Read the passage and fill in the blanks with proper words. （在短文的空格内填入适当的词，使其内容通顺，每空格限填一词，首字母已给）：

Some people think that as more and more people have televisions in their homes, fewer and fewer people will buy books and newspapers. Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can b1. you the information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read a novel （小说）, when a play on television can tell you the s2. story with color, picture and action?

H3., television has not killed reading. Today, newspapers and magazines sell in very large numbers. And books of every kind are sold more than ever before. Although some books with hard covers are expensive, books are still a c4. way to get information and entertainment. Some types of books should be in our homes. Every home should have a good dictionary. It might be expensive, but a good encyclopedia（百科全书）is also useful because you can find information on a5. subject. In addition, it is useful to have on your bookshelves other books such as history books, science textbooks, cook books, books about medicine and health, etc. It is also important to have some storybooks or novels. Then you can r6. with a good story and have a rest quietly.

Read the passage and answer the following questions. （回答问题）：

When it comes to the letter grade on your test or homework, you might notice that there is no letter (字母) E. Have you ever thought about why that is so?

In the A, B, C, D and F grading system, the first four letters are considered passing grades. An F in this system simply stands for “fail”. The word “fail” happens to start with the letter F, which seems to leave out the letter E. However, E grade actually has been used pretty commonly throughout the history of letter grades in the US.

The first college in the US to use a letter grading system like the ones we use today is Mount Holyoke College. In 1897, they began to use the following grading scale:

A: 95-100% (excellent) B: 85-94% (good) C: 76-84% (fair)

D: 75% (barely passed) E: below 75% (failed)

We can see the E grade instead of F grade.

Gradually, the letter grading system became more popular throughout the US. Later, many schools decided to change the E grade and into the F grade. There is no evidence (证据) to really support this, but one possible explanation is that teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”.

Why do we have letter grades? Well, part of the reason is that they made grading simpler. As the 20th century began, school classrooms became bigger. Most teachers at that time thought this new letter grading system was an easy, fair and clear way to grade students.

Today, more and more people argue that letter grades don’t fully reflect (反映) student learning. However, as teachers try to improve grading methods, many parents still prefer the letter grades because they are familiar and easy for parents to understand. Although they might not be perfect, the letter grades probably aren’t going away any time soon.

1.It there a letter E in the grading system now?

____________________________________________________________

2.What does an F stand for in the A.B.C.D and F grading system?

____________________________________________________________

3.When was the letter grading system first used in the US college?

____________________________________________________________

4.What is the one of the possible reasons for changing the E grade and into the F grade?

____________________________________________________________

5.How did most teachers like the letter grading system in the 20th century?

____________________________________________________________

6.Do you want to get letter grades or number scores on your test or homework? Why?

____________________________________________________________

Writing. （写作）：

Write a passage of at least 60 words on the topic “Numbers”.

__________________________________

——He got an A in last week's math test.

——It is ________ ! His math is always the worst.

A.possible B.simple C.impossible D.bored

After two hours' drive, the driver decided ________ and have a rest.

A.stop B.to stop C.stopping D.stopped

—Alice didn't go to the party ______her illness.

—I'm sorry to hear that.

A.because B.but C.so D.because of

The book is ________ for us to read and it's also fun.

A.difficult enough B.enough easy C.enough difficult D.easy enough

(2018·山东临沂) Could you please speak a little louder? I ______ hear you very well.

A.can’t B.mustn’t

C.shouldn’t D.needn’t

The more careful you are, the _____ mistakes you will make.

A.fewer B.fewest C.less D.least

—Does your mother have a hobby?

—No, _______ you call going shopping a hobby.

A. unless B. because C. although D. if