The hit movie Notting Hill begins with a famous scene. Hugh Grant bumps into Julia Roberts and pours orange juice all over her. After the bump, Grant repeatedly says: “ I am so sorry. I am so sorry.”
1. If Roberts’ character were from Britain then she would probably apologize repeatedly as well—even if the bump were not her fault. But this doesn’t happen in the film, as Roberts is from the US.
A report in The Telegraph last week said that three-quarters of British people apologize when they bump into someone in the street — regardless of whether they are responsible or not. In fact, we Britons use “sorry” in many situations. For example, if we mishear someone, we say “Sorry?” The person we are talking to will also apologize by replying: “No, I am sorry!” 2.
Life is never as simple as “duibuqi” and “meiguanxi”.
3. Traditionally, “sorry” was used to express deep regret, but a survey in 2017 showed that we use it to mean anything from “what” to “whatever”.
4. Mark Tyrell, a psychology writer in the UK, thinks about our apologetic tendencies are rooted in the British class system. We say sorry because historically the new middle classes in Britain had to apologize for not being working class, but also for not really being upper class.
5. For example, if you bump into someone they might get angry. To avoid this we instantly say “Sorry!”. True manners are about being considerate and the modern day hobby with apologizing shows that we are perhaps not as thoughtful as we once were. The word has lost some of its meaning. Do you see my point? Sorry, it might just be a British thing.
A. Why are Britons so sorry?
B. British people are sincere while saying sorry.
C. How we use “sorry” has changed.
D. Saying sorry when necessary is a good manner.
E. This can go on for up to five minutes as we compete over who is the most sorry.
F. Another theory is that we apologize to avoid confrontation (冲突).
G. His actions in this scene are very British.
“Down the streets of Portsmouth more than two hundred years ago,” said Lt.General Ira C. Eaker in a speech, “walked a sailor with one arm and one eye. Indeed he would probably have been in a home for incurables were his name not Horatio Nelson. The man’s spirit drove the flesh.”
Born in 1758, Nelson was a small and weak child who loved sailing. As a young teenager he joined the British Navy and, while on a journey, caught a fever that seriously damaged his health. But he never allowed this to hold him back. At 18 he was appointed a lieutenant (上尉) in the Royal Navy and by the year 1803 was made commander-in-chief of the British fleet (舰队).
Two years later, on 21 October, at the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets. This naval victory left the British in control of the seas for the rest of the 1800’s. Unfortunately, Nelson was fatally (致命地) wounded during Trafalgar but lived long enough to know that his fleet had won the battle.
Nelson believed in his country, in his cause, and in himself. He proved this with his words and more so with his life.
The British philosopher John Stuart Mill would agree. He said, “One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who only have interest.” Why is this so? Beliefs are remarkably powerful in that they are to our lives what a rudder (舵) is to a ship. That is, they control the direction of our lives. Simply put, if I believe I am a failure, I will set myself up to fail. If I believe I am a successful person, I will succeed.
Dr. Joyce Brothers, well-known author and psychologist said, “A person’s self-concept is the central part of his personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior. It’s no exaggeration (夸张) to say that a strong positive self-concept is the best possible preparation for success in life.”
1.Which of the following can be used to describe Nelson?
A. Honest and modest. B. Cautious and friendly.
C. Brave and determined. D. Considerate and optimistic.
2.Why does the author mention the rudder and the ship?
A. To explain the key role of beliefs.
B. To show the importance of rudders.
C. To explain the beliefs of John Stuart Mill.
D. To show the difficulty of controlling directions.
3.What is important for success according to the last paragraph?
A. Ability. B. Courage. C. Character. D. Confidence.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. A UK philosopher’s ideas. B. An unusual British sailor.
C. The Battle of Trafalgar. D. The power of beliefs.
Life in the Clear
Transparent animals let light pass through their bodies the same way light passes through a window. These animals typically live between the surface of the ocean and a depth of about 3,300 feet---as far as most light can reach. Most of them are extremely delicate and can be damaged by a simple touch. Sonke Johnsen, a scientist in biology, says, “These animals live through their life alone. They never touch anything unless they’re eating it, or unless something is eating them.”
And they are as clear as glass. How does an animal become see-through? It s trickier than you might think.
The objects around you are visible because they interact with light. Light typically travels in a straight line. But some materials slow and scatter (散射) light, bouncing it away from its original path. Others absorb light, stopping it dead in its tracks. Both scattering and absorption make an object look different from other objects around it, so you can see it easily.
But a transparent object doesn’t absorb or scatter light, at least not very much. Light can pass through it without bending or stopping. That means a transparent object doesn’t look very different from the surrounding air or water. You don’t see it you see the things behind it.
To become transparent, an animal needs to keep its body from absorbing or scattering light. Living materials can stop light because they contain pigments (色素) that absorb specific colors of light. But a transparent animal doesn’t have pigments, so its tissues won’t absorb light. According to Johnsen, avoiding absorption is actually easy. The real challenge is preventing light from scattering.
