She Says/He Says(U1B1) reading she says: Boys are so different from girls! They never show their emotions
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Medicine Cat(U2B3) READING My mother was seriously ill with cancer, and the doctors said that she had only a few more days to live. They advised that I take good care of her, and they sent her home to die. My mother had always made sure that I was cared for, and now it was important that I did the same for her. Therefore, I decided to move her into my house so she could die in peace and comfort. Even though I had made careful arrangements for my mother's stay, she wasn't satisfied mainly because I had four cats. Since she disliked cats, my home was not really a peaceful place for her. Meanwhile, the nurses and the medical equipment scared my cats, so they were unhappy, too. However, one cat seemed to adjust perfectly. He wasn't frightened of the new people and things in the house. His name was Otto. He was a handsome cat that I had taken home from an animal shelter, and he was smart and sweet. He wasn't afraid of my mother when she shooed him out of her bedroom. Instead of running away, Otto jumped onto the end of my mother's bed and stayed there. Over the next few days, he almost never left her bedroom. Gradually, to my surprise, my mother and Otto grew closer. Otto always sat beside her so that she could feel his fur. She seemed to need him and insisted that I leave him with her. Then, over the weeks that followed, my mother's health steadily improved. She also grew more attached to Otto, and once I even heard her reading a newspaper to him. Then, one evening, I came across my mother walking to the bathroom on her own. She explained that she was fetching some water for Otto. Getting a drink for Otto soon became her ritual. After a few more weeks, she became well enough to take short walks. Otto always went with her, following behind with patience. It was clear that they had developed a deep affection for each other. All of this happened three years ago. Despite what the doctors had said, my mother is still here with her faithful companion, Otto. Now, when I prepare food for her, Otto sits on the kitchen table, and she doesn't chase him away anymore. She believes that Otto is the reason she was able to survive. She always says, "If I didn't have Otto's love, I wouldn't be so healthy now." Otto, to his credit, continues to share his love with my mother—it's a medicine stronger than anything a doctor could ever give.
B. Match each of the paragraphs with its main idea. The first one has been done for you.
Two Very Different Ghost Festivals(U3B3) READING People in Taiwan and the United States both have their own special ghost festival. In Taiwan, the seventh lunar month is generally regarded as Ghost Month, and the Ghost Festival is held on the 15th day of this month. In the United States, the ghost festival is on the evening of October 31, and it is known as Halloween. In Chinese culture, it is believed that the gates of hell are opened on the first day of Ghost Month. Then, ghosts and spirits are allowed to visit earth for one month. People commonly put food on tables outside their houses for hungry ghosts wandering around. To show their respect for these ghosts, people call them "good brothers." The Ghost Festival is such an important occasion that businesses in Taiwan often prepare food for these "good brothers" to enjoy and burn "ghost money" for good fortune. Another traditional activity at this festival is to float paper lanterns on lakes and rivers. These lanterns are used to give lost ghosts directions to an annual feast that is held for them. In addition, the people of Taiwan believe that it is bad luck to whistle at night during Ghost Month because ghosts might hear this sound and enter the home of the person who was whistling. Many people do not get married or travel during this month, either. In ancient Britain and Ireland, Halloween was a serious event. People at that time believed that the souls of the dead emerged from the darkness on the evening of Halloween. Therefore, people wore scary masks and carried jack-o'-lanterns to frighten away the evil spirits. However, the spirits of ancestors were welcomed back to people's homes. Families prepared food for them and also set extra seats at tables for relatives who had recently passed away. Later, people gradually became less serious about these old Halloween traditions, mainly because of the influence of Christianity. After British and Irish immigrants settled in America, Halloween actually turned into an evening of fun instead of fear. Nowadays, Halloween is considered to be a time for both children and adults to enjoy themselves. Children look forward to dressing up as ghosts, witches, or fairies and going trick-or-treating. They go door to door and say "Trick or treat?" to get candy and have fun. Halloween has become such a joyful festival that even adults often have costume parties on this night. Although the Ghost Festival and Halloween are both important festivals, Halloween has become a time of fun, while the Ghost Festival is still a serious occasion. Not all people in Taiwan believe in ghosts, but everyone here still has a certain respect for this festival. I. Reading for the Main Idea—Skimming Skim the reading and choose the best answer to the question.
II. Reading for Details—Scanning Scan the reading and choose the best answer to each of the following questions or statements.
