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.How many English classes a week were there when the writer was in fifth grade in China?

A. 4             B. 5             C. 6           D.7

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

A. quite different from    B. the same as   C. more difficult than    D. easier than

3.What did the writer do when he didn’t understand what someone greeted him?

A. He thought for a moment and smiled  B. He greeted with “What?”

C. He didn’t how to say               D. He was surprised

4.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

5. 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.

Many teenagers have hobbies. But sometimes these hobbies can get in the way of schoolwork, and parents might worry about their child's success at school. Teenagers often think they should be allowed to practice their hobbies as much as they want, Do you agree?

Liu Yu, a fifteen-year-old boy from Shandong, is a running star. He is on his school running team and has always wanted to be a professional athlete. 1________"Of course we want to see Liu Yu achieve his dreams," says Mr Liu, "and we know how much he loves running. That's great, and my wife and I have watched him in every one of his races. 2.____ But we do think that our son needs to be realistic. Now that he is getting older, he needs to think about what will happen3_________ Liu Yu doesn't really agree. "Well, I think I should be allowed to make decisions for  myself," he says. "My parents have always taught me the importance of working hard and not just to do what I enjoy. I understand this. 4______ Being a professional runners is the only thing I have ever wanted to do.

Mr and Mrs Liu believe that Liu Yu should study hard in the evenings, and so they don't allow him to practice running on school nights."I know this seem strict," says Mrs Liu,"but we think we're doing the right thing. He has to understand that very few people can become professional athletes. It's very difficult dream to achieve.  We don't allow him to practice every day 5__________

A.if he doesn't become a professional runner in the end.

B.So, we don't agree that he is always running.

C.However, his parents won't allow him to train as much as he would like to.

D.No one could stop me running.

E.A.But I 'm serious about running.

F.because we think he needs to spend time on his homework.

G.We have nothing against running.