A new report says only about half of all students in the main school systems of America’s largest cities finish high school. The report notes higher rates of graduation — over 70% —in areas surrounding the cities. Researchers studied high school graduation rates from the 2003, 2004 school year. They also identified the nation’s fifty largest cities. The largest, New York City, had a population of more than eight million. The smallest city was Wichita, Kansas. It had about three hundred and sixty thousand people.
Researchers used a system of measurement called the cumulative promotion index to find graduation rates. School officials in many of the cities studied said the resulting numbers were too low. That is because different areas use different methods to find graduation rates. Critics say many methods do not give a true picture of the number of students who leave high school before finishing.
Other studies have put the national graduation rate at about 70%. But experts agree that too many students are not completing high school. They estimate the number at more than one million each year. The report was prepared for America’s Promise Alliance. The private group aims to help children receive services they need to succeed.
General Colin Powell was chairman of America’s Promise Alliance when it was formed in 1997. He attended the press conference Tuesday where the report was released. He said studies have shown that the US must do more to educate the leaders and work force of the future.
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings also spoke. She said the government will propose that states use the same methods when reporting graduation rates. Alliance officials also announced the start of a nationwide campaign to improve graduation rates. It is to include a series of meetings to be held in every state over the next two years. The meetings will bring together elected leaders, business owners, students, parents and education officials. They will develop plans to increase the number of Americans who finish high school.
【小题1】The author wants to tell us ___________.

There is an old saying in English： "Laughter is the best medicine". Until recently, few people took the saying very seriously. Now, however, doctors have begun to investigate laughter and the effects it has on the human body. They have found evidence that laughter really can improve people's health.
Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films, while doctors checked their heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercise. It increases blood pressure, the heart rate and the rate of breathing； it also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial.
Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be capable of reducing the effect of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group which tolerated the pain for the longest time was 'the group which listened to a funny program. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce endorphins （内啡肽） in the brain. These are natural chemicals which diminish both stress and pain.
There is also some evidence to suggest that laughter helps the body's immune(免疫的)system, that is, the system which fights infection. In an experiment, one group of students watched a funny video while another group served as the control group - in other words, a group with which to compare the first group. Doctors checked the blood of the students in both groups and found that the people in the group that watched the video had an increase in the activity of their white blood cells, that is, the cells which fight infection.
As a result of these discoveries, some doctors and psychiatrists （精神病学家） in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they try to improve their patients' condition by encouraging them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter.
【小题1】 We learn from the first paragraph that laughter____________________.

D
Some people may be born happy, while others are genetically negative, scientists have suggested in a study published late February in a British journal.
Earlier research had already established that the gene known as 5-HTTLPR plays a key role in determining how the neurotransmitter (神经传递素) serotonin works within the brain. Serotonin, a hormone (荷尔蒙), passes chemical messages between nerve cells. It has been closely linked to mood. Several anti-depressant (抗抑郁) drugs regulate serotonin levels.
Scientists had also identified three variants (变体) of the gene. Two so-called “short” variants were linked to a higher risk of depression and suicide (自杀) attempts. Unlike the two “short” variants, the “long” variant of 5-HTTLPR showed a clear dislike of negative images, such as fierce animals, and a clear liking for positive ones, such as flowers.
Researchers from the University of Essex in Britain showed participants a series of images, which were divided into three kinds: negative ones aimed at inspiring fear or stress such as a snake or person about to commit suicide, pleasant ones and neutral (中性的) ones.
The participants who had the long variant of the 5-HTTLPR gene “showed a clear dislike of negative material alongside a careful attention for positive material,” the researchers found. They paid close attention to the pretty pictures, and ignored the frightening ones. On the other hand, the short variant groups had the opposite reaction.
In January, the Australian government organized “happiness workshops”, teaching government staff how to be happy. The department that held the “happiness workshops” said unhappy staff weren’t productive staff.
Australian political opposition parties have argued that the “happiness workshops” are probably a waste of money and couldn’t increase productivity as intended. However, whether the workshop will have a happy or disappointing result, we will have to wait and see.
71. Various kinds of images were shown to the participants to        .
A. draw their attention
B. cater to their different tastes
C. find out about their reactions
D. teach them to improve their artistic appreciation
72. The “short” variants of 5-HTTLPR differ from the “long” variants of 5-HTTLPR in that_____.
A. the former is connected with positive mood while the latter negative
B. the former is connected with negative mood while the latter positive
C. the former has a greater effect on one’s mood than the latter
D. the latter has a greater effect on one’s mood than the former
73. Which of the following statements is true about “happiness workshops”?
A. Most people believe that they are a waste of money.
B. They will be beneficial in the long run.
C. The purpose of “happiness workshops” is to teach all Australians to be happy.
D. They are organized in the belief that happy staff can work more efficiently.
74. It can be learned from the article that        .
A. drugs can be used to control people’s serotonin levels
B. happiness is more important than sadness
C. nothing can affect our mood
D. people with the short variant of 5-HTTLPR prefer a flower to a snake
75. The article is mainly about        .
A. the reason for the foundation of “happiness workshops”
B. the link between people’s mood and their gene
C. the study on people’s likes and dislikes
D. the differences in people’s attitude towards life

