The A-level question Have 22 continuous years of rises in A-level pass rate made the exam worthless? David Miliband, the minister for School Standards, insists the answer is a firm " no". And he said it was wrong that " more will mean worse and more educa??tion for more people will mean lower standards". Figures show that — despite the rise in A-grades to 21. 6 per cent — only 22,000 out of 600,000 18-year-olds gain three A-grade pas??ses. Put another way, that means — in a primary class of 30 pupils — only one will get three A-grades. The center right Bow Group, in a pamphlet published today, however, says nine out of ten scholars believe A-grades have been devalued over the past ten years.

Two inquiries (调查) — both set up by the Government’s exams watchdogs — one of which included in??dependent teaching experts, refused to accept that there had been any " dumping down" of A-level standards. But while they conclude that the exam questions have not become easier, changes in examining methods have almost certainly made it easier to gain top-grade passes.

As a result of the exams shake-up introduced in 2000, students sit six different types of exams to make up an A-level during the course of their two years of study. Only 20 per cent of the marks are set for the end-of-term exam. This makes it easier for teachers to help their pupils with the right answers.

Mr Miliband said yesterday, " My argument is not that to??day ‘s generation of pupils are cleverer than their parents; it is that schools and teachers are getting better at getting the best out of them. "

5. From the writer’s point of view, the rise in A-grades to 21. 6 per cent shows ______.

A. it is generally thought more education means lower standards

B. the rise in the A-level pass rate has made the exam worthless

C. the quality of the 18-year-olds has become lower

D. it is still hard for the general pupils to get three A-grade passes

6. The underlined word " they" in the second paragraph refers to ______.

A. the exams watchdogs               B. the independent teaching experts

C. the A-level standards                D. the two inquiries

7. As a result of the exams shake-up introduced in 2000 ______.

A. the pass rate for A-levels was set to rise continuously

B. the exam became easier than it had been before 2000

C. pupils could have many more choices of test after 2000

D. it soon became popular with teachers and pupils

8. What does this passage mainly discuss?

A. How reliable and effective the A-level grading system is.

B. How the A-level system helps universities select pupils.

C. How the pass rate has been increased in recent years.

D. How the A-level grading system has changed over the years.

As a disabled person, I often feel I have two jobs．There's my normal job working as a radio producer and there’s my role managing a team of carers （otherwise called personal assistants）．Of the two jobs, being a radio producer is considerably easier．One of the hardest aspects of being a PA employer and needing 24-hour care is that you never feel “off duty”．At any time a PA could present me with an issue or concern that needs handling．

There was an occasion when a previous PA came into my bedroom one morning to get me up and began complaining straight away that I had paid her the wrong amount that week．Another former PA once called me on a Saturday evening to ask if she could book some annual leave．

Once the booking is confirmed, the worry about not having a carer at all is replaced by concern over who the carer is．My agency tries very hard to send me carers who’ve helped me before, but obviously if you book agency care at short notice you just have to accept whoever is available．When an agency sends me a carer who is new to me, I have to explain my needs from scratch．

Of course, no organisation is never wrong and care agencies are no exception．When an agency makes a mistake and a carer fails to turn up, the impact on my life can be frustrating and distressing．It might mean I’m unable to get up in the morning and am stuck in bed for hours staring at the ceiling, waiting for a carer to arrive．It might mean I’m late for work or have to miss an appointment．Fortunately, over the last decade I’ve seen a considerable improvement in the quality of service care agencies provide．Most of the time, I’m pleased to say, the agencies I use are caring, organised and reliable．

When a home PA is off sick, life can be stressful but when a work PA is ill, the consequences can be more serious．At home it doesn’t matter if tasks don’t get done or take longer because the agency carer is less experienced at helping me than my permanent PAs．The only person affected is myself．However, at work I have to meet deadlines and if I don’t do my job properly, then not only will it create extra problems for my colleagues but it could also affect the quality of the programme I'm working on．

Luckily, I employ two full-time permanent PAs so when one is absent I usually still have the other one with me．On a normal day the work PAs share out the hours equally between them．

Covering a PA’s sickness not only creates practical problems, it can also be a financial headache．Agency care is expensive．For this reason, a PA who doesn’t need much sick leave is worth her weight in gold．

1．The passage is mainly about __________________．

      A．social relation                        B．housework and work

      C．social care                         D．sickness and treatment

2．Being a PA employer, the author feels she is always “on duty” because__________________．

      A．she takes up two jobs---- working as radio producer and managing a team of carers．

      B．some employees are either less experienced or considerably lazy．

      C．she has to get up early in the morning and go to bed late at night．

      D．a personal assistant may bring much trouble to her anytime．

3．What does the author think of the service of the care agencies?

