Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong
signal(信號). Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a
relationship.
     Different cultures emphasize (強調(diào)) the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser
degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even
with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in "small talk", usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many European countries -- like the UK or France - people find it easier to build up a
lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
     Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had
expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable
silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better, I
realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through
words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
     Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and
German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly.
We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
     People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite
against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment will offer a
wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.

1. In some countries, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to__________.

A. develop closer relations          
B. share the same culture
C. get to know each other          
D. keep each other company

2. The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that__________.

A. the English prefer to make long speeches    
B. too many words are of no use
C. people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature
D. even talk and silence can be culturally different

3. According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better?

A. By sharing different ways of life.  
B. By accepting different habits.
C. By recognizing different values.    
D. By speaking each other' s languages.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A. Multicultural Environment.        
B. Cross-Cultural Differences.
C. How to Understand Each Other.    
D. How to Build Up a Relationship.

5. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. I talked too much in the speech, which surprised the audience.
B. Within Northern Europe, there are no such things as cultural differences.
C. There is no way to overcome cultural differences.
D. Different cultures have difference in relationship building.

     In the last 500 years nothing about people-not their clothes, ideas, or languages has changed as much
as what they eat. Chocolate (巧克力) drink was first made from the seeds of the cacao (可可) tree by
South American Indians. The Spanish introduced it to the rest of the world during the 1500s. And
although it was very expensive, it quickly became popular, In London, shops where chocolate drinks
were served became important places. Some still exist today. The potato is also from the New World.
Around 1600, the Spanish brought it from Peru to Europe, where it soon was widely grown. Ireland
became so dependent (依賴的) on it that thousands of Irish people starved (挨餓) when the crop failed
during the years of 1845-1846, and thousands more were forced to go to live in America.
     There are many other foods that have traveled from South America to the Old World. But some
others went in the opposite direction. Brazil is now the world's largest grower of coffee, and coffee is an
important crop in other South American countries. But it is native to Ethiopia. It was first made into a
drink by Arabs during the 1400s. According to an Arabic story, coffee was discovered when a goat
keeper named Lakdi noticed that his goats were eating red fruits on a coffee tree. He tried one and
experienced the "wide-awake (徹底清醒的)" feeling that one third of the world's population now starts
the day with.

1. According to the passage, which of the following changed more than others?

A. Clothes.      
B. Ideas.
C. Languages.    
D. Foods.

2. Chocolate drink was first invented in        while coffee was first invented in _______.

A. Spain; Brazil
B. South America; the Old World
C. Spain; Ethiopia
D. London; Rent

3. In 1845, thousands of Irish people were forced to live in America mainly because        .

A. Ireland became dependent on the potato
B. the potato was brought to Europe from Peru
C. they could easily get potato in America
D. the production of potatoes reduced(減少)

4. According to the passage, who first made chocolate drink from the seeds of the cacao tree?

A. People in Peru
B. People in Brazil.
C. South American Indians.
D. People in Ethiopia.

5. From the passage we can conclude (得出結(jié)論) that millions of people drink coffee        .

A. in the morning
B. at noon
C. in the afternoon
D. in the evening

     The influence of America is increasing in my country. Spanish people drink Coca Cola,
wear blue jeans, watch Hollywood movies, listen to American music, and eat fast food, and
they do these things every day.
    I think that American movies are a good way to spread American culture because people
are often influenced by what they see in the movies. Most of the programs and documentaries
(紀錄片) we watch on TV are from America, and most of the movies we go to see are made
in Hollywood.
    In the last few years, the government has tried to protect the Spanish movies. Now, in our
cinemas, at least twenty percent of the movies which are shown must be from Spain or from
other countries in Europe.
    American culture is a part of Spanish life now. It's certain that many things from America
are as much a part of people's lives as Spanish things. For example, Coca Cola is as familiar
to everybody as any typical Spanish product. I've known about Coca Cola for my whole life.
    However, it's different with Western fast food. For example, I don't think McDonald's is as
successful in Spain as it is in other countries. In my opinion, one of the reasons may be the
lifestyle of the Spanish people. The Spanish people normally eat at home.
    On the other hand, maybe McDonald's hamburgers will eventually replace the famous
Spanish tapas. It's true that in every city in Spain you can find a McDonald's, and it is more
popular among the Spanish children than among the adults. In any case, it's obvious that
American culture is becoming more and more a part of our lives every day.

