A qualified doctor who rarely practiced but instead devoted his life to writing. He once said: “Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my lover.” Russian writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, was a great playwright and one of the masters of the modern short story.

When Chekhov entered the Moscow University Medical School in 1879, he started to publish hundreds of comic short stories to support his family. After he graduated, he wrote regularly for a local daily newspaper.

As a writer he was extremely fast, often producing a short story in an hour or less. Chekhov’s medical and science experience can be seen through the indifference(冷漠) many of his characters show to tragic events. In 1892, he became a full time writer and published some of his most memorable stories.

Chekhov often wrote about the sufferings of life in small town Russia. Tragic events control his characters who are filled with feelings of hopelessness and despair.

It is often said that nothing happens in Chekhov’s stories and plays. He made up for this with his exciting technique for developing drama within his characters. Chekhov’s work combined the calm attitude of a scientist and doctor with the sensitivity(敏感) of an artist.

Some of Chekhov's works were translated into Chinese as early as the 1940s. One of his famous stories, The Man in a Shell, about a school teacher’s extraordinarily orderly life, was selected as a text for Chinese senior students.

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov ________.

A. had a lawful lover                          B. was an illegal writer

C. used to be a lawyer                         D. was a competent doctor

In 1880, Chekhov ________.

A. became a full-time writer 

B. studied medicine in Moscow University

C. practiced medicine in his hometown

D. published his most memorable stories

Which of the following adjectives can’t be used to describe Chekhov?

A. Sensitive.                                            B. Cool.

C. Quick-minded.                                     D. Warm-hearted.

Which of the following is the right order of the events?

A. became a doctor                      B. became a full time writer

C. started to publish comic short stories     

D. wrote regularly for a local daily newspaper.

e. entered the Moscow University Medical School

A. e→c→a→d→b                B. d→a→b→c→e               

C. e→c→b→a→d         　　D. a→e→c→b→d

Although many Chinese students say that their knowledge of English grammar is good, most would admit that their spoken English is poor. Whenever I speak to a Chinese student they always say, “My spoken English is poor.” However, their spoken English does not have to remain “poor”! I would like to suggest that there may be some reasons for their problems with spoken English.

First, they fail to find suitable words to express themselves due to a limited vocabulary. Obviously the better answer is to expand their vocabulary. However, you can speak with a limited vocabulary, if your attitude is positive. Others will follow you as long as you use the words that you know.

Second, they are afraid of making mistakes. Sometimes they make mistakes when they are speaking because they are shy and nervous. Yet students should remember that their goal should be FLUENCY NOT ACCURACY（准确性）. Your aim in writing is to be accurate following the rules for grammar and using the right words and spelling them correctly. However, in speaking your aim is fluency. You want to get your message across, to talk to someone in English, as quickly and as well as you can, even though sometimes you may use a wrong word or tense, but it doesn’t matter because the person you are speaking to will understand you and make allowances for any mistakes he hears.

The third reason is that not enough attention is paid to listening. You have one mouth but two ears! All that hearing was necessary for you to start speaking.

Fourth, most Chinese students are reactive rather than proactive language learners. Instead of actively seeking out opportunities to improve their spoken English, they passively wait for speaking opportunities to come to them and wonder why their English always remains poor. If you have this proactive outlook, then you will see English opportunities wherever you go.

If you do not use your English beyond the classroom, you will forget what English you know. Remember: USE IT OR LOSE IT! You can learn how to speak English better by speaking English more.

1.What is most probably the writer’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To improve your reading.                

B．To improve your listening.

C．To improve your spoken English.       

D．To improve your vocabulary.

2.It can be inferred from the third paragraph that______.

A．don’t be fluency , Just be accuracy

B．don’t be nervous ,don’t be shy . Just write!

C．don’t be afraid of making mistakes . Just speak!

D．don’t be shy ,don’t be fluency. Just listen and write!

3.The last paragraph is possibly close to the meaning of “_____”.

A．more hurry, less speed                B．better late than never

C．silence is gold                       D．practice makes perfect

4.The text is most probably taken from a ______.

