It may be hard to believe, but the American Revolution(革命)—the war that freed the American states from British control—began over a cup of tea. Tea was not the only thing that caused the war, of course, but it played a very big part.

    The British people's love of tea is well-known. When the British won control over mush of North America in the early 1700s, they brought their tea- drinking habits with them. Tea quickly became the continents most popular drink. As tea could not be grown locally, just as in Britain, it was shipped into the country—mostly from India.

In the early 1700s, the Britain government made a special deal with the East India Company, as an English trading company. They agreed that no other company was allowed to bring tea to Britain or any country controlled by Britain, including America. It was a great deal for the East India Company, since it meant that the company could decide whatever price it wanted for its products. And it always decided on a high price!

In North America, the local people did not like having to pay such high prices. Instead of overpaying for tea from the British, they turned to Dutch traders, who secretly brought tea to the country that was just as good—and much less expensive. Although this broke the law, the American people didn't care. They got the same cup of tea at a much lower price.

The East India Company, however, didn't like this at all. By the 1760s, they were losing millions of pounds each year to Dutch traders—a huge amount of money in a time when ￡60 a year was considered a good income. Instead of reducing their prices to compete with the Dutch, the company asked the British government for help and the government agreed.

    In 1767, the British introduced new law that increased the prices of all goods which were brought into America. These laws helped make the East India Company even richer and forced local people to pay much more for everything. The American leaders asked the British government not to do so, but the British refused to listen. These unfair laws increased Americans' anger about British rule and the rest, as they say, is history.

    Every day, it is easy to see advertisements in English all around us. Look at your own bags and clothes, and at the bags and clothes of your classmates. How many different advertisements can you see which use English words?

Often bags and clothes show the name of the company that made them. This is a popular form. A special picture or symbol called a lo go(标识语)is sometimes used. Logos appear on many different products(产品). They are popular because when you see a logo, it is hard to forget that product or company.

    It is common to see advertisements on TV and hear them on the radio. Most advertisements are very short. Sometimes the advertisers use a short sentence which is easy for people to say and remember. Nike, for example, has a simple English sentence which is used all around the world: “Just do it.” Advertisements often use funny situations as well. It is simple to remember it.

    All advertisements are designed(设计) to make people buy a product. An advertisement for a soft drink, for example, might show a group of young people who are having fun. The young people are all drinking the soft drink. Advertisers are saying to you, “Why don't you buy this drink and be like these people? You can be young and modern.”

    You might think that advertisements are not after you, but next time you buy a soft drink, ask yourself this question: Why am I buying this particular(特别的) product?

    In Britain, people usually begin their talks with weather. For example, they will say “It's a fine day, isn't it?” “Do you think it will rain?”

    Many people believe that they are able to tell what the weather will be like. But they never agree with each other. One man may say, “How cloudy (阴的) it is now! It's going to rain.” Another man will say, “No, it's going to be fine later.”

    People always hope the weather they want. For example, when a farmer needs water, he looks for something to tell him it's going to rain. When a man wants to travel, he is sure the weather will be fine quickly.

    Now almost everyone listens to the weather report. It doesn't always tell us the weather we want, it only tells us what the weather will be like. But sometimes it makes mistakes(错误).

根据短文内容，选择正确答案。

     Friendship Day in India falls on the first Sunday of August every year. It is celebrated with many activities.

     Young people in India spend the day with their closest friends and have fun together. Most youngsters in India plan a movie or have a meal with their friends. Some friends may go on a drive to tourist places. Some friends go to the supermarket for shopping. On Friendship Day, most stores offer discounted prices for customers and it is a perfect day to buy something for friends.

    Some friends go to parties that are organized by many restaurants. Such parties are very enjoyable. You can get food at a discounted price. Some friends just decide to meet up at someone's home and talk about their happy time. The time good friends spend sitting together and talking over a cup of coffee is wonderful.

    Long-distance friends call up each other on this day and wish each other with warm feelings. Some of them even plan to meet up on this day. Yet some others plan a surprising visit just to see their friend gasp in shock!