1 . Hello and welcome to English with Lucy. Today we have another topic:“Four common British expressions.” Now, before we get started, make sure you connect with me on all my social media which is right here. You can subscribe to my YouTube. You can also like me on Facebook. And for my Chinese followers, I have my Weibo account as well.

Four Common British Expressions:

“A piece of cake.”

And this is very similar to “Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy,” which we've discussed in a former video.   And basically, it means very easy.   So I might come out of an easy exam saving, “That exam was a piece of cake. ”

“Break a leg!”

It actually looks really rather cruel, but I promise you it's positive.   And “Break a leg!” means “Good luck!” So before a race, before a job interview, before a test, instead of saying “Good luck!” I might say “Break a leg!”

“It cost an arm and a leg.”

And this basically means something was really expensive.   If I say, “My bag cost an arm and a leg,” I mean it cost a lot of money.

“To call it a day.”

And this means “to end a task”.   So, for example, “I'm feeling a bit tired. I think I'll call it a day. ”That means “I think I'll stop here.   Let's finish.”

Thank you so much for watching this program of “Four Common British Expressions.” I hope you like it, and I hope you've learned something.

1. How can Chinese listeners connect with Lucy?

A．With Wechat

B．Through Weibo

C．On Facebook

D．By YouTube.

2. When John went to an English Speech Competition, you should say “_________” to him.

A．Break a leg!	B．It cost an arm and a leg.
C．To call it a day	D．A piece of cake.

3. What does he/she mean when the teacher says “Let's call it a day.” ?

A．He/She will stop that day	B．He/She feels tired
C．Class is over.	D．It is daytime.

2 . Have you ever wished you didn’t have to wake up early and go all the way to school? For 700,000 American kids, this wish comes true.    1    This kind of learning has different names: online learning or distance learning. Regardless of what it is called, this idea may create an impression of a lonely kid reading pages of information on a computer screen rather than from a book or an image of another kid spending the day playing video games instead of learning mathematics or reading a book. Where online education is concerned, both of these are false! Actually, online learning simply means learning differently.

    2    Flexibility is the main advantage. Students can attend school wherever and whenever they desire. Homework can be turned in from anywhere the student has Internet access. Additionally, many online schools will allow students to work at their own pace.

Another advantage of online schooling is with the variety of courses. Most online schools teach the same basic classes like English, math, science, and history.    3    However, traditional schools are often unable to offer these types of classes if there are not enough students.

Online schools also have different types of learning tools for kids to use. For example, many online schools have special Web sites where only students registered in online classes can watch videos, see lessons presented, or chat with teachers and other students. Some online schools have live class times where students can call and talk with the teacher directly.     4    

Computer technology is amazing, and we use computers for chatting with our friends, listening to music, and playing games.    5    Since 2012, at least 38 states either have had their own online schools or made rules for students attending them. It looks like online schools are here to stay, but only you can decide if this type of learning is right for you.

A．Online schools offer many benefits for the learners.

B．Of course, there are some disadvantages of going to school online.

C．Almost every part of our lives is affected by it, and school is no exception.

D．They attend school over the Internet using ordinary home or library computers.

E．Other online schools even have online clubs where kids can talk about their hobbies.

F．Some online schools also offer specialized classes in subjects such as space science, French, or zoology.

G．For some students, online school may be ideal, but for others, traditional school may better meet their needs.

3 . Ways to make a great first impression

You’ve heard it a million times already. But it really does take but a few seconds to make that all-important first impression（印象）. Here are some easy ways for you to impress your classmates or teachers.

*    1    

Before you shake hands with somebody, make sure that your hands are clean. The hand-shake should not be too strong or weak. Most people use their right hands, unless they have a reason to use the left.     2    

*Be on time

When meeting someone for the first time, arriving on time is as important as breathing. You may have an excuse, but that will leave the person who hardly knows you with a bad impression.     3     It’s better to be hanging around the place than be stuck in traffic.

*Introduce yourself and ask for names

Make sure you properly introduce yourself. Ask for their name in a polite way.     4    . This will increase the chances of their remembering your name in the future. Always remember to stand up when greeting someone and be sure to introduce them to anyone you’re with.

*Make good conversation

To get the most out of your discussion, try to find something common between the two of you.     5    . A person will feel more comfortable with someone they can relate to（产生共鸣）.

A．Use body language

B．Have a proper handshake

C．Repeat the name and use it later in conversation.

