Many people believe that you lose the ability to learn new languages as you get older. Language experts, however, will tell you that you’re never too old to learn a new language. As you get older, it can be more difficult to learn a new language, though.

Children and adults learn new languages in different ways. For children, language is their life. They study for thousands of hours every year, because they need to learn languages to become part of their communities. Adults, on the other hand, are already part of a language community. Learning a new language means becoming part of another language community, and adults rarely get the chance to practice as much as young children do.

Moreover, children learning a new language are expected to make mistakes. This gives them freedom when learning to be daring and confident. Adults, however, often feel pressured to be perfect when learning a new language. This can discourage many people and make it even harder to learn a new language.

When young children learn a new language, they come to see various languages as a “normal” part of society. This mindset （思維模式） helps them embrace learning a new language without feeling like they’re doing something unusual or “too hard”.

So if you want to learn a new language, go for it! It’s never too late to learn a new language. If you’re older, it may take more work, but it can be done. If you’re a young child, though, now is the time to step out and learn a new language!

1.By “Language is their life”, the author means that children ________.

A. can’t live without language

B. lead a happy life every day

C. practice a new language a lot

D. are taken good care of adults

2.What may make it hard for the old people to learn to a new language?

A. They are afraid of being laughed at.

B. They usually have too many interests.

C. They think making mistakes is natural.

D. They always make all kinds of mistakes.

3.Which of the following shows the difference between children and adults in learning a new language?

A. The behaviors they have.

B. The learning attitudes.

C. The future plans they have made.

D. The materials they are using.

4.According to the author, a new language ________.

A. can never be learned by the old people

B. can be grasped by the old people easily

C. can be understood only by the old people

D. can be learned by both the old and the young

Traveling by bicycle is a very popular means of transportation throughout China. China has a huge population, and it is said that there is at least one bicycle for every two people within the country. Of course, many people in China ride bicycles purely for sport or exercise, but it’s also a much more commonly accepted means of everyday transportation, as compared to countries such as the United States.

If you are living for a long period of time in China, chances are you will want to purchase your own bicycle so that you can use it whenever you want for transportation or just for the enjoyment of riding. Even if you don’t use a bicycle for everyday transportation, owning one can be a great way of enjoying some of the trails in the rural areas, just for fun. However, if you are just visiting China, renting a bicycle can be a more convenient choice.

It is important to choose the correct bicycle for your use. You’ll find that in China, the one-speed style of bicycle is extremely popular. These bicycles are great if you want to ride around in the city to see the sights. They are quite comfortable and easy to ride. You can often rent a bicycle for an entire day for around $15.

However, if you wish to ride on some of the rural paths, a mountain bike style would be a better choice. They are great for different kinds of road surfaces, providing for a safer ride. If you are planning to have a desire to tour and still be able to carry packages with you, then a touring bike would be the best choice. These are generally the most expensive to rent, but are extremely handy for carrying packages and even some of your luggage along with you.

1.The first paragraph probably tells us that ________.

A. riding bicycle is very popular to Chinese people

B. Chinese people use bicycles only for transportation

C. Americans use bicycles only for sport and exercise

D. Riding bicycles is the main means of transportation

2.If you are traveling in Beijing you’d better ________.

A. buy a bikeB. borrow a bikeC. steal a bikeD. rent a bike

3.Which of the following is the advantage of the one-speed bicycle?

A. It’s worth at least 15 dollars.

B. You can’t ride it in the countryside.

C. It is easy for you to travel in the city.

D. You have to return it the next day.

4.You would like to own a touring bike probably because ________.

A. you have to ride on the road in the countryside

B. you have some packages to carry while traveling

C. you want to enjoy the sights in the big cities

D. it is suitable for all kinds of road surfaces

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的選項中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項。

The benefits of keeping a journal(日志)

If you want to grow, one important thing you should do is keep a journal. It may seem simple, but it can make a big difference in your life. I have been keeping journals for years. Writing all the lessons I learn and all the ideas I get has become a habit for me. 1. Here are some benefits you will get by keeping a journal.

