Americans are thinking about national education standards recently developed by teachers and other education experts. The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) led the effort.
　　The United States, unlike other nations, has never had the same school standards across the country. What is the reason? Education is not discussed in the Constitution. That document limits the responsibilities of the federal government. Other responsibilities, like education, fall to each state.
Local control of education probably was a good idea two hundred years ago. People stayed in the same place and schools knew what students needed to learn. But today, people move to different cities. And some people work at jobs that did not exist even twenty years ago.
Many American educators say that getting a good education should not depend on where you live. They say that some states have lowered their standards in order to increase student scores on tests required by the No Child Left behind Act.
　　Kara Schlosser is communications director for the CCSSO. She says the new standards clearly state what a student should be able to do to be successful in college and work.
　　Forty--eight states have already shown approval for the standards. Two states refuse to accept the idea. Critics say that working toward the same standards in every state will not guarantee excellence for all. Some educators in Massachusetts say adopting the national standards will hurt their students because the state standards are even higher. Others say the change will be too costly, requiring new textbooks and different kinds of training for teachers. Still others fear federal control.
　　Supporters say the standards are goals and do not tell states or teachers how to teach. They also say the federal government is not forcing acceptance. However, approving the standards will help states qualify (取得资格) for some federal grant money.
【小题1】What would be the best title for the passage?

Americans are thinking about national education standards recently developed by teachers and other education experts. The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) led the effort.

　　The United States, unlike other nations, has never had the same school standards across the country. What is the reason? Education is not discussed in the Constitution. That document limits the responsibilities of the federal government. Other responsibilities, like education, fall to each state.

Local control of education probably was a good idea two hundred years ago. People stayed in the same place and schools knew what students needed to learn. But today, people move to different cities. And some people work at jobs that did not exist even twenty years ago.

Many American educators say that getting a good education should not depend on where you live. They say that some states have lowered their standards in order to increase student scores on tests required by the No Child Left behind Act.

　　Kara Schlosser is communications director for the CCSSO. She says the new standards clearly state what a student should be able to do to be successful in college and work.

　　Forty--eight states have already shown approval for the standards. Two states refuse to accept the idea. Critics say that working toward the same standards in every state will not guarantee excellence for all. Some educators in Massachusetts say adopting the national standards will hurt their students because the state standards are even higher. Others say the change will be too costly, requiring new textbooks and different kinds of training for teachers. Still others fear federal control.

　　Supporters say the standards are goals and do not tell states or teachers how to teach. They also say the federal government is not forcing acceptance. However, approving the standards will help states qualify (取得资格) for some federal grant money.

1.What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Local Control of Education Standards out of Date

B．American National Education Standards under Consideration

C．Education Standards in Each State--Good or Bad.

D．Acceptance of the New Standards in the United States

2.Why is local control of education no 1onger a good idea today?

A．Because local standards are limited.

B．Because it is required by the federal government.

C．Because people today moves among states more often than before.

D．Because America has never had the same school standards throughout the country.

3.Some people are against the nationa1 education standards because__________

A．the standards are higher than those of each state

B．they are not yet prepared for the new standards

C．the standards may prevent some students gaining excellence

D．they don't want the federal government to train their teachers

4.If a state agrees to accept the national standards, it will probably get ________.

A．more students                         B．advice on how to improve teaching

C．better textbooks                        D．money from the federal government

The British isles is made up of two large islands: One is called Ireland and the other __1__. Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of these two islands, and it is __2__ into three parts: Scotland, Wales and England.

The United Kingdom is that __3__ of the British isles ruled over by the Queen. It is made up of Scotland, Wales and England, that is, the __4__ of Britain, and also about one sixth of Ireland, the Northern part. The __5__ of Ireland is self governing(治理). The __6__ name of the United Kingdom is __7__ “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”．

__8__ is larger and richer than Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and has the most __9__ of the United Kingdom, so people often use the __10__ “England” and “English” when they __11__ “Britain” and “British”. This sometimes makes the Scots and the Welsh a little __12__. The Scots in particular are very __13__ of their separate nationality(民族). The Welsh too do not regard __14__ as English, and have a culture and even a __15__ of their own.

Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801, but for forty years the “Irish __16__ ” was the greatest headache of the United Kingdom. __17__， Ireland is divided into two: Northern Ireland still __18__ to the United Kingdom, and in 1922 the rest of Ireland __19__ to found an Irish Free State, later called Eire and now the Republic of Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland does not regard itself as part of Britain, and is not now even a supporter of the Commonwealth of Nations(英联邦). Unlike the major Commonwealth countries it did not lift a finger to __20__ British in the Second World War and now wants the whole of Ireland to be a republic.

