At middle school level, there are many academic clubs in which the students can participate. Students can choose clubs that focus on an area of interest.

Mathcounts Club

Mathcounts tries to increase excitement about mathematic achievement. It hopes to provide students with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematic careers. Schools select individuals and teams to participate in competitions. Mathcounts works to challenge student math skills, develop self-confidence and give rewards for their achievements.

Envirothon

The Envirothon program focuses on natural resources knowledge and exposes students to diverse environmental issues, ecosystems, and topography (地形学). The ecology field competition for five-member middle school teams offers competitions in wildlife, soils, forestry, current environmental issues and aquatics (水上运动). Students work and learn in middle school clubs ·and can compete at local and state level.

Future Problem Solvers

Future Problem Solvers is an academic club that uses a six-step process to solve problems that may happen in the future. Students who like to “think outside the box”  may like this club. Teams made up of four students read future scenes and write up solutions in a booklet using the six-step process. Teams that score high enough can go to the state competition and then to the international competition.

Builders Club

Builders Club is open to any middle school student who wishes to perform community service. The members learn by doing, and they learn organization, teamwork, and leadership. Builders Clubs can sponsor a “Teacher of the Year” program, provide a recycling collection point, organize canned food and clothing to support local shelters, adopt a resident at a local senior citizens home, adopt highway, tutor, etc.

The students who are not interested in competition would probably choose _____.

A. Mathcounts Club B. Builders Club

C. Future Problem Solvers   D. Envirothon

Why do some of the students choose Mathcounts club?

A. To be successful in science careers. B. To enjoy solving future problems.

C. To perform community service.    D. To study wildlife and soils.

What is the common feature of the four clubs?

A. Competition.     B. Sponsorship. C. Scientific research.   D. Teamwork.

The passage mainly talks about _____.

A. the state academic competitions  B. middle school clubs

C. extra-curricular activities  D. the gifted students

Work is a very important part of life in the United States. When the early Protestant immigrants(新教徒移民) came to this country, they brought the idea that work was the way to God and heaven. This attitude, the Protestant Work Ethic(道德规范), still influences America today. Work is not only important for economic benefits, the salary, but also for social and psychological needs, the feeling of doing something for the good of the society. Americans spend most of their lives working, being productive. For most Americans, their work defines(给…下定义) them: they are what they do. What happens then, when a person can no longer work? Almost all Americans stop working at age sixty-five or seventy and retire. Because work is such an important part of life in this culture, retirement can be very difficult. Retirees often feel that they are useless and unproductive. Of course, some people are happy to retire; but leaving one’s job, whatever it is, is a difficult change, even for those who look forward to retiring. Many retirees do not know how to use their time or they feel lost without their jobs. Retirements can also bring financial problems. Many people rely on Social Security checks every month. During their working years, employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the government. Each employer also gives a certain percentage to the government. When people retire, they receive this money as income. These checks do not provide enough money to live on, however, because prices are increasing very rapidly. Senior citizens, those over sixty-five, have to have savings in the bank or other retirement plans to make ends meet. The rate of inflation(通货膨胀) is forcing prices higher each year; Social Security checks alone cannot cover these growing expenses. The government offers some assistance(补助), Medicare(health care)and welfare(general assistance), but many senior citizens have to change their life styles after retirement. They have to spend carefully to be sure that they can afford to buy food, fuel and other necessities.

Of course, many senior citizens are happy with retirement. They have time to spend with their families or enjoy their hobbies. Some continue to work part time, others do volunteer(志愿) work. Some, like those in the Retired Business Executives Association, even help young, people to get started in new business. Many retired citizens also belong to “Golden Age” groups. These organizations plan trips and social events. There are many chances for retirees.

American society is only beginning to be concerned about the special physical and emotional needs of its senior citizens. The government is taking steps to ease the problem of limited income. They are building new housing, offering discounts(折扣) in stores and museums and on buses, and providing other services such as free courses, food service, and help with housework. Retired citizens are a rapidly growing percentage of the population. This part of the population is very important and we must meet their needs. After all, every citizen will be a senior citizen some day.

The author believes that work first became important to Americans because of _______.

A. religion             B. economy           C. psychology               D. family

The passage is mainly about _______.

A. money and check                           B. senior and junior

C. work and retirement                       D. Protestants and Americans

When Americans stop work, it’s difficult for them to _______.

A. get Social Security checks               B. feel productive

C. enjoy themselves                            D. be religious

The author mentions _______ examples of the government' steps to ease the problem of limited income.

A. two            B. four           C. five            D. three

       At present, in many American cities especially, many teachers in the public schools say they are underpaid. They point to jobs such as secretary or truck driver, which often pay more to start than that of a teacher. In many other fields, such as law, medicine, computer science, a beginning worker may make more than a teacher who has taught for several years.

       Teaching has never been a profession that attracted people interested in high salaries. It is by history a profession that has provided rewards in addition to money—the satisfaction of sharing knowledge, of influencing others, of guiding young people. But in the past several years, there are more difficulties in teaching, for many, than there are rewards.

    Unruly students, especially in big cities, large classes and a lack of support from the public in terms of money and understanding have led many public school teachers to leave the profession.

       As a result, many of the best students, who would have chosen teaching as their life career in the past, are going into other fields.