The custom of celebrating from the end of January until mid-February has long been popular in Quebec City, Canada. The first large Winter Carnival here, in the world’s snow capital, took place in 1894. Faced with winter’s hardships, the city’s population made this popular tradition into a winter celebration that warmed the hearts of all people.
Interrupted by two wars and then the economic crisis of 1929, the Carnival was held from time to time until the second half of the century. In 1954, a group of business people re-started the festivities. That year, Bonhomme was born and was elected the event’s representative.
The next year the first official Quebec Winter Carnival took place. The Carnival snowballed into a big event and was important for tourism and economic activity in the city.
From one winter to the next, the Carnival enriched its activity program. We have since added even more popular activities, such as winter sports, snow sculptures, and activities based on the traditional Quebec lifestyle, such as dogsled races. The Quebec Winter Carnival is the largest winter carnival in the world today, and is third on the list of Top Carnivals after the famous carnivals in Rio and New Orleans.
1960
The people living along Rue Sainte-Therese created many snow or ice sculptures, and this location became known as Carnival Street.
1964
The name of Bonhomme Carnival and his image became registered trademarks.
1970
A new tradition was born: closing the event with a firework display.
1975
A new activity, called The Break, was created, on Friday from noon till midnight. Many employers gave their employees time off so they could go dancing at the Quebec City Convention Centre. The event continued to be held until 1986, sometimes late into the night.
1977
Until 1991, the Carnival offered a children’s sculpture competition.
1987
The snow bath became part of the program.
1999
Because of the importance of volunteers, the human resources department was created to improve organization.
【小题1】The Quebec Winter Carnival     .

Self-esteem(自尊心)is all about how much we feel valued,accepted and thought well of by others---and how much we value,love and accept ourselves.Poeple with healthy self-esteem are able to feel good about themselves,appreciate their own worth,and take pride in their abilities,skills,and accomplishments with others,feel happier,find it easier to deal with low self-esteem may feel as if no one will like them or accept them or that they can’t do well in anything.
Here are some steps that may help improve your self-esteem:
Try to stop     Try to thinking about negative thoughts about yourself.If you’re used to focusing on your shortcomings,start thinking about positive aspects of yourself that outwheigh them .Each day,write down three things about yourself that make you happy.it is good to aim high,but your goals should be within reach.That’s why you should set pratical goals and never expect the impossible.Mistakes are part of learning,so view mistakes as learning opportunities.Accept that you will make mistakes because everyone does.Also, you should recognize what you can change and what you can’t.if you realize that you’re unhappy with something about yourself that you can change, then start today.If it’s something you can’t change(like your height),then start to work toward loving yourself the way you are.Feeling like you’re making a difffference and that your help is valued can do wonders to improve self-esteem.So don’t hesitate to make a contribution.Help a classmate who’s having trouble,help clean up your campus,or volunteer your time in some other way.
Self-esteem plays a role in almost everything you do.It’s never to be late to build healthy positive self-esteem.It takes some work,but healthy self-esteem is an asset you’ll have for life.
【小题1】What does the author mainly want to tell us in this passage?