Many young people in the United States never finish high school. Exactly how many drop out is another issue. Recent studies of  __1__ rate have had conflicting results.

For one thing, schools define and measure their dropout rates __2__. Some researchers say about 15 to 20 percent of public school students do not  __3__ their education on time. __4__  many other experts and policymakers believe that for the past 20 years, the dropout rate has been around 30 percent. For Latino and black students, the  __5__  are even larger. Researchers say almost half of them  __6__  school. At the same time, almost half of the states let students leave school  __7__  the age of 18 without informing their parents.

Finding a good job  __8__  a high school education is becoming more and more difficult. A Northeastern University  __9__  in 2002 found that almost half of all dropouts aged 16 to 24 did not have a job. The  __10__  of a high school education can also  __11__ other problems. It is estimated that two－thirds of prisoners in the United States dropped out of high school.

Recent studies have  __12__  that the majority of students who drop out do it because they are failing. Many are  __13__ with their classes or feel disconnected from their school and teachers. Some students feel that educators place low  __14__  on them.

During the past 20 years, there have been efforts to  __15__  graduation rate through education reforms. Some communities are working on dropout  __16__ programs. These include some alternative high schools to meet special  __17__.

Experts think “early warning systems” can help __18__ young schoolchildren at the risk of dropping out of high school. They say schools also need to get  __19__ more involved, especially if their children are  __20__  school often.

1. A. research    B. finishing    C. dropout  D. completing

2. A. personally  B. individually  C. differently  D. similarly

3. A. complete   B. reach       C. practise  D. operate

4. A. And       B. Besides      C. Instead  D. But

5. A. people     B. students  C. dropouts  D. numbers

6. A. approach  B. leave  C. stay  D. enter

7. A. after     B. until  C. before  D. when

8. A. without        B. together with

C. out of         D. off

9. A. project  B. design  C. sketch  D. study

10. A. importance     B. lack

C. need          D. requirement

11. A. lead to  B. result  C. conclude  D. include

12. A. noticed  B. watched  C. shown  D. inspected

13. A. bored  B. interested  C. indifferent  D. unconcerned 

14. A. outlook  B. prediction  C. remark  D. expectations

15. A. decrease  B. reduce  C. increase  D. unite

16. A. prevention      B. conservation

C. permission      D. admittance

17. A. needs  B. ways  C. advantages  D. means

18. A. receive  B. accept  C. get  D. identify

19. A. mates  B. teachers  C. parents  D. neighbours

20. A. missing  B. staying  C. leaving  D. studying

.

完形填空（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）

Many young people in the United States never finish high school. Exactly how many drop out is another issue. Recent studies of  36  rate have had conflicting results.

For one thing, schools define and measure their dropout rates  37 . Some researchers say about 15 to 20 percent of public school students do not  38  their education on time.  39   many other experts and policymakers believe that for the past 20 years, the dropout rate has been around 30 percent. For Latino and black students, the  40  are even larger. Researchers say almost half of them  41  school. At the same time, almost half of the states let students leave school  42  the age of 18 without informing their parents.

Finding a good job  43  a high school education is becoming more and more difficult. A Northeastern University  44  in 2002 found that almost half of all dropouts aged 16 to 24 did not have a job. The  45  of a high school education can also  46  other problems. It is estimated that two-thirds of prisoners in the United States dropped out of high school.

Recent studies have  47  that the majority of students who drop out do it because they are failing. Many are  48  with their classes or feel disconnected from their school and teachers. Some students feel that educators place low  49  on them.

During the past 20 years, there have been efforts to  50  graduation rate through education reforms. Some communities are working on dropout  51  programs. These include some alternative (其它的) high schools to meet special  52 .

Experts think “early warning systems” can help  53  young schoolchildren at the risk of dropping out of high school. They say schools also need to get  54  more involved, especially if their children are  55  school often.

36. A. research            B. finishing           C. dropout          D. completing

37. A. personally          B. individually         C. differently       D. similarly

38. A. complete                B. reach              C. practise          D. operate

39. A. And               B. Besides             C. Instead          D. But

40. A. people            B. students          C. dropouts          D. numbers

41. A. approach          B. leave             C. stay              D. enter

42. A. after              B. until              C. before           D. when

43. A. without           B. together with       C. out of           D. off

44. A. project            B. design            C. sketch           D. study

45. A. importance          B. lack            C. need             D. requirement

46. A. lead to             B. result            C. conclude         D. include

47. A. noticed            B. watched          C. shown           D. inspected

48. A. bored             B. interested         C. indifferent        D. unconcerned

49. A. outlook           B. prediction        C. remark           D. expectations

50. A. decrease          B. reduce           C. increase          D. unite

51. A. prevention        B. conservation      C. permission        D. admittance

52. A. needs            B. ways              C. advantages       D. means

53. A. receive            B. accept            C. get             D. identify

54. A. mates            B. teachers           C. parents          D. neighbors

55. A. missing           B. staying            C. leaving         D. studying

.

完形填空（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）

Many young people in the United States never finish high school. Exactly how many drop out is another issue. Recent studies of  36  rate have had conflicting results.

For one thing, schools define and measure their dropout rates  37 . Some researchers say about 15 to 20 percent of public school students do not  38  their education on time.  39   many other experts and policymakers believe that for the past 20 years, the dropout rate has been around 30 percent. For Latino and black students, the  40  are even larger. Researchers say almost half of them  41  school. At the same time, almost half of the states let students leave school  42  the age of 18 without informing their parents.

