Letter A
Dear Roes,
     I like your programmes very much. I'm now writing to ask you something about American social
customs (社交习惯). My American friends want me to join them in their dinner party. I am very happy
and have decided to go, but I'm a little worried about it, too. The social customs in my country are very
different from here, so I'm afraid of making mistakes.
     Should I bring a present, such as sweet or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the
dinner table, how can I know which fork (叉子) or knife to use? How can I let the family know that
I'm thankful for their kindness? 
                                                                                                                                  Wang Lin 
                                                                   Letter B
Dear Wang Lin,
     It's a good idea to bring a small present when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always nice, or
you may bring a bottle of wine (葡萄酒) if you know that your friends drink it.
     You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don't get there early. If you're going to be more
than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.
     Try to be free at the dinner table. If you don't know about choosing the right fork or knife, just watch
the other people, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do. ask the person next to you.
      If you like the food, say so. Of course, you'll thank them for the meal and for their kindness. It's also
a good idea to send a thank-you card the day after.

1. Wang Lin wants to           .

A. make friends with Rose
B. know some social customs for a dinner party
C. make her friends happy
D. give her friends a surprise

2. Rose is possibly           .

A. a good housewife
B. a TV hostess (主持人)
C. a member of the dinner party
D. a friend of Wang Lin's

3. If you're asked to a dinner party but not sure about what to bring as a present.
    It's good to bring           .

A. some fruits
B. a bottle wine
C. some flowers
D. a knife and fork

4. Which of the following is NOT proper (适当的) for joining in a dinner party?

A. Get there 15 minutes earlier
B. Make yourself at home
C. Follow others to use forks and knives
D. Thank your friends for the meal

5. From the letters we learned that it's very            to know something about American social customs.

A. difficult
B. friendly
C. enjoyable
D. helpful

     I really like the Seaview Hotel. It's quite big. It has two hundred rooms. It's only a hundred metres from
the sea. Bed and breakfast for one night is eighty pounds per person. The staff (服务员) are friendly and the
rooms are very clean. It's a nice hotel. The only problem is that it's not near any shops. You have to get a taxi
or a bus if you want to buy presents to take home.
     The Falcon Hotel has eighty rooms. One night with breakfast is seventy-two pounds. It's only seventy
metres to the shops but you have to get a bus to the beach because it's six kilometers from the hotel. The
staff aren't very friendly and the rooms aren't very clean.

1. How many rooms does the Seaview Hotel have?
                                                                                                                                             
2. Which one is nearer to the sea? How many meters is it nearer than the other one?
                                                                                                                                             
3. What' the Seaview Hotel's problem?
                                                                                                                                              
4. How much do we have to pay for one night with breakfast if we live in the Falcon Hotel?
                                                                                                                                              
5. Why does the writer not like the Falcon Hotel? 
                                                                                                                                              

     Studies show that most accidents happen at home. So it is important to make your home as safe as
possible. Here are some helpful tips to make your bedroom a safer place for everyone. 
     Keep a light close to the bed. You will need the light when you get up at night. Move the furniture
near the light and make sure you do not trip over at night. 
     Put the telephone near the bed. Then you can reach the telephone without getting out of bed if you
are in a hurry.
     Do not smoke in bed. Smoking in bed could cause a fire. Put heaters a metre from the bed, or the
bed may catch fire.
     Use eletric blankets according to the instructions. Don't put anything on top of the blanket while it
is in use. Don't let your pets sleep on top of the blanket. Don't set electric blankets too high or they
could burn someone.

1. The writer writes the article to ____.

A. help to make people as safe as possible
B. help to make the bedroom a safer place
C. help to keep the bed from catching fire
D. give some helpful tips about using heaters

2. According to the article, it is dangerous to ____.

A. keep a light on in your bedroom all night
B. smoke in the room
C. keep a kitty sleeping on the electric blanket in use
D. use heaters at home

3. ____ keeps you from tripping over at night.

A. Keeping your heater far from the bed
B. Putting the telephone near the bed
C. Using electric blankets correctly
D. Moving the furniture near the light

4. A telephone near the bed will be helpful if ____.

A. your bed room is in danger
B. you can't get up in danger
C. you are in a hurry
D. you slip in the bedroom

5. The underlined word "close" in the second paragraph means ____.

A. 关闭
B. 打开
C. 近
D. 远

     Cold air. Snow. Shorter days. We are in winter now.
     Winter is the coldest season of the year. It comes between autumn and spring. For us, the winter
months are usually November, December and January. But that is only because we live in the northern
part of the Earth.
     In China, winter is the time between the beginning of winter, and the beginning of spring. But, this
is the time that the southern part of the Earth, has its summer. Imagine when we are playing with snow,
Australian kids are enjoying ice cream!
     Winter isn't always gray. It can also be bright. Here's how.
     Put on a holiday play and try acting. Ask your cousins or classmates to come to your house and make
beautiful clothes and write a play. Act it out for your family.
     Play around. Go outside and enjoy yourself. Make a snowman with your friends.
     If you really have to stay indoors, give your room a clean and decorate (装饰) it. You'll find it a lot
of fun.

