One is never too old to learn. Life learning (sometimes called un-schooling or self-directed learning) is one of those concepts that are almost easier to explain by saying what it isn’t than what it is. And that’s probably because our own schooled backgrounds have convinced us that learning happens only in a fine building on certain days, between certain hours, and managed by a specially trained professional.

Within that schooling framestudy, no matter how hard teachers try and no matter how good their textbooks, many bright students get bored, many slower students struggle and give up or lose their self-respect, and most of them reach the end of the process unprepared to enter into society. They have memorized a certain body of knowledge long enough to rush back the information on tests, but they haven’t really learnt much, at least of the official curriculum.

Life learners, on the other hand, know that learning is not difficult, that people learn things quite easily if they’re not compelled and forced, if they see a need to learn something, and if they are trusted and respected enough to learn it on their own timetable, at their own speed, in their own way—no matter what age and no matter whether we’re at school or at home.

Life learning is independent of time, location or the presence of teacher. It does not require mom or dad to teach, or kids to work in workbooks at the table from 9 to noon. Life learning is learner-driven. It involves living and learning—in and from the real world. It is about exploring, questioning, experimenting, making messes, taking risks without fear of making mistakes, being laughed at and trying again.

Furthermore, life learning is about trusting kids to learn what they need to know and about helping them to learn and grow in their own ways. It is about providing positive experiences that enable children to understand the world and their culture and to interact with it.

1.It is implied in the text that it is hard to ______.

A. tell the nature of life learning 　　      B. carry life learning through

C. learn without going to school 　　      D. find a specially trained teacher

2.According to the author, the schooling framestudy often ______.

A. produces slow students with poor memories

B. ignores some parts of the official curriculum

C. fails to provide enough knowledge about life

D. gives little care to the quality of teaching materials

3.Life learners recognize that learning will not be difficult if they are ______.

A. able to respect other people　                  B. careful to make a time table

C. clear about why to learn　　                     D. cautious about any mistakes

4.According to the author, life learning ______.

A. could prevent one from running risks

B. teaches a kid how to avoid being laughed at

C. makes a kid independent of his parents

D. could be a road full of trials and errors

5.Through life learning, children ______.

A. will grow without the assistance from parents

B. will be seperated from the negative side of society

C. will be driven to learn necessary life knowledge

D. will learn to communicate with the real society

       Transportation and communication networks bring people together. Yet sometimes people themselves create barriers(障碍) to transportation and communication. In some countries, laws stop people from moving freely from place to place. Over the centuries, many groups of people have been denied the freedom to travel because of their race, religion, or nationality. In the Middle Ages, for example, Jews were often forbidden to move about freely within certain cities. South Africa's government used to require black Africans to carry passes when they travel within the country. Some governments require all citizens to carry identification papers and to report to government officials whenever they move.

   Countries set up customs posts at their borders. Foreign travellers must go through a customs inspection before they are allowed to travel in the country. Usually travellers have to carry special papers such as passports and visas(签证). Some countries even limit the number of visitors to their country each year.  Others allow tourists to visit only certain areas of the country, or they may require that travellers be with an official guide at all times during their stay.

    Many of those barriers to travel also act as barriers to communication.

When two governments disagree with each other on important matters, they usually do not want their citizens to exchange news or ideas freely. Countries often try to keep military or industrial information secret.

     Today, people have the ability to travel, to communicate, and to transport goods more quickly and easily than ever before. Natural barriers that were difficult or dangerous to cross a hundred years ago can now be crossed easily. The barriers that people themselves make are not so easy to overcome. But in spite of all the different kinds of barriers, people continue to enjoy travel and the exchange of goods and ideas.

6. The examples in paragraph 2 are used to tell the readers that _______

     A. people have been allowed to travel freely within the country

     B. people have not been permitted to travel freely for various reasons

     C. travellers have to carry special papers such as　passports and visas

     D. customs posts are necessary at the borders of　the countries

7. Some governments limit the freedom of communication because___

     A.  they intend to keep their national secrets unknown to others

     B.  they think such freedom will lead to wars

     C.  they often disagree with each other on important matters

     D.  they want to show their authority over communication

8. We may learn from the passage that _______

     A. people do not care about the removal of barriers between countries

     B. people can not remove the obstacles made by themselves

     C. man-made barriers are sometimes harder to overcome than natural ones

     D. barriers should be taken for granted as they always exist

9. Which of the following can serve as the best title of the passage?

      A. Barriers Made by People                B. Functions of Communication

      C. Restrictions on Transportation            D. Progress of Human Society

10．Which is NOT mentioned as the possible limits some countries put on foreign visitors?

A. They have to get a visa before they enter the country.

B. Only a limited number of visitors are allowed to enter the country every year.

C. Not every part of the country is open to foreign tourists.

D. They have to report to government officials when they come to a new place.

James Cleveland Owens was the son of a farmer and the grandson of black slaves. His family moved to Cleveland when he was 9.There, a school teacher asked the youth his name.

"J.C., "he replied.

She thought he had said "Jesse", and he had a new name.

Owens ran his first race at age 13.After high school, he went to Ohio State University. He had to work part time so as to pay for his education. As a second?  year student in the Big Ten games in 1935, he set even more records than he would in the Olympic Games a year later.

A week before the Big Ten meet, Owens accidentally fell down a flight of stairs. His back hurt so much that he could not exercise all week, and he had to be helped in and out of the car that drove him to the meet. He refused to listen to the suggestions that he give up and said he would try, event by event. He did try, and the results are in the record book.

The stage was set for Owens victory at the Olympic Games  in Berlin the next year,  and his success would come to be regarded as not only athletic but also political. Hitler did not congratulate any of the African?American winners.

"It was all right with me, "he said years later."I didn’t go to Berlin to shake hands with him, anyway."

Having returned from Berlin,  he received no telephone calls from the president of his own country,  either. In fact, he was not honored by the United States until 1976, four years before his death.

Owens? Olympic victories  made little difference to him. He earned his living by looking after a school playground, and accepted money to race against cars, trucks,  motorcycles and dogs.

"Sure, it bothered me, "he said later." But at least it was an honest living. I had to eat."

In time,  however,  his gold medals changed his life."They have kept me alive over the years, "he once said. "Time has stood still for me. That golden moment dies hard."

1.

　Owens got his other name "Jesse" when.

A.　he went to Ohio State University    

B.　his teacher made fun of him

C.　his teacher took "J. C."for "Jesse"

D.　he won gold medals in the Big Ten meet

2.

　In the Big Ten meet，Owens

A.　hurt himself in the back           B.　succeeded in setting many records

C.　tried every sports event but failed   D.　had to give up some events

3.

　We can infer from the text that Owens was treated unfairly in the US at that time because.

A.　he was not of the right race

B.　he was the son of a poor farmer

C.　he didnˊt shake hands with Hitler

D.　he didnˊt  talk to the US president on the phone

4.

　When Owens says "They have kept me alive over the years ",he means that the medals.

A.　have been changed for money to help him live on

B.　have made him famous in the US

C.　have encouraged him to overcome difficulties in life

D.　have kept him busy with all kinds of jobs

5.

　What would be the best title for the text?

A.　Jesse Owens,  A Great American Athlete

B.　Golden Moment — A Life?time Struggle

C.　Making A Living As A Sportsman

D.　How To Be A Successful Athlete