题目内容

High school dropouts(辍学者)earn an average of $9000 less per year than graduates.Now a new study dispels a common belief why they quit.It’s much more basic than flunking out(不及格).

Society tends to think of high school dropouts as kids who just can’t cut it.They are lazy, and perhaps not too bright.So researchers were surprised when they asked more than 450 kids who quit school about why they left.

“The vast majority actually had passing grades and they were confident that they could have graduated from high school, ” John Bridgeland, the executive researcher said.About 1 million teens leave school each year.Only about half of African-American and Hispanic(美籍西班牙的)student will receive a diploma(证书), and actually all dropouts come to regret their decision.So, if failing grades don’t explain why these kids quit, what does?Again, John Bridgeland:“The most dependable finding was that they were bored.”“They found classes uninteresting; they weren’t inspired or motivated.They didn’t see any direct connection between what they were learning in the classroom to their own lives, or to their career aspirations.”

The study found that most teens who do drop out wait until they turn sixteen, which happens to be the age at which most states allow students to quit.In the US, only one state, New Mexico, has a law requiring teenagers to stay in high school until they graduate.Only four states:California, Tennessee, Texas and Utah, plus the District of Columbia, require school ?attendance? until age 18, no exceptions, another researcher, says raising the compulsory(义务的)attendance age may be one way to keep more kids in school.

“As these dropouts look black, they realize they’ve made a mistake.And anything that sort of gives these people an extra push to stick it out and it through to the end, is probably helpful measure.”

New Hampshire may be the next state to raise its school attendance age to 18.But critics say that forcing the students unwilling to continue their studies to stay in school misses the point-the need for reform.It’s been called for to reinvent(彻底改造)high school education to make it more challenging and relevant(中肯的, 切题的), and to ensure that kids who do stick it out receive a diploma that actually means something.

1.Most high school students drop out of school because ________.

A.they have failing grades

B.they take no interest in classes

C.they are discriminated against

D.they are lazy and not intelligent

2.According to the passage, which state has a law requiring school attendance until they graduate?

A.New Hampshire.

B.Utah.

C.New Mexico.

D.The District of Columbia.

3.The underlined words “stick it out” probably mean “________”.

A.complete schooling

B.solve the problem

C.love having classes

D.believe in themselves

4.In the last paragraph, the writer is trying to ________

A.analyze the reason why students quit school

B.suggest raising the compulsory attendance age

C.call on to reform high school education

D.wish to make laws to guarantee no education

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Almost every day we come across situations in which we have to make decisions one way or another. Choice, we are given to believe, is a right. But for a good many people in the world, in rich and poor countries, choice is a luxury, something wonderful but hard to get, not a right. And for those who think they are exercising their right to make choices, the whole system is merely an illusion, a false idea created by companies and advertisers hoping to sell their products.

The endless choice gives birth to anxiety in people's life. Buying something as basic as a coffee pot is not exactly simple. Easy access to a wide range of everyday goods leads to a sense of powerlessness in many people, ending in the shopper giving up and walking away, or just buying an unsuitable item that is not really wanted. Recent studies in England have shown that many electrical goods bought in almost every family are not really needed. More difficult decision-making is then either avoided or trusted into the hands of the professionals, lifestyle instructors, or advisors.

It is not just the availability of the goods that is the problem, but the speed with which new types of products come on the market. Advances in design and production help quicken the process. Products also need to have a short lifespan so that the public can be persuaded to replace them within a short time. The typical example is computers, which are almost out-of-date once they are bought. This indeed makes selection a problem. Gone are the days when one could just walk with ease into a shop and buy one thing: no choice, no anxiety.

1. What does the author try to argue in Paragraph 1?

A. The exercise of rights is a luxury.

B. The practice of choice is difficult.

C. The right of choice is given but at a price.

D. Choice and right exist at the same time.

2. Why do more choices of goods give rise to anxiety?

A. Professionals find it hard to decide on a suitable product.

B. People are likely to find themselves overcome by business persuasion.

C. Shoppers may find themselves lost in the broad range of items.

D. Companies and advertisers are often misleading about the range of choice.

3.By using computers as an example, the author wants to prove _______.

A. advanced products meet the needs of people

B. products of the latest design flood the market

C. competitions are fierce in high-tech industry

D. everyday goods need to be replaced often

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The variety of choices in modern society.

B. The opinions on people's right in different countries.

C. The problem about the availability of everyday goods.

D. The helplessness in purchasing decisions.

LONDON---The International Table Tennies Federation(ITTF) plans to work with Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft Corporation, to promote(促进) table tennis in the United States, ITTF President

Adham Sharara said.

The plan was put forward after Gates came to London to watch the game between US teen player Ariel Hsing and Chinese Li Xiaoxia on Sunday, Sharara told Xinhua in an interview.

Sharara didn’t disclose the details, but said that Gates offered to help after watching Hsing’s match, in which the 16-year-old girl nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Olympic table tennis history, pushing No. 2 seed Li to the limit before losing 4-2 in six tight sets.

“Gates was surprised to see the young American girl played so well. He asked me what he can do to help promote table tennis in the United States. I think we’ll work with him. If the United States becomes very strong in table tennis, it’s also good for China,” Sharara said.

Sharara said the case is a “good example” which shows that ITTF’s efforts in promoting the popularity. The ITTF has changed its rules for the London Games, allowing only two players from one nation to enter the singles events. Three players from each National Olympic Committee(NOC) were allowed to enter the singles in previous Games.

