One of the worst feelings in the world is trying your hardest at something but still falling short. In the case of schoolwork, studying for hours and bringing home disappointing grades may make you feel hopeless or helpless, but this is far from the truth. If you are dealing with disappointing grades, promise to change your study habits and you'll be amazed by the results.
Act Fast
The most important rule about dealing with disappointing grades is to act fast. Don't sit around and let them get worse, and definitely don't ignore them. Instead, admit that you need help and go in search of it soon. The faster you face up to the problem, the faster you can find a solution and see some results.
Tweak your routine
If you are studying hard and still dealing with disappointing grades, it's probably time to tweak your routine a little. Remember, if you keep doing the same thing all the time you'll undoubtedly keep getting the same results. Mix things up by asking for help, whether from a friend or fellow student, your teacher or a private tutor. Ask for help with the subject matter and tips for studying on your own.
Study Successfully
Of course it doesn't matter where you study or who you study with if you are studying the wrong things. Make sure that you are studying successfully by:
*Reviewing your textbooks.
*Looking over your notes from class.
*Taking new notes while you study.
*Investing in study guides.
*Answering all of the review questions you can find.
*Talking through events or concepts that are integral (整体) to your lessons.
Learn From Your Mistakes
If, after all of your changes and redoubling your study efforts, you are still disappointed with your grades, then it is time to figure out exactly where you are going wrong. Look over exam papers and assignments to see if you are having trouble with a particular kind of question (multiple choice, true or false, etc.) or concept. Examine your essays to see if you are explaining your ideas clearly and completely, or if it is the mechanics of your writing (spelling, grammar, etc.) that is letting you down. Request an appointment with your teacher and use this time to discuss your work and get his/her feedback as well.
Dealing with disappointing grades is something that every student will face at one time or another. It won't be fun, but take a realistic look at your attention in class, your study habits and your performance on past assignments and exam. Figure out where you are having trouble and dedicate yourself to fixing these problems.
51. The purpose of this passage is _______.
A. to introduce practical ways to solve worrying school problems
B. to persuade students to change their attitude toward schoolwork
C. to offer advice on how to improve academic grades at school
D. to emphasize the importance of dealing with disappointing grades
52. The underlined phrase to tweak your routine means _______.
A. to stick to the same study plan and seek help when possible
B. to mix things up before you work out a practical solution alone
C. to examine your everyday life to make room for self improvement
D. to make necessary alterations in your study habits and plans
53. According to the passage, it is desirable to _______.
A. adopt a great variety of successful study methods and work on your own
B. have a study partner who act fast to face up a problem and study successfully
C. find out your weak points by reviewing schoolwork and seek necessary help
D. make an appointment with your teachers and develop useful examination skills
54. The author of this passage is probably a(an) _______.
A. psychologist B. examiner C. parent D. instructor
55. The author thinks that dealing with disappointing grades calls for _______.
A. a strong will power B. a down-to-earth attitude
C. creativity and dedication D. undivided attention
D
Peanut allergies (过敏) are among the most common and most dangerous of food allergies. A tiny exposure to peanuts can mean big trouble for a person with a peanut allergy—not just sneezing or coughing，but something as potentially deadly as narrowing of the airways.
But a recent study suggests that some children may be able to beat back their allergic reactions to peanuts by gradually introducing trace amounts of the nut into their diets. It's too early to say for certain，so if you have a peanut allergy，do not try this at home. But the first results look promising.
Two teams of scientists have been experimenting on a group“of 29 children who are allergic to peanuts”At the beginning of the study，each kid received less than 1/1，000 of a peanut per day. (Imagine splitting a peanut into 1，000 parts!) Over the course of the study， the children gradually increased the amount of the peanut in their diets
Nine of the children have been receiving the treatment for two years，and five of those nine now appear to be free of their peanut allergies，and can eat peanuts with no problem. But the other four have not benefited so much from the therapy（治疗）.
The two teams of scientists are now doing a follow-up study on two groups of children with the allergy. Children in one group will receive the new therapy，while the others will not. Researchers hope this study will help them learn if the therapy truly does work.
Scientists don't understand why some people get peanut allergies and others don't，but are trying to find a way to help people with the allergy. Because of the severity of some peanut allergies，scientists want to know the answer as soon as possible. “This is very encouraging， but remember，it's not something you try at home，”says one of the researchers.
68.According to the passage，the peanut allergy________.
A. can be deadly if only a small amount is used
B. causes a lot of trouble for many parents
C. allows people to eat only small amounts of peanuts
D. is considered the least common and dangerous food allergy
69.Scientists are trying to treat peanut allergies by_________.
A. exposing children with the allergy to as many peanuts as possible
B. changing the eating habits of children with peanut allergies gradually
C. giving children Peanuts in slowly increasing amounts
D. exploring ways to resist the feelings caused by peanut allergies
70.The experiment shows that___________.
