(Q).
Now more and more people communicate by sending messages with mobile phones, sending e-mails or even chatting on line. How about our pen, pencil or paper? Which one do you think is easier and more convenient, handwriting or texting ? Today, texting is the most common way of communication, even among young students. People don't write letters anymore. They usually send e-mails to their friends. From texting to e-mails, it seems like keyboard are _ the good old pencil and paper. As a result, many students are poor in handwriting. Some even don't know how to write normal words we often use. In order to improve students handwriting skills, the British government recently decided to open handwriting lessons in middle schools. The British government hopes the students will be able to learn how to write business and personal letters properly at any length . The students will also be taught different kinds of writings. They will also learn to use correct spelling, punctuations and grammar. The handwriting lessons will begin in 2014. Why don't you practice handwriting and write letters to your family and friends to surprise them? When will the British government begin the handwriting lessons? A) In 2004 B) In 2012 C) In 2013 D) In 2014
(A).
D

(Q).
Nowadays, lots of students in Shenzhen complain that they have too much homework. Because of this, they feel unhappy about learning at school. According to a survey, a pupil has to spend two hours finishing the homework every day. It usually takes three hours for a middle school student and four hours for a high school student to finish the homework every day. Students in Grade Nine often do their homework until midnight. And all of them have to get up at as early as six o'clock the next morning. Mr. Li, a doctor in a hospital, told me yesterday, "Half of the students in Shenzhen are sub-healthy . The lack of sleep makes them tired and their health is becoming poorer and poorer." Many parents worry about _ . Mr. Li said _ of the students in Shenzhen were sub-healthy. A) all B) half C) few D) none
(A).
B

(Q).
Everyone has his own birthday. People in different countries celebrate their birthdays in different ways. Here are four people from different countries. They will tell us how they celebrate their birthdays in their countries. Sandy Morrison comes from Madrid . He says happily, "My twenty-first birthday is on a Saturday, and I'm going to go out with some friends. To wish me a happy birthday, they are going to pull(,)on my ear, once for each year. It is an old custom . Some people pull on the ear just once, but my friends are very traditional ." Mr. and Mrs. Sato are from Tokyo. Mr. Sato is going to be sixty tomorrow. In Japan, the sixtieth birthday is called Kanreki---it's the beginning of a new life. The colour red is for a new life, so they always give something red for a sixtieth birthday. Mrs Sato says, "What am I going to give my husband? I can't say. It's a surprise ." Li Xiaomei from Beijing feels very excited and tells us. "Tomorrow is my sixteenth birthday. It's a special birthday. So we're going to have a family party. I'm probably going to get some money in 'lucky' envelopes from my relatives. My mother is going to cook noodles --- noodles are for a long life." Phillip Evans, from Paris, smiles to us, "I'm going to be thirty next week, so I'm going to invite three very good friends out to dinner. In France, when you have birthday, you often invite people out. In some countries, I know it's the opposite---- people take you out." Which of the following is not true? A) Li Xiaomei gets some money on her birthday. B) Mrs. Sato will give something red to her husband tomorrow. C) People in Madrid celebrate their birthdays by pulling on the ear. D) In France, when someone has birthday, his friends often ask him to have dinner.
(A).
D