In her new book, “The Smartest Kidsin the World”, Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist, tells the story of Tom, a high-school student from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, who decides to spend his senior year in Wroclaw, Poland. Poland is a surprising educational success story: in the past decade, the country raised students’ test scores from significantly below average to well above it. Polish kids have now outscored American kids in math and science, even though Poland spends, on average, less than half as much per student as the United States does. One of the most striking differences between the high school Tom attended in Gettysburg and the one he ends up at in Wroclaw is that the latter has no football team or teams of any kind.

That American high schools spend more time and money on sports than on math is an old complaint. In December, when the latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) results are announced, it’s safe to predict that American high-school students will once again show their limited skills in math and reading, outscored not just by students in Poland but also by students in places like China, Finland, Singapore, and Japan. Meanwhile, they will have played some very exciting football games, which will have been breathlessly written up in their hometown papers.

Why does this situation continue? Well, for one thing, kids like it. And for another, according to Ripley, parents seem to like the arrangement, too. She describes a tour she took of a school in Washington D.C., which costs thirty thousand dollars a year. The tour leader — a mother with three children in the school — was asked about the school’s flaws (瑕疵). When she said that the math program was weak, none of the parents taking the tour reacted. When she said that the football program was weak, theu mean?”

One of the ironies of the situation is that sports show what is possible. American kids’ performance on the field shows just how well they can do when expectations are high. It’s too bad that their test scores show the same thing.

1.Tom decides to spend his senior year in Poland because _________.

A. he intends to improve his scores

B. Polish kids are better at learning

C. sports are not supported at schools in Gettysburg

D. he wants to be the smartest kid in the world

2.According to Paragraph 2, we know that _________.

A. PISA plays a very important role in America

B. little time is spent on sports in Japanese schools

C. American students do better in both math and sports

D. too much importance is placed on sports in America

3.The underlined sentence in the last paragraph means _________.

A. low expectations result in American students’ poor PISA performance

B. high expectations push up American students’ academic performance

C. American students’ academic performance worries their parents a lot

D. lacking practice contributes to American students’ average performance

4.The purpose of this article is to _________.

A. compare Polish schools with those in America

B. call on American schools to learn from the Polish model

C. draw public attention to a weakness in American school tradition

D. explain what is wrong with American schools and provide solutions

My 9 year old daughter and I were flying from our home in Carolina to spend a week with my husband in Florida.We were_______ about the trip because we hadn't seen him for five months,and______ her Dad terribly.

As usual on the Charlotte to Miami flight,the plane was totally______.Because we did not get our boarding passes until we_______ at the gate,Kallie and I could not get seats together and were_______ by the aisle(过道).I asked two passengers in my row if they would switch places with Kallie and me,______we could be together.They_______,saying they thought they should stay in their assigned seats.

Meanwhile,a mother and her three children were in a_______ several rows ahead of us.There had been a mistake in their boarding passes,and_______ the whole family had been split up.The passengers in her row_______ refused to move elsewhere.She was very_______ about the younger boy sitting with strangers.She was in tears,yet nobody_______ to help her.

There were a troop of Boy Scouts(童子军) on_______.Suddenly the Scout leader stood up and said,“Ma’am,I think we can help you.”He then_______ five minutes rearranging his group so that adequate space was_______ for the family.The boys followed his directions cheerfully and without_______,and the mother's relief was obvious.

Kallie,however,was beginning to panic at the______of not being next to me.I told her that there wasn’t anything I could do._______,the man sitting next to the Scoutmaster,_______to me and asked,“Would you and your daughter like our seats?” _______to himself and the Scoutmaster.We traded seats and continued our trip,very much relieved to be together and watch the scenery from Kallie’s window seat.

