Millions of British people have ditched the traditional ‘thank you’ and replaced it with the less formal ‘cheers’, according to a survey.
Although the average person will say ‘thank you’ nearly 5,000 times a year, one in three are more likely to throw in a ‘cheers’ or ‘ta’ where it’s needed, rather than risk sounding old fashioned.
One in 20 now say ‘nice one’ instead, while younger generations are more likely to offer a ‘cool’ than a ‘thank you’.‘Merci’, ‘fab’ and even ‘gracias’ were also listed as common phrases to use, as was ‘much appreciated’.
One in twenty who took part in the survey of 2,000 people by the Food Network UK for Thank You Day, which is marked on November 24, 2011, said a formal ‘thank you’ was now not often needed in everyday conversation. More than one in ten adults said they regularly won’t say thank you if they are in a bad mood. Most people declared that saying thank you was something drilled into them by their parents. A huge 70 percent of those questioned will say thank you to a person’s face without even meaning it, while a fifth avoid saying it when they know they should — on at least two occasions every day.
It seems our friends and family get the brunt (压力) of our bad manners with half admitting they’re not good at thanking those closest to them — many justifying (为…辩解) the lack of thanks because their family ‘already know I’m grateful’.
When spoken words won’t do, it falls to a nice text to do the job for most people. A third will still send a handwritten thank-you note — but 45 percent admit it’s been more than six months since they bothered to send one.
A quarter of British people say thank you with food, with 23 percent cooking a meal to show their appreciation to someone. Another 15 percent bake a cake.
It follows that 85 percent of people will be annoyed at not getting the gratitude (感激) they feel they should receive.
1.Most of the people who took part in the survey say that they say “thank you” _____.
A．when they are in good mood
B．completely out of habit
C．when they feel truly grateful
D．purely out of politeness
2.The underlined word “ditched” in Paragraph 1 means “________”.
A．given up B．used C．shared D．grasped
3.It can be learned from the passage that _______.
A．different ways of expressing gratitude are all fashionable
B．people should avoid saying “thank you” nowadays
C．a thank-you note is still appreciated by most people
D．people in a bad mood never say “thank you”
4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Most people express their gratitude to others by buying food for them.
B．About fifty percent of people try not to say thank you when they should.
C．Most people may feel natural when they fail to receive others’ gratitude.
D．Many people think it unnecessary to say thanks to their family members.
The oil resources which are left will not last very long. This means that all vehicles such as cars, trains, buses, planes and ships that need oil to work will not be able to run. So it will be necessary to develop a new system of transport which uses a fuel more than oil. Electric vehicles are one possibility. In Britain, most families have at least one car and this car is used every day. It could be that only one person in the family drives the car to work or for shopping. The number of cars on the road which are almost empty perhaps helps to explain why the oil is used up so quickly. The family car is a very useful form of transport but it is also a great waste of energy, especially if it is compared with buses or trains. Much petrol is used by a car which is traveling at 120 kilometers an hour. Clearly, it would be better if there were fewer cars on the road and more speed limits so that the oil which is left will last as long as possible.
About 25% of Britain’s total consumption of energy is domestic—it is used only in the home. Just over 20% is used for transport. Most of the energy is used in industry. It is difficult to suggest any possible energy conservation in industry because many of the suggestions would mean that some people would lose their jobs. It is important that industry produces the same amount of products using the same amount of workers.
Obviously, conservation is not going to be the answer to the energy crisis（危机）. The most it can do is to give more time for a better solution to be found. The more time which is available for new sources of energy to be developed, the better it is because there is still a lot of work to be done in order to find suitable, safe methods of producing energy.
1.In Britain, what reason could help to explain why oil is used up very quickly?
A．People use cars every day.
B．Most families have at least one car.
C．Many cars on the road are almost empty.
D．Electric vehicles are used.
2.Which of the following is true?
A．Compared with buses and trains, the family car is useful and can save energy.
B．A car driving at the speed of 80 kilometers per hour uses half as much petrol as a car traveling at 160 kilometers per hour.
C．It is possible for people to develop vehicles.
D．Limitation of the number of cars on the road and their speed will help the oil last longer.
3.What does the underlined word “domestic” mean in Paragraph Two?
A．For household use. B．On the road.
C．Slow driving. D．Fast driving.
4.What is a better way to solve the problem of the energy crisis?
A．Governments should cut down the number of family cars on the road.
B．The speed of vehicles must be limited.
C．New sources of energy should be found and developed.
D．Factories should cut down on production.
Bicycle Safety
Operation Always ride your bike in a safe, controlled manner on campus(校园). Obey rules and regulations. Watch out for walkers and other bicyclists, and always use your lights in dark conditions.
