Courtesy in English
Courtesy(礼貌) is an art form that shows our moral character. China's history is one of a civilization(文明) with a highly developed sense of etiquette(礼仪); therefore, we should speak English as politely as possible when we go abroad.
1.Being polite when you ask for something is very important. Beginning your request with "May I...?""Could I...?" is considered polite. For example, "May I have a latte". It is also politer to say “I’ll have...” or “I’d like...” instead of “I want...”. Because it will be considered less direct.
2.We should say “Excuse me” or “Do you mind if I ask you something?” We should not ask our questions directly. Instead, for example, we should say "Could you tell me where the restrooms are?"
3.Local people in other communities sometimes speak really fast, so it can be hard for us to catch all the words. In such a situation, we can say "Pardon me?" to ask them to repeat what they said. In my opinion, saying "Can you please repeat that? I didn't follow" is the politest way.
4.It is also important to know how to refuse someone's invitation. If we really can't make it, we can first say "I'd like to." and then say "but l have to work late" for example. Or "I’m afraid I can't" or even "That sounds great, but ...".
5.We can use sentences like "I see what you're saying, but I think..."or "You could be right, but don't forget that..."or even "Yes, that's true, but I'm not sure that...".These are great ways to express disagreement politely by being less direct.
A.Refusing an invitation.
B."Please" and "thank you" go along way when we speak to each other.
C.Asking for help.
D.Ordering meals.
E.Expressing disagreement.
F.Can't catch what's been said?
①Colors are often used to describe feelings. For example, if you “feel blue”, it means that you're sad. A person who "sees red" is angry, and someone who's “tickled pink” is happy about something. Besides expressing feelings, though, colors may also influence our actions.
②In Japan, officials have put in blue lights around railroad platforms to discourage people from jumping in front of trains. As a result, certain stations with the blue lights have seen an 84 percent drop in suicide(自杀) numbers. Pink has been believed to prevent crimes. In the United States, rooms in prison(监狱) were painted this color to calm prisoners. In sports, some visiting teams have had to use all-pink locker rooms, which were meant to weaken the team and make them lose.
③Unlike pink, red may let you gain an upper hand in sports. Sportsmen who wore red were found to have a slightly higher chance of winning. Red is also believed to be the color of energy and power.
④The ways in which colors affect us may be a result of nature and evolution(进化). Red is the color of fire and blood. So it is connected to life, danger. Yellow describes sunny days and can make us feel energetic and happy, while blue relaxes us with images of the sea and the sky.
⑤Other factors relating our reactions to colors are culture and history. In the past, the process to produce purple is difficult, and only kings and nobles could afford things in purple. As a result, the color became a royal symbol.
⑥As you can see, colors shape how we understand the world. They are seen in all parts of life and they can influence us in ways that we may not notice.
1.How do we describe somebody who is feeling happy?
A.She feels blue. B.She sees red.
C.She is tickled pink. D.She becomes yellow.
2.According to the article, what is one way to weaken an opposing (对方)team in sports?
A.Appearing in blue sportswear. B.Painting their locker rooms pink.
C.Showing them the color yellow. D.Using purple as your team's symbol.
3.According to the article, which of the following is NOT true about colors?
A.People's actions to colors are decided by nature rather than culture.
B.Purple became a symbol of royalty because it was hard for the public to get.
C.Both blue and pink can make people feel less angry, worried, and excited.
D.Red is connected to danger because of nature and evolution.
4.Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?
A.A B.B C.C D.D
The need for something that can solve the problems in our daily lives often leads to new and interesting inventions. Here are some examples of inventions that were born as solutions to common daily problems.
Earle Dickson noticed that his wife often burned or cut herself accidentally while working in the kitchen. She would then need his help to put bandages on the wounds. Since Dickson couldn’t always be there to help her, he invented a bandage that she could easily deal with herself. Sold under the brand name Brand-Aid, these bandages are now used for many types of minor (not serious) cut.
Then there was Bette Nesmith Graham, a secretary who wanted a simple way to correct her typing mistakes. One day, as she was watching painters use touch -up paint to a wall, it struck her that the same way could be used on paper. She mixed a white paint and used a small brush to apply it to her work. This small bottle of paint with brush finally came to be known as Liquid Paper.
In some cases, though, people invent things for one purpose but end up using them for another. Take tea bags, for example. In 1908, a New York tea seller named Thomas Sullivan came up with the idea of creating small gifts for customers by putting the unopened bags. Customers are supposed to take out the tea leaves from each bag before boiling a pot of tea. However, some people misunderstood began putting the unopened bags into hot water, and the custom of using tea bag was born.
