One of the main challenges facing many countries is how to maintain their identity in the face of globalization and the growing multi-language trend. "One of the main reasons for economic failure in many African countries is the fact that, with a few important exceptions, mother-tongue education is not practiced in any of the independent African states." said Neville Alexander, Director of the Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa at the University of Cape Town.
In response to the spread of English and the increased multi-language trends arising from immigration, many countries have introduced language laws in the last decade. In some, the use of languages other than the national language is banned in public spaces such as advertising posters. One of the first such legal provisions(规定) was the 1994 "Toubon law" in France, and the idea has been copied in many countries since then. Such efforts to govern language use are often considered as futile by language experts, who are well aware of the difficulty in controlling fashions in speech and know from research that language switching among bilinguals is a natural process.
It is especially difficult for native speakers of English to understand the desire to maintain the "purity" of a language by law. Since the time of Shakespeare, English has continually absorbed foreign words into its own language. English is one of the most mixed and rapidly changing languages in the world, but that has not been a barrier to acquiring superiority and power. Another reason for the failure of many native English speakers to understand the role of the state regulation is that it has never been the Anglo-Saxon way of doing things. English has never had a state-controlled authority for the language, similar, for example, to the Academic Francaise in France.
The need to protect national languages is, for most western Europeans, a recent phenomenon-------especially the need to ensure that English does not unnecessarily take over too many fields. Public communication, education and new ways of communication promoted by technology, may be key fields to defend.
1.Neville Alexander believes that __________.
A. mother-tongue education is not practiced in all African countries
B. globalization has resulted in the economic failure of Africa
C. globalization has led to the rise of multi-language trend
D. lack of mother-tongue education can lead to economic failure
2.The underlined word "futile" (in paragraph 2) most probably means " ___________".
A. workable B. practical
C. useless D. unnecessary
3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. English has taken over fields like public communication and education.
B. Many aspects of national culture are threatened by the spread of English.
C. Most language experts believe it is important to promote a national language.
D. Europeans have long realized the need to protect a national language.
4.The best title for the passage is __________.
A. Fighting against the rule of English
B. Protecting local languages and identities
C. Globalization and multi-language trend
D. To maintain the purity of language by law
"Oh, my God! Did I really just send that text?" Most people have said something that they wish they could take back. And if they had paused to think about it first, they probably would have acted differently. Pausing doesn't pay off just when you speak. Scientific studies have shown that making a habit of pausing before you do something can actually have a big impact on how your life turns out.
In making decisions we rely on two areas of the brain. One area creates and processes emotions; the other governs logical thought. The type of decision, how we feel about it, and how prepared we are to handle it help determine which brain area has the most influence.
But our age also plays an important role. Thinking through the consequences of one's actions is actually harder for teens because the area controlling logical (逻辑的)thought is not fully developed until around age 25. This is why teens often feel an intense emotional drive to act impulsively(冲动地)---it's how their brains are structured! Though this tendency to act without considering the outcomes can lead to problematic situations, impulsivity during the developmental years evolves because it makes teens more open to new experiences and ideas. This openness helps teens to become independent adults.
The key to making impulsivity work for you instead of against you is to train your brain by practicing pausing. This doesn't mean you stop taking risks or being open to new experiences. But you won't know if the risk is worth it until you think it through. Deciding to take a risk based on logic shows self-control, not impulsivity.
What are different ways to pause? You might take a deep breath, count to 10, or ask "Is this worth it?" different strategies work for different people. Whatever works for you, keep doing it! By practicing pausing, you can actually change your brain. This means that over time, pausing, instead of immediately reacting, becomes your "natural" response.
And with this change, people are on their way to enjoying the life rewards that come with high levels of self-control---even if they weren't natural-born pausers!
1.What challenges teenagers?
A. Giving natural response. B. Making logical decision.
C. Acting before thorough thinking. D. Choosing brain-training strategies.
2.An impulsive person tends to____.
A. consider or accept new ideas B. change ideas frequently
C. think through a risk in advance D. show high level of self-control
3.According to the passage, by training one's brain, one can____.
A. stop taking risks
B. fully develop one's brain
C. become more open to new experience
D. reduce the influence of emotional drive
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A. Push the Pause Button B. Impulsivity Works
C. Discover the Brain Function D. Crying Over the Spilt Milk
As a leading Chinese language school and a cultural exchange institute in China， Global Exchange Education Center has been providing Mandarin (or Putonghua) language courses and cultural exchange programs for over a decade.
How to apply for our programs
■In order to apply for all of our programs, you must be
at least 18 years old.
in good health,
a senior high school graduate.
■Application Procedure for Chinese Language Programs
Step 1. Send us a completed application form by email or fax.
