Does this situation seem familiar to you？Your English is progressing well，the grammar is now familiar，the reading comprehension is no problem，and you are speaking quite fluently.____1__
First of all，remember that you are not alone. Listening is probably the most difficult job for almost all learners of English as a foreign language.
The most important thing is to listen as often as possible.___2____
The Internet is really a useful tool for English students. You can download The RealPlayer from RealMedia.com. The RealPlayer allows you to use the Internet like a radio station.
Once you have begun to listen on a regular basis，you might still be frustrated by limited understanding._____3____
Here is some of the advice I give my students：
•Accept the fact that you are not going to understand everything.
•Stay relaxed when you do not understand，and try listening to the material for more times.
•Do not translate everything into your native language.
•_____4_____Don’t concentrate on details before you have understood the main ideas.
•Listen to something you enjoy.
I remember the problems I had in understanding spoken German when I first went to Germany. In the beginning，when I didn’t understand a word，I insisted on translating it in my mind. This method usually resulted in confusion._____5_____Firstly，translating creates a barrier between the listener and the speaker. Secondly，most people repeat themselves constantly. By remaining calm，I noticed that even if I didn’t pay much attention I could usually understand what the speaker had said.
A．But you can’t follow a native English speaker at all!
B．What should you do?
C．But listening is a problem for most of the beginners!
D．However，after several weeks，I got used to the new environment in Germany.
E．So，what you need to do is to find listening resources.
F．Then，after the first six months，I discovered two extremely important facts.
G．Listen for the general idea of the conversation.
A well-dressed man entered a famous jewelry shop. He explained that he wished to buy a pearl for his wife’ s birthday. The price didn’t matter, since business had been very good for him that year. After examining a nice black one that costs $5, 000, he paid for the pearl in cash, shook hands with the jeweler, and left.
A few days later the man returned and said that his wife liked the pearl so much that she wanted another one just like it. It had to be exactly the same size and quality as she wanted a pair of earrings made. "Can you give me any advice on how to get such a pearl?" said the man. The jeweler regretfully replied, "I would say it’s exactly impossible to find one exactly like that pearl."
The rich man insisted that the jeweler advertise in the newspapers, offering $25,000 for the matching pearl. Many people answered the advertisement but nobody had a pearl that was just right.
Just when the jeweler had given up hope, a little old lady came into his store. To his great surprise, she pulled the perfect pearl from her purse." " I don’t like to part with it." she said sadly, I got it from my mother, and ,my mother got it from her’ s. But I really need the money.
The jeweler was quickly to pay her before she changed her mind .Then he called the rich man’s hotel to tell him the good news .The man ,however ,was nowhere to be found.
1.The man said he wanted to buy a pearl for _____ .
A. his wife B. his mother-in-law C. his own mother D. no one
2.He paid $5,000 for the black pearl without bargaining (讨价还价) because______.
A. he was very rich.
B. he wanted to make the jeweler believe him
C. he was anxious to get it
D. his business had been successful
3. He told the jeweler to get him another pearl that must be______.
A. exactly the same size as the black one
B. exactly the same quality as the black one
C. worth more than $25,000
D. exactly as big and nice as the black one
4. Many people answer the advertisement because they wanted______.
A. to see the perfect pearl
B. to buy some beautiful pearl too
C. to get in touch with the rich man
D. to sell their own pearl at a high price
5.The jeweler couldn’t find the man anywhere because ______.
A. he died suddenly
B. he happened to be out
C. he got $20,000 by cheating and had run away with the money
D. he wouldn’t show up until the jeweler called him a second time
In some Western countries, there are many opportunities for adults who want to improve their lives. There are public schools you can attend. In the schools, you can take things like English, arithmetic, and history. You can find classes in almost any subject you want to study. You may want to learn to type, sew, paint, or fix TV sets. You may want to learn more about trade you are already in. You may want to learn a new trade. You may want to get a high school diploma. You may even want to go to college. All it takes is time and effort.
In many cities, there are adult classes in the public schools. You can attend many of these classes without having to pay money. In some schools you may have to pay a small fee. There are also many kinds of private schools for adults.
In addition to schools, many industries and unions conduct on-the-job training programs. In these programs you hear about new ideas and learn new skills. Many large companies will send a worker to school if he or she has ability.
Many job opportunities are offered to those who wish to work. It helps if you know more than one language. There are good jobs for interpreters and typists who know English and another language.
There are many good jobs in government. In most cases, you must be a citizen of this country, and you must take a civil service examination. These examinations are open to everyone, regardless of race, religion, or color.
For many civil service jobs you need a high school diploma. The person who does not have a high school diploma can get one. There are several ways. You can study high school subjects at home and then take special tests. If you pass the tests, then you get a diploma. Or you can go to night school. There are classes that prepare you to take special tests to earn a diploma.
