Do you have any idea what you would like to be and do after graduation? A lot of people don’t begin thinking about careers until they reach junior or senior year, which, in my opinion, is too late.

When people are trying to decide what they want to do, it helps to know something they love. Ever since I was little, I’ve always been doing someone’s hair, make-up or nails, starting with Barbie dolls and progressing to humans. Over the years my family has really inspired me to do this and now I fix friends’ and family members’ hair for weddings, dances and other big events.

I have been thinking about what I would like to do for a career since middle school. I did some research and discovered that I might really enjoy being a cosmetologist, so I went to my hair stylist and asked her lots of questions about what it takes to reach her level and what she would recommend I do. I considered her advice and then did more research.

I used Aveda’s website to get information on the Aveda Institute and what type of credit(贷款) I would need from high school to apply. I found their institute has three parts: theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and professional business-building skills. For the past few years, I have been looking at Aveda in more and more detail. This school not only offers cosmetology, but also massage therapy. I grew up in Minnesota(美国中北部的一个州), so I plan to apply to the institute in Minneapolis that several people have highly recommended. It helps students become “future industry leaders in hair care, skin care, makeup and total body wellness”. It is affordable and everyone there is friendly and understanding.

Having done the groundwork and thinking about what I’d like to do after high school, I know that I will definitely pursue my dream of becoming a cosmetologist.

 After reading the text, we can infer the author is interested in ___________.

traveling abroad  B. service business  C. social activities  D. acting on the stage.

Why does the author think it’s too late for people to start thinking about careers in junior or senior year?

A. Because he/she began to think about them when very young.

B. Because many people are too old to learn.

C. Because a lot of people can’t grasp the opportunity.

D. Because many people have little they love.

We know from the text that a cosmetologist is __________ .

A. a chemist working at college    B. a person who works in the institute

C. a doctor in a hospital          D. a person doing all types of body care for people

The author plans to apply to the institute in Minneapolis NOT because________

the people there are good to others  B. some people advise him/her to do so

C.  the institute is free of charge       D. the institute is helpful to his/her future

45. The author of the text may be a __________.

 A. married person  B. middle school student  C. college student   D. a teacher in an institute.

Would you want a doctor who got high marks in medical school just for trying hard? Apparently many college students would have no problem with that. They believe students are owed a good grade simply because they put a lot of effort into a class.
The researchers asked more than 800 undergraduates if they agreed or disagreed with some statements. For example: "If I have completed most of the reading for a class, I deserve a B in that course." And: "A professor should not be annoyed with me if I receive an important call during class."
Just 16 percent thought it was OK to take that phone call. But 66 percent agreed that a professor should consider effort and not just the quality of a student's work when deciding grades. And 40 percent thought they should get a B, the second highest mark, just because they did most of the reading for class.
Some experts are not surprised that students often see no difference between effort and results. Social critics like to say that in children's activities these days everyone gets an award just for trying, so no one will feel rejected.
Yet competition to get into the best colleges is fiercer than ever. Students may worry that low grades will keep them out of graduate school or a good job.
And there may be another explanation: pressure from parents to get a good return on the family's investment. These days, college can cost more than a house.
A former teaching assistant recently wrote to the New York Times about his experience with grade expectations. He would try to explain it this way when students asked for a top grade just for studying hard in chemistry class:
What if a baseball player came to spring training and worked harder than all the others, but still could not play well? Would the team accept him anyway, just because he tried so hard?
The students would say no. But most of them would still ask for an A.
【小题1】What does the passage mainly discuss?

Would you want a doctor who got high marks in medical school just for trying hard? Apparently many college students would have no problem with that. They believe students are owed a good grade simply because they put a lot of effort into a class.

The researchers asked more than 800 undergraduates if they agreed or disagreed with some statements. For example: "If I have completed most of the reading for a class, I deserve a B in that course." And: "A professor should not be annoyed with me if I receive an important call during class."

Just 16 percent thought it was OK to take that phone call. But 66 percent agreed that a professor should consider effort and not just the quality of a student's work when deciding grades. And 40 percent thought they should get a B, the second highest mark, just because they did most of the reading for class.