Sometimes inventions are used for their original purposes. Other times they end up being used for something completely different. Either way, they make our lives a whole lot better.
1.How many inventions are mentioned in the passage?
A.2 B.3 C.4 D.5
2.How was the custom of using tea bags born?
A.It was born from a misunderstanding.
B.It was born from a need to take out tea leaves.
C.It was born from a new creative idea to make tea.
D.It was born from a creative tea trade between countries.
3.The underlined word “original” in the las paragraph is closest in meaning to ________.
A.living B.first C.useful D.opposite
4.Which of the following is correct according to the article?
A.The invention of Brand-Aids came from an unexpected accident.
B.Liquid Paper was invented by a secretary to solve her kitchen problem.
C.Liquid Paper invented by a secretary was used to correct typewriting.
D.Thomas Sullivan was the first person to sell tea in the United States.
Here is part of the FAQs page of Free Comics(连环画)Book Day Site. Read it and answer the questions.
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY |
FAQs POLICIES EVENT NEWS STORY SHOP LOCATION COMIC |
What is Free Comic Book Day? FCBD is a day when free comic books are handed out to anyone who enters a comic store. When is Free Comic Book Day? It falls on the first Saturday of May each year. (Next is Saturday, May 2, 2020!) When did it start? The first FCBD was on May 4, 2020. To know what has happened since then, check The Story. Are the comic books really free? Yes. However, how many you can have for free is different store to store, but you will get at least one. Go to The Policies to check the number. How do I know what free comic books I can choose? Click on The Comics to see what free books you can choose this year. Is this just happening in the U. S.? Of course not! Shops in Canada and some other countries also celebrate Free Comic Book Day! Any comic book shop in the world can take part in Free Comic Book Day. If you want your local shops to get involved, let them know! See our Shop Locator for one near you. |
1.If Jack wants to know what free books he can choose, which part of the site should he go to?
A.The Story B.The Policies C.The Comics D.Shop Locator
2.FCBD is celebrated ________ according to the passage.
A.for a few days B.on Children’s Day
C.on the Internet D.in some comic shops
3.Which sentence can be found in a poster for FCBD?
A.All are 10% off. B.Buy more, get one free.
C.Come in and take one away D.The first ten will get a free copy of “One piece”.
As the taxi starts to drive away, my father stands at the living room window looking out, watching me move off into the darkness, at 4:30 a. m. His grey hair is messy from sleeping. Moments ago, he got up to carry my bag for me and went into the cold open air.
He thanked me for a daughter's cooking and for having traveled so far to spend the holiday with him. I told him that I worried about he would feel lonely again in the empty house.
"I have my plans," he said, in the moments before I walked out the door.
When I arrived 10 days ago, I felt it was quiet and lifeless in the house. Then my brothers and I came and filled the rooms. But, now, they're gone, I am the last to leave.
As the taxi began to move, I watched the lights go off, but my father didn't leave. Even though he couldn't see me in the dark, he stood by the window watching, beside the tree. It was a fresh tree. He buys one every year for the new year.
The life is hard for my father: my mother died years ago, and now his children are far from home, our selfish choices taking us from one end of the country to the other. I watched him as he stands still like the tree. Are there tears in his eyes, as there are in mine?
I can’t wave from the taxi, as I leave a parent to loneliness in the early morning darkness. I leave behind two trees: one with silver-grey hair, the other still freshly green. Both of them are tall and straight.
1.The father walked out the door without _______ in the morning.
A.tidying his hair B.seeing his daughter
C.carrying the bag D.saying a word
2.What can we know about the author’s father?
A.He prefers to live by himself.
B.He likes planting trees and gardening.
C.He doesn’t get on well with his children.
D.He enjoys the time with his children.
3.The writer worried about her father because________.
A.he was old and in poor health B.he would live alone again
C.he had nothing in the house D.he is too old to look after himself
4.The best title for this passage should be________.
A.The Father’s Hard Life in His Late Years B.Saying Goodbye to the Father
C.A Dad Who Stands Tall Like a Tree D.The Father’s Love for Tree
听独白，回答下列各小题。
1.What is the speaker talking about？
A.College students. B.Life in high school. C.School rules.
2.How does he feel about the subjects in school？
A.Simple. B.Stressful. C.Boring.
3.What do the speaker's roommates do in the bedroom？
A.Study. B.Play the drum. C.Listen to music.
4.What does the speaker think of his classmates？
A.They are not interested in their studies at all.
B.They work hard all day and all night.
C.They are not friendly to the speaker.