A. people with peanut allergies can't use small amounts of peanuts in their diets.
B. children are more easily cured than adults
C. all children can be cured of their peanut allergies if given more time of treatment
D. about 55-percent children with peanut allergies have been cured
71. Scientists are now doing a follow-up study in order to_________.
A. explore why some people get the illness while others don’t
B. show whether peanut allergies can really be dangerous
C. check whether the therapy really works or not
D. explore whether the allergy can be cured without treatment
C
Gorillas are born with an international sign language of gestures that they use to communicate，says a new study from the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
From beating their chests to putting objects on their heads，shaking their arms，and even bouncing on all fours，the animals use more than 100 gestures to communicate with each other
Professor Richard Byrne，a psychiatrist involved in the research，says it was hard to figure out the meanings of the gestures.
“We don't really know what the animals are thinking. Often the gestures have more than one meaning，depending on the context，”says Byrne.
The study showed that the gorillas did not learn the gestures from each other，as had been expected，but performed them instinctively (本能地).
“Everyone had assumed different groups of gorillas would learn different gestures，”he says. “But that's not what we found. The more sites we went to ,the more we saw the same gestures being used. They seem to be naturally equipped with a pretty complex system of communication.”
The study also found that gestures were performed with close attention to the potential audience，so that silent signals，for example， were only given when other apes could see them. Other gestures，such as the "disco arm shake" were only ever seen directed towards humans.
Byrne believes that the findings may explain how the human language developed.
“There has always been speculation（猜测）that the origins of the human language might lie in gestures，”he says.
“Many researchers have therefore studied the gestural communication of the great apes for clues to the evolutionary origins of human gestures，”he adds.
Several studies have shown that great apes are capable of imitating gestures. However，the scientists found that what appeared to be copies of human actions were actually gestures the apes were already able to make themselves. They're “reusing” gestures from their own repertoire，not learning new ones.
64.According to the passage，Richard Byrne's research has found_________.
A. different groups of gorillas would learn different gestures
B. gorillas know the sign language from birth
C. how gorillas learn from each other
D. gorillas develop a variety of languages when growing up
65.Why can't the researchers really know the meanings of gorilla gestures?
A. Because gorillas possess the ability of making many kinds of gestures.
B. Because they haven't made deep research into the animal.
C. Because a gorilla gesture may have different meanings.
D. Because gorillas can't exactly express their thoughts.
66.If a gorilla wants to make a silent gesture towards another gorilla，he_________.
A. needs to know how many other gorillas are watching him
B. needs to make noise first in order to draw attention
C. will first make sure his gesture can be seen
D. will first consider whether he can carry out his gesture
67.According to the passage，many scientists study the sign language of great apes in order to ____.
A. find the origins of the human language
B. find ways for people to communicate with apes
C. learn how animals communicate
D. discover the meanings of animal gestures
B
The beet (甜菜) is a tasty root vegetable that does not require much work to grow. People think of beets as being always dark red，but they can also be pink，yellow or white. Beets are high in nutrients，and both the root and the tops can be eaten. The leaves make good salads when the plants are young，and the greens can be cooked when the plants are older. Beets grow best in full sun and in loose soil that is not too wet.
Remove stones from the soil while preparing the ground，and test it before adding fertilizer Beet seeds can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked at the start of the growing season. Planting them every two or three weeks will provide a continuous harvest into the fall. A beet seed is a fruit containing several seeds. Overcrowding the plants will mean that the roots cannot spread out and grow，so thin the beets by removing the small
er ones and using them as greens.
A specialist named Cindy Haynes says little or no fertilizer is needed in rich soils. Once the seeds are planted，however，she suggests covering the soil to protect it from the rain and during dry periods. She also suggests putting a fence around the plants to keep away rabbits and deer. She says the only work beets need once they have been thinned is weeding and， when the weather is dry，a weekly watering. For best results，beets should be picked when the roots are two and one-half centimeters around. Larger beets can be tough，and have to be cooked for a long time. Beets can be eaten in many ways.
60.What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A. How to test the soil. B. How to plant beets
C. When to harvest beets. D. When to plant beets.
61.Smaller beets are often removed in order to .
A. give other beets space to grow B. add more fertilizer to the soil
C. plant new seeds D. use the green，young leaves in salads
62.What may the next part of the last paragraph be about?
A. When to pick beets. B. How to eat beets.
C. The uses of beets. D. The taste of larger beets.
63.The passage is most probably from a(n) ___________.
A. gardening book B. education magazine C. science report D. entertainment magazine
第三部分阅读理解（共20小题;每小题2分.满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
A
When I was four years old，I broke my elbow. After many weeks in a cast (石膏) I returned to the hospital to finally have it removed. My mother found it strange that I was so enthusiastic about returning to the place where I had experienced so much pain. Yet she soon discovered my fascination with the healing process and how doctors helped to enhance it.
