It is one of the most annoying words in the English language and it seems there is no escaping it. The word “huh?” is in worldwide use, a study found.

Researchers discovered that languages spoken in countries from Ghana and Laos to Iceland and Italy all include “huh?”, or something that sounds very like it. They said that while the study may sound silly, the word is an absolutely necessary part of speech. Without it and similar words, it would be impossible to show that we haven’t heard or understood what had been said and this would lead to constant misunderstandings.

But while other words used in the same context, such as “sorry” or “what”, vary widely across languages, “huh?” remains unchanged.

The Dutch researchers carefully studied ten languages from around the world, including Siwu, which is spoken in Ghana, and an Australian Aboriginal language, as well as Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Mandarin Chinese.

They analysed tapes of recorded conversations for words that sounded like “huh?” and were used to request that whatever had just been said be repeated. All contained a version of “huh?”. The word was also found in another 21 languages. While there were subtle differences in each country, all sounded basically the same.

This is surprising because normally unrelated languages will use very different words to describe the same thing. For instance, the Japanese for “dog” is “inu”, while the French is “chien”. It is thought that languages around the world have developed their own version of “huh?” because the sound is quick and simple to form, as well as being easily understood.

The researchers, said that it might seem unimportant to carry out scientific research into a word like “huh?” but in fact this little word is an essential tool in human communication. They also have an answer for those who claim that “huh?” isn’t a word. They say that it qualifies because of the small differences in its pronunciation in different languages. It also can be considered a word because it’s something we learn to say, rather than a grunt or cry that we are born knowing how to make.

1. According to researchers, the word “huh?” is very important in speech because of ________.

A. its stable meaning in language development

B. its important function in communication

C. its simple and easy sound and spelling

D. its popularity in every language

2.What is the natural response if you hear the lady you’re speaking to say “huh?”?

A. You should ask her to repeat what she says before that.

B. You should apologize to her for speaking in a low voice.

C. You should invite her to share her different views politely.

D. You should try to repeat what you’ve just said in a clearer way.

3.The main method used in the research of “huh?” was ________.

A. interviewing language experts in universities

B. talking with people from ten different countries

C. analyzing the recorded conversations in different languages

D. comparing different words with the same meaning in different languages

4.According to researchers, “huh?” should be considered a word rather than a sound because ________.

A. it is listed in most dictionaries

B. it is something humans learn to say

C. there is a clear and consistent spelling of the word

D. there is a big difference in the way it pronounces in different languages

5.What is the purpose of the passage?

A. To inform readers about research on the worldwide used word “huh?”.

B. To argue that “huh?” is the most important word in every language.

C. To entertain readers by relating similar idioms in different languages.

D. To instruct readers of the differences of “huh?” in different languages.

改编（十四）
You may not realize it, but you are doing much more than just studying when you are at school. School is also the place   36  you socialize and learn to get along with people. But this is   37  easy. What can you do   38  you just don’t like one of your classmates?
If you discover that you have problems  39  your classmates or friends, the most important thing to learn is tolerance. Tolerance is the  40  to recognize and respect the  41  in others. We cannot change the way that other people act,  42  it is important to learn to live happily with them.  
Practicing tolerance will allow everyone to form better    43   with each other. Getting to know someone   44    help you understand why they do things   45  from you. It is important to remember that just because something is different does not mean that it is bad.   46  teaches us to keep an even temper and open mind.
One thing to  47  is the old saying, “Treat others how you want  48  ”. You would like to be treated kindly by your classmates, so it is   49   to treat them with equal kindness. If you tolerate   50   it does not mean that you have to like it. No one is asking you to   51   who you are or what you believe in. Tolerance just means that you will be   52   of the differences in others and not try to make them change.
It is important to  53   tolerance because it will make everyone’s lives easier.  Learn to  54  people for their different abilities and interests. The world is a very  55  , and practicing tolerance in your own school and city can help make    56  .
36．A．which                    B．where                    C．that                 D．when
37．A．very                      B．no                          C．not always              D．really
38．A．unless                    B．since                      C．because            D．if
39．A．getting along with  B．making apologies to C．getting away from   D．fleeing from
40．A．chance/ reflection    B．benefit                    C．appeal/patience D．ability
41．A．imaginations          B．thoughts                 C．consequence    D．differences
42．A．so                        B．and                        C．but                  D．although
43．A．moods                   B．habits                     C．relationships D．feelings
44．A．must                     B．may                     C．should             D．can
45．A．fortunately             B．easily                     C．differently     D．attentively
46．A．Patience                B．Experience              C．Tolerance      D．kindness
47．A．keep in touch         B．keep in mind        C．keep up with    D．keep to yourselves
48．A．to treat                  B．being treated          C．to be treated   D．to be treating
49．A．attractive               B．important            C．desperate         D．fantastic
50．A．something             B．anything                 C．everything              D．nothing
51．A．change                  B．remind                   C．promise           D．decide
52．A．convenient             B．respectful             C．negative           D．unselfish/ considerable
53．A．ignore                   B．cancell                   C．prevent            D．practice
54．A．accept                   B．abandon/receive       C．thank               D．remember
55．A．diverse              B． same                 C．individual        D．apparent
56．A．no difference          B．an effect                 C．an apology       D．a difference．

