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.

Many years ago,Dad worked as a farmhand（农场工人）.At that time,he had a horse.Every Saturday he ________to the town after dinner and spent a few hours on social ________ with other farmhands,such as drinking, chatting,and playing cards in the cafe.On Saturday evenings,the cafe was ________ because many farmhands were there.Before midnight Dad returned home on his horse,quite satisfied with his ________.In his words,he ________ thought of changing his job.

At the age of 31,Dad married my mother who was a schoolteacher.In the following spring I came ________ into the world.Life became hard,so my mother felt ________.She told Dad that they must make a ________.

My mother had ________ of how some famous persons,especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family,fought against fate and achieved greatness and ________.And she ________ that I would some day become a great leader _____ men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman.So she ________ Dad to give up his job as a farmhand,sell his horse and ________ a small business of his own.And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for ________ education when I graduated from college.Under the drive of my mother’s hope,Dad and I ________ what we have today.Dad runs a big international ________ and I am a successful lawyer ________ great fame in my country,________ not a leader as my mother expected.

Dad said,without my mother,we wouldn’t be what we are today; at least,he would remain a farmhand.________ he got a lesson of life --- sometimes we really need drive from outside.

1.A. rode B. walked C. ran D. drove

2.A. conversations B. games C. relationships D. activities

3.A. cold B. crowded C. quiet D. dirty

4.A. horse B. entertainment C. life D. beer

5.A. often B. ever C. never D. sometimes

6.A. laughing B. singing C. sleeping D. crying

7.A. unimportant B. busy C. unsatisfied D. tired

8.A. living B. change C. decision D. house

9.A. dreamed B. heard C. thought D. spoken

10.A. honesty B. money C. fame D. energy

11.A. cared B. knew C. forgot D. hoped

12.A. training B. ruling C. helping D. protecting

13.A. warned B. wanted C. allowed D. persuaded

14.A. start B. find C. design D. sell

15.A. farther B. higher C. easier D. closer

16.A. showed B. kept C. lost D. achieved

17.A. company B. school C. farm D. cafe

18.A. suffering B. sharing C. enjoying D. following

19.A. though B. if C. and D. since

20.A. So B. However C. Or D. Because

Online shopping is coming into fashion in most cities,where people are able to make full use of the rapidly-developed internet technology.Nowadays,can we find a person1.has not experienced online shopping? Definitely not.

Online shopping2.(welcome) by most people due to various reasons.From the perspective of consumers, it can save some time for people who don’t have much spare time.Just click the mouse,they can get 3. they want while staying at home.For the retailers（零售商）,it can cut some costs for those who don’t have much circulating funds（流动资金）.4.(compare) with the traditional trade mode,it doesn’t need renting a house. 5.,there are still some disadvantages in online shopping.First,a face-to-face deal makes online shopping less 6. (rely) and trustworthy.Second,people will lose 7. fun of bargaining.

8. is undeniable that shopping on the internet has become an irresistible trend in modern society.It’s of great urgency that we need to make the relative laws in accordance9. the rapid growth of online shopping. Only in this way can we enjoy the pleasure and10. (convenient) of online shopping without the concern of being cheated.

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下短文。短文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

I watch TV until 12 o’clock,so I couldn’t go over my lessons.This morning I got up very late that I had to go to school without breakfast in hurry,but I was still late for the first class.When I entered the classroom,the maths teacher had to stop explain an important problem,and all the eyes were fixed upon me.My face turned red.Something even worse was happened to me in English class.The teacher asked me recite the text.However,I could say nothing and sorry,for I did not spend some time preparing my lessons.The teacher looked at me with his coldly eyes.I stood at my bench without daring to raise my head.How a terrible day I had! I will never do anything like this.

假设你校英语社团举办以“讲求文明，从我做起”为主题的征文活动，请你以“On the Way to School”为题，写一篇英语短文。

内容主要包括：1.遵守交通法规；

2.注意举止文明。

注意：1.词数 120 左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3.短文中不能出现与本人相关的信息；

4.短文的题目已为你拟好，不计入总词数

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Skydive Greene County

Come out and let us teach you how to skydive today! We are located in Xenia, Ohio and is within a reasonable driving distance of major cities in Ohio. Situated on a private airport, Skydive Greene County offers world-class training. We didn’t start skydiving but we are Ohio’s oldest skydiving school which opened in 1961!

◆Tandem Skydiving

Tandem skydiving is required if this is your first time skydiving. After filling out paperwork and watching a short video, you will be ready to make your skydive. Somewhere around 11,500 feet you will be secured to your tandem instructor. The door will open and you exit the plane.