A．teacher’s diary                    B．report on study     

C．sports newspaper                    D．movie magazine

Although many Chinese students say that their knowledge of English grammar is good, most would admit that their spoken English is poor. Whenever I speak to a Chinese student they always say, “My spoken English is poor.” However, their spoken English does not have to remain “poor”! I would like to suggest that there may be some reasons for their problems with spoken English.

First, they fail to find suitable words to express themselves due to a limited vocabulary. Obviously the better answer is to expand their vocabulary. However, you can speak with a limited vocabulary, if your attitude is positive. Others will follow you as long as you use the words that you know.

Second, they are afraid of making mistakes. Sometimes they make mistakes when they are speaking because they are shy and nervous. Yet students should remember that their goal should be FLUENCY NOT ACCURACY（准确性）. Your aim in writing is to be accurate following the rules for grammar and using the right words and spelling them correctly. However, in speaking your aim is fluency. You want to get your message across, to talk to someone in English, as quickly and as well as you can, even though sometimes you may use a wrong word or tense, but it doesn’t matter because the person you are speaking to will understand you and make allowances for any mistakes he hears.

The third reason is that not enough attention is paid to listening. You have one mouth but two ears! All that hearing was necessary for you to start speaking.

Fourth, most Chinese students are reactive rather than proactive language learners. Instead of actively seeking out opportunities to improve their spoken English, they passively wait for speaking opportunities to come to them and wonder why their English always remains poor. If you have this proactive outlook, then you will see English opportunities wherever you go.

If you do not use your English beyond the classroom, you will forget what English you know. Remember: USE IT OR LOSE IT! You can learn how to speak English better by speaking English more.

What is most probably the writer’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To improve your reading.                 

B．To improve your listening.

C．To improve your spoken English.        

D．To improve your vocabulary.

It can be inferred from the third paragraph that______.

A．don’t be fluency , Just be accuracy

B．don’t be nervous ,don’t be shy . Just write!

C．don’t be afraid of making mistakes . Just speak!

D．don’t be shy ,don’t be fluency. Just listen and write!

The last paragraph is possibly close to the meaning of “_____”.

A．more hurry, less speed             B．better late than never

C．silence is gold                    D．practice makes perfect

The text is most probably taken from a ______.

A．teacher’s diary                     B．report on study     

C．sports newspaper                 D．movie magazine

Teacher’s Day around the world is not celebrated on the same day. In some countries, Teacher’s Day is celebrated on working days. However, in other countries, it is celebrated on holidays. Here we are giving you a list of countries that celebrate Teacher’s Day on holidays.

China

Teacher’s Day was proposed (提议) at National Central University in 1931. It was adopted (采纳) by the central government of Republic of China in 1932. In 1939, the day was set on August 27, Confucius’s birthday. The government of the People’s Republic of China called it off in 1951. It was reestablished in 1985, and the day was changed to September 10. Now more and more people are trying to celebrate Teacher’s Day back to Confucius’s birthday.

India

In India, Teacher’s Day is celebrated on September 5, in honor of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India，because his birthday was September 5.

Russia

In Russia, Teacher’s Day is on October 5. Before 1994, this day was set on the first Sunday of September.

The USA

In the United States, Teacher’s Day is a holiday on the Tuesday of the first full week of May.

Thailand

January 16 was adopted as Teacher’s Day in Thailand by a resolution (决议) of the government on November 21, 1956. The first Teacher’s Day was celebrated in 1957.

Iran

In Iran, Teacher’s Day is celebrated on May 2 every year. It is in honor of the famous Iranian professor Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari who died on May 2, 1980.

Although different countries celebrate Teacher’s Day on different days, the activities people take to celebrate it just stay the same.

1.The best title for the passage is ____.

A．Teacher’s Day around the world

B．The history of Teacher’s Day

C．Activities on Teacher’s Day

D．How to celebrate Teacher’s Day

2.In which year was Teacher’s Day changed from August 27 to September 10 in China?

A．1931.            B．1939.             C．1951.            D．1985.

3.In which country is Teacher’s Day celebrated in honor of its leader?

A．Iran.             B．India.             C．Russia.            D．Thailand.

4.What will probably be discussed next?

A．How Teacher’s Day became popular in the world.

B．Which country is the first to celebrate Teacher’s Day.

C．What activities people take to celebrate Teacher’s Day.

D．Which country has the longest vacation for Teacher’s Day.