The new studies show that fewer than half of the 9th graders in many of the nation’s largest cities, can ever graduate. The studies clearly show that the dropout rate isn’t dropping. And, in particular, the dropout rate isn’t dropping for poor and minority students.
Amazingly, though so many regret the rising dropout rate, our schools continue to lack formal plans--or any plans--to teach students motivation(动机). Most schools have no game plan to ensure that students understand that school will be completely necessary. Schools expect youth and children to act as though school is important, but they never teach them to believe that.
Years ago, families ensured that the offspring recognized the value of school. But in many modern families, the children may fail to recognize the importance of school life just because these families may actually tell the child that school is not important. Since many families are not motivating their children to be interested students, youth professionals, like teachers may need to provide this training. Otherwise, it is likely the dropout rate will continue not to drop, but only worsen.
Here are some strategies to convince even the most apathetic (无动于衷的) students that they must stay in school.
Ask students if they will ever need to work: The world has changed. 100 years ago, factory work was the booming job, and it required no education. Today, factories are increasingly automated. Most computer-related jobs require education and at least a high school diploma.
Ask students which century they will be prepared for: In 1900, the most common jobs were farm laborer and domestic servant—education not needed. Now, the most common jobs are office and sales worker—education and diploma usually needed. An amazing 6 out of 10 people today work in a store or office.
Ask students to devise a way that the employee could be replaced. For example, the coming trend in fast food is to use computers rather than people to run the restaurant. A prototype is apparently already being tested. The students should discover that most jobs that lack education and diploma requirements may be ripe for automation

  1. 1.

    What does the underlined part mean in Paragraph1?

    1. A.
      Few students can afford to go to school in large cities
    2. B.
      A large number of the 9th grades can graduate now
    3. C.
      There are still quite a few 9th graders leaving school early
    4. D.
      Most schools in large cities have fewer and fewer students
  2. 2.

    Without the help of youth professionals,_____

    1. A.
      more and more families will gradually recognize the value of school
    2. B.
      some parents will be more convinced of their children’s future
    3. C.
      it is likely that the dropout rate in schools won’t continue to drop
    4. D.
      the schools will make proper plans to solve the problems with dropout
  3. 3.

    The author takes factory work for example mainly to ______

    1. A.
      tell us that many jobs requires certain education in the past
    2. B.
      show that there are more factory work and employment in modern society
    3. C.
      show that employment in the computer field grows at a high rate
    4. D.
      emphasize that modern jobs require education and schools are necessary
  4. 4.

    It can be inferred that______

    1. A.
      both schools and families should answer for the high dropout rate
    2. B.
      many new jobs don’t need children’s high school diploma
    3. C.
      working in a store doesn’t require a high school diploma
    4. D.
      most schools are ready to help students recognize the importance of study
  5. 5.

    If students play the “Replace Me” game, the result would be “______”

    1. A.
      They will know that they can ‘always’ do without a diploma
    2. B.
      More of them will drop out early to go to work
    3. C.
      They will discover that lack education is a disadvantage in choosing jobs
    4. D.
      They will become better at using computers to hunt for a job

A couple of years ago, those who forecast that oil price would reach $ 100 a barrel were seen as doomsters. However, now some are predicting $ 200 a barrel.
Had economists been told that oil price would barely pause at $ 100 before reaching the recent peak of nearly $ 127, they would no doubt have forecast terrible economic consequences. But the global economy, though interrupted by the high price of energy, is still chugging along. Meanwhile, inflation has picked up, but the headline rates of inflation (通货膨胀率) in most developed countries are nowhere near the levels seen in the 1970s and 1980s.
There are three explanations for the oil price’s unclear impact. The first is that nowadays developed economies are more efficient in their use of energy, thanks partly to the increased importance of service industries and the diminished role of manufacturing(制造业). According to the Energy Information Administration, the energy intensity of America’s GDP fell by 42% between 1980 and 2007.
A second theory is that the oil-price rise has been steady, not sudden, giving the economy time to adjust. Giovanni Serio of Goldman Sachs points out that in 1973 there was a severe supply shock because of the oil embargo(石油禁运), when the world had to cope with 10%-15% less crude almost overnight. Not this time.
The third explanation turns the argument on its head; rather than oil harming the global economy, it is global expansion that is driving up the price of oil.
The most important factor is the shift in favor of the developing economies. America has responded to high price in familiar fashion: UBS forecasts that demand will drop by 1.1% this year and will be no higher in 2010 than it was in 2004. But the demand from China and other emerging markets is more than offsetting(抵消) this shortfall.

