Among the four skills in learning English，which one of these is the “odd-man-out
题型：不详难度：来源：
Among the four skills in learning English，which one of these is the “odd-man-out”? The answer is speaking．The other three you can do alone on your own．But you can’t really speak alone! Speaking to yourself can be “dangerous” because men in white coats may come and take you away!
Where can you find people to speak English? And how can you practise speaking when you are alone?
At school If you pay to go to a language school, you should use the opportunity to speak．If your teacher asks you to speak in pairs or groups with other students, try to say as much as possible．Don’t worry about your mistakes．Just speak!
Conversation Clubs Many cities around the world have conversation clubs where people can exchange one language for another．Look in your local newspaper to find a conversation club near you．They are usually free although some may charge a small entrance fee．
Shopping Even if you don’t want to buy anything，you can ask questions about products that interest you in a shop．“How much does this cost?” ‘‘Can I pay by cheque?” Often you can start a real conversation-and it costs you nothing!
Café and Bars There are often American，Britain，Irish and Australlan bars in many large cities．If you can find one，you’ll probably meet many people speaking English as a first or second language．
Language ia all aroundyou Everywhere you go，you find language．Shop names，street names，advertisements，notices，and car numbers—When you walk down the street，practise reading the words and numbers that you see．Say them to yourself. It’s not exactly a conversation, but it will help you to“think” in English．But don’t speak too loud!
Songs and Video Repeat the words of an English—language song singing with the music until it becomes automatic．It’s good practice for your memory and for the mouth muscles that you need for English．
Above all, speak as much as possible! Make as many mistakes as possible! When you know that you have made a mistake，you know that you have made progress!
小题1:What does “odd-man-out” probably mean according to the passage?| A．Someone or something appearing different from the others． | | B．Someone or something standing out of the group． | | C．Someone or something arranged in pairs． | | D．Someone or something that can be easily mistaken for another． |
小题2:What might happen if you speak to yourself loudly in public?| A．The police will take you away and punish you． | | B．The doctors will force you to stay in hospital． | | C．You will have to pay to escape being punished． | | D．You will be forbidden to be member of the club． |
小题3:In which places can you learn English NOT free of charge?| A．At school, in conversation clubs and café and bars． | | B．At school, in shops and café bars． | | C．In conversation clubs，shops，songs and video． | | D．In conversation clubs and in the streets． |
小题4:Why does the writer say “Make as many mistakes as possible”? Because ．| A．everyone will make mistakes in learning English | | B．everyone will meet people speaking English with some mistakes | | C．making mistakes is a must in making progress in learning English | | D．making mistakes can make one realize the importance of speaking |
小题5:According to the passage，which way is NOT likely to be accepted by English beginners?| A．Recite poems loudly along the riverside． | | B．Listen to some English fashion songs and video． | | C．Find an Englishman to speak English with． | | D．In class, try to practise in groups or pairs． |
|
答案
小题1:A
小题2:B
小题3:A
小题4:C
小题5:A |
解析
试题分析：本文讲述了如何提高英语学习者的口语水平的多个技巧和方法。
小题1:猜词题。根据第一段前3行Among the four skills in learning English ,which of these is the “Odd-Man-Out”?The answer is speaking. The other three you can do alone on your own. But you can"t really speak alone!说明问的是：在四种学习英语的技巧中，哪种不一样？故该词是指与别的不一样的事物。故A正确。
小题2:推理题。根据文章倒数第三段Say them to yourself .It"s not exactly a conversation ,but it will help you to “think” in English .But don"t speak too loud!可知你自言自语的声音不能太大，否则会引起别人的误会。而且你说话的内容也很奇怪，也许对方会认为你有精神病。医生会将你留在医院，故B正确。
小题3:细节题：从第三段的句子：If you pay to go to a language school, you should use the opportunity to speak．可知在学校学习英语是需要付钱的，从第四段的句子：They are usually free although some may charge a small entrance fee．可知在Conversation Clubs学习英语是需要付钱的，选A。
小题4:推理题。根据文章最后一段Above all ,speak as much as possible! Make as many mistakes as possible! When you know that you have made a mistake, you know that you have made progress!可知犯错了以后你才知道自己有问题，才会更加努力地学习。才会有进步。故C正确。
小题5:细节题。根据文章倒数第三段Say them to yourself .It"s not exactly a conversation ,but it will help you to “think” in English .But don"t speak too loud!可知A项这样的活动是专家不建议初学者做的。故A正确。 |
举一反三
Butterflies are some of the most fascinating and beautiful insects in the world. Adult butterflies will live about 2 to 4 weeks. They use their senses of sight, touch, hearing, smell, and taste to survive in the world, find food and mates, lay eggs in an appropriate place, migrate, and avoid hungry enemies.