Your freefall with your instructor will last for approximately 40-50 seconds. We can almost guarantee this will be the most exciting minute of your life as you reach the speed of around 120 mph, falling for about two miles back to the earth!

Don’t forget to have a video taken of your skydive to show all those that didn’t think you would jump from an airplane!

◆Static Line Courses

Once you have made your tandem skydiving, you can move on to our Static Line Program. The Static Line Jump is the traditional way to learn to skydive. We have classes throughout the year. Every student will be led through the entire day by a licensed instructor. Never does the student feel unattended.

Once training is over, students will make their first jump on that very same day! If the weather does not cooperate, you can come back the next day, or we will re-schedule a time to make your skydive.

●Price

$165.00 Tandem skydiving only

$175.00 Static Line Course only

Invite one of our professional videographers on your skydive:

$125.00 DVD with photos

●Booking

To book your tandem skydive or skydiving course, call us at (937) 372-0700. We just ask for a call if you cannot keep your scheduled appointment. And you must be at least 18 years old to make a skydive at SGC.

Come to learn with the best and make a skydive today! For further information, please call us at (937) 372-0700 or visit our website www. greenecounty.com!

1.Skydive Greene County ________.

A. offers training in major cities in Ohio

B. is the oldest skydiving school in the USA

C. guarantees every skydiver a freefall experience

D. requires all the students to receive one-day training

2.If you want to experience Tandem Skydiving only and a video taken of your skydive, how much will you have to pay?

A. $165.

B. $175.

C. $300.

D. $290.

3.What’s the purpose of the author to write the passage?

A. To give a brief introduction to Skydive Greene County.

B. To make a comparison between Tandem Skydiving and Static Line Courses.

C. To attract skydiving lovers to Skydive Greene County.

D. To convince the readers that Skydive Greene County is the best of its like.

Amazon is breaking into physical retail in a new way. The online retail giant revealed a new kind of physical store concept in a video published on Monday.

The store, called Amazon Go, doesn't work like a typical Walmart or supermarket. Instead, it's designed so that shoppers will use an app, also called Amazon Go, to automatically add the products that they plan to buy to a digital shopping cart by scanning a QR code(二维码). They can then walk out of the building without waiting in a checkout line because Amazon will charge their Amazon account and send them a receipt.

The first Amazon Go store is located in Seattle, where Amazon is headquartered. For years, there have been rumors the e-commerce company would expand its dominance from digital to physical shopping. Amazon began experimenting with physical bookstores a year ago, but Amazon Go may mark its boldest bet on physical ones yet. By removing much of the staff needed to operate a store, Amazon keeps costs lower than traditional competitors. It's also in a strong position to bring together data on its customers' shopping habits online and offline to make better suggestions in all situations.

However, Amazon's move deeper into physical retail shops comes in a sensitive political climate. The company could be perceived as being a threat to some of the 3.4 million Americans who work as cashiers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump repeatedly criticized Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos for “getting away with murder tax-wise” and having “a huge antitrust(反垄断) problem.” Will the President& shy; elect add “job killer” to the list of criticisms?

Amazon's effort to launch a new kind of retail store predates(在……之前) the rise of Donald Trump. “Four years ago we asked ourselves: what if we could create a shopping experience with no lines and no checkout? Could we push the boundaries of computer vision and machine learning to create a store where customers could simply take what they want and go?” The company says on an informational page about Amazon Go. For now, Amazon is starting slow. The Amazon Go is only open to Amazon employees in our Beta program, and is scheduled to open to the public in early 2017.

1.In Amazon Go, people can ________ .

A. buy products by paying cash

B. buy carts without scanning a QR code

C. have no bother to check out and queue

D. use an app to wait in a checkout line

2.What can we infer from the third paragraph?

A. Amazon has dominated the physical bookstores.

B. Amazon can contribute to reducing the cost of staff.

C. Amazon manages to take the place of physical shopping.

D. Amazon can ignore each customer's advice in all situations.

3.The reason why Donald Trump repeatedly criticized Amazon Go is that Amazon Go ________ .

A. would result in a political crisis

B. would threaten the career of cashiers

C. may result in a huge antitrust

D. is No.1 job killer in the list of criticisms

4.The main purpose of writing the passage is ________ .

A. to introduce the Amazon Go store

B. to explain how Amazon Go works

C. to arouse people's interest in Amazon

D. to indicate Trump's attitude to Amazon

When it comes to the Internet, people talk about the password most. Actually, it’s been under fire for a long time. Research has shown that passwords are not a very good way to protect sensitive information.

