My summer hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3: @ kids FTF. ILNY, it's gr8.
Can you understand this sentence? If you can't, don't feel too bad. Neither could the middle school teacher in England who received this as homework. This is Netspeak: the language of computerized communication found on Internet or mobile phones. To newcomers, it may look like a completely foreign language. So, what is the ‘translation' of the sentence above? It means: My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York, it's great.
Schoolteachers and parents say this new form of writing is harming the English language. Increasing spelling and grammatical mistakes can be seen in students' writing. They fear the language could become corrupted（面目全非的）.
Everyone should just relax, say linguists（语言学家）. They believe Netspeak is in fact more of a good thing. David Crystal, from the University of Wales, argues that Netspeak and Internet create a new language use and the almost lost art of diary writing has been picked up again. Geoffrey Nunberg, from Stanford University, agrees. "People get better at writing by writing," he says, "Kids who are now doing text messaging, e-mail, and instant messages will write at least as well as, and possibly better than, their parents."
Linguist James Milroy says, for centuries, it is believed without exception that young people are harming the language. And you can bet your bottom dollar that when today's teenagers become tomorrow's parents, they too will think this way. Milroy argues that languages do not and cannot become "corrupted"; they simply change to meet the new needs.
However, Netspeakers do agree that it is important to teach young people how to speak and write Standard English. Cynthia McVey says, "I can understand Netspeak worries teachers and it's important that they get across to their pupils that text messaging is for fun, but that learning to write proper English is a must for their future."
Perhaps we should give teenagers a little more trust anyway. Erin, age 12, says, "I wouldn't use text language in my homework. Texting is just for fun"
1.What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?
A.To give an example of a foreign language. B.To show an example of creative methods.
C.To express worries about using Netspeak. D.To lead in the topic of Netspeak.
2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.Cynthia McVey points out teenagers can deal with Netspeak properly.
B.Geoffrey Nunberg believes Netspeakers can write Standard English.
C.David Crystal thinks Netspeak helps develop the habit of writing.
D.James Milroy says that language is changing and improving.
3.The expression "bet your bottom dollar" in Paragraph 5 means ________.
A.be fairly sure B.be greatly surprised C.think it a pity D.find it interesting
Pollution inside homes and other buildings kills more than 4 million people each year．Many people die as a result of breathing smoke or from cooking over wood﹣powered of coal﹣powered stoves．
One way to reduce the number of deaths is through cooking equipment powered by the sun．Crosby Menzies，a solar power expert in a South African company，described his latest solar cooker called the“Sol.4”，”It is four square meters of mirrors，six to eight meters in length．It is quite a large cooler．”
The“Sol.4”works by reflecting （反射）light from the sun off large mirrors．The mirrors direct （把…对准）the light at a cooking pan．Then the light heats the pan with solar energy．Within two minutes，the pan is hot enough to cook sausages and onions．In just four minutes，water can be boiled．That is as fast as cooking with natural gas or electricity．
The cooker is also much “friendlier” than other models because people do not have to stand in the sun to use it．And people can prepare meals without having to collect firewood or spend money on coal．Such individuals would be less likely to have breathing illnesses from harmful smoke．
At present，the cooker only works when the sun is shining．But engineers are working on a way to make it work without sunlight．
Each cooker costs about $2000，which is a large amount of money for most Africans．To solve that problem，Crosby Menzies has crated a non﹣governmental organization called solar Cookers for Africa．It plans to raise money through donations to provide poor people with solar cooking equipment．
1.This passage is mainly about ．
A.solar cookers
B.smoke pollution
C.solar power experts
D.breathing illnesses
2.The “Sol﹣4”is mainly used to ．
A.shorten the time of cooking
B.reduce the cost of making cookers
C.raise money through donations to help African people
D.reduce the number of deaths caused by harmful smoke．
3.The underlined word “individuals“ most probably means“ ”
A.cookers B.mirrors C.people D.experts
4.Which of the following about the “Sol﹣4”is TRUE？
A.It is six to eight square meters of mirrors．
B.It can work in any weather condition now
C.It can also heat the pan by lighting firewood
D.It is more environment﹣friendly than other cookers．
5.From the passage，we can infer that ．
A.the “Sol﹣4”will be designed in a smaller size
B.more African can use the solar cookers in the future
C.the “Sol﹣4”is the first product of the south African company
D.the African government will provide poor people with solar cookers．
Would it surprise you to learn that, like animals, trees can communicate with each other and pass on their wealth to the next generation--their young trees?
