If you were to come up with a list of organizations whose failures had done the most damage to the American economy in recent years, you would probably have to start with the Wall Street firms that brought us the financial crisis. From there, you might move on to the automakers in Detroit.
But I would suggest that the list should also include a less obvious nominee: public education.
At its top level, the American system of higher education may be the best in the world. Yet in terms of its core mission---turning teenagers into educated college graduates--- much of the system is failing.
The United States does a good job enrolling (招生) teenagers in college, but only half of the students who enroll end up with a bachelor’s degree.
So identifying the causes of the college dropout crisis in the world’s largest economy matters enormously, and a new book called “Crossing the Finish Line” tries to do precisely that. Its authors are economists William Bowen and Michael McPherson, and a doctoral candidate Matthew Chingos. The first problem they diagnose is something they call under-matching. It refers to students who choose not to attend the best college they can get into. They instead go to a less selective one, perhaps one that is closer to home or less expensive. About half of the low-income students with a grade-point average of at least 3.5 in high school and an SAT score of at least 1,200 do not attend the best college they could have. “I was really astonished by the degree to which well-qualified students from poor families under-matched,” said Mr. Bowen.
In fact, well-off students attend the colleges that do the best job of producing graduates. Meanwhile, lower-income students -–even when they are better qualified—often go to colleges that excel（擅长）in producing drop-outs. “It’s really a waste,” Mr. Bowen said, “and a big problem for the country.” As the authors point out, the only way to lift the college graduation rate significantly is to lift it among poor and working-class students. Instead, it appears to have fallen.
What can be done? Money is clearly part of the answer. Which of the following would people first think of as a factor responsible for the American financial crisis according to this passage?
| A．The government. | B．Public education |
| C．The Detroit automakers. | D．The Wall Street firms. |
What is a big problem with American higher education?
| A．It is hard to enroll enough students into college. |
| B．Many colleges are experiencing low rate of graduation. |
| C．Many college students stay away from classes. |
| D．It is hard for many colleges to get financial aid from the government. |
The title of the book Crossing the Finish Line probably means______.
| A．running to the end of the line | B．going to college |
| C．finishing college education | D．working hard in college |
Why do some students under--match ?
| A．Because they have financial difficulty. | B．Because they face ambition crisis. |
| C．Because they lack confidence. | D．Because they can’t get guidance. |
The passage is mainly about _______.
| A．problems with secondary American education and possible solutions |
| B．America’s financial crisis, its cause and influence |
| C．low rate of American college graduation, its cause and its influence |
| D．relationship between American education and its economy |
Human Capital - How what you know shapes your life
Version: Print (Paperback) Publication date: 20 Feb 2007
Language: English ISBN: 9789264029088 Price: C15 I $19 1$10
This book explores the influence of education and learning on our societies and lives and examines what countries are doing to provide education and training to support people throughout their lives.
Economic Policy Reforms -- Going/or Growth, 2007 Edition
Version: Print (Paperback) Publication date: 15 Feb 2007
Language: English ISBN: 9789264030473 Price: $60|$75|$41
Based on a broad set of indicators of structural policies and performance, Going for Grcwth 2007 takes stock of the recent progress made in implementing policy reforms and identifies, for each OECD country, five policy priorities to lift growth.
Climate Change in the European Alps -- Adapting Winter Tourism and Natural Hazards Management
Version: Print (Paperback) Publication date: 22 Jan 2007
Language: English ISBN: 9789264031685 Price: $24 $32$ 17
The first systematic cross-country analysis of snow-reliability of Alpine ski areas under climate change for five countries in the region: France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Germany.
OECD in Figures 2006--2007--Statistics on the Member Countries -- OECD Observer-- Volume 2006 Supplement 1
Version: Print (Paperback) Publication date: 05 Jan 2007
Language: English ISBN: 9789264022638 Price.; $15 |$20 |$10
A handy pocket reference containing key data covering the entire range of OECD
work including the economy, employment, health, education, migration, the environment, science and technology, public finances, agriculture, trade, and development aid.
OECD Economic Outlook -- December No, 80 -- Volume 2006 Issue 2
Version: Print (Paperback) Publication date: 26 Jan 2007
language-English ISBN: 9789264030954 Price: $80 | $97|$55
OECD's twice yearly assessment and projections for the economies of the OECD area and selected non-members. This edition also looks at the rise in household debt.Which of the following books was published most lately?
| A．OECD in Figures 2006-2007. | B．OECD Economic Outlook. |
| C．Human Capital. | D．Climate Change in the European Alps. |
We can learn from the passage that Alps is________________.
| A．an Austrian interesting place most attractive in summer seasons |
| B．an European mountain belonging to three countries |
| C．a stadium for skiing lovers from five European countries |
| D．an European mountain famous for its winter skiing |
From the book with ISBN ____ you can get a wider range of information about OECD.
