When my family moved to America from a small village in Guangdong, China, we brought not only our luggage, but also our village rules, customs and culture. One of the rules is that young people should always respect (尊敬) elders(长辈). Unluckily, this rule led to my very first embarrassment in the United States.
I had a part-time job as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant. One time, when I was serving food to a middle-aged couple（夫妻）, the wife asked me how the food could be served so quickly. I told her that I had made sure they got their food quickly because I always respect older people. As soon as I said that, her face showed great displeasure. My manager, who happened to hear what I said, took me aside and gave me a long talk about how sensitive(敏感) Americans are and how they dislike the description “old”. I then walked back to the table and said “sorry” to the wife. After the couple heard my reason, they understood that the problem was caused by cultural differences, so they laughed and were no longer angry.
In my village in China, people are proud of being old. Not so many people live to be seventy or eighty, and people who reach such an age have the most knowledge and experience. Young people always respect older people because they know they can learn from their rich experience.
However, in the United States, people think “growing old” is a problem because “old” shows that a per
son is going to retire or that the body is not working well. Here many people try to keep themselves away from growing old by doing exercises, and women put on makeup, hoping to look young. When I told the couple in the restaurant that I respect older people, they got angry because this caused them to feel they had failed to stay young. I had told them something they didn’t want to hear.
After that, I changed the way I had been with older people. It is not that I don’t respect them any more; I still respect them, but now I don’t show my feelings through words.
By Jack
1.Jack brought the couple their food very fast because______.
A. the manager asked him to do so
B. he respected the elderly
C. the couple wanted him to do so
D. he wanted more pay
2.When Jack called the couple “older people”, they became ______.
A. nervousB. afraid C. unhappy D. excited
3.Aft
er this experience, Jack ______.
A. lost his job in the restaurant
B. made friends with the couple
C. no longer respected older people
D. changed his way with older people
4.Which of the following is TRUE?
A. The more Jack explained, the angrier the couple got.
B. Jack wanted to show his feelings through words after his experience.
C. The manager went back to the table and said “sorry” to the couple.
D. From this experience, Jack learned more about American culture.
5.Which is the best title for this passage?
A. Different Countries, Different Customs
B. Old people, Old Customs
C. Different Restaurants, Different Services
D. Differences between Old and Young
Little Mike’s grandmother died weeks ago. He missed her very much. One afternoon Mike went to the city park where his grandmother used to go. There he saw an old lady. She looked very kind. She was sitting there, watching pigeons（鸽子）. Little Mike went up and sat next to her. He took out his food and drinks and gave some to her. She smiled at him. Her smile was very sweet and Mike wanted to see it again. She seemed to understand him, so once again she smiled. Mike was very happy.
They sat there all the afternoon, eating and talking. As it was dark, Mike got up to leave. Before he left, he hugged the old lady and she gave him her sweetest smile.
When Mike got home, his mother was surprised by the happy look on his face. “ I met an old lady in the park. Her smile was like the smile I used to see on Grandmother’s face.”
The old lady also returned to her home happily. She told her son she had food and drinks with a little boy. “ He was as lovely as Bill.” She said. Her son was surprised, because he had never been so happy since Bill, her grandson, died weeks ago.
1.Little Mike went to the park and ________.
A. played with pigeons
B. fed pigeons
C. met an old lady
D. saw a friend of his grandmother’s
2.The old lady’s smile showed ________.
A. she hated to meet the boy
B. she wanted to get some drinks
C. she missed her son
D. she liked the little boy
3.Mike felt very happy because ________.
A. he gave the old lady some food and drinks
B. the old lady’s smile was like his grandmother’s smile
C. he met his grandmother in the city park
D. he saw many lovely pigeons in the park
4.Mike and the old lady ____
____.
A. were good to each other(相互)
B. knew each other well
C. often met in the park
D. did nothing that afternoon
5.What do we learn from the story?
A. When one feels unhappy, he must go to a park.
B. Old people are always kind and happy
C. Children should be polite to old people .
D. When people get on well, they feel happy.
从每题A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出一个最佳答案完成对话。(5分)
Sandy: Could I invite my friends to a party on Saturday, Mom?
Mom: That sounds like fun.
Sandy: Yeah. Ummm…could I borrow some money?
Mom:
Sandy: I need to buy some drinks and snacks. Could I go to the store?
Mom: Well, I’m going tomorrow, and I can buy some drinks and snacks for you.
Sandy: Oh, good. Thanks, Mom.
Mom: Oh, could you clean your room?
Sandy:
Mom: You need to clean it again for your party
Sandy: OK. At the party, could I use your CD player?
Mom: Yes, if you’re careful with it.
Sandy: Don’t worry, Mom!
Mom: Now, there are a few other things I want you to do before the party. Could you move the good chairs to the bedroom and clean the living room?
Sandy: Dave is coming early on Saturday, so he can help me.
1.A. Of course. B. Sorry, you can’t
C. Oh, noD. Not at all
2.A. Do you need it? B. When do you need it?
C. What for? D. How do you need it?
3.A. It doesn’t matter. B. No problem.
C. Excuse me D. You’re welcome.
4.A. No, I don’t want to do that B. I cleaned it last week.
C. Yes, I’d love itD. Of course not
5.A. Sure. B. Sorry, I can’t
C. Yes, I do. D. Not at all.
Homesick is a compound (复合的) word that is made up of HOME and SICK. You know what each means on its own, of course. But do you know the meaning they are used together? The definition (定义) of homesick is SICK FOR HOME. It means you miss your home.
Now think for a minute SEASICK. If you change the word HOME in the word “homesick” to the word SEA, doe
s the way above of giving the definition SEASICK? Does seasick mean SICK FOR SEA? No, it doesn’t. It means something quite . Seasick means SICK BY THE MOVEMENT(航行) ON THE SEA. When you are , the only place you want to be is at home. When you are seasick, you want to be is at sea.
Have you ever heard of a person being heartsick? Heartsick doesn’t mean that something is wrong with a person’s . People are heartsick when they are 
deep inside as if (好像) their hearts are broken.
And we also have other compound words, such as handshake and . Perhaps you may write definitions for them. It must be helpful to know something like this in your English study.
1.A. word B. phrase C. sentence D. passage
2.A. how B. why C. when D. where
3.A. for B. from C. about D. like
4.A. get B. fit C. read D. have
5.A. right B. wrong C. same D. different
6.A. homesick B. heartsick C. seasick D. carsick
7.A. the first place B. the last place C. the only place D. the safe place
8.A. hand B. heart C. head D. foot
9.A. hurt B. invited C. loved D. asked
10.A. hobby B. height C. heat D. handbag
— Could you tell me________ ?
— Certainly. In half an hour.
A. when will the high speed train arrive B. when the high speed train will arrive
C. when wo
uld the high speed train arrive D. when the high speed train would arrive
—May I borrow your bike?
—Of course. You can it for 2 or 3 days,
A. borrow B. lend C. receive D. use