Suzanne Simard, forest ecologist at the University of British Columbia, explains how trees are much more complex than most of us ever imagined. Simard and her colleagues have made the major discovery that trees and plants really do communicate and interact with each other.
Trees live on through their group work and support, passing around the resources such as nitrogen and carbon “depending on who needs it by miles of underground fungi（真菌） networks. This makes sure that all trees in the forest ecological system give and receive just the right amount to keep them all healthy. This system works in a very similar way to the networks of neurons（神经元） in our brains, and when one tree is cut down, it affects all.
Simard talks about "Mother Trees". These are the largest, oldest trees that rise above the forest, a concept explained in the movie Avatar. These “Mother Trees" are connected to all the other trees in the forest by this network of fungi, and may manage the resources of the whole trees and plants in the forest. She explains how these trees pass on the wealth to the next generation, transporting important resources to young trees so they may continue to grow. When humans cut down "Mother Trees" without paying attention to these highly complex "tree societies” or the networks on which they feed, we are losing the chances to save the whole forest.
"We didn't take any notice of it,” Simard says sadly. “Mother Trees move nutrition into the young trees before dying, but we never give them a chance.” If we could send this message to the forestry industry, we could make a huge difference towards our environmental protection efforts for the future.
1.Trees can share resources with other ones by________.
A.the help from animals B.underground fungi networks
C.the communication with people D.neurons in the system of brains
2."Mother Trees" are very important because they________.
A.bring wealth to the scientists B.pass on nutrition to young trees
C.get more from the complex “tree societies” D.seem more likely to be cut down by humans
3.The underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refers to________ .
A.how trees grow old B.how "tree societies" work
C.how young trees are saved D.how forestry industry develops
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Trees Are Rich in Resources B.Trees Are Good for Our Society
C.Trees Are in Need of Protection D.Trees Are More Complex Than We Think
A Move to Safety
The Turners sat at the kitchen table. The sun was shining and filled the kitchen with a warm light. It was a perfect day for having a picnic or going surfing. But in the Turners' kitchen, no one seemed to be paying attention to the ______________.
"Okay, girls," said Mrs. Turner. "I can tell by the expressions on your faces that you have a pretty good idea of why we need to have this family _____________." Linda and Kala exchanged looks and slowly nodded.
"Your mom and I have had many talks lately about the possibility of _____________," said Mr. Turner. "We were hoping that it wouldn't come to this, _____________we don't have other choices."
"But Dad," said Kala, "Kilauea has been an active volcano（火山）since 1983! Nothing has happened to us or to our house yet. I think we'll be ______________here."
"But your dad and I care about all the recent warnings giving by the government. Even though we've been safe up to now, there is no way to guarantee（保证）that a larger eruption（喷发）isn't coming up," said Mrs. Turner.
"Mom, this is our ______________. I can't even remember living anywhere else!" Linda said, fighting back tears.
Mrs. Turner put an arm around her daughter's shoulder. "This won't go _____________for any of us," she said. "Dad and I love this house, too. We have so many happy memories here. But we're tired of living with such uncertainty. The most ______________thing in the world to us is that our family stays safe."
Mr. Turner ______________. "Girls, there are other places in Hawaii where we'll feel safer. We'll have to ______________our house, but you know home is wherever we go as a family. We'll make new ______________, and we'll find things to love about our new home."
The girls were quiet for a moment as they considered _______________it would mean to move. "There are so many things I'll ______________here," said Kala quietly.
