American schools are looking for ways to save money on bus transportation because of high fuel prices.More children may have to walk, ride their bikes or find other ways to get to school.
But, as another effect of the high prices, they may not have to go to school as often.Some schools, especially in rural areas, are changing to a four-day week.That means longer days instead of the traditional Monday through Friday schedule.
Beginning in the fall, students in the Maccray school district in Minnesota will be in school Tuesday through Friday.Each school day will be sixty-five minutes longer.
Superintendent.(教育厅长)Greg Schmidt says the district expects to save about sixty-five thousand dollars a year in transportation costs.The district has about seven hundred students living in an area of nine hundred square kilometers.
State officials have agreed to the plan for three years.They may change their minds before then if learning suffers.In Custer, South Dakota, students have been going to school Monday through Thursday since 1995.Superintendent Tim Creal says the change has saved an estimated(估计)one million dollars over just the past eight years.
But he sees other benefits, too.Students get more instructional time.And activities that used to prevent classes are now held on non-school days.
He says that in the future, the growth of online classes could make it possible to require even fewer days in school.High fuel prices are driving college students to take more online classes.And in some states, high school students can take them, too.
A four-day school week sounds like a great idea for students and teachers.But working parents may have to pay for child care for that fifth day.In agricultural areas, though, it can mean an extra day of helping on the family ranch.
In New Mexico, the first school district changes to a four-day week in 1974 because of the Arab oil boycott.Now, seventeen out of eighty-nine districts use it.
The Lake Arthur School District has just one hundred and sixty students.Lake Arthur used a four-day schedule for twelve years.But a few years ago it went back to five days.Michael Grossman heads the district.He says two studies there failed to show any real educational improvement using the four-day week.And he says not much instruction was taking place during the last hour of school, because teachers and students were too tired.
(1)
Which of the following is NOT the effect high fuel prices have on American schools?
[ ]
A.
It will take less time to go to school.
B.
More money will be spent on bus transportation.
C.
Walking or riding to school will be more popular.
D.
Alternative ways to get to school may be taken.
(2)
What is the attitude of state officials towards the four-day school week according to paragraph 5?
[ ]
A.
They are simply positive about its effect.
B.
They are ready to change it if teachers or students are against it.
C.
They are totally negative to it though it is passed.
D.
It has taken three years before they finally support it.
(3)
According to Michael Grossman, what is the disadvantage of the four-day schedule?
[ ]
A.
Students and teachers will have to work hard in class.
B.
Parents will have to pay more for child care.
C.
Teachers will get less pay for their work.
D.
Students benefit less in the last hour of class.
(4)
By comparing all the American schools that took a four-day schedule for a period of time, we know that ________.
[ ]
A.
all the students give a warm welcome
B.
the plan cannot save as much money as expected
C.
there will be a long way to go for the schedule to be improved
D.
most schools will go back to the traditional schedule
Below is a page adapted from an English dictionary.
stick
verb(stuck, stuck)
push sth in
[+adv./prep.] to push sth, usually a sharp object, into sth; to be pushed into sth:[VN] The nurse stuck the needle into my arm.◆ Don't stick your fingers through the bars of the cage.◆ [V] I found a nail sticking in the tyre.
attach
[+adv./prep.] to fix sth to sth else, usually with a sticky substance; to become fixed to sth in this way:[VN] He stuck a stamp on the envelope.◆ We used glue to stick the broken pieces together.◆ I stuck the photos into an album.◆ [V] Her wet clothes were sticking to her body.◆ The glue's useless-the pieces just won't stick.
put
[VN +adv./prep.](informal)to put sth in a place, especially quickly or carelessly:Stick your bags down there.◆ He stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled off.◆ Can you stick this on the noticeboard? ◆ Peter stuck his head around the door and said, 'Coffee, anyone?' ◆(spoken)Stick 'em up!(=put your hands above your head-I have a gun)
become fixed
[V]~(in sth)to become fixed in one position and impossible to move:The key has stuck in the lock.◆ This drawer keeps sticking.
difficult situation
(BrE, informal)(usually used in negative sentences and questions)to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation or person:[VN] I don't know how you stick that job.◆ They're always arguing-I can't stick it any longer.◆ The problem is, my mother can't stick my boyfriend.◆ [V -ing] John can't stick living with his parents.
become accepted
[V] to become accepted:The police couldn't make the charges stick(=show them to be true).◆ His friends called him Bart and the name has stuck(=has become the name that everyone calls him).
