If you go to Finland, you’ll be surprised to find how “foolish” the Finnish people are.
Take the taxi drivers for example. Taxis in Finland are mostly high class Benz with a fare (票价) of two US dollars a kilometer. You can go anywhere in one, tell the driver to drop you at any place, say that you have some business to attend to, and then get off without paying your fare. And the driver would not show the least sign of worry.
The dining rooms in all big hotels not only serve their guests, but also outside diners. Hotel guests have their meals free, so their good faith is to wave their registration card to the waiter. With such a loose check, you can easily use any old registration card to take a couple of friends and dine free of charge.
With so many loopholes (漏洞) in everyday life, surely Finland must be a heaven to those who love to take “pretty advantages”. But the strange things is, all the taxi-passengers would always come back to pay their fare after they have attended to their business; not a single outsider has ever been found in the free hotel dining rooms. As the Finns always act on good faith and always show an attitude of “which is which” and “what is what” in everything they do, so to live in such a society has turned everyone into a real “gentleman”. In a society of such high moral practice, what need is there for people to take precautions (预防措施) against others?
【小题1】The word “foolish” probably means _____________.

A．friendly

B．careful

C．strange

D．funny

【小题2】Why wouldn’t the driver show the least sign of worry? Because _________.

A．he is sure that the passengers always act on good faith

B．he is afraid to make the passengers angry and unhappy

C．he thinks the passengers may be too poor to pay him

D．he is sure that the passengers are really in trouble

【小题3】The dining rooms in all big hotels ___________.

A．check the guests’ registration card carefully

B．give people meals without paying

C．serve their guests free of charge

D．only serve their guests free breakfast

【小题4】What’s FALSE according to the passage?

A．No one takes advantages although there are many loopholes.

B．All the taxi-passengers come back to pay their fare after they have attended to their business.

C．Not a single outsider has ever been found in the free hotel dining rooms.

D．Finland is heaven for immoral people because they can always take advantages freely.

【小题5】The sentences “which is which” and “what is what” show that __________.

A．the Finns are foolish

B．the Finns take things seriously

C．the Finns are busy making money for the family

D．the Finns never take precaution against others

Today we’ll talk about the history of blue jeans. For many people, blue jeans stand for (代表) American culture.

The history of blue jeans usually began with a man named Levi Strauss. He did not invent jeans. But he is the first person to produce and sell them in large numbers. Levi Strauss was born in Germany. In 1847, he and his family moved to the United States. He opened a small store and sold jeans. These pants were especially useful for miners (矿工) in California. They needed strong clothing. Levi Strauss worked with Jacob Davis, who had invented a step for making rivets (铆钉) for jeans. They helped make the blue jeans stronger.

In 1873, Strauss and Davis received a patent (专利) to own this invention. Nineteenth century workers would probably be surprised to know that their pants would one day become fashions. Today, jeans are worn by people of all ages. Jeans come in many colors other than blue and in many styles and prices. Fashion designers even create very costly jeans. 

Writer James published a book called Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon (偶像). In the book, he says jeans serve as a sign for two American values, creativity and rebellion (叛逆).

1. Why did Jacob use rivets for jeans? 

A．Because they made the blue jeans stronger.	B．Because they had a history.
C．Because they are fashionable.	D．Because they were dear.

2.Which of the following is WRONG about blue jeans? 

A．Miners like to wear strong clothing.

B．Jeans have only one color — blue.

C．James wrote a book about jeans.

D．Levi Strauss is the first person to produce jeans in large numbers.

3.The two American values are rebellion and _____________.    

A．protection

B．ambition

C．friendship

D．creativity

4.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Jeans are popular.	B．Jeans become fashions.
C．The history of blue jeans.	D．Levi Strauss was a German.

 

A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms（习语）, though my teacher told us the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.

One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be surprised. Gently shaking his head，shrugging his shoulders, he said，“You don’t say!” “You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not a right topic. “Well, I’d better change the topic.” So I said to him. “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was wonderful.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was interrupted（打断）again by his words: “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t ask you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘you don’t say’?” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “ ‘You don’t say’ actually means ‘really!’ It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” I realized I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: what the English teachers said is always right to us students.

1.A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms because       .

A．I had no interest in them

B．English idioms were very difficult

C．I did not realize the importance of them

D．my teacher didn’t tell us the importance of them

2.At first, on hearing “You don’t say,” I thought the foreigner meant       .