      A．The quality of service care agencies offer has improved a lot．

      B．Her care agencies never make any mistakes．

      C．Her care agencies take good care of her．

      D．The service her care agencies provide needs considerable improvement．

4．Why can the consequences be more serious when a work PA is ill?

      A．Because a work PA is less efficient than a home PA

      B．Because the author’s poor work has an effect on her colleagues with no care．

      C．Because on a normal day a work PA has much important work to do．

      D．Because the absence of a PA can cause financial problems．

阅读理解

　　How to protect children Web fans from unsuitable materials online while encouraging them to use the Internet has long been discussed in the U. S..

　　For some parents, the Internet can seem like a jungle filled with danger for their children. But jungles contain wonders as well as danger and with good guides, some education, and a few precautions(预防措施), the wilds of the Internet can be safely navigated(航海).“Kids have to be online. If we tell our kids they can't have chance to the Interact ,we're cutting them off from their future,”said an expert.

　　Most kids have started to use search engines. Many of them are great for finding tons of interesting Internet sites and they can also locate places where you might not want your kids to go. There are search engines designed just for kids. A certain software contains only sues that have been selected as safe. The most popular way to limit chance would be to use what is known as a“content screener(过滤器)”.But this can't be wholly reliable(可靠), and the best thing parents can do is to talk to their kids and let them know what is OK or not OK to see or do on the Internet. Another way is that mum or dad is nearby when the child is surfing the Inter- net.

　　Four other tips:

　　- Don't put the PC in a child's room but keep it in an area where mum or dad can keep an eye on things, That also makes the Interact more of a family activity.

　　- Ask your child what he or she has been doing and a- bout any friends they make on-line.

　　- Tell your child not to . give on - line strangers personal information especially like address and phone number.

　　-And tell your children never Co talk to anyone they meet on - line over the phone send them anything, accept any thing from them or agree to meet with them unless you go along.

(1)The passage is mainly about the subject of ________.

[　　]

A．American children going on -line

B．Internet in America

C．appreciating Internet

D．opposing children's on-line

(2)The best way to protect children from improper materials is ________.

[　　]

A．to install a content screener on the computer

B．to buy some search engines for the children

C．to be nearby when they are surfing the Internet

D．to educate the children and persuade them to tell right from wrong

(3)Which of the following is right according to the pas- sage?

[　　]

A．Surfing the Interact is the best method of educating children.

B．Children's not having chance to the Internet may

have effect on their progress.

C．Using a content screener is most reliable for keeping

children having chance to the Interact.

[　　]

D．Searching engines can help children to select materials fit for them.

(4)According to the passage, we can infer that ________.

[　　]

A．softwares fit for children want programming

B．a child who is on-line is in danger

C．Internet is a jungle full of danger

D．Internet contains a Sot of harmful sites

(5)What does the underlined word“that”probably refer to?

[　　]

A．The first tip.

B．The PC in the kid's room.

C．Placing the PC within parents' view.

D．Kids' surfing the Interact with their parents nearby.

阅读理解

　　How to protect children Web fans from unsuitable materials online while encouraging them to use the Internet has long been discussed in the U. S..

　　For some parents, the Internet can seem like a jungle filled with danger for their children. But jungles contain wonders as well as danger and with good guides, some education, and a few precautions(预防措施), the wilds of the Internet can be safely navigated(航海).“Kids have to be online. If we tell our kids they can't have chance to the Interact ,we're cutting them off from their future,”said an expert.