  1. 1.

    What is the passage mainly talking about?

    1. A.
      The prediction of economists
    2. B.
      The situation of economy
    3. C.
      The increase of oil price
    4. D.
      The American response to high price
  2. 2.

    How many explanations for the oil price’s impact are mentioned in the passage?

    1. A.
      Two
    2. B.
      Three
    3. C.
      Four
    4. D.
      Five
  3. 3.

    What can we conclude from the passage?

    1. A.
      In USA, the demand for oil in 2010 will be very high
    2. B.
      In USA, the demand for oil in 2010 will be higher than it was in 2004
    3. C.
      In USA, the demand for oil in 2010 will be as high as it was in 2004
    4. D.
      In USA, the demand for oil in 2010 will be as low as it was in 2004

Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do; once or twice she had looked into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, “and what is the use of the book,” thought Alice, “without pictures and conversations?”
So she was considering in her own mind whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain(雏菊花环) would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a white rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.
There was nothing so very remarkable in that; but when the rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit- hole under the bush.
The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well.
Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end? “I wonder how many miles I’ve fallen by this time?” she said aloud. “I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think. I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth! How funny it’ll seem to come out among the people that walk with their heads downward! The Antipathies, I think—but I shall have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know. ‘Please, Ma’am, is this New Zealand or Australia?’ And what an ignorant little girl she’ll think me for asking! No, it’ll never do to ask.”
Down, down, down. There was nothing else to do, when suddenly, thump! thump! Down she came upon a heap of sticks and dry leaves, and the fall was over

  1. 1.

    What kind of books do you think will interest Alice most?

    1. A.
      Books that her sister was reading
    2. B.
      Books without pictures or conversations
    3. C.
      Books about white rabbits
    4. D.
      Books with pictures and conversations
  2. 2.

    Which of the following is true?

    1. A.
      Alice suddenly saw a white rabbit with a strange umbrella
    2. B.
      Alice managed to fall right through the earth
    3. C.
      Alice ran after the white rabbit across the field out of curiosity
    4. D.
      The people on the opposite side of the earth walk with their heads downward
  3. 3.

    Which is the right order of the story?
    a. Alice jumped into a large hole.
    b. A white rabbit ran close by her.
    c. Alice sat by her sister, doing nothing.
    d. She fell upon some sticks and dry leaves

    1. A.
      c-b-a-d
    2. B.
      d-a-c-b
    3. C.
      a-b -c-d
    4. D.
      d-c-a -b
  4. 4.

    From the passage, we can see Alice is a(n)________girl

    1. A.
      helpful and friendly
    2. B.
      curious and imaginative
    3. C.
      brave and curious
    4. D.
      ignorant and pretty
  5. 5.

    The following paragraph “In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.” can be put between_________

    1. A.
      Paragraphs 1 and 2
    2. B.
      Paragraphs 2 and 3
    3. C.
      Paragraphs 3 and 4
    4. D.
      Paragraph 4 and 5

From James Dean to Growing Pains, Hollywood has long had a love affair with the relationship between teens and their parents. As the fascination with this relationship attests, parents play a crucial role in the development of their children's personalities.
Teenagers learn by closely observing what people around them do. Parents are literally their first teachers and serve as role models. From hygiene to habits, from time management to personal manner, parents form the foundation of their children's characteristics. These tiny individual factors on our everyday behavior collectively constitute who we are.
A second influence occurs at the spiritual level. Parental treatment of children is reflected in children's relationship with others. For example, my dad was quite angry with my study habits a few years back and lost his temper.I clearly remember that I too would easily lose my cool and shout at people, often saying things I later regretted, in those difficult days.
Parents of my fellow classmates often tend to be anxious about the studies of their children, which can lead to a lack of confidence in their children. If we are boats weathering a storm as we navigate toward maturity, then parents should be our captains. It is as easy to lead us to shipwreck as is to take us ashore safely.
To be fair, the guidance and influence of our parents are not the sole factors in molding us. There are numerous examples of teens forging their own paths and becoming something of which their parents never dreamed. Even so, parents must be a fundamental force that positively influences their children. At their best, they can help to solve teenage problems with a respect for their children's thoughts.