1. From the first paragraph we can know that ____.

A. the influence of America on Spain can be found everywhere
B. most Spanish people don't like to listen to their own music
C. fast food spreads from Spain to the United States
D. some Spanish actors go to America to improve their acting skills

2. Why did the government set some rules for the films shown in Spain?______

A. To protect foreign culture in Spain.
B. To earn more money from Spanish films.
C. To limit the number of foreign movies.
D. To unite the European Community.

3. Why does the author think that McDonald's is not as successful as it is in other countries? ______

A. Its fast food contains too much fat.
B. He thinks it is unhealthy.
C. Spanish people seldom eat out.
D. Spanish adults don't like its fast food.

     You may know your mother, but how well do you really know Mother's Day? Cards, flowers, sales,
TV specials, and a day off for someone who really deserves it -those are what probably come to mind
for many people when they think of Mother's Day. But there's more to the story.
    The earliest Mother's Day celebrations were held during spring in ancient Greece. The celebrations
honored Rhea, the Mother of the gods. During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called Mothering
Sunday. On this day even servants were given the day off to spend with their families. A mothering cake
was even served with the family meal.
     In the US, Mother's Day began in 1872 when Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the words to the famous
song The Battle Hymn of the Republic, suggested it as a day devoted to peace. But it didn't really become popular until 1907 when Anna Jarvis stared a campaign to honor mothers. She believed that mothers
could help people get over the pain they experienced during the Civil
     War. The US isn't alone in devoting a day to mothers. Many other countries including Denmark,
Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Japan, and Belgium also honor their mothers in May. Other countries
honor their mothers at different times of the year.
     Learning more about Mother's Day and celebrating Mother's Day are important, but probably not as
important as understanding what your own mother, or grandmother, or aunt has really done for you. And
that will certainly be appreciated more than one day in a year.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A. The reason why people celebrate Mother's Day.
B. The ways people honor mothers.
C. The history of Mother's Day.   
D. The great contribution of mothers.

2.  Where was the earliest Mother's Day celebrated?

A. In ancient Greece.
B. In the US.
C. In England.
D. In Italy.

3. We can learn from the passage that _____.

A. Rhea is the mother of a king in ancient Greece
B. not all the countries celebrate Mother's Day in May
C. only mothers were given a day off on Mothering Sunday
D. it was in 1872 that Mother's Day really came into being

4. The last paragraph tells us that _____.

A. all the people should celebrate Mother's Day
B. only mothers are honored on Mother's Day
C. understanding mothers' work is more important than just celebrating Mother's Day
D. people should celebrate Mother's Day every day

     Have you ever been to the beautiful country of Holland and its capital Amsterdam? Anyone
who has traveled to Amsterdam would probably agree on one thing: Amsterdam's story is a tale
of two cities-one during the day and a completely different one at night.
     During the day, the largest city in the Netherlands sits quietly on the Amstel River.You can
rent a bicycle, visit the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum, or take a water taxi.But when the sun
goes down, the partying begins.In the big clubs and in coffee shops, tourists gather to hang out,
talk politics and smoke.
Several areas of the city clearly show the two worlds that rule Amsterdam.And they're all within
a short cab ride of each other.For example, Dam Square attracts daytime sightseers to its festivals,
open markets, concerts and other events.Several beautiful and very popular hotels can be found
there.And there's the Royal Palace and the Magna Plaza shopping mall.
     But at night party-seekers come to the square.Hip hop or funk music is heard there.So if you
come, be ready to dance.The clubs don't shut down until 4 am.
     And while you're there, check out the various inexpensive ways to tour the city.Don't worry
about getting lost.Although Dutch is the official language, most people in Amsterdam speak English
and are happy to help you with directions.And you'll notice that half the people in the streets are
on bicycles they rent.
     Amsterdam also has a well-planned canal system.For about 10 dollars, you can use the canal
bus or a water taxi to cruise(巡游) the "Venice of the North".
     The city has a historic past.One impressive place to visit is the Anne Frank House on Nine
Streets.It was there that the young Jewish girl wrote her famous diary during World War II.Visitors
can view Anne's original diary and climb behind the bookcase to the room where she and her family
hid from the Nazis for two years.

