Many years ago my student asked me the question, "Mrs. Kindred, why do you teach?" Without taking time to reflect, I answered, "Because someday I might say something that might make a difference in someone's life." Even though I was sincere, that wasn't a very good answer and my student didn't let it slide.

"Let me get this straight," he said, "You went to college for four years so you could come here every day because you have the hope that someday you might say something that will influence someone?" He shook his head as if I were crazy and walked away looking confused. I'm one of those people who look back and wish they had said something smart or witty, or swift.

Even though that particular student might no longer wonder why I teach, there are days when I wonder. On those days, I remind myself of the real reasons I teach:

It's in my blood. My mother was my most influential teacher, and she was a 6th grade reading teacher until her death in 1990. She instilled (逐渐灌输) in me a love of reading and the knowledge that education opens doors.

Teaching is a way to make a difference. If you throw a stone in a pond the ripples go on and on until they reach the shore. You can't have ripples without a "stone." Good teachers throw stones that make a positive difference, and that's what I try to do.

I genuinely love teenagers. I want to share with others what I know and what I have learned through the years. Life is full of ups and downs, and if I can help students avoid some potholes on the road of life, I want to do so. If they'll allow me to celebrate their victories with them, I want to do too.

Teaching isn't for everyone, but I know I made the right career choice.

1.Why did the student continue to ask the question about the writer’s being a teacher?

2.What do you think of the writer?

3. According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?

4.We can infer from the text that _________.

5.What’s the main idea of the text?

Can people change their skin color without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin color.

The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.

Scientists have changed the color of a dark-striped zebrafish（斑马鱼） to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment (色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin color is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanin (黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanin per pigment cell determine skin color.

It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation (变异) in the gene for melanin production. This results in less pigmented skin.

However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes.

Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun (太阳光紫外线), which can cause skin cancer.

But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.

Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin color, said Cheng.

The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin color without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.

1. The passage mainly tells us that ________.

2. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

3.Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebrafish in order to ________.

4.The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that _____

5.The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is ________.

The first and best of victories is for a man to conquer himself; to be conquered by himself is, of all things, the most shameful, says Plato. Self-control is at the root of all the advantages. Let a man give in to his impulses (冲动) and feelings, and from that moment he gives up his moral freedom.

A single angry word has lost many a friend. When Socrates found in himself any temper or anger, he would check it by speaking low in order to control himself. If you are conscious of being angry, keep your mouth shut so that you can hold back rising anger. Many a person has dropped dead in great anger. Fits of anger bring fits of disease. Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad. Keep cool, says George Herbert, for fierceness (狂怒) makes error a fault.

To be angry with a weak man is to prove that you are not strong yourself. Anger, says Pythagoras, brings with folly ( 愚蠢 ) and ends with regret. You must measure the strength of a man by the power of the feelings he conquers, not by the power of those which conquer him.

Self-control is man’s last greatest victory.

If a man lacks self-control he seems to lack everything. Without it he can have no patience, no power to govern himself; he can have no self-confidence, for he will always be controlled by his strongest feeling. If he lacks self-control, the very backbone and nerve of character are lacking also.

1.What does the reader learn from the first paragraph?

2.What is the correct interpretation of “Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad ” in paragraph 2 ?

3. If a man lacks self-control, he lacks all of the following EXCEPT _______.

4.The author’s main purpose in writing this article is to _______.

5.The passage is mainly developed by _____.

Why does a large education nation like China have so few world renowned scientists as the US? Educationists from China and the US try to find out the answer to questions like this at a forum on the basic education strategy.

The forum, held recently, was jointly organized by the Education Development Research Center of the Ministry of Education in China and the Postgraduate School of the University of Pennsylvania in the US. It aims to find out similarities and differences that exist between two countries in their educational system.

While some educationists in China keep a doubtful eye to the country’s educational system in recent years. Their American counterparts give a positive answer to the basic education in China, saying that it is still one of the best in the world.

An American educationist told reporters that the basic education in the US was criticized in recent years due to its political tendency. On the contrary, Chinese government’s stress on basic education and qualified teachers has set a good example.

At primary and middle school, pupils in China did better in math and science lessons than the US pupils. However, few grow to be world “masters”. Why? Educationists attributed this to China’s stress on examination rather than students’ interest.

Deputy Director of the postgraduate school of Pennsylvania University said American teachers encouraged students to focus on their strong points. In China, students are driven to study to pass the entrance examination test and they do not pay much attention to their own interest.

At the forum, director of the Education Development Research Center Mr. Zhang said in the future, the research center would make its middle and long-term basic education strategy by taking some references from other countries including the US.

He also revealed that for a long time in the future, China would make a breakthrough in setting the policy for quality education.

1.This passage is mainly about _________.

2. The underlined word “renowned” in the first paragraph probably means ________

3.The following statements are true EXCEPT that _________

4. Few pupils in China who did better in math and science lessons than the US pupils grow to be world “masters”, because _________

5.China’s educational system will _______ in the future.