Butterflies have large compound eyes, which allow them to see in all directions without turning their heads. Like most insects, butterflies are very nearsighted, so they are more attracted to a sea of flowers than individual plants. Butterflies do not “see” colors such as red, green, and yellow, but they can sense sunlight, which indicates the direction the sun is shining, as well as ultraviolet light, which is present on many flowers and guides butterflies to honey sources.
Butterflies have a very well-developed sense of smell, but it is not in their nose, since they don"t have one. Sense receptors are located in their antennae, feet, and many other parts of the body. They can help butterflies find their favorite flower honey food, and mates.
Butterflies" feet have sense organs that can taste the sugar in flower honey, letting the butterflies know if something is good to eat or not. Some females also carefully choose host plants by tasting to find appropriate places to lay their eggs. Adult butterflies feed their babies using a long tube. Butterflies force blood into the tube to straighten it out, allowing them to feed. Butterflies get all their food from this tube.
Butterflies don"t have ears. Instead they “hear” sounds through their wings by sensing changes in sound vibrations.
Butterflies may possess senses we don"t even know about yet, because their body structure is very different from ours, and therefore difficult to understand, when observed through our own human senses.
小题1:The text mainly focuses on ________.| A．butterflies" living habits | B．butterflies" beauty | | C．butterflies" senses | D．butterflies" daily activities |
小题2:What can we learn from the 2nd paragraph?| A．Butterflies can see in all directions and don"t need to turn heads. | | B．Butterflies have good eyesight. | | C．Butterflies are sensitive to bright colors including red and yellow. | | D．Butterflies cannot sense the ultraviolet light. |
小题3:Why do female adult butterflies carefully choose the host plants?| A．To find highqualified honey. | | B．To have a good place for living. | | C．To make it easier for them to hide from the enemies. | | D．To find a proper place for their eggs. |
|
The weather is getting hotter. You are thirsty（口渴的） playing basketball or riding home from school. A cold drink may be just the thing. But be careful what you are drinking. Something that looks cool may not be good for your health. There are plenty of “energy drinks” on the market. Most of them have beautiful colors and cool names. The lists on them tell you they are helpful to your health. Sounds great!
But after a careful check you may find that most energy drinks have lots of caffeine(咖啡碱)in them. These drinks are especially aimed at young people, students, busy people and sports players. Makers sometimes say their drinks make you better at sports and can keep you awake. But be careful not to drink too much. Caffeine makes your heart beat fast. Because of this, the International Olympic Committee(IOC)（国际奥委会） has limited its use. Caffeine in most energy drinks is at least as strong as that in a cup of coffee or tea. Possible health dangers have something to do with energy drinks. Just one box of energy drink can make you nervous, have difficulty sleeping and can even cause heart problems. Scientists say that teenagers should be discouraged from taking drinks with a lot of caffeine in them.
小题1:Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? ______| A．What’s the Use of Energy Drinks? | | B．Who Can Drink Energy Drinks? | | C．What’s that in Energy Drinks? | | D．Why Can’t We Buy Energy Drinks? |
小题2:The underlined word “discouraged” can be replaced(替换) with ______.| A．disliked | B．helped | C．stopped | D．encouraged |
小题3:From the passage we can know that ______.| A．energy drinks are especially aimed at teenagers | | B．energy drinks are helpful to teenagers’ study | | C．sports players need to drink a lot of energy drinks | | D．advertisements are important in getting people to buy energy drinks |
小题4:Many people like drinking energy drinks because of the following EXCEPT that ______. | A．they have beautiful colors and cool names | | B．they have lots of caffeine | | C．they can keep them awake and better at sports | | D．they are said to be helpful to health |
|
My six-year-old came home from school this week with two envelopes. One was for a donation to help people in the Philippines. The other was to help hungry families have a Thanksgiving meal.
“I’ll put a check in each of these. Then you can add your own money from your piggy bank, okay?” I said, thinking he’d be so excited to put his own stamp on things.