1. What does this passage mainly talk bout?

A. The winter season and fun winter activities.
B. Ways to decorate houses.
C. The difference between China and Australia.
D. The colours linked to winter.

2. Why are Australian kids eating ice cream when it's winter in China?

A. Because they are crazy about ice cream.
B. Because winter in Australia is not as cold as that in China.
C. Because it's summer in Australia when it's winter in China.
D. Because they don't have much to do in winter.

3. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The northern and southern parts of the Earth have different winter months.
B. Winter can be fun if you find interesting things to do.
C. The writer thinks it's great fun to clean your house and decorate it.
D. Australian kids enjoy having ice cream on winter days.

从短文中选出一种你喜欢的活动，并说明原因。 
     I think it will be great fun to 4. ____ this winter because I like to 5. ____. Also, it is 6.____ and it can
7.____. I'll try it out soon. 
Find words from the passage to fill in the blanks:
     In China, the winter months are usually November, December and 8.____. But it's different in Australia.
The winter in China is 9.____ in Australia because it is in the 10.____ part of the Earth.
     Winter is not always 11.___. You can have lots of fun. Try 12.____ a play and acting it out with your
cousins or friends. Or you can play 13.____ outside and make a 14.____. If you have to stay 15.____, clean
up your house and 16.____ it with fun pieces.
     Just enjoy winter!

     Winter is a time for many exciting sports: sledding (雪橇), skating and skiing. Skating and skiing needs
lots of skills (技巧). Sledding gives you good exercise and is lots of fun!
     A sled looks like a boat. It can move easily over snow or ice. Early sleds were made of wood. Now
some better sleds are made of glass.
     Sleds can be pulled by animals. In some very cold parts of the world, people make animals like dogs,
horses, and reindeer (驯鹿) pull goods or people in sleds.
      People also sled for sports and fun. Driving a sled does not need much skill. The driver gives a kick
(踢) in the snow to start the sled. He or she can also ask someone else for help. In a sled, there can be one
person or several.
      Usually, you have to lie on your back, feet first in a sled. As you travel, you move your body and feet
to keep it in the right direction (方向). 
      There is a special sled called the skeleton sled (骨架雪橇). It's very different.
      On a skeleton, you lie on your stomach and drive the sled in a head-first way. It is very fast! Many
are afraid to ride it. But once they try it they want to do it again!

阅读短文，回答下列问题：
1. What are sleds made of?
                                                                                                 
2. What kind of animals can pull sleds?
                                                                                                 
3. What are sleds used for? 
                                                                                                 
4. How do people sled? Describe the process.
                                                                                                 
5. What is a skeleton sled like?  
                                                                                                 

     Walking at night can be very dangerous. The advice below can make your walking safer.
    ◆Avoid (避免) walking or running alone at night. Instead, go walking or jogging with a friend.
    ◆Do not use headphones (耳机) while walking, driving or jogging. You need to hear what is going on
around you.
    ◆Always walk in well-lighted area. Don't use short cuts (捷径).
    ◆After dark, keep away from large bushes or doorways where someone could be hidden (躲藏).
    ◆If someone in a car asks for directions, do not approach (接近) the car. Answer from a distance.
    ◆If someone follows you, go to an area with lights and people or walk in a different direction.

1. The writer gives us ______ pieces of useful advice in the passage.

A. Four
B. Five
C. Six
D. Seven

2. If you have to go home at night, what should you do?

A. Walk with a friend.
B. Walk slowly alone.
C. Walk in quiet area.
D. Walk wearing headphones.

3. We should keep away from large bushes at night because ______.

A. there are many snakes
B. bad men may be hidden there
C. bushes are too dirty
D. we may be tripped (绊倒) by the bushes

4. A car stops beside you, and the driver opens the door and asks for directions, you should ______.

A. say nothing to him
B. run away as fast as possible
C. answer him from a distance
D. come into the car and tell him the way

5. The passage mainly tells us ______.

A. how to walk with a friend
B. how to make use of the light
C. how to use short cuts
D. how to avoid dangers when walking at night