阅读理解

　　If there is no difference in general intelligence (智力) between boys and girls, what can explain girls poor performance in science and mathematics?

　　It seems to be that their treatment at school is a direct muse. Mathematics and science are seen as subjects mainly for boys, and therefore, as girls become teenagers, they are less likely to take them. Interestingly, both boys and girls often regard the subjects for boys as more difficult. Yet it has been suggested that girls do not take mathematics courses, not because they are difficult, but for social reasons. Girls do not want to be in open competition with boys because they are afraid to appear less feminine (女性的) and attractive.

　　However, if we examine the performance of boys and girls who have taken mathematics courses, there are still more high-achieving boys than there are girls. This difference appears to be world-wide. Biological explanations have been offered for this, but there are other explanations too.

　　Perhaps the difference which comes out during the teenage years has its roots in much earlier experiences. From their first days in kindergarten, boys are encouraged to work on their own and to complete tasks. Facts show that outstanding mathematicians and scientists have not had teachers who supplied answers.

　　Besides, there can be little doubt that teachers of mathematics and science expect their boy students to do better at these subjects than their gift students. They even appear to encourage the difference between boys and girls. They spend more time with the boy students, giving them more time to answer questions and working harder to get correct answers from them. They are more likely to call on boys for answers and to allow them to take the lead in classroom discussion. They also praise boys more frequently. All of this seems to encourage boys to work harder in science and mathematics and to give them confidence that they are able to succeed.

　　Such a way of teaching is not likely to encourage girls to take many mathematics and science courses, nor is it likely to support girls who do. When it comes to these subjects, it seems certain that school widens difference between boys and girls.

(1)Girls are likely to think that ________.

[　　]

A. science courses are for both boys and girls

B. science courses make them more popular

C. science courses make them successful

D. science courses are difficult for them

(2)The text mainly discusses ________ reasons for the difference between boys and girls in scientific achieve-merits.

[　　]

A. biological

B. historical

C. social

D. personal

(3)What are boys usually encouraged to do at school?

[　　]

A. To get help with their homework.

B. To play the leading role in Class.

C. To work with girl students in class

D. To learn to take care of others.

(4)What does the passage say about great mathematicians?

[　　]

A. Their teachers did not supply answers to them.

B. They started learning mathematics at an earlier age.

C. They showed mathematical abilities in their teenage years.

D. Their success resulted from their strong interest in mathematics.

(5)The author would probably agree that ________.

[　　]

A. boys and girls learn in the same way

B. boys and girls are equal in general intelligence

C. girls are more confident in themselves than before

D. girls should take fewer science courses than boys

Manners nowadays in metropolitan cities like London are practically non-existent. It is nothing for a big, strong schoolboy to push an elderly woman aside to take the last remaining seat on the underway or bus.

　 This question of giving up seats in public transport is much argued about by young men, who say that since women have claimed equality, they no longer deserve to be treated with politeness and that those who go out to work should take their turns in the rat race like anyone else. But women have never claimed to be physically strong as men. Even if it is not agreed, however, the fact remains that courtesy(礼节) should be shown to the old and the sick. Are we really so lost to　 all ideals of unselfishness that we can sit there indifferently(冷漠地) reading the paper or a book, saying to ourselves, “First come, first served” while a grey-haired woman, a mother with a young child or a cripple(残障者) stands? Yet this is all too often seen.

　 Older people, tired and impatient from a day’s work, are not always considerate either — far from it. Many arguments break out as the older people push and squeeze(挤)each other to get on buses. One cannot approve this, of course, but one does feel there is just a little more excuse.

　 It seems urgent, not only that communications in transport should be improved, but also that communication between human beings should be kept smooth and polite. All over cities, it seems that people are too tired and too rushed to be polite. Shop assistants won’t bother to assist; taxi drivers shout at each other as they dash dangerously around corners; bus conductors pull the bell before their desperate passengers have time to get on or off the bus, and so on. It seems to us that it is up to the young to do their small part to stop such lowering of moral standards.

Title：Manners in Metropolitan Cities

Dear Kind-Trustee-Who-Sends-Orphans-to-College,

　　　 Here I am! I traveled yesterday for four hours in a train．It’s a funny feeling, isn’t it? I never rode in one before．

　　　 College is the biggest, most puzzling place—I get lost whenever I leave my room. I will write you a description later when I'm feeling less confused; also I will tell you about my lessons. Classes don't begin until Monday morning, and this is Saturday night. But I wanted to write a letter first just to get acquainted.

　　　 It seems strange to be writing letters to somebody you don't know. It seems strange for me to be writing letters at all—I've never written more than three or four in my life, so please overlook it if these are not a model kind.

　　　 Before leaving yesterday morning, Mrs. Lippett and I had a very serious talk. She told me how to behave all the rest of my life, and especially how to behave towards the kind gentleman who is doing so much for me. I must take care to be very respectful.

　　　 But how can one be very respectful to a person who wishes to be called John Smith? Why couldn't you

have picked out a name with a little personality? I might as well write letters to Dear Flagpole or Dear Clothes-line.

　　　 I have been thinking about you a great deal this summer; having somebody take an interest in me after all these years makes me feel as though I had found a sort of family. It seems as though I belonged to somebody now, and it's a very comfortable feeling. I must say, however, that when I think about you, my imagination has very little to work upon. There are just three things that I know: I, You are tall. Ⅱ. You are rich. Ⅲ. You hate girls.

　　 I suppose I might call you Dear Mr. Girl-Hater. Only that's rather rude to me. Or Dear Mr. Rich-Man, but that's rude to you, as though money were the only important thing about you. Besides, being rich is such a very external quality. Maybe you won't stay rich all your life; lots of very clever men get broke in Wall Street. But at least you will stay tall all your life! So I've decided to call you Dear Daddy-Long-Legs. I hope you won't mind. It's just a private pet name we won't tell Mrs. Lippett.

　　　 The ten o'clock bell is going to ring in two minutes. Our day is divided into sections by bells. We eat and sleep and study by bells. It's very lifeful. There it goes! Lights out. Good night.

　　　 Observe how precisely I obey rules--due to my training in the John Grier Home.

Yours most respectfully,

Jerusha Abbott

To Mr. Daddy-Long-Legs Smith

61．Jerusha felt “confused” because　　 ．

　　　 A．she had never written to the trustee before

　　　 B．she was not familiar with the college yet

　　　 C．she could never find the way to her home

　　　 D．she had never traveled on a train berore

62．Jerusha thought that she couldn’t be very respectful to “John Smith” because　　 ．

　　　 A．he was a total stranger to her

　　　 B．she was sure it was a false identity

　　　 C．the name was too common

　　　 D．nobody would like to be called that time

63．According to Jerusha, being rich may be　 　　 　 ．

　　　 A．tentative　　　　　　　　 B．unimaginable　　　　　 C．traditional 　　　　　　 D．rude

64．The fact that her day is “divided into sections by bells” makes Jerusha feel　　　 ．

　　　 A．busy B．restricted by rules　 C．pressed for time　　 D．full of energy

65．Jerusha decided to call the trustee Dear Daddy-Long-legs　　　 ．

　　　 A．in order to show her respect for him

　　　 B．because it was one of his inner quality

　　　 C．in older to make them feel closer to each other

　　　 D．because she had always wanted a father