There are a lot of differences in life in the US that you can only learn by living here. However, we will try to introduce you to some of the more important cultural differences.
Personal Space
When two people are talking to each other, they tend to stand a distance apart. Each person has an invisible boundary (界限) around their body into which other people may not come.
Interestingly，the average personal distance varies from culture to culture. Americans tend to require more personal space than in other cultures. So if you try to get too close to an American during your conversation, he or she will feel that you are “in their face” and will try to back away.
Try to avoid physical contact while you are speaking, since this may also lead to discomfort.
Tipping(小費(fèi))
Restaurants do not include a service charge in the bill, so you should tip the waiter 15% of the total bill. If service is slow or particular bad, some Americans will tip only 10%. If service is particularly good, it is appropriate to tip 20%. If service is so bad that you will never eat in the restaurant again, leave two cents. It tells the waiter that you haven’t forgotten to leave a tip. Tipping is only appropriate in restaurants which offer table service. You do not tip the cashier in a fast food restaurant.
Gestures
To wave goodbye or hello to someone, raise your hand and wave it from side to side, not front to back. Wave the whole hand, not just the fingers. Waving the hand front to back or the fingers up and down means “no”, “stop”, or “go away’. Holding your hand up with the palm facing forward but no movement means “stop”.
If you want to point at an object, extend the index finger and use it to point at the object. It is not polite to point at people.
Although showing your fist with the thumb up or your open hand with the tips of the thumb and index finger together forming an “O” means “OK”， these are stereotypes (老套). Americans understand these gestures, but they are mainly used by actors in movies, not in real life.
小題1: If an American to whom you are speaking backs away a little, you’d better __________.
A．not try to close the gapB．stop talking with him or her
C．back away tooD．a(chǎn)sk him or her what happened
小題2:Which of the following statements is TRUE when you eat out in the US?
A．The tip always ranges from 10% to 20% of the total bill.
B．You needn’t leave a tip if you will never eat in the restaurant.
C．It’s unnecessary to tip the waiter in a restaurant.
D．Tipping is not necessary in fast food restaurants.
小題3:Which of the following gestures is not used in Americans’ daily life?
A               B.             C.               D.
.         
小題4:We can learn from the passage that in the US ___________________.
A．it’s natural to touch each other in a conversation.
B．it’s polite to leave a tip though the service is bad.
C．there is only one gesture meaning “stop”.
D．Americans use the same gesture to point at people and objects.

小題1:A
小題1:D
小題1:B
小題1:B
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The Mississippi is the major river system in the United States. The Yangtze is China’s longest river.
Although a world apart, the two waterways share conservation concerns that provide a cultural bridge between students in the United States and China, as well as from around the world.
The Mississippi flows almost 3,800 kilometers from a small lake in Minnesota, gathering the waters of 250 other rivers and streams before reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
In mid-May, as spring flowers began to open, about 41 students from a dozen colleges, mostly in the Midwest, explored a section of the river in Wisconsin and Iowa, to learn about the environment, and each other.
The students, from the U.S., China and around the world, came to join the River Spirit Exchange program.
The cross-cultural educational experience - set up by the University of Wisconsin, Madison-based Environment and Public Health Network for Chinese Students - focuses on the Mississippi and China’s longest river, the Yangtze.
This three day get-together featured story-telling, hiking, camping and canoeing, all part of a larger lesson about conservation projects that can be used on both the Yangtze and Mississippi.
While the students learned about the problems challenging the Mississippi and Yangtze, Jeb Barzen, a wildlife biologist, explained they should also learn about the importance of bridging each other’s culture.
The president of the Environment and Public Health Network for Chinese Students, Xiaojun Lu, said the Mississippi and Yangtze Rivers are uniting these students from opposite ends of the earth.
Organizers say the success and spirit of this first gathering of students will lead to other trips, including one down the Yangtze.
小題1:Where is the source of the Mississippi?
A．MinnesotaB．the Gulf of MexicoC．WisconsinD．Iowa
小題2: According to the passage, the get-together             .
A．lasted a weekB．took place in May
C．was held in ChinaD．was organized by students
小題3: According to Paragraph 8, Barzen believes that             .
A．China and the U.S. should work together to protect the environment
B．the Mississippi is more important than the Yangtze to the world
C．cultural exchange between different countries is of great importance
D．the program encourages technical cooperation between China and the U.S.
小題4:What is the passage mainly about?
A．A major river system in the United States.
B．The differences between the Mississippi and the Yangtze.
C．An educational program about tourism.
D．An international cultural exchange program.
小題5:Where is the passage most probably taken from?
A．A personal diaryB．A news report
C．An official documentD．An advertisement

