Learning a new language is always a challenge. There are new words, new grammar, and new
pronunciation. Language is an important part of culture, and becoming familiar with (熟悉) the culture
as well as the language can make the learning experience much more enjoyable.
     When I was a university student, I studied Chinese for three years. Before I went to university, I had
very little knowledge of China. Therefore, when I started learning to speak Chinese, it was important for
me to also learn about China's history and culture. China's culture is very different from my own and I
become interested in it soon.
     It will be much more fun to learn about culture when you study a new language. Culture can teach you
so many things about a language. It can give you background information about the language and tell you
the history of the language. I also found out one fact, that is, if you have some knowledge about the country
and the culture, you will communicate with its people much easier.
     Whenever I try to learn a new language, I enjoy knowing information about the culture as well. It's a
challenge to dig (挖掘) deeper for more information, but it is very rewarding!

1. When we learn a new language, we will have a chance to _______.

A. learn new words, new grammar, and new pronunciation
B. learn about China's history and culture
C. stay in the other country and learn its language
D. communicate with people in China

2. According to the passage, the writer must be _______.

A. a Chinese student who is studying abroad (国外)
B. a foreign student who is studying in China
C. a famous writer who wants to learn a new language
D. a teacher who is teaching English in China

3. If you have some knowledge about the country and the culture, _______.

A. you can get a good grade in the exam
B. you will communicate with its people much easier
C. you will be interested in its history
D. you will make more friends

4. The underlined word "rewarding" means _______ in Chinese.

A. 有益的
B. 困难的
C. 值得鼓励的
D. 实用的

5. What's the best title for this passage?

A. An Enjoyable Experience
B. How to Learn a New Language
C. How to Face the Challenge When You in Trouble
D. The Importance of Culture in Learning a Language

      Do you think it difficult to learn English?
      If you have a problem speaking English, you can do several things. Listen to English as much as possible.
Learn a poem or a song by heart. And practice speaking with your friends as much as you can.
     Many people find it difficult to understand the listening materials in English. The answer is to listen as much
as you can. However, don't do too much at one time. It is better to practice listening for five minutes every day. Don't sit down and listen for an hour at a time, That's too much. Do choose listening materials that are
interesting and not too difficult. Choose tapes on which people speak clearly and not too fast. Take it easy at
first. Start with simple materials and later on you can practice listening to some difficult materials.
     As for writing, how can you learn to write well? How do you use words like in, on, of and for? There are
two answers to this. First, study new vocabularies. Make a list of new words and phrases, such as look for,
look after and so on. Second, read as much English as possible, and go over the materials many times. Then
you'll be able to use words correctly yourself. So, in order to write well, you must first learn to read much!

1. The meaning of the underlined phrases go over is probably "_______" here in Chinese.

A. 详细注释
B. 认真背诵
C. 仔细检查
D. 仔细琢磨

2. Which is the right way to practice listening according to the passage?

A. Listening for an hour every day.
B. Listening for five minutes every day.
C. Choose tapes on which people speak fast.
D. Listening to difficult materials in the very beginning.

3. According to the last paragraph, if we study a new word "get", what should we do?

A. Practice it many times.
B. Read it five minutes every day.
C. Study it with other new words.
D. Write it as many times as you can.

4. In order to write well, what should you do first?

A. Learn to use.
B. Learn to read
C. Learn to spell
D. Learn to listen.

5. This passage mainly tells us how to improve your ____ skills.

A. listening and reading
B. reading and speaking
C. listening and writing
D. reading and writing

     When you are learning a language, listening, speaking and writing are important,   but reading can  also
be very helpful. When you read,  you can not only learn some new words, but also learn how to use them. When you read a passage, it gives you a good example for writing. Here are some good reading tips.
     Firstly, try to read at the right level (水平). Read something that you can understand.  If it is too  hard
for you, it is not interesting.
     Secondly, try to understand the new words.  If there are four or five new words on a page,  don't  use
a dictionary.  Instead, try to guess their meanings as you read.   Mark (作标记) them with a pencil. Then
look them up in a dictionary when you finish reading,   and write them in your own vocabulary book.  Try
to remember them.
     Thirdly, try to read for a short time once a day. Fifteen minutes or half an hour every day is better than
two hours every Sunday.   For example,   you can read before you go to bed,   or after you get up  or  at
lunchtime.
     Lastly, read something that interests you. Choose a newspaper, a book or a magazine about a subject
that you like. It will be easy enough for you to understand.

