Children are getting smarter by the generation. I am very amazed by how kids these days know exactly what they want, and know how to communicate with several different languages when they are with different persons. It’s very common in HK that kids are being looked after by overseas domestic helpers. Their helpers do speak with them in English. Some do even speak with the kids in their own countries languages. Surprisingly, the kids do know how to response to their helpers regardless what languages they are in communication. This is what I observed a helper with a one-year-old kid on bus last week. My cousin has a Pilipino helper at home for more than ten years. He can response to his helper well regardless she speaks with him in English or Pilipino. Some kids’ grandparents do speak with their grand children in their hometown dialect. The kids also pick up fast with whatever dialect it is. Kids’ parents usually speak with them in Cantonese; naturally, this also becomes their first language.
I have really noticed among urban HK children, is that they know exactly which human behavior to switch on when facing with parents, grandparents and helpers. Their expression is different when they ask their helpers to help compared with their parents. They are usually much more direct with their helpers instead of their parents and grandparents when they want to ask for something. (eg. when they ask for ice-cream or chocolate) I think there must be related to phenomenon（现象）, whether it is learnt or not. It’s really amazing how children automatically（自动地）know all at such a young age, which mode of behavior, and at what tone and manner to use them, who to use them on, and when.
1. The example of my cousin’s story shows that __________.
A. The kids know exactly what they are in need of.
B. The kids know how to communicate well with others.
C. The kids know how to response to their helpers.
D. The kids know all the above at so young an age.
2. Who will the kids turn to for help in the first place?
A. Kids’ parents B. Kids’ grand parents
C. Relatives D. overseas domestic helpers
3. What does the underlined phrase “pick up” most probably mean?
A. succeed in seeing or hearing B. gain or acquire it by purpose
C. learn it without taking lessons D. take hold of and lift it
4. Which of the following expresses the main idea of the text?
A. Kids have an amazing childhood. B. Kids are getting smarter in HK.
C. Kids are truly amazing and smart. D. Kids get along well with the helpers.
| National Geographic Museum |
The Newseum |
|
| Where: |
At 1145 17th St. NW. The nearest Metro stops are Archives (Yellow and Green lines) and Judiciary Square (Red line). |
At 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The nearest Metro stops are Archives (Yellow and Green lines) and Judiciary Square (Red line). |
| When: |
Open from 10 am to 6 pm daily and till 8 pm on Wednesdays. Closed Dec 25. The warriors exhibition is on until March 31. |
Open from 9 am to 5 pm daily but closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. |
| How much: |
Timed tickets are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, students and the military; $6 for ages 2 to 12. |
Adults (19 to 64): $19.95 Youth (7 to 18): $12.95 Children (6 and younger): free |
| For more information: |
call 202-857-7700 or visit http://www.warriorsdc.org |
http:// www.newseum.org or 888-639-7386 |
1 Which of the following statements about National Geographic Museum is TRUE?
A. It’s open from 10 am to 6 pm each day.
B. It’s near the Judiciary Square stop on the Yellow line.
C. It is closed o
n Thanksgiving day, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
D. You have to go there before April 1 to see the exhibition of warriors.
2 How much should Mr. Brown pay if he takes his 6-year-old son to the Newseum?
A. $18 B. $32.8 C. $19.95 D. $32
3. To get more information about the Newseum, you can ________.
A. call 202-857-7700
B. call 888-639-7386
C. log onto http://www.warriorsdc.org
D. log onto http://www.museum.org
Section B
Directions: Read the following four passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
The professor stood before his class of 30 senior molecular (分子) biology students, about to pass out the final exam. “I have been honored to be your instructor this semester, and I know how hard you have all worked to prepare for this test,” he said to them. “I am well aware of how much pressure you are under to keep your GPAs (平均成绩) up, and because I know your are all capable of understanding this material, I am prepared to offer an automatic “B” to anyone who would prefer not to take the final.”
The relief was audible as a number of students jumped up to thank the professor and left the class. The professor looked at the handful of students who remained, and offered again, “Any other takers? This is your last opportunity.” One more student decided to go.
There were seventeen students left. The professor closed the door an
d took attendance. Then he handed out the final exam.
There were two sentences typed on the paper: “Congratulations, you have just received an ‘A’ in this class. Keep believing in yourself!”
I never had a professor who gave a test like that. It’s a test that any teacher in any course could and should give. Students who don’t have confidence in what they’ve learned are “B” students at best.
The same is true for students of real life. The “A” students are those who believe in what they’re doing because they’ve learned from both successes and failures. They’ve absorbed life’s lessons, whether from formal education or the school of hard knocks, and become better people.
Don’t let the biggest limit be yourself.
1. The professor offered an automatic “B” to those who would prefer not to take the final because ________.
A. he thought all of his students had prepared for the test well
B. he believed all the students were able to pass the exam
C. he didn’t want to put too much pressure on his students
D. he intended to tell the students about the importance of confidence
2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. All the students feel at easy before the exam.
