Tens of thousands of Chinese have joined a debate (辩论) on whether students should be separated into science(理科) and liberal
arts(文科)classes in high school, a practice that allows them to stay competitive in college entrance exam by choosing preferred subjects. The debate came after the Ministry of Education began to ask for opinions from the public on Friday on whether it was necessary and possible to stop the dividing system, which has been accepted for decades.
In a survey started by www. qq. com, more than 260 000 people cast their votes, with 54 percent of those voted for the abolishment (废除)and 40 percent against.
A netizen from Chengdu said: “Sciences can activate the mind, while arts could strengthen their learning ability.”
But some people disagreed with him. A netizen nicknamed “gentle scholar” said the students would have more burden if they have more subjects to study. “You don’t even know how difficult the courses are. I suggest a survey among students.”
“Abolish the current system of division? We have to study nine subjects? Finally we will study everything and have learnt little,” wrote another netizen.
Li Yanling, an education expert in Beijing, called on education authorities to consider students’ school burden.
Chinese students are required to choose either arts or science subjects after ten years’ education, which include six years in primary school, three years i
n junior high school and one year in senior high school.
Besides the Chinese language, mathematics and English, which are must for everyone, science students are required to take physics, biology and chemistry, while arts students study politics, history and geography. Choosing preferred subjects can help students __________.
A.have more chance to look for jobs in future |
B.find a good job after graduation |
C.have more advantages to enter a university |
D.show interest in daily life |
Netizen nicknamed “gentle scholar” __________.
A.is for the abolishment | B.is against the abolishment |
C.doesn’t care the abolishment | D.prefers students to learn more |
Which of the following statements is NOT true? .
A.The debate is on whether the students should choose science or liberal arts classes in high school |
B.More people on the Internet are for the abolishment |
C.The students who are against the abolishment think abolishing the current system of division will heavy their burden. |
D.Science students are required to take physics, biology and chemistry besides |
Chinese, math and English. What must a Chinese student learn in 2008?
A.Chinese, math and English. | B.Physics, biology and chemistry. |
C.Politics, history and geography. | D.Both B and C |
JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, has signed a deal with Little, Brown and Company, to publish her first ever novel for adults, which is set to become one of the most anticipated (期望的) book in years.
The deal means that Rowling’s long-standing relationship with Bloomsbury, the London-based publisher that launched (发行) the Harry Potter books, has come to an end, at least in terms of new works by the author.
Rowling is keeping her fans guessing about the characters and plot of her new book. She only said that the new novel will be nothing like the Harry Potter series, which was sold over 30 million copies in the UK alone. She thought that with the move from children’s to adult fiction, a switch to a new publisher seemed like a natural and reasonable step.
She said, "Although I've enjoyed writing it every bit as much, this book will be very different from the Harry Potter series. The freedom to explore a new field is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me."
Ian Rankin, the Edinburgh-based author whose highly-successful detective novels are also set in the city, suggested Rowling’s book will be a crime novel.
"Wouldn’t it be funny if JK Rowling’s first novel for adults turned out to be a crime story set in Edinburgh?" he said.
Industry insiders guessed that the deal is worth more than £5 million and the new book is expected to come out later this year.
A spokesman said, "JK Rowling’s audience is vast and her position is unique. Harry Potter books were a global success and her fans are very loyal. Children that were eight, nine, or ten when the books first came out in the 1990s are now in their 20s. Plenty of adults, loved the books regardless of whether they had children, so the potential market for her is huge."What does the text mainly tell us?
A.JK Rowling has signed a deal with a new publisher. |
B.JK Rowling's new book will be more successful than her Harry Potter series. |
C.JK Rowling’s first book for adults will be published later this year. |
D.JK Rowling has to switch to a new publisher in order to publish her new book. |
JK Rowling’s new book for adults.
A.has been sold 30 million copies in the UK alone |
B.is poorly thought of by the London-based publisher Bloomsbury |
C.has nothing in common with the Harry Potter series |
D.is expected to bring her more money than the Harry Potter series |
The author used Ian Rankin’s words in order to.
A.tell us that some famous novelists offer to give Rowling some advice |
B.show that many readers are curious about Rowling’s new book |
C.tell us that many readers prefer to read detective or crime novels |
D.prove that a crime story set in Edinburgh is sure to be successful |
We can learn from the text that.
