E
Many cities in the world are benefiting from the nocturnal (夜间活动的) activities of a group of people who call themselves guerrilla (游击队的) gardeners. Armed with trowels, spades and a van full of flowers and plants, guerrilla gardeners turn abandoned urban land into a blaze of color. In city centre locations where there was mud, weeds and empty plastic bottles, residents often wake up to find that the wasted area has been transformed overnight with brightly-colored bedding plants.
In most British cities, local governments and police turn a blind eye to the exploits (开发) of the gardeners, whose activities are always carried out under cover of nightfall. And so far, there has been nothing but praise from the astonished and delighted local residents when they find their neighborhood transformed in such a striking fashion.
Not only do the guerrilla gardeners beautify neglected places, they also return regularly to water the plants and weed the flower beds. They also make sure that at least some of the plants they bring are evergreens, which means that the area doesn’t look dismal (凄凉的) in the winter months.
The first guerrilla gardener in London was Richard Reynolds, whose day job is at an advertising agency. Mr Reynolds, a graduate of Oxford University, began his efforts two years ago when he moved to a flat in a tower block in South London. From his balcony, he could see several empty concrete pots, placed by the local governments to contain plants but never used. He went out after midnight and filled the pots with plants, and then planted more flowers in the path leading to the entrance to the block.
He then set up a website to explain his plan and called upon more gardeners to join him. Cash donations flooded in and, more importantly, volunteers rushed to be part of the campaign. Within six months, there were five hundred people in London prepared to come out at very short notice to revitalize (恢复活力) neglected parts of the urban landscape. There are now unofficial but carefully-organized groups in many cities in Britain and North America and there is also a website where would-be urban gardeners can find out the location of the next expedition.
1. According to the text, guerrilla gardeners got their names ______.
A. because of the residents’ advice B. from the local governments
C. for the nature of their work D. based on the local cultures
2. These guerrilla gardeners do their work ______.
A. at the request of the government B. nearby their house
C. often in return for others’ help D. of their own free will
3. Why do the guerrilla gardeners often return to their former working places?
A. To look after these plants. B. To enjoy these beautiful flowers.
C. To help plants live through winter months. D. To change the types of these plants.
4. Richard Reynolds decided to fill the pots with plants with the purpose of ______.
A. making the neighborhood more beautiful B. agreeing with his own job
C. advertising some products in his agency D. killing his spare time
5. It can be inferred from the text that these guerrilla gardeners ______.
A. are mainly from the United Kingdom
B. will later get well paid
C. are still not accepted by the local people
D. become more and more organized
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 less 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 elementary 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.The purpose of the government valuing the early childhood education is ________.
| A.to develop the children’s communication |
| 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 |
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. |
“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 follow the grade |
| D.the younger the children are, the cleverer they will be |
The author’s attitude toward the early childhood education is _________.
| A.puzzling | B.objective | C.indifferent | D.approving |
The main idea of the last passage 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 to life’s success |
| D.better ways should be found to help the poor children |
Breathe, wave and smile. Along with more than 300 other seniors, I marched into the stadium on the afternoon of May 10. The audience burst into deafening cheers. The huge stadium shook with all the whistling and clapping.
It was as if a Hollywood superstar had walked on stage. And indeed, every single senior that day was a star of the moment. Each deserved it. The seniors had been preparing for four years for this once-in-a-lifetime moment—the commencement (graduation ceremony).
Seated, I waited anxiously for the opening address. As a foreign exchange student, I was not able to receive a diploma. However, I still had the wonderful feeling of being part of things. Like the other graduates, I was dressed in marron cap and gown.
Our principal, Mr. Glover, delivered a short, warm greeting. The US national anthem followed and then, hands on chests, a solemn Pledge of Allegiance(美国的爱国誓言).
Students who had excelled academically gave farewell speeches. The tears in some eyes convinced me that many had deep feelings about the occasion. It was as the class motto says, “Life brings us tears, smiles and memories. The tears dry; the smiles fade; but the memories last forever.”
Then came the core (the most important part) of the commencement. Hundreds of names were announced. Each graduate walked across the stage to receive his or her diploma from the principal. From the different cheers each graduate got, we had the funny sense that it was a kind of competition of who could cheer the loudest.
To be honest, the presentation of diplomas got boring. A girl sitting next to me even started yawning. But it wasn’t boring for those receiving the diploma: they would treasure the moment the principal placed the sacred brown document in their hands for the rest of their lives.
A new page in the book of that person’s life had turned. They were glimpsing their futures: futures of challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which would take all of their courage.What’s the article mainly about?
| A.An American high school’s graduation ceremony. |
| B.The opening ceremony of a sports meeting. |
| C.A presentation of college diplomas. |
| D.A US college’s farewell party. |
Which of the following statements about the author is FALSE?
| A.She was one of the graduates. | B.She was a foreign exchange student. |
| C.She was excited to receive her diploma. | D.She felt it great to be at the ceremony. |
The right order of the following events is______.
a. Diplomas were presented to graduates.b. Students gave farewell speeches.
c. The US national anthem was played. d. The principal gave a short, warm speech.
e. Seniors went into the stadium.
| A.b,c,a,d,e | B.c,d,b,e,a | C.d,b,e,a,c | D.e,d,c,b,a |
From the text, we can conclude that_______.
| A.a diploma ensures a good job |
| B.a diploma guarantees a bright future |
| C.the commencement symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in life |
| D.everyone felt excited at the presentation of the diploma |
According to the passage, which of the following statement is true?
| A.Hollywood superstars went to attend the commencement. |
| B.Every single senior became a superstar on the commencement day. |
| C.All graduates would treasure the diploma for the rest of their lives. |
| D.When each graduate got his or her diploma, there were loud cheers. |
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 less 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 elementary 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.The purpose of the government valuing the early childhood education is ________.
| A.to develop the children’s communication |
| 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 |
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. |
“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 follow the grade |
| D.the younger the children are, the cleverer they will be |
The author’s attitude toward the early childhood education is _________.
| A.puzzling | B.objective | C.indifferent | D.approving |
The main idea of the last passage 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 to life’s success |
| D.better ways should be found to help the poor children |
Breathe, wave and smile. Along with more than 300 other seniors, I marched into the stadium on the afternoon of May 10. The audience burst into deafening cheers. The huge stadium shook with all the whistling and clapping.