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

   When I lived in Spain, some Spanish friends of mine decided to visit England by car. Before they left, they asked me for advice about how to find accommodation. I suggested that they should stay at “bed and breakfast” houses, because this kind of accommodation gives a foreign visitor a good chance to speak English with the family. My friends listened to my advice, but they came back with some funny stories.
“We didn’t stay at bed and breakfast houses,” they said, “because we found that most families were away on holiday.”
I thought this was strange. Finally I understood what had happened. My friends spoke little English, and they thought “VACANCIES” meant “holidays”, because the Spanish word for “holidays” is “vacaciones”. So they did not go to house where the sign outside said “VACABCUES”, which in English means there are free rooms. Then my friends went to house where the sign said “NO VACANCIES”, because they thought this meant the people who owned the house were not away on holiday. But they found that these houses were all full. As a result, they stayed at hotels!
We laughed about this and about mistakes my friends made in reading other signs. In Spanish, the word “DIVERSION” means fun. In English, it means that workmen are repairing the road, and that you must take a different road. When my friends saw the word ‘DIVERSION’ on a road sign, they thought they were going to have fun. Instead, the road ended in a large hole.
English people have problems too when they learn foreign languages. Once in Paris, when someone offered me some more coffee, I said “Thank you” in French. I meant that I would like some more. However, to my surprise the coffee pot was taken away! Later I found out that “Thank you” in French means “No, thank you.”
小題1: My Spanish friends wanted advice about __________.
A．learning English
B．finding places to stay in England
C．driving their car on English roads
D．going to England by car
小題2: I suggested that they stay at “bed and breakfast” houses because__________.
A．they would be able to practise their English
B．it would be much cheaper than staying in hotels
C．it would be convenient for them to have dinner
D．there would be no problem about finding accommodation there
小題3:“NO VACANCIES” in English means__________.
A．no free roomsB．free rooms
C．not away on holidayD．holidays
小題4:If you see a road sign that says “Diversion” in UK, you will__________.
A．fall into a hole
B．have a lot of fun and enjoy yourself
C．find that the road is blocked by crowds of people
D．have to take a different road
小題5:When someone offered me more coffee and I said “Thank you” in French, I__________.
A．didn’t really want any more coffee
B．wanted them to take the coffee pot away
C．really wanted some more coffee
D．wanted to express my politeness

