Last year, a report by a committee of education experts said that a lot of American students cannot write well. The report noted the concerns of business leaders and teachers. The experts said that more students should have to pass a writing test before they can finish high school. They pointed out that major college entrance tests are changing now to include a writing part.
Educators know that teaching students to write well is not easy. One problem is the amount of time needed to read through large amounts of work. So some companies have developed computer programs. These can grade student writing much more quickly than a person can. Writing tests can also cost less to carry out by computer than paper-and-pencil. These computer systems are known as e-readers. They use artificial (人工的) intelligence to think in a way like teachers. In the state of Indiana, computer grading of a statewide writing test began with a test of the system itself. For two years, both a computer and humans graded the student writing. Officials say there was almost no difference between the computer grades and those given by the human readers.
The entrance test commonly used by business schools, the GMAT, already uses e-readers. The GRE and TOEFL tests might start; officials are deciding. The GRE is the Graduate Record Examination. TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
Systems are also being used to grade writing in college classes. The computers read a few hundred examples of student writing already graded by humans. Then the systems compare new writings against those already examined.
How do teachers feel all about this? Many say machines can never do the job as well as people can. A computer can find spelling and grammar mistakes. But these teachers say it can never really understand what a writer is trying to say. Critics say a program cannot follow a thought or judge humor or understand a beautifully expressed idea.
But inventors of the programs say computer grading guarantees that each piece of writing is graded in the same way. They also say the systems are meant to judge knowledge more than creativity.
1．What do the teachers think of the computer system?
A. They think highly of the computer systems.
B. They think that computers cannot grade writing as well as people.
C. They believe that computers can understand a writer’s idea well
D. They are glad computers will spare their effort to correct students’ school work.
2．From the first paragraph we can conclude that _________.
A. American students’ writing ability is being improved
B. American students’ writing ability is not satisfactory
C. business leaders and teachers are not worried about students’ writing
D. all college entrance tests will include a writing part
3．Which of the following is NOT the advantage of e-readers?
A. Saving much of teachers’ time.                     
B. Saving a lot of money.
C. Being fair and objective.                              
D. Appreciating humor and beauty
4．The best title of this passage might be _________.
A. Computer-graded Writing                            
B. Human-graded Writing
C. How to Improve Students’ Writing                
D. Advantages of E-readers

They like using the Internet．They have lots of pocket money to spend．And they spend a higher proportion of it online than the rest of us．Teenagers are just the sort of people an online seller is interested in, and the things they want to buy－games, CDs and clothing－are easily sold on the Web.
But paying online is a tricky business for consumers who are too young to own credit cards．Most have to use a parent’s card．They want a facility that allows them to spend money.
That may come sooner than they think: new ways to take pocket money into cyber (网络的) space are coming out rapidly on both sides of the Atlantic．If successful, these products can stimulate online sales.
In general, teenagers spend huge amounts: $153bn (billion) in the US last year and ￡20bn annually in the UK．Most teenagers have access to the Internet at home or at school－88 percent in the US, 69 percent in the UK．According to the Jupiter Research, one in eight of those with Internet access has bought something online－mainly CDs and books.
In most cases, parents pay for these purchases with credit cards, an arrangement that is often unsatisfactory for them and their children．Pressing parents to spend online is less productive than pressing on the high street．They are more likely to ask “Why?” if you ask to spend some money online.
One way to help teenagers change notes and coins into cybercast is through prepaid cards such as Internet Cash in the US and Smart cards in the UK．Similar to those for pay-as-you-go mobile telephones, they are sold in amounts such as￡20 or $50 with a concealed 14-digit number that can be used to load the cash into an online account.
【小题1】What does the word “They” in paragraph 1 refer to?

C

There is no doubt that watching television and movies can influence the way people behave. Moreover, it seems that people are spending more and more time watching some sort of entertainment, whether it is a television, a video tape or a DVD. Therefore, the effects of the visual media cannot be ignored.

One obvious effect of these media is that watching them persuade people to buy certain products. Television advertising is widespread and nowadays, even movie theaters permit advertisements. Another way TV or movies affect people is that they give people either a broader view of the world or a distorted (歪曲) one, depending on what type of program they watch. Those who watch news and educational programs can learn many new things while those who watch entertainments shows may come to believe that most people in the world have great wealth and good looks. It may make them dissatisfied with their own lives. Finally perhaps the most easily influenced viewers are children, who may be unable to tell fact from fiction and may try to copy acts that they see on TV or in the movies.

