.
Cities of Tomorrow
Middle school students combine science and imagination as they celebrate National Engineers
Week in a Future City Competition．
In the African city of Mwinda，floating farms are quite common．The city’s residents zip around in hydrogen-powered hover（盘旋的）vehicles，and renewable energy resources provide the city’s power．That’s how Jake Bowers，12，Emily Ponti，14，and Krisha Sherburne，12，imagined their future city．
The students，who attend St．Thomas More School in Baton Rouge，Louisiana，took first place
for their design last week in the 2007 National Engineer Week Future City Competition held in
Washington，D．C．The students won a trip to the U．S Space Camp in Huntsville，Alabam．
Kids from 35 middle schools across the country made it to Washington．They had teamed up
with teachers and volunteer engineer mentors（顾问，导师）to develop cities．Each team began by
creating a fictional city on SimCity 3000，a computer game that allows players to construct towns．
The students then built a tabletop model of the city，wrote an essay and presented their creation to a
panel（专门小组） of judges．This year’s theme asked students to design fuel cell powered
communities．Fuel cell technology works by using hydrogen and oxygen to produce power．The
process is environmentally friendly．
Organizers hope the competition provides a fun and educational way to spark young people’s
interest in engineering．“As the number of graduates in engineering（decreases），it’s ever more
important to encourage students to build these skills at an early age，”says John Hofmeister，
President of Shell Oill Company．Shell is a sponsor of the annual Future City contest．Judging by
this year’s competition，plenty of kids are getting the message．Some 30，000 students from more
than 1，000 schools participated in the 2006 －2007 Future City Competition．
64．What is not imagined in the three teenagers’ mind for their future city？
A．Hydrogen-powered hover vehicles．
B．The city’s power provided by renewable energy resources．
C．Floating farms．
D．Oxygen-powered floating factories．
65．Which statement is True according to the passage？
A．St．Thomas More School in Baton Rouge is in Alabama．
B．The 2007 National Engineer Week Future City Competition was held in Lounisiana．
C．The students who took first place for their design won a trip to U．S．Space Camp in
Huntsville．
D．The U．S Space Camp lies in Washington，D，C．．
66．Kids from 35 middle schools_________．
A．could use computers to help them construct their future cities
B．created a real city on Simcity 3000
C．teamed up on their own to develop cities
D．built a tabletop model of the city and presented it to their teachers for judgment
67．It can be inferred that the 2006 －07 Future City Competition_________．
A．will spark young people’s interest in living in Space Camp
B．will decrease the number of graduates in engineering
C．will encourage college students to build engineering skills after their graduation
D．was participated in by 30 students on average in each school

American public education has changed in recent years. One change is that increasing numbers of American parents and teachers are starting independent public schools called charter schools.

In 1991, there were no charter schools in the United States. Today, more than 2300 charter schools operate in 34 states and the District of Columbia. 575000 students attend these schools. The students are from 5 years of age through 18 or older.

A charter school is created by groups of parents, teachers and community members. It is similar in some ways to a traditional public school. It receives tax money to operate a number of students. The charter school must prove to local or state governments that its students are learning. These governments provide the school with the agreement, or charter that permits it to operate.

Unlike a traditional public school, however, the charter school does not have to obey most laws governing public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell it what to teach.

Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach those goals. Class sizes are usually smaller than in many traditional public schools. Many students and parents say teachers in charter schools can be more creative.

However, state education agencies, local education-governing committees and unions often oppose charter schools. They say these schools may receive money badly needed by traditional public schools. Experts say some charter schools are doing well while others are struggling.

Congress provided 200 million dollars for establishing charter schools in the 2006 federal budget. But, often the schools say they lack enough money for programs. Many also lack needed space. District officials say they have provided 14 former school buildings for charter education. Yet charter school supporters say officials should try harder to find more space.

Charter Schools in America

American public education has changed in recent years. One change is that increasing numbers of American parents and teachers are starting independent public schools called charter schools.

   In 1991, there were no charter schools in the Unite States. Today, more than 2300 charter schools operate in 34 states and the District of Columbia. 575000 students attend these schools. The students are from 5 years of age through 18 or older.

   A charter school is created by groups of parents, teachers and community members. It is similar in some ways to a traditional public school. It receives tax money to operate a number of students. The charter school must prove to local or state governments that its students are learning. These governments provide the school with the agreement, or charter that permits it to operate.

   Unlike a traditional public school, however, the charter school does not have to obey most laws governing public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell it what to teach.

   Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach those goals. Class sizes are usually smaller than in many traditional public schools. Many students and parents say teachers in charter schools can be more creative.