通读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后在各题所给的A，B，C，D四个选项中，选出一个最佳答案。

As I had my first child, I promised myself never to be a pushy parent. I was going to be a very 36  and understanding mother.

         Five years later my little boy was about to 37  for his yellow belt in karate(空手道). As a five-year-old child, he wasn’t taking it  38  , because it was Mom trying to help him. I found myself yelling and telling him he would never get the belt acting like that. I was trying to   39  him his back-flip（背摔）. He continued to play and I continued to   40  . Finally I had made him feel like he couldn’t  41  anything, just as I promised myself I wouldn’t do.

         Still mad and stubborn I couldn’t  42  . I had to teach him his flip. He was doing fine with it by the time we had to leave to go to karate. While taking the test, he did  43  . His instructor would ask him to do something, and it became  44  for him. He never asked him to do the back-flip. He had passed his yellow belt test.

         We got in the car to  45  when he looked at me and said ”Mom, why did you make me do that back-flip so many times,  46  it wasn’t even on the test.” The words wouldn’t have  47  anything to anyone else, but it was a slap in my face. That night while  48  in bed, I told him I loved him.

         He was  49  and didn’t say anything, just giggled. I said “I really do love you baby.” I was still feeling  50  , and also wondering if he had  51  me. Finally he replied in the  52  voice, “I know you do, but I love you more.”

         He had forgiven me and I had decided that his feeling were more  53  than any test he would  54  take. I made a new  55  to be better mother and to accept that he was only a child.

1.A．patient                           B．good                         C．polite                        D．affectionate

2.A．look                                 B．test                           C．play                           D．practise

3.A．easy                                B．happily                     C．seriously                  D．fairly

4.A．help                                B．tell                             C．make                        D．teach

5.A．yell                                  B．speak                        C．smile                         D．teach

6.A．acplish                           B．feel                            C．try                             D．pass

7.A．give up                           B．give out                    C．give away                D．give in

8.A．bad                                 B．worse                       C．great                        D．better

9.A．quick                               B．natural                     C．mon                          D．normal

10.A．go shoppingB．go home                                  C．rest ourselves        D．enjoy ourselves

11.A．while                            B．once                          C．when                        D．if

12.A．expected                     B．meant                      C．demanded               D．reached

13.A．reading                        B．studying                   C．lying                          D．talking

14.A．playing                         B．moving                     C．working                    D．crying

15.A．stubborn                     B．happy                       C．upset                        D．guilty

16.A．forgiven                       B．hated                        C．forgotten                 D．loved

17.A．saddest                       B．biggest                     C．happiest                  D．sweetest

18.A．true                              B．important                C．sincere                     D．faithful

19.A．still                               B．even                          C．ever                          D．never

20.A．gift                                B．plan                           C．experiment             D．promise

It’s really a tough job for automakers doing marketing and sales in China, where competition is acute and customers have little loyalty. They have tried a range of tricks in recent years.

But there should be a moral bottom line. Unfortunately, a Buick dealership used the tragedy of a two-month-old infant to advertise its cars last week on Weibo – Micro blog. And Hyundai Motor followed suit.

On March 4, an SUV was stolen with the infant left inside alone in the northeastern city of Changchun. The news spread widely on Weibo after the baby’s father called the local police and radio station for help. The next day it was revealed that the infant was choked to death and buried in snow by the thief. The online community expressed its deeply felt sympathy and condolences.

