Lesson 36 NCE Book 3

    We are {#blank#}1{#/blank#} than we used to be. In the nineteenth century, a novelist would bring his story to a conclusion by presenting his readers with {#blank#}2{#/blank#} —most of them wildly improbable. Readers happily {#blank#}3{#/blank#} that an obscure maidservant was really the hero's mother . A long-lost brother, who {#blank#}4{#/blank#} , was really alive all the time and wickedly plotting to bring about the hero's downfall. And so on. Modern readers would find {#blank#}5{#/blank#} totally unacceptable. …

Are you facing a situation that looks impossible to fix?

    In 1969, the pollution was terrible along the Cuyahoga River near Cleveland, Ohio. It {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(be) unimaginable that it could ever be cleaned up. The river was so polluted that it {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(actual) caught fire and burned. Now, years later, this river is one of {#blank#}3{#/blank#} most outstanding examples of environmental cleanup.

    But the river wasn't changed in a few days {#blank#}4{#/blank#} even a few months. It took years of work {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(reduce) the industrial pollution and clean the water. Finally, that hard work paid off and now the water in the river is {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (clean) than ever.

    Maybe you are facing an impossible situation. Maybe you have a habit {#blank#}7{#/blank#} is driving your family crazy. Possibly you drink too much or don't know how to control your credit card (信用卡) use. When you face such an impossible situation, don't you want a quick fix and something to change immediately?

    While there are {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(amaze) stories of instant transformation (转变)，for most of us the {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(change) are gradual and require a lot of effort and work, like cleaning up a polluted river. Just be {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(patience).

    In Canada and the United States, people enjoy entertaining(请客) at home. They often invite friends over{#blank#}1{#/blank#} a meal, a party, or just for coffee and conversation.

    Here are the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (kind) of things people say when they invite someone to their home: "Would you like to come over for dinner Saturday night?” "Hey, we{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(have) a party on Friday. Can you come?"

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(reply) to an invitation, either say thank you and accept, or say you're sorry and give an excuse: "Thanks, I'd love to. What time would you like me to come?" {#blank#}5{#/blank#}"Oh, sorry. I've tickets for a movie."

    Sometimes, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}, people use expressions that sound like invitations(邀请) but which are not real invitations. For example: "Please come over for a drink sometime." "Why not get together for a party sometime?" "Why don't you come over and see{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(we) sometime soon?"

    They are really just polite ways of {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(end) a conversation. They are not real invitations because they don't mention a specific(确定的) time or date. They just show that the person is trying to be{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(friend). To reply to expressions like these, people just say "Sure, that would be great!" or "OK. Yes, thanks."

    So next time when you hear what sounds like an invitation, listen {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(careful). Is it a real invitation or not?

Rose: I've just received a phone call saying I have an interview next week.

Alan: Congratulations! This is your first interview ever, isn't it?

Rose: Thank you! Yes. I'm quite {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (delight) that I've got the chance, but I'm very nervous at the same time. I'm eager {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (know) what I should do before an interview.

Alan: You should prepare well {#blank#}3{#/blank#}as to give proper responses during the interview.

Rose: Yeah, apart from my personal introduction, what else should I prepare?

Alan: You should collect as much information {#blank#}4{#/blank#} you can, about both the company and the position you're applying for.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} is important to show you've done some research. Then the interviewers will notice you've come with strong intentions.

Rose: Then what should I do when{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (interview)?

Alan: Smile at the interviewers and concentrate {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the questions that you will{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (ask). Look them in the eye. Remember not to avoid eye contact deliberately, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} shows that you are not confident enough.

Rose: Okay. Are there any other things I should pay attention to?

Alan: Yeah, wear formal clothes to your interview and be on time.{#blank#}10{#/blank#} in this way can you leave a good first impression on your interviewers.

    English is now the first language of about 400 million people, the mother language of 12 countries and the official language of one-fifth of the land area of the world, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} means one {#blank#}2{#/blank#} every seven people in the world speaks English.

    More and more people have found it important {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (learn) English well in recent years. In Italy, for example, English is a must for many technical jobs. In China, English is the {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (important) foreign language that is learned at school.

    The English language has never stopped changing. It always borrows words and phrases from other cultures to enlarge  {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (it) vocabulary. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (actual), modern English is quite different from what {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (use) hundreds of years ago.

    English is so widely used that it has become the standard language for {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (communicate) internationally. About 75% of the world's mail {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) in English. About 60% of the world's telephone calls are made in English and about 60% of the world's radio programs are broadcast in English. What's more, over half of the world's books and magazines are written in English. In {#blank#}10{#/blank#} word, English is now the world's first language.