[V] to not take any more cards
Idioms:stick in your mind(of a memory, an image, etc.)to be remembered for a long time:One of his paintings in particular sticks in my mind.
stick in your throat/craw(informal)
(of words)to be difficult or impossible to say:She wanted to say how sorry she was but the words seemed to stick in her throat.
(of a situation)to be difficult or impossible to accept; to make you angry
stick your neck out(informal)to do or say sth when there is a risk that you may be wrong:I'll stick my neck out and say that Bill is definitely the best candidate for the job.
stick to your guns(informal)to refuse to change your mind about sth even when other people are trying to persuade you that you are wrong
Phrasal Verbs:stick around(informal)to stay in a place, waiting for sth to happen or for sb to arrive:Stick around; we'll need you to help us later.
stick at sth to work in a serious and determined way to achieve sth:If you want to play an instrument well, you've got to stick at it.
stick by sb [no passive] to be loyal to a person and support them, especially in a difficult situation:Her husband was charged with fraud but she stuck by him.
stick by sth [no passive] to do what you promised or planned to do:They stuck by their decision.
stick sth<->down(informal)to write sth somewhere:I think I'll stick my name down on the list.
stick out to be noticeable or easily seen:They wrote the notice in big red letters so that it would stick out.
stick sth<->out(of sth)to be further out than sth else or come through a hole; to push sth further out than sth else or through a hole:His ears stick out.◆ She stuck her tongue out at me.◆ Don't stick your arm out of the car window.
stick to sth
to continue doing sth in spite of difficulties:She finds it impossible to stick to a diet.
to continue doing or using sth and not want to change it:He promised to help us and he stuck to his word(=he did as he had promised).◆ 'Shall we meet on Friday this week?' 'No, let's stick to Saturday.' ◆ She stuck to her story.
stick together(informal)(of people)to stay together and support each other:We were the only British people in the town so we tended to stick together.
stick up to point upwards or be above a surface:The branch was sticking up out of the water.
stick with sb/sth [no passive](informal)
to stay close to sb so that they can help you:Stick with me and I'll make you a millionaire!
to continue with sth or continue doing sth:They decided to stick with their original plan.
noun
from tree
[C] a thin piece of wood that has fallen or been broken from a tree:We collected dry sticks to start a fire.◆ The boys were throwing sticks and stones at the dog.◆ Her arms and legs were like sticks(=very thin).
for walking
[C](especially BrE)=WALKING STICK:The old lady leant on her stick as she talked.
in sport
[C] a long thin object that is used in some sports to hit or control the ball:a hockey stick
long thin piece
[C](often in compounds)a long thin piece of sth:a stick of dynamite ◆ carrot sticks ◆(AmE)a stick of butter
[C](often in compounds)a thin piece of wood or plastic that you use for a particular purpose:pieces of pineapple on sticks ◆ The men were carrying spades and measuring sticks.
in plane/vehicle
[C](informal, especially AmE)the control stick of a plane
[C](informal, especially AmE)a handle used to change the GEARS of a vehicle
for orchestra
[C] a BATON, used by the person who CONDUCTS an orchestra
criticism
[U](BrE, informal)criticism or harsh words:The referee got a lot of stick from the home fans.
country areas
(the sticks)[pl.](informal)country areas, a long way from cities:We live out in the sticks.
person
[C](old-fashioned, BrE, informal)a person:He's not such a bad old stick.
(1)
When Jimmy says:“Every morning, I have to take the crowded bus to school, which I really can't stick.”, he may feel _________.
[ ]
A.
worried
B.
curious
C.
annoyed
D.
discouraged
(2)
Due to her fashionable dress, the woman stuck out when she was walking in the street.“stuck out” in this sentence means “_________”.
[ ]
A.
be noticeable
B.
be followed
C.
be admired
D.
be envied
(3)
When I was in trouble, Paul was the only one who _________ to help me.
[ ]
A.
stuck in his throat
B.
stuck together
C.
stuck up
D.
stuck his neck out
(4)
Sally said to me:“Try a peaceful life out in the sticks, and you will experience something totally different.” She means _________.
[ ]
A.
I should go to the woods to enjoy a new life.
B.
I should ignore the criticism and enjoy myself.
C.
I should go to the remote areas to have a change.
D.
I should go out by plane instead of by train to change my feelings.