1. The underlined word "tips" in the passage means "_____  " in Chinese.

A. 末端        
B. 小费        
C. 处所      
D. 建议

2. How many reading tips does the writer give us?

A. Six.          
B. Five.        
C. Four.      
D. Three.

3. If you meet a few new words on a page while reading, you can _____  .

A. stop reading
B. guess the meanings at first
C. write them down at once
D. look them up right away

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

A. Reading a lot can help you write better.
B. It is useful for you to read for long once a week.
C. When you read, you can only learn some new words.
D. Try to read something hard to make your English better.

5. Which is the BEST title for the passage? 

A. How to look up a new word    
B. How to make reading better    
C. How to remember new words
D. How to choose something to rea

    When you are learning a language, listening, speaking and writing are important, but reading can
also be very helpful. When you read, you can not only learn some new words, but also learn how to
use them. When you read a passage, it gives you a good example for writing.
    Here are some good reading tips.
    Firstly, try to read at the right level (水平). Read something that you can understand. If it is too
hard for you, it is not interesting.
    Secondly, try to understand the new words. If there are four or five new words on a page, don't
use a dictionary. Instead, try to guess their meanings as you read. Mark (作标记) them with a pencil.
Then look them up in a dictionary when you finish reading, and write them in your own vocabulary
book. Try to remember them.
    Thirdly, try to read for a short time once a day. Fifteen minutes or half an hour every day is better
than two hours every Sunday. For example, you can read before you go to bed, or after you get up
or at lunchtime.
    Lastly, read something that interests you. Choose a newspaper, a book or a magazine about a
subject that you like. It will be easy enough for you to understand.

1. The underlined word "tips" in the passage means "   '' in Chinese.

A.  末端        
B.  小费        
C.  处所      
D.  建议

2. How many reading tips does the writer give us?

A. Six.          
B. Five.        
C. Four.      
D. Three.

3. If you meet a few new words on a page while reading, you can____. 

A. stop reading
B. guess the meanings at first
C. write them down at once
D. look them up right away

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

A. Reading a lot can help you write better.
B. It is useful for you to read for long once a week.
C. When you read, you can only learn some new words.
D. Try to read something hard to make your English better.

5. Which is the BEST title for the passage?

A. How to look up a new word    
B. How to make reading better    
C. How to remember new words
D. How to choose something to read

    You, of course, know that you will never add vcry rapidly to your vocabulary by merely coming  across
 words, or by reading or by  talking. You must have a plan.
    Here is one way to get ahead with words in everyday  life.  It's the simplest thing in the world.
    Buy a small pocket notebook. When you read a newspaper, a magazine, or a book, or listen to TV or
 radio, and come upon a strange word, enter it in your notebook. Then look it up in the dictionary. If you
find that it's a word too difficult to understand or a highly technical mterm, just pass it by.  But if it sounds
like a word that will be helpful to you. take possession of it, make it your own personal possession.  Say
it aloud many times. Study its exact meaning, and note its root. Be sure, also, to copy from the dictionary
the example sentence in which it is used, if such is given.  Then write your own sentence in line with the
example in the dictionary. 

1. This passage is mainly about_________.

A. adding vocabulary by keeping notes
B. a rapid way to add vocabulary
C. a simplest wav to add daily vocabulary
D. a plan to add technical vocabulary

2. According to the passage, when you come across a new word, _____________.         

A. you just forget it
B.you must look it up in the dictionary and possess it if it will be useful
C. just enter it in your notebook and remember it
D. first look it up, then only the one which is helpful needs to be possessed

3. In the passage the phrase "in line with" in the third paragraph means "_________".           

A. according to            
B. beside
C. under the line of          
D. between the line of

4. From this passage it can be inferred that the most effective way to add vocabulary is ___.       

A. to look up any word you meet
B. to list useful words in your notebook
C. to keep on practicing helpful words in your notebook every day
D. to write down example sentences from the dictionary