A.Little, Brown and Company is specialized in publishing adult books |
B.the author has no doubt about the success of Rowling’s new book |
C.JK Rowling will be a crime novelist as good as Ian Rankin |
D.it was in Edinburgh that Ian Rankin got to know JK Rowling |
(You may read the questions first.)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Theatrical Release Date: July 1, 2011
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Michael Bay
Genre: Action︱Adventure︱Sequel︱ Sci-Fi︱ 3D
The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, are back in action, taking on the evil Decepticons. The Autobots and Decepticons become involved in a dangerous space race. The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft on the Moon and must race against the Decepticons to find its secrets, which could turn the tide in the Transformers’ final battle. Shockwave, a longtime “Transformers” character, rules Cybertron while the Autobots and Decepticons battle it out on Earth.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
Theatrical Release Date: July 15, 2011
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: David Yates
Genre: Action︱Adventure︱Sequel︱Fantasy︱3D
In part II, the battle between the good and evil forces of the Wizarding world evolves into an all-out war. This final adventure continues Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s attempt to find and destroy Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes. Harry Potter is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice to bring an end to his nemesis.
Winnie the Pooh
Theatrical Release Date: July 15, 2011
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Don Hall, Stephen J. Anderson
Genre: Sequel︱Family Animation
Winnie the Pooh is a 2011 American traditionally animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Based upon the characters of the children’s books Winnie-the-Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne and Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus, the film features two previously unadapted stories from the original books.
In the movie, Owl sends the whole gang to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary bad character, and it turns out to be a very busy day for Winnie the Pooh who simply set out to find some honey.Which of the following is not the genre of Transformers: Dark of the Moon?
A. Action. B. Sequel. C. 3D.D. Fantasy.According to the Movie Express above, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is mainly about _______.
A.a journey of Harry, Ron, and Hermione |
B.high risks of the final adventure |
C.an all-out war between good and evil forces |
D.a fear of Lord Voldemort |
Who might be most interested in the Movie Express of Winnie the Pooh?
A.Would-be parents. | B.Families with children. |
C.Writers of children’s books. | D.Honey lovers. |
I stood outside New York's Madison Square Garden and just stared, almost speechless. I was a farm boy from County Kilkenny, a child who some thought would never walk, let alone go as far as I had in the world.
From the day I was born, there was a problem. The doctors at the Dublin hospital told my parents I had phocomelia, a deformity that affected both legs below the knee, which were outward and shorter than normal and each foot had just three toes.
Life was tough. I couldn't stand, much less walk. I rarely, left the farmhouse---and then only in someone's arms. Mam bundled me up whenever she took me to town, no matter the season.
“The world will see him when he can walk,” she told Dad. “And he will walk.”
Mam devoted herself to helping me. She tried everything to get me on my feet. When I was three, she and Dad took me to a clinic in Dublin.
A few weeks later we returned to Dublin with my artificial limbs (肢). Back home I practiced walking with my new limbs.
“There's nothing anyone can do but you can't,” Mam said. “You and I are going to walk through town.”
The next day Mam dressed me in my finest clothes. She wore a summer dress and fixed her hair and makeup. Dad drove us to the church. We stepped out of the car. Mam took my hand. “Hold your head up high, now, Ronan,” she said.
We walked 300 meters to the post office. It was the farthest I'd walked, and I was sweating from the effort. Then we left the post office and continued down the street, Mam's eyes shining with a mother's pride.
That night, back on our farm, I lay exhausted on my bed. It meant nothing, though, compared to what I'd done on my walk.
Then I began to pursue my dream of singing. And at every step Mam's words came back to me—Ronan, you can do anything anyone else can do—and the faith she had in God, who would help me do it.
I've sung from the grandest stages in Europe, to music played by the world's finest musicians. That night, I stood at the Madison Square Garden, with Mam's words chiming in my ears. Then I began singing. I couldn't feel the pulse of the music in my feet, but I felt it deep in my heart, the same place where Mam's promise lived.What was the problem with the author as a baby?
A.He was expected unable to walk. |
B.He was born outward in character. |
C.He had a problem with listening. |
D.He was shorter than a normal baby. |
The underlined word “deformity” in the second paragraph most probably means _______.
A.shortcoming | B.disadvantage | C.disability | D.delay |
Why did Mam dress him and herself in finest clothes?
A.To hide their depressed feeling. |
B.To indicate it an unusual day. |
C.To show off their clothes. |
D.To celebrate his successful operation. |
From the story we may conclude that his mother was _______.
A.determined | B.stubborn | C.generous | D.distinguished |
According to the writer, what mattered most in his success?
