
| D．In a report. |
①I’m not outgoing so I’m a little anxious right now.
②This morning, I was worried that no one would talk to me.
③I didn’t feel awkward or frightened at all.
④I feel much more confident than I felt this morning.
8. 细读短文并找出人物描写的句子
STRONGER TOGETHER：HOW WE HAVE
BEEN CHANGED BY THE INTERNET
Much has been written about the wonders of the World Wide Web. There are countless articles telling us how the Internet has made our lives more convenient. We no longer have to wait in line or carry cash around when we go shopping. We can get the most updated information from large databases. We can download software, documents, and images whenever we need them. But the Internet has done much more for people than simply make life more convenient. People’s lives have been changed by online communities and social networks.
Jan Tchamani, an English teacher in Birmingham, UK, suddenly developed a serious illness and had to quit her job. At age 50, she found herself out of work and stuck at home with only her computer to keep her company. After a while, she discovered that surfing the Internet could help her feel less lonely and bored. She could listen to music, watch films, play games, and explore the world. She also joined an online group where she could talk about her problems and get support and advice from others. She realised that one of the greatest benefits of the Internet was its ability to remove the distance that usually exists between people.
She was so inspired by the people she met online that she decided to start an IT club to teach older people how to use computers and the Internet. She and her friends now organise events and collect money to pay for private teachers. Many people have been helped by the club. A 59 year old man learnt how to apply for work online and found a great job. Now that he works and can take care of himself, his daughter has time to study at university. A 61 year old woman who was living alone has started a small online company together with two friends. She no longer feels lonely, and her company has become quite successful.
Jan has started taking online classes to learn more about how to use the Internet to make society better. She believes that it is highly important to bridge the digital divide and make sure that everyone has access to the Internet and knows how to use new technology. Her next goal is to start a charity website to raise money for children in poor countries.
Jan’s life has been greatly improved by the Internet. “When you go through tough times, you meet others who are facing similar challenges, ” Jan says. “Thinking about other people’s situations inspired me to offer help.”
1. Match the main idea of each paragraph.| A. Jan’s feeling of life. B. The wonders of the World Wide Web. C. Jan was inspired and started an IT club to help older people. D. Jan continued to learn more about the Internet to make society better. E. The reason why Jan began to surf the Internet. |
Para. 2
Para. 3
Para. 4
Para. 5
2. Why did Jan quit her job?
| A．Because she began to hate teaching. |
| B．Because she had a serious illness. |
| C．Because she was too old for teaching. |
| D．Because she wanted to work for the Internet. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Disappointed. | C．Puzzled. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．To help older people use the computer. |
| B．To help older people find the job. |
| C．To help jobless people live a happy life. |
| D．To help her daughter study at university. |
| A．To take online classes. |
| B．To make society better. |
| C．To start a website to help poor children. |
| D．To improve poor people’s life by the Internet. |
| A．She will keep offering help to other people. |
| B．Thinking about other people’s life makes her tired. |
| C．Helping others by the Internet is a challenge for her. |
| D．Her life has been greatly changed by the Internet. |
The Influence of the Internet |
|
It has made our lives |
|
Example |
|
| Jan suddenly developed an illness. By |
|
| So she decided to She also learned |
|
Jan’s life |
8. 标出句中含有人物心理感受的词汇。
(1) There are countless articles telling us how the Internet has made our lives more convenient.
(2) After a while, she discovered that surfing the Internet could help her feel less lonely and bored.
(3) She was so inspired by the people she met online that she decided to start an IT club to teach older people how to use computers and the Internet.
9. 在课文中找出表示人物心理感受的句子。
(1)
(2)
The Monarch’s Journey
Many animals move from one place to another at certain times of the year. This annual movement is called migration. They migrate to find food, seek a partner, or in search of warmer weather. One of the most wonderful migrations in nature is that of the North American monarch butterfly.
Every autumn, millions of these beautiful insects with fine black and orange wings begin a long and difficult journey. Somehow they manage to travel around 4,000 kilometres south and find their way to California or Mexico. However, until recently no one knew how they did this.
A team of scientists led by Professor Eli Shlizerman at the University of Washington has now found the answer. They have found out that the monarch is able to tell the time of day. It uses its eyes to measure the position of the sun. These two pieces of information — the time of day and the point where the sun is in the sky — allow the butterfly to determine the way to go. Eventually, it manages to reach the places where it will spend the winter.
The solution to the mystery of the monarch’s amazing ability comes at a time when it is in serious trouble. Its population has crashed by as much as 90 per cent in the last few years. Sadly, human activity is the main reason why the number of monarch butterflies is falling. In many of the places where the butterfly can be found, people are destroying the natural environment. They cut down trees and use chemicals that kill the plants that monarch caterpillars eat.