1. What means of transport is not available to visitors in Amsterdam?

A. A carriage.  
B. A bicycle.  
C. A canal bus.
D. A water taxi.

2. When getting lost, a visitor can ask natives for directions in  ___________     .

A. only Dutch    
B. Dutch or English
C. only English     
D. Spanish and English

3. What can you learn about by visiting the Anne Frank House?

A. The experience of a beautiful girl survivor.
B. The glorious past of Amsterdam.
C. The life of Jewish during World War ?.
D. The suffering of the Dutch in wars.

4. The passage is intended to  ____________         .

A. call up people's memories of World War ?
B. tell readers what A Tale of Two Cities is about
C. instruct visitors what to do and see in Holland
D. offer readers some information about Amsterdam

     I hated dinner parties. But I decided to give them another shot because I'm in London. And my friend Mallery invited me. And because dinner parties in London are very different from those in New York,
     "I'm having a dinner party" means: "I'm booking a table for 12 at a restaurant and we'll be sharing the
cheque evenly (平均地), no matter what you eat." In Manhattan there is always someone who leaves
before the bill arrives. They'll throw down cash, half of what they owe, and then people like me, who
don't drink, end up paying even more. But if you try to use the same trick, the hostess will shout: "Where
are you going ?" And I cannot say I have somewhere to go because everyone knows I have nowhere to
go.
     But in London, dinner parties are in people's homes. Not only that, the guests are an interesting mix.
The last time I went to one, the guests were from France, India, Denmark and Nigeria; it was like a
gathering at the United Nations. In New York, the mix is less striking. It's like a gathering at
Bloomingdatle's, a well-known department store.
     For New Yorkers, talking about other parts of the world means Brooklyn and Queens in New York.
But at Mallery's, when I said that I had been to Myanmar recently, people knew where it was, while In
New York people would think it was a usual club.

1. What does the word "shot" in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A. Choice      
B. Try      
C. Style      
D. Goal

2. What does the writer dislike most about dinner parties in New York?

A. There is a strange mix of people.            
B. The restaurants are expensive.
C. The bill is not fairly shared.                
D. People have to pay cash.

3. What does the author think of the parties in London?

A. A bit unusual                            
B. Full of tricks  
C. Less costly                              
D. More interesting

4. What is the author's opinion of some New Yorkers from her experience?

A. Easy-going.    
B. Self-centered.    
C. Generous.    
D. Conservative.

以下是幾個國際節(jié)日的簡要介紹:
A.  Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts  West Yorkshire, the United Kingdom
I'm daydaytest Placeholder!
Young people are invited to compete in this art festival with classes covering speech, guitar,
dance, poetry and short story writing, and so on. The previous year's winners are invited
back to perform again at a special concert. With a long and well-known history behind it,
this well-attended competition is a kind of forerunner of popular television talent contests
such as Pop Idol.
B. Sydney Writers' Festival   Sydney, Australia
Held at Sydney's Wharf 4/5, the annual Sydney Writers' Festival is the biggest literary event
of its kind in Australia and one of the biggest book fairs in the world. Attracting a mix of authors,
poets, editors, publishers and book lovers, this is a great event at which people can look through
thousands of titles while enjoying workshops, book reading and seminars.
C. Flipside Festival   Singapore
As part of the Singapore Arts Festival Outreach Programme, Flipside aims to reach a much
wider audience with three weeks of lively, fun street performances. Flipside promises to bring
out the adventurous side of you with a combination of physical theatre and mind games as well
as free outdoor performances such as music performances from local singers.
D. Hay Festival   Hay on Wye, the United Kingdom
The little market town, Hay, has a population of 1500 and no fewer than 39 bookshops. It bills
itself as the world's first and most distinguished book town, and is, therefore, a perfect place for
a literary festival. The festival is a celebration of great writing. There are events including film
screenings and musical concerts and the bookshops remain open throughout.
E. Bergen International Festival    Bergen, Norway
Founded in 1953, the Bergen International Festival presents an impressive cast of outstanding
international artists in the fields of music, ballet, opera and other performing arts. More than 120
events take place in late May to early June, which is a time of beautiful spring weather. The main
festival venue is the Grieg Hall while the smallest and most unusual is an old trolley bus with
seating for just 33 people.
F. Nuits Sonores   Lyon, France
Held each May, this relatively new festival brings together some of the biggest club DJs from
around the world. The focus is on electronic dance music, but it also embraces all musica
l forms ranging from hip hop to jazz. For those that want to see daylight hours after a hard
night clubbing, there is a wide variety of cultural events during the day ranging from special
festival food programmes to films.