请阅读下列应用文及相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。

以下是请求帮助者的资料：

A.  As we know, the 2008 Olympic Games will be held in Beijing and many people from other countries will come to visit China. The taxi drivers in Dongfeng Taxi Company think the way to show kindness is to be able to greet the foreigners in their languages. They need someone who can teach them languages and the best time is at night when they are not so busy.

B.  Tom is so addicted to on-line games that he cannot concentrate on his study like before. Now he often misses school in order to play games, thus telling lies to his teachers and parents again and again. Though he realizes what he does is wrong, he just can't stop it. How badly he needs someone's help.

C.  Mane, a 44-year-old single mother of three, has to walk two miles to the nearest supermarket twice a week because she doesn't know which bus to take. What's worse, since she does not know words, she can not write out a shopping list. Also, she can only recognize items by sight, so if the product has a different label, she will not recognize it as the product she wants.

D.  "Helping Hand"Organization will hold an event to help the starving children in Africa. The event starts in August and those taking part in will go without food for 30 hours. In this way, it is expected that money will be raised for the poor children.

E.  "Green Earth" cares a lot for the animals in danger. Still many people in the world don't know much about the importance of animal protecting. This summer vacation a lot of events will be organized to call on people to live in harmony with our earth.

F.  A group of young children in a remote village in southwest China are in great need of teachers. Because of the low salary, many teachers came and then went. The villagers hope to have a teacher who can stay for at least a year, because they know knowledge can make a difference to the children's future.

以下是乐于提供资助的人员信息介绍。请匹配他们与所对应的资助对象。

1.Stephen:  Last summer I went through a training program and became a literacy volunteer. When I began to discover what other people's lives were like because they could not read, I realized the true importance of reading.

2.Ben:  After graduation, I don't want to apply for a job at once Instead, I plan to spare one year to help those who need help most and try my best to improve their lives. You know, education is essential to poverty relief and at the same time I'll get valuable experience for my future career.

3.Susan:  I'm a girl from England and have studied French for years. I'm here in Beijing University studying Chinese. I like China as it is full of mysteries. So I hope the voluntary work will help me to get in touch with Chinese people and get to know about China. Although my study is busy, I can be free at night and at the weekends.

4.Tim:  Since I myself have overcome a lot of difficulties in my life, I understand young people's problems and I know how to listen patiently to others and offer some advice. I'm working now in the daytime so I can only spend two to three hours a day at night helping others.

5.Lisa:  I burst into tears when I saw those children in a TV program. What a sight. They are only bone and skin left. What's worse, every day the children are dying because of lack of food. I realized how lucky I am with enough food and a good chance to get education. The summer vacation is coming and I hope I can do something for them.

假如你是李明，某报社委托你在就读的中学生进行关于午睡情况的问卷调查。请根据下表中的内容（打√的选项为大多数人的选择），用英语写一封信，简要向报社介绍调查的结果。

[写作内容]

根据以上调查的结果写一篇调查总结，并简要谈谈你对午睡的好处的看法。

[写作要求]

1. 只能使用5个句子表达全部内容；

2. 开头和结尾已经给出，不计入总句数；

3. 参考词汇； 午睡 take a nap after lunch; 宿舍dormitory

4. 文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。

[评分标准]

句子结构准确，信息内容完整，篇章结构连贯。

Dear Editor,

Recently I have conducted a survey on taking a nap after lunch in my school.

Yours,

Li Ming

阅读下面的短文，然后按照要求写一篇150左右的英语短文。 

Here are some comments on Li Hua from his classmates.

Lily said, Li Hua is the smartest student in our class and scores the highest marks in the English and mathematics exams. His homework and assignments are always done to a very high standard so our teachers ask us to follow his example. We all admire his intelligence.

Kate said, Li Hua is really a hard-working student. He spends at least four hours every day reviewing his lessons and his homework is never late. As the exams get closer he becomes even more diligent and works into the early hours of the morning, making sure he has gone over all of the information covered in our classes.

John said, Li Hua is the kind of person who is easy to co-operate with. Although he’s very clever he is still willing to listen to others’ opinions and take their suggestions. When we do our groupwork in class we all want to be in his group because he always does his share of the work and is easy to get along with.

Tim said, Li Hua is the class monitor and the most helpful student in our class. He always makes sure the classroom is kept clean and assists the teachers in handing out and collecting the students’ books and homework. When a student is absent from school he will call and tell them what they have missed.