  1. 1.

    James Dean and Growing Pains in the first paragraph are described as follows EXCEPT    .

    1. A.
      they are about love affairs in family life
    2. B.
      they are mentioned at the beginning of the passage to introduce the topic
    3. C.
      they reflect a very important role parents play in childhood development
    4. D.
      they are typical presentations of the relationship between teens and their parents
  2. 2.

    If parents are worried about the studies of their children, their children will      .

    1. A.
      easily lose their temper
    2. B.
      lack self-confidence
    3. C.
      follow their own paths
    4. D.
      tend to shout at people
  3. 3.

    We can conclude from the passage that      .

    1. A.
      teens will always be what their parents expect them to
    2. B.
      parents' behavior influences their children both physically and mentally
    3. C.
      the guidance and influence of parents are the only factor in molding teens
    4. D.
      parents should be our captains when we teens are on boats in a storm
  4. 4.

    The passage is intended mainly for      .

    1. A.
      teens
    2. B.
      teachers
    3. C.
      students
    4. D.
      parents

We have two daughters: Kristen is seven years old and Kelly is four. Last Sunday evening, we invited some people home for dinner. I dressed them nicely for the party, and told them that their job was to join Mommy in answering the door when the bell rang. Mommy would introduce them to the guests, and then they would take the guests’ coats upstairs and put them on the bed in the second bedroom.
The guests arrived. I introduced my two daughters to each of them. The adults were nice and kind and said how lucky we were to have such good kids.
Each of the guests made a particular fuss over Kelly, the younger one, admiring her dress, her hair and her smile. They said she was a remarkable girl to be carrying coats upstairs at her age.
I thought to myself that we adults usually make a big “to do” over the younger one because she’s the one who seems more easily hurt. We do it with the best of intentions.
But we seldom think of how it might affect the other child. I was a little worried that Kristen would feel she was being outshined. I was about to serve dinner when I realized that she had been missing for twenty minutes. I ran upstairs and found her in the bedroom, crying.
I said, “What are you doing, my dear?”
She turned to me with a sad expression and said, “Mommy, why don’t people like me the way they like my sister? Is it because I’m not pretty? Is that why they don’t say nice things about me as much?”
I tried to explain to her, kissing and hugging her to make her feel better.
Now, whenever I visit a friend’s home, I make it a point to speak to the elder child first.

  1. 1.

    The underlined expression make a big to do over (paragraph 4) means _____.

    1. A.
      show much concern about
    2. B.
      have a special effect on
    3. C.
      list jobs to be done for
    4. D.
      do good things for
  2. 2.

       The guests praised Kelly for carrying coats upstairs because of her _____.

    1. A.
      beautiful hair
    2. B.
      pretty clothes
    3. C.
      lovely smile
    4. D.
      young age
  3. 3.

    Kristen felt sad and cried because _____.

    1. A.
      the guest gave her more coats to carry
    2. B.
      she didn’t look as pretty as Kelly
    3. C.
      the guests praised her sister more than her
    4. D.
      her mother didn’t introduce her to the guests
  4. 4.

       We can conclude from the passage that _____.

    1. A.
      parents should pay more attention to the elder children
    2. B.
      the younger children are usually more easily hurt
    3. C.
      people usually like the younger children more
    4. D.
      adults should treat children equally

JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, has signed a deal with Little, Brown and Company, to publish her first ever novel for adults, which is set to become one of the most anticipated (期望的) book in years.
The deal means that Rowling’s long-standing relationship with Bloomsbury, the London-based publisher that launched (发行) the Harry Potter books, has come to an end, at least in terms of new works by the author.
Rowling is keeping her fans guessing about the characters and plot of her new book. She only said that the new novel will be nothing like the Harry Potter series, which was sold over 30 million copies in the UK alone. She thought that with the move from children’s to adult fiction, a switch to a new publisher seemed like a natural and reasonable step.
She said, "Although I've enjoyed writing it every bit as much, this book will be very different from the Harry Potter series. The freedom to explore a new field is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me."
Ian Rankin, the Edinburgh-based author whose highly-successful detective novels are also set in the city, suggested Rowling’s book will be a crime novel.
"Wouldn’t it be funny if JK Rowling’s first novel for adults turned out to be a crime story set in Edinburgh?" he said.
Industry insiders guessed that the deal is worth more than £5 million and the new book is expected to come out later this year.
A spokesman said, "JK Rowling’s audience is vast and her position is unique. Harry Potter books were a global success and her fans are very loyal. Children that were eight, nine, or ten when the books first came out in the 1990s are now in their 20s. Plenty of adults, loved the books regardless of whether they had children, so the potential market for her is huge."

  1. 1.

    What does the text mainly tell us?

    1. A.
      JK Rowling has signed a deal with a new publisher.
    2. B.
      JK Rowling's new book will be more successful than her Harry Potter series.
    3. C.
      JK Rowling’s first book for adults will be published later this year.
    4. D.
      JK Rowling has to switch to a new publisher in order to publish her new book.
  2. 2.

    JK Rowling’s new book for adults       .

    1. A.
      has been sold 30 million copies in the UK alone
    2. B.
      is poorly thought of by the London-based publisher Bloomsbury
    3. C.
      has nothing in common with the Harry Potter series
    4. D.
      is expected to bring her more money than the Harry Potter series
  3. 3.

    The author used Ian Rankin’s words in order to         .

    1. A.
      tell us that some famous novelists offer to give Rowling some advice
    2. B.
      show that many readers are curious about Rowling’s new book
    3. C.
      tell us that many readers prefer to read detective or crime novels
    4. D.
      prove that a crime story set in Edinburgh is sure to be successful
  4. 4.

    We can learn from the text that         .

    1. A.
      Little, Brown and Company is specialized in publishing adult books
    2. B.
      the author has no doubt about the success of Rowling’s new book
    3. C.
      JK Rowling will be a crime novelist as good as Ian Rankin
    4. D.
      it was in Edinburgh that Ian Rankin got to know JK Rowling

Ideas about polite behavior are different from one culture to another. Some societies, such as America and Australia, for example, are mobile and very open. People here change jobs and move houses quite often. As a result, they have a lot of relationships that often last only a short time, and they need to get to know people quickly. So it’s normal to have friendly conversations with people that they have just met, and you can talk about things that other cultures would regard as personal.
On the other hand, there are more crowded and less mobile societies where long–term relationships are more important. A Malaysian or Mexican business person, for example, will want to get to know you very well before he or she feels happy to start business. But when you do get to know each other, the relationship becomes much deeper than it would in a mobile society.
To Americans, both Europeans and Asians seem cool and formal at first. On the other hand, as a passenger from a less mobile society puts it, it’s no fun spending several hours next to a stranger who wants to tell you all about his or her life and asks you all sorts of questions that you don’t want to answer.
Cross-cultural differences aren’t just a problem for travelers, but also for the flights that carry them. All flights want to provide the best service, but ideas about good service are different from place to place. This can be seen most clearly in the way that problems are dealt with.
Some societies have “universalist” cultures. These societies strongly respect rules, and they treat every person and situation in basically the same way. “Particularist” societies, on the other hand, also have rules, but they are less important than the society’s unwritten ideas about what is right or wrong for a particular situation or a particular person. So the normal rules are changed to fit the needs of the situation or the importance of the person.
This difference can cause problems. A traveler from a particularist society, India, is checking in for a flight in Germany, a country which has a universalist culture. The Indian traveler has too much luggage, but he explains that he has been away from home for a long time and the suitcases are full of presents for his family. He expects that the check–in official will understand his problem and will change the rules for him. The check–in official explains that if he was allowed to have too much luggage, it wouldn’t be fair to the other passengers. But the traveler thinks this is unfair, because the other passengers don’t have his problem.

  1. 1.

    Often moving from one place to another makes people like Americans and Australians ______.