Step 2. Send us $ 60 application fee after receiving our email confirmation.
Step 3. Arrange the payment transfer.
Step 4. Plan the trip to Beijing.
■Application Procedure for Chinese Business Internship (实习）Program
Step 1. Send us a completed application form with your CV and personal statement for the program by email or fax.
Step 2. Send us $ 310, including $60 application fee and $ 250 internship placement deposit, after receiving our letter of acceptance for the program.
Step 3. Arrange final payment transfer after receiving our second confirmation.
Step 4. Plan the trip to Beijing.
■Personal Statement for applicants for Chinese Business Internship Program
You should state why you want to take this program and what your expectations of the program are. How you will make use of this program in your future career.
■ APPLICATION DEADLINES
The applications for most programs are reviewed on a rolling basis. You are encouraged to submit your application ahead of the application deadlines.
■Confirmation
Having received your application, Global Exchange Education Center usually sends out an email confirmation for the booking within 2-5 working days.
1.The text is probably written for ______.
A. junior high graduates B. job seekers
C. international students D. language trainers
2.If you apply for both of the programs, the total application fees will be ______.
A. $ 120 B. $310
C. $25 D. $ 370
3.If you want to apply for Chinese Business Internship program successfully, you'll ______.
A. send the application form by post B. send personal statement and CV only
C. have to get confirmed at least twice D. have to make a travel plan in Beijing
4.Which of the following is not necessarily included in applicants，personal statement?
A. Their purposes of taking the program. B. Their expectations of the program.
C. Their future practice of the program. D. Their feedbacks on the program.
I've always felt a need to be prepared for whatever situation I've found myself in．
My mother once took me to a store when I was seven years old．She and I got to the checkout counter, and she realized she had forgotten a couple of things on her shopping list．She left me with the cart and ran off to get what she needed．
"I'll be right back．" she said．
She was gone just a few minutes, but in that time, I had loaded all the things on the belt and everything was rung up．I was left staring at the cashier, who was staring at me．"Do you have money for me, son?" she said．"I'll need to be paid．"
I didn't realize she was just trying to amuse herself．So I stood there, ashamed and embarrassed．
By the time my mom returned, I was angry．"You left me here with no money! This lady asked me for the money, and I had nothing to give her.”
Now that I'm an adult, you'll never catch me with less than $200 in my wallet．I want to be prepared in case I need it．
I've always admired people who are over-prepared．In college, I had a classmate named Norman．One day he was giving a presentation on an overhead projector and in the middle of his talk, the light bulb on the projector blew out．We would have to wait ten minutes until someone found a new projector．
"It's Okay." he announced．"There's nothing to worry about."
We watched him walk over to his bag and pull something out．He had brought along a spare bulb for the overhead projector．Who could even think of that?
I often told my students, " When you go into the wilderness, the only thing you can depend on is what you take with you．" And essentially, the wilderness is anywhere but your home or office．So take money．Pack a light bulb．Be prepared．
1.Why did the cashier ask a seven-year-old boy to pay for the purchases?
A. The boy was shopping by himself．
B. The boy's mother asked her to do so．
C. The cashier was playing a joke on him．
D. The boy's mother was away for something else．
2.Why did Norman bring a spare bulb with him?
A. He was always well-prepared．
B. His presentation was about bulbs．
C. He knew the classroom equipment was of poor quality．
D. He predicted the bulb on the projector would blow out．
3.What do the two stories tell us?
A. Accidents happen almost every day．
B. In fair weather, prepare for a rainy day．
C. Money is the key that opens all doors.
D. Chances favor those who are well-prepared．
假设你是Kate, 上周，你班召开了一次班会，下面是你班班会上以“中学生是否能佩带手机”为题进行讨论的情况。请你写一封信给21st Century报的编辑说明该情况，并表明你自己的观点。
注意：1、所列的要点可做参考，但不要逐句翻译；
2、字数约100字；
3、信的开头和结尾已写好
4、生词：辐射radiation 奢侈的luxurious 亲戚relative
比例：40%学生赞同 60%学生不赞同
理由：1、便于同亲友联系； 1、手机辐射对人体健康有害；
2、可以上网查资料； 2、响铃影响自己和他人学习；
3、空余时间玩玩游戏调节大脑； 3、属奢侈品；
4、存储有用信息。 4、容易引起相互攀比。
Dear Sir,
I'm writing to tell you that______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Best wishes.
Yours
Kate
When I talked with the man, I found that from his childhood he develops the
habit of carrying the book in his pocket all the time. He was used to read every minute when he had anything else to do. He found a book especial useful during the periods of waiting: waiting doctors, meals ,buses and so on... That was why he found himself fifteen minute a day for reading. That was how she read twenty books a year-----one thousand of books all his lifetime.
