In Germany there are different kinds of high schools.Some prepare students for workers, others prepare them for college. All schools are great places for making friends and learning German.
Short days
Most high schools in Germany begin at about 8:00 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. This means your morning will be busy with classes. You will have time to do homework and take part in private(私人的) clubs after school.
Formal setting
In Germany, teachers and students’ relationship is more formal than you might be used to. Teachers are respected and students must use the formal “Sie(德語：您)” when talking to teachers.
Getting to school
Most students take public transport to school or ride a bicycle. Some ares have school buses. It is not common for parents to drive students to school.
Private clubs
In many countries, schools offer official sports and after-school activities. This is less common in Germany. After-school activities are usually organized through private clubs. There are clubs for things like soccer, dance, chair, theatre and almost everything else. Once you are in Germany, ask around at school and talk to other students to find out what private clubs are in your area and meet your interests.
Different states, different schools
Each of Germany’s 16 states has its own slightly different school systems. The school system in Brandenburg will be a little different from the system in Bavaria for example. Where you live, your knowledge level and your age will decide what school you can attend.
【小題1】For high school students in Germany, Which is not the common transport to school?

Besides studying and tests, teens need to learn some life skills for the future. These skills can help them live by themselves. The following are some necessary skills.
★ Managing money
You often get a little money from your parents, and you may spend it as you like. You can make a list of the things that you want to buy, and plan how to spend the money. Don't waste.
★ Washing and cleaning
Doing laundry correctly is important. You should first read the instructions on clothing, and then check the pockets of the clothes. Pay more attention to different colors of them.
As for cleaning, you should learn how to use brooms, mops (抹布) and so on. If you often do more cleaning, the people who live with you will thank you for the efforts you make.
★ Cooking your favorite meals
You should learn how to cook a few of your favorite meals. First ask your parents for help to decide on the menu and ingredients, and then you can go shopping, cook the meals and clean up the kitchen together.
根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，判斷句子正（T）、誤（F）
【小題1】 This passage is mainly about some life skills for teens for the future.
【小題2】Teens should manage money by saving money as much as they can.
【小題3】Before they wash clothes, teens should first check the pockets of the clothes.
【小題4】 The people around will feel uncomfortable if teens do more cleaning.
【小題5】 Parents can help teens decide on the menu and ingredients to cook meals.

A. they should spend sometime
B. the students are not expected
C. they had so many choices
D. many of them told me
E. many of them expressed disappointment
In my spoken English class, I asked the students about their university life. To my surprise, 【小題1】. After their highly controlled(控制) high school lives, they were having difficulty getting used to (習(xí)慣) the free time in the university. When I asked them to describe their high school lives, 【小題2】they got up at six in the morning and studied until ten or even later at night. Most of this time was spent doing lots of homework.
When they entered the university, in my opinion,【小題3】to spend all their waking hours studying. They should also take an active part in social activities. They should learn to divide their time outside of class between sport sand clubs. What’s more, 【小題4】watching TV and chatting with their roommates. But what surprised me most was that many of them did not seem happy because【小題5】. They felt that they should be doing something else what ever they were doing. That’s why they were not happy.
To those students, my advice is: Get used to it and learn to make decisions for yourselves.

The expression “down to earth” means being open and honest. It is easy to get on with some one who is down to earth. A down-to-earth person is the opposite of someone who acts important or proud.
Down-to-earth people could be important members of society. But they do not consider themselves to be better than others who are less important. A person who is filed with his own importance and pride is said to have his nose in the air.
Americans use another expression that is similar in some ways to down to earth. The expression is both feet on the ground. Someone with both feet on the ground is a person with a good understanding of reality（現(xiàn)實(shí)）. He may have dreams, but he does not allow them to have influence on his understanding of what is real.
The opposite kind of person is one who has his head in the clouds. Someone with his head in the clouds is a person whose mind is not on what is happening in real life. Such a person may be called a day－dreamer.
When we have both our feet on the ground, and when we are down to earth, we do not have our noses in the air. We act honestly and openly to others. Our lives are like the ground below us— solid(牢固的) and strong.
【小題1】A down-to-earth person could be_____________.