? It prevents you from losing an idea. Have you ever gotten an idea and lost it later because you didn’t write it down? 2. But then I developed the habit of writing down every idea that came into my mind as soon as possible. If I am away from my computer, I usually write it down on a piece of paper that I bring wherever I go. I will then transfer the idea to the journal in my computer.

? It helps you review all the lessons you’ve learned. By reviewing your journal, you can quickly see the lessons you’ve learned and the ideas you’ve gotten. 3. You can use the ideas to propel yourself forward.

? 4. After keeping a journal for years, you can look back at it and see how far you’ve gone. Things that were big problems in the past might seem small today. The raw ideas you had in the past have been realized today.

? It helps you expand your ideas. When you try to come up with a sentence to express an idea, you are thinking actively about it. 5. In the end, you will expand your ideas.

A.I often experienced that myself.

B.It trains you to express your thoughts.

C.It allows you to see your progress over time.

D.Just use whatever tool you feel comfortable with.

E.Thinking actively helps you connect your idea to another idea.

F.And to be honest, I can’t imagine what my life would be like without it.

G.Then you can do whatever necessary to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

A few years after Mom died, Dad handed me a plastic bag. That evening, I ________ the bag to find dozens of shells, each one ________ in white tissue paper（紙巾）and having Mom’s handwriting.

The shells were pretty ________, but to Mom, they were evidence of her endlessly magical life and ________ me of the seashore trip with her. She was 61 when she ________ these shells, and already showing ________ of the lung disease. We knew something was ________ and Mom needed an adventure. She suggested a dinner and a movie. But two friends and I had bigger ________.

Mom had been to the ocean only twice, but she ________ the seashore. Her kitchen was decorated（裝飾） with souvenirs from those two trips. I told Mom that we would ________ for Jersey Shore. Mom was so ________ that she screamed and Amber, her dog was ________ to jump onto the floor.

One of my favorite ________ on the road was a discussion about movies. Mom often got the titles wrong. “Ohhhh,” she said, “what was that movie about a teacher at the boys’ school?” Before anyone could ________, she shouted, “The Dead Man’s Poet!” I looked back and saw a back seat full of ________. “Mom,” I said. “You mean Dead poets Society?” “That’s it!” Mom yelled. ________ filled the car.

Once we got to Stone Harbor, she began to ________ the trip, greeting strangers and spending hours gathering shells. The morning we left, I found her photographing every inch of her bedroom. “I don’t ever want to ________ this,” she said.

For a long time, Mom’s shells stayed ________ in a drawer. Last month, I ________ them again while searching for something else. I put them in a visible place as a reminder from a mother who never lost her sense of wonder.

1.A. receivedB. openedC. checkedD. packed

2.A. foldedB. includedC. trappedD. covered

3.A. hardB. commonC. heavyD. big

4.A. remindedB. requiredC. informedD. warned

5.A. movedB. boughtC. collectedD. found

6.A. causesB. riskC. signsD. record

7.A. wrongB. missingC. strangeD. boring

8.A. tasksB. changesC. dreamsD. plans

9.A. understoodB. trustedC. lovedD. respected

10.A. waitB. headC. lookD. pay

11.A. encouragedB. relaxedC. determinedD. excited

12.A. frightenedB. embarrassedC. disappointedD. pleased

13.A. debatesB. thoughtsC. memoriesD. questions

14.A. concentrateB. continueC. adviseD. answer

15.A. confusionB. worryC. sadnessD. peace

16.A. PrideB. LaughterC. ShoutsD. Challenges

17.A. enjoyB. organizeC. supportD. take

18.A. decideB. forgetC. believeD. keep

19.A. lostB. unexpectedC. unknownD. buried

20.A. hidB. washedC. discoveredD. prepared

Writing text messages while walking is dangerous. A study says it is more dangerous than texting while driving. Researchers found that there are more 1. (injury) to texting pedestrians(行人) than there are to texting motorists. Their report says walking is not as easy 2. we think. We must focus on many things at the same time to walk safely in a straight line. The researchers said that people forget how to walk 3.(proper), so dangerous things happen to them. They bump(撞) into walls and other people. They walk into cars, fall over things in the street, 4. even fall into holes.