1. A. Wales　　B. Britain　　C. England　　D. Scotland

2. A. divided    B. cut      C. broken    D. separated

3. A. piece     B. island    C. country   D. part

4. A. south     B. north    C. part      D. whole

5. A. smaller   B. larger    C. rest      D. island

6. A. correct     B. true    C. full     D. complete

7. A. also      B. therefore  C. likely  D. perhaps

8. A. The UK       B. The British isles

C. Great Britain   D. England

9. A. colleges    B. officials      C. cities      D. population

10. A. words        B. names

C. spellings       D. pronunciations

11. A. call        B. forget       C. speak       D. write

12. A. angry      B. difficult      C. tired        D. lonely

13. A. proud      B. fond         C. full         D. kind

14. A. it         B. Wales        C. them       D. themselves

15. A. capital     B. language     C. history       D. programmes

16. A. Country    B. Question       C. Disease          D. Republic

17. A. At last     B. So             C. Meanwhile        D. Also

18. A. returns    B. belongs        C. gets             D. speaks

19. A. hoped      B. refused        C. broke away       D. used

20. A. feel       B. touch          C. fight            D. help

Any housewife who went to the new supermarket wished to be the lucky customer who did not have to pay for her shopping. This was what the 　21　just inside the entrance 　22　.It said: “Remember,　23　,one of our customers gets 　24　goods. THIS MAY BE YOUR LUCKY DAY!” For quite a long time Mrs. Edwards　25, like many of her  26, to be the lucky customer. Unlike her friends, she never　27　hoping. The 　28　in the kitchen was full of things which she did not need. Her husband tried to advise her 　29　buying so many things but failed. She 　30　dreamed of the DAY when the manager of the supermarket would come up to her and say, “Madam, THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY. Everything in your 　31　doesn’t need to be paid!” One Friday afternoon Mrs. Edwards shopped  32　.But she was not the lucky customer. No sooner had she just put the things inside her 　33　than she found that she had forgotten to 　34　tea. She dashed back to the 　35　, got some tea and went towards the　36　.As she did so, she saw the 　37　came.　38　his hand he said, “I want to 　39　you. You are our LUCKY CUSTOMER this week! Everything you have in your basket　40　 !”

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

Any housewife who went to the new supermarket wished to be the lucky customer who did not have to pay for her shopping. This was what the 　36　just inside the entrance 　37　.It said: Remember,　38　,one of our customers gets 　39　goods. THIS MAY BE YOUR LUCKY DAY!

For quite a long time Mrs. Edwards　40　,like many of her 　41　,to be the lucky customer. Unlike her friends, she never　42　hoping. The 　43　in the kitchen was full of things which she did not need. Her husband tried to advise her 　44　buying so many things but failed. She __45　dreamed of the DAY when the manager of the supermarket would come up to her and say, “Madam, THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY. Everything in your 　46_　doesn’t need to be paid!” One Friday afternoon Mrs. Edwards shopped 　47　.But she was not the lucky customer. No sooner had she just put the things inside her 　48　than she found that she had forgotten to __49　tea. She dashed back to the 　50　, got some tea and went towards the　_51　.As she did so, she saw the 　52　came.　53　his hand he said, “I want to 　54_　you. You are our LUCKY CUSTOMER this week! Everything you have in your basket　55　!”

A.notice           B. report         C. board          D. newspaper

A.did            B. promised        C. made          D. agreed

A.every day        B.every month              C.twice a week       D.once a week

A.excellent        B.free                   C.extra                  D.unexpected

A.waited            B.came              C.hoped             D.went

A.friends            B.neighbors          C.relatives            D.customers

A.got rid of            B.got along with    C.gave up             D.gave out

A.counter           B.cushion             C.food               D.cupboard

A.against            B.for                    C.with                  D.about

A.often            B.always               C.usually              D.seldom

A.bill             B.hand                  C.car                    D.basket

A.anxiously      B.seriously            C.crazily               D.wonderfully

A.pockets         B.car                    C.basket                   D.house

A.buy              B.find                  C.take                  D.have

.A.shop            B.counter                  C.department               D.supermarket

A.door             B.entrance            C.cash-desk           D.shelves

A.secretary        B.policeman          C.manager            D.salesman

A.Putting out    B.Holding out       C.Shaking           D.Waving

A.congratulate B.tell                    C.inform          D.thank

A.is yours      B.means nothing    C.belongs to you  D.costs nothing