Theft Prevention Always securely lock your bicycle to a bicycle rack---even if you are only away for a minute. Register your bike with the University Department of Public Safety. It’s fast, easy, and free. Registration permanently records your serial number, which is useful in the possible recovery of the bike stolen.
Equipment
Brakes Make sure that they are in good working order and adjusted properly.
Helmet A necessity, make sure your helmet meets current safety standards and fit properly.
Lights Always have a front headlight---visible at least 500 feet in front of the bike. A taillight is a good idea.
Rules of the Road
Riding on Campus As a bicycle rider, you have a responsibility to ride only on streets and posted bicycle paths. Riding on sidewalks or other walkways can lead to a fine. The speed limit for bicycles on campus is 15mph, unless otherwise posted. Always give the right of ways to walkers. If you are involved in an accident, you are required to offer appropriate aid, call the Department of Public Safety and remain at the scene until the officer lets you go.
Bicycle Parking Only park in areas reserved for bikes. Trees, handrails, hallways, and sign posts are not for bicycle parking, and parking in such posts can result in a fine.
If Things Go Wrong
If you break the rules, you will be fined. Besides violating rules while riding bicycles on campus, you could be fined for:
No bicycle registration------------------------$25
Bicycle parking banned-------------------------$30
Blocking path with bicycle -------------------$40
Violation of bicycle equipment requirement -----$35
1.Registration of your bicycle may help you __________.
A．find your stolen bicycle
B．get your serial number
C．receive free repair services
D．settle conflicts with walkers
2.If you lock your bicycle to a tree on the campus, you could be fined __________.
A．$25 B．$30 C．$35 D．$40
3.What is the passage mainly about?
A．A guide for safe bicycling on campus.
B．Directions for bicycle tour on campus.
C．Regulations of bicycle race on campus.
D．Rules for riding motor vehicles on campus.
This is a story that can teach us a good lesson. One day, a man in rags begged from door to door along the street. With an old wallet in his hand, he was asking for a few coins to buy something to eat. He kept complaining about his bad fortune and kept __36__ why those who had so much money were never __37__ and were always desiring more.
“As far as I'm concerned, if I had only enough to ___38__ and to wear, I would not want anything more.”
Just at that moment Goddess Fortune, who came down the __39__ saw the beggar and said to him, “Hi, I have wished to __40__ you for a long time. Now, open your __41__ and I will pour my gold into it. But I will do that only on this __42__ : All that falls into the wallet will be pure gold; but every piece falling upon the __43__ shall become dust. Do you understand？”
“I see.” said the beggar.
“Then you should __44__ ！It's obvious that your wallet is a(an) __45__ one, so don't load it too heavily，” said the Goddess Fortune.
The excited beggar could hardly __46__ to have gold. He quickly opened his wallet, and a __47__ of yellow coins was poured into it. The wallet grew heavier and heavier.
“Is that enough? Isn't it cracking？” asked Fortune.
“Never __48__ .It's still strong enough now.”answered the beggar.
The wallet was filled with so many coins that the beggar's hands began to __49__. “Ah, if only the golden stream would __50__ forever! Just a little more，” said the beggar, “__51__ just a handful or two.”
“There! It's full. The wallet will __52__ .” warned the Goddess, but the beggar requested, “It will __53__ a little more, just a little more.”
One more piece was added and the wallet split. The __54__ fell upon the ground and became dust. The greedy beggar had now __55__ but his broken bag.
1. A．showing B．explaining C．proving D．wondering
2. A．relaxed B．satisfied C．worried D．depressed
3. A．learn B．watch C．eat D．play
4. A．street B．bridge C．yard D．forest
5. A．praise B．forgive C．help D．comfort
6. A．coat B．pocket C．box D．wallet
7. A．occasion B．suggestion C．situation D．condition
8. A．hand B．feet C．ground D．street
9. A．look out B．look after C．look up D．look down
10. A．small B．empty C．worn D．full
11. A．stand B．wait C．breathe D．think
12. A．stream B．piece C．pair D．variety
13. A．stop B．request C．fear D．insist
14. A．spread B．close C．loose D．shake
15. A．pour B．end C．dry D．bury
16. A．take B．add C．lend D．send
17. A．flow B．break C．disappear D．change
18. A．attract B．permit C．include D．hold
19. A．wallet B．food C．gold D．bag
20. A．nothing B．anything C．everything D．something
— My son, who is now studying at a university, uses more than 3,000 yuan a month.
— Well, tell him to be economical. After all, ______.
A．money doesn’t grow on trees B．the morning sun never lasts a day
C．light come, light go D．penny wise, pound foolish
After the 5-hour long journey, all the tourists were_____and desperate to have a good rest．
A．turned out B．given out C．run out D．burnt out
