E

When I was growing up, 16 was always a magical age, a symbol of maturity, responsibility and of course more independence and freedom.  I sat through the hours of Driver’s Ed classes eager to get out on the road. I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license.

But it’s a different story for today’s teens. In January, the U.S. Department Transportation released 2012 data that showed only 30.7 percent of U.S. teens got their license at age 16, Twenty years before, that number was almost 45 percent.

There are numbers of reasons for the fall – off. The growing responsibilities like paying for insurance and high gas prices discourage teens from getting behind the wheel. Plus, many teens today are so busy with homework, endless hours of activities and part-time jobs, that finding the time for Driver’s Ed classes may be more difficult that ever.

In addition, many states have raised the driving age, or restricted when teens can drive and who they can have in the car. Parents may also be making their own personal restrictions until they feel their teens are responsible enough to drive safely.

Driving is part of the American culture, but it’s not the central focus like it was 25 years ago. They have so many other things to do now. One of the more interesting factors delaying teens driving might be the change of their social life. Today, teens need to look no further than Face book or other social networking sites to connect with their friends. There is simply less need, maybe less desire, to be able to grab the keys and go.

Michelle Wei got her license as a senior in high school because her digital social life made it easy no to drive. “If I couldn’t get a ride to see my friend who lives a town over,” the 19-year-old said, “I could talk on IM or Skype.”

Research has shown that these online relationships can lead to higher quality friendships, so it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, it’s important to find a balance. If old face-to-face friendships are good, why not drive to find them?

1.We can infer from the first paragraph that         .

A．Driver’s Ed classes allowed teens to know what maturity was

B．getting a driving license at 16 was a must for American teens

C．16 was considered an age when one could get his driver’s license

D．teens could drive on the road without taking Driver’s Ed classes

2.What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Desire to drive on the road declines among American teens.

B．Getting a license costs much more than ever before.

C．Social networking sites are changing the life of American teens.

D．American teens are becoming more responsible than ever.

3.Michelle’s Wei’s example is used to explain ________.

A．why American teens are crazy about digital social life

B．what social networking websites are bringing to American teens

C．to what degree the Internet is affecting the American car culture

D．what the Internet does to help teens to get a driving license

4.The last paragraph is reminding the readers that        .

A．the Internet h as a bad effect on the teen’s social life

B．teens should keep a balance in choosing their lifestyle

C．actual contacts can be replaced by talking on line

D．face-to-face friendship is always the best choice

E
When I was growing up, 16 was always a magical age, a symbol of maturity, responsibility and of course more independence and freedom.  I sat through the hours of Driver’s Ed classes eager to get out on the road. I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license.
But it’s a different story for today’s teens. In January, the U.S. Department Transportation released 2012 data that showed only 30.7 percent of U.S. teens got their license at age 16, Twenty years before, that number was almost 45 percent.
There are numbers of reasons for the fall – off. The growing responsibilities like paying for insurance and high gas prices discourage teens from getting behind the wheel. Plus, many teens today are so busy with homework, endless hours of activities and part-time jobs, that finding the time for Driver’s Ed classes may be more difficult that ever.
In addition, many states have raised the driving age, or restricted when teens can drive and who they can have in the car. Parents may also be making their own personal restrictions until they feel their teens are responsible enough to drive safely.
Driving is part of the American culture, but it’s not the central focus like it was 25 years ago. They have so many other things to do now. One of the more interesting factors delaying teens driving might be the change of their social life. Today, teens need to look no further than Face book or other social networking sites to connect with their friends. There is simply less need, maybe less desire, to be able to grab the keys and go.
Michelle Wei got her license as a senior in high school because her digital social life made it easy no to drive. “If I couldn’t get a ride to see my friend who lives a town over,” the 19-year-old said, “I could talk on IM or Skype.”
Research has shown that these online relationships can lead to higher quality friendships, so it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, it’s important to find a balance. If old face-to-face friendships are good, why not drive to find them?
【小题1】We can infer from the first paragraph that         .

A new report says African governments are ill prepared to handle the growing number of people over age 65. The population in Africa  as in other parts of the world, is getting older. Currently, there are 36 million people on the continent 65 years and above. which is 3.6 percent of the population. up from 3.3 percent 10 years ago. That could rise to 4.5 percent by 2030 and 10 percent by 2050. The African development Bank is raising concerns over the shortage of health insurance and pensions (养老金).

     The African Development Bank says. "Aging is highly linked with long-term physical and mental  disability and a number of long-term chronic (慢性的) conditions."

     "Africa is not well prepared to care for its aging population right now. And it needs to prepare for this fact." said Professor Mthuli Ncube. the African Development Bank's chief economist. African nations spend far less on healthcare than developed nations do___ about $26per person per year. Not so many countries have well developed medical aid plans for the elderly, whether they are privately provided plans or indeed government plans. If you look at the pension plans, you will find the pension industries are not well developed in some of the countries.

     Professor Mthuli Ncube said African governments failed to take action on health insurance

and pensions because they were busy with economic reforms.

    Another challenge for Africa is the worsening of informal systems of social protection. That is cash and support from both the extended family and community sources.

   . The African Development Bank recommends governments help carry out health insurance and pension plans. Ncube said African governments didn't have to handle the health insurance burden alone. "It is not only a must but also an opportunity for private companies to add their bit in this regard", he said. The report also recommends that African governments consider providing ways of free health services. medications and long-term health care facilities for the elderly.

1. From the first paragraph we know the facts except that ____

A. the speed of people aging is becoming quicker

B . Africa has the largest aging population

C. African governments are not well prepared to deal with the aging population

D. the shortage of health insurance and pensions adds to African governments' difficulty in dealing With the aging population

2.Which is not highly linked with the aging according to the passage?

A. Long-term physical disability.             B. Long-term mental disability.

C. Long-term chronic illnesses.              D. Long-term shortage of care and love.

3. What got in the way of developing health insurance and pensions in Africa?

A. The economic reforms.                  B. Too many old people.

C. The shortage of land.                    D. The development of the economy.

4.How can the aging problem be solved in Africa according to Ncube?

A. African governments should spend as much money on healthcare as developed countries

B. African people should save enough money to insure their health.

C. African governments should combine with private companies to finish health insurance and pension pains.

D. Private sources should take the main responsibility to help the elderly.

5.The article is most likely to be seen____

A. in a story book      B. in a newspaper   C. on a TV program     D. in a textbook

单词拼写（共10小题，每题1分，满分10分）

根据下列句子所给单词的汉语提示或首字母，写出单词的正确形式（每空仅限一词）

51. We want some _________ (志愿者) to help paint the house.

52. Although he is very busy with his business, he always keeps ________ (有规  

律的) working hours.

We prefer ________ (质量) to quantity.

54. He ________ (接受) a present from his friend .

55. Nowadays with the help of modern science and technology, farming is no

longer ______ (完全地) dependent on the weather.

C______ very carefully before doing it, just to make sure that you will not

regret (后悔) some day.

I have no d______ that he will come to help me repair the damaged house,

because he always keeps his word.

58. The flood d________ a lot of houses and many people became homeless.

59. Father is thankful to me for p________ him to give up smoking .

60. He looks old, but a________  he is in his 30's .

--- What a pity! Leo missed the football match.

--- ______. He was busy with his schoolwork.

A. So he did       B. Neither he did       C. Neither did he       D. So did he