Claude Monet's paintings were quite different from the art styles that were popular in the 1870s France. Traditional artists always did their artwork in a studio and their paintings were realistic-they looked exactly like the real world. Claude Monet was part of a group of painters who were called Impressionists(印象派画家). Their paintings were light and a bit fuzzy-they gave an impression of what the real world looked like. Sometimes Impressionists worked outside, which was a very unusual thought in their time. Impressionism received its name from an early painting by Claude Monet titled impression, Sunrise.

    Knowing that trains were interesting subjects and represented modern progress, Claude Monet crated a series of Impressionist paintings of trains from January to March of 1877. He worked on his paintings right on the train platform at the Gare Saint-Lazare, the train station on Saint Lazare Street. Although there were many train stations in Paris, this was the first train station built in Paris so it had historical significance(意义).

    Monet's friend, Impressionist painter Pierre Auguste Renoir, told the following story to his sons about Claude Monet and painting the trains. Monet needed permission(允许)to spend time on the train platform and paint what he saw in his impressionistic style. One day Monet dressed himself in his very best suit along with a fine top hat, a good linen shirt and a silk tie. He appeared to be a wealthy gentleman while he really was a poor painter.

    When he went towards the clerk at the train office, he presented his calling card which introduced him as Claude Monet, Painter. He asked to see the station master. The clerk quickly allowed this fine gentleman to enter the station master's office. The station master was also impressed and gave Monet permission to paint on the train platform. The station master even kept trains from leaving on time so Monet could complete a scene even though passengers complained.

    Was it all worthwhile(值得)? Monet's train scenes turned his career into a success and for the station master, made his train station famous until even now.

Claude Monet

    Erin and her friend Amy flew into San Diego last week. They are both in their mid-20s，and both are nurses who live in Georgia. It was their first visit to California，and they were excited.

    They headed north to Los Angeles. They visited many places in Hollywood. They hoped they would see lots of actors and actors' homes. If they got lucky，they would get some autographs and maybe even some photographs of them standing next to a movie star.

    But they were disappointed. A car took them on a tour past actors，homes，but no actors were outside their homes. The homes themselves were hardly visible (看得见的).They were often hidden by tall gates，fences (栅栏)，walls or trees. Later，however， Erin and Amy were able to put their hands and feet into the handprints and footprints of movie stars at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

    Erin and Amy drove to Burbank the next day to watch the taping of a Jay Leno show， but the line was so long that they decided to give up. Instead they went to a mall and had a great time shopping. They flew back to Georgia with souvenirs，photos，and wonderful memories. Amy said，”Next time，we're not leaving until we see some real live actors!”

⑴题为判断正误；⑵题完成句子；⑶⑷题简要回答问题；⑸题找出近义句。

    Before you visit a country, knowing about the customs of the country is important and useful. Here are 4 customs you should know before traveling to Japan.

    No. 4 is avoided at all cost.

    In Japan, the number "four" is avoided because it sounds very similar to the word for death. No. 4 is very unlucky as No, 13 in Western culture. And it is used as little as possible. You must always avoid giving anyone something in fours because it can be seen as a very ominous(不吉利的)gt.No.49 is especially unlucky, as it sounds similar to the phrase that means "pain until death". The practice of avoiding No. 4 is called" Tetraphobia (四的禁忌)" and it is common in many East Asian and Southeast Asian regions.

    People will sleep on the trains with their head on your shoulder.

    If someone in Japan falls asleep with his or her head on your shoulder, it is common practice to Just tolerate(容忍) it, because the place where most people work is far from their homes. After working long hours, many people will get very tired and often fall asleep on the train.

    You must always bring a host a gift.

    If you want to visit someone, you must always bring a gift. The gift shoud also be wrapped(包). You should also never refuse a gift if someone visits you.

    Pouring your own glass is considered rude.

    It is common in the US and many other countries in the world to serve others before you serve yourself, _____in Japan you shouldn't pour yourself a drink. If you have poured for others, another guest will hope to see that your drink is empty and pour for you.

⑴题完成句子; ⑵~⑶题简略回答问题; ⑷题找出并写下全文的主题句; ⑸题将文中画线句子译成汉语

Language Learning Tips

    Singing in the Shower One of the most pleasant ways to practice a new language is to sing your favorite songs while you're taking a shower. Then you can take a look at the lyrics to see if you've missed any words. Have fun, but don't waste too much water

—By Maria

    Don't Worry About Mistakes! Don't worry too much about mistakes. It's a part of learning a new language and you'll learn much more quickly by having a try at speaking than by saying nothing. In fact. People are only pleased to hear you trying to speak their language and think it's OK if you don't get it exactly right

—By Lee

    Talk to Your Animal Friends I talk to my pets in other languages, give them a common name in that language, and have them talk back in the language. My dog Ben, seems to understand me well even in a new language.

—By Keith

    Record Your Voice Listen to the made by a native speaker. Read the same text and record your voice. Now listen to both of them carefully to find out the differences and the weak points in your pronunciation. It's a great way to improve your speaking skills

—By Shirin

    Life is full of difficulties, from birth to death. When we face with problems, we often feel, "I am the only one having such problems." Or, we exaggerate (放大) our problems and regard them as most painful. But if we look around us, we will find other people may be in much worse conditions.

    Life is not always full of smiles and flowers. Every person has his own difficulties no matter who and where he is. So it's very important to have a correct attitude in your life. Only with the correct attitude can you face up all of your difficulties and finally overcome (战胜) them. First, you have to believe in yourself. That's the secret of success. Second don't blame others when you have difficulties, because it can neither help you avoid difficulties nor help you solve them. And the most important thing is that don't run away or give up. Use your ability to clear the difficulties that appear in your life. Third, remember how you overcome the difficulty because it may help you avoid similar trouble next time. Just take it easy, and enjoy the life even it's full of difficulties.

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