D．It could be a similar taste in clothes or a common hobby

E．As a general rule, plan to arrive about 30 minutes early.

F．You’ll be in serious trouble if you leave them with a bad impression.

G．However, don’t have your left hand in your pocked because this appears impolite.

4 . For a moment nothing happened. Then ________ all shouting together.

A．voices had come

B．voices would come

C．came voices

D．did voices come

5 . 假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误；每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

One Sunday morning, I got a opportunity to help someone. I was walking by a field when I saw an old man pulling out the dry grass. He was clearing his field up grow new plants. I had entered the field and asked him that I could help. He nodded with a smile and with her permission, I started working hard or cleared up a large area finally. Work with him was fun because he shared many interesting stories in me. After the work, he offered me some vegetable, for which I was very thankful. It was a wonderfully way to begin the day.

6 . Humans frequently fall ill owing to me._______, they can hardly blame me; it is largely their own_______. A tired person may get_______especially when he goes to crowded places with polluted air. A sudden change in_______ is another factor. In hot summer, people turn on the air-conditioner upon returning home. They will catch a cold easily.

My latest victim is an energetic student. After school, he played football hard for two hours. Though_______, he still went to the cinema. Then he got back home and took a cold shower immediately.

I seized this golden chance to_______ him. He reacted, trying to_______ me, but I was already_______ deep in his throat. He kept sneezing and his nose was running._______ he put on some warm clothes, it didn’t work, for there were too many of us. Besides, his sore throat kept________ him, and he developed a cough to force me and my family out, but________.

The next day he couldn’t go to________. He had lost his appetite and was not as________ as before. His mother made him orange juice every few hours for more vitamin C, which would help his________.

For two days he was________ by his mother. As he rested more, his defense strengthened and I began to feel the________. I knew I had to________ him before long. But I am not the one who gives up easily, and I made every effort to fight back.________, it was my turn to feel________ now, for his defense system was starting an all-out attack against me. I became________ and finally my time was over.

Do you know what I am?

1.

A．Therefore

B．Besides

C．However

D．Then

2.

A．business

B．responsibility

C．excuse

D．fault

3.

A．punished

B．blamed

C．caught

D．killed

4.

A．season

B．temperature

C．place

D．condition

5.

A．excited

B．hurt

C．late

D．exhausted

6.

A．injure

B．bother

C．attack

D．destroy

7.

A．get rid of

B．get on with

C．put up with

D．take hold of

8.

A．waiting

B．reproducing

C．hiding

D．disappearing

9.

A．Since

B．Once

C．Whether

D．Although

10.

A．upsetting

B．reminding

C．comforting

D．influencing

11.

A．escaped

B．succeeded

C．regretted

D．failed

12.

A．bed

B．work

C．school

D．hospital

13.

A．peaceful

B．afraid

C．dynamic

D．happy

14.

A．development

B．recovery

C．study

D．growth

15.

A．nursed

B．protected

C．scolded

D．treated

16.

A．loss

B．operation

C．pressure

D．movement

17.

A．boycott

B．abandon

C．forget

D．beat

18.

A．Uncertainly

B．Unsuccessfully

C．Unusually

D．Unfortunately

19.

A．disappointed

B．awful

C．nervous

D．ashamed

20.

A．weaker

B．bigger

C．smaller

D．stronger

7 . Last fall, I went to New York for sightseeing. I visited many tourist attractions there, and I also saw many unfortunate citizens on the street, like beggars and homeless folks.

Standing outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I heard a voice ask, “Can you do me a favor?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended out. Naturally, I reached into my pocket for some change immediately and placed it in her hand without even looking at her. I was really annoyed at being bothered by a beggar. What I only thought at that moment was to send her away.

But the blind woman said with a warm smile on her face, "I don't want your money. I just need you to show me the way to the subway entrance."

In an instant, I realized what I had done just now. Her unexpected words took me by surprise and shame. I had acted with prejudice ——I'd judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be. I felt ashamed of myself and couldn't face the old woman anymore. And I felt small beside her.

The incident reminded me that I believed in being humble, even though I had lost that belief for a moment. The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant. I left Honduras and arrived in the U. S. at the age of 15. Through the years, I have experienced many acts of prejudice. I remember a time at the age of 17 when I was a busboy, I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me. But now, living my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to go. It is the blind woman who cured me of my blindness.

1. What did the author think the blind woman wanted at first sight?

A．To ask for directions.	B．To offer him some help.
C．To demand some donations.	D．To borrow money from him.