下面是幾個人物的簡要介紹,請匹配他們感興趣的節(jié)日.
1. Martin, a famous writer, likes to find as many chances as possible to attend literary events
around the world. Martin hopes to make friends with editors and book lovers.
2. Kelly is crazy about music, especially electronic dance music. She would like to go to a
festival where she can enjoy different musical forms. She also has a strong interest in films.
3. As an outgoing girl, Victoria is very fond of performing arts. She hopes to take part in some
performing art festivals to challenge and improve herself, and as a way to prepare for future
television talent contests.
4. Simon is in search of a festival in North Europe with a long history where he can appreciate
great international performing arts, especially ballet and opera.
5. Chris is a university student who majors in music. He'd like to watch some local street music
performances. He is also very interested in physical theatre and mind games.

     The Thanksgiving Coat, written by Elizabeth Hoadley and illustrated (插圖) by her talented 5-year daughter, Kailee, is a fine example of what level that teaching and learning can rise to.
     This inspiring and motivational children's book is based on a true story that began with Kailee's visit
with her mother to a food bank to provide much needed food for poor families. After a call from Kailee's
school asking her to spearhead donations to a local food bank, Elizabeth Hoadley took her daughter to the grocery store to select the food that they would give.
     Kailee was full of questions for her mother -Who would get the food? Were there children involved?
Did the children have toys to play with, a bed to sleep on and a coat to keep them warm? The
Thanksgiving Coat is a direct result of Kailee's probing questions and her concern about the children who might be hungry and cold.
     The Thanksgiving Coat speaks to the values and beliefs that we should all develop and pass on to our children. But, Hoadley is very specific about how to sensitize our children to the issues of homelessness
and hunger without scaring them.
     Because of the urgent call for help from the food bank, Hoadley was able to join with Kailee in creating a way to reach out to others who didn't have as much as they did and needed help. Children will learn the
lesson of giving and gratitude when they read The Thanksgiving Coat, and it may inspire them to create
their own methods of giving.
     Kailee is no stranger to illustrating and publishing books. Beginning at the age of 2 years, the creative and giving little girl has illustrated several books, including Balloon Wishes, which inspires hope and healing
following the passing of a loved one.

1. What do we know about Kailee from the passage?

A. She is the author of The Thanksgiving Coat.
B. She illustrated The Thanksgiving Coat with her mother.
C. She is a very talented young writer.
D. She is very creative and talented.

2. What can children learn from The Thanksgiving Coat?

A. The power of healing.
B. Gratitude and willingness to give.
C. An active attitude towards life.
D. Ways of illustrating a book.

3. Elizabeth Hoadley took her daughter to the grocery store to       .

A. buy some food for their family
B. buy some food for her daughter
C. buy some food for the poor families
D. set up a local food bank

4. Elizabeth Hoadley's purpose of writing The Thanksgiving Coat is to       .

A. show off her daughter's talents
B. pass on the values and beliefs to children
C. call on people to help the poor
D. sensitize people to the issues of homelessness and hunger

5. The purpose of the passage is to       .