With the ever-increasing popularity of video entertainment, society must pay attention to these effects. Television and movies, while entertaining and informative, cannot take the place of experiences.    

49．From the passage we know that watching television and movies can ______.

       A．make people live better   B．make people feel pleased

       C．make people change their way of life    D．make people live worse

50．The writer hold the view that ______.

       A．people may take no notice of the effects of the visual media

       B．people must pay attention to the effects of the video media

       C．the effects of the visual media make the world changed greatly

D．the visual media only affect young people

51．Which of the following is true according to the passage?

       A．Those who watch news and educational program can earn a lot of money.

       B．Most people possess great wealth and good looks.

       C．People buy products when they are persuaded by TV advertising.

       D．Never believe advertisements on TV or in movie theater.

52．What should be the best title for this text?

       A．The Influence of TV and Movies    B．The Popularity of TV and Movies

       C．Television and Movies Cheat People      D．The Function of TV and Movies

Most musicians agree that the best violins were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the old Italian violins. But they aren’t the same. Why are these old Italian violins so special? Many people think they have an answer.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But there is a problem here. Not all old violins sound wonderful. Only those from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. The wood of the violin is very important. It must be from certain kinds of trees. It must not be too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of Cremona knew something special about wood for violins.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape. The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this is the secret of the Italians.
Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists make new violins that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old one. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish（清漆）, which covers the wood of the violin and makes it look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. Since no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish, no one can make the same varnish today.
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. And there are not many of the old violins left. So these old violins are becoming more and more precious

1. 1.

   What would be the best title for the passage?

   1. A.
      The Secrets of Cremona Violins
   2. B.
      The History of Italian Violins
   3. C.
      Special Musical Instruments
   4. D.
      How to Make the Best Violins
2. 2.

   The main purpose of the first paragraph is to_______________

   1. A.
      list some facts
   2. B.
      raise a question
   3. C.
      give an opinion
   4. D.
      offer an answer
3. 3.

   What is still unclear about Cremona violins according to the writer?

   1. A.
      The shape．
   2. B.
      The size．
   3. C.
      The wood．
   4. D.
      The varnish．
4. 4.

   Which of the following words can best describe Cremona violins?

   1. A.
      Light．
   2. B.
      Shining．
   3. C.
      Valuable．
   4. D.
      Modern
5. 5.

   What can we learn from this passage?

   1. A.
      Modem things are always better than ancient ones
   2. B.
      Ancient things are always better than modem ones
   3. C.
      Once a cultural relic is lost．it Can never be recovered
   4. D.
      Varnish for violins will become more and more precious

    Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future and for motivating yourself to turn this vision of the future into reality. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to get in life. By knowing exactly what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You’ll also quickly spot the distractions that would otherwise lure you from your course.

    More than this, properly-set goals can be incredibly motivating, and as you get into the habit of setting and achieving goals. You’ll find that your self-confidence builds fast.

Goal setting techniques are used by top-level athletes successful business-people and achievers in all fields. They give you long-term vision and short-term motivation. They focus your acquisition of knowledge, and help you to organize your time you’re your resources so that you can make the very most of your life.

By setting sharp, clearly defined goals you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals. You can see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless grind(苦差事). By setting goals you will also raise your self-confidence, as you recognize your ability and competence in achieving the goals that you have set.

     Goals are set on a number of different levels：First you create your “big picture” of what you want to do with your life，and decide what large-scale goals you want to achieve. Second you break these down into the smaller and smaller targets that you must hit to reach your lifetime goals. Finally, once you have your plan, you start working down to the things you can do today. Start moving towards them so that you can achieve your goals step by step.

5l. According to Paragraph l, we can infer       ．

A. goal setting allows you to change your mind

 B. goal setting inspires you to follow your dreams

 C. goal setting leads you to concentrate on your goals

 D. goal setting helps you choose what you want in life

52. By setting long-term and short-term goals,        .

A. you can learn more knowledge      B. you can enjoy your life to the fullest

 C. you can fully develop your potential  D. you can have long-term motivation

53. In order to feel a sense of achievement, you should      .

 A. tern a long pointless task into what you like

 B. compare what you have done with your goals

 C. predict progress you hope to make in advance

 D. set specific goals and manage to achieve them

54. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A. The way to create the ideal of future B. The different types of personal goals

C. The process of setting personal goals    D. The different levels for lifetime goals

55. What is the best title for the passage?

  A. Self-confidence Tips      B. Personal Goal Setting

  C. How to Achieve Success     D. Different Levels of Goals