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

One Christmas Eve, my husband made his way home from work.  36 , he worked the entire day but let his stuff go  37  so that they could be with their families.
He drove down the street and made the  38  towards our home. On one side of the road, an old man stood, drenched to the bone (被雨淋得濕透了), with his hand  39 . The rain had been  40  heavily that day. My husband stopped, and asked him where he was  41 . He wanted to go about five miles past our home, but my husband still told him to  42 . My husband chatted with him, drove  43  our house and took him home for his Christmas Eve.  44  turned out that this poor man was what we now  45  as a “slow learner” and the only job he could get to  46  him and his elderly mother was at the bakery near where my husband worked. He worked from 5 a.m. until 1 o’clock in the  47 . Not only that, but that poor man had been standing there trying to get a ride on Christmas Eve for about 5 hours  48  my husband picked him up.  49  else would give him a ride because they didn’t want to get their seats  50 .
Over the years my husband  51  to give him a ride home whenever he saw him trying to get a ride. When he passed  52 , my husband went to his funeral.  53  my husband didn’t know his family, they knew of him. Even his twin sister who  54  in the state of Washington knew who my husband was and everyone thanked him for his  55  toward one who had so little.
An act of kindness can make another person’s day, or even their life.
小題1:
A．As well
B．As usual
C．If possible
D．If so
小題2:
A．early
B．nowhere
C．a(chǎn)ltogether
D．late
小題3:
A．corner
B．change
C．crossing
D．turn
小題4:
A．moved
B．raised
C．a(chǎn)risen
D．risen
小題5:
A．pouring
B．flowing
C．dropping
D．pointing
小題6:
A．wandering
B．staying
C．going
D．working
小題7:
A．get out
B．get off
C．get down
D．get in
小題8:
A．past
B．for
C．from
D．near
小題9:
A．What
B．That
C．It
D．We
小題10:
A．round up
B．refer to
C．conclude with
D．name after
小題11:
A．protect
B．satisfy
C．defend
D．support
小題12:
A．morning
B．a(chǎn)fternoon
C．evening
D．night
小題13:
A．before
B．a(chǎn)fter
C．because
D．while
小題14:
A．Someone
B．Anyone
C．Everyone
D．No one
小題15:
A．tight
B．wet
C．cosy
D．free
小題16:
A．persuaded
B．claimed
C．continued
D．a(chǎn)ppointed
小題17:
A．down
B．a(chǎn)way
C．by
D．out
小題18:
A．Although
B．Whether
C．Since
D．Before
小題19:
A．traveled
B．a(chǎn)rrived
C．remained
D．lived
小題20:
A．wealth
B．efforts
C．kindness
D．a(chǎn)ttention

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Most people think that the capital of the movie world is Hollyhood, in the United States. However, the real movie capital is Mumbai, in India. Mumbai used to be known as Bombay, and so the film industry there is called “Bollywood.” Bollywood makes twice as many movies each year as Hollyhood—more than 800 films a year.
The movies from Bollywood are very different from Hollywood movies. For one thing, Bollywood movies are much longer than most Hollywood movies. Most Bollywood movies are more than three hours long, and contain singing, dancing, action, adventure, mystery, and romance (but usually no kissing). Because Bollywood films contain so many different features, this style of film is sometimes called a “masala” film. (“Masala” is an Indian word for a mixture of spices.)
Another big difference between Bollywood and Hollywood movies is the way movies are made. It takes much longer to make a movie in Hollywood than in Bollywood. In fact, filming may begin on a Bollywood movie before the script even finished. The director and writers can make up the story while the film is being made. Sometimes they will even write the script by hand instead of taking time to type it.
Bollywood actors are very popular and some are in such high demand that they may work on several movies at the same time. They may even shoot scenes for several films on the same day using the same costumes and scenery. Since most Bollywood movies follow the same kind of story, shooting scenes for several films at the same time is not a big problem for actors or directors. This also helps keep the cost of Bollywood movies lower than the cost of Hollywood movies. The average Bollywood film, with a budget of only two million U.S. dollars, seems very cheap compared to the average budget of sixty million U.S. dollars for a Hollywood film—thirty times as much!
小題1:What is the main topic of the reading?
A．famous stars in BollywoodB．how Hollywood movies are made
C．the differences between two movie industriesD．the history of movie-making in India
小題2:What is NOT true about Mumbai?
A．It is the movie capital of India.
B．The new name is Bombay.
C．More movies are made there than in Hollywood.
D．It is less expensive to make films there than in Hollywood.
小題3: Why are Bollywood films often called “masala” films?
A．They have spicy stories.B．They show Indian culture.
C．They are much longer than Hollywood films.D．They mix different styles of movies.
小題4: Bollywood movies are cheap to make because ____________________ .
A．they are shorter than Hollywood films.
B．the scripts are written by hand.
C．the movies do not use any special effects.
D．each movie reuses things from other movies.
小題5:Which of these statements would the writer probably agree with?
A．Most Bollywood movies are very similar.
B．It takes a lot of money to make a good movie.
C．Only Indian people can understand Bollywood movies.
D．Hollywood movies are too violent.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