Some experts are not surprised that students often see no difference between effort and results. Social critics like to say that in children's activities these days everyone gets an award just for trying, so no one will feel rejected.

Yet competition to get into the best colleges is fiercer than ever. Students may worry that low grades will keep them out of graduate school or a good job.

And there may be another explanation: pressure from parents to get a good return on the family's investment. These days, college can cost more than a house.

A former teaching assistant recently wrote to the New York Times about his experience with grade expectations. He would try to explain it this way when students asked for a top grade just for studying hard in chemistry class:

What if a baseball player came to spring training and worked harder than all the others, but still could not play well? Would the team accept him anyway, just because he tried so hard?

The students would say no. But most of them would still ask for an A.

1.What does the passage mainly discuss?

A．How students can get a good grade in the course.

B．Whether students are allowed to answer calls in class.

C．Whether students deserve high marks just for trying hard.

D．Why students put a lot of efforts in their studies.

2.According to the research, most of the students _______.

A. thought it was all right to answer the call during class.

B. objected to deciding grades only by the quality of a student’s work.

C. thought they did most of the work for class and should get a B.

D. agreed that they should be given top grades because of their hard work.

3. Which of the following opinions do social critics agree to about children’s activities?

A．Those who are active in the activities can get an award.

B．Only by playing an important role in the activities can you get an award.

C．An award is prepared for anyone who performs best in the activities.

D．Whoever takes part in the activities can get an award.

4.From the sixth paragraph we can learn that _____.

A．it costs much more to build a college than to buy a house.

B．the costs of studying at college are much more than staying at home.

C．the costs of sending a child to college are much more than buying a house.

D．it is difficult for parents to send a child to college.

5.What does the former assistant want to tell students with the example of the baseball player?

A．Effort can lead to good results.             B．Effort is very necessary.

C．Effort and results are quite different.        D．No good results, effort is unnecessary.

What would I do for Carol’s 50th birthday? It was 　36 that she didn’t want a party, certainly not a surprise party （that was an agreement at our marriage）．

　　　 “How about a small dinner with 　37 ?” I asked．

　　　 “No,” she said, “I hate being the center of 　38 ．”

　　　 Still, the milestone had to be marked． 39 wasn’t going to let her get away with a Stouffer’s frozen dinner and a movie video, 　40 this was all she said she wanted．

　　　 I thought and thought, and 　41 making my decision, I sent a letter to her friends, asking them for photos, poems, and letters．“Carol doesn’t 42 a party in person．．．but I’m hoping to 　　 43 her a party in a book．” I bought a（n） 　44 with a friend’s advice, and what I wanted 　45 ．For a few minutes at the end of every workday, I 　46 pull out the marking pens and make up the 　47 , Carol’s．

　　　 Photos of her in junior high, pictures of us 　48 the boys, original songs, notes, cards, and poems．It made me 　49 for all the years we had had together．The 　50 was more than the album．It was the friendship and love she had given to me and to our kids and to all her friends and family．You could 　51 it on every page．

　　　 I wrapped it up and 　52 it home．“Happy birthday, sweetie,” I said．“It’s not a frozen dinner or a video, but it’s 　53 you deserve．” She cried．She doesn’t 　54 like to cry, but I think she likes the book．She’s said so many times．And every time I remind her 　55 putting it together was a gift to me．

