A Child Who Could Not See, Hear, Or Speak

For the first nineteen months of her life, Helen Keller was like other pretty happy babies in every way. Then a sudden illness destroyed her sight and hearing. Because she could not hear what other people were saying, the child could not learn to speak. For the next seven years, she lived in a world of darkness, without sounds or words.

The person who changed Helen’s world was her teacher, Anne Sullivan, who entered her life on March 3, 1887. Miss Sullivan had accepted a job a blind child who had never learned to act like a human being, because no one had ever been able to guide her in any way. No one could control Helen. She acted like a young animal, rushing wildly around, throwing things, and hitting anyone whom she could reach. Who could believe that such a child could be taught?

But Anne Sullivan was a very special kind of teacher. She had been blind during part of her own childhood and had learned to read Braille, system of writing that uses raised dots which can be felt by the fingers of a blind person. She had learned to see again after several operations, but she had never forgotten the experience of being blind.

Miss Sullivan understood Helen. She loved her and believed she could teach her. Anne Sullivan could not teach Helen Keller to speak until some other important things had been learned. The little girl had to learn to control her actions and feelings. She had to learn that she could not always do what she wished to do. She had always been able to get what she wanted by using force. The teacher had to change such habits without breaking the child’s spirit.

Miss Sullivan’s battle began. Sometimes, there was real fighting between the wild child and the strong young teacher. At last, however, the battle was won by Miss Sullivan, who had succeeded in showing Helen that she loved her and wanted to help her. The child and her teacher became friends. They continued to be friends until the teacher’s death, fifty year later.

The day on which Helen finally accepted Miss Sullivan as her friend and teacher was a great day in Helen’s life. After that, the teacher could begin to teach the child language.

1．Helen Keller acted like a wild animal for she 　　　　.

A. had never had a teacher

B. could not understand any words

C. had never learned to know the world around

D. could not hear anyone speak

2．　　   , Sullivan believed she could teach Helen.

A. Being a blind person herself

B. Having learned Braille when she was young

C. Having been specially trained to be a teacher

D. Knowing how a blind child feels

3．Helen 　　   and so she could neither hear nor learn to speak.

A. lost her hearing at an early age

B. had disease with her ears and tongue

C. lost her ability in hearing and speaking

D. did not know any words

4．The most important thing for Helen was that she should learn　　   .

A. not always to use force

B. to keep her spirit from breaking

C. to tell what was wrong and what was right

D. not to get angry again

5．Sullivan won the battle　　   .

A. because she was stronger than Helen

B. by helping Helen understand why they fought

C. through fighting until she beat Helen

D. through real fighting and beating

Maybe you are an average student. You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessary so, however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here is how.　　

1). Plan your time carefully. When you plan your week, you should make a list of things that you can have to do. After making the list, you should make a schedule of your time. First time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide a good, regular time for studying. Don’t forget to set aside enough time fro entertainment. A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you to realize what is happening to your time.　　

2). Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study area. Keep this space, which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room. Free from everything but study materials. No games, radios, or television. When you sit down to study, concentrate on the subject. 　　

3). Make good use of your time in class. Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teachers say. Really listening in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what your teachers say.　　

4). Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes. Review the important points that your teachers mentioned in class. If you want to know what your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read the material in advance. This will help you understand the next class. If you do these things regularly, the material will become more meaningful, and you will remember it longer.　　

5). Develop a good attitude about tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won’t end if you don’t pass a test, so don’t be overly worried.　

There are other methods that might help you with your studying. You will probably discover many others after you have tried these.　　

How to Become A Better Student?

Professor Martin's report says that children who attend a number of different schools, because their parents have to move around the country, probably make slow progress in their studies. There are also signs, says Professor Martin, that an unusually large number of such children are mentally affected.

　　The professor says, "It's true, my personal feeling is that children should stay in one school. However, our findings are based on research and not on any personal feelings that I or my assistants may have on the subject."

　　Captain Thomas James, an Army lecturer for the past 20 years and him self a father of two, said," I've never heard such rubbish. Taking me for ex ample, no harm is done to the education of my children who change schools regularly－if they keep to the same system, as in our army schools. In my experience, I've known quite a few of them－Army children are as well－adjusted（调整）as any others, if not more so. What the professor doesn't appear to appreciate is the fact that in such situations children will adapt（适应）much better than grown-ups."

　　When this was put to Professor Martin, he said that at no time had his team suggested that all such children were backward or mentally affected in some way, but simply that in their experience there was a clear tendency（倾向）.

　　"Our findings show that while the very bright child can deal with regular changes without harming his or her general progress in studies, the majority of children suffer from constantly having to enter a new learning situation."

　　1．According to this passage, Professor Martin's personal feeling_______.

　　　　A. is the opposite of what his report has shown

　　　　B. is in a way supported by his research

　　　　C. has played a big part in his research

　　　　D. is based on his own experience as a child

　　2．From the passage, we can conclude that Captain James's children_________.

　　　　A. have been affected by changing schools

　　　　B. go to ordinary State schools

　　　　C. can get used to the Army school education

　　　　D. discuss their education regularly with their father

　　3.About children and grown-ups, Captain James says that children______.

　　　　A. are generally well-adjusted

　　　　B. are usually less experienced

　　　　C. can adapt much more easily

　　　　D. can deal with changes quickly

　　4．According to Professor Martin, _________ suffer from changing schools regularly.

　　　　A. Army children

　　　　B. quite a few children

　　　　C. bright children

　　　　D. few children

完型填空（共20小题，满分30分）
Our three-year-old daughter Becky wanted a dog.But we were too busy to buy one.One day, Becky ran in, shouting, “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with   36 .
　　I followed her to the bush and found a   37 ! He was hurt.Seeing me, he stood up   38 ! I could see his teeth! God! My mouth felt dry.“Don’t be afraid.That’s Mom.She  39 you, too.” Becky said.Then he became friendly.It was  40 !
　　I   41  to find my husband and told him about the wolf.We should have  42  the wolf, but Becky loved him.Besides, he was gentle(温柔的) to Becky.So we called the vet finally.
　　Becky named the wolf (狼) Ralph ,  43  she carried food to him every day.Later, Ralph got well.They played together in the daytime.At night, Ralph would return to the mountains.Sometimes he   44  but came back several days later.
　　On Becky’s first day of school, we could see Ralph’s   45 .After the school bus left, Ralph lay by the side of the road and   46  .When Becky returned, he got happy again.This    47  throughout Becky’s school years.
　　Twelve   48  passed.
　　One day we heard that a she-wolf was killed.The other wolf was hurt and ran away.We were   49  about Ralph.That night, Ralph returned with a wound (伤).Fifteen-year-old Becky held his head and   50  him.We hope he could come through.However, he   51 .
　　Becky cried.I noticed something strange in the bush — two little yellow eyes! Ralph’s  52 ! Before he died, Ralph   53  his child to us! He knew he would be  54  here, as he had been.Ralph, Ralph...I was   55 .
　　“Don’t be afraid, little ...Ralphie.That’s Mom.She loves you, too.”