People would use some random characters, numbers and symbols. Furthermore, a unique password would be used for every site or application the user uses. Unfortunately, the longer and more complex passwords become, the more people are likely to forger them. Therefore, they use the same password for every service or application. These are all big no-noes and essentially defeat the purpose of a password.

Google is trying to kill off passwords on Android devices by introducing the Trust API, which does what simple passwords cannot and gives developers a framework for securing their application using a number of security systems and metrics(衡量标准)on the device. A Trust Score will be generated based on a number of metrics including your device location, face scanning, fingerprints, and the things like your typing speed or the way you speak. Taken one at a time, these metrics are not secure. But taken together, these metrics will help recognize the real “you”.

The good news is that Google has already been testing this on real world data. Google has proven the Trust API works. Next Google will run tests will some banks to see if the Trust API meets their needs before rolling out the system on Android phones later. It may take another year for apps and popular sites to start using the Trust API.

This is a pretty exciting change. Passwords have been around for a lone time. Although the security of systems has been improved, the usability of systems hasn’t been proved much. Google appears to have the best of them. Maybe that never-ending conflict between security and convenience will be able to take a break once the Trust system comes out.

1.What is implied in the underlined sentence in Para. 2?

A. Users make mistakes in using passwords.

B. Users should know the purpose of passwords.

C. Users have learnt to say no to their passwords.

D. Users misunderstand the meaning of passwords.

2.How is the key part of the Trust API generated?

A. By taking one metric at a time.

B. By combining various metrics.

C. By developing security systems.

D. By analyzing complex passwords.

3.What can we know about the Trust system from the text?

A. It needs to be improved in the future.

B. It hasn’t been proven to be effective.

C. It will be used on Android devices first.

D. It is secure and convenient for the users.

4.What would be the best title for the text?

A. How does Google develop the Trust API?

B. Will the Trust API meet the users’ needs?

C. Will passwords soon be a thing of the past?

D. How do passwords protect personal information?

In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believeing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity. Others say that competition is bad; that it sets one person against another; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people.

I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs. In their single-minded pursuit of success, the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten.

However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame competition. Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these young people, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: "I may have lost, but it doesn't matter because I really didn't try." What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one's self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others. Both are afraid of not being valued. Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve can we discover a new meaning in competition.

1.What does this passage mainly talk about?

A. Competition helps to set up self-respect

B. Opinions about competition are different among people

C. Competition is harmful to personal quality development

D. Failures are necessary experience in competition

2.The underlined phrase "the most vocal" in Paragraph 3 means .

A. those who try their best to win

B. those who value competition most highly

C. those who are against competition most strongly

D. those who rely on others most for success

3.What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a "desire to fail"?

A. One's worth lies in his performance compared with others

B. One's success in competition needs great efforts

C. One's achievement is determined by his particular skills

D. One's success is based on how hard he has tried

4.Which point of view may the author agree to?

A. Every effort should be paid back

B. Competition should be encouraged

C. Winning should be a life-and-death matter

D. Fear of failure should be removed in competition

Common public speaking problems

The use of “I feel”, “I think” and “maybe”

In the question-and –answer session of the speaking competition, many contestants began their answers with uncertain expressions like “I feel”, “I hear”, “maybe” and “perhaps”. These words show that the person is only speaking from his or her point of view. 1.

Work on keeping your answers brief and to the point. Also work on delivering them with calmness and confidence. Instead of the empty-sounding “I guess”, using facts, together with a clear conclusion based on those facts, is far more likely to be popular with an audience.

2.

Don’t stick to the same tone. It can be boring. Try to mix it up. For example, when they spoke about their dreams, some sounded romantic. Others used humor. Very few used several different styles tighter. 3., rather than just sticking with the same one.

Irresponsible answers

4.. you’re responsible for your words. Even though you want to answer quickly, you don’t want to sound foolish. So you should think twice before you talk. Don’t be like the student who, when asked about his opinion on book piracy(盗版), started by saying he supported it.

Talking around the topic rather than directly answering it

You should focus on one point and give a clear solution. 5.. is it asking you to discuss a certain topic or to present your own point of view?

Use one or two arguments together and give a strong conclusion. Remember that judges are not judging you on whether they agree, but on your ability to say what you think clearly.

A. Try mixing more than one style.

B. Improving your communication skill.

C. Using only one speaking style

D. It’s important to involve your audience.

E. Public speaking is different from personal conversations.

F. The key is to work out what question is being asked

G. To the judges and audience, this lacks the support of facts and seems not to be reliable.