Finding a good job  43  a high school education is becoming more and more difficult. A Northeastern University  44  in 2002 found that almost half of all dropouts aged 16 to 24 did not have a job. The  45  of a high school education can also  46  other problems. It is estimated that two-thirds of prisoners in the United States dropped out of high school.

Recent studies have  47  that the majority of students who drop out do it because they are failing. Many are  48  with their classes or feel disconnected from their school and teachers. Some students feel that educators place low  49  on them.

During the past 20 years, there have been efforts to  50  graduation rate through education reforms. Some communities are working on dropout  51  programs. These include some alternative (其它的) high schools to meet special  52 .

Experts think “early warning systems” can help  53  young schoolchildren at the risk of dropping out of high school. They say schools also need to get  54  more involved, especially if their children are  55  school often.

36. A. research            B. finishing           C. dropout          D. completing

37. A. personally          B. individually         C. differently       D. similarly

38. A. complete                  B. reach              C. practise          D. operate

39. A. And               B. Besides             C. Instead          D. But

40. A. people             B. students           C. dropouts           D. numbers

41. A. approach           B. leave             C. stay               D. enter

42. A. after               B. until              C. before            D. when

43. A. without            B. together with       C. out of            D. off

44. A. project             B. design            C. sketch            D. study

45. A. importance          B. lack             C. need              D. requirement

46. A. lead to              B. result            C. conclude          D. include

47. A. noticed             B. watched          C. shown            D. inspected

48. A. bored              B. interested         C. indifferent         D. unconcerned

49. A. outlook            B. prediction         C. remark            D. expectations

50. A. decrease           B. reduce            C. increase           D. unite

51. A. prevention         B. conservation       C. permission         D. admittance

52. A. needs             B. ways              C. advantages        D. means

53. A. receive            B. accept            C. get              D. identify

54. A. mates             B. teachers           C. parents           D. neighbors

55. A. missing            B. staying            C. leaving          D. studying

When I was a teenager I volunteered to work at the water station at a 10,000 m race.      My  36 was to pass out water to the runners. I remember being so excited to see all the different kinds of    37  who passed by and   38 a cup of water. The next year I signed up for the   39  and gave it a shot.

The first 10,000 m race was quite an experience. I jogged, I walked, I jogged and I walked. At times, I didn’t   40  if I could finish.

At one point near the end, a 70-year-old man ran past me very   41  , and I felt embarrassed that I was 50 years younger than him and I couldn’t even keep up with him. I felt      42  for a second.

But then I   43   something. He was running his race and I was running mine. He had   44  capacities, experience, training and goals for himself. I had mine. Remember my   45   was only to finish.

After a minute, it   46 me that this was a lesson I could draw from . I learned  47 about myself in that moment. I turned my   48  into inspiration.

I decided that I would not   49 running races. In fact, I would run even more races and I would learn how to train and  50 properly and one day I would be one of those 70-year-olds who were still running. As I   51 the finishing line, I was proud  52 my accomplishment.

In life we all have those moments when we  53 ourselves to others. It’s only   54 . Don’ allow those moments to weaken you. Turn them into   55  and let them inspire you. Use them to show you what is possible.

1 

 When I was a teenager I volunteered to work at the water station at a 10,000 m race.My  36  was to pass out water to the runners. I remember being so excited to see all the different kinds of    37   who passed by and   38  a cup of water. The next year I signed up for the   39   and gave it a shot.

The first 10,000 m race was quite an experience. I jogged, I walked, I jogged and I walked. At times, I didn’t   40   if I could finish.

At one point near the end, a 70-year-old man ran past me very   41   , and I felt embarrassed that I was 50 years younger than him and I couldn’t even keep up with him. I felt      42   for a second.

But then I   43    something. He was running his race and I was running mine. He had   44   capacities, experience, training and goals for himself. I had mine. Remember my   45    was only to finish.

After a minute, it   46  me that this was a lesson I could draw from . I learned  47  about myself in that moment. I turned my   48   into inspiration.

I decided that I would not   49  running races. In fact, I would run even more races and I would learn how to train and  50  properly and one day I would be one of those 70-year-olds who were still running. As I   51  the finishing line, I was proud  52  my accomplishment.

In life we all have those moments when we  53  ourselves to others. It’s only   54  . Don’allow those moments to weaken you. Turn them into   55   and let them inspire you. Use them to show you what is possible.

1.A. position    B. direction      C. decision        D. target

2.A. trainers    B. runners        C. fans      D. volunteers

3.A. begged     B. drank   C. dropped       D. grabbed

4.A. project      B. service          C. race     D. experience

5.A. doubt        B. know    C. answer         D. promise

6.A. slowly        B. fast      C. quietly D. carefully

7.A. surprised  B. satisfied       C. amused        D. defeated

8.A. forgot        B. realized        C. remembered        D. abandoned

9.A. different   B. wonderful    C. valuable       D. proper

10.A. dream     B. plan      C. goal      D. job

11.A. happened        B. hit         C. occurred      D. attracted

12.A. everything      B. anything       C. nothing         D. something

13.A. disappointment B. embarrassment       C. agreement          D. achievement

14.A. sign up    B. pick up         C. give up          D. keep up

15.A. predict    B. behave         C. prepare        D. pretend

16.A. found      B. crossed        C. held      D. left

17.A. in    B. upon    C. of         D. for

18.A. combine B. control          C. compare      D. contribute

19.A. natural   B. frequent       C. important    D. terrible

20.A. condition         B. motivation   C. situation      D. protection