It's really true what people say about English politeness: it's everywhere．When squeezing past someone in a narrow aisle, people say "sorry"．When getting off a bus, English passengers say "thank you" rather than the driver．In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things．
After all, squeezing past others sometimes can't be avoided．a(chǎn)nd the bus driver is merely doing his job．I used lo think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles and came to appreciate some more polite ways of communicating with people．
People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time．When people buy something in a shop, customer and retail assistant in most cases thank each other twice or more．In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation．British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room．English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs as opposed to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough．
Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize others．Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me．my employers stressed several times but none of their explanations were intended as criticism．It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable．This also is shown in other ways．British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men．However, 1 do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men' Yes, the latter are a bit tightfisted．
小題1:What is the author's attitude towards English politeness?
A．He appreciates itB．He gives no personal opinion
C．He thinks it is artificialD．He thinks it goes too far．
小題2:What can we learn about customers and retail assistants in Germany?
A．It's always a retail assistant who says thank you．
B．A customer never says thank you to a retail assistant．
C．They always say thank you to each other．
D．They may say thank you only once．
小題3:We can learn from the last paragraph that Scottish men _____．
A．a(chǎn)re more likely to be involved in a fighting．
B．a(chǎn)re not so willing to spend money for women．
C．a(chǎn)re more polite than English men.
D．treat women in a polite way.
小題4:The author develops the text through the method of        .
A．giving commentsB．telling stories
C．making comparisonsD．giving reasons

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The UK has a well-respected higher education system and some of the top universities in the world. But to those who are new to it all, it can be something confusing.
October is usually the busiest month in the academic calendar (學(xué)習(xí)日程表). Universities have something called Freshers’ Week for their newcomers. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots of clubs and settle into university life.
However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be uneasy. Where do you start? Who should you make friends with? Which clubs should you join?
Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you are worried about starting their university social life. So just take it all in slowly. Don’t rush into anything that you’ll regret for the next three years.
Here are some top tips from past students on how to survive Freshers’ Week:
·Make sure you know something about the British social customs. Have a few wine glasses and snacks handy for your housemates and friends.
·Sometimes cups of tea or even sweets can give you a head start in making friends.
·The more active you are, the more likely you’ll be to meet new people than if you’re someone who never leaves his rooms.
·Keep your door open when you’re in and that sends positive messages to your neighbors that you’re friendly.
So with a bit of clever planning, Freshers’ Week can give you a great start to your university life and soon you’ll be passing on your wisdom to next year’s newcomers.
小題1:Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the passage?
A．October is generally the busiest month for universities.
B．It’s a good idea to put a doorstop in your door.
C．A bit of planning can make Freshers’ Week easier.
D．The first week of your every year at university is called Freshers’ Week.
小題2:We can infer from the 4th paragraph that ______.
A．the newcomers usually miss the days living at home
B．most of the students in the UK spend three years in universities
C．many freshers are worried about how to fit university life
D．a(chǎn)ll the new students will make new friends and join certain clubs
小題3:Why does the author suggest having wine glasses and snacks handy?
A．To pass the busy university life.B．To help make friends with other freshers.
C．To show yourself a drinker as others.D．To pass the time in a happy way.
小題4:The main purpose of writing this passage is to ______.
A．tell the newcomers how to make a new start in universities
B．introduce something about higher education system of the UK
C．discuss something about the Freshers’ Week in the UK
D．a(chǎn)dvise the freshmen how to behave well in the beginning