2. Why did the author feel ashamed?

A．He had a prejudice on the woman.	B．He couldn't face the woman.
C．He was judged by his appearance.	D．He was an immigrant himself.

3. Why did the author mention his experience as a busboy?

A．To indicate he led a miserable life.	B．To tell he didn't work hard at school.
C．To prove he used to be a humble man.	D．To show he used to be unfairly judged.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Be Considerate - Always Minding Your Words

B．Be Humble - Always Dropping Your Prejudice

C．Be Generous - Always Helping Those in Need

D．Be Aggressive - Always Having a Big Dream

8 . Do you know the proverb “no pain, no gain”? It gives the impression that we ought to be suffering while we study. It seems that the only way to know if we’ re putting in enough work is how much hardship we bear. We are totally taken up with study, shutting ourselves away for a big exam. Is that necessarily true?

When we haven’t taken the time to come up with another idea, we just shut ourselves in a room with a book. It’s no surprise that we find revision boring and difficult. Just as children learn from playing, we can learn from doing, or at least from study techniques that interest us, rather than make us switch off. Shutting ourselves away can make us learn to hate studying, leading to a situation where, instead of being able to concentrate on our work, we are troubled by how unfair it is that we must study. This can be part of a vicious cycle (恶性循环) that traps us into ineffective revision, or poor progress fueling further annoyance.

Thankfully, working in the company of other people really helps fight against that. We just need to learn how to deal with distractions(使人分心的事). It’s not necessary to avoid all company, just lazy company. They constantly try to keep others in conversation, while studying in the same room with someone who is ironing or working out is perfectly possible. Of course, it’s also a good idea to avoid the company of people involved in activities where you would rather be playing than studying. Working while sitting next to someone playing video games is most likely to end with a new high score of games rather than productive revision.

If being around others means working in a noisy environment, a pair of headphones and some background music can block out noises. They also act as a psychological barrier, so that people think twice before interrupting you. Besides, we should know friends and family can lessen feelings of isolation. And connecting with other people makes us happy, so it’s important not to give that up and to make sure that we take the time to socialize.

1. What is the author’s purpose of writing the text?

A．To introduce effective studying means.

B．To encourage us to work as hard as possible.

C．To remind us to balance activities and study.

D．To discuss the importance of family company.

2. What can we learn from the second paragraph?

A．Good ideas are needed in terms of progress.

B．Ways that interest us can lead to effective revision.

C．Shutting ourselves away can help concentrate on work.

D．With study techniques, revision is interesting and easy for certain.

3. What does the last sentence in Paragraph 3 imply?

A．One should learn from certain activities that interest him.

B．Playing video games is helpful for effective study.

C．One shouldn’t study with the company of a video game player.

D．The more time one spends in playing games, the higher test scores one will get.

4. What should you do if you are studying in a noisy environment?

A．Give up others company at once.

B．Think twice before taking any action.

C．Give indication of not wanting to be interrupted.

D．Force yourself to be accustomed to the environment.

10 . People who seem to have all the luck are not usually blessed by a large amount of good fortune. They simply have a healthy attitude, which enables them to make the most of situations. Here are some tips for creating your own luck.

.Be Grateful for What You Have

Some people are already lucky, and they just don’t know it.     1     For example, you have a happy family, some wonderful friends, a roof over your head and food on the table. By acknowledging these things regularly, you can instantly feel luckier.

.See the Good In the Past

People sometimes complain about their past for holding them back. They blame their parents or their schooling for not setting them up for success. But having a difficult life develops strengths and qualities you might never have got if you hadn’t been through those tough situations.     2    

.Be Generous

If you want people to give you opportunities, you have to consider what you can do for others.

    3     Be generous with your time and attention, and you’ll be surprised how many lucky opportunities people may offer you.

.Be Open to New Things

Luck doesn’t just happen upon us. It comes to us when we are open.    4    Learning new skills, visiting a new place, and trying a new hobby are all great ways of expanding your opportunities.

.Take Action

    5    Take steps towards your goals and dreams and greet every challenge with a positive attitude. You will find you create more luck in everyday life.

A．You cannot expect to receive if you never give.

B．So be grateful for the good that came from your past.

C．Many people spend time thinking about what they don’t have.

D．You’ll never have good luck if you sit there waiting for it to come.

E．Trying something new is a great way of getting more opportunities.

F．But often success comes from great determination rather than good luck.

G．Look at how lucky you already are instead of focusing on what you lack.