The research on the monarch’s behaviour has however led to a greater awareness of this creature. People have been working together to record its migration and make sure that there are enough plants for it to feed on. If this works, there may come a time when the number of monarch butterflies increases once again. The more we know about this lovely creature, the greater the chance it will survive and keep its place in the natural world for a long time to come.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The routes of the Monarch’s migration. |
| B．The reasons of the Monarch’s migration. |
| C．The significance of the Monarch’s migration. |
| D．The study of the Monarch’s migration. |
| A．To tell us what migration is exactly. |
| B．To tell us the reasons for migration. |
| C．To introduce the topic of the text. |
| D．To tell us how many animals migrate. |
| A．They may lose their way. |
| B．They can’t see anything. |
| C．They can’t find any food. |
| D．They will feel very cold. |
| A．Negative. | B．Neutral. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Positive. |
| A．Being caught by humans. |
| B．The destroyed natural environment. |
| C．The bad weather condition. |
| D．Being eaten by birds. |
(1)
(2)
The Best Medicine
As I approach the hospital wearing my white coat, I look just like any other doctor. That is until I put on my curly rainbow wig, big red nose, and add my name badge “Doctor Larry LaughOutLoud”. I walk through the doors into the waiting area, where there's a familiar atmosphere of boredom and tension. People sit uncomfortably on plastic chairs, looking through old magazines, all of which have been read hundreds of times previously. Anxious parents do what they can to comfort nervous and crying children.
In the middle of this particular scene I spot a small girl whose ankle is twice its normal size. I speak with the onduty nurse, who tells me that Lara's parents rushed her to the hospital after she fell off her bicycle. Since getting here, Lara has spent her time crying in pain. Although it's the doctors and nurses who will treat her injury, it's my job to make her feel better.
Scientific studies show that laughter produces chemicals to make people feel better, which means clown doctors can be helpful. We are specially trained clowns who work as part of a programme known as “hospital clowning”. I chose this career because of my experience of going to hospital when I was a kid. Although the doctors and nurses did a great job, hospitals weren't really designed for children. I spent much of the time when I was there feeling frightened and more than a little bored！Being a clown doctor means I can help people by entertaining them.
Visiting hospitals and other health care facilities, we clown doctors work together with medical professionals. On a typical day, we spend our time cheering up patients, their families, and more often than not, the hospital staff, too！We do this by doing magic tricks, singing songs, telling stories and, of course, telling silly jokes. Some children, though, don't feel like laughing, especially if they're in pain. We have to be very sensitive and work closely with the doctors and nurses, who keep us updated on each patient.
And my magic medicine does indeed seem to do the trick. While the doctor concentrates on examining Lara's ankle, I get her attention by doing a magic trick. Although she is clearly still in some pain, her scared and anxious look has been replaced—first by a small smile, and then by loud laughter as I “magically” produce her sock from out of my pocket. Seeing their daughter so much happier has in turn made Lara's parents more relaxed.
And as for me？Well, when I take off my wig and my red nose, I'm still wearing a big smile, as I remember all the fun and laughter of the day. While there might be more hospital visits ahead for Lara and others, I hope that clown doctors help make it a friendlier place to visit. After all, it really is true that “laughter is the best medicine”.
1. What's the text mainly about？| A．A little girl whose ankle was injured. |
| B．What a clown doctor does in the hospital. |
| C．Why a clown doctor is so funny. |
| D．A clown doctor isn't satisfied with his job. |
| A．They love reading. |
| B．They have no books to read. |
| C．They want to keep calm. |
| D．They feel bored. |
| A．His boyhood experience of going to hospital. |
| B．Lara's being injured while she rode her bicycle. |
| C．His love for the performances of the clowns. |
| D．Seeing so many children crying in the hospital. |
| A．By giving an example. |
| B．By listing figures. |
| C．By making comparison. |
| D．By giving instructions. |
| A．Clown doctors have become increasingly popular. |
| B．Amusement functions better than medicines. |
| C．Laughter can help a lot during treatment. |
| D．Hospital staff all think highly of clown doctors. |
7. 细读课文并找出心理描写的句子
(1)
(2)
8. 细读课文并找出人物描写的句子
(1)
(2)
10 . Your child is unique, but what all children have in common is natural curiosity and an innate(天生的) ability to learn. Our brains are active all the time, and a baby’s brain is the busiest of all. Research has shown that babies begin to understand language about twice as fast as they actually speak it. By exposing children to other languages at an early age, you are giving them the opportunity to make use of their natural ability to hear and recognize the sounds of other languages, and their ability to make sense of what they are hearing.
Communication is something that children do to help them achieve something else, and they are unaware of the large amount of learning taking place. They take everything in through their senses, making connections between what they hear, see, smell, taste and touch. As long as we provide the right conditions, their learning and development will take place in a natural way.
In your child’s early years, the emotional environment is just as important as the physical environment. Children learn when they feel secure, happy, valued and listened to. This is central to any learning experience in a child’s early years, including learning an additional language. Your child has a trial-and-error approach to their development, and making mistakes is a valuable part of the learning process. Their progress isn’t held up by a fear of getting something wrong, and very young children are simply working their way towards getting it right.
The long-term benefits of learning another language go beyond being able to communicate with others. Studies suggest that children learning an additional language tend to score better on standardized tests because learning languages develops listening, observation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. These are skills that are of lifelong benefit, both personally and professionally. Encouraging children in a love of language at an early age prepares them well for school and for life.
1. How do children learn a language?| A．By speaking to themselves. | B．By taking language classes. |
| C．By making use of their different senses. | D．By noticing how much they have learned. |