A professor said walking is a difficult action. There are several reasons 5. texting makes walking dangerous. 6. is that people cannot see the street. Another is that they focus on their phone keyboard instead of their feet. A final reason is that their minds are somewhere else—they are not thinking about 7. (walk) from A to B safely. The professor said over 6,000 people 8. (visit) his hospital last year because of texting. He said 9. worst cases are head injuries. When a pedestrian is tossed into the air he/she has nothing 10. (protect) the head. The damage can be serious.

假定英語課上老師要求同桌交換修改作文， 請你修改你同桌寫的以下作文。文中共有十處語言錯誤， 每句中最多有兩處。錯誤涉及一個單詞的增加， 刪除， 或修改。

增加：在缺詞處加一個漏字符號(∧)，并在下面寫出該加的詞。

刪除：把多余的詞用斜線( \ )劃掉。

修改：在錯的詞下劃一橫線，在該詞下面寫出改正后的詞。

注意： 每處錯誤及修改均僅限一次;只允許修改10處， 多者從第11處起不計分。

Dear Alice,

I was delighted to receive your letter. Thank you on the English dictionary you bought it for me. I received it this morning. There is no doubt which it is of great help to me. I’m deep grateful for your advice that I should pay more attentions to practicing my spoken English. I’ve made up my mind to speak English both in and out of class. Next month I’ll take trip to Australia, which is organizing by my school. I hope I can practiced my spoken English there as much as possible. By the way, I am sending you a set of stamps with this letter, but I’ll send you more if I got any. I do hope you will have a good holiday.

Yours,

Jack

假定你校開展了“根除陋習，創(chuàng)建文明校園”的活動。請你以此為主題用英語寫一篇發(fā)言稿，向全校學生倡議：

1.根除：亂扔垃圾、浪費食物、吸煙……

2.提倡：講禮貌、互助……

注意：

1.詞數(shù)100左右；

2.可以適當增加細節(jié)，以使行文連貫；

3.開關和結(jié)尾已為你寫好，不入總詞數(shù)。

Dear friends,

As is known to all, our school has launched a campaign against bad habits in order to build a civilized school. ____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Last spring, I was fortunate to be chosen to join in an exchange study program. The moment I arrived in Paris, I was greeted by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. The bit of French I had taken in high school began coming out of my mouth; speaking the language would only become more natural over the course of the term. At the airport, we all got into the couple’s car and began the journey to their townhouse. We talked the whole way, getting to know one another.

Every day afterwards, I would eat breakfast with the two of them, and then we’d all go our separate ways for the day. In the evening, my host mother would make delicious dinners for the three of us. My experience was exciting until I received some shocking news from my program coordinator（協(xié)調(diào)人）: There had been a death in my host parents' family and they would have to go away for several weeks to deal with all the business that arises from the death. That afternoon, I had to move out of one family's house and into another.

The coordinator told me I'd have a roommate and asked whether I would mind sharing a bedroom with an English speaker. To avoid speaking my native language, I asked not to be placed with an English-speaking roommate. When I got to my new room, I introduced myself to my new roommate Paolo, a Brazilian（巴西人）, the same age as I, whom I was surprised to find playing one of my favorite CDs on his computer! In just a few hours, we knew we'd be good friends for the rest of the term.

I left France with many stories, so when people ask me what my favorite part of the trip was, they always hear about my Brazilian friend Paolo and the weekdays in class, weeknights on the town, and weekends exploring France we enjoyed together. I would recommend an exchange program to anyone who wants to experience foreign cultures and gain meaningful friendships.

1.What do we learn about the author?

A. He was good at French before arriving in Paris.

B. He studied in France for a term.

C. He got to his host family by taxi.

D. He worked very hard in France on weekends.

2.Why did the author move into another host family?

A. He wanted to make friends with different people.

B. The first family’s host mother was seriously ill.

C. The first family had to leave for some time.

D. He hoped to live with an English speaker.

3.What helped start the author’s friendship with Paolo?