36．A．amazing　　 　　　 B．clear　　　 　　　　　 C．unusual　　　　 D．important

37．A．neighbours　　 　　 B．children　　　 　 C．friends　　　 　　　 D．classmates

38．A．attention　　　 　　 B．comment　　　 　 C．view　 　　　　　　　 D．interest

39．A．She　　　　　 　　 B．It　　　　 　　 C．He　　　　　　 　 D．I

40．A．for　　　　　 　　 B．or　　　　　　 　 C．and　　　 　　　　 D．when

41．A．before　　　　 　　 B．after　　　 　　 C．when　　　　　　 D．once

42．A．want　　　　 　　 B．have　　　　　 　 C．hold　　　　　　 D．attend

43．A．make　　　　 　 B．choose　　　　 　 C．find　　　　　　 D．give

44．A．album　　　　 　　 B．novel　　　 　　　 C．mirror　　 　　　　 D．overcoat

45．A．went on　　 　　　　 B．poured in　 　　　 C．turned back　　 　 D．got away

46．A．could　　　　 　　 B．should　　 　　　 C．would　　　　　 D．might

47．A．decision　　　 　　 B．story　　　 　　　　 C．mind　　 　　　　　　 D．book

48．A．for　　　　 　　　 B．around　　　　　　　　　 C．with　　　　　　 D．except

49．A．grateful　　　 　　 B．worried　　　 　　 C．nervous 　　　　　　　 D．special

50．A．meaning　　　 　　 B．gift　　　 　　　　　 C．party　　 　　　　　　 D．world

51．A．count　　　　 　 B．read 　　　　　　　　　　 C．express　　　 　　 D．improve

52．A．took　　　　 　　 B．sent　　　　　 　　 C．placed　　　 　　 D．packed

53．A．how　　　　 　　 B．why　　　　　 　 C．which　　 　　　　 D．what

54．A．normally　　 　　　 B．merely　　　　 　 C．really　　　 　　　　 D．obviously

55．A．whether　　　 　 B．that　　　 　　　 C．when　　　 　　　　 D．who

Would you want a doctor who got high marks in medical school just for trying hard? Apparently many college students would have no problem with that. They believe students are owed a good grade simply because they put a lot of effort into a class.
The researchers asked more than 800 undergraduates if they agreed or disagreed with some statements. For example: "If I have completed most of the reading for a class, I deserve a B in that course." And: "A professor should not be annoyed with me if I receive an important call during class."
Just 16 percent thought it was OK to take that phone call. But 66 percent agreed that a professor should consider effort and not just the quality of a student's work when deciding grades. And 40 percent thought they should get a B, the second highest mark, just because they did most of the reading for class.
Some experts are not surprised that students often see no difference between effort and results. Social critics like to say that in children's activities these days everyone gets an award just for trying, so no one will feel rejected.
Yet competition to get into the best colleges is fiercer than ever. Students may worry that low grades will keep them out of graduate school or a good job.
And there may be another explanation: pressure from parents to get a good return on the family's investment. These days, college can cost more than a house.
A former teaching assistant recently wrote to the New York Times about his experience with grade expectations. He would try to explain it this way when students asked for a top grade just for studying hard in chemistry class:
What if a baseball player came to spring training and worked harder than all the others, but still could not play well? Would the team accept him anyway, just because he tried so hard?
The students would say no. But most of them would still ask for an A

1. 1.

   What does the passage mainly discuss?

   1. A.
      How students can get a good grade in the course
   2. B.
      Whether students are allowed to answer calls in class
   3. C.
      Whether students deserve high marks just for trying hard
   4. D.
      Why students put a lot of efforts in their studies
2. 2.

   According to the research, most of the students _______

   1. A.
      thought it was all right to answer the call during class
   2. B.
      objected to deciding grades only by the quality of a student’s work
   3. C.
      thought they did most of the work for class and should get a B
   4. D.
      agreed that they should be given top grades because of their hard work
3. 3.

   Which of the following opinions do social critics agree to about children’s activities?

   1. A.
      Those who are active in the activities can get an award
   2. B.
      Only by playing an important role in the activities can you get an award
   3. C.
      An award is prepared for anyone who performs best in the activities
   4. D.
      Whoever takes part in the activities can get an award
4. 4.

   From the sixth paragraph we can learn that _____

   1. A.
      it costs much more to build a college than to buy a house
   2. B.
      the costs of studying at college are much more than staying at home
   3. C.
      the costs of sending a child to college are much more than buying a house
   4. D.
      it is difficult for parents to send a child to college
5. 5.

   What does the former assistant want to tell students with the example of the baseball player?

   1. A.
      Effort can lead to good results
   2. B.
      Effort is very necessary
   3. C.
      Effort and results are quite different
   4. D.
      No good results, effort is unnecessary