59. The underlined word “peer” (Paragraph 5) probably means ________.

A. a person of the same age　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. a classmate

C. a friend　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. a person elder than oneself

58. According to the writer, American parents will most probably agree with the point that ________.

A. Ambition plays a more important role than confidence in achieving one’s goal

B. Time away from schoolbooks is a waste for children

C. A sound knowledge of physics is more important than the ability of effective communication

D. High level of participation is essential for children to develop their social skills

57. The writer supports his point “Parents in the United States and China differ markedly in their approach to parenting.” (Paragraph 2) by ________.

A. making predictions B. telling stories　　　　　 C. giving facts　　　　　　　 D. doing researches

56. What is the best title for the text?

A. The Experience of a Reporter　　　　　　　　 B. A Picture of a Smiling Horse

C. Happy to Be a Reporter　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. A Wonderful Picture

E

In the spring of 1999, I spoke about China to a group of over eighty American second grade students in the U.S. The children were curious about so many things: the Great Wall, pandas, martial arts. More than any other subject, however, these young people were interested in the relationship between Chinese children and their parents.

As I described how Chinese parents raise their children, drawing on the experiences of my friends and their kids, it occurred to me that parents in the United States and China differ markedly in their approach to parenting.

In the United States, parents tend to encourage their children to develop their potential to the fullest extent – in a word, to dream. Fathers and mothers frequently instill in their children both ambition and, as importantly, the confidence necessary to work toward their goals.

American parents tend to be very positive. They concentrate on what their kids can do, not what they can't. As a result, millions of American boys and girls grow up hoping to become actors and athletes, diplomats and doctors; many even want to become presidents.

American parents often encourage their children to become participating in extracurricular (课外的) activities of all types at school, such as student government, sports and music. They believe that only through participating in these activities can their children become mature young adults. Schoolwork is important, to be sure. But parents realize that the social skills their children learn from natural interaction with their peers in non-scholastic environments are closer to the skills they will need in the "real world". What's more important in the office place, a sound knowledge of physics or the ability to communicate effectively?

As a rule, Chinese parents do not bother to develop the same kind of ambition and confidence Americans instill in their children, nor do they encourage the same level of participation in extracurricular activities. Children are typically warned to study hard and pass exams. Too often, time away from schoolbooks is seen as time wasted.

This approach has created so much pressure for Chinese children that leaders in Chinese educational circles have issued calls for less homework at the lower grade levels. Only healthy kids can become healthy adults.

More and more, Chinese parents recognize this. I am very confident about China's future.

55. What does the writer suggest in the last paragraph?

A. Everyone can be a good reporter. 　　　　　 B. Good photos can be rewarded.

C. She was happy to be a reporter after that.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Surprise is just in common life.

54. According to the text, why is the writer proud?

A. She is a good reporter. 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. She has taken pictures of the smiling kids.

C. She has taken pictures of the smiling horses

D. She has reported the smiling horse.

53. Why did the writer begin to be a reporter?

A. She loved taking photos. 　　　　　　　　　　　 B. She liked the rocky mountain town.

C. She wanted to learn interview. 　　　　　　　 D. Her husband decided to work on a newspaper

52. If you have Easter Brunch in Hiton Hotel you will pay RMB　　　　　　　 for it.

A. 195　　　　　 B. 224.25 　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. 165.75　　　 　 　　 　D. 97.5

D

I had never given a thought to working on a newspaper. But when my husband decided to start one in our small rocky Mountain town, I went along with the idea. I didn’t know how to interview anyone, take interesting photos, or even put a newspaper article together. So, I took my camera and just started carrying it with me everywhere.

One Saturday morning, I went on a children’s hayride (乘坐干草车出游) to get some shots of the local kids. I arrived early, so I could talk to the adults in charge, I needed to get some information to go with any picture I took.

After the kids were seated on the hay, I had plenty of pictures of their smiling faces. I just stopped to chat with a lady who had her horse with her. She planned to ride alongside the wagon and keep an eye on things.

While I chatted with her, her horse turned to fully face me and gave me a big horse smile. He opened his mouth wide, showing all of his teeth. We all laughed and I asked the lady to make him do it again so I could take a picture. She said she hadn’t made him do it the first time and didn’t know how to get him smile again.

I stepped back, positioned my camera, and said to the horse, “smile again for the camera,” and he did! He looked right at the camera and gave me a huge horse grin. I actually got two shots of him and he was willing to keep grinning at the camera.

Later on, we published the pictures of the kids and their hayride in the paper but the picture of the horse got the most attention. I have kept that picture in my photo album to this day. And proudly show it off every chance I get.

After that, I was always ready to go and get the story, I had learned how exciting and rewarding interviews and news photography could be. You may think you know your community pretty well. But wonderful surprises are waiting around you.

51. If you want to have an Easter meal on March 28, which hotel can you go to?

A. Scitech Hotel and Lido Holiday Inn 　 B. The Palace Hotel and Hilton Hotel

C. Hilton Hotel and Lido Holiday Inn　 　 D. Scitech Hotel and the Palace Hotel

50. It can be learned from the advertisements that the children can enjoy themselves most in 　　.

A. Lido Holiday Inn　　　 　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Palace Hotel

C. Scitech Hotel　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Hilton Hotel