The legal age for drinking alcohol(酒)in the United States is twenty-one. Underage drinking is a crime but also a common part of college social life. This week in our Foreign Student Series ,we look at alcohol policies at American colleges and universities .These policies differ from school to school, as do enforcement(实施) efforts. But many schools have been moving to strengthen their rules.
The United States has more than 170,000 students in higher education. Each year,1,700 of them aging eighteen to twenty-four die from alcohol-related road crashes and other injuries. More than 600,000 are injured under the influence of alcohol. And almost 700,000 are attacked by another student who has been drinking. These numbers, from a 2007 report, are on a government Website:collegedrinkingprevention.gov.
One behavior that college officials are trying to prevent is binge （无节制的狂热行为）drinking ,having four or five drinks or more in a short period of time. Some researchers have found that students who think binge drinking is normal often overestimate how much other students really drink .A person can die of alcohol poisoning.
At the University of Oklahoma, new policies went into effect after a nineteen-year-old student died in 2004.He had been drinking heavily at a fraternity party.(男大学生联谊会)。
Now alcohol is banned from all fraternity and sorority(女大学生联谊会) houses and university housing. Student organizations can serve alcohol at events but only on Friday and Saturday nights. And they must provide for transportation to and from off-campus parties. Other new requirements include an alcohol education program that first-year students take online.
The policies govern behavior on campus and off. With a first violation, students pay seventy-five dollars and their parents are told. They must also take an alcohol education class. For a second” strike”, they have to pay one hundred and fifty dollars. A third strike means a suspension(暂被停学) for at least one semester.
Since January of 2005,633 students have had a first strike.30 have had a second strike----and has been suspended. An official at Oklahoma tells us the aim is not just to punish but to change behavior and the culture at the university.In American colleges and universities,______.
| A．no students under age 21 drink alcohol |
| B．many students under age 21 drink alcohol |
| C．rules about drinking alcohol are almost the same |
| D．rules about drinking alcohol are different from state to state |
Each year in the United States ,about 1,700 young college students aging 18 to 24 die______.
A, from alcohol poisoning
B. from traffic accidents
C. under the influence of alcohol
D. from alcohol-related road crashes and other injuries.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The deaths or injuries of the students are all because they have been drinking. |
| B．The numbers from collagedrinkingprevention.gov are not accurate at all. |
| C．The death of a 19-year-old student influenced policies of the University of Oklahoma. |
| D．No student organizations can offer alcohol at events in the US now. |
Which of the following can be the best title of this article?
| A．Studying in the US: Rules about Alcohol |
| B．The Legal Age for Drinking Alcohol in the United States. |
| C．Policies of Drinking Alcohol in the US Differ From School to School |
| D．New Policies about Alcohol Drinking At the University of Oklahoma. |
Mark Twain was a great writer. He was from the USA. He was born in 1835. He was also a famous speaker. He was famous for his sense of humour. Many people liked to listen to him talk because he liked to tell some interesting stories to make people laugh all the time.
One day Mark Twain was going to a small town because of his writing. Before he was going to leave, one of his friends said to him that there were always a lot of mosquitoes(蚊子) in the town and told him that he’d better not go there. Mark Twain waved (摇动) his hand and said, “It doesn’t matter. The mosquitoes are no relatives of mine. I don’t think they will come to visit me.”
After he arrived at the town, Mark Twain stayed in a small hotel near the station. He went into his room, but when he was just about to have a rest, quite a few mosquitoes flew about him. The waiters felt very sorry about that. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Mark Twain. There are too many mosquitoes in our town.” One of them said to him.
Mark Twain, however, made a joke, saying to the waiter, “The mosquitoes are very clever. They know my room number. They didn’t come into the wrong room.” What he said made all the people present laugh heartily.
But that night Mark Twain slept well. Do you know why? That was because all the waiters in the hotel were driving the mosquitoes away for him during the whole night. Many people liked Mark Twain because________.
| A．he was famous | B．he liked to talk | C．he was humourous | D．he was a writer |
That day Mark Twain went to the town _____.
| A．to see one of his friends |
| B．because he wanted to do something there for his writing |
| C．because he was told there were a lot of mosquitoes there |
| D．to see one of his relatives |
The waiters felt sorry because _____.
| A．they did something wrong to Mark Twain |
| B．their hotel was too small |
| C．the room was not very clean |
| D．there were quite a few mosquitoes in Mark Twain’s room |
All the people present laughed heartily because _____.
| A．the mosquitoes were very clever and they didn’t come into the wrong room |
| B．the mosquitoes knew Mark Twain’s room number |
| C．Mark Twain gave the waiters some nice presents |
| D．Mark Twain made a joke |
From the story we know _____.
| A．no mosquitoes troubled Mark Twain in the night |
| B．the owner of the hotel told the waiters to look after Mark Twain well at night |
| C．Mark Twain didn’t have a good rest that night |
| D．there were not mosquitoes in the hotel any longer |
Thirty-two people watched kitty Genovese being killed right beneath their windows. She was their neighbor. Yet none of the 32 helped her. Not one even called the police. Was this in gunman cruelty? Was it lack of feeling about one’s fellow man?
Not so, say scientists John Barley and Bib Fatane. These men went beyond the headlines to probe（探查） the reasons why people didn’t act. They found that a person has to go through two steps before he can help. First he has to notice that is an emergency(紧急情况).
Suppose you see a middle-aged man fall to the side-walk. Is he having a heart attack? Is he in a coma （昏迷） from diabetes（糖尿病）? Or is he about to sleep off a drunk?
