（二十一）

A pair of giant pandas will head to Copenhagen for collaborative (合作) research between China and Demark. Male (雄性) He Xing and female (雌性) Mao Er, will live in the Copenhagen Zoo for 15 years.

In order to welcome them, a new panda house of 2450 square metres, at an expected cost of around 150 million Danish kroner (22 million US dollars), will be built. Construction (建設(shè)) will start in November, 2017, and will take one year.

Since November 2015, the Copenhagen Zoo has sent veterinarians (獸醫(yī)), keepers and nutritionists (營養(yǎng)學(xué)家) to the panda base in Chengdu. To better take care of them, zoo workers of the project also learn Chinese.

He Xing, born in July 2013, weighs 118 kg and is active in character. The panda is son of father Yong Yong and mother of Cheng Gong.

Born in July 2014, Mao Er weighs 98 kg. She is gentle and quiet. Her mother is Fu Wa used to live in Malaysia, while her father Xiong Bang, a Japan-born panda that returned to China in 2004.

1.How many pandas will go to Copenhagen?

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2.How long will the pandas live in the Copenhagen Zoo?

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3.Can people see He Xing and Mao Er in the Copenhagen Zoo in 2017?

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4.What language do zoo keepers from Copenhagen learn to better take care of the pandas?

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5.What is Mao Er like?

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（二十二）

Dolphins (海豚) live in a dark underwater world. It's often impossible to see each other or anything else around them, so sound plays an important role in their survival. To communicate with each other, dolphins produce kinds of sounds. Only other dolphins understand what the sounds mean. Scientists haven't uncovered their secret communication, except for one kind of?whistle?(哨聲). It might last less than a second, but this whistle is a big deal. Why? Because these whistles are actually names of dolphins 一 and every dolphin has one. Scientists call these sounds a "signature?(標(biāo)志性的) whistle". When other dolphins hear the whistle, they know which dolphin is calling.

Dolphins often hunt by themselves but still need to stay connected to the group. Since they can't always see each other, dolphins use their signature whistles to check in with other dolphins hundreds of yards away. "In coastal areas, dolphins exchange (交換) whistles even when they're a third of a mile apart," says Greg Campbell, who studies animals. That means dolphins shout out to group members that might be nearly five football fields away.

What's amazing is who names the baby dolphin. Not the mother. Not an auntie dolphin or another group member. Scientists believe the baby dolphin itself comes up with the signature whistle. Like human babies, a baby dolphin plays with sounds throughout its first year. While testing its sound skills, a baby dolphin is doing something amazing. It's creating or figuring out its signature whistle. How or why it chooses its signature whistle is not clear. Studies show that most of the time the signature whistle is nothing like its mother's or group members' whistles.

When the baby dolphin is about one year old, its signature whistle is set. It repeats it often so the other dolphins learn to recognize it.

Deciphering?(破譯) dolphin names is just the beginning of figuring out what dolphins communicate about. Do they chat about sharks? Discuss the tides? Maybe they even have a name for people. Someday scientists hope to decipher the rest of dolphins' communication.

1.Why is it impossible for dolphins to see each other or anything else around them?

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2.Can the dolphin's signature whistle travel long distances?

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3.How does a baby dolphin get its name?

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4.When is a baby dolphin's signature whistle set?

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5.What's the purpose of the passage?

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（二十三）

Insects are very useful in medicine. Believe it or not, doctors use maggots (蛆)in hospitals. When a person gets a very bad injury, he must get the dead skin removed. Today, doctors are using maggots to eat the dead skin around the injury. Doctors have found that maggots eat only the dead skin, so they make the injury very clean. Many hospitals keep a supply (供給) of maggots for this purpose.

Another useful insect is the mosquito (蚊子). Often people need medicine, but they live very far away from a doctor. To solve this problem, doctors give the medicine to mosquitoes. The mosquitoes then fly far away, bite people, and give them the medicine.

In the world of medicine and science, fireflies are also useful. Fireflies have a special chemical inside them. It makes their bodies shine like fire at night. This chemical can be removed from a firefly's body and used for medical tests. Scientists who do genetic engineering (遺傳工程) also use this chemical in their experiments.

