Although many Chinese students say their knowledge of English grammar is good, most would admit that their spoken English is poor. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, their spoken English does not have to remain poor. I would suggest that there may be some reasons for their problems with spoken English.

    First, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Obviously the better answer is to expand their vocabulary. However, you can speak, with a limited vocabulary if your attitude is positive. Others will follow you as long as you use the words that you know.

    Second, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Sometimes they make mistakes when they are speaking because they are shy and nervous. Yet students should remember that their goal should be FLUENCY NOT ACCURACY. You want to get your message across, to talk to someone in English, as quickly and as well as you can, even though sometimes you may use a wrong word or tense, but it doesn't matter because the person you are speaking to will understand you and make allowance for any mistakes he hears.

    Third, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.You have one mouth but two ears! All that hearing is necessary for you to start speaking.

    Fourth, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Instead of actively seeking out opportunities to improve their spoken English, they passively wait for speaking opportunities to come to them and wonder why their spoken English always remains poor. If you have this proactive outlook，then you will see English opportunities wherever you go.

A. not enough attention is paid to listening.

B. they fail to find suitable words to express themselves because of limited vocabulary.

C. most Chinese students are not active language learners.

D. They are so stupid that they cannot finish their necessary homework in time.

E. Whenever I speak to Chinese students they always say, “My spoken English is poor.”

F. it is no use crying over spilt milk.

G. they are afraid of making mistake.

    Steel is a hard metal that people use to make many different products. Car bodies, bridges, building frames, and containers are just a few of the things made from steel. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But steel is better than iron in many ways. Steel is stronger but lighter than iron. Steel also lasts longer than iron.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Then they add carbon to the liquid iron. They may also add other materials to make different types of steel. For example, steel with added chromium（铬）is called stainless steel. It will not rust（生锈）or stain. Finally, workers use machines to cool the liquid steel into bars or long sheets.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    People made the first steel as early as 1400 BC. Ancient people heated iron inside a pile of burning charcoal（木炭）. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. The result was not the same as modern steel, but it was stronger than regular iron.

    In the 1800s people began to use huge ovens to make large amounts of steel. In the late 1800s builders used steel to make some of the first skyscrapers. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. In the 1900s new processes made steel-making easier. Today steel remains one of the most popular building materials in the world.

A. This added carbon to the iron.

B. Steel is quite different from iron.

C. The hardened steel may then be made into products.

D. Steel is basically iron mixed with a little carbon.

E. Then they will be cooled and put on the market.

F. To make steel, workers hear iron until it melts.

G. They also used steel to make large, modern bridges.

New Year's Day in China

    National holidays in China are those festivals decided by the government that everyone gets to enjoy. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} These holidays fall into two types: those that all citizens enjoy nationwide, and those that some citizens enjoy. New Year's Day is one that is enjoyed by people all over the country.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They celebrate the New Year like people all over the world. Since ancient times, the day has been called “Yuandan” by the Chinese. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} “Dan” means “day”，so joined together the words mean “first day of a year”. For 3,000 years，China has greeted Yuandan with joyful ceremonies.

    Because of the different longitudes (经度) upon which countries lie in the world, the time of the celebration changes. China is the twelfth country to celebrate the event and the people are rewarded with one day's vacation. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} And organizations and schools hold parties to let everyone enter the joyful atmosphere of the festival. Sincere good wishes are sent by people's smiles and wonderful performances at parties. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. “Yuan” means “at the beginning”.

B. Many colorful programs are shown on TV.

C. It's a day for the working people worldwide.

D. New Year's Day is a big holiday for the Chinese people.

E. Everyone has the right to get off work during these holidays.

F. You can read about how, where，and when to watch the program.

G. Great hopes for an excellent year are planted in everyone's mind.

    It's Friday morning, and you're taking another test. Are you ready? Students who do well on tests often have good study skills, but good study skills involve a lot of preparations as well as studying. Here are a few simple strategies（策略）that will help.

    Read ahead. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Highlight or make notes of things that you feel are important, and share your thoughts during classroom discussions. Also, by reading ahead, class time can be used more efficiently to discuss questions or topics that need clarification. Clarifying questions in class will free up more time to review and study the new material at home.

    Take good notes. Good notes make great studying tools. Good note taking involves a lot more than copying notes from the board. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Pay attention to textbook pages that are relevant to the discussion.

    Make flashcards. Flashcards are great review tools for basic math facts or word definitions. Write the word or question on one side and the definition or answer on the other side. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Make one pile for flashcards that were remembered, and make one pile for flashcards not remembered. The more you review the flashcards, the smaller the flashcards pile not remembered should be.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Get together with a few friends and quiz each other on the material and notes you've collected for the test. Explain or describe in your own words what the material is about, and compare the information you have collected with each other.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Being prepared for class, participating during class, and reviewing after class are good strategies so that you have the most accurate and best materials to study.

A. Study in a group

B. Review notes daily

C. As you review them, make two piles

D. Doing it helps you better prepare for class

E. There are many things you can do to improve your studying skills

F. You are becoming more familiar with the concepts and topics discussed

G. Make sure to include any relevant information from the classroom discussions

    Kids love to go online. There is so much to explore and learn. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The answer to the question is as difficult as determining at what age a child can be left at home by themselves, since all children are different. Here are some question to ask yourself to determine what is right for your child.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Of course when you are trying to determine if you can let him or her go online, your child has probably already said, “I'm ready; I can handle it.” But are they? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} How would they handle the material if they ran across it by accident?

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Does your child question other people's actions? Do they easily believe anything that is presented to them? It is an important question to ask to determine if your child is ready to go online alone.

    Have you taught them what the dangers are?

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Have you explained to them that there are people out there that might want to do them harm? It is a dangerous world out there. If you are going to let them wander around in the online world, they need to be prepared for what they might see or run into.

A. Is your child easy to cheat?

B. There are a lot of dangers online.

C. Are they ready to go online by themselves?

D. Is your child skilled in using a computer?

E. Unfortunately there is a lot of unpleasant material online.

F. At what age should you allow your child to go online alone?

G. You may be thinking this is a strange question to ask yourself.

How to be safe when you are travelling on your own

    Be sure to arrive during daytime {#blank#}1{#/blank#} People looking to prey (欺骗)on tourists can do it with ease at night. Make sure your arrival time will get you where you are going during daylight hours.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Make sure to keep your money in a money belt, keep your credit cards in another place, and your passport in another.

    Look for people to group up with Have you met friendly people at the bar? See if they want to join you when you go out for dinner. See if there's a tour group you can join up with.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    It can be a struggle to carry a lot of bags around on your own. If criminals see you struggling, they may use the opportunity to grab one of your suitcases. Before you leave, be sure you can carry your luggage quickly and smoothly. If you can't, it's time to cut down your bags.

    Trust your instincts(直觉)

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you have a bad feeling about something, it's probably for a reason and it's best to go with your instincts. Even if your concerns are nothing, it can't hurt to listen to them.

A. Store important things separately.

B. Travel with as little luggage as possible.

C. Never get close to possible dangers wherever you are.

D. Surrounding yourself with others will help keep you protected.

E. Ensure that your family and friends know exactly where you are anytime.

F. This is when bus stations, airports, and hotels will be at their most active.

G. If something makes you suspicious or nervous, it's better to be careful and avoid it.