The Buick dealership posted a photo of the baby and two of its cars on its official Weibo account to advertise its GPS system that can locate the stolen car. “A few thoughts on the Changchun stolen car and baby incident: when buying a car it’s entirely OK to choose a brand with advanced technology,” said the post. Though the post was made before tragic fate of the infant was known, the action generated a storm of outrage on Weibo. Some online commentators said it is “marketing at the cost of lives” and “extremely despicable.”

Worse was the post on Hyundai’s official Weibo account that advertised the anti – theft system on its new SUV Santa Fe, an entry made after the child was known to have died. The action also enraged micro bloggers.

Both posts were soon deleted. The Buick dealership made an apology on Weibo to the family of the victim and the public. But screenshots saved by users continued to be posted and the negative impact on both brands persists.

The two brands probably didn’t expect such a firestorm of fury from the Internet community, but they really made a big mistake sinking below the moral bottom line. They certainly ruined their own brand images.

The Chinese have the same proverb as the English language – a little leak will sink a great ship. It takes decades to build the great ship of a respectable brand but it can take just a moment of negligence to make it fail completely.

For those in corporate marketing, two lessons should be learned: first, be careful in the era of social media when one wrong can be easily magnified and have disastrous impacts in just a few clicks.

Second and more importantly, think with your brain and heart. Never break the moral bonds of respect for human life and sympathy for our fellow man.

1.Who is to blame for the tragedy of Changchun infant according to the passage?

A．The baby’s father                      B．Buick and Hyundai dealership

C．Weibo                                D．Not clear

2.Which of the following statements is correct?

A．The missing infant was found alive in the stolen car.

B．Micro blog marketing of tragic infant death fuels firestorm of criticism.

C．People can’t see the two posts any more because they were deleted.

D．The two car brands mentioned in the passage spoiled their own reputation by selling the stolen car.

3.What does the underlined word – “despicable” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Immoral          B．Important         C．Distinguished       D．Considerable

4.The reason why Hyundai’s post was worse than Buick’s is that _________.

A．Hyundai dealership didn’t make an apology on Weibo

B．Buick dealership expressed its deeply sympathy and condolences

C．Hyundai’s post was made after people knew the infant had died

D．Buick’s car was more advanced on its GPS system

5.In the last paragraph, the author encourages people _____________.

A．not to sink below the moral bottom line

B．not to sympathize our fellow man

C．to think twice before making decision

D．to magnify the mistakes people make

   Have you ever received a gift that was so dearly, not your taste that you wondered if perhaps it had been handed to you by mistake? Worse, have you ever given a present and watched your friend look as though she had opened the wrong box? Maybe she responded with a polite "Why, thank you," but you knew you had missed the mark. Why do presents sometimes go wrong? And what do your choices (good and bad) reflect about your persona] qualities?

Choosing the right gift is an art, I believe. It calls for empathy -- the ability to put yourself into someone else's head and heart We're all able to do this; in fact, we're born with a kind of natural empathy. After the earliest period of childhood, however, it needs to be reinforced (加强)--by our parents, teachers, friends. When it isn't, we're not able to understand other people's feelings as sharply. This can show in the gifts we select, and so can many other emotional (情感的) qualities.

   Think back to the presents you’ve given over the past year, the time and effort you put into your selection, how much you spent, your thoughts while you were shopping, and your feelings when the receiver opened the package. Keep in mind that what you choose displays your inner world. (Y/course, you may express yourself differently with different friends, relatives, and other people you know.

   We live in a society where exchanging presents is an important part of communication. Ignoring the tradition won't make it go away. If you really dislike such a tradition, tell your friends ahead of time.

60.  The underlined expression "you had missed the mark" means "you had failed to _____'.

   A. make her feel better            B. keep your friendship

   C. receive a present in return   D. get the expected effect

61. Which of the following is the main idea of the second paragraph?

   A. Natural empathy needs to be reinforced.

   B. Emotional changes influence one's choice of gifts.

   C. Selecting the right gift is an ability people are born with.

   D. Choosing gifts requires one to understand the receivers.

62. In the third paragraph, the author tells us that________..

    A. attention should be paid to the receivers' responses

    B. one learns from what he did in the past

    C. the choice of gifts reflects one's emotional qualities

    D. one should spend more time choosing gifts

 63. The best possible title for this passage is “_______”.

    A. Ways of Choosing Gifts                     B. An Important Tradition

    C. Exchanging Presents                         D. Message in a Gift