[写作内容]

假如你是李平，你的同学李华拟申请到美国某一大学学习。申请材料需包括同伴的推荐信。李华邀请你为他写一封推荐信。上文是其他同学对李华的一些评价，请根据这些评价和你自己对李华的看法，写一封推荐信。以下是信的内容 （ 信的开头和结尾已经为你写好 ）

以约30个词概括同学们眼中李华的特点和优点；

以约120个词表达你对李华的看法，并包括如下要点：

你对同学们评价意见的看法；

以你和李华之间的经历来说明其中的一点看法。

[写作要求]

1. 作文中可以使用亲身经历或虚构的故事，也可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不得直

接引用原文中的句子。

2.信中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。

[评分标准]

概括准确，语言规范，内容合适，篇章连贯。

I take the firm position that parents do not owe their children a college education. If they can  __1  it, they can certainly send them to the best universities. But they must not feel guilty if they can’t. If the children really want to go, they’ll find a   2   out. There are plenty of loans（货款）and scholarships for the bright and   3  ones who can’t afford to pay.

When children grow up and want to get  married, their parents do not owe them a down payment on a house. They do not have the   4  to baby-sit their grandchildren. If they want to do it,it must be considered a(n)   5  not an obligation（责任，义务）.

Do parents owe their children anything? Yes,they owe them a great deal.

One of their obligations is to give their children personal   6  .A child who is constantly made to feel stupid and unworthy, constantly  7  to brighter brothers, sisters, or cousins will become so  _8_ , so afraid of failing that he（or she）won’t try at all .Of course they should be __9__ corrected when they do wrong, but it’s often better to let children learn their mistakes by themselves in time.All our parents should do is to trust them, respect them, tolerate（宽容）them and give them chances to try and fail.They must learn to stand   10  .When criticisms（批评）are really needed,they should be  11 with praises,with a smile and a kiss.That is the way children learn.

Parents owe their children a set of solid values around which to build their lives.This means teaching them to  12 the rights and opinions of others;it means being respectful to elders,to teachers,and to the law.The best way to teach such values is by  13  .A child who is lied to will lie.A child who sees no laughter and no love in the home will have   14  laughing and loving.

No child asks to be  15  .If you bring a life into the world,you owe the child something.

语法填空Alfred Nobel became a millionaire and changed the ways of mining，construction，and warfare as the inventor of dynamite（炸药）. On April 12，1888，Alfred's brother Ludwig died of heart attack. A major French newspaper mistook his brother ___1____ him and carried an article ____2_____(announce) the death of Alfred Nobel. “___3_ merchant of death is dead.”The article read. “Dr. Alfred  Nobel，___4____ became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before，died   yesterday. ”

Alfred put ___5____ the newspaper sadly. It was his brother rather than _6___ who had died and the French newspaper had made a mistake. All the same, Alfred felt uncomfortable. Was this the way the world was going to remember him? He did not like that idea at all. He wanted people to remember him as a man of peace.

He invented his dynamite at a perfect moment in time. Many countries were beginning to build roads through mountains and needed a safe, strong dynamite. His dynamite was developed for such peaceful uses. He also thought that ____7___ all countries had the same great weapons, they would see how impossible war was and that any country fighting a war ___8_(destroy). Therefore, there would be no more wars. Many people of his day also thought this way.

To make sure that he was remembered with love and respect. Nobel arranged in a will to give the __9__(large) part of his money to establish the Nobel prizes，which would be awarded to people who made great ___10___ (contribute) to the causes of peace，literature，and the sciences.

Few of us haven’t read Cinderella, the story of a young woman living in poverty who meets the prince of her dreams. Some might not want to admit it, but there is a hidden Cinderella in everyone’s heart—we all wish we could achieve recognition or success after a period of obscurity(默默无闻).

Mary Santiago has that secret dream, too. Her story is featured in Another Cinderella Story, a film set in a US high school.

Mary is shy but loves to dance. Compared with other girls, she is invisible. However, her world changes completely when a famous teenager pop singer, Joey Parker, appears.

Joey is everything the rest of the boys in her class are not—kind, handsome and desirable. Mary and Joey’s paths cross at a ball. They meet and fall in love with each other. But when Mary has to rush back home, she leaves behind her MP3 player, which becomes the only clue Joey has to find the girl of his dreams. Of course, there is a wicked(邪恶的) stepmother, who turns out to be Dominique Blatt and she takes in Mary after her dancer mother dies. Dominique treats Mary like a maid and does everything she can to make sure Mary doesn’t get into the top dance school. Her two daughters are equally determined to stop Joey falling for Mary, even if that means embarrassing her.

The story, though it mostly follows Cinderella, does add a few modern day twists to the classic fairy tale. Refreshingly, the film, unlike many high school films, does not focus on looks, although the actors are all beautiful. There is also a lot less materialism in Another Cinderella Story than in many similar movies.

“The movie takes the Cinderella fairytale as its jumping off point,” writes movie critic Amber Wilkinson. “The focus is firmly on following your dream.”

1.The first paragraph is mainly to ____________.

2.In the movie, Mary Santiago is the main character who _____________.

3. What can we infer from the passage?

4.The passage is mainly about ___________.

5.According to the passage, Another Cinderella Story ________.