A lot of teenagers are good at art at school, but how would you feel if people called you “the new Picasso(毕加索)” or if presidents and other famous people collected your paintings?
Alexandra Nechita was ten when her paintings became famous all over the world. She visited Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and her family’s native place (祖籍) Romania where 5,000 fans came to see her at the airport. Alexandra said, “When it all started, I was moved. It was very exciting and I loved the traveling, but I got very tired. And I missed home.”
Alexandra is a good student. Her studies always come first. She only starts painting after she’s done her homework. She works on two or three paintings at a time. The paintings sell for thousands and Alexandra’s parents have given up their jobs to work for their daughter. Life for the Nechita family is very different from what it was like a few years ago.
Alexandra’s father Niki left Romania for political reasons in 1985. At first he tried his best to learn English and had different kinds of low-paid jobs. In 1987, he brought his wife and Alexandra, who was then 18 months old, to America. The family was very poor. Alexandra began to draw at the age of three.
She was drawing for four or five hours a day. Soon people offered to buy her paintings and she had her first art show at the age of eight. Stories about this child appeared in the newspapers and television. They now live in a large house with a swimming pool. Her mother said, “We started without anything, but thanks to Alexandra, we have everything we ever dreamed of.”
【小题1】Alexandra became well-known all over the world for her paintings at the age of _______.

The television has been an important part of many families’ life. Many children like to sit in front of the television instead of doing something else. When many experts (专家) say that television is bad for children, some believe that television can really have a good effect on a child’s life, if it is used properly.

There are many television programmes that both provide fun and education. Spending some time on these types of programmes is good for your child’s development. The television can be more efficient at teaching a child certain (某种) tasks.

Parents can also use the television to help children read. After watching an educational programme, your child may become more interested in a topic. Use that interest to drive your child toward reading.

The television can also help to make a family closer. After a programme ends, you can start a decision about it. This can help encourage a healthy family.

The television can introduce your child to new cultures. This can help your child learn a lot from them.

The television can also help build a bridge for difficult communication between parents and children. If a child refuses to talk about a topic with his or her parents, he or she is willing to talk about it with his or her parents after watching the programme about the topic. This is an example of television’s role as a bridge to tough communication.

1.Which of the following is NOT true according to the first paragraph?

A. Fewer and fewer families enjoy watching TV in daily life.                         

B. Many children prefer watching TV to doing other things.                                  

C. Some people believe that watching TV is good for children.                    

D. Many experts think the television has a bad effect on children.

2.The television can be more efficient at….Here “efficient” means ___________.

A. 有效的                  B. 缓慢的                   C. 困难的                   D. 强硬的

3.The television can help children ___________.

A. to build bridges in the future                

B. to practise English speaking skill

C. to become more interested in reading          

D. to become stronger

4.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in this passage?

A. The television can help improve the family relationship.

B. The television can bring children both fun and education.

C. Children can learn much about different cultures by watching TV.

D. Children can make more friends by watching TV.

5.This passage mainly talks about _______________.

A. children’s favourite TV programmes               

B. good efffects of the television on children

C. the great importance of television                    

D. children’s different habits of watching TV

Maybe you are more interested in sports than in history. You probably think you will never be a top student.    31   , anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. If you can use your time well, you may  32 your study without much work. Here’s how:
  33  your time carefully. You should make a   34   of things that you have to do. First write down the time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide on a good time for studying. Of course, studying shouldn’t take all of your time. Don’t    35   to leave yourself enough time for hobbies.
Find a good place to study. Look around the house    36   a good study place. Keep this space. It may be a desk or just a corner of your room. N0     37   , radio, or television! When you sit down to work, think only about the     38   !
Make good use of your time  39  . Listen carefully to what the teacher says. Careful listening means   40   work after class. You also need to take notes, because it can make it easier for you to learn well.
These are only some of the ways to help you with your studying. I believe you’ll find more other ways besides these.