题目内容

Aerial performer Jennifer Bricker was born without legs, but she never let it stop her.

Wrapped in a loop of red silk hung from the ceiling Jennifer Bricker climbs and twists to the music. Her head hangs down and her strong arms let go as she balances on her back, high above the ground a move that’s all the more daring because she has no legs.

Jennifer was a few months old when she was adopted by Sharon and Gerald Bricker. She had big brown eyes, a bright smile, and huge amounts of energy. When a doctor advised her adoptive parents to carry her around in a kind of bucket, they refused.

Jennifer soon learned to walk — and run — on her hands and bottom, and grew up fearlessly climbing trees and bouncing on the trampoline(蹦床) with her three older brothers. “My parents didn’t treat me differently so I didn’t grasp the concept that I was different. I knew I didn’t have legs but that wasn’t stopping me from doing the things I wanted to do.”

At the age of three she was fitted with artificial legs, but she never really took to them — she moved more freely without.

In 1996 the Olympic Games took place in Atlanta. Jennifer loved to watch the women’s gymnastics team, and especially adored the 14-year-old Dominique Moceanu who competed for the US. When Moceanu and the women’s team won gold, Jennifer decided she was going to be a gymnast, too. She took up power tumbling, which involves performing floor exercises down a runway. But Jennifer did not want any allowances to be made for her disability.

At the age of 10 she took part in the Junior Olympics and by age 11 she was tumbling champion for the state of Illinois.

Jennifer now travels the world as an inspirational speaker and acts as an aerial performer.

1.Why did Jennifer determine to be a gymnast?

A. She knew that she was different from others.

B. She wanted to make allowances for her disability.

C. She was eager to participate in the Junior Olympics.

D. She was greatly influenced by Dominique Moceanu.

2.What do we know about Jennifer Bricker?

A. She felt embarrassed without legs.

B. She was carried in a bucket as a baby.

C. She was brought up as a normal child.

D. She lost her legs when she was adopted.

3.Which of the following can best describe Jennifer Bricker?

A. Self-respected. B. Cautious.

C. Sensitive. D. Clever.

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In 1999,twelve percent of public elementary schools in the United States required students to wear uniforms. Just three years later,the amount was almost double that.

A study of six big-city Ohio public schools showed students who were required to wear uniforms had improved graduation,behavior and attendance rates.Academic performance was unchanged.

Some high schools in Texas have also joined in the movement.Yet studies find mixed results from requiring uniforms.And some schools have turned away from such policies.

Supporters believe dressing the same creates a better learning environment and safer schools.The school district in Long Beach,California,was the first in the country to require uniforms in all elementary and middle schools.The example helped build national interest in uniforms as a way to deal with school violence and improve learning.

Findings in Long Beach suggested that the policy resulted in fewer behavior problems and better attendance. But researcher Viktoria,who has looked at those findings,says they were based only on opinions about the effects of uniforms.

She says other steps taken at the same time to improve schools in Long Beach and statewide could have influenced the findings.The district (the area marked by government) increased punishments for misbehavior.And California passed a law to reduce class sizes.

In Florida,for example,researcher Sharon found that uniforms seemed to improve behavior and reduce violence. In Texas,Eloise found fewer discipline problems among students required to wear uniforms,but no effect on attendance.

Sociologist David has studied school uniform policies since1998.He collected the reports in the book.In his own study,he found that reading and mathematics performance dropped after a school in Pennsylvania(宾夕法尼亚州)required uniforms.

Political and community pressures may persuade schools to go to uniforms to improve learning.But David and others believe there is not enough evidence of a direct relationship.In fact,he says requiring uniforms may even increase discipline problems.

1.Which of the following researchers are NOT supporters of school uniform policies?

A. Viktoria and Sharon. B. Sharon and David.

C. Eloise and Sharon. D. Viktoria and David.

2.The underlined word “misbehavior” in the sixth paragraph probably means ________.