Giving the Right Gift! (U4B3) READING My boss turned pale when I opened the gift box. We were at the airport and getting ready to leave on a business trip to visit an important Asian client. My boss had given me a lot of money to buy our client a gift. Although I was just a junior manager on my first trip overseas, I was pleased with my choice—an expensive silver letter opener. I asked my boss what went wrong, and he explained, "It's best not to give Asians knives, or even a letter opener, as a gift. In some Asian cultures, it implies that a relationship is about to be cut." Therefore, it was rude of me to have chosen this gift. Gift-giving customs are very different around the world. My sister is an English teacher and was once invited to a student's home. She took a bottle of fine wine, but she was embarrassed to discover that this family was a Muslim family. In many Western countries, a bottle of whiskey or wine is an ideal gift, but for Muslims, on the other hand, this gift is offensive because they do not drink alcohol. Luckily for my sister, the family was understanding, and they knew she had good intentions and didn't mean to cause any offense. In India, it is a gift of leather that is offensive because the cow is sacred to Hindus. This is a common mistake that travelers to India often make—they buy small key rings or purses for the Indians they meet. However, these leather gifts are best avoided. In addition, the way a gift is presented often reflects how highly you value a relationship. Gifts for Chinese people are often wrapped in red, which is considered a lucky color. For Westerners, the color or type of wrapping is not that important, but the gift should be wrapped. A coworker of mine once bought an expensive tie for a client from England. The tie was given in a shopping bag from an airport duty-free shop without being wrapped in special wrapping paper. The English client didn't look too pleased when he received this gift. Westerners often like to open their gifts in front of the givers to show how much they enjoy the gifts as well as honoring the people who have given the gifts. However, in some cultures, it is considered impolite and embarrassing to open a gift right away. Once, I gave a gift to a Chinese friend and was amazed to see him hide it under his seat! I learned an important lesson that day, and it is the lesson that I have never forgotten: Always spend some time looking into local customs before sending a gift to a foreigner. Years later, I gave my assistant the same request: Buy a suitable gift for an Indian client. Guess what he bought—an eye-catching leather briefcase! This time it was my turn to go pale when I opened the box!
II. Reading for Details—Scanning Scan the reading and choose the best answer to each of the following questions or statements.
A Recipe for Friendship(U5B3) READING Many people wonder how they can make friends with other people. Yet, few people realize that making friends can be a lot like making soup. That is, to enjoy a close friendship with another person, you must act like a good chef. First, a special recipe is required. This recipe tells you exactly what you need. Next, you have to prepare all the things that are called for in the recipe. Having prepared all the necessary ingredients, you can then start to cook them together carefully. If everything is done right, the results can be something truly magical. This poem was written by a fourteen-year-old student. It is about friendship, and it is named "Friendship Soup."
This poem reveals that if you want to form a close friendship with another person, you have to make an effort. You cannot just sit back and wait for a friendship to occur. Like a good chef, you have to get involved in the process and make something wonderful happen. By taking action, you can make something great appear. The poem also says that many different elements are needed for friendship. Trust and similar interests, for example, are both very important. If you really trust your friends, you can talk to them about any difficulties you might have. Sharing your feelings with your friends, you will feel better and become closer to them. What's more, if you and your friends have similar interests, you will most likely spend more time together doing the things that you both enjoy and have in common. Last but not least, friendship also needs care. You can't leave it alone, just as you can't leave the soup on the stove without stirring it. Friendship, like soup, needs your time and attention. Neglecting either one can be a complete disaster. To be sure, being friends with another person can mean a lot of work, but it also makes you happy. A good friend, like a bowl of good soup, can be just what the doctor ordered when you are feeling down. Thus, when it comes to maintaining old friendships and starting new ones, remember that it can be a lot like making soup. It may take time and effort, but it is always worth it. I. Reading for the Main Idea—Skimming Skim the reading and choose the best answer to the question.
II. Reading for Details—Scanning Scan the reading and choose the best answer to each of the following questions or statements.
Who Will Disappear Next? (U6B3) READING Have you ever visited Tuvalu? If not, you should go soon. This small country, which consists of nine islands, may soon disappear. In fact, most of the people who once lived there have already moved away. Why is this? Over the last hundred years, rising sea levels, which have been caused by global warming, have resulted in terrible flooding there. This has badly affected the country's drinking water and food production, and even washed away part of the islands. Scientists may know why this is happening, but they do not know the answer to one important question: Who is next? Global warming has already caused problems in many other places around the world. In Alaska, for example, many glaciers have started melting. Scientific studies indicate that this is occurring because the average temperature in Alaska has risen over the last 50 years. Some Alaskans even say winter there now feels like summer. As a result of global warming, about 15 percent of Alaska's land has disappeared. Melting glaciers have also been reported in Greenland. Since 81 percent of its land is covered with ice, global warming is making many people there quite nervous. Experts have expressed concern that if all the ice in Greenland melts, the world's sea levels will rise more than 7 meters. Global warming is also affecting cities in Europe, such as Venice in Italy. To many people, this city of canals looks romantic. Nevertheless, it may shock most people to learn that this beautiful city is sinking and that rising sea levels may cause it to disappear completely some day. To save this historic place, the leaders of Venice must find a way either to stop the city from sinking or to stop sea levels from rising. Close to home, global warming is also worrying many people in Taiwan. Try to picture what Taiwan would be like after rising sea levels flood the coasts. Just imagine that some of Taiwan's outlying islands, such as Penghu and Kinmen, have completely disappeared! Imagine living in Taipei and taking a ferry instead of a bus to school or work. Do all of these situations sound crazy? Some experts have predicted that these things might happen if global warming continues to cause sea levels around the world to rise. What can we do to stop global warming and save places like Tuvalu, Alaska, Greenland, Venice, and even Taiwan? Some scientists suggest that we try to reduce the pollution that causes global warming. For instance, instead of riding a scooter, students could go to school on foot or by bicycle. Without a doubt, global warming is a problem that is neither easy to understand nor easy to solve. However, everyone should do something to help prevent global warming from becoming even worse than it already is, before it is too late.
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