"We all will," said Mrs. Turner. "But one of the places that your dad and I have looked at is only a few minutes' walk to the beach."
Kala and Linda couldn't help _____________when they heard that. They both spent every spare minute they had surfing. If their parents told them that they could actually live in the water, they would have been perfectly happy.
Mr. Turner walked around to the other side of the table. He put one large hand on each of his daughter's shoulders. "I'm proud of you two," he said. "Thank you for trying to ______________why this is so important to your mom and me."
Linda and Kala smiled. Dad was right: home was wherever the family was.
1.A.kitchen B.table C.picnic D.weather
2.A.trip B.meeting C.dinner D.celebration
3.A.moving B.traveling C.returning D.rushing
4.A.because B.so C.though D.but
5.A.happy B.safe C.brave D.relaxed
6.A.dream B.choice C.home D.island
7.A.early B.easily C.quickly D.successfully
8.A.unforgettable B.difficult C.important D.interesting
9.A.agreed B.shouted C.judged D.repeated
10.A.give back B.give up C.look for D.look up
11.A.problems B.sports C.memories D.reaons
12.A.what B.why C.how D.whether
13.A.sense B.stress C.respect D.miss
14.A.smiling B.arguing C.worrying D.doubting
15.A.explain B.wonder C.understand D.discuss
Christmas was coming and ten-year-old Tracy told her father and me that she wanted a new bike. Her bike was too _________, and it needed repairing as well. As Christmas __________, her dream for a bike seemed to disappear(消失), we thought, for she didn't say it again. We were busy___________some beautiful story books, a doll house, a holiday dress and toys. Then to our surprise, on December 24, she said she really wanted a bike more than _____________.
Now we didn't know ___________to do. It was just too late. We were busy with Christmas dinner and packing _____________presents, parents'presents, a brother's present and friends' presents till midnight. So there was ___________time to take to buy the "right bike" for our little girl. Thinking we were parents who would make their child unhappy, we felt sorry and ____________.
Suddenly my husband had an idea. "What about making a little bike with clay (黏土) and writing a note that she could trade in (交换) the model bike for a real one?" So he spent the next five hours carefully ___________with clay to make a small bike.
____________Christmas morning, we were so excited for Tracy to open the little box with the beautiful red and white clay bike and the note. She opened and read the _____________loudly. She looked at me and said, "So, does this mean I can trade in this bike for a real ______________?" Smiling, I said, "Yes!" Tracy had tears in her e yes when she replied, ‘I would ____________trade in this beautiful bike Daddy made me. I ____________keep it than get a real bike. This is the best Christmas present ____________I have ever got in my life!"
1.A.new B.old C.beautiful D.modern
2.A.came nearer B.was over C.went by D.passed
3.A.washing B.seeing C.selling D.buying
4.A.something else B.anything else C.else something D.else anything
5.A.what B.how C.why D.where
6.A.teachers' B.children's C.father's D.mother's
7.A.not B.no C.much D.many
8.A.happy B.excited C.sad D.angry
9.A.finding B.buying C.working D.digging
10.A.In B.On C.At D.For
11.A.book B.story C.note D.newspaper
12.A.one B.it C.some D.any
13.A.usually B.sometimes C.never D.always
14.A.prefer B.would like C.had better D.would rather
15.A.who B.those C.what D.that
假设你是李明，你的美国笔友Tom 最近对中文很感兴趣，写信给你询问如何学好中文。请你根据以下提示内容，给他写一封回信。提示：
How to learn China | |
1 | read China newspapers and magazines |
2 | listen to Chinese songs |
3 | speak Chinese as much as possible |
4 | keep a Chinese diary |
注意：1. 内容必须包含表格中所提供的所有信息，可适当发挥。
2. 词数：80字左右。开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
3. 文章不能出现学生真实姓名和所在学校名称。
Dear Tom,
I’m very glad to receive your letter. __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
I hope the advice will help you learn Chinese well.Looking forward to your reply.
Yours ,
Li Ming
