Is early childhood education really necessary? Early childhood education primarily focuses on learning through playing to develop the child's physical, sensory, communicational and social development. Early childhood education has become a concern of the government，who pushes poor children to be formally trained before they are old enough for kindergarten.

There are good reasons for the government to push early childhood education. Studies have shown that orphaned children who did not receive good care and education become developmentally delayed

causing failure in school, and even in life. Further studies show that poor children who take part in Head Start programs are more prepared for school，less likely to end up in Special Education classes， and are less likely to receive public help or go to jail.

There are also negative parts to putting a child in formal education programs too early. Time Magazine online explains that "the younger the child,the Jess his chances of catching up with first-grade work". I have personally witnessed many children of my generation who went to Head Start programs become frustrated and bored with school before they finished high school. Yet parents have been sure that the earlier the child starts school，the better off he or she is，so they push to start children earlier.

Actually while early formal education of poor children does show great gains in the early ele?mentary years, studies also show that this head start is really a "false start"，as the gains are lost in middle and high school years. It seems that environment is a bigger factor on life, s success than early education. Head Start programs have not achieved its original goal in closing the achievement gap in poor and middle school children. Perhaps it is time to find other ways to close that gap.

(   ) 8. The purpose of the government valuing the early childhood education is     .

     A.  to develop the children' s communication skills

    B.  to give orphaned children good care and education

    C.  to get the children prepared for the kindergarten

    D.  to train the children formally and regularly

(   ) 9. According to the studies, which of the following is true?

     A.   Children with good early education may have a rich life.

    B.   The orphaned children are usually unhappy in their life.

    C.   Children without early education can do well at school.

    D.   Head Start programs are helpful to the poor children.

(   ) 10. 'The younger the child, the less his chances of catching up with first-grade work." suggests that .

     A.  the early childhood education is helpless to the child' s grade

    B.  it is good for the young children to receive early education

    C.  the early education can help the children improve the grade

    D.  the younger the children are，the more clever they will be

(   ) 11. The author，s attitude toward the early childhood education is         .

A. puzzling    B. objective    C. indifferent    D. approving

(   ) 12. The main idea of the last paragraph is that        .

     A .   the early childhood education is very necessary

    B.   Head Start programs have helped the children a lot

    C.   environment is the most important factor to life' s success

    D.   better ways should be found to help the poor children

Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farms have experienced an "agricultural revolution". On the farm of today, machines provide almost all the power.

One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant,how much livestock(家畜) to buy,when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for pig producers，grain farmers，potato farmers，and dairy fanners. In the future， farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm，students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely

on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power,and mod?ern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.

Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot,a real "mechanized hired hand" that will be able to move and,in some ways,think like a human being. Agricultural engineers believe that computer-aided robots will make shocking changes in farming before the end of the century. Unlike farmers of the present，farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear (修剪) sheep，drive tractors，and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example， in order to milk their cows,farmers must first drive them into the barn,then connect them to the milking machines，watch the machines，and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future， this will all be done by robots. In addition，when the milking is completed，the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete change of the farm is far in the future,but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.

(   ) 4. Which sentence carried the main idea of the whole passage?

     A.  The first sentence of the first paragraph.

    B.  The first sentence of the second paragraph.

    C.  The last sentence of the first paragraph.

    D.  The last sentence of the second paragraph.

(   ) 5. According to the passage, computers can not help farmers decide        .

     A.  how much money they can earn from their products

    B.  whether to plant a certain kind of crop

    C.  what livestock to raise

    D.  when to sell their products

(   ) 6. Which of the following statements is true?

     A.  Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers.

    B.  Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present.

    C.  Both computers and robots have been in use on today' s farms.

    D.  Students at agricultural colleges must take computer classes because they can do nothing without the help of computers on today, s farms.

(   ) 7. What is the best title for the whole passage?

A. Computer,Farmers' Best Friend    B. Farmers in the Future  

C. The Agricultural Revolution    D. Computers and Robots

Moving in with a boyfriend causes women to eat more unhealthily and put on weight. But the opposite is true for men,whose long-term health benefits when they move in with a female partner.

Dieticians at Newcastle University said both partners try to please one another,and so change their dietary habits to suit their other half.

It leads men to eat more light meals，such as salads，fruit and vegetables，while women choose to make creamier,heavier dishes like curry or rich pasta sauces, which may please their partner.

Women still have the strongest long-term influence over the couple' s diet and lifestyle,as they still have the traditional role of shopper and cook in most households.

The report, by Newcastle University's Human Nutrition Research Centre,reviewed the finding of a variety of research projects from the UK,North America and Australia,which looked at the eating and lifestyle habits of couples.

The research shows that women are more likely to put on weight and increase their consumption of foods high in fat and sugar when they move in with their partner.

Women also use food as a comfort when dealing with emotional stress and have been found to gain weight when a relationship ends,while the same finding has not been observed in men.

Many couples reported food as being central to their partnership, and eating together in the evening was particularly important to many.

Report author and registered dietician Dr. Amelia Lake said，'The research has shown that your partner is a strong influence on lifestyle and people who are trying to live healthier lives should take this factor into consideration."

(   ) 1. According to the passage，moving in with a girlfriend，men        .

     A.   have few changes of their dietary habits

    B.   have to eat more unhealthy foods

    C.   don't like foods high in fat and sugar at all

    D.   try to eat foods that their girlfriends like

(   ) 2. The underlined word "light" (in Paragraph 3 ) probably means ―        .

     A. not very heavy    B. less in fat and sugar

    C. gentle    D. not serious or important

(   ) 3.What would be the best title for the passage?

     A.   Don't Be Silly Any More,Women！

    B.   Which Are Better Dietary Habits?

    C.   Boyfriends Make You Fat

    D.   Dr. Amelia Lake and His Study

10. Assuming one has worked at something for a certain length,his profession will be troublesome                          halfway. (switch)

假如从事某种职业一段时间后，中途转行是很麻烦的。

9. The bank has sent me a text message,       the overdraft before the deadline. (press)

银行给我发短信，催我在截止日前还透支款。

8. "       ”the 1 st Chinese Nobel Prize winner said before the awarding ceremony，"the prize will go to a big house." (take)

"一旦领到那笔奖金，"中国首位诺贝尔奖金获得者莫言在颁奖仪式前说道，"我会去买一套大房子。"

7.                       a portrait of the host and the hostess. (hang)

挂在卧室墙上的是一张男主人和女主人的肖像。

6. The fast development of the IT company                 the university students，some even claimed that they have an itch to work in it when they graduate. (impress) 

这家IT公司的高速发展给大学生们留下深刻印象，一些学生声称他们有一种想毕业后在这家公司工作的沖动。

5. Having stayed in "Rome" for a couple of years，my daughter has learnt to                           the way the "Romans" do. (adjustment)

在异囯他乡待了五六年之后，我女儿学会了按当地人的方式生活。

4. Gone are the days when the Chinese people        at will. (tolerate)

中囯人民容忍领土遭受随意侵占的日子一去不复返了。