   However, state education agencies, local education-governing committees and unions often oppose charter schools. They say these schools may receive money badly needed by traditional public schools. Experts say some charter schools are doing well while others are struggling.

   Congress provided 200 million dollars for establishing charter schools in the 2006 federal budget. But, often the schools say they lack enough money for programs. Many also lack needed space. District officials say they have provided 14 former school buildings for charter education. Yet charter school supporters say officials should try harder to find more space.

Title      

In Britain all children have to go to school between the ages of 5 and 16. In the US children must go to school from the age of 6 to between the ages of 14 and 16, depending on the state they live in.

Subject

In England and Wales the subjects taught in schools are laid down by the National Curriculum, which was introduced in 1988 and sets out  in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of achievement they should reach by the ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16, when they are tested. The National Curriculum does not apply to Scotland, where each school decides what subjects it will teach.

In the US the subjects taught are decided by national and local governments. Whereas British schools usually have prayers and religious instruction, American schools are not allowed to include prayers or to teach particular religious beliefs.

Examinations

At 16 students in England and Wales take General certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examinations. These examinations are taken by students of all levels of ability in all subjects and may involve a final examination, an assessment, or both of these things. At 18 some students take A-level examinations, usually in no more than three subjects. It is necessary to have A levels in order to go to a university .

In Scotland students take the Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE) examinations. A year later, they can take examinations called HIGHS, after which they can either go straight to a university or spend a further year at school and take the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies. In Scotland the university system is different from that in England and Wales. Courses usually last four years rather than three and students have to study a larger number of subjects as part of their degree.

In the US school examinations are not as important as they are in Britain. Students in High Schools do have exams at the end of their last two years, but these final exams are considered along with the work that the students have done during the school years.

Social Events and Ceremonies

In American high schools there is a formal ceremony for graduation . Students wear a special cap and gown and receive a diploma from the head of the school. Students often buy a class ring to ear, and a yearbook, containing pictures of their friends and teachers. There are also special social events at American schools. Sports events are popular, and cheer leaders lead the school in supporting the school team and singing the school song. At the end of their junior year, at age 17 or 18, students held in the evening. The girls wear long evening dresses and the boys wear TUXEDOS.

In Britain, there are no formal dances or social occasions associated with school life. Some schools have Speech Day at the end of the school year when prizes are given to the best students and speeches are made by the head teacher and sometimes an invited guest.

Title:___1.___in Britain and the US

            In Britain                               In the US

Ages        Students ___2.____school between the

ages of 5 and 16.                                    Students go to school from the age of 6 to between the ages of 14 and 16, which __3.___ in different states.

Subjects     * The subjects are required by the National Curriculum in England and Wales

* ___4.___in Scotland have the right to determine the subjects to be taught  * Prayers or particular religious

beliefs are not ___5.___in

subjects.

* Subjects are decided by national and __6.__government

Exams       * In England and Wales, one cannot go to university ___7.___A levels.

* Exams in Scotland are different from __8.  in England and Wales  *Exams are not so important as they are in Britain.

*Students have exams at the end of their last two years.

Social events and ceremonies                          * Schools have no formal dances or social occasions related to school life.

* There is Speech Day in some schools, a time for giving prizes and making speeches   * A formal ceremony is held for students who ___9.___from high school.

* Sporting events enjoy _ __10._with students.

SECTION B

Directions: Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage and the required words limit. Write your answers on your answer sheet. (6分)

                    High School In America

After middle school comes high school, which includes grades 9 through 12. Students are required to take certain subjects like English, social studies, math, science, and physical education. In addition, they choose among elective subjects (选修课程) to complete their high school education. Electives include subjects in technology, music, art, and foreign languages.

 Each student in the school has their own locker for books and personal items. This convenience saves students from carrying textbooks, and allows students a small space they can decorate with posters and favorite objects.

Cheating in any form is strictly prohibited in American schools. And in fact, high school students usually don’t cheat. A student caught cheating or copying from another student faces severe punishment.

Each school holds certain yearly activities, such as homecoming (返校节), prom night (舞会), holiday celebrations, etc.

Many high school students have part-time jobs by the age of 15 or 16, some even earlier. Their first jobs are often babysitting or cutting laws, but later they will likely get a job at a fast-food restaurant, video store, or clothing shop.

{zxxk007}

58．Besides required subjects (必修课程), what other subjects do American high school students take? (回答词数不超过2个)

_____________________________________________________________________

59. Why do they seldom cheat? (回答词数不超过8个))[来源:学_科_网Z_X_X_K]

60. What are their first part-time jobs? (回答词数不超过9个))