B. 22 students got a “B” in the final test without doing the paper.
C. There were no problems on the test paper for the students to work out.
D. The way the professor tested the students would be unsuitable for other subjects.
3. According to the author, the test given by the professor is ________.
A. funny B. instructive C. confusing D. inappropriate
4. The point of the story is to advise readers ________.
A. to stay focused on what they can do
B. to surround themselves with confident people
C. not to put up with being second best
D. not to let themselves be the biggest obstacles to their growth
When Webster was young ,he was a teacher .But he quickly became tired of the books he used in class .They were all about the English people and places .Since he wanted books that would be interesting to the American children ,he wrote three books with many American examples .
Webster worked hard to change the spellings of American English .He wanted words to be spelled in the same way they were pronounced .For example ,he thought the word laugh should be spelled laf.And he tried many ways to ask people to help him to do this .
One day he walked into a print shop and gave the boy there a piece of paper .Young man ,he said ,when you print any book in the future ,please don’t spell the words like the English people do .For example ,when you see these words :theatre ,centre ,colour ,and labour ,please always print them as theater ,center ,color ,and labor .The boy studied it and answered ,OK,but I must ask my boss first.
With the money he made from his books ,Webster could start his great work ,which took him more than twenty years to finish .In 1828 ,the first American English dictionary was born .And today, Webster’s dictionary is thought to be most important American English dictionary in the whole world .
1．Webster didn’t like the books used in American schools because________.
A．he was born in America
B．there were too many mistakes in them
C．American children were not interested in them
D．they were too difficult for American children to understand
2．In Webster’s opinion ,the word“colour”should be spelled as “color”according to its________.
A．meaning B．use C．pronunciation D．wording
3．What’s the printer’s attitude（态度）towards Webster’s advice？
A．He was for it. B．He was against it .
C．He had no idea about it . D．He thought it impossible
4. The best tittle foe this passage should be_______
A. webster
B. webster and His Dictionary
C. The first English Dictionary
D. The Differences between American English and British English
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The lead story in tonight’s news concerns the fire which destroyed the major part of Columbia College at 4 a.m. this morning. In only five minutes, more than six hundred girls came out of their dorms to watch their college burn to the ground in the freezing December weather. Fortunately, there were no injuries resulting from the fire. According to the college president, plans are already made to raise more than three million dollars to rebuild the college.
Here is the news from Washington. President Clinton says he is troubled by a scientist’s desire to clone a human and is urging Congress to pass a ban (禁令) on such experiments for at least five years. In his weekly radio address, Clinton noted Chicago-area physicist Richard Seed’s announcement that he is ready to set up a clinic to clone human babies. President Clinton said that the need for passing laws that would ban human cloning for at least five years is more urgent than ever.
A brief look at the weather for the weekend tells us to expect light showers on Saturday and Sunday. The high Saturday will be in the lower 40’s. On Sunday, we can expect the high to be about 65. That’s this evening’s news. Good night from Channel 9 news. Your better news station, and from Alan King, your reporter.
1. When did the fire at Columbia College take place?
A. In December. B. In March.
C. In November. D. In April.
2. What does President Clinton hope Congress do?
A. To pass a ban on doing experiment in labs.
B. To ban cloning humans forever.
C. To pass laws to support cloning babies.
D. To pass a ban on human cloning quickly.
3. What will the weather be like on weekend?
A. There will be a strong wind. B. The weather will be fine.
C. It will be freezing cold. D. It will be rainy.
For many years, no one could communicate with people who had been born without hearing. These deaf people were not able to use a spoken language.
But, beginning in the 1700s, the deaf were taught a special language. Using this language, they could share thoughts and ideas with others. The language they used was a language without sound. It was a sign language.
How did this sign language work? The deaf were taught to make certain movements using their hands, faces, and bodies. These movements stood for things and ideas. People might move their forefingers across their lips. This meant, “You are not telling the truth.” They might tap their chins with three fingers. This meant “my uncle.”
The deaf were also taught to use a finger alphabet (字母). They used their fingers to make the letters of the alphabet. In this way, they spelled out words. Some deaf people could spell out words at a speed of 130 words per minute.
Sign language and finger spelling are not used as much as they once were. Today, the deaf are taught to understand others by watching their lips. They are also taught how to speak.
1. The deaf “talked” to other people __________.
A. by moving their hands, faces and bodies
B. by shouting and singing
C. without using any letters
D. without using any language
2. The deaf could spell out words __________.
A. by reading them aloud
B. by going here and there
C. by expressing the letters with their fingers
D. by watching others
3. Now, the deaf are trained to __________.
A. write sentences quickly
B. understand others by lip-reading
C. be good at mind-reading
D. keep alone happily
4. The story as a whole is about __________.
A. learning to spell B. teaching the deaf to speak
C. how the deaf communicate D. understanding Indian sign language