1.What's the use of maggots in hospitals?

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2.How can mosquitoes help to cure people?

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3.What insects have a special chemical inside them according to the passage?

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4.In which field do scientists use the chemical inside the fireflies?

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5.Can you think of another insect that is useful in medicine? ?

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（二十四）

Bill likes fish very much. He often buys fish in the shop and takes it home. But when his wife sees the fish, she says to herself (她自己), "Good! Now I can ask my friends to have lunch, we can eat the fish. They like fish very much."

So when Bill comes home in the evening, the fish is not there, and his wife always says, "Oh, your cat eats it." And she gives Bill some bread for supper. Bill gets very angry (生氣的). He takes his wife and the cat to the shop near his house and weighs (稱重) the cat. Then he turns to his wife and says, "My fish weighs one kilo. This cat weighs one kilo too. My cat is here, you see. Then where is my fish?"

1.Where does Bill often buy fish?

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2.Who gets very angry? Why?

3.How much does the cat weigh?

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4.Who ate the fish?

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5.When does Bill come home?

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（二十五）

The mouse Lily was fat and she was a couch potato. When the other mice were looking for food for the coming winter, she was always sleeping. "How silly they are! You look for food or not, it is always there!" She thought.

The really cold winter came. The mouse Lily was having a very bad time. When the other mice were staying at home, she had to go out to look for food. She looked here and there, but there was no food at all. She became weak and thin day by day. At last Lily found a big basket full of corn. There was a small hole in the basket, and she got into it slowly. She could just get through the hole. Then she began to eat the corn. She was very hungry, so she ate a lot of corn, and kept eating and eating. Weeks passed, she became very fat. She felt that she was very full. When Lily tried to climb out of the basket, she could not. She was too fat to get through it."How can I climb out?" Lily said loudly. Just then the mouse Time came along, and he heard the mouse Lily. "Lily," said the mouse, "Do you want to climb out of the basket? You must wait until you become thin again. You'd better become thinner and thinner than before."

1.What was Lily doing when the other mice were looking for the food for the coming winter?

2.What did she think of the mice that looked for food for the coming winter?

3.What was in the basket?

4.How did Lily get into the basket?

5.Why didn't Lily climb out of the basket?

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（二十六）

Lately I am wondering about the dangers dolphins are facing. I wonder how people are a danger to them. I know that there are some killings of dolphins in Japan. These are very?cruel?actions because they are just killing them so that dolphins can stop eating fish.

As I'm learning more about dolphins now, what I'm wondering about is: What other dangers do dolphins face? I look for the answers online and find this:

"Dolphins are in danger because they have no hair to protect themselves from the oil. The oil does harm to their eyes, their skin and other parts of their bodies," said Mandy Tumlin, a biologist at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife.

This can be very dangerous for dolphins. Many newborn dolphins will not be able to survive because of the oil.

Many other dolphins die because they get too close to the sea bank. Once two—dozen dolphins seemed to kill themselves by landing on the beach. Some people said they were misguided(誤導(dǎo)). I feel sad to see what happened to those dolphins. Dolphins are very lovely animals and we should try our best to protect them.

1.Why do people in Japan kill dolphins?

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2.What's the Chinese meaning of the underlined word "cruel"?

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3.Why is the number of the dolphins getting smaller and smaller?

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4.Why can't dolphins protect themselves from the oil?

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5.What's the title for the passage?

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（二十七）

The reality show (真人秀) is a kind of television program. Usually a reality show has any series (集). And it can be on TV for many years.

The reality show is quite different other kinds of TV shows. Because it shows the life of common people and no actors or actresses play in it. It often shows true stories that happen or in people's daily life. So many people like to watch reality shows.

The first reality show came out in the 1990s in American. At that time, the most famous and popular reality show was Survivor. It was popular not only in American. But also around the world.

Reality shows also show different kinds of competitions. For example, there's a Chinese reality show called The Voice of China. In this show, there are four famous Chinese singers. Their job is to find their favorite students and help them be the winner. The show is very successful. Many people like to watch it.

1.What is the reality show?

