It's often said that we learn things at the wrong time. University students frequently (经常) do the minimum amount of work because they're crazy for a good social life instead. Children often scream before their piano practice because it's so boring, have to be given gold stars and medals to be persuaded to swim, or have to be bribed (给予奖励) to take exams. But when you're older? Ah, now that's a different story.

　　Over the years, I've done my share of adult learning. At 30 I went to a college and did courses in History and English. It was an amazing experience. For starters, I was paying, so there was no reason to be late---I was the one frowning (皱眉) and drumming my fingers if the teacher was delayed, not the other way round. Indeed, if I could persuade him to linger, it was a prize, not a trouble. I wasn't frightened to ask questions and homework was a pleasure not a pain. When I passed, I had passed for me and me alone, not my parents or my teachers. The satisfaction I got was entirely personal.　　 Some people fear going back to school because they worry that their brains have got show. But the joy is that, although some parts have been dull sometimes, your brain has learnt all kinds of other things since you were young. It's learnt to think independently and flexibly and is much better at relating one thing to another. What you lose in the dull department, you gain in the maturity (成熟) department.

　　In some ways, age is a positive plus. For instance, when you're older, you get more self-controlled. Experience has told you that, if you're calm and simply do something carefully again and again, at last you'll get the hang of it. The confidence you have in other areas---from being able to drive a car, perhaps---means that if you can't, say, build a chair immediately, you don't, like a child, want to destroy your first pitiful attempts (尝试). Maturity tells you that you will, with application, eventually get there.

(1) What surprised the writer when she did her first adult learning course?

[　　]

A．She got on better with her tutor.

B．She was able to learn more quickly.

C．She had a more relaxed attitude to it.

D．She found learning more enjoyable.

(2) The writer says that when you learn later in life, you will find ________.

[　　]

A．it boring to take lessons

B．it hard to remember things easily

C．it hard to give all your attention to study

D．it different to learn from when you were younger

(3) According to the writer, what's the advantage of adult learners?

[　　]

A．They are able to organize themselves better than younger people.

B．They are less worried about succeeding than younger people.

C．They pay more attention to details than younger people.

D．They have more patience than younger people.

(4) What is the writer's main purpose in the article?

[　　]

A．To emphasize the pleasures of adult learning.

B．To point out how easy adult learning can be.

C．To explain her reasons for doing adult learning.

D．To describe the teaching methods used in adult learning.

(5) What does the underlined word linger in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

[　　]

.
This is my third day of the English camp here in Australia. It has been an amazing experience. I can’t believe how many different nationalities are here. Because we all speak so many different languages, we are forced to use our English in order to communicate. I really like Jim, the leader of my small group. There are only five other students in our group; Jim is very easy-going and is very good at getting all of us to chat and have fun together.
There are classes every day, but they are not boring, like my English classes at school. We learn new vocabulary every day and then must practice it immediately in conversation or in real life situations. The teachers are very professional---and very skilled at making us feel comfortable and eager to talk. The writing classes are the most difficult for me; the teacher is very strict, but I like her a lot. She has very high standards, but her step-by-step method leads us slowly but surely to her final goal.
I can feel myself growing a lot personally. In just three days, I have much more confidence than ever before to express myself in English. I’ve also noticed that I’m much more comfortable with different kinds of people---not nearly so shy as when I’m at home. It seems that being shy is just my way of hiding when I’m afraid. Here at the camp, the teachers and other leaders have kindly but firmly forced me to push past my fear. I’m learning a lot about myself. In fact, after staying here for only three days, I have realized that in the past I used my shyness as an excuse for my poor English. I’ve realized that I’m not really being shy, but I’m being afraid of embarrassment--- and my fear has hurt not only my English ability but my social skills. Here at the camp I’m not only learning English but also learning how not to be afraid.
68. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. The English Camp only offers a three-day study.
B. The writer is the leader of his small group.
C. There are altogether five members in the writer’s group.
D. The members in the English camp are from different countries.
69. What does the writer think of his English classes at school?
A. They are not boring.
B. They are dull.
C. They are interesting.
D. He likes them better than the classes in the English camp.
70. What can we learn about the writer from the passage?
A. His English used to be poor because of his shyness.
B. His English used to be poor because of his fear.
C. He doesn’t like English.
D. He is not as comfortable with different kinds of people as at home.
71. By saying “my fear has hurt not only my English ability but my social skills”, the writer means all of the following except ________.
A. he has learnt both English and social skills in the English camp
B. he has much more confidence than ever before to express himself in English now
C. he has grown a lot personally at the English Camp
D. he is not learning much about himself at the English Camp

.

This is my third day of the English camp here in Australia. It has been an amazing experience. I can’t believe how many different nationalities are here. Because we all speak so many different languages, we are forced to use our English in order to communicate. I really like Jim, the leader of my small group. There are only five other students in our group; Jim is very easy-going and is very good at getting all of us to chat and have fun together.

There are classes every day, but they are not boring, like my English classes at school. We learn new vocabulary every day and then must practice it immediately in conversation or in real life situations. The teachers are very professional---and very skilled at making us feel comfortable and eager to talk. The writing classes are the most difficult for me; the teacher is very strict, but I like her a lot. She has very high standards, but her step-by-step method leads us slowly but surely to her final goal.

I can feel myself growing a lot personally. In just three days, I have much more confidence than ever before to express myself in English. I’ve also noticed that I’m much more comfortable with different kinds of people---not nearly so shy as when I’m at home. It seems that being shy is just my way of hiding when I’m afraid. Here at the camp, the teachers and other leaders have kindly but firmly forced me to push past my fear. I’m learning a lot about myself. In fact, after staying here for only three days, I have realized that in the past I used my shyness as an excuse for my poor English. I’ve realized that I’m not really being shy, but I’m being afraid of embarrassment--- and my fear has hurt not only my English ability but my social skills. Here at the camp I’m not only learning English but also learning how not to be afraid.

68. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A. The English Camp only offers a three-day study.

B. The writer is the leader of his small group.

C. There are altogether five members in the writer’s group.

D. The members in the English camp are from different countries.

69. What does the writer think of his English classes at school?

A. They are not boring.

B. They are dull.

C. They are interesting.

D. He likes them better than the classes in the English camp.

70. What can we learn about the writer from the passage?

A. His English used to be poor because of his shyness.

B. His English used to be poor because of his fear.

C. He doesn’t like English.

D. He is not as comfortable with different kinds of people as at home.

71. By saying “my fear has hurt not only my English ability but my social skills”, the writer means all of the following except ________.

A. he has learnt both English and social skills in the English camp

B. he has much more confidence than ever before to express himself in English now

C. he has grown a lot personally at the English Camp

D. he is not learning much about himself at the English Camp