“That’s okay, mom. You put money in. I don’t want to waste mine,” he sweetly sang as he colored. “I want to fill my bank all the way up.”
Ack! I guess I know what our dinnertime discussion will be about tonight, I thought.
I had figured that through watching his parents donate items, helping us take toys from time to time to needy kids and putting money in the basket at church, he would just understand why it was important to help people in need — and even want to do it himself.
But of course he doesn’t really understand yet. “There’s a big disconnect between the people ‘over there’ and my piggy bank,” said parenting educator Vicki Hoefle.
“There’s nothing wrong with the child. There’s just no connection.”
As for having that conversation immediately, or forcing my son to put money into the envelopes: “Try not to do it now,” Hoefle said. Teaching a child about donating their own money or toys or time to people in need “should be a gentle introduction into what we hope will be a way of life for our kids.”
She suggested these things to help children understand the importance of giving:
* Just talk about it. Then explore the issue from a perspective he can understand.
* Use the course of a year to introduce kids to opportunities. That way, they won’t be shocked when you ask them to stuff their own money into an envelope （like this writer just did）.
* Pick a family charity for the year and have a conversation about how you all can help throughout the year.
* Think of this not as something you must teach, but as something to expose them to.
At her house, Hoefle said, “When you got something new, you gave something up.” Each birthday, her children would pick what toys they had outgrown and give them away. “There was a comfort in it. It just became a natural part of the kids’ lives.”
So I will fill those envelopes alone this time. But I’ll make sure he understands why they should be filled—gradually.
小题1:When the writer asked her son to give money to help the poor, he __________.| A．declined to donate | | B．sang a sweet song | | C．put all his money in a bank | | D．seemed very surprised |
小题2:Hoefle’s attitude towards children’s unwillingness to donate money can be best described as “_______”.| A．critical | B．tolerant | C．positive | D．worried |
小题3:Which of the following is Hoefle’s approach to educating kids about charity?| A．Giving courses about charity. | | B．Setting a rule for children to give. | | C．Inviting a lot of poor people home. | | D．Giving children enough real life chances. |
小题4:What can we learn about the writer from the passage?| A．She often makes donations for people in need. | | B．She taught her son a lesson over dinner that evening. | | C．She is at a loss as for what she should do next. | | D．She invited a parenting educator home for advice. |
小题5:What is the best title of the passage?| A．Kids, please help those in need. | | B．Why are kids unwilling to donate? | | C．Kindness is lost in the young generation. | | D．How can we help kids learn generosity? |
|
Can software bring dead tongues back to life? Probably yes.
A computer algorithm（计算程序）works almost as well as a trained linguist（语言学家） in reconstructing how dead "protolanguages" would have sounded, says a new study.
"Our computer system is doing a basic job right now," says Alex Bouchard-Côté, an assistant professor in the department of statistics at the University of British Columbia and lead author of the paper describing the algorithm. But the program does a good enough job that it may be able to give linguists a head start, the statistician added.
For centuries, scholars have reconstructed languages by hand: looking at the same word in two or more languages and making educated guesses about what that word"s "ancestor" may have sounded like. For example, the Spanish word for man （"hombre"） and the French word for man （"homme"） developed from the Latin word "homo." The way linguists compare words from descendant（后代）languages to reconstruct the parent language is called, appropriately, the comparative method.
The early 19th-century linguist Franz Bopp was the first to compare Greek, Latin and Sanskrit using this method. Jacob Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm of fairy tale fame, used the comparative method to show how Germanic languages developed from a common ancestor.
The difference between that and Bouchard-Côté"s program, the statistician says, "is we do it on a larger scale." As a proof of concept, Bouchard-Côté fed words from 637 Austronesian languages （spoken in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and more） into the new algorithm, and the system came up with a list of what the ancestor words of all those languages would have sounded like. In more than 85 percent of cases, the automated reconstruction came within one character of the ancestor word commonly accepted as true by linguists.
The algorithm won"t replace trained human linguists, but could speed up language analysis.
Using a computer to do large-scale reconstruction offers another advantage. Bouchard-Côté says, “With big data sets, you can really start finding regularities … You might find that certain sounds are more likely to change than others."
So Bouchard-Côté"s team tested the "functional load hypothesis（假设）," which says that sounds that are more important for two clearly different words are less likely to change over time. A formal test of this hypothesis in 1967 looked at four languages; Bouchard-Côté"s algorithm looked at 637.
