Do you know what Oscar is? When did it start? Maybe you can find the background of the awards in the following passage.

The awards started in 1929. Their full title is “The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards”. The Academy is a group of people who have worked in the film industry for many years. They decide who will receive the awards. The awards are often referred to as the “Oscar”. This is a nickname given to the awards by a lady called Margaret Herrick. She was once the director of the Academy and she once said that the little gold statue(雕像) reminded her of her uncle Oscar!

The Oscar is always an exciting event. Each year, at least one unusual thing happens. When the Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni won an Oscar for best foreign film, he danced on stage! When Gwyneth Paltrow, the star of Shakespeare in Love won the Oscar for best actress, she could not make her acceptance speech because she was crying so much with happiness!

In 1987, Roberto Benigni won the award for best director for a film about the last emperor of China. Since then, Chinese film and actors have started to make an impact at the award. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a huge success and it won the award for best foreign language film in 2001. It also won several technical awards for its amazing “flying” people. We expect to see more awards for Chinese film in the near future.

It’s time for the Oscar again. Once more, the stars will dress up in their finest and go to Kodak Theater. There, they will find out who had won the awards for best actor, best actress and best director. Millions of people watch the awards every year to find out who the winners are. Some people watch it to see the stars crying and laughing as they receive their awards.

1.Who give the awards?

A. In 1927.

B. Oscar.

C. The Academy of Nicknames. 

D. A group of people who have worked in the film industry for many years.

2.What did Gwyneth Paltrow win an Oscar for?

A. Best Director.   B. Best Foreign Film.   C. Best Actress.  D. Best Actor.

3.Which Chinese film won an award for best foreign film?

A. Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger.

B. Crouching and Hidden Dragon and Tiger.

C. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

D. Crouching, Dragon, Hiding Tiger.

4. Where are the Oscars held?

A. At the Academy.                     B. in a Los Angeles restaurant. 

C. At Oscar’s house.                    D. At Kodak Theater.

5.Why do some people watch Oscars?

A. To see the restaurant.                 B. To see the fashion. 

C. To see a film.                      D. To see the stars crying and laughing.

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