题目内容

Young people in the United States do not have a strong understanding of the world and their place in it.

Two US-based groups, the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Geographic Society, conducted an online survey last year. They wanted to know what young people in American colleges knew about geography, U.S. foreign policy, recent international events, and economics.

The survey was given to over 1,200 Americans between the ages of 18 and 26 years. All of them presently attending, or having previously graduated from, a 2- or 4-year college or university.

The average test score, out of 75 total possible answers, was 55 percent. The study identifies a few important problems. For example, only 30 percent knew that the only part of the U.S. government that can declare war is Congress. Only 60% of those taking the survey could identify Brazil on a world map.

Part of the problem, argue the organizers of the survey, is the Internet. They say it is becoming harder to find high-quality information about world events amongst all the fake news and trivia which swamp the web. Forty-three percent of those questioned said they read about the news on Facebook.

Another problem is that most college courses do not require students to learn about international issues. If such information is not required, Richard Haass from the Council on Foreign Relations said, then the United States could have leaders like Gary Johnson. He was a recent presidential candidate who did not know about the Syrian city of Aleppo when a reporter asked him about it.

The survey results were not all bad. The young people also demonstrated a good understanding of climate change and renewable energy. And the majority of them said that international issues were becoming more important to them.

Haass says these findings suggest the need to find ways to get good information to students, both in school and online. To help, the Council on Foreign Relations is creating a new program called CFR Campus, designed to help build knowledge about global issues.

1.What do we know about the survey?

A. The participants were all recent university graduates.

B. It was an online survey conducted by two US universities.

C. It was given to over 1,200 American people aged from 18 to 26.

D. It aimed to find out what the young people know about America.

2.What’s one reason survey organizers give for young people’s lack of knowledge?

A. The poor quality of the US university system.

B. Young people’s unwillingness to travel abroad.

C. The sources from which they get their information.

D. Their lack of interest in knowing more about the world.

3.What topic did the young Americans understand best according to the survey?

A. Government organizations. B. Geographic information.

C. Foreign relations. D. Environmental matters.

4.In which column of a newspaper could we find this article?

A. Economics. B. Education.

C. National Politics. D. Entertainment.

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How to love your parents

Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited at times, loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling part of life. You love them for the fact that they created you, raised you, and are in part a source of who you are.1.

2.A gentle “good morning” and “I love you” will warm a coldest heart. Remember that they brought you into this world. Without your parents, we might still wander at an unknown corner in an unknown world. Respect them more and cherish these moments. You can use these moments to learn from them when you're off on your own. It's OK to get angry but angry actions don't help you or your parents. Act calmly, cool off, journal about your feelings, or talk to a friend.3.

Obey their requests. It will make your attitude better and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don’t get what you want or you have to clean. However, you had better remember they keep a roof over your head when it’s cold, raining, snowing, or too hot.4.Forgiveness is the key. Since you can forgive your friends, why not forgive your parents?

Keep company with them. Do things with your parents like watching TV, or go somewhere with them.5.Listen to their old stories and learn from them. You will find they are your teachers in this way or another.

A. After this, share your feelings with your parents.

B. Here are some ways to love your parents.

C. Parents will in turn express their love to you.

D. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.

E. Please remember parents are as important as friends.

F. Anyway, spend as much time with them as you can.

G. Tell them you love them every morning.

When I was a teenager, we were the only family in our New York town that didn’t own a car. And having no car was _______ because all my friends’ parents did.

We were poor. Suddenly a moment arrived _______ my life forever. For weeks a new Buick Road Master _______ in the window of the biggest store on Main Street. Now, on the special night, I stayed in the shadows at the edge of the crowd waiting for the winning _______to be drawn.

It had never even entered my mind that we would _______. But the loudspeaker called my father's name! _______ I wormed my way up to the platform, the mayor had presented dad with the _______, and he had driven off amid _______. I ran _______. Mother met me and told me that my father had asked Jim, his boss, if he wanted to buy a ticket. Jim said yes and my dad ________ two tickets in his own name with his own money, ________ 348 for Jim and the winning number was 348 instead of ________ one 349.

“Your father is struggling with a/an ________ problem. But I think if you have character, you have the better part of ________and I know your father will do what is right,” mother said ________. At last we ________ dad’s step on the front porch,I held my ________. He went straight to the ________ in the dining room and dialed Jim’s phone rang for a long time...