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2.Are there any actors acting in the reality show?

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3.When and Where did the first reality show happen?

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4.What program is The Voice of China?

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5.What do the four Chinese singers do in The Voice of China?

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（二十八）

Everyone is good at something, but some people are truly talented. It's always interesting to watch other people show their talents. Talent shows are getting more and more popular. First, there were shows like American Idol and America's Got Talent. Now, there are similar shows around the world, such as China's got Talent.

All these shows have one thing in common: they try to look for the best singers, the most talented dancers, the most exciting magicians, the funniest actors and so on. All kinds of people join these shows. But who can play the piano the best or sing the most beautifully? That's up to you to decide. When people watch the show, they usually play a role in deciding the winner. And the winner always gets a very good prize.

However, not everybody enjoys watching these shows. Some think that the lives of the performers are made up. For example, some people say they are poor farmers, but in fact they are just actors. However, if you don't take these shows too seriously, they are fun to watch. And one great thing about them is that they give people a way to make their dreams come true.

1.What do talent shows have in common?

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2.Who decides the winner?

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3.Why do some people not like these shows?

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4.Why do some people like these shows?

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5.What do you think of these shows?

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（二十九）

You may love to see tigers at the zoo. But what if you had to stay with one on a boat on the open sea for over 200 days? Life of Pi (《少年派的奇幻漂流》), the movie from American Chinese director (導(dǎo)演), Li An, tells an amazing story.

Pi is a boy. He lives happily with his family in a beautiful Indian town. His father has a zoo, so Pi knows a lot about animals.

But one day, his father decides to move to Canada. He will sell all his animals there. The family begin to sail on the Pacific with all the zoo animals. But a big storm (暴風(fēng)雨) hits their ship at night. Finally, Pi finds the only survivors (幸存者) are himself and a large tiger called Parker on an 8-meter boat.

To keep himself alive, Pi has to keep feeding the tiger so that he himself does not get eaten. He tries to get on well with the tiger during a 227-day sail on the sea.

The movie is from a Canadian writer Yong Martel's book of the same name. The book has sold 7 million copies worldwide. It discusses not only hope but also relationship (關(guān)系) between humans and nature.

It took Li An four years to make the movie. He also used 3 D for his first time. He hopes the movie will "make the people think". Life of Pi opened in Chinese theaters on November 22, 2012.

1.Where does Pi's father decide to move?

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2.What happens when they sail on the Pacific at night?

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3.Why does Pi have to keep feeding the tiger?

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4.What does the movie discuss?

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5.How long did it take Li An to make the movie?

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（二十九）

How to become a radio DJ

Do you have a great voice? Have you ever thought about becoming a radio DJ? Working as a DJ can be exciting but it also needs experience. If you want to be a DJ, the following are usual ways to start.

Intern(實習(xí)).?It's a bad job. Unluckily, most radio station workers start as an intern. This means working long hours without pay. It will help you do better at the radio station.

Events.?Because you can't get a DJ job with no experience, you might want to work as a DJ for events. Weddings, parties and special situations all need DJs to provide music and a laugh. This is a great way to learn to work with people and play music.

Fill in(臨時補缺).?If you work at a radio station, you can ask to be put on the "fill in" list for DJs. So if the main DJ gets sick, you can fill in for him or her to get some experience.

Late，late night.?Usually the first job for a DJ is late shift(晚班). In other words, you may be on air not only from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., but you will get more experience.

1.What do most radio station workers start as?

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2.Can we get a DJ job without any experience according to the passage?

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3.What's a great way to learn to work with people and play music?

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4.When can you fill in for the main DJ to get experience?

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1. Usually the first job for a DJ is early shift, isn't it?

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（三十）

1.Where are Aisha and Rick from?

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2.When does Aisha usually get up?

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3.How old is Rick?

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4.How many languages does Aisha speak?

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5.Why can't Rick play the piano all day?

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（三十一）

Do you know the TV play?Mother Tiger and Father Cat? It is an interesting play. The little girl Qianqian is only seven years old. She is in Grade One. Her mother wants her to study hard. She takes her daughter to all kinds of after-school classes, such as math, piano and swimming. She doesn't let Qianqian go to the zoo or the amusement park. In a word, she keeps her daughter studying all the time.