A. serious crime B. bad performance

C. absence for class D. action against wearing uniforms

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A. More work is needed to get better information about uniform’s effect.

B. The number of schools requiring uniforms in the U.S.will become less sharply.

C. Wearing uniforms has little to do with behavior and learning.

D. Politicians and communities won’t vote for uniform policies.

4.What’s the main idea of this passage?

A. More and more students are required to wear uniforms in the U.S.

B. Wearing uniforms contributes to good academic performance.

C. Researchers in the U.S.argue for school uniform policies.

D. Evidence for school uniform polices in the U.S.is seen as weak.

A Canine Reading Buddy

Dogs and people have developed a special bond over time. Recently, however, some dogs have taken a different role in people’s lives—therapy dogs.

1. Some therapy dogs visit patients in hospitals or nursing homes, while others visit children in schools and libraries. They are there to help children become better readers.

Reading programs that use therapy dogs have been in existence for more than ten years. All therapy dogs of this program are registered with an organization that tests the dogs to make sure they have the right personality for the job.

2. Both the dogs and the handlers are volunteers with the reading program.

At the start of a reading therapy session, a child and a dog are introduced. The pair is allowed to settle down in a quiet corner together. 3. An adult handler stays nearby but generally lets the dog perform its job without interfering(干涉). Sometimes, a handler may ask a question that encourages the child to work with the dog to help the child feel more comfortable.

Not every child will be able to be part of a reading therapy program that uses dogs. A few children might be allergic to dogs or afraid of them; some children might have cultural traditions that prevent them from touching a dog. 4.

Reading therapy programs inspire learning and change. 5. They spend time with human friends. For dogs that love human companionshiop and a quiet place to rest, being part of a reading therapy program can be a great way to spend a few hours each day. The readers benefit too, gaining confidence and learning that reading aloud can be a relaxing experience.

A. How do the therapy dogs benefit from it?

B. But therapy animals also serve in many other areas.

C. As the child reads, the dog usually lies quietly and listens.

D. When reading to an animal, some children may become relaxed.

E. In these circumstances, other animals are available, such as cats and parrots.

F. A therapy dog is more of a companion and is trained to help people in different ways.

G. A dog’s handler also takes a class and must pass a test to work in the therapy program.

When I walked into the house after school, I found my dad at home.

"What are you doing home already?" I asked casually.

"Andrew, I was laid off today," he answered quietly.

I was sure he was joking. "No, you weren't. Why are you really home?"

Then I noticed his expression and realized he was telling the truth. My father has always been a hard worker and prided himself on his career. My father's unemployment created many changes in our lives. He was home all day, which meant my bed had to be made, my room cleaned up, and my homework done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer searching for jobs. I began to notice how down he seemed, and how losing his job had affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be optimistic. He asked my brother and me to spend less money. I gave up my allowance, which even though it wasn't much, felt like the right thing to do. I also found a part-time job.

After several difficult months of searching, my dad decided to go in a totally different direction. He explained that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him build it, and I admired how much time and energy he devoted to it.

One evening I asked if he needed help. "Only if it doesn't interfere(打扰,妨碍) with school," he said, which sounded like a yes.

I showed up at his office the next afternoon, and most afternoons after that for two months. I always knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really influenced me. Although this was one of the worst experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity. Now I know that through creative problem-solving, I can always find Plans, ask for help, and take risks.

1.When the father was laid off, he ________.

A. was angry with his boss

B. didn't care about it at all

C. couldn't accept the fact easily

D. was as happy as usual

2.We can know from the passage that ________.

A. it was not easy for the father to find a new job

B. the father asked his sons to give up their allowance

C. the father found a good job when he changed his direction

D. Andrew and his brother helped his father set up his business

3.The underlined word "adversity" in the last paragraph probably means .

A. poor feelings

B. bad situations

C. low spirits

D. old ideas

4.What has Andrew learned from his father?

A. The spirit of creative problem-solving.

B. The skills of surfing the Internet.

C. The experience of saving money.

D. The rich business skills.

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