(A) Have you ever had an embarrassing（尴尬的）experience?
Tony: I had just started teaching in a Liverpool secondary school. One morning my alarm clock didn't ring. I woke up at half past eight and school began at nine. I quickly washed, dressed, jumped into my car and rushed to school. When I arrived, the students had already gone into class. I went straight into class. After two or three minutes the students began laughing and laughing! Why? Suddenly I looked down and understood. I had put on one black shoe and one brown shoe!
Henry: After seeing a film, we decided to walk along the street. The street was very busy and we started holding hands. Suddenly my wife saw a dress that she liked in a shop window, and stopped. I started looking at some watches in the next window. After a minute or two I reached for my wife's hand. There was a loud scream(尖叫), and a girl slapped(掴) my face！I hadn't taken my wife's hand. I'd taken the hand of a girl!
James: I had decided to buy a new house, and I'd made an appointment (约定)to see our bank manager. I'd never met him before. I was lucky enough to find a parking space outside the bank. I'd just started reversing(倒车) into the space when another car made its way into it. I was so angry! I shouted at the man in the car. He ignored(不理) me and walked away. It took me twenty minutes to find another place. I was ten minutes late for my appointment. I went to the manager's office, knocked and walked in. The manager was sitting behind his desk. He was the man who had taken my parking space!
【小题1】Tony is ______.

　　My phone rings a lot. But most of the time it's not for me. It's for my cat! Well, the caller doesn't want to talk to my cat. He wants to talk about him.

　　You see, my cat really gets around!

　　I met him three years ago. I was walking home one cold winter night. As I went by a row of houses, I saw something orange on a stoop(门前台阶). Then I heard a little cry. I went closer. It was a kitten.

　　He was sitting in the snow. As I watched, the ball of orange fur tried to stand up. But he wobbled－and fell down a step.

　　“You need to get warm.” I said. “My coat is big enough for both of us.” I picked up the shaking kitten. “I found you on a stoop.” I went on. “So that will be your name.” At once I heard a soft purr(咕噜声).

　　At home, Stoop lapped (舔) up some milk. He was warm and happy. In a week, he was running all over the apartment(一套房间).

　　But Stoop was not going to let himself be just an apartment cat. In the spring, he found his way to the streets of the city. How? By climbing down a tree outside my window!

　　I wanted to make sure that Stoop would always come home. I bought a little collar(颈圈) with a tag (标签). The tag said:“I have a home. If I look lost, phone Fred Sparks XY9－8809.”

1．The writer's telephone rings a lot because ________ .

[　　]

A．the writer has so many friends all over the world

B．the writer has much business to do with others

C．the caller wants to talk about the writer's books

D．the caller wants to talk to the writer's about his cat

2．If we say that somebody gets around, we means that ________ .

[　　]

A．he travels a lot from place to place

B．he is not active and always stays at home

C．he becomes as round as a big ball

D．he is very famous and everybody seems to know him

3．In the story “the ball of orange fur” refers to (指) ________ .

[　　]

4．An apartment cat must be a cat that ________ .

[　　]

A．is living with a family in an apartment

B．is born and grows up in an apartment

C．stays in an apartment, never goes out to play

D．has no place to live in and no master to attend him

5．How did all those callers know the writer's telephone number?

[　　]

Many students ask for advice about improving their English. There are three basic questions.
The first question is about real English. Li Hao from Hubei wrote, “I enjoy watching English films and listening to real English songs. But it takes a long time. What do you think?”
This is a great way to learn English! Talk about the film or song with your friends, and guess the meaning of the new words. Just enjoy yourself!
The second question is about speaking. Sam, from Suzhou wrote. “Our school has a foreign teacher. But I'm shy and can’t speak to her. What should I do?”
When I visit China, lots of people in the street say, “Hello! How are you? Where are you from? Do you like China?” These are good questions to start a talk. Many people are shy when they speak English, so before you begin, take a deep breath and smile! Smiling always helps.
The third question is about vocabulary. Oliver, from Anhui wrote, “I want to remember all the new words. I write them down, but I forget them quickly. What should I do?”
Try to remember eight or ten words a day. Write them on pieces of paper and place them in your bedroom. Say the words when you see them, and change them every day. And when you’re  shopping, how about counting the English words, or saying the English names for everything you see?
【小题1】How many basic questions do the students often ask?