You want to know about my staying in America, right? Well, to tell you the truth, it is really an eye-opening experience to study here.

In China, I had English classes five times a week since fifth grade. However, I didn’t know how different textbook English could be from everyday English until I came to Hotchkiss School, Connecticut.

When I first studied English, I was told to say, “I am fine.” when people say “How are you?” But in the US, I found that people say, “I am good.” or “I’m tired.”

One day, someone greeted me with “What’s up?” It made me confused(不知所措). I thought for a moment and then smiled because I didn’t know what to say.

Since then, I have discovered more and more differences between Chinese and US cultures.

To my surprise, US girls spend a lot of time in the burning sun to get a tan(晒黑). However, in China, girls try every possible way to get their skin paler, or “whiter”.

I was also surprised by how hard-working US students are.

In China, schoolwork is almost everything, so we study hard and that’s it. But here, a “good” student gets good grades, does a lot for the public and plays sports or music.

The kids here are so talented, I am starting to be sorry that I gave up playing the piano at an early age and that I have never thought about sports.

1.According to the writer, textbook English is ______ everyday English.

A．quite different from                     B．the same as

C．more difficult than                      D．easier than

2.A good US student spends his / her time ______.

A．only in doing homework

B．only on sports or music

C．only in working for the public

D．on studies, sports or music and public work

3.Which of the following is NOT true ?

A．The writer is now staying in the US.

B．American girls love to have white skin.

C．The US students are hard-working.

D．Schoolwork is almost everything in China.

One’s education starts from family, especially from his or her mother. Here is a story__26__ happened in my childhood.
One Saturday morning, I was watching TV in the living room with my two brothers. My mum__27__ several apples of different colors and sizes. She put all the apples on the table, then __28__me and my younger brothers, “Which do you like ?”__29__ my younger brothers and I wanted the biggest one. __30__ I could say “ The biggest one”, one of my brothers stood up and said what I wanted to say.
My mum __31__ the biggest apple and said to us, “It is __32__to get the biggest apple. Many people want the best thing, but few really get it. Now let’s start a __33__. Look at the lawn(草坪) in front of our __34__. I’ll divide it into three parts. Each of you must finish pruning(修剪) __35__own share. The best and quickest one will be__36__the biggest apple.” I won the apple finally.
Since then, I have learned to try my best to succeed whenever I get a chance. I work __37__to get what I want. That was what my mother advised me to do. I feel very thankful to my mum because she taught me a very basic but the most __38__lesson. It is quite fair that we can get what we want __39__competing (竞争). My mother kept teaching us in this way and we followed her __40__ all the time.
I do believe that mother is the first teacher of children, who can teach them to be a No.1 pursuing person.

Tiffany, a 16-year-old girl, was very, shy. Last September, her best friend, Sophie, moved abroad with her family because she had to continue her studies in America. She even said she would not come back for at least a few years. Tiffany became    1.   and helpless. "I was really sad the moment I heard the bad news and I didn't know what to do," Tiffany recalled (回忆). "I    2.    myself in my room for a whole week. It was then that my aunt took me to a sports club one Saturday and I saw' so many young people playing various sports there. I signed up for a beginners' course in volleyball and since then I have been playing this sport. Now I practise twice a week there. It is wonderful playing sports in this club and I have made lots of     3.   as well. What's more, I feel I am much healthier than before."

     The most basic aim of playing sports is that you can improve your health even if you are not very good at sports.    4.   , you can get to know a circle of people at your age while playing sports. Tiffany used to be a very quiet girl. Since she joined the sports club, she has opened up herself and now she has become very    5.    and enjoys meeting and talking with others.

      For most people, that is one of the attractions of joining a sports club. You can get to know other young people who have similar interests. You don't have to sit down and talk to strangers.

You go in for sports and it is easier to understand your partners on the same team. Now Tiffany is quite    6.    her friends and she has also gained more confidence.

     Try to do regular sports. The mind needs exercise as well as the body.

7.A) angry     B) lonely       C) tired           D) surprised

8.A) shut    B) hurt         C) enjoyed          D) helped

9.A) trouble  B) mistakes     C) money           D) friends

10.A) So far   B) In addition   C) Once again      D) After all

11.A) active   B) strong       C) lucky          D) independent

12.A) generous to B) different from

C) popular with D) disappointed in