       Another reason for this change in teacher candidates is the changing status of women in the United States. Until the late 1960s and 1970s, one of the most popular choices for women was teaching. But as other professions, such as law and medicine opened up to women, women stopped pouring into teacher training programs. Thus, a major pool of excellent candidates for the teaching profession dwindled.

       Bit by bit government officials and others realized that the status of the teacher had suffered. They talked about change. But the change in a vast society like the United States is not easy. People’s attitudes have formed over many years, and sometimes change takes many years.

The underlined word “that” in Paragraph 1 refers to “      ”.

       A．money      B．job       C．secretary D．truck driver

What is the present situation of the teaching?

       A．Teachers work harder and get underpaid.

       B．Teachers have no opportunities to work in other fields.

       C．Teaching can attract best students to work as a teacher.

       D．Teaching can provide rewards as well as high salaries.

Many public school teachers turn to other professions because        .

       A．the government doesn’t financially support them

       B．they have to work longer hours than a lawyer

       C．their students refuse to listen to them

The author believes that change in teachers’ status in the United States       .

       A．is not great             B．is impossible

       C．influences people’s attitude            D．needs time

At present, in many American cities especially, many teachers in the public schools say they are underpaid. They point to jobs such as secretary or truck driver, which often pay more to start than that of a teacher. In many other fields, such as law, medicine, computer science, a beginning worker may make more than a teacher who has taught for several years.

Teaching has never been a profession that attracted people interested in high salaries. It is by history a profession that has provided rewards in addition to money—the satisfaction of sharing knowledge, of influencing others, of guiding young people. But in the past several years, there are more difficulties in teaching, for many, than there are rewards.

Unruly students, especially in big cities, large classes and a lack of support from the public in terms of money and understanding have led many public school teachers to leave the profession.

As a result, many of the best students, who would have chosen teaching as their life career in the past, are going into other fields.

Another reason for this change in teacher candidates is the changing status of women in the United States. Until the late 1960s and 1970s, one of the most popular choices for women was teaching. But as other professions, such as law and medicine opened up to women, women stopped pouring into teacher training programs. Thus, a major pool of excellent candidates for the teaching profession dwindled.

Bit by bit government officials and others realized that the status of the teacher had suffered. They talked about change. But the change in a vast society like the United States is not easy. People’s attitudes have formed over many years, and sometimes change takes many years.

The underlined word “that” in Paragraph 1 refers to “      ”.

A. money       B. job     C. secretary    D. truck driver

What is the present situation of the teaching?

A. Teachers work harder and get underpaid.

B. Teachers have no opportunities to work in other fields.

C. Teaching can attract best students to work as a teacher.

D. Teaching can provide rewards as well as high salaries.

Many public school teachers turn to other professions because        .

A. the unruly students and large classes

B. the difficulties of teaching as well as a lack of money, support and understanding

C. the attracting power of other jobs

D. a lack of satisfaction of sharing knowledge and influencing others

The author believes that change in teachers’ status in the United States       .

A. is not great        B. impossible

C. influences people’s attitude       D. needs time

At five he was collecting old newspapers to make money. And when he was 15 he signed his schoolmates up to start a baby-sitting circle.

    Now 20, third-year Cambridge University student, Peter Blackburn is managing director of a company with a ?? 30,000 plan. And he thinks it will make more than $15,000 by next summer. He set up Peter Blackborn Ltd last year to bring out a new, color term-planner that now students all over the UK are using.

    "I felt that most of the planners going around were pretty unimaginative," he says, "I believed that I could do a better job and decided to have a go".

    Blackburn admits that he is putting far more effort into business than his computer studies course at university. While fellow students are out with their friends, he keeps in touch with his business office in Lancashire by movable phone. Before he set up the company he spent one holiday preparing a plan that would persuade his bank to lend him money.

    "Most students work hard for a good degree because they believe that will help them get a job to support themselves," he says "I work hard at my company, because that is what will support me next year, after I leave college."

    Friends believe that Blackburn will make ?? 1 million within 5 years. He is not quite so sure, however. "There's a lot to be done yet," he says.

Choose the right order of the facts given in the passage.

   a. He spent his holiday preparing a plan.

   b. He collected newspapers.

   c. He set up his own company.

   d. He asked the bank for money.

   e. He set up a babysitting circle.

   A. e, b, c, a, d           B. b, e, a, d, c               C. b, e, d, a, c               D. b, e, c, a, d

When he was quite young, Blackburn _______ .

   A. already made a lot of money                            B. already had a business brain

   C. was already managing director of a company      D. already set up his own business

The underlined expression in the fourth paragraph "have a go," here means _______ .

   A. give up this job and have a new one           B. leave the company

   C. have a try                                               D. develop my business quickly

In spite of a college student, Blackburn _______ .

   A. spends more time on his business than on his studies course

   B. keep in touch with his business office by movable phone

   C. seldom goes out with his friends

   D. often spends whole holiday preparing business plan

Which of the following best explain why Blackburn works hard at his company?

   A. He wants to do more business practice before he leaves college.

   B. He wants to make more money before he leaves college.

   C. He wants to get a good job like most students after he leaves the college.

   D. he depends on the company for his living in the future.