If you are a computer game fan, you must have heard of StarCraft. Recently, the University of Florida opened a StarCraft class for students. Maybe you feel confused when you hear of the news, maybe you think I am joking. But that’s true. In our mind, students are not allowed to play computer games by teachers and parents. Don’t you believe that the StarCraft class was set up in the University of Florida? Please read more.
Nowadays, the world is developing in a fast way, so it is very important for students to be good at skills such as solving problems, making decisions and critical thinking(批判性思维). It is said that all these skills appear in StarCraft. Therefore, StarCraft can provide a high effective environment for students to consider and take action in difficult situations.
“A student who gets a university education and goes into the business world could realize that something he learned in his StarCraft class helps him to think in a different way,” said one teacher in the University of Florida.
“The StarCraft class offers a new way to students to study. Study is not only about learning things from books,” said another teacher.
Not all the students can take the StarCraft class. The class is only open to the students who have some knowledge about the game.
【小题1】Why did the University set up the StarCraft class?

Albert was an ordinary worker in an oil company in America. His workmates gave a nickname（绰号）“Four dollars a bucket of oil” below his name whenever and wherever he wrote down his name.

As time went by, people forgot his real name. Later, when Rockefeller, the board chairman(董事长)of the oil company, heard of it, he was very surprised, so he invited Albert to come to his office.

“Some people give you a nickname for ‘Four dollars a bucket’. Why aren’t you angry?” asked Rockefeller with some puzzlement in his eyes.

“Oh! Mr. Rockefeller! I like this nickname very much, because ‘Four dollars a bucket’ is our company’s advertisement. As long as someone calls me‘ Four dollars a bucket’ once, I think it’s free advertisement for our company. It’s not necessary for me to get angry. Don’t you think so , Mr. Rockefeller?”

“Oh! What a wonderful man!” Rockefeller said excitedly when hearing Albert’s words “Young man! Work harder, you must be successful in the future! I believe in you!”

Five years later, Albert became the second board chairman after Rockefeller.

Later Albert said in one of his reports, “I don’t think we should feel frustrated when we have no way to do the world-shaking things. We should treat everything actively because maybe our future success will begin from a small thing!”

1.What was Albert in The oil company at the beginning?

A．A worker.         B．An assistant.        C．A manager.        D．The second board chairman.

2.Why wasn’t Albert angry about his nickname?

A．He liked to have a nickname.               B．It could make his workmates happy.

C．He could become famous.                 D．It was a free advertisement for his company.

3.What is the main idea of this passage?

A．Rockefeller asked young people to work harder.

B．It’s very important to do small things well.

C．You can’t get angry when someone calls your nickname.

D．You should make more advertisements for your company.

4.What would be the best title for this passage?

A．I Believe in You                         B．Albert and Rockefeller

C．Four Dollars a Bucket                    D．The Second Board Chairman

A wise man used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning.
One day, when he was walking along the shore（海岸）, he saw a young man moving like a
dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought that someone would dance on the beach. So he began to walk faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw that the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.
He called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?” The young man stopped, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.” “I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?”
“The sun is up and the tide（潮汐）is going out. And if I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
“But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked another starfish, and threw it into the sea, and said, “It made a difference for that one.”
There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted（赋予）
with the ability to make a difference.
We must each find our starfish. And if we throw starfish wisely and well, the world will be better.
【小题1】What was the wise man used to doing every morning?

Hello, my name is Sandy. My dream house is on a beach. It has two gardens. The front garden is large with many beautiful flowers and trees. We can take a walk and enjoy the beautiful flowers in it. There is a swimming pool in the back garden. We can swim there at any time.
On the ground floor, there is a big hall. You can see it after you walk past the front door. On the right of the big hall is a wonderful living room. There we can chat with friends, have a good rest, watch TV and enjoy different kinds of entertainments  (娱乐). On the left, there is a computer room and a study. They are mine. I want to be a computer game designer, so the computer room is my favourite.
On the first floor, there are six bedrooms, and each has a modern bathroom. When my friends stay with me, they can have a bath in their own rooms. There is a big bed in each bedroom. So we can sleep comfortably.
Well, that is my dream house. Don't you think it's wonderful?
【小题1】Sandy has ____ in the front garden of her dream house.

“I believe you’re the right person to write an advice column (专栏) for the students called Dear Amy!” Jenny, editor of the school newspaper, said to Andy, who finally agreed to accept the job if Jenny promised not to tell it to anyone else.

   At first it wasn’t too bad. Most of the letters he received were interesting and quite easy to answer. Then came a letter from a person named Joe.

   “Dear Amy,” it began, “I’m in real trouble. I’ve wanted to be a songwriter all my life, but my parents won’t even let me take music lessons. I have a guitar, but they both get angry if I play. I’ve tried explaining, but they won’t listen. I feel sad. Should I run away from home? Maybe that will make my parents agree.” The letter signed “Joe”.

Andy thought about this letter for a long time. Should he advise someone to run away from home? Probably not. But didn’t Joe have a right to be a songwriter if he wanted to? Andy thought hard, but couldn’t think out a good answer. Andy couldn’t sleep. He just worried about poor Joe.

   At a bar a few days later, Eleanor, a girl in Andy’s math class, sat down next to him and asked, “ What’s wrong with you? You look a little worried.”

   “I guess I do,” said Andy.

   “If you got an problem, why don’t you try writing to Dear Amy about it?” asked Eleanor.

   Andy sighed; but she continued, “in fact, I guess Dear Amy is rather busy with other problems. She still hasn’t answered the phony letter I wrote her last week. You’d better read it – it may even make the most hard-hearted person cry! It was supposed to be from a songwriter named Joe.”

1.

2.It’s clear “Dear Amy” ______.

     A. helps students who want to run away from home   B. answers letters from the students

     C. writes songs for the students                   D. meets readers at a bar

3.

4.

5.The underlined word “ phony ” perhaps means ______.

           A. unreal          B. boyish         C. popular       D. favourite