A.His consistent effort. | B.His talent for music. |
C.His countless failures. | D.His mother's promise. |
The English, as a race, are very different in many ways from all other nationalities, including their closest neighbors, the French, the Belgians and the Dutch. It is claimed that living on an island separated from the rest of Europe has much to do with it. Whatever the reasons are, it may be fairly stated that the Englishman has developed many attitudes and habits which distinguish him from other nationalities.
Broadly speaking, the Englishman is a quiet, shy, reserved person who is fully relaxed only among people he knows well. In the presence of strangers or foreigners he often seems restrained, even embarrassed. You have only to witness a city train any morning or evening to see the truth of this. Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or having a light sleep in a corner, and no one speaks. In fact, to do so would seem most unusual. An Englishman, pretending to be giving advice to overseas visitors, once suggested, “On entering a railway carriage, shake hands with all the passengers.” Needless to say, he was not being serious. There is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior which, if broken, makes the person immediately suspected.
In many parts of the world it is quite normal to show openly extremes of enthusiasm, emotion, excitement, etc, often accompanied by appropriate gesture. The Englishman is somewhat different. Of course, an Englishman feels no less deeply than anyone of a different nationality, but he tends to display his feelings far less. This is reflected in his use of language. Imagine a man commenting on the great beauty of a young girl. A more emotional man might describe her state “Oh, she is a goddess”, whereas an Englishman might just say “Oh, she’s all right.” An Englishman who has seen a highly successful and enjoyable film recommends it to a friend by commenting, “It’s not bad you know”, or on seeing some very unusual scenery he might convey (表达) his pleasure by saying, “Nice, yes, very nice.” The overseas visitor must not be disappointed by this apparent lack of interest and involvement. Instead, he must realize that “all right,” “not bad,” and “nice,” very often have the sense of “first-class,” “excellent,” “beautiful”. This unique style of language use is particularly common in England, and is known as restrained statement.According to the passage, the English are different from other nationalities in _______.
A.habits | B.attitudes | C.character | D.all of the above |
The underlined word “restrained” in the second paragraph probably means “_______”.
A.calm and controlled | B.polite and friendly |
C.nervous and quiet | D.silent and kind |
In Britain, if you don’t want other people to think you are strange, you’d better _______.
A.talk with others as much as possible |
B.behave just like the English do |
C.say nothing about yourself |
D.shake hands with everyone you meet |
If an Englishman says “all right”, it may mean “_______”.
A.not bad | B.correct | C.quite right | D.wonderful |
From the passage, we can infer that an Englishman _______.
A.doesn’t like to show his feelings so much |
B.has less emotion than people of other nationalities |
C.finds it easy to express his emotion |
D.likes to have a joke with strangers |
Blogs (博客) are the place where young people go to show their hearts, to express their anger, sorrow or disappointment, and even to gossip (说别人的闲话).
Many people enjoy the freedom in blogging. Some, however, find that putting one’s life online can have a price. The blogs of some students in America were stopped by the government for some time because they posted threatening words to their teachers on their blogs.
A recent study finds that nearly a fifth of teens who surf the Internet have their own blogs. And 38 % of teens say they read other people’s blogs. By comparison, about a tenth of adults have their own blogs and a quarter say they read other people’s online magazines.
With the development of the Internet, more and more people will be attracted by blogging.
In another study, 79% of teens agree that people at their age aren’t careful enough when giving out information about themselves online. Besides, careless blogging can also influence blog readers. When you are angry or unhappy, your blog is the first place you turn to. The words you post then may not be rational which you may regret later. To minimize (使减到最小) the negative influence, change the safety setting and make such posts “personal” so that only you can read them.
As long as you are careful with what you post, blogging is a great means of staying in touch with friends and displaying one’s creative works.Blogs are the place where people __________.
A.go online to have a chat |
B.go online to enjoy freedom |
C.exchange their views online |
D.go online to express themselves freely |
The fact that some American students’ blogs were stopped is used to show that __________.
A.people should not put their life online |
B.American students are limited in blogging |
C.anyone who gets on the Web has his blog |
D.people should be careful with what they write |
The underlined word “rational” in the fifth paragraph probably means __________.
A.strange | B.perfect |
C.helpful | D.reasonable |
The passage is mainly about __________.
A.the use people make of blogs |
B.the number of people who have blogs |
C.advantages and disadvantages of blogs |
D.the author’s suggestions about blogging |