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Have you got any wonderful plans for your coming winter vacation? Here are some wonderful films for you to kill time.
Away We Go
With a baby on his way, a young couple,  Burt and Verona, look at their lives and are puzzled about what they really want. So they hit the road and seek a place to call home. On their journey, they visit a handful of characters and learned a lot.
It’s about taking the scenic route in life, preparing for the hope and excitement and fear of new beginnings, while never forgetting to look out of the window.
Orphan 
 Easther, a bright and well-behaved child, however, is not as innocent as she appears. Soon after being taken home, the peace of her adoptive family is completely changed…
You want a good horror film about a child from hell? Then you got one! Do not, in any cases, take children to see it.
500 Days of Summer 
Tom is in love with Summer from the moment he sees her. Can he accept that she simply likes him for now, not for forever? The movie is about Tom wrestling with that reality. Tom remembers his love, Summer, as a series of joys and bafflements(阻礙,迷惑). But Summer is just herself and he cannot have her.
Here is a rare movie that begins by telling us how it will end and is about how the hero has no idea why.
2012
The director Roland Emmerich successfully dresses a corny story with an old Mayan prediction, which is believed by many to happen in the coming 2012 and as a result, attracts millions of people into the cinema.
It’s just an entertaining Hollywood blockbuster(大片) with plenty of jokes, instead of a description of what the end of the world is really like. Don’t take it too seriously!
小題1: This passage aims to __________.
A．make comments on films for a cinemaB．introduce films for a film corporation
C．recommend several films for funD．a(chǎn)dvertise several films for a website
小題2:If you bring your seven-year-old sister to the cinema, which of the following film should you avoid?
A．Away We Go.B．Orphan.C．2012.D．500 Days of Summer.
小題3: Among all the characters mentioned in the passage, who directed films in Hollywood?
A．Roland Emmerich.B．Tom and Summer.C．Burt and Verona.D．Esther.
小題4:Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Orphan is a comedy about Esther adopted by a kind family.
B．500 Days of Summer is a romance with a happy ending.
C．Away We Go shows beautiful scenery on the young couple’s journey.
D．The ancient Mayan prediction is going to happen in 2012.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Prince Charles yesterday promised to reduce the royal impact on the environment through sweeping changes to his personal lifestyle and official schedule. The prince will replace carbon-heavy private jets and helicopters with scheduled flights and train services.
The move came as Prince Charles urged business leaders to publish the environmental pact of their activities.
He said, “Few accountants and business decision-makers ask, ‘How much of our critical natural resource is left? How many miles of polar ice cap has our business helped melt this year? By how many inches have we raised sea levels? How many species have we put at risk? How many homes will be flooded, how many people will die of thirst or starvation because of our activities? ’ These are not comfortable questions, but, by God, they need to be asked. ”
He added, “At the moment these costs do not appear in anyone’s books… Yet they are real, they are incurred now and in a relatively short time, the damage being caused may be beyond remedy. ” He said the world was “running up the biggest global credit card debt in history, but with little or no thought for how the bill will ever be paid”.
Flanked by the prime minister and business and community leaders at St James’ Palace, the prince said his new “accounting for sustainability” project would give consumers the power to choose products that caused less damage to the planet.
Duchy Originals, the prince’s food company, is taking steps to work out how much carbon dioxide and other green-house gases are emitted in growing, processing and distributing its products. The changes to the prince’s travel arrangements announced yesterday are part of a wider review of the carbon footprint associated with activities at all three of his residences. Clarence House in London, Highgrove and Birkhall on the Balmorals estate(莊園), as well as the activities of his 21 personal and 105 full-time staff. Measures include a review of electricity use, commuter and other staff travel and are intended to identify further reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. The review will report in June , when Clarence House will announce annual targets to reduce carbon emission.
小題1:How does Prince Charles feel about business leaders in terms of environmental protection?
A．Dissatisfied.B．Disappointed.
C．Doubtful.D．Impatient.
小題2:In response to Prince Charles’ calls, Duchy Originals will ______.
A．make as much green food as possible
B．cut down its cost
C．figure out its greenhouse gas emission
D．continue its greenhouse gas emission
小題3:The underlined phrase in paragraph 4 probably refers to ______.
A．the great amount of waste produced by industry
B．the great damage caused to the environment
C．the great amount of debts of the royal family
D．the high cost of industry in their producing process
小題4:What would be the best title for the passage?
A．Prince Charles promised Greener Royal Lifestyle
B．Better Late than Never
C．Prince Charles and His Concern for Environment
D．The Royal Family Has a Role to Play in Environment Protection

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