Speaking is different among the four skills in learning English．The other three you can do alone on your own，but you can’t really speak alone．Speaking to yourself can be "dangerous" because men in white coats may come and take you away！Then how can you practice speaking？ Where can you find people to speak English with？

At school-If you pay to go to a language school，you should use the chance to speak．If your teacher asks you to speak in pairs with other students，try to say as much as possible．Don’t worry about your mistakes．Just speak！

Cafes and bars-There are American，British，Irish and Australian bars in many big cities．If you can find one，you will probably meet many people speaking English as their first or second language．

Songs and videos-Repeat the words of an English song singing with the music until it becomes automatic（不假思索）．It’s good practice for your memory and for the mouth muscles（肌肉） that you need for English．

Language is all around you--Everywhere you go，you will find language．Shop names，notices，and car numbers……When you walk down the street，practice reading the words and numbers that you see．Say them to yourself．It’s not exactly a conversation，but it will help you to "think" in English．

1．The purpose of this passage is to

    A．tell us that you can speak English alone

    B．tell us that English is all around you

    C．give us some advice on how to practice speaking

    D．tell us speaking is the easiest of the four skills in learning English

2．What does the writer mean by saying "Speaking to yourself can be dangerous"？

    A．The writer is joking- perhaps a doctor will come and take you to the hospital．

    B．It’s dangerous to practice speaking with foreigners．

    C．When you speak alone， you have to put on a white coat．

    D．Men in white coats will cause an accident．

3．The writer advises you to go to cafes and bars because

    A．you can enjoy yourself there

    B．you can listen to English songs there

    C．it will not be dangerous if you speak to yourself there

    D．you will meet many English speakers there

4．Why does the writer give the advice "Songs and videos"？

    A．It’s good practice for your memory．

    B．It’s good for the mouth muscles that you need for English．

    C．It’s good for you to sing well．

    D．Both A and B．

Once there was a baby eagle living in a nest (巢) on a cliff (山崖). The baby eagle loved his nest. It was warm, soft and comfortable. And even better, he had all the food and love that his mother could give. Whenever the baby eagle was hungry, his mother would always come just in time with the delicious food he liked.
He was growing happily day after day. But suddenly his world   
changed. His mother stopped coming to the nest, he was full of sadness and fear. He thought he would die soon. He cried, but nobody heard him.
Two days later mother appeared with some nice food. The baby eagle was wild with joy. But his mother put the food at the top of the mountain and then looked down at her baby. The baby eagle cried out, “Mum, why did you do this to me? I’m hungry. Don’t you know I will die if 1 have nothing to eat?”
“Here is the last meal I give you. Come and get it by yourself.” his mother said. Then she flew down and pushed the baby eagle out of the nest.
The baby eagle fell down, faster and faster. He looked up at his mum, “ Why do you abandon me?” He looked down at the earth. The ground was much closer. Then something strange happened. The air caught behind his arms and he began to fly! He wasn’t moving to the ground any more. Instead, his eyes were pointed up at the sun.
“You are flying! You can make it!” His mother smiled.
(    )6. Which of the following is TRUE about the baby eagle’s life before his mother stopped coming to the nest?
A. He lived in a nest in the tree.     B. His mother offered him nice food.
C. He was always cold and hungry.      D. He lived very happily with friends.
(    )7. How did the baby eagle feel as soon as he saw his mother coming again?
A. Sad.              B. Happy.           C. Afraid.           D. Angry.
(    )8. What did the baby eagle’s mother do when she came the last time?
A. She put some food in the nest.       B. She just came to see him again.
C. She shouted at he baby eagle and flew away.
D. She pushed her baby eagle out of the nest.
(    )9. What does the word “abandon” mean?
A. 抛弃              B.保护             C.歧视            D. 拯救
(    )10. We can infer (推断) from the story that _____________.
A. The baby eagle lost his mother     
B. The baby eagle fell down and died
C. The baby eagle could get food himself
D. The baby eagle was still angry with his mother