    1. A.
      like traveling better
    2. B.
      easy to communicate with
    3. C.
      difficult to make real friends
    4. D.
      have a long–term relationship with their neighbors
  2. 2.

    People like Malaysians prefer to associate with those ______.

    1. A.
      who will tell them everything of their own
    2. B.
      who want to do business with them
    3. C.
      they know quite well
    4. D.
      who are good at talking
  3. 3.

    Which of the following is true about “particularist societies”?

    1. A.
      There is no rule for people to obey.
    2. B.
      People obey the society’s rules completely.
    3. C.
      No one obeys the society’s rules though they have.
    4. D.
      The society’s rules can be changed with different persons or situations.
  4. 4.

    The writer of the passage thinks that the Indian and the German have different ideas about rules because of different ______.

    1. A.
      interests
    2. B.
      habits and customs
    3. C.
      cultures
    4. D.
      ways of life

If you think English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?
According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter. This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.
The study also found the earlier people learn a second language, the greater the effect is.
A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London(UCL), took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals(通两种语言的人)”, who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners.
Scans showed that grey matter density in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference was.
“Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,” said the scientists.
It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn.
Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills.
“Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible,” he said, “You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”
The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of 2 and 34. Reading, writing and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the earlier they started to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,” explained the scientists.

  1. 1.

    What does the underlined part “grey matter” (in Paragraph 2) refer to?

    1. A.
      Grey hair.
    2. B.
      Material of the brain.
    3. C.
      Intelligence.
    4. D.
      Difficult situations.
  2. 2.

    The experience of learning a second language can ________.

    1. A.
      change one’s brain completely
    2. B.
      improve one’s maths skills
    3. C.
      make one smarter than others
    4. D.
      increase the ability to learn
  3. 3.

    We can learn from the passage that ________.

    1. A.
      the researchers from UCL did another study in Italy
    2. B.
      a similar study was done on native Italian speakers who learn English as a second language
    3. C.
      the research done on the Italians showed a totally different result
    4. D.
      it will be easier for one to travel around the world by learning a second language
  4. 4.

    What’s the main idea of the passage?

    1. A.
      Learning a second language can help improve your brain power.
    2. B.
      You should learn a second language that is not your native language.
    3. C.
      If you want to learn a second language, you should do it at a certain age.
    4. D.
      The research done by the researchers from UCL is very successful.

Dear mommy and daddy,
I write this letter to you in hopes that you should consider your method of parenting me before I arrive. I am a joyous child. I expect love and respect, order and discipline. When I arrive, I will seem very small to you. Even though I don’t look like an adult, please understand that I am a human being.
Even though I will not speak words to you, I will know you with my heart. I will feel all your feelings, absorb your thoughts. I will come to know you more than you may know yourself. Do not be misled (误导) by my silence. I am open, growing and learning more rapidly than you can imagine.
I will keep in heart all that I see, so please give me sweet music and language that tells me how much I am loved. Give me silence to rest my ears. I will absorb all that I feel, so please wrap life in love.
I am waiting patiently to be with you. I am so happy to have the opportunity to be alive. Maybe when you see me you will remember how precious life is too!
Your joyous child

  1. 1.

    According to the letter, why did the child write this letter?

    1. A.
      Because the child wanted to apologize to its parents.
    2. B.
      Because the child wanted the parents to consider the method of being parents.
    3. C.
      Because the child expressed the happiness of having such parents.
    4. D.
      Because the child wanted to show how much it understood its parents.
  2. 2.

    According to the text, we can infer the “child” is in fact _______ .

    1. A.
      a lovely boy
    2. B.
      a joyous child
    3. C.
      an unborn baby
    4. D.
      a lovely girl
  3. 3.

    The child in the text required all the following EXCEPT that ________ .

    1. A.
      it should be looked on as a human being
    2. B.
      it would like to be loved by its parents
    3. C.
      it wanted to be with the parents an soon as possible
    4. D.
      it wanted a place full of beautiful music and love language
  4. 4.

    The letter is likely to be printed in the part of ______ in a magazine.

    1. A.
      “Baby’s world”
    2. B.
      “Current news”
    3. C.
      “Young parent center”
    4. D.
      “Science and our life”
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