Reading is a good habit, but the problem is there’s too much to read these days and too little time to read every word of it. There are hundreds of skills to help you read more in less time. Here are two skills that I think are especially good.

Preview — if it’s long and hard. Previewing is especially useful for getting a general idea of heavy reading like long magazine articles and business reports.

Here’s how to preview.

Ø  Read the first two paragraphs and the last two paragraphs carefully.

Ø  Then read only the first sentence of the other paragraphs.

Previewing doesn’t give you all the details. It keeps you from spending time on things you don’t really want － or need － or read.

Skim － if it’s short and simple. Skimming is a good way to get a general idea of light reading like popular magazines or the sports and entertainment of your daily paper.

Here’s how to skim.

Ø Get your eyes to move fast. Sweep them across each line.

Ø Pick up only a few key words in each line.

Everybody skims differently. You and I may not pick up the same words when we skim the same piece, but we’ll get a similar idea of what it’s all about.

1. How many skills does the writer introduce to help us in reading?

A. One.           B. Two.           C. Three.           D. Four. 

2. What should you do if you read a long article according to the writer?

A. Read every word of it.          B. Read all the details.

C. Pick up a few key words in each line.

D. Read the first and the last two paragraphs carefully.

3. If you read a simple article, which reading skill is better to get the general idea?

A. Previewing.     B. Skimming.       C. Reading.        D. Sweeping.

 

 

A great way for teens to cool off during the summer is at water parks. If you live near a water park, you might think about getting a season pass. This way you can go as often as you like.
Check to see if there are any water parks around you. Many are indoor facilities. So even if it isn’t warm enough where you live to swim outdoors, you can enjoy swimming in a temperature controlled area.
The prices are usually good. For example, one ticket to Water World, a water park, is only $5.
Some teens like to get a part time job over the summer to make some pocket money. Older teens shouldn’t have much trouble finding jobs.
An idea is to get some teens together to form your own summer job business. You can walk dogs, bring in the newspapers, feed the cats, collect rubbish, water flowers, etc.
Being that it’s summer, many people go on vacation and could use someone to look after their houses while they’re away. You can also think about other jobs you can do for them.
Teens love freedom. Sure you would like to get to such places as the small, movie theaters, the zoo, the beach, picnic, bowling and local amusement park instead of staying home all summer. Then a summer bus pass will be helpful. Check to see if your area has one for you teens.
Such a pass costs only $10 for the whole summer. The price is reasonable(合乎情理的) and also your parents don’t have to always drive.
【小题1】Who is the text written for?

A．Teachers	B．Parents
C．Teens	D．Travelers

【小题2】What is NOT mentioned as a part tome job for teens?

A．Washing cars	B．Feeding cats
C．Walking dogs	D．Watering flowers

【小题3】If Sally goes to Water World with two friends, they should pay________.

A．$5

B．$10

C．$15

D．$20

【小题4】A summer bus pass is helpful for teens to ______.

A．find part time jobs	B．go out for fun
C．go to summer classes	D．do outdoor sports

【小题5】What’s the text mainly about?

A．Part time jobs	B．A summer pass
C．Water park swimming	D．Things to do in summer

The centerpiece of curling(冰壶)is the curling stone. Kays of Scotland has been making curling stones since 1851, when William Kay and his sons Andrew and Thomas set up a workshop in Mauchline, Ayrshire, in southwest Scotland. Kays is still owned by the relatives of the founder, and today it is the only curling stone maker left in Scotland.
Used in a highly competitive sport, the curling stones are made to exact standards. First, stones are sliced and then into round “cheeses”. Finally, the cheeses are shaped and polished into curling stones in a series of steps.
Each stone must weigh 44 pounds. Each must have a maximum diameter (直径) of 36 inches. Polishing is done by hand on a wheel using water, diamond-talcum power, and felt. Finishing the stone’s “running edge” is done entirely by hand with a special kind of paper and a digital measure and magnifying glass (放大镜). Lastly, a handle(把手) is fitted into holes on the top of the stone. Stones are computer-matched into pairs. Sixteen stones----8 pairs----are needed for a game, and since curling game field usually have 6 lanes, each game field needs 96 matched stones!
Kays is a small company, employing less than ten skilled workers. Master craftsman and co-owner James Wyllie is skilled at all phases of curling stone making and is also an enthusiastic curler, as well as active member of Mauchline’s Burns Club, which meets regularly to honor well-known Mauchline residents.
【小题1】What is true about Kays?

A．It is a family business.

B．It’s a brand(牌子) of curling stones.

C．It’s a place in Scotland.

D．It’s the name of a curling stone dealer(业者).

【小题2】How many curling stones are needed for two games happening at the same time?

A．8

B．16

C．32

D．96

【小题3】What does the underlined word “sliced” mean in Chinese in the second paragraph?

A．切割

B．镶嵌

C．移开

D．固定

【小题4】Which of the following statements is NOT RIGHT according to the passage?

A．Kays of Scotland has been curling stone maker for more than 150 years.

B．The weight of each curling stone must be 44 pounds.

C．We use a special machine to polish the curling stone.

D．The workers in Kays are all experienced.

【小题5】What’s the passage mainly about?

A．The history of curling.

B．How to make a curling stone.

C．The rules of curling.

D．How to become a curling stone maker.

Nowdays      of business letters are written in English.

  A. two third    B. two thirds   C. two three    C. second three

 

Two magazines recently listed the best cities to live in. Here are two of the cities listed as “the world’s best.”
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA  The city has comfortable weather all year round (15℃ to 26℃). Housing is not very expensive in San Jose. Also, many of the city’s older neighborhoods are very beautiful and have small hotels and cafés.Beautiful mountains are around the city. Lots of people go sightseeing there every year. But air pollution is a problem in the city center.
HONG KONG, CHINA    This lively city—once a small fishing village—is today an international business center. It is an interesting mix of East and West, old and new. Modern tall buildings are next to small temples (庙宇). Popular nightclubs are close to traditional teahouses. Busy people fill the streets at all hours of the day. But outside the city, there are parks for walking or relaxing. Hong Kong is famous for its wonderful native dishes. There’s also food from Europe, North America, and other parts of Asia. However, this small city has a large population of nearly seven million! That’s why housing is often very expensive. Traffic and air pollution are also a problem.
【小题1】Which of the following is NOT mentioned about San Jose?

A．The weather.

B．The mountains.

C．The air.

D．The traffic.

【小题2】What makes Hong Kong the world’s best according to this passage?

A．The lively city and the wonderful dishes.

B．The large population and the traffic.

C．The expensive housing.

D．The beautiful temples.

【小题3】 The writer thinks housing in Hong Kong is expensive because ________.

A．it is a small fishing village	B．it is a mix of East and West
C．it is a beautiful city	D．there are too many people in the city

【小题4】What do the two cities have in common?

A．They both have beautiful mountains.	B．They both have a large population.
C．Air pollution is a problem in both.	D．They are both crowded.

【小题5】From the passage, we can know that       .

A．San Jose and Hong Kong are the only two cities of the world’s best

B．San Jose has more natural sights than Hong Kong does

C．the weather in both cities is fine

D．San Jose used to be small fishing village