But Qianqian's father thinks happiness is more important than study. He usually plays with her. Sometimes, he even does homework for her.

Who do you like better, Mother Tiger or Father Cat? Who do you think is right? If you want to be happy and get good grades in your study, what will you do?

1.What is?Mother Tiger and Father Cat?

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2.What grade is Qianqian in?

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3.What does Qianqian's mother want her to do?

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4.In Qianqian's father's opinion, what is more important?

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5.Are your parents like Qianqian's mother or father?

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（三十二）

Paper cutting, a common folk art in China, has been loved by people since ancient times. It has been recorded in Historical Records (《史記》) by Sima Qian in the Han Dynasty. The early paper cuttings might be related to worshipping gods and sacrificing to the dead (祭祖祈神).

Paper cuttings gradually become a decoration (裝飾) for the festivals and ceremonies (典禮) nowadays. For example, on the first day of the new lunar (農(nóng)歷) year, all the families will hang Spring Festival couplets (春聯(lián)) and put up paper cuttings on windows and doors. In this way, the festive atmosphere (氣氛) is everywhere. On the Lantern (燈籠) Festival, the 15th day of the first lunar month, the lanterns will be pasted with paper cuttings. It seems to be more beautiful and attractive. On the wedding day, the doors and windows will be put up with a large red Chinese character of "喜(Xi)" to show people's happiness.

Paper cuttings are mostly created by women in the countryside. They could turn a piece of red paper into any pattern with the help of a knife or a pair of scissors. Chinese people believe that the red paper cuttings on the door can bring good luck and happiness to the whole family.

There are also many subjects about paper cuttings. Most of them are about farmers' life. These paper cuttings fully express the good wishes of Chinese people. But now few young people can do it.

1.Where has paper cutting been recorded?

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2.What will all the families do on the first day of the new lunar year?

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3.Who mostly created paper cuttings in the countryside?

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4.What do Chinese people think of red paper cuttings on the door?

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5.Can many young people do paper-cuts now?

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（三十三）

In America, where labour costs are so high, "do-it-yourself" is a new way of life. Many people repair their own cars, build their own garages (車庫) even rebuild their own houses. Soon many of them will also be writing their own books.

In Hollywood (好萊塢) there is a company that publishes (出版) children's books with the help of computers. Although other book companies also publish that way, this company is not like the others. This is a wonderful book that your child can make. In this book your child can write and draw all about his/her family, friends and favourite things. It allows the reader to become the leading character in the stories with the help of computers. Here is how they do it. Let us suppose the child is named Jenny. She lives in New York, and has a dog named Hody. The computer uses the information to make up a story with pictures. The story is then printed out. A child who receives such a book might say, "This book is about me." So the company calls itself the "Picture-Me-Books Publishing Company".

Children like the picture-me-books because they like to see in print their own names and the names of their friends and their pets. And in this way, readers are much more interested in reading the stories. Picture-me-books are helping a child to learn how to read.

1.Why is "do-it-yourself" a new way of life in America?

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2.What does the "Picture-Me-Books Publishing Company" allow the reader to do?

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3.Who was "Picture-Me-Books Publishing Company" named by?

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4.Why do children like the picture-me-books?

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5.What are picture-me-books useful for?

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（三十四）

Holidays in the United States usually take place at least once a month. Most months have a national holiday that has been arranged to be celebrated on a Monday. The holidays have all been decided to be celebrated on a Monday so that the workers may have 3-day weekends, that is, Saturday, Sunday and Monday in order to rest or travel or do things with their families. The most important holidays in the United States include New Year's Day, Christmas Day and the day, when we remember the first settlers (移居者) of the United States, called Thanksgiving Day. In these holidays most businesses close and the workers stay at home and celebrate with their families.

Vacation can be from 2 weeks to 4 weeks a year. This usually depends on how long you've been working for a company, what type of position (職位) you have, whether you have a very high and important position and whether you can find someone to replace (替代) you. In this case, you might take a few days at a time rather than take one month all at once. Usually the more time you spend working for a company, the more time you may get for a vacation.