It was as if a Hollywood superstar had walked on stage. And indeed, every single senior that day was a star of the moment. Each deserved it. The seniors had been preparing for four years for this once-in-a-lifetime moment—the commencement (graduation ceremony).
Seated, I waited anxiously for the opening address. As a foreign exchange student, I was not able to receive a diploma. However, I still had the wonderful feeling of being part of things. Like the other graduates, I was dressed in marron cap and gown.
Our principal, Mr. Glover, delivered a short, warm greeting. The US national anthem followed and then, hands on chests, a solemn Pledge of Allegiance(美国的爱国誓言).
Students who had excelled academically gave farewell speeches. The tears in some eyes convinced me that many had deep feelings about the occasion. It was as the class motto says, “Life brings us tears, smiles and memories. The tears dry; the smiles fade; but the memories last forever.”
Then came the core (the most important part) of the commencement. Hundreds of names were announced. Each graduate walked across the stage to receive his or her diploma from the principal. From the different cheers each graduate got, we had the funny sense that it was a kind of competition of who could cheer the loudest.
To be honest, the presentation of diplomas got boring. A girl sitting next to me even started yawning. But it wasn’t boring for those receiving the diploma: they would treasure the moment the principal placed the sacred brown document in their hands for the rest of their lives.
A new page in the book of that person’s life had turned. They were glimpsing their futures: futures of challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which would take all of their courage.What’s the article mainly about?
| A.An American high school’s graduation ceremony. |
| B.The opening ceremony of a sports meeting. |
| C.A presentation of college diplomas. |
| D.A US college’s farewell party. |
Which of the following statements about the author is FALSE?
| A.She was one of the graduates. | B.She was a foreign exchange student. |
| C.She was excited to receive her diploma. | D.She felt it great to be at the ceremony. |
The right order of the following events is______.
a. Diplomas were presented to graduates.b. Students gave farewell speeches.
c. The US national anthem was played. d. The principal gave a short, warm speech.
e. Seniors went into the stadium.
| A.b,c,a,d,e | B.c,d,b,e,a | C.d,b,e,a,c | D.e,d,c,b,a |
From the text, we can conclude that_______.
| A.a diploma ensures a good job |
| B.a diploma guarantees a bright future |
| C.the commencement symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in life |
| D.everyone felt excited at the presentation of the diploma |
According to the passage, which of the following statement is true?
| A.Hollywood superstars went to attend the commencement. |
| B.Every single senior became a superstar on the commencement day. |
| C.All graduates would treasure the diploma for the rest of their lives. |
| D.When each graduate got his or her diploma, there were loud cheers. |
An old problem is getting new attention in the United States—bullying.Recent cases included the tragic case of a fifteen-year-old girl whose family moved from Ireland.She hanged herself in Massachusetts in January following months of bullying.Her parents criticized her school for failing to protect her.Officials have brought criminal charges against several teenagers.
Judy Kaczynski is president of an anti-bullying group called Bully Police USA.Her daughter Tina was the victim of severe bullying starting in middle school in the state of Minnesota.She said, "Our daughter was a very outgoing child.She was a bubbly personality, very involved in all kinds of things, had lots of friends.And over a period of time her grades fell completely.She started having health issues.She couldn't sleep.She wasn't eating.She had terrible stomach pains.She started clenching her jaw and grinding her teeth at night.Didn't want to go to school."
Bullying is defined as negative behavior repeated over time against the same person. It can involve physical violence.Or it can be verbal — for example, insults or threats.Spreading lies about someone or excluding a person from a group is known as social or relational bullying.
And now there is cyberbullying, which uses the Internet, e-mail or text messages.It has easy appeal for the bully because it does not involve face-to-face contact and it can be done at any time.
The first serious research studies into bullying were done in Norway in the late 1970s.The latest government study in the United States was released last year.It found that about one-third of students age twelve to eighteen were bullied at school.
Susan Sweater is a psychologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and co-director of the Bullying Research Network.She says schools should treat bullying as a mental health problem to get bullies and victims the help they need.She says bullying is connected to depression, anxiety and anti-social behavior, and bullies are often victims themselves.From the case of Tina, we can know that.
| A.bullying is rare | B.victims suffered a lot |
| C.schools are to blame | D.personalities are related |
Which of the following is NOT bullying?
| A.To beat someone repeatedly. | B.To call someone names. |
| C.To isolate someone from friends. | D.To refuse to help someone in need. |
Why is cyberbullying appealing to the bully?
| A.Because it can involve more people. | B.Because it can create worse effects. |
| C.Because it is more convenient. | D.Because it can avoid cheating. |
According to Susan Sweater,.
| A.bullies are anti-social | B.bullies should give victims help |
| C.students are not equally treated | D.bullies themselves also need help |
Which of the following can be the best title of the text?
| A.Bullying—Old Irish Girl Committed Suicide |
| B.15-Year-Old Irish Girl Committed Suicide |
| C.Cyberbullying-Taking Off in Schools |
| D.How to Find Bullying among Teens |