"The revealed pattern would not be obvious if we had not been able to reconstruct large numbers of protolanguages," Bouchard-Côté and his coauthors write in the new study.
In addition to simply helping linguists understand how people spoke in the past, studying ancient languages can perhaps answer historical questions. For example, Bouchard-Côté says, "Say people are interested in finding out when Europe was settled. If you can figure out if the language of the settling population had a word for wheel, then you can get some idea of the order in which things occurred, because you would have some records that show you when the wheel was invented.”
小题1:The underline word “protolanguages” in the first paragraph probably refers to __________.| A．the languages that couldn’t be reconstructed by hand | | B．parent languages that existed in the past | | C．languages developed from a common ancestor | | D．languages used to explain things that occurred in the past |
小题2:We can learn from the fourth and fifth paragraphs that the reconstruction of “protolanguage” by scholars __________.| A．is commonly accepted as false | | B．dates back to the 19th century | | C．focuses on European languages | | D．is conducted using the comparative method |
小题3:According to Bouchard-Côté, reconstructing the dead "protolanguages" might _______.| A．arouse people’s interest in when Europe was settled | | B．allow us to find answers to some historical questions | | C．enable us to picture the way linguists communicated | | D．help figure out how the wheel was invented |
小题4:The author probably wants to prove the computer algorithm program led by Bouchard-Côté ___________.| A．will bring every dead language back to life | | B．can take the place of linguists in language analysis | | C．is of great help to promote language analysis with big data sets | | D．can merely reconstruct Asian-Pacific “protolanguages” |
|
Researchers in the psychology department at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) have discovered a major difference in the way men and women respond to stress. This difference may explain why men are more likely to suffer from stress-related disorders.
Until now, psychological research has maintained that both men and women have the same "fight-or-flight" reaction to stress. In other words, individuals either react with aggressive behavior, such as verbal or physical conflict ("fight"), or they react by withdrawing from the stressful situation ("flight"). However, the UCLA research team found that men and women have quite different biological and behavioral responses to stress. While men often react to stress in the fight-or-flight response, women often have another kind of reaction which could be called "tend and befriend." That is, they often react to stressful conditions by protecting and nurturing their young ("tend"), and by looking for social contact and support from others - especially other females ("befriend").
Scientists have long known that in the fight-or- flight reaction to stress, an important role is played by certain hormones(激素) released by the body. The UCLA research team suggests that the female tend-or-befriend response is also based on a hormone. This hormone, called oxytocin, has been studied in the context of childbirth, but now it is being studied for its role in the response of both men and women to stress. The principal investigator, Dr. Shelley E. Taylor, explained that "animals and people with high levels of oxytocin are calmer, more relaxed, more social, and less anxious." While men also secrete(分泌）oxytocin, its effects are reduced by male hormones.
In terms of everyday behavior, the UCLA study found that women are far more likely than men to seek social contact when they are feeling stressed. They may phone relatives or friends, or ask directions if they are lost.
The study also showed how fathers and mothers responded differently when they came home to their family after a stressful day at work. The typical father wanted to be left alone to enjoy some peace and quiet. For a typical mother, coping with a bad day at work meant focusing her attention on her children and their needs.
The differences in responding to stress may explain the fact that women have lower frequency of stress-related disorders such as high blood pressure or aggressive behavior. The tend-and-befriend regulatory(调节的) system may protect women against stress, and this may explain why women on average live longer than men.
小题1:The UCLA study shows that in response to stress, men are more likely than women to _____ .| A．turn to friends for help | B．solve a conflict calmly | | C．find an escape from reality | D．seek comfort from children |
小题2:Which of the following is true about oxytocin according to the passage?| A．Men have the same level of oxytocin as women do. | | B．Oxytocin used to be studied in both men and women. | | C．Both animals and people have high levels of oxytocin. | | D．Oxytocin has more of an effect on women than on men. |
小题3:What can be learned from the passage?| A．Male hormones help build up the body"s resistance to stress. | | B．In a family a mother cares more about children than a father does. | | C．Biological differences lead to different behavioral responses to stress. | | D．The UCLA study was designed to confirm previous research findings. |
小题4:Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?| A．How men and women get over stress | | B．How men and women suffer from stress | | C．How researchers overcome stress problems | | D．How researchers handle stress-related disorders |
|
最新试题
热门考点