“The reason we do this is to help more NOCs to join in our game. If we give more chances to the top countries, someone like Hsing will not come to the Olympic Games. They have no chance. But if we give them the chance, we can see what they can do,” Sharara said.

Sharara said the change increased the pressure on strong teams, like China, Japan, South Korea and Germany. “But they understand now because they saw other NOCs attending. Some countries before had no chance to play in table tennis, but now they are joining in table tennis.”

Other changes made to the Olympic Games include the color of floor (from red to blue) and new table design. “As far as presentation is concerned, we try to change all the time, especially in the Olympic Games. We hope to give audiences something new, exciting and cool.”

Table tennis has long been the strengths of Asia, especially China. Since the sport was introduced into the Olympics in 1988, China has taken 20 of 24 gold medals available. Four years ago in Beijing, it claimed six medals in the men’s and women’s singles.

Talking about the development of table tennis, Sharara said, “China has the responsibility to promote the sport. Of course, China has done a lot.”

1.It is mainly reported in this news that in order to promote table tennis in the United States, _______.

A. ITTF will cooperate with Gates

B. Gates watched Hsing’s match

C. some rules have been changed

D. Hsing pushed Li Xiaoxia to the limit

2.What gave Gates more confidence to promote table tennis in the United States?

A. The Olympic spirits.

B. The popularity of table tennis.

C. Sharara’s patient persuasion.

D. Ariel Hsing’s wonderful performance.

3.Which of the following is ITTF’s purpose of making changes to the London Games?

A. To attract more local audience to the matches.

B. To prevent strong table tennis teams developing.

C. To promote the popularity of table tennis.

D. To give Asian teams chances to join in the match.

4.The following paragraph will most probably talk about_____________.

A. the table tennis rules B. Gate’s detailed plan

C. what China has done D. sports in the United States

At thirteen, I was diagnosed(诊所)with kind of attention disorder. It made school difficult for me. When everyone else in the class was focusing on tasks, I could not.

In my first literature class, Mrs. Smith asked us to read a story and then write on it, all within 45 minutes. I raised my hand right away and said, “Mrs. Smith, you see, the doctor said I have attention problems. I might not be able to do it.”

She glanced down at me through her glasses, “you are no different from your classmates, young man.”

I tried, but I didn’t finish the reading when the bell rang. I had to take it home.

In the quietness of my bedroom, the story suddenly all became clear to me. It was about a blind person, Louis Braille. He lived in a time when the blind couldn’t get much education. But Louis didn’t give up. Instead, he invented a reading system of raised dots(点), which opened up a whole new world of knowledge to the blind.

Wasn’t I the “blind” in my class, being made to learn like the “sighted” students? My thoughts spilled out and my pen started to dance. I completed the task within 40 minutes. Indeed, I was no different from others; I just needed a quieter place. If Louis could find his way out of his problems, why should I ever give up?

I didn’t expect anything when I handled in my paper to Mrs. Smith, so it was quite a surprise when it came back to me the next day-with an “A” on it. At the bottom of the paper were these words: “See what you can do when you keep trying?”

1.The author didn’t finish the reading in class because .

A. He was new to the class

B. He had an attention disorder

C. He was tired of literature

D. He wanted to take the task home

2.What do we know about Louis Braille from the passage?

A. He made a great invention

B. He had good sight

C. He gave up reading

D. He learned a lot from school

3.What was Mrs. Smith’s attitude to the author at the end of the story?

A. Angry B. Impatient C. Encouraging D. Awkward

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

A. One can find his way out of difficulties with efforts.

B.It’s teachers’ responsibility to help students gain confidence.

C. Everyone needs help when faced with challenges.

D. The disabled should be treated with respect.

How to Improve Eyesight Naturally

Eyes are important for everybody.You must take care and try everything in your hand to keep them in good condition.Here are some of the tips to improve your eyesight naturally.

1.

Strain is known to be a factor in many health conditions and eyestrain is no exception.Try meditation,yoga or other methods of stress relief to improve your vision and overall health.

Try palming.

Sit upright in a comfortable chair.2. Cup your hands so that there is no pressure on your eyes.Let your fingers rest across your foreheaD. There should be no light entering your eyes.Palming should be done for a period of 5 to 10 minutes to start.Palming should be relaxing.It may help to do palming in a darkened room.

Avoid sugar as much as possible.

3. It will unpleasantly affect your eyesight,which affects the eyes by producing a larger amount of insulin (胰岛素) in the blooD. Therefore you shouldn’t be having much fruit juice or something that contains a lot of sugar.

Exercise your eyes.

The only exercise most eyes get is that daily rubbing we give them when we're tired or suffering from eyestrain.But eye exercises are actually good for your eyes and can improve your vision.4. Blink as fast as you can for a few seconds then close your eyes tightly,open and repeat.Do this exercise 3 to 4 times daily.

Eat healthy.

You probably hear that statement all the time but eating the right foods are necessary to good health.5.Foods that are high in fiber,vitamin C,D and beta carotene as well as other vitamins and minerals can help improve your vision.Here are a few foods that can be beneficial to good vision: carrots,eggs,blueberries,spinach,kale,grapes,and fresh garliC.

A. Reduce eyestrain.

B. Keep your eyes moist.

C. Sugar is your eye’s worst enemy.

D. Give your eyes a workout with the following exercise.

E.You may not be aware that your diet affects your vision but it does.

F.Close eyes and cover them with the palms of your hands.

G.Be sure to get plenty of sleep so your eyes don’t strain to stay open during the day.

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