A recent report has shown that people in the United States have experienced a revolution．This revolution is about the people’s attitude toward the work week and the weekend．Throughout the years, people have traditionally regarded Sunday as the beginning of the week．Now, this is changing.

     Although some calendars today still mark the beginning of the week Sunday, more and more people in the United States are coming to take Monday as the first day of the week．They feel that Saturday and Sunday together make the weekend, because they make up of the two-day period during which people don’t have to work.

    In fact, the word “weekend’ did not even exist in the English language until about the middle of the nineteenth century．In England, at that time, Saturday afternoons had just been added to Sundays and holidays as a time set aside for workers to have time off from their jobs．From then on, people had one and a half days, Saturday afternoon and Sunday, free from work each week: this reform became common in the United States in the 1920s.

However, there came the great depression in 1930s, and there was not so much work to do throughout the country．The work week was therefore shortened, and the weekend expanded from one and a half days to two full days, Saturday and Sunday.

Some people thought that this trend （趋势） of having fewer work days would continue, They  felt that the increasing use of automation （自动化） in many parts of life would finally lead to further shortening of the work week, which, they said, might one day decrease to four days, or ever fewer．However, so far this has never happened, and the work week seems to have become fixed at 40 hours made up of five 8-hour days．Yet some people are even talking about adding Monday to the weekend．Do you think this will ever happen?

1．What does the author mainly discuss in the passage?

A．Attitudes toward employment.                      B．Attitudes toward pleasure activities.

C．Offering job chances.                                  D．The development of the weekend.

2．According to the passage, what is changing in the way people think about the week?

A．Which days people should work.                  B．How the week is divided into days.

C．Which day begins the week.                        D．How many weeks there are in a month.

3．What does the author imply about the work week in England in the early 1800s?

A．It was six days long.                                       B．It didn’t include Saturday afternoon.

C．It always included at least one holiday.          D．It didn’t allow the workers time off.

4．According to the passage what effect did some people think the increasing use of automation would have?

A．It would make the work day longer.

B．It would allow people to work on the weekend.

C．It would make pleasure activities expensive.

D．It would create much more free time.

A Divine Plan

    At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning­disabled children, the father of one student delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by those who attended. He began with a question. “Everything God does is done with perfection. Yet, my son, Shay, cannot learn and understand things as other children do. Where is God's plan reflected in my son？”

    The audience was stilled by the question. The father continued，“I believe that when God brings a child like Shay into the world, an opportunity to realize the Divine Plan presents itself. And it comes in the way people treat that child.”

    Then he told the following story：

    Shay and I walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked，“Do you think they will let me play？”

    I knew that most boys would not want him on their team. Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. So I approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, “We are losing by six runs(得分). The game is in the eighth inning(回合). He can be on our team and we will try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning.”

    In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. At the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield.

    In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. They had the potential to win. Would the team actually let Shay bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game?

    Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat.  At last, understanding what the boy's intentions had been, the boys from both teams helped Shay win the game for the team and Shay was cheered as the hero.

     “That day，” said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face，“the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of the Divine Plan into this world.”

56Why did the father think most of the boys wouldn't let_____ join them?

A. Because it was a very important game and they couldn'tafford to lose it.

B. Because they knew Shay was physically disabled.

C. Because they didn't get on well with Shay.

D. Because they knew Shay was anything but good at playing baseball.

57The sentence “Although no hits came his way, he was obviously very happy just to be on the field.” should be put t the end of ________.

A. Paragraph 5                 B. Paragraph 6

C. Paragraph 8                 D. Paragraph 9

58What can we infer from the passage?

A. Shay's team would have lost the game without him.

B. The opponent team let Shay score purposely.

C. It was quite by accident that Shay scored.

D. Shay's team let him play because they didn't take the game seriously.

59The underlined word “juncture” can be explained by ________.