I was in fear as the doctor removed my cast and asked me to move my arm，and immediately became scared as the pain came shooting back through my elbow. After another series of X-rays and examinations my arm was put into a new cast I had begun to doubt the reliability of the doctor，and my mother thought I would be unwilling to return a second time.
When the day came to have my cast removed again，I was nervous. Yet I was optimistic enough to trust the doctor as he once again removed my cast and asked me to move my arm. And this time it was better! Nothing hurt!
On the way back home I released (松开) my mother's hand and ran ahead，and out of her sight. She was immediately worried that I would come upon someone dangerous. At the age of four I was already known for liking to talk with strangers that I felt were potential friends. When she caught sight of me again， I was looking up into the face of an old broken-legged man，saying，“Don't worry，sir! The doctor will fix your leg. Look how he fixed my arm！”
Since then I have continued to be fascinated with the human body and medicine. I also still love to help people，and never miss an opportunity to encourage someone. But most of all，I still believe that optimism and trust are the building blocks of happiness and success. Many things can change，but I am proud to say that these parts of me have always stayed the same.
56.The author was nervous when he returned to the hospital the second time because .
A. the hospital seemed like a more frightening place B. the doctor there was unskilled
C. he was afraid of the pain D. he was sure his elbow wouldn't recover
57.What did the mother fear when the author ran out of her sight on the way back home?
A. That he would break his elbow again.
B. That he would run down others and break their legs
C. That he would lose his way.
D. That he would come upon a dangerous stranger and get hurt.
58.What can we learn about the author from the passage?
A. He is optimistic and enthusiastic. B. He was hard-working as a young boy.
C. He doesn't like making friends with strangers.
D. He could become anything but a doctor.
59.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. An Unforgettable Hospital Experience B. Lessons of a Broken Bone
C. What Makes for
Happiness and Success? D. Broken Bones Take Long to Heal
D
FOREIGNEXCHANGE
ACLASSOFTHEIROWN
| Name:SusanLane Age:22 Place:Reykjavik,Iceland,1994. Cost:$7,000 Organization:AFS Experience:“Ithinkitwasaturningpointinmylife.Ibegantounderstandmoreabout myownculturebyexperiencinganothercultureandseeinghowotherpeoplelive.” |
| Name:SaraSmall Age:23 Place:Crivitz,Germany,1996. Cost:$8,000 Organization:EFFoundation Experience:“IlovethetravelingandImadealotoffriends.IfoundtheEuropeanschool systemtobehardbutIamfluentnowinGermansoitwasworthit.Ididmissmyfamily andfriendsinAustraliabutIwouldlovetodoitagain.” |
| Name:LeanneSmythe Age:20 Place:Minnesota,America,1994. Cost:$6,000 Organization:SouthernCrossCultureExchange Experience:“Ilearnthowtobereallyresponsible.ItwasgreattobeonmyownandIgot onreallywellwiththefamilyIwaswith.Iwilldefinitelygobacksomeday.” |
| Name:DavidLinks Age:16 Place:Stuttgart,Germany,1996 Cost:$6,000 Organization:SouthernCrossCulturalExchange Experience:“IwantedtotrysomethingthatwasverydifferentfromAustraliainculture. InGermanyeverythingwasdifferentbutIsoongotsettled.ThefamilyIwaswithwere greatandIreallyfeelasthoughIhaveasecondfamily.” |
| Name:TomJennings Age:21 Place:Conflans,France,1995. Cost:$7,000 Organization:SouthernCrossCulturalExchange Experience:“ThereweretimeswhenitwasdifficultbutIlikedit,experiencingadifferent culture.Youjusthavetoplayeachsituationasitcomes.Ifthereisonethingyoulearn whenyouareonastudent-exchangeprogramitishowtotakecareofyourself.” |
| Name:LindaMarks Age:19 Place:ChonburiProvince,Thailand,1994 Cost:$3,500 Organization:RotaryInternational Experience:“It’slikearoller-coasterride,therearelotsofupsanddowns,butyoualways comebackformore.Ihadafewproblemsbuttherewasalwayssomeonetoturntoand thatwasgreat.” |
67．Thestudentswhorefertoboththegoodtimeandthebadtimeinclude______.
A．SusanLaneandSaraSmall B．LindaMarksandDavidLinks
C．TomJenningsandLindaMarks D．LeanneSmytheandTomJennings
68．Thewritingabovewouldprobablybe______.
A．therecordsofstudents’activities
B．theforeignstudents’namecards
C．thenoticeaboutavisittoforeigncountries
D．theadvertisementfromaninternationaltravelservice
69．Thestudentwhovalueslearninganotherlanguageis______.
A．LindaMarks B．SaraSmall C．TomJennings D．LeanneSmythe
70．Howmanystudentsmentiontheculturedifferencetheyhaveexperienced?
A. Three. B．Four. C．Five. D．Six.