1.How often do the Americans have holidays?

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2.Why do the Americans usually celebrate the holidays on a Monday?

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3.What is Thanksgiving Day celebrated for?

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4.The workers still work during the national holidays in the USA, don't they?

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5.How long do the Americans usually have holidays every year?

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（三十五）

Children all over the world like to celebrate their birthdays. American children are of no difference. They usually celebrate with a party. They invite their friends to their birthday parties. The party may not be held (舉行) on the right date of their birthday if it comes on a school day. It may be held on the weekend instead.

Today two kinds of parties are the most popular. One is held at home. Parents decorate the house with balloons and colored paper. They prepare a special birthday meal. The children play games. The other kind is held away from home. Some are at a special restaurant. The children eat pizza and ice cream. The waiters, who serve the food, also sing and tell jokes to the children. Other parties may be held at a park, or at a movie theatre, or in some other places.

Every birthday party has a cake with candles on it. There's one candle for each year of the birthday kid's age. When the candles are lit, everyone sings the birthday song: HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

As Americans grow older, their birthday parties change. In fact, many people stop having them. They say they would like to forget how old they are. Yet they do like to keep the happy birthday parties of their childhood in mind.

1.Do American children like to celebrate their birthday?

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2.If the date of their birthday is on a school day, when may it be held?

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3.Who will tell jokes to the children on their birthday at a special restaurant?

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4.What do people do when the birthday candles are lit?

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5.Why do many Americans stop having their birthday parties?

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（三十六）

Dear Helen,

Thanks for your last letter. Yes, I'm enjoying myself on my exchange program in France. It's even better than I thought it would be. I was a bit nervous before I arrived here, but there was no reason to be. My host family are really nice. They go out of their way to make me feel at home. And you wouldn't believe how quickly my French has improved! I'm very comfortable speaking French now, Although I still make lots of mistakes, it doesn't make me worried as it used to. My biggest challenge(挑戰(zhàn)) is learning how to behave at the dinner table. As you can imagine, things are really not the same as the way they are at home. For example, you shouldn't put your bread on your plate. You should put it on the table! I thought that was very strange at first, but now I'm used to it. You shouldn't eat anything with your hands except bread, not even fruit! (You have to cut it up and eat it with a fork.) Another thing is that it is very rude to say you're full. If you don't want any more food, you should just say, "It was delicious". Also, it's rude to put your hands in your lap. You should always keep your hands, but not your elbows(肘部), on the table. I have to say, I find it difficult to remember everything, but I'm gradually getting used to things and don't find them so strange any more.

I'll write soon and tell you more about life in France. Hope you're having a good school year.

Yours,

Li Ying

1.Where is Li Ying now?

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2.What does Li Ying think of her host family?

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3.How does Li Ying feel while she is speaking French now?

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4.When can Li Ying eat things with her hands there?

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5.Why do you want to go there if you have the chance to take part in an exchange program?

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（三十七）

Wang Lin, a Chinese student, and Mary, an American student studying Chinese in China, were in a supermarket. They saw a young man walking down the stairs. In his hurry, he missed the last two steps and fell onto the ground. He tried to stand up while people around him laughed. Luckily, he seemed to be OK.

Mary found Wang Lin smiling a little and was unhappy about it. "Tell me, Lin, how could people laugh when someone fell like that? Why didn't they go to ask him if he was hurt?"

Wang Lin said, "Because they knew he wasn't hurt too much."

"But I still don't understand. A fall is a fall. In my culture, people would never laugh!"

This is an example. The Chinese and the Westerner will think and act differently when seeing such a thing. Chinese people are used to laughing or smiling. Very often the person who is in an embarrassing(困窘的) situation will also laugh or smile to get out of it. However， if someone gets hurt seriously, it will not be a laughing matter any more. People will help him or her instead.

But in that case, a Westerner will rush over and help the person get up. If a Westerner falls, he or she, like a Chinese person, may try to make a joke if he or she is not hurt. If two close friends are walking together, and one falls but clearly isn't hurt, a common joke is to say "have a nice trip."