　　Most kids have started to use search engines. Many of them are great for finding tons of interesting Internet sites and they can also locate places where you might not want your kids to go. There are search engines designed just for kids. A certain software contains only sues that have been selected as safe. The most popular way to limit chance would be to use what is known as a“content screener(过滤器)”.But this can't be wholly reliable(可靠), and the best thing parents can do is to talk to their kids and let them know what is OK or not OK to see or do on the Internet. Another way is that mum or dad is nearby when the child is surfing the Inter- net.

　　Four other tips:

　　- Don't put the PC in a child's room but keep it in an area where mum or dad can keep an eye on things, That also makes the Interact more of a family activity.

　　- Ask your child what he or she has been doing and a- bout any friends they make on-line.

　　- Tell your child not to . give on - line strangers personal information especially like address and phone number.

　　-And tell your children never Co talk to anyone they meet on - line over the phone send them anything, accept any thing from them or agree to meet with them unless you go along.

(1)The passage is mainly about the subject of ________.

[　　]

A．American children going on -line

B．Internet in America

C．appreciating Internet

D．opposing children's on-line

(2)The best way to protect children from improper materials is ________.

[　　]

A．to install a content screener on the computer

B．to buy some search engines for the children

C．to be nearby when they are surfing the Internet

D．to educate the children and persuade them to tell right from wrong

(3)Which of the following is right according to the pas- sage?

[　　]

A．Surfing the Interact is the best method of educating children.

B．Children's not having chance to the Internet may

have effect on their progress.

C．Using a content screener is most reliable for keeping

children having chance to the Interact.

[　　]

D．Searching engines can help children to select materials fit for them.

(4)According to the passage, we can infer that ________.

[　　]

A．softwares fit for children want programming

B．a child who is on-line is in danger

C．Internet is a jungle full of danger

D．Internet contains a Sot of harmful sites

(5)What does the underlined word“that”probably refer to?

[　　]

A．The first tip.

B．The PC in the kid's room.

C．Placing the PC within parents' view.

D．Kids' surfing the Interact with their parents nearby.

The Internet has led to a huge increase in credit-card fraud. Your card information could even be for sale in an illegal Web site. Web sites offering cheap goods and services should be regarded with care. On-line shoppers who enter their credit-card information may never receive the goods they thought they bought.

The thieves then go shopping with your card number or sell the information over the Internet.

Computers hackers have broken down security systems, raising questions about the safety of cardholder information. Several months ago, 25 000 customers of CD Universe, an on-line music retailer(批发商), were not lucky. Their names, addresses and credit-card numbers were posted on a Web site after the retailer refused to pay US $157 828 to get back the information.

Credit-card firms are now fighting against on-line fraud. Master card is working on plans for Web-only credit card, with a lower credit limit. The card could be used only for shopping on-line.

However, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep from being cheated.

Ask about your credit-card firm’s on-line rules: Under British law, cardholders are responsible for the first US $78 of any fraudulent spending.

And shop only at secure sites: Send your credit-card information only if the Web site offers advanced secure system.

If the security is in place, a letter will appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. the Web site address may also start with https://-- the extra “s” stands for secure. If in doubt, give your credit-card information over the telephone.

Keep your password safe: Most online sites require a user name and password before placing an order. Treat your passwords with care.

What do most people worry about the Internet according to this passage?

A. A lot of stolen credit-cards were sold on the Internet.     B. Fraud on the Internet.

C. Many Web sites are destroyed.                D. Many illegal Web sites are on the Internet.

What is the meaning of “fraud”?

A. cheating           B. sale            C. payment                     D. safety

How can the thieves get the information of the credit-card?

A. The customers give them the information. B. The thieves steal the information from Web sites.

C. The customers sell the information to them. D. Both A and B.

How many pieces of advice does the passage give to you?

A. Four. 　　  　B. Three.         C. Five. 　      　D. Six.

You are shopping on the site: http: //www. shopping. com, and you want to buy a TV set, what does this article suggest doing?

A. Order the TV set at once.        B. Do not buy the TV set on this site.

C. E-mail the site your credit-card information.

D. Tell the site your password and buy the TV set for you.