F1 is a very fast car race. It is one of the most popular sports in the world. The drivers go at over
300 kilometers an hour every race. But F1 cars didn't always go so fast.
     In 1895, the first F1 race began in France. During that race, it took the drivers 48 hours to finish
580 kilometers. In 1901, the best drivers had an average (平均) speed of 100 kilometers an hour.
Modern grand prix (獎(jiǎng)品) F1 racing began in 1950 in Britain. Grand prix is French. It means "large
prize". Today, 12 teams and 24 drivers race to get points. There are races at different tracks (路線(xiàn)) all
over the world from March to October every year. There are also F2 and F3 racing. But the cars are
slower and less high-tech.
    During a F1 race, drivers have to make several stops to change tyres(輪胎) and put more petrol in
their cars. A team of people do these tasks together to make the stops short. Some people lift the car
up, others change the tyres. While this team works on the tyres, another person puts petrol in the car
and a different person cleans the driver's helmet. One more person talks to the driver about how to win.
It's amazing that all those people finish it in just a few seconds!
     During 100-meter races, people count the athletes' speed by 1/100th (0. 01) of a second, for example
10.81 seconds. In the world of car racing, however, the race has to be timed to 1/1,000th(0. 001) of a
second. That is 50 times faster than the time for a blink (眨眼).
     F1 cars look very colorful. First, cars of different teams have different colors. Then there are a lot
of advertisements on the cars.

1. The best drivers in F1 races can reach the speed of ____ an hour.

A. 100 kilometers
B. 300 kilometers
C. 580 kilometers
D. 1,000 kilometers

2. Modern grand prix F1 racing first began ____. 

A. in France
B. in Britain
C. in 1895
D. in 1901

3. Today F1 race is held ____. 

A. at different tracks all the year round
B. every month all over the world
C. from March to October every year
D. in France and Britain every year

4. When the driver makes stops in a race, a team of people will ____.  

A. help him make the stops short
B. lift the car up and change the tyres
C. put petrol in the car and clean the car
D. clean the driver's helmet

5. In the world of car racing, the race has to be timed to ____. 

A. second 
B. 10. 81 second
C. 1/100th of a second
D. 1/1,000th of a second

     Before you go to another country it is a great help if you know the language and some of the customs
of the country.
     When people meet each other for the rest time in Britain, they say, "How do you do?" and shake
hands. Usually they do not shake hands after they haven't met for a long time or when they will be away
from each other for a long time.
     Last year a group of German students went to England for a holiday. Their teacher told them that the
English people hardly shake hands, So when they met their English friends at the station, they kept their
hands behind their backs. The English students had learned that Germans shake hands as often as possible. So they put their hands in front and got ready to shake hands with them. It made all of them laugh.

1. If you are going to a foreign country, it is____ if you know the language and the customs of the country.

A. not useful
B. not helpful
C. very helpful
D. very sad

2. The English people usually shake hands when they ________.

A. meet every time
B. meet for the first time
C. say goodbye to each other
D. say hello to each other

3. Usually the English people don't shake hands________ .

A. when they won't be away for a long time
B. when they say "How do you do?"
C. when they just meet or say goodbye
D. after they haven't met for a long time

4. Which is RIGHT?

A. Germans shake hands as often as possible.
B. English people like shaking hands very much.
C. Germans hardly shake hands.
D. Neither the English people nor the Germans like shaking hands.

5. This story is about________ .

A. shaking hands
B. languages
C. customs
D. languages and customs

     American people like to say "Thank you" when others help them or say something kind to them.
People of many other countries do so, too. It is a very good habit.
     You should say "Thank you" .When someone passes you the salt on the table, or opens the door for
you, or says you have done your work well.
     "Thank you" is used not only between friends but also parents and children, brothers and sisters,
husbands and wives.
     "Excuse me" is another useful short sentence. When you hear someone say so behind you. You know
somebody wants to walk past you without touching you.
     It's not polite to interrupt (打斷) others when they are talking. If you want to speak to one of them,
say "Excuse me" first, and then begin talking. You should also do when you want to make any noise
before others.
     Let's all learn to say "Thank you" and "Excuse me".

1．________ like to say "Thank you" and "Excuse me".

A．Only American people
B．All the people except American
C．People in many counties
D．Few people outside China

2．You should say "Thank you" when ________.

A．someone helps you
B．you should make a mistake
C．you want to cough before others
D．you pass a glass of water to others

3．If you want to walk past somebody without touching him, you'd better say "________" first.

A．Don't move
B．How do you do
C．Stop here
D．Excuse me

4．When you hear others say your handwriting is excellent, you should say "________" first.

A．I'm so sorry
B．Excuse me
C．Thank you
D．How about yours

5．Which of the following is true?

A．We usually don't say "Excuse me" in daytime.
B．People say "Thank you" among the members of a family and between friends.
C．If you want to make any noise before others you should say "Thank you" first.
D．People say "Excuse me" only between brothers and sisters.