A. 9789264029088B. 9789264022638
C. 9789264030954 D. 9789264030473You should afford ____Euro dollars for a book to know about the recent progress in economic policies in the OECD countries.
| A．60 | B．15 | C．55 | D．80 |
The Beijing government has set out to recruit thousands of university graduates to work as junior officials in rural areas to both improve rural administration and ease the city's employment problems.
The government plans to recruit 3,000 university graduates this year, 1,000 more than last year, to work as assistants to village heads or Party secretaries in suburban areas.
People interested in jobs in Beijing's rural villages and townships can submit applications to the Beijing Municipal Personnel Bureau or online at www. bjbys, com from February 1 through March 15.
"We hope university graduates will seize this opportunity to use their knowledge in rural villages and to start their careers," Sun Zhenyu, deputy director of Beijing Personnel Bureau, told Xinhua News Agency.
The government has promised successful candidates a monthly salary of 2,000 yuan( $ 250) in the first year, 2,500 yuan ($ 320) the second year and 3,000 yuan ($ 385) the third year, provided their performance is up to the required standards, Sun said.
Wang Lina, who graduated from Beijing Union University last year, was one of the first graduates to find work in the city's countryside. After majoring in industrial and commercial administration, Wang served as the assistant to the village head of Ertiaojie Village in suburban Beijing’s Pinggu District. For one project, Wang contacted people at the Beijing Academy of Agricultural Sciences and arranged for the local farmers to receive training in strawberry planting. Her efforts paid off. The village had a plentiful harvest of organic strawberries earlier this year.
Nationwide, about 150,000 university graduates found employment in rural areas last year, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Education.
The ministry predicts that 4. 95 million students will graduate from universities across the country this year, 820,000 more than last year. About 1.4 million of them are unlikely to find jobs when they graduate.
In Beijing, a record 200,000 people are expected to graduate from university this year. Less than half of them are expected to be offered jobs, according to the personnel bureau.The underlined word "recruit "in the first paragraph probably means_____________.
| A．employ | B．force | C．encourage | D．train |
We can see from the passage that_______________.
| A．once you are hired as a junior official, you can get an endlessly rising salary |
| B．the government guarantee a relatively high salary for the successful candidates |
| C．working as junior officials is easy but very meaningful |
| D．the competition for the job as junior officials is very fierce |
From the story of Wang Lina we can learn that________________.
| A．the sooner you go to the countryside, the sooner you will be successful. |
| B．local farmers can get big harvests if they learn more knowledge. |
| C．university graduates can also realize their value in rural areas. |
| D．Wang had great difficulty in helping villagers planting organic strawberries. |
The last two paragraphs aim to tell us that________________.
| A．more and more graduates will work as junior officials |
| B．the universities should not have so many students |
| C．there are more and more graduates in recent years |
| D．it is not easy for graduates to find jobs nowadays |
Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
| A．Go to the countryside. |
| B．Job hunting for university graduates. |
| C．What is the best career? |
| D．A good choice for university graduates. |
An elderly woman died and several other passengers were critically injured when a crowded Virgin express train crashed in Cumbria last night.
A huge rescue operation involving RAF helicopters and dozens of ambulances arrive. After passengers were trapped in the train for more than four hours because fallen power line poles made access for emergency workers difficult.
Authorities reported up to 80 injuries. Thirteen people were taken to hospital in a“critical or serious condition.”
Between 180 and 200 passengers were on the 5:15pm Virgin service from London Euston to Glasgow Central when all nine carriages left the rails between Oxenholme and Tebay. Witnesses said that the train shook violently before toppling(倾斜) over into an embankment(筑堤)with at least four carriages overturning. Early this morning, authorities confirmed an elderly woman had died and some other passengers had suffered injuries including back strains, head wounds and broken bones.
Ruth Colton, a passenger on the train, said she was reading a book when the journey became uncomfortable. It seemed that the train was being beaten by heavy winds,“as if we were on a plane”.
The accident brought concerns that Britain's busiest rail route would be crippled(瘫痪)for some time. The line between Preston and Carlisle was postponed as Virgin Trains promised a rapid investigation into the “serious incident”—the company's first big crash.
It is understood that the investigation will examine whether there was an obstacle on the track and the possibility of speeding or mechanical breakdown. The driver, who was injured, will be interviewed and a black-box recorder installed in the train will be examined.What made the rescue come so late?
| A．It's not accessible to reach the accident spot. |
| B．No enough helicopters and ambulances could be found at that time. |
| C．It was too far from hospital to Cumbria. |
| D．No one called the emergency center. |
According to the passage, the busiest rail route in Britain is
| A．From Preston to Carlisle | B．Between Euston and Glasgow |
| C．From Oxenholme to Tebay | D．Between Virgin and Pendolino |
What does the underlined word “critical”mean?
| A．Important. | B．Careless. | C．Dangerous. | D．Surprising. |
Which of the following is the possible cause of the accident?
| A．Careless driving. | B．Heavy wind. |
| C．Over loading. | D．Obstacle on the track. |
We can learn from the passage that Virgin Trains
| A．made no quick reaction to this accident |
| B．seldom had so serious an accident before |
| C．had made full preparations for the accident |
| D．didn't mind how many passengers the train can hold |
The history of the Games Olympia
Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games, is in the western part of the Peloponnese which, according to Greek mythology, is the island of "Pelops", the founder of the Olympic Games. Imposing temples, votive buildings, elaborate shrines and ancient sporting facilities(设备) were combined in a site of unique natural and mystical beauty.