A. Lessons B. Stories C. Music D. English

4.Why did the author write the text?

A. To show the importance of learning foreign cultures.

B. To discuss how to build meaningful friendships.

C. To explain how exchange study programs work.

D. To describe his experiences in an exchange program.

Bell Teacher Campus 2016: Cultural Talks

Our talks start at 16:00 on the first week in August, and each one lasts about one hour. Each talk will be offered only once during your 4-day stay. Please sign up on the main Bell Noticeboard (Second floor, Mary Allan Building).

August 1st

BRITISH MUSIC, by Pete Sharma in Room 106. British music is famous worldwide. In this talk, I’ll discuss what’s popular and what’s not right now and the top music festivals in the UK. We will listen to some of the artists and share some thoughts about singing and dancing.

August 2nd

LOVE ME, LOVE MY CAT, by Lis Harrison in Room 207. We will be looking at this national interest through idioms(習語), songs, and everyday British life, and along the way covering some vocabulary for “talking cat”. At the end, we’ll be discussing that old topic: do we Brits treat out pets better than we treat our kids?

August 3rd

A GAME AS ENGLISH AS CROQUET(槌球游戲)，by Anna Young in Room 218. First, we will look at the origins of croquet, a much loved garden game in England. We will look at simple croquet rules, and then practice time! We’ll go out and play!

August 4th

WHY ENGLISH PEOPLE LAUGH, by Jim Scrivener in Room 117. Let me try to show you a little bit of what British people find funny. You will discover some of the most popular radio& TV comedy game shows. You probably won’t find it funny at all! But you will learn a bit more about us Brits!

1. If you are interested in the best music festivals in the UK, you may find the talk on _____ valuable.

A. August 1st B. August 2nd

C. August 3rd D. August 4th

2.Who will give the talk on a popular game in England?

A. Pete Sharma B. Lis Harrison

C. Anna Young D. Jim Scrivener

3.The text is most probably written for those who ______.

A. plan to do business in Britain

B. take short-term training courses

C. are interested in new technologies

D. want to learn about the history of Britain

You know that balloons must be kept away from sharp objects. They also needed to be kept away from flames. A fire can weaken the rubber and cause it to break. However, in this experiment you will find out how you can hold a balloon directly in a flame without breaking the balloon.

Materials needed:

● two round balloons not inflated(充氣的)

● several matches

● water

Inflate one of the balloons and tie it. Place 1/4 cup of water in the other balloon, and then inflate it

and tie it. Light a match and hold it under the first balloon. Allow the flame to touch the balloon. What happens? The balloon breaks, perhaps even before the flame touches it. Light another match. Hold it directly under the water in the second balloon. Allow the flame to touch the balloon. What happens to this balloon? It doesn’t break.

Why does the balloon with no water break in the flame? The flame heats the rubber of both balloons. The rubber of the balloon without water becomes so hot that it becomes too weak to resist the pressure of the air inside the balloon. However, when the balloon with water in it is placed in the flame, the water takes in most of the heat from the flame. Then, the rubber of the balloon doesn’t become very hot, it doesn’t weaken, and the balloon doesn’t break.

Water is a particularly good absorber(吸收者) of heat. It takes a lot of heat to change the temperature of water. On the other hand, when water cools, it gives off a great deal of heat. That’s why areas near oceans or other large bodies of water don’t get as cold in winter as areas at the same latitude(緯度) further inland.

1. From the passage we can know the following aspects of the experiment except______.

A. method B. material

C. result D. time

2.What does the underlined word “resist” in Para 4 probably mean?

A. add B. expand

C. bear D. form

3. When the flame reaches the balloon with water inside, ______

A. the rubber of it doesn’t become hot at all

B. the water in it begins to boil

C. the balloon breaks

D. the heat is mostly taken in by the water

4. The purpose of the experiment described in the passage is to prove that______.

A. water is a particularly good absorber of heat

B. some balloons can be easily broken, while others can’t.

C. balloons without water are not as strong as those with water inside.

D. the temperature is not up to the latitude.