You can attend a night school that grants a high school diploma if you complete certain courses. If you do this, you do not have to take the special test.
Be as well trained as you can. Get as much training as you can. Opportunity knocks at every door. Be sure that when it knocks at your door you are ready.
1.According to the article, if you want to live a better life, you have to get__________.
A. some time B. an education C. new ideas D. new jobs
2.In many places, public schooling for adults is ____________________.
A. difficult B. easy C. free D. new
3.What does this article tell us?
A. Civil service jobs are offered to everyone.
B. Only a citizen can apply for a government job.
C. Training programs are often poorly organized.
D. Large companies will send most of their workers to school.
4.We can see that___________________________________.
A. well-trained people are often out of work
B. typists who know English earn much more money
C. one can work on a high school diploma at home
D. the person without a high school diploma can also get a civil service job
5.The purpose of adults’ going to night school is to_______________.
A. take special tasks B. complete certain courses
C. get more training D. get a diploma
Few Americans remain in one position or one place for a lifetime. We move from town to city to suburb, from high school to college in a different state, from a job in one region to a better job elsewhere, from the home where we raise our children to the home where we plan to live in retirement. With each move we are forever making new friends, who become part of our new life at that time.
For many of us summer is a special time for forming new friendships. Today millions of Americans vacation abroad, and they go not only to see new sights but also with the hope of meeting new people. No one really expects a vacation trip to produce a close friend, but the beginning of a friendship is possible.
The word “friend ” can be applied to a wide range of relationships ---- to someone one has known for a few weeks in a new place, to a fellow worker, to a childhood playmate, to a man or woman, to a trusted confidant.
1.Many Americans move from place to place for the following reasons except______.
A. going to college B. getting a better job
C. finding a place to live in retirement D. saving money
2.Summer is a special time when many Americans_____.
A. enjoy the sunlight B. feel strange C. travel to other countries D. get a new job
3.When summer comes, many Americans _________.
A. hope to meet new people
B. expect to find some close friends
C. want to begin lasting friendships with new people
D. Both A and B
4.From the passage it can be seen that a “friend” can be ______.
A. a fellow worker B. a football teammate C. a boy or a girl D. all of the above
5.Which of the following is the topic sentence of the second paragraph?
A. For many of us summer is a special time for forming new friendships.
B. Today millions of Americans vacation abroad.
C. No one really expects a vacation trip to produce a close friendship.
D. But surely the beginning of friendship is possible.
I still remember my first day in the U.S. very clearly. My friend was waiting for me when my plane landed at Kennedy Airport at three o’clock in the afternoon. The weather was very and it was snowing, but I was too excited to _. From the airport, my friend and I a taxi to my . On the way I saw the skyline of Manhattan for the _time and I stared in surprise at the famous skyscrapers and their man-made . Helping me unpack at the hotel, my friend left and to return the next day.
my friend had left, I went to a near the hotel to get something to eat. Since I couldn’t speak a single of English, I couldn’t tell the what I wanted. I was very upset and started to make some , but he didn’t understand me. Finally, I ordered the same thing the man at the next table was . After dinner, I started to walk along Broadway I came to Times Square with its theatres, neon lights, and crowds of people. I didn’t feel tired, so I to walk around the city. I wanted to see _on my first day, although I knew it was impossible.
When I to the hotel, I couldn’t fall asleep, lay and thought about New York. It was a very big and amazing city with many high-rise buildings and streams of cars, and full of and busy people. I also decided right then that I had to learn to English.
1.A.hot B. warm C. cold D. cool
2.A.look B. listen C. enjoy D. mind
3.A.sat B. took C. rode D. used
4.A. home B. hotel C. office D. school
5.A. first B. one C. last D. only
6.A.satellites B. lakes C. beauty D. parks
7.A.advised B. liked C. promised D. hoped
8.A.Before long B. Shortly after C. Soon D. Then
9.A.restaurant B. shop C. supermarket D. pub
10.A.letter B. word C. sentence D. phrase
11.A. boss B. cook C. waiter D. waitress
12.A.voices B. suggestions C. sounds D. gestures
13.A.looking B. ordering C. picking D. eating
14.A. until B. when C. before D. after
15.A.tried B. stopped C. decided D. continued
16.A.anything B. everything C. something D. some things
17.A.came B. went C. returned D. arrived
18.A.asleep B. awake C. afraid D. alive
19.A.noise B. voices C. streets D. places
20.A.say B. talk C. speak D. tell
— Do you think the film is good?
— Terrific! ______
A. It couldn’t be better. B. It could be better.
C. It is still better. D. It couldn’t be worse.
