Living in the foreign culture can be exciting, but it can also be confusing. A group of Americans who taught English in other countries recently discussed their experiences . They discussed that miscommunications were always possible, even over something as simple as “yes” and “no”.
On her first day in Micronesia, an island in the Pacific, Lisa thought the waitress wasn’t paying any attention to her. The day was hot she went into a store and asked, “ Do you have any cold drinks ?” The woman there didn’t say anything. Lisa repeated the question again. Still the woman said nothing. She later learned that the woman had answered her: She has raised her eyebrows , which in Micronesia , it means, “yes”.
Jan remembered an experience she had in Bulgaria, a country in Europe. She went to a restaurant that was known for its cabbage. She asked the writer, “Do you have cabbage today ?” He nodded his head. Jan waited, but the cabbage never came. In that country, a nod means “no”.
Tom had a similar problem when he arrived in India. After explaining something in class , he asked his students if they understood . They answered with different nods and shakes of heads. He thought some people hadn’t understood, so he explained again. When he asked again, the did the same thing. He soon found out that his students did understand. In India, people nod and shake heads in different ways . It depends on where they come from.
【小题1】These Americans teaching English in other countries found that they _____________.
A. needed to learn foreign languages.
B. should often discuss their experiences
C. had problems with communications
【小题2】People in Micronesia show “yes” by _________.
A. nodding heads          B. raising the eyebrows         C. shaking hands.
【小题3】 Tom misunderstood his class at first because __________.
A. he didn’t know much about Indian culture
B. he didn’t explain everything clearly enough
C. he didn’t know where the students came from
【小题4】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. In Bulgaria, nodding heads means “no”
B. Jan taught English on a Pacific island
C. Lisa was trying to buy some cabbage.
【小题5】The passage is mainly about _________.
A. body language in foreign restaurants
B. class discussion in Indian schools
C. miscommunicaions in different cultures

This is Jim. He is thirteen. He is from the U.S.A. He is a student. He has a good friend. His name is Jack. Jack is fifteen. He is from Australia. Jack is tall but Jim is short. They are in the same class, but they are in different grades. Jim is in Class Two. Jack is in Class Two, too. They go to school(上学) at seven in the morning and go home(回家) at six in the afternoon.
【小题1】Jim and Jack are ____.

A．sisters	B．friend
C．teacher and student	D．from different countries(国家)

【小题2】Jim and Jack are in ____.

A．the same grade	B．different grades
C．the same color	D．the same family(家庭)

【小题3】Jack is in ____.

A．Class 4

B．Class 3

C．Class 2

D．Class 1

【小题4】They go to school at ____ in the morning.

A．6:00

B．7:00

C．7:30

D．8:00

【小题5】Jim is ____.

A．short

B．tall

C．strong

D．big

People all over the world celebrate Valentine’s Day．However, the holiday  26 differently in different countries  27  each culture has its own Valentine’s Day customs．

    For example，people in the United States and Japan both celebrate Valentine’s Day  28February 14．But in Japan，only romantic partners come together,while in America，it can be shared by anyone  29  is close，friend or lover．Chocolate is the most preferred gift in the US  30  it is common in Japan，too．However,in the US other kinds of gifts are  3 1  given，and many people exchange cards．

    The biggest  32  is that in Japan，only girls and women．33  chocolates to boys and men，but in the US boys and girls will give cards or small gifts to all of  34  friends．And while American men and women both receive gifts，women usually get  35  expensive gifts than men．That’s why I would like to be a man in Japan but a woman in the US!

1.A．celebrates    B．is celebrating    C．celebrated   D．is celebrated

2.A．although    B．where    C．because D．if

3.A．on    B．in    C．at D．by

4.A．whom    B．who    C．whose D．which

5.A．so    B．as        C．and D．or

6.A．too    B．either    C．neither D．also

7.A．difference    B．differences    C．different D．differently

8.A．give    B．to give    C．giving D．given

9.A．theirs    B．they    C．them D．their

10.A．many    B．more    C．few D．fewer

 

 The Olympic Games _____ in London in 2012. I hear it _____ in different countries every four years.

A．is given, is given                        B．was held, is held

C．will be held, is held                      D．will be given, is given

 

Last month when I was taking part in a US college interview, I was asked, “ what makes you special ? ” In fact I had answered questions likes this many times since I decided to go to college in the US .college paid special attention to different achievement . For example, a person who is very good at math can go to a famous college but also can be a good football player .

This experience made me think again that I must try to find where my own interests might lead me . To be honest, it was not easy . However, I never felt sorry to choose this way because it helped me understand myself . If I took the College Entrance Examination,as we call it gaokao in China, it could never possibly do .

When I entered high school, I took gaokao seriously because it seemed to me a great way to show how good at my lessons . However,as I grew older, I realized gaokao did make me work hard at my lessons, but the pressure also pushed many other activities out of my life, like guitar―playing . Although I had no time for it, I will still get to it in the future .

No doubt, gaokao provides a way of choosing those who are successful in their studies . But it is really important for all of us to rethink what “ talent ” really is today . This is because we now live in a world in which all of our other human qualities ( 品质）are needed for success, not just the high grade .

Ken Robinson once said, “ the society depends on different kinds of talents . ”  However, gaokao pays too attention  to a person’s grades but little to his other qualities. And it is these qualities that makes life colorful and fun .

As high school students, we can not change the present situation of eduction, but we are always free to think outside of the box . Although good school grade is still useful, I hope one day we will see our education also welcomes the amazing possibilities in different people .

1.The US College pay special attention to ________.

A．students’family background .

B．the different achievement

C．students’ideas about way of life .

D．the school a student is from .

2.When at high school, the writer ________.

A．had a lot of activities .

B．did not work hard at her lessons .

C．did well in gaokao

D．had no time to play the guitar .

3.From the passage, we know that the writer may ________.

A．go to college in America .

B．give up the US college interview .

C．become a good football player in the US.

D．change the present situation of eduction .

4.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A. My school life abroad.             B. Different exams in the US.

C My view on gaokao           D. The importance of school grades