A．I had talked too much                    B．I had to stop talking

C．he was not interested in the topic           D．he was only interested in the Great Wall

3.“…was shown in an amusing experience.” The word “amusing” probably means     .

A．interesting        B．important         C．terrible           D．unlucky

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The Englishman wanted me to act as his guide.

B．The Englishman left China without seeing the Great Wall.

C．The Englishman wanted to see the Great Wall after I talked about it.

D．The Englishman visited the Great Wall and thought it worth visiting.

5.After the Englishman explained the idiom, ___________.

A．I felt very silly                          B．the Englishman became a real fool

C．I became more careful in everything         D．I thought the Englishman had made me a fool

 

In England recently three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop and waited . About five minutes later, the bus they wanted came along. They were just going to get on when suddenly there was a loud noise behind them. People rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way . Someone shouted at them. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreigners seem all at sea and looked embarrassed (窘迫的 . No one had told them about the British custom (习惯)of lining up for a bus that the first person who arrives at the bus stop is the first person to get on the bus .
　　Learning the language of a country isn't enough. If you want to have a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your host country. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man shaking his head at another to show that he doesn't agree. But in many parts of India a shake of the head means agreement. Nodding (点头) your head when you are given a drink in Bulgaria will most probably leave you thirsty .
　　In that country, you shake your head to mean 'yes'— a nod means 'no' . At a meal in countries on the Arabic Peninsula, you will find that your glass is repeated refilled as soon as you drink up . If you think that you have had enough , you should take the cup or glasses in your hand and give it a little shake from side to side or place your hand over the top.
　　In Europe it quite usual to cross your legs when you are sitting talking to someone even at an important meeting. Doing this in Thailand, however, could bring about trouble . Also, you should try to avoid (避免)touching the head of an adult (成人) ——it's just not done in Thailand .
【小题1】The British people tried to push the three gentlemen out of the way, because the gentlemen______

A．were foreigners	B．didn't have tickets
C．made a loud noise	D．didn't line up for the bus

【小题2】 According to the article, if you want to have a pleasant journey in a foreign country, you should ____ 

A．learn the language of the country

B．understand the manners and customs of the country

C．have enough time and money

D．make friends with the people there

【小题3】In India it is considered impolite ___________.

A．to use the right hand for passing food at table.

B．to pass food with the left hand.

C．to eat food with your hands.

D．to help yourself at table.

【小题4】To cross one's legs at an important meeting in Europe is _______.

A．a common (平常的) habit	B．an important manner
C．a serious (严重的) trouble	D．a bad manner

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填写表格 (每空限填一词)。
How to beat sadness
We all have days when we are down, tired and unhappy. That’s OK. You need days like this, or how would you know you are happy? You’ll enjoy your good days even more when you have a few bad days. Even if sadness is a part of life, let’s try to make it small. Here are a few simple ways to help you feel better when you are feeling sad.
1. Stand up straight and this helps your energy flow (流动). When your energy is flowing freely, you can flow too.
2. Smile! It’s easy to do and have good results. This way can not only leave you in a good mood but also bring others a good mood.
3. Listen to music. It can be your favourite music. Some kinds of music work better than others, so try and find out what kind of music works the best for you.
4. Take some “me” time. You can find pleasure in reading a book, watching a sunrise or having a hot bath, or something like that.
5. Exercise. Even something as simple as taking a walk will get your blood flowing. It is a great way to clear your mind of anything that makes you sad.
These ways will cheer you up when you are down, but don’t just use them when you are sad. Try and practice them every day to make them a habit. You will be surprised to learn that these simple ways will keep your sadness away. But if you are in a deep depression (沮丧), go to see a doctor.
Title: How to beat sadness

Opinions	● It is OK to feel down, 76.    ▲   and unhappy. ● It is possible to make sadness a small 77.    ▲   of life.
Simple 78.    ▲   to cheer you up	● Stand up straight so that your 79.    ▲   can flow freely.
	● 80.    ▲   at others because it can bring you and others a good mood.
	● Listen to your 81.    ▲   music because it works the best.
	● 82.    ▲   pleasure in everyday life, such as watching a sunrise.
	● Takea walk and you can clear your 83.    ▲   of sad things.
Suggestions	● Try to make these simple ways a 84.    ▲  . ● Go to see a 85.    ▲  when you are in a deep depression.