“How are you?” is a nice question．It’s a friendly way that people in the United States greet each other，but “How are you?” is also a very unusual question．It’s a question that often doesn’t have an answer．The person who asks “How are you?” hopes to hear the answer “Fine”， even if the Derson’s friend isn’t fine．The reason is that “How are you?” isn’t really a question and “Fine”，isn’t really an answer．They are simply other ways of saying “Hello!” or “Hi!”．
Sometimes，people also don’t say exactly what they mean．For example，when someone asks “Do you agree?”．the other person might be thinking，“No，I disagree．I think you’re wrong．”But it isn’t very polite to disagree so strongly，so the other person might say “I’m not so sure．”It’s a nicer way to say that you don’t agree with someone．
People also don’t say exactly what they are thinking when they finish talking with other people．For example，many talks over the phone finish when one person says “I have to go now．”Often，the person who wants to hang up gives an excuse：“Someone’s at the door．”“Something is burning on the stove．”The excuse might be real，or it might not．Perhaps the person who wants to hang up simply doesn’t want to talk any more，but it isn’t polite to say that．The excuse is more polite，and it doesn’t hurt the other person．
Whether they are greeting each other，talking about an idea，or finishing a talk，people often don’t say exactly what they are thinking． It’s an important way that people try to be nice to each other，and it’s part of the game of language．
1.When a person in the United States asks “How are you?”． he or she wants to hear“ ”．
A．How are you? B．Hello．C．I don’t know．D．Fine．
2.When a person wants to disagree with someone，it is polite to say“ ”．
A．You’re wrong．I disagree B．I’m not so sure
C．I’m sure I disagree D．No，I disagree
3.A polite way to finish a talk is to say“ ．”．
A．You have to go now B．1 want to hang up
C．I have to go now D．I don’t want to talk
4.When a person says “I have to go now．Someone’s at the door．”，the person may be ．
A．giving an excuse
B．hurting someone’s feelings
C．talking to a person at the door
D．going to another place
5.One of the rules of the game of language is probably ．
A．“Always say what you mean．
B．“Don’t disagree with other people．
C．“Never say exactly what you are thinking．
D．“Be polite．”
My grandfather is eighty years old．He always complains about how fast things have changed，and he often says that life used to be better．
“Families aren’t families the way they used to be．”A 1ot of families have broken up．If husband and wife have problems with their marriage，they no longer stay together．And mothers used to stay at home and take care of their children，but now everyone is busy working．No one has time to 1ook after children at home．
And the cars! No one walks any more；more and more people drive．We used to walk five miles to school on schooldays，even in winter．But now we don’t．And in school children don’t have to think any more．In math class．for example，we used to add，subtract， multiply and divide(加减乘除)in our heads．Kids don’t use their heads any more；instead，they use calculators(计算器)．
Most families have computers now．In the past we didn’t have computers．We didn’t even have lights．My mother used to spend all day cooking in the kitchen．But now we don’t often eat homecooked food．
And people don’t talk to each other any more．They are too busy to talk，too busy to eat，to busy to think... Life used to be simple，but it isn’t any more．
1.My grandfather thinks the life now is ________ ．
A．very good
B．worse than it used to be
C．better than it used to be
D．the same as it used to be
2.What does the underlined word “marriage” mean in Chinese?
A．生活 B．工作 C．婚姻 D．家庭
3.What has happened these years according to the passage?
A．Children don’t have to think any more in school．
B．Students use calculators in math class．
C．Students used to walk to school，but now they don’t．
D．All of the above．
4.What changes have happened to some families?
①There are lights at home；
②People like to eat home—cooked food；
③Lots of families have computers；
④Lots of couples(夫妇)live apart because of unhappy problems．
A．①②④ B．②③④ C．①②③ D．①③④
5.Which is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Life now is much simpler．
B．People have much time to talk with each other now．
C．The grandfather only complains and pays no attention to the better life now．
D．Lots of mothers stay at home and look after their children．
完形填空
I was on my way to work. Arriving at the station I found my train was________because of the bad weather. I had to _________for two hours at the bus station.A lady sat beside me. I could notice how __________ she looked. She seemed very worried. I asked her if she was waiting for the next train. She didn’t ________. I asked her again. She replied, “Uhuh. Yes.” Then she wiped(擦) her eyes.
I said, “Hey dear, what is wrong? Why are you crying?” She told me her story. She told me that her father__________ the year before . She used to have a job, but she wanted to look after her sick mother who lived alone, ________she stopped working. Her family was __________ and she could not pay the doctor’s bills (账单) of her mother .Then she said she even planned to kill herself. I was shocked!
She stayed another half an hour while I tried to comfort her to be brave. I told her I would try to get her a good _________ that would pay well. And I told her to believe she could have a better life.
I passed her my _________ and asked her to ring me if she needed help. She smiled and said, “Thanks for your________ and I promise I won’t have any more terrible thoughts. I will live long and well”
1.A. crowded B. expensive C. late D. fast
2.A. sleep B. study C. explain D. wait
3.A. excited B. bored C. sad D. calm
4.A. smile B. answer C. run D.write
5.A. worked B. returned C. succeeded D. died
6.A. so B. or C. but D. thought
7.A. rich B. poor C. old D. quiet
8.A. job B. present C. house D. hospital
9.A. bad B. ticket C. card D. jacket
10.A. lesson B. kindness C. service D. love
—____?
—People throw water at each other.
A. When is Water Festival
B. How do you celebrate Water Festival
C. What do you eat on Water Festival
D. What did you do during your vacation
—Show me the map, please. I wonder____.
—Look, it’s here, in the east of China, near Taiwan Province.
A. where is Diaoyu Island
B. where Diaoyu Island is
C. what is Diaoyu Island like
D. what Diaoyu Island is like
—Steve, did you see the lantern show when you were in Fuzhou?
—Of course! _____ beautiful lanterns!
A. What B. How C. What a D. How a