A. a critical point                  B. a particular place

C. a dilemma                          D. an important game

Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents, was about to be lost forever, by the U.S. education system. He had been failing since first grade. Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old, yet, Steve went unnoticed... until Miss White.
Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn’t take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break he was punished for failing to turn in his homework! Still, he did not study.
    In the middle of the first term of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things.  His heart was in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. 
One day, Miss White’s impatient voice broke into his daydreams.
“Steve!” he turned to look at her.
“Pay attention!”
Steve locked his eyes on Miss White with adolescent adoration, as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.
“You all did pretty well,” she told the class, “except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but...” She hesitated.
“...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!”
She just stared at Steve, as the class turned around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.
After that, it was war!! Steve still wouldn’t do his homework even as the punishments became more severe.
“Just try it! ONE WEEK!” He was unmoved.
You’re smart enough! You’ll see a change!” Nothing happened.
“Give yourself a chance! Don’ give up on your life!” Nothing.
“Steve! Please! I care about you!”
Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone, totally perfect, CARED ABOUT HIM!
Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon.  He, quickly, gathered up his camping things, this time including his schoolbooks. Determined, he headed for the woods.
The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! God, she was beautiful! He expected her smile to turn on him. It did not.
Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart beating within his chest. As he sat down, he couldn’t resist another look at the lovely woman.
Miss White’s face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a bright smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!
From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it! And he continued this course throughout his school life.
After high-school Steve entered the Navy, and he had a successful military career.  During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves.
You see, it’s simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared.                          
1. How did Miss White’s expression change when she got Steve’s paper?   
A. satisfied —shocked —surprised —puzzled        B. puzzled —surprised —shocked —satisfied
C. surprised —puzzled —shocked —satisfied             D. surprised —shocked —satisfied —puzzled
2. Which of the following statements is NOT right according to the passage? 
A. Steve fell in love with Miss White at the first sight of her.
B. Steve’s parents were so addicted to drinking that they paid little attention to Steve’s life.
C. Steve would rather stay in the woods to keep himself away from his home.
D. Having being punished many times, Steve determined to work hard and passed his first test.
3. Which of the following can serve as the best title for this passage?
A. The difference a teacher can make                        B. The school life of a stubborn boy
C. The importance of family education                      D. The skills of being a good teacher

    Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents, was about to be lost forever, by the U.S. education system. He had been failing since first grade. Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old, yet, Steve went unnoticed... until Miss White.

    Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn’t take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break he was punished for failing to turn in his homework! Still, he did not study.

    In the middle of the first term of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things.  His heart was in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. 

One day, Miss White’s impatient voice broke into his daydreams.

    “Steve!” he turned to look at her.

         “Pay attention!”

         Steve locked his eyes on Miss White with adolescent adoration, as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.

         “You all did pretty well,” she told the class, “except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but...” She hesitated.

         “...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!”

         She just stared at Steve, as the class turned around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.

         After that, it was war!! Steve still wouldn’t do his homework even as the punishments became more severe.

         “Just try it! ONE WEEK!” He was unmoved.

         You’re smart enough! You’ll see a change!” Nothing happened.

         “Give yourself a chance! Don’ give up on your life!” Nothing.

         “Steve! Please! I care about you!”

         Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone, totally perfect, CARED ABOUT HIM!

         Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon.  He, quickly, gathered up his camping things, this time including his schoolbooks. Determined, he headed for the woods.

The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! God, she was beautiful! He expected her smile to turn on him. It did not.

         Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart beating within his chest. As he sat down, he couldn’t resist another look at the lovely woman.

         Miss White’s face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a bright smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!

From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it! And he continued this course throughout his school life.

         After high-school Steve entered the Navy, and he had a successful military career.  During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves.

         You see, it’s simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared.                          

1. How did Miss White’s expression change when she got Steve’s paper?   

         A. satisfied —shocked —surprised —puzzled            B. puzzled —surprised —shocked —satisfied

         C. surprised —puzzled —shocked —satisfied                  D. surprised —shocked —satisfied —puzzled

2. Which of the following statements is NOT right according to the passage? 

A. Steve fell in love with Miss White at the first sight of her.

B. Steve’s parents were so addicted to drinking that they paid little attention to Steve’s life.

C. Steve would rather stay in the woods to keep himself away from his home.

D. Having being punished many times, Steve determined to work hard and passed his first test.

3. Which of the following can serve as the best title for this passage?

         A. The difference a teacher can make                               B. The school life of a stubborn boy

         C. The importance of family education                               D. The skills of being a good teacher