________ over the years, I know now we were never ________ than we were at the moment when dad made the telephone call.

1.A. relaxing B. shaming C. worrying D. pleasing

2.A. saving B. improving C. risking D. changing

3.A. had stood B. had been on sale C. had performed D. had been under repair

4.A. team B. guy C. ticket D. boss

5.A. jump B. fail C. strike D. win

6.A. As soon as B. Because C. By the time D. Although

7.A. dollars B. keys C. medals D. tickets

8.A. shouts B. prayers C. noises D. cheers

9.A. home B. downtown C. to my friends D. to the platform

10.A. saved B. bought C. booked D. printed

11.A. calling B. writing C. marking D. bringing

12.A. the other B. another C. the lucky D. other

13.A. embarrassing B. mental C. puzzling D. moral

14.A. wealth B. poverty C. health D. belief

15.A. with anger B. excitedly C. calmly D. with anxiety

16.A. saw B. heard C. followed D. found

17.A. arms B. mouth C. eyes D. breath

18.A. phone B. cup C. ticket D. window

19.A. Looking out B. Looking up C. Looking back D. Looking in

20.A. poorer B. richer C. more foolish D. more clever

September is a difficult month for all students as they return to continue their education, but for high school and university green hands, it is not just the heavy study tasks they need to follow. They will also go through military(军事的) training, which aims to help students improve their health and help them adapt to college life. The Ministry(部) of Education requires that universities should carry out at least 14 days' military training for freshmen(新生).

Hou Zhengfang, an education expert, questioned the benefits of military training. “It does little to improve students' physical health over only two weeks' time,” she said. “Maybe some disaster prevention training, such as earthquake survival or escaping from fires, would be of greater benefit.”

A freshman who fainted(晕倒) during training said that many students, especially girls, are unwilling to train in direct sunshine. “For me, military training is physically challenging and even damages my health,” said the 19-year-old.

Although Chu Jinjing, a Tsinghua University freshman, did feel some discomfort while training in the heat, the 18-year-old did recognize the benefits of military training. “By going through this tough(艰难的) training, I've become more independent and determined,” said Chu. “I have also managed to make a lot of friends.”

Wang Hui from Xi'an Jiaotong University sees the advantages of military training besides character building. “From senior high school to college, we join military training to start a new journey,” said Wang. “I would feel a bit incomplete without it.”

1.Hou Zhengfang might advise the Ministry of Education to ________.

A. cut students' heavy study tasks

B. introduce other trainings for students

C. encourage students to work out

D. shorten the time of military training

2.Chu Jinjing and Wang Hui mentioned all the benefits of military training EXCEPT ___.

A. developing friendship

B. improving students' health

C. building character

D. preparing students for college

3.According to the passage, what is the author's attitude towards military training?

A. He supports it very much.

B. He is strongly against it.

C. He doesn't express his own opinions.

D. He thinks it's good for his health.

In many countries, schools have long summer holidays, with shorter holidays in between. However, a new report suggests shortening school holidays to stop children forgetting what they have learnt during the long summer break. Instead of three school terms, it says, there should be five eight-week terms. And there should be just four weeks off in the summer, with a two-week break between the other terms.

Sonia Montero has two children at primary school and works full-time. She supports the idea. “The kids,” she says, “have much longer holidays than me and I can’t afford to take several weeks off work, so I need someone to take care of them. But nobody wants the work in the summer months — they all have holidays of their own.”

Not surprisingly, some young people disagree. Student Jason Panos says “It’s a stupid idea. I would hate staying at school in the summer. It’s unfair, too. The people who suggest this had long school holidays when they were young, but now they want to stop us enjoying the summer. The kids in Spain and America have much longer holidays than here, but they don’t forget everything they’ve learnt in a few months.”

Nadia Salib agrees. “Sure,” she says, “the first week at school after the summer is never easy, but you soon get back into it. The real problem round here is that kids get bored after so many weeks out of school, and then some of them start causing trouble. But the answer is to give them something to do, not make everyone stay in school longer.”

1.Why is Sonia in support of shorter school holidays?

A. She doesn’t get any summer holidays in her job.

B. She is worried that her children will forget what they’ve learnt.

C. She can’t afford to pay someone to look after her children.

D. She can’t get anyone to look after her children in summer.

2.What does Jason say about long summer holidays?

A. They can help children forget about school.

B. Schools in other countries don’t have them.

C. These days many older people have them too.

D. They have little influence on children’s education.

3.What does Nadia say about young people on summer holidays?

A. They would like to spend more time at school.

B. Long holidays are very bad for their education.

C. They need something to do to enrich themselves.

D. Long holidays should be shortened to stop them causing trouble.

4.Which of the following statements best explains the text?

A. It has been decided that summer holidays should be shortened.

B. Students are angry that school holidays have been changed.

C. Some people want to change school holidays but not everyone agrees.

D. Teenagers are worried that they will be busy during summer holidays.

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