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(曬黑). 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.According to the writer, textbook English is ______ everyday English.

A．quite different from                     B．the same as

C．more difficult than                      D．easier than

2.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

3.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.

 

What to Bring When Visiting Lijiang of Yunnan
Welcome to Lijiang. Lijiang is a nice place to visit. If you visit Lijiang, you’d better do as the following.

Needs	Reasons
1. Hat and sunglasses	The Lijiang’s sun can be quite shiny even during winter, so remember to bring a hat and sunglasses.
2. Raincoat or umbrella	It’s hard for us to know Lijiang’s weather, so it is necessary to bring an umbrella or a raincoat to Lijiang, even if it is sunny.
3. Water	A day in Lijiang you may be very thirsty, so make sure that you bring a bottle of water with you.
4. Camera	There will be lots of chances to take photos on your visit to Lijiang, so make sure to bring your camera. Don’t forget to bring more batteries so that you won’t miss anything!
5. Watch	There are many sights and gift shops in Lijiang. Bring a watch, so you can arrange (安排) your time.

 
【小題1】According to the passage, what things do you not have to bring when you visit Lijiang?

A．A bottle of water.

B．A watch.

C．Batteries.

D．An mp4.

【小題2】What’s the weather like in Lijiang?

A．It’s warm.

B．It’s hot.

C．It changes a lot.

D．It’s rainy.

【小題3】Why do you need to bring a watch when you visit Lijiang?

A．Because you must go back home on time.

B．Because you can use your time better.

C．Because you will look cool with a watch.

D．Because you will feel free.

【小題4】Which statement is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

A．You don’t have to bring an umbrella or a raincoat to Lijiang when it is sunny.

B．You should bring more batteries so that you can take more interesting pictures.

C．You often wear sunglasses and a hat in Lijiang because the sun is too bright.

D．You should bring a bottle of water so that you won’t be thirsty.

【小題5】 What kind of passage is it?

A．A story.

B．An ad.

C．A diary.

D．A letter.

Henry was a carpenter（木匠）of our village. Once I asked him to make a dining table for my wife. He made it just the right size to fill the space between the two windows. When I arrived home that evening, Henry was drinking a cup of tea and writing out his bill for his work.. My wife said to me, quietly，“That’s his ninth cup of tea today.” But she said loudly, "It's a beautiful table，dear，isn't it?" "I won't decide about that until I see that bill.” I said.
Henry laughed and gave me his bill for the work. It said：
BILL
One dining table June 10，1995
Cost of wood 17.00
Paint（油漆） 1.50
Work，8 hours（1 an hour) 8.00
Total（總計） 36.50
When I was looking at the bill，Henry said，"It’s been a fine day，hasn’t it?” “ Quite sunny.” "Yes，”I said. "I’m glad it is only the 10th of June.” "Me too，” said Henry, "You wait--it'll be a bit hotter by the end of the month.” "Yes. Hotter--and more expensive. Dining tables will be 20 more expensive on June 30th，won't they，Henry?”
Henry looked hard at me for half a minute. There was a little smile in his two blue eyes. I gave his bill back to him. "If it isn't too much trouble，Henry，”I said，"Please add it up again. You can forget the date.”
I paid him 26. 50 and he was happy to get it.
【小題1】Why did Henry talk about weather when the writer was looking at the bill?

A．Because it was a fine day indeed,

B．Because he wanted the writer to look at the bill carefully.

C．Because he wanted to tell the writer what the weather was like.

D．Because he didn't want the writer to go through the bill carefully.

【小題2】Why did the writer say that dining tables would be 20 more expensive
by the end of June?                                      

A．Because he thought Henry would almost certainly add the date to the cost of the dining table.

B．Because it was difficult to make dining tables in hot weather.

C．Because paint would be more expensive.

D．Because the cost of wood would be more expensive.

【小題3】The writer thought Henry would ask for______if he made a dining table on the last day of June.

A．26.50

B．56. 50

C．46.50

D．20.00

0ur village carpenter(木匠)，John Hill, came one day and made a dining table for my wife.  He made it just the right size to fill the space between the two window.  When I got home that evening, John was drinking a cup of tea and writing out his bill( 賬單) for his job.
My wife said to me quietly, “That’s his ninth cup of tea today. ”But she said in a loud voice, “It’s a beautiful table, dear, isn’t it?” “I’ll decide about that when I see the bill,” I said.  John laughed and gave me his bill for the work.  I read:
One dining table                 10^th November, 2011
Cost of wood                    $ 17:00
Paint                           $1. 50
Work, 8 hours($1 an hour)          $8. 00
Total                           $36. 50
When I was looking at the bill, John said,” It’s been a fine day, hasn’t it? Quite sunny. ”
“Yes,” I said.  “I’m glad it’s only the 10^th of November. ”
“Me, too,” said John, “you wait—it will be a lot colder by the end of the month. ”
“Yes, colder—and more expensive! Dining table will be $20 more expensive on November 30^th, won’t they, John?”
John looked hard at me for half a minute.  Was there a little smile in his two blue eyes? I gave his bill back to him.
“If it’s not too much trouble, John,” I said,“Please add(加) it up again, You can forget the date-------”
I paid him $26. 50 and he was happy to get it.
【小題1】Why did John talk about the weather when the writer was looking at the bill?

A． Because he didn’t want the writer to check the bill carefully.

B． Because he wanted to show that he was really polite.

C．Because it’s a good way to communicate with each other.

D．Because he wanted to confirm what the weather was like.

【小題2】How much would John ask for if he made a dining table on the last day of December according to his bill?

A．$ 26. 50

B．$36. 50

C．$56. 50

D．$57. 50

【小題3】When John got the money, he was happy because__________________________.

A． he felt lucky to get the money for his work

B． he got paid a lot more than usual for his work

C． he got as much money as he had expected

D． he didn’t have to add up the costs any more

【小題4】Which word can best describe John?

A． Clever

B． Silly

C． Dishonest

D． Humorous(幽默的)

【小題5】What can we learn about John from the passage?

A． He made a mistake carelessly in the bill

B． He tried to get more money for his work.

C． He had written the bill before the writer got home

D． He had talked about the bill with the writer’s wife.