So different people have different habits and different countries have different cultures.

1.Will Wang Lin and Mary think and act in the same way if they see a young man falling down?

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2.Why didn't people go to ask the young man if he was hurt?

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3.What do Chinese people often do when they find themselves in an embarrassing situation?

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4.What is a Westerner likely to do when he or she sees someone falling down?

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5.What might Mary say to Wang Lin if she fell but clearly was not hurt?

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（三十八）

Giving gifts is a way of showing thanks or love, and it helps to build friendship. The rules of accepting gifts are different in China and in the West.

When Anna Scheen, from the Netherlands, gave a gift to her Chinese friends for the first time, she couldn't understand it. "They refused (拒絕) to accept it twice, and when they finally did, the didn't open it. They just took it and put it away. After that, I never heard about it again. They never said whether they liked it or not."

In the West, it is polite to open a gift in front of the giver and say thanks. When you get a gift, the giver hopes you are excited and really love it.

But, it is different in China. Usually, people open the gift later, after the giver has left. If they open a gift in front of the giver, the giver will think of them as impolite or greedy (貪婪的). For the same reason, the Chinese will often refuse a gift two or three times before accepting it. If you're the giver, offer again until it is accepted after the third time.

Today, more and more young people in China are turning to Western rules of accepting gifts. That's OK, but it would be better to use Chinese tradition when it comes to getting gifts from elders.

1.How did Anna Scheen feel when she first gave a gift to her Chinese friends?

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2.What's the rule of accepting gifts in the West?

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3.Why do the Chinese often refuse a gift two or three times?

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4.If you accept a gift from elders in China, what should you do?

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5.Do you often give gifts to friends? What gifts will you choose?

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（三十九）

Do you know something about the Akuapem people? They live in eastern Ghana(加納)，where the sunshine hugs all the time. They are very friendly. Now let’s have a look at how the Akuapem people receive a visitor.

A visitor is often welcomed warmly in a family of Akuapem. After the visitor is welcomed into the house, he is offered a seat and water at the very beginning, for the host(主人) thinks that the visitor must have come from a very long trip and is in need of water. Then the host family greet the visitor by saying "Akuapem". More interestingly, if there is a group of visitors, the host will greet the visitors from right to left. And the host shakes only with his right hand, because the left hand is regarded dirty according to the Akuapem people.

Next, the visitor is asked how his trip was and why he has come. While the conversation is going on, the wife and children, especially girls, are cooking food for the visitor. The visitor can choose the food. After the visitor has finished eating, the host and the visitor continue their conversation. Usually this is a short one since the visitor is getting ready to say goodbye.

When the visitor is leaving, he is often given some food to take along. He is also accompanied(陪伴) by one of the children to the nearest station. The child who accompanies the visitor will not come back home until the visitor leaves safely.

No matter whether he is a close friend or just a passer-by(過路人),this is always the way that the friendly Akuapem people receive a visitor.

1.What is the visitor offered at first by the family of Akuapem?

2.Why does the host shake only with his right hand?

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3.Who are cooking food while the host is chatting with the visitor?

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4.When will the child who accompanies the visitor to the station come back home?

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5.What does the article mainly talk about?

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（四十）

"Let's go to KFC for dinner and then watch some Japanese cartoons!" We all know it: more and more Chinese kids love American and Japanese food and films.

Some people become worried about that, but I don't think they should. Will we get more powerful without learning from other countries? Will Americans live a better life without coffee from Central America? Will Chinese people live more happily without American fast food? Because it's fun to learn about different cultures.

At the same time, we must not lose our identity (個性). In this world it is easy to become one big country with one big culture. Chinese has lots of cool things in its culture: calligraphy (書法), Beijing Opera, quick meals in the streets, and even Jay Chou!

Chinese kids can learn about other cultures and have fun, but they also need to learn more about their own culture. Be proud of Chinese culture and of being Chinese!

1.Why doesn't the author worry about that?

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2.Does the author think that Chinese people will be influenced by American things?

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3.What kind of things should we keep?

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4.What do Chinese kids need to learn more?

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5.What kind of Chinese culture do you like?

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