Despite being tall, Michelle Obama is much smaller than she appears on television． And she seemed a little short by her surroundings in the great hall of Christchurch College as she spoke quietly without a microphone because of a technical mistake． Her audience were 40 young girls from a London state school where 50 languages are spoken．
“I remember how well-meaning but misguided people questioned whether someone with my background could succeed at an elite （精英） university,” she said． “When I was accepted, I had all kinds of worries and doubts． I wouldn’t be as well prepared as students from privileged families and I wouldn’t fit in． But you are just as capable and have just as much to offer as anyone else．”
This was Mrs． Obama’s only solo outing during the state visit and part two of an unusual relationship which she has struck up with Anderson College in Islington． Two years ago on her first visit to the UK she visited the school．
Yesterday she returned to meet the pupils but this time at Christchurch College where they were taking part in an open day run to improve Oxford’s still poor record on diversifying student intake．
Mrs． Obama was asked why she married her husband, what it was like being First Lady and when there would be a female President in the White House． Her message—which she repeated time and again—was work hard, have self-belief, and don’t be afraid to fail． It was very un-British, but rather effective． Afterwards there were hugs for everyone and a photo with her．
And watching the group of multicultural young Britons surround her among the splendor of the college building one thought stood out． Had Mrs． Obama been born in Britain, she would almost certainly not have made it to Oxford as she did to Harvard． But now—thanks in part to her—some of these children just might．
1.According to the passage, Michelle Obama ____________．
A． graduated from Anderson College
B． paid her first visit to the UK this time
C． was confident when she entered the college
D． came from a family without good background
2.It is implied in the passage that these 40 young girls ____________．
A． were all from the United States
B． were students of Oxford University
C． came from different cultural backgrounds
D． stayed with Mrs． Obama because of hard work
3.Michelle Obama thinks success may come from the following EXCEPT ____________．
A． working hard B． believing in yourself
C． good opportunities D． facing failure without fear
4.What can we learn from the underlined sentence?
A． The British pupils couldn’t understand her message．
B． Her message reached the British pupils successfully．
C． Repetition is not the British way to give a message．
D． All effective messages are not conveyed in British．
Last year, around Labor Day, I read a “Happy Ad” in our local newspaper． There was a lady in a local nursing home, who was celebrating her 90th birthday and her family wanted everyone to know about it． It said that if you wanted to drop her a line, here was her address． So I did． I found a birthday card and dropped her a short note, wishing her a happy birthday．
A week or so later, someone knocked at my front door． I opened the door and found a middle-aged man standing on my doorstep． He introduced himself as the son of this woman to whom I had sent the card． He explained that he just wanted to drop by in person and thank me for sending such a nice card to his mom． Apparently, like many older folks, she did not receive much mail and was quite excited to receive mine． I just didn’t know what to say． I told him it was my pleasure and that I hoped his mom had enjoyed her birthday．
That year, I did not send out any Christmas cards, except to this lovely old lady in the nursing home． I just told her that I was thinking about her and hoped that she had a nice holiday． I sent her a Valentine and also a couple of notes in between． I just thought she might like to have someone write to her, to get some mail．
She passed away a couple of months ago． I never met this lady, but I did keep her and her family in my thoughts． I dropped them a line of sympathy． I hope that my few little notes were enough to brighten a couple of her days here on earth．
1.The old lady’s address was given because ____________．
A． her family wanted to make her well-known
B． the old lady wanted to receive a birthday card
C． the son of the old lady wanted to meet the author
D． her family wanted to give her a happy birthday
2.Which of the following best describes the author?
A． Brave． B． Polite． C． Caring． D． Faithful．
3.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A． A Kind Act B． An Old Lady C． A Happy Ad D． A Considerate Son
I have learnt a lot about Chinese life and culture while teaching in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province and found them very interesting．
First, family life is quite 36 in China． In the USA, many young people 37 home after they finish their education and start working． However, in China, it is 38 for people to live with their parents until they get married． 39 , many of my Chinese friends told me that their 40 lived with them and helped take care of them when they were children． It seems that Americans think independence is more important 41 the Chinese think family relationships are more important．
Bargaining is another 42 that I have tried to learn． In the USA, prices are 43 and you can’t ask for a lower price． However in some small Chinese stores and tourist places, you are 44 to bargain． My Chinese friends taught me to ask for 40 percent or 50 percent 45 the original price． If the salesperson doesn’t agree to my price, I should 46 to leave and he might let me come back and sell me the item． It is a skill that you have to 47 if you live in China．
Tipping hasn’t been easier to 48 ． In the USA, many people in the service 49 want to get 50 money for serving customers． Tipping is not a part of Chinese culture． 51 I tried to tip a taxi driver． He looked a little 52 and refused to take the money．
In dinners, perhaps what surprises an American visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their 53 ． Actually, this is a 54 of true friendship and politeness． My Chinese friend told me if I didn’t want to eat it, I should just 55 the food in the plate．
1.A． unique B． different C． private D． harmonious
2.A． come B． build C． leave D． abandon
3.A． regular B． true C． common D． usual
4.A． Also B． However C． Therefore D． Although
5.A． parents B． relatives C． babysitters D． grandparents
6.A． while B． since C． when D． as
7.A． way B． custom C． lesson D． habit
8.A． made B． agreed C． charged D． set
9.A． expected B． taught C． suggested D． required
10.A． up B． away C． off D． on
11.A． promise B． pretend C． decide D． hope
12.A． tolerate B． understand C． practise D． consider
13.A． adjust to B． turn to C． refer to D． stick to
14.A． area B． department C． branch D． industry
15.A． easy B． extra C． pocket D． prize
16.A． Often B． Once C． Sometimes D． Before
17.A． excited B． satisfied C． frightened D． confused
18.A． own B． children C． neighbors D． guests
19.A． signal B． mark C． sign D． feature
20.A． leave B． remain C． put D． taste
—I am so angry that I could blow my top!
—Oh, dear, _______． What’s wrong?
A． no hurry B． no wonder C． take it easy D． take your time
Some scientists believe that it won’t be long _______ robots are widely used in all walks of life．
A． since B． after C． before D． until
Under no circumstances _______ the difficulties when they were on an expedition to the Antarctic．
A． they gave way to B． did they give way to
C． they had given way to D． had they given way to
