1 . One of my wonderful memories is about a Christmas gift. Unlike other gifts, it came without wrap (包装).
On September 11th, 1958, Mum gave birth to Richard. After she brought him home from hospital, she put him in my lap, saying, “I promised you a gift, and here it is.” What an honour! I turned four a month earlier and none of my friends had such a baby doll of their own. I played with it day and night. I sang to it. I told it stories. I told it over and over how much I loved it!
One morning, however, I found its bed empty. My doll was gone! I cried for it.Mum wept and told me that the poor little thing had been sent to a hospital. It had a fever. For several days, I heard Mum and Dad whispering such words as “hopeless”, “pitiful”, and “dying”, which sounded ominous.
Christmas was coming. “Don’t expect any presents this year,” Dad said, pointing at the socks I hung in the living room.“If your baby brother lives, that’ll be Christmas enough.” As he spoke, his eyes filled with tears. I’d never seen him cry before.
The phone rang early on Christmas morning. Dad jumped out of bed to answer it. From my bedroom I heard him say, “What? He’s all right?” He hung up and shouted upstairs. “The hospital said we can bring Richard home!”
“Thank God!” I heard Mum cry.
From the upstairs window, I watched my parents rush out to the car. I had never seen them so happy. And I was also full of joy. What a wonderful day! My baby doll would be home. I ran downstairs. My socks still hung there flat. But I knew they were not empty; they were filled with love!
1. What happened to the author on September 11th, 1958?A.He got a baby brother. |
B.He got a Christmas gift. |
C.He became four years old. |
D.He received a doll. |
A.Impossible. | B.Boring. |
C.Difficult. | D.Fearful. |
A.Excitement. | B.Happiness. |
C.Sadness. | D.Disappointment. |
A.A sad Christmas day. |
B.Life with a lovely baby. |
C.A special Christmas gift. |
D.Memories of a happy family. |
2 . Foreign visitors to the UK might be disappointed when they learn that not everyone there speaks like Harry Potter and his friends. Usually, there’s an assumption by many non-Brits that everyone in Britain speaks with what’s known as a Received Pronunciation (RP,标准发音) accent, also called “the Queen’s English”. However, while many people do talk this way, most Britons speak in their own regional accents (口音).
Scouse, Glaswegian and Black Country — from Liverpool, Glasgow and the West Midlands — are just three of the countless non-RP accents that British people speak with. There are even differences in accents between towns or cities just 30 kilometers apart. What is even more disappointing is that not speaking in a RP accent may mean a British person is judged and even treated differently in their everyday life.
In a 2015 study by The University of South Wales, videos of people reading a passage in three different UK accents were shown to a second group of people. The group then rated how intelligent they thought the readers sounded. The lowestrated accent was Brummie, native to people from Birmingham, a city whose accent is considered working class.
However, there is no need to be disappointed though you are not speaking in a RP accent. In fact, doing the opposite may even give you strength.
Kong Seongjae, 25, is an Internet celebrity from Seoul. After studying in the UK, he picked up several regional accents. He’s now famous for his online videos, where he shows off the various accents he’s learned. “British people usually get really excited when I use some of their local dialect words, and they become much friendlier. I think it makes a bit of bond between local people and foreigners to speak in their local accent,” he said.
So if you’re working on perfecting your British accent, try to speak like someone from Liverpool, Glasgow or Birmingham. You may not sound like Harry Potter, but you are likely to make more friends.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 1?A.Non-Brits usually hold that all Britons speak in a RP accent. |
B.Only “the Queen’s English” is accepted in the UK. |
C.Foreign visitors are disappointed at their on spoken English. |
D.Any Received Pronunciation around the world is also called “the Queen’s English”. |
A.Favored by foreign visitors to the UK. | B.Closest to the RP accent. |
C.Smart and easy to understand. | D.Spoken by people of lower class. |
A.Speaking in a RP accent. | B.Speaking in regional accents. |
C.Speaking the Brummie accent. | D.Speaking like Harry Potter. |
A.A study about the most intelligent accent in Britain. |
B.A comparison between different British accents. |
C.How much British people value the RP accent. |
D.The influence of regional accents on people’s lives. |
4 . Top 4 Traditional Summer Jobs for College Students
With the summer break around the corner, students will be looking for seasonal and short-term jobs for extra cash, to stay busy or to make additions to their resume (简历). The following jobs have been longtime go-tos for many young adults.
Lifeguard
Because summer is the busiest season for pools and beaches, lots of summer jobs exist for strong swimmers. Lots of positions can be found at community and neighborhood pools, while those who live near the coastline can also find positions at public beaches. These jobs are a great opportunity to build your fitness, keep people safe and be outdoors to enjoy some fun in the sun. The average hourly wage for lifeguards is $9.50.
Camp Counselor (辅导员)
Students, who enjoy spending their time with children, being a leader and overseeing fun, outdoor activities are often the perfect fit for camp counselor positions. Students studying science, for example, can work at a science camp, while those with a creative talent can work at an arts-focused summer program. The average hourly wage for camp counselors is $9.28, but those with years of experience or specific academic backgrounds may earn more.
Sales Associate
Students with a skill for persuasion and helpfulness often enjoy sales associate jobs. Students interested in business, finance or sales/marketing often gravitate (被吸引) towards these roles, but they’re also a great fit for anyone seeking a low-pressure summer position or even just a discount at their favorite store. The average wage is $10.20 hourly.
Food Server
Although it may not seem like the greatest way to spend a summer, working as wait staff allows students to build their social skills, stay active, enjoy free meals while working and familiarize themselves with different cuisines. The average salary is $9.00 hourly, but tips can raise that number hugely.
1. Being a lifeguard means you can___________.A.work indoors only | B.work near your home |
C.have fun with your friends | D.work without certifications |
A.It requires students to be good at outdoor activities. |
B.A background in a specific area may provide an advantage. |
C.It offers the highest average hourly wage among the four jobs. |
D.The experience of babysitting can help you earn more money. |
A.Enjoy free meals. | B.Enjoy lower purchase prices. |
C.Develop a set of new skills. | D.Build a career for sales or marketing. |
A.How to deal with people. | B.How to deal with pressure. |
C.How to grow their patience. | D.How to make different cuisines. |
A.Lifeguard. | B.Camp counselor. | C.Sales associate. | D.Food server. |
5 . Danny left word with my secretary he would call again in the afternoon.
A.who | B.that | C.as | D.which |
A.when | B.that | C.which | D.where |
A.when | B.until | C.that | D.where |
A.is leaving; is taking off | B.leaves; takes off |
C.is leaving; takes off | D.leaves; is taking off |