1.A.worried B.excited C.anxious D.eager

2.A.loved B.considered C.imagined D.missed

3.A.full B.crowded C.empty D.overweight

4.A.reached B.arrived C.landed D.knocked

5.A.divided B.blocked C.separated D.connected

6.A.in case B.even if C.as if D.so that

7.A.prevented B.refused C.agreed D.promised

8.A.panic B.hurry C.rush D.seat

9.A.however B.otherwise C.therefore D.instead

10.A.too B.even C.ever D.also

11.A.concerned B.curious C.particular D.content

12.A.suggested B.offered C.provided D.supplied

13.A.duty B.watch C.board D.spot

14.A.took B.cost C.paid D.spent

15.A.convenient B.available C.probable D.comfortable

16.A.permission B.excuse C.apology D.complaint

17.A.thought B.end C.feeling D.sense

18.A.Immediately B.Puzzlingly C.Clearly D.Amazingly

19.A.turned up B.turned around C.turned out D.turned away

20.A.sticking B.keeping C.waving D.referring

Starting in 1972,the National Park Service established a policy for forest fires called Natural Burn.It was acknowledged that some forest fires,such as those which were caused by lighting were necessary for forests to maintain(保持)balanced ecosystems,so the fire should be allowed to burn.However, a big fire in Yellowstone National Park in 1988 caused this policy to be abandoned since the fire was initially(最初)allowed to burn yet soon out of contro1.As a result,the fire of 1988 destroyed much of Yellowstone,which is America’s oldest and most beloved national park.Massive areas of plants were destroyed,and large empty spaces and acres of burned and blackened trees greeted visitors.The rivers and streams were choked with ash,and the ecosystem of the park was changed beyond repair.

In addition,great numbers of animals were killed by the fires that burned out of control.The fires were driven by high winds,moving as many as ten miles a day.Many small animals died in the flames.The fires’rapid advances gave the wildlife little chance to escape.Even today,few of these small forest animals have returned to live in the park.In the years immediately following the fires,the numbers of visitors declined.rapidly.No one was interested in seeing a blackened and treeless park on vacation.Yellowstone had previously been famous for its amazing views and unique geological formations such as the geyser(喷泉)Old Faithful.But now its reputation as America's wonder is damaged permanently.

1.Natural Burn was adopted because some forest fires were __________

A. hard to put out

B. started by lightning

C. good for the balance of nature

D. approved by National Park Service

2.The big fire in Yellowstone in 1988 __________.

A. became out of control at first

B. brought the natural burn policy to an end

C. was allowed to burn continuously

D. destroyed the park completely

3.Why were so many animals killed in the big fire?

A. Because winds were blown from high places.

B. Because the animals moved only ten miles a day.

C. Because the animals lived in lower places.

D. Because strong winds contributed to the fire a lot.

4.Yellowstone was famous for its _________.

A. rare animals

B. unique plants

C. beautiful scenery

D. 1ittle streams

5.The text probably comes from _________.

A. a geography magazine

B. a news report

C. a commercial ad

D. a science fiction

Beacon Rock State Park

There are 33 tent sites in this park, as well as primitive(原始的) camping areas. Seven miles of trails make this a nice location for bikers and hikers, too. The towering Beacon Rock, the result of a volcano thousands of years ago, is climbable. There's a 4, 500 feet trail up the rock, which promises the best view in all of Washington.

34841 State Route 14

Skamania, WA 98648

(800)452­5687

Boundary Dam and Pend Oreille River

The Boundary Dam(坝) area sits on 1,000 acres in northeast Washington. Primitive campsites are nestled into forested areas along the Pend Oreille River. Wildlife is common here. Bear, deer and small animals are a frequent site. If primitive camping isn't your style, there's a second campground within the park, 2 miles north of the dam which is outfitted with grills, picnic tables and toilets.

Hwy. 31

Metaline Falls, WA 99153

(509) 536­1200

Fort Casey State Park

Located on Whidbey Island in Washington, Fort Casey State Park used to be home to a US Coast Guard Artillery Fort dating back to the late 1890s. With 63 picnic tables, 1.25 miles of trails, 35 standard camping sites and 3 primitive tent sites, this park is filled with things to see and do. Boating, fishing and hiking are all available on the island.

PO Box 774

Coupeville, WA 98239

(800) 452­5689

Sun Lakes State Park

A chain of 7 lakes and rocky canyons (峡谷) make up this State Park. Hiking trails, boat rentals, fishing equipment and more, make this a camping area full of fun. There are 162 standard campsites. Ten group sites are also available. With 15 miles of hiking trails, canyons and rocky desert lands, this park is not only beautiful, but enjoyable.

34875 Park Lake Road NE

Coulee City, WA 99115

(800)233­0321

1.If we want to see wild animals, we should go to________.

A. Boundary Dam and Pend Oreille River

B.Beacon Rock State Park

C.Fort Casey State Park

D.Sun Lakes State Park

2.Which of the following is true about Fort Casey State Park?

A.Climbing is an activity in the park.

B.It is not far away from Washington.

C.We can go around the park by bike.

D.There are many kinds of fun activities.

3.In order to know more about Beacon Rock State Park, we should dial________.

A.(800)233­0321 B.(800)452­5687

C.(509)536­1200 D.(800)452­5689

4.Sun Lakes State Park is different from others in that________.

A.there are quite a lot of primitive trees

B.a river runs through the whole park

C.there are many standard campsites

D.it is made up of lakes and valleys

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