Animals are built of many different materials---skin, fat, and more---and light moves through each at a different speed. Every time light moves into a material with a new speed, it bends and scatters. Transparent animals use different tricks to fight scattering. Some animals are simply very small or extremely flat. Without much tissue to scatter light, it is easier to be see-through. Others build a large, clear mass of non-living jelly-like (果冻状的) material and spread themselves over it.
Larger transparent animals have the biggest challenge, because they have to make all the different tissues in their bodies slow down light exactly as much as water does. They need to look uniform. But how they’re doing it is still unknown. One thing is clear: for these larger animals, staying transparent is an active process. When they die, they turn a non-transparent milky white.
1.According to Paragraph 1,transparent animals .
A. stay in groups B. can be easily damaged
C. appear only in deep ocean D. are beautiful creatures
2.The underlined word “dead” in Paragraph 3 means .
A. silently B. gradually
C. regularly D. completely
3.One way for an animal to become transparent is to .
A. change the direction of light travel B. gather materials to scatter light
C. avoid the absorption of light D. grow bigger to stop light
4.The last paragraph tells us that larger transparent animals .
A. move more slowly in deep water
B. stay see-through even after death
C. produce more tissues for their survival
D. take effective action to reduce light spreading
One day, a college student was taking a walk with a professor. As they went along, they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes. They supposed the shoes belonged to a poor man who was employed in a field close by, and who had nearly finished his day’s work.
The student turned to the professor, saying, “Let us play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and hide ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his confusion when he cannot find them.”
“My young friend,” answered the professor, “we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by tricking on the poor man. Put a coin into each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him.”
The student did so, and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by. The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes, but feeling something hard, he bent down to feel what it was, and found the coin. Astonishment and wonder were seen on his face.
He fixed his eyes on the coin, turned it round, and looked at it again and again. He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and continued to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin. His feelings overcame him. He fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and cried a sincere thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom the timely help, from some unknown hand, would save from dying.
The student stood there, deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. “Now,” said the professor, “are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?”
The youth replied, “You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget.”
1.The student wanted to play the poor man a trick to ________.
A. find the truth B. show his wisdom
C. amuse himself D. teach him a lesson
2.After finding the two coins, the man felt ________.
A. helpless B. interested C. peaceful D. thankful
3.What does the story intend to tell us?
A. A small act of kindness brings great joy.
B. God helps those who help themselves.
C. Where there is a will, there is a way.
D. Actions speak louder than words.
A Language Programme for Teenagers
Welcome to Teenagers Abroad! We invite you to join us on an amazing journey of language learning.
Our Courses
Regardless of your choice of course, you’ll develop your language ability both quickly and effectively.
Our Standard Course guarantees a significant increase in your confidence in a foreign language, with focused teaching in all 4 skill areas—speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Our Intensive Course builds on our Standard Course, with 10 additional lessons per week, guaranteeing the fastest possible language learning (see table below).
Course Type | Days | Number of Lessons | Course Timetable |
Standard Course | Mon－Fri | 20 lessons | 9:00—12:30 |
Intensive Course | Mon－Fri | 20 lessons | 9:00—12:30 |
10 lessons | 13:00—14:30 |
Evaluation
Students are placed into classes according to their current language skills. The majority of them take an online language test before starting their programme. However, if this is not available, students sit the exam on the first Monday of their course.
Learning materials are provided to students throughout their course, and there will never be more than 15 participants in each class.
Arrivals and Transfer
Our programme offers the full package—students are taken good care of from the start through to the very end. They are collected from the airport upon arrival and brought to their accommodation in comfort. We require the student’s full flight details at least 4 weeks in advance.
Meals/Allergies(过敏)/Special Dietary Requirements
Students are provided with breakfast, dinner and either a cooked or packed lunch (which consists of a sandwich, a drink and a dessert). Snacks outside of mealtimes may be purchased by the student individually.
We ask that you let us know of any allergies or dietary requirements as well as information about any medicines you take. Depending on the type of allergies and/or dietary requirements, an extra charge may be made for providing special food.
1.How does Intensive Course differ from Standard Course?
A. It is less effective. B. It focuses on speaking.
C. It includes extra lessons. D. It gives you confidence.
2.When can a student attend Standard Course?
A. 13:00—14:30 Monday. B. 9:00—12:30 Tuesday.
C. 13:00—14:30 Friday. D. 9:00—12:30 Saturday.
3.Before starting their programme, students are expected to _____.
A. take a language test B. have an online interview
C. prepare learning materials D. report their language levels
4.With the full package, the programme organizer is supposed to_____.
A. inform students of their full flight details B. look after students throughout the programme
C. offer students free sightseeing trips D. collect students’ luggage in advance
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What occupation is mentioned in the passage?
A. A manager. B. A teacher. C. A salesman.
2.How can we show our interest in the company?
A. Asking proper questions about the company.
B. Letting the interviewer know more about you.
C. Giving as much advice as possible to the interviewer.
3.How can we succeed in an interview according to the speaker?
A. Being friendly as much as possible.
B. Being confident and preparing well.
C. Giving as much information as possible.
4.How many tips does the speaker give us?
A. 2. B. 3. C. 4.