Olympia functioned as a meeting place for worship and other religious and political practices as early as the 10th century B.C. The central part of Olympia was dominated by the majestic temple of Zeus, with the temple of Hera parallel to it. The ancient stadium in Olympia could hold more than 40,000 audience, while in the surrounding area there were auxiliary(辅助的) buildings which developed gradually up until the 4th century B.C. and were used as training sites for the athletes or to house the judges of the Games.
The Games and religion
The Olympic Games were closely linked to the religious festivals of the cult of Zeus, but were not a total part of a rite. Indeed, they had a secular character and aimed to show the physical qualities and development of the performances accomplished by young people, as well as encouraging good relations between the cities of Greece. According to specialists, the Olympic Games owed their purity and importance to religion.
Victory ceremonies
The Olympic victor received his first awards immediately after the competition. Following the announcement of the winner's name by the herald, a Hellanodikis (Greek judge) would place a palm branch in his hands, while the audience cheered and threw flowers to him. Red ribbons were tied on his head and hands as a mark of victory.
The official award ceremony would take place on the last day of the Games, at the elevated vestibule of the temple of Zeus. In a loud voice, the herald would announce the name of the Olympic winner, his father's name, and his homeland. Then, the Hellanodikis placed the sacred olive tree wreath（花环）, or kotinos, on the winner's head.When did Olympia become the site of the Olympic Games?
A. In the 10th century B.C.
B. Before the 4th century B.C.
C. After the 4th century B.C.
D. It was not mentioned here.Which one is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Zeus is the founder of the Olympic Games. |
| B．The ancient stadium in Olympic were used as training sites for the athletes in the 10th century. |
| C．The Olympic Games have much to do with the religion. |
| D．The Olympic victor would receive a golden medal. |
Can you guess the meaning of this word “herald” in the passage?
| A．the author | B．the headmaster | C．the announcer | D．the manager |
When the athletes won the game, ______.
| A．They were awarded immediately after the competition. |
| B．They were awarded twice. The first, immediately after the competition; the second, on the last day of the game. |
| C．They were awarded on the last day of the game. |
| D．They were awarded on the last day of the game or immediately after the competition. |
The largest earthquake ( magnitude里氏 9.5) of the 20th century happened on May 22, 1960 off the coast of South Central Chile.
It generated(生成) one of the most destructive Pacific-wide tsunamis(海啸). Near the generating area, both the earthquake and the tsunami were very much destructive, particularly in the coastal area from Concepcion to the south end of Isla（岛） Chiloe. The largest tsunami damage occurred at Isla Chiloe---the coastal area closest to the epicenter(震中). Huge tsunami waves measuring as high as 25 meters arrived within 10 to 15 minutes after the earthquake, killing at least two hundred people, sinking all the boats, and flooding half a kilometer inland.
There was large damage and loss of life at Concepcion, Chile's top industrial city. Near the city of Valdivia, the earthquake and following aftershocks generated landslides which killed 18 people. At the port city of Valparaiso, a city of 200,000, many buildings collapsed. A total of 130,000 houses were destroyed --- one in every three in the earthquake zone and nearly 2,000,000 people were left homeless.
Total damage losses, including to agriculture and to industry, were estimated(估计) to be over a half billion dollars . The total number of death related with both the tsunami and the earthquake was never found accurately for the region. Estimates of deaths reached between 490 to 5,7002 with no distinction(差别) as to how many deaths were caused by the earthquake and how many were caused by the tsunami. However, it is believed that most of the deaths in Chile were caused by the tsunami. Where did the largest tsunami damage occurred?
| A．Concepcion | B．Isla Chiloe | C．Valdivia | D．Valparaiso |
What can we learn about the tsunami waves generated by the earthquake?
| A．The tsunami waves as high as 25 meters arrived immediately after the earthquake. |
| B．The tsunami waves killed 200 people and sank all boats. |
| C．The tsunami waves were very destructive. |
| D．The tsunami waves flooded half of the inland. |
What is generally thought the main cause of deaths in Chile?
| A．landslides | B．the tsunami | C．aftershocks | D．the magnitude 9.5 earthquake |
What is the total number of deaths in the earthquake?
| A．2,000,000 | B．between 490 to 57，002 |
| C．200,000 | D．it was hard to know. |
What does the underlined word “collapsed” probably mean ?
| A．was destroyed | B．caught fire | C．was flooded | D．sank |