Three days ago, the boss of a gold shop received a letter. As he was very busy, the letter was on his desk till dinner time. When he opened it, a $1000 note fell out onto the desk. With the note was a short letter:

Many students ask for advice about improving their English. There are three basic questions.
The first question is about real English. Li Hao from Hubei wrote, “I enjoy watching English films and listening to real English songs. But it takes a long time. What do you think?”
This is a great way to learn English! Talk about the film or song with your friends, and guess the meaning of the new words. Just enjoy yourself!
The second question is about speaking. Sam, from Suzhou wrote, “Our school has a foreign teacher. But I’m shy and can’t speak to her. What should I do?”
When I visit China, lots of people in the street say, “Hello! How are you? Where are you from? Do you like China?” These are good questions to start a conversation. Many people are shy when they speak English, so before you begin, take a deep breath and smile! Smiling always helps.
The third question is about vocabulary. Olive, from Anhui wrote, “I want to remember all the new words. I wrote them down, but I forget them quickly. What should I do?”
Try to remember eight or nine words a day. Write them on pieces of paper and place them in your bedroom. Say the words when you see them, and change them every day. And when you’re shopping, how about counting the English words, or saying the English names for everything you see?
【小題1】How many basic questions do the students often ask?

 
(Megan and Kyle are talking before class begins.)
Megan: Hey, Kyle, are you ready for the big test today? I studied that list of words and the definitions(釋義) for two hours last night.
Kyle: Oh, but I didn’t study at all. I just wrote all the answers on the palm(手掌) of my hand, see?
Megan: Kyle! You can’t do that! That’s cheating(作弊)！
Kyle: Hey, don’t worry. I won’t be caught. Mrs King will never know.
(Mrs King comes in and passes out the test papers.)
Mrs King: Okay, no more talking. You may begin.
(Kyle looks st his hand when the teacher isn’t looking.)
Joe: (raising his hand) Mrs King, may I have a drink? I have the hiccups(打嗝).
Mrs King: Yes, you may.
Kyle: (raising his hand) Mrs King, may I get a drink, too?
Mrs King: Kyle, what is that on your hand? I think you had better come to my desk.
Kyle: Oh no…
(After this, Kyle realizes his mistake and never cheats in exams again.)
【小題1】根據(jù)Megan and Kyle are talking before class begins（在上課開始前）.及下文描述，可知這個故事可能發(fā)生在教室里。A          
【小題2】根據(jù)Kyle: Oh, but I didn’t study at all. I just wrote all the answers on the palm(手掌) of my hand, see?可知他把答案寫在了手上，選項(xiàng)中沒有正確答案。
【小題3】 Where did the story possibly take place?

Sitting on a chair all day in school can make anyone want to move around. So, more and more teachers are letting students have a ball. By sitting on exercise balls instead of chairs, teachers find students' posture (姿勢) and attention improve.
Dottie Pownall, a fifth-grade teacher in West Virginia, USA, has been using balls as chairs since December 2008. "The students love them", she says. Pownall took a survey of her students. She found that 80% of the students thought sitting on the balls helped them pay more attention to what they were learning.
The teacher, Pisa Witt, felt so strongly about the use of balls as chairs, she started Witt Fitt. This company encourages the use of the balls. And the company educates not only teachers but also students on how to use them. "Our products are used in 24 states, three provinces in Canada, Puerto Rico ('波多黎各) and Japan," says Witt. "Research shows that sitting on the balls makes them sit up straighter. You can slouch (低頭垂肩地坐) on a ball," says Witt, "but it feels awful." Because the students are moving, their blood (血液) increases. That carries more oxygen (氧氣 to the brain (大腦), so the kids have more energy and can focus longer.
"Furthermore, they're fun." says Pownali.
【小題1】 What will happen if a student sits on a chair all day in school? The student will _________.

Do you want to be the most popular person in the class? You don ' t need to change your character (性格) ; you just need to improve your personality (人格), the most popular people are trusted (信任) and loved because they stay normal but still have something that makes them different from the rest of us. Here are some pieces of advice on how to become the most popular person in the class.
If you want others to like and respect (尊重) you, you have to start by liking yourself. Do not change yourself in order to please (討好，取悅) others.
Be helpful to everyone and do it happily. Being nice to people is almost like helping them, too, because by being nice you make others happy.
Be active and have a positive attitude towards life. Develop confidence in yourself.
Stay clean and wear fresh clothes. Do not try to follow fashion to please others.
Respect cannot be bought with big words or money. You have to get it by being honest. It also helps your personal growth. You must be a person that can be trusted to get respect.
【小題1】 How can we become popular in our class?
A. To change our character.
B.To trust and love others.
C. To improve our personality.
【小題2】 How can you get respect from your classmates according to the passage? A. By being honest.
B.By trusting others.
C. By using money.
【小題3】 What does the underlined(下劃線的) sentence (句子) show?
A. You should be nice to others.
b. You should be polite when you help others.
C. We can help others just by being nice.
【小題4】What kind of people will be liked by the whole class?
a. positive   b.   confident   c.  good-looking   d.  fashionable   e. helpful
A. a, b, e.     b. b, c, d.      C. a,b, c.
【小題5】What's the best title (標(biāo)題) for the passage?
A. How to please others.       B. How to be the favorite.
C. How to be trusted by others.