Is the smoke coming into the room from a leak in the air conditioning? Is it steam pipes? Or is it really smoke from a fire? It’s not always easy to tell if you are faced with a real emergency.
Second, and more important, the person faced with an emergency must feel personally responsible. He must feel that he must help, or the person won’t get the help he needs.
The researchers found that a lot depends on how many people are around. They had college students in to be tested. Some came alone. Some came with one or two others. And some came in large groups. The receptionist started them off on the tests. Then she went into the next room. A curtain divided the testing room and the room into which she went. Soon the students heard a scream, the noise of file cabinets falling and a cry for help. All of this had been pre-recorded on a tape-recorder.
Eight out of ten of the students taking the test alone acted to help. Of the students in pairs, only two out of ten helped. Of the students in groups, none helped.
In other words, in a group, Americans often fail to act. They feel that others will act. They, themselves, needn’t. They do not feel any direct responsibility.
Are people bothered by situations where people are in trouble? Yes. Scientists found that the people were emotional, they sweated, they had trembling hands. They felt the other person’s trouble. But they did not act. They were in a group. Their actions were shaped by the actions of those they were with.The purpose of this passage is_________.
| A．to explain why people fail to act in emergencies |
| B．to explain when people will act in emergencies |
| C．to explain what people will do in emergencies |
| D．to explain how people feel in emergencies |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．When a person tries to help others, he must be clear that there is a real emergency. |
| B．When a person tries to help others, he should know whether hey are worth his help. |
| C．A person must take the full responsibility for the safety of those in emergencies if he wants to help. |
| D．A person with a heart attack needs the most. |
The researchers have conducted an experiment to prove that people will act in emergencies when__________.
| A．they are in pairs | B．they are in groups |
| C．they are alone | D．they are with their friends |
The main reason why people fail to act when they stay together is that _________.
| A．they are afraid of emergencies |
| B．they are reluctant to get themselves involved |
| C．others will act if they themselves hesitate |
| D．they do not have any direct responsibility for those who need help |
Many young people in America go to camps when they are out of school during the summer. They are offered a chance to explore different things: nature, sports, music, technology ——even business and economy.
One such program for high school students in the Pacific Northwest is called Washington Business Week. The program began in 1975. Officials say forty-five thousand people have attended Washington Business Week. Other states now have similar camps.
Washington Business Week describes itself as a way to learn more about how to plan for the future in an ever-changing economy. Students form an executive(行政的) management (管理) team. They lead an imaginary company to financial success.
The camp is held at three colleges in Washington State. The high school students live in the college housing. The cost of the camp is almost three hundred dollars, but families can receive financial assistance(援助).
Some business camps are free. These are for students from poor areas. The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship（企业家）(NFTE) is an organization based in New York City that supports such camps. It has programs around the United States and its Web site lists international partners in China, Tanzania and a few other countries. NFTE says it has served more than one hundred thousand young people since 1987.
Among other business camps is Camp C.E.O.. C.E.O is an chief executive officer. And this camp is for girls only. Camp C.E.O. is supported by the Girl Scouts of America and takes place for one week each summer.
The camp took place last month in Tennessee. The girls worked with successful businesswomen
from different industries. The girls learned how to build a business and develop an idea into a product. And, we imagine, they also had some fun. In Washington Business Week, students successfully run a company_______.
| A．that they are working in | B．that belongs to the American government |
| C．that does not actually exist | D．that was once shut down |
Which of the following is True about NFTE?
| A．It offers financial help to all students. |
| B．It has programs in America and some other countries. |
| C．It was organized by many rich New Yorkers. |
| D．One of its aims is to train students to be business managers. |
What can we conclude from the passage ?
| A．The Americans are good at enjoying their lives in many camps. |
| B．The young Americans are living a happy life in camps. |
| C．The Americans pay attention to developing the students’ abilities. |
| D．It is easier to organize business camps in America than other countries. |
Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A. Summer camps for students B. Summer camps for future C.E.O.
C. Summer camps being popular D. Summer camps in the world
A university graduate described as a “respectable and intelligent” woman is seeking professional(专业的) help after being convicted of （证明有……罪）shoplifting for the second time in six months.
Ana Luz, recently studying for her PhD, has been told she could end up behind bars unless she can control the desire to steal from shops .
Luz ,who lives with her partner in Fitzwilliam Road ,Cambridge ,admitted stealing clothes worth ￡9.95 from John Lewis in Oxford Street ,London ,on March 9.
Phillip Lemoyne ,prosecuting（起诉）,said Luz selected some clothes from a display and took them to the ladies’ toilet in the store .When she came out again she was wearing one of the skirts she had selected ,having taken off the anti-theft security alarms（防盗警报装置）.
She was stopped and caught after leaving the store without paying, Mr Lemoyne said.
He added that she was upset on her arrest and apologized for her actions.
Luz,28, was said to have been convicted of shoplifting by Cambridge judges last October ,but Morag Duff, defending ,said she had never been in trouble with the police before that .
“She is ashamed and embarrassed（尴尬） but doesn’t really have any explanation why she did this ,” Miss Duff said . “She didn’t intend to steal when she went into the store .She is at a loss to explain it. She is otherwise a very respectable and intelligent young lady .She went to her doctor and asked for advice because she wants to know if there is anything in particular that caused her to do this.”
Judge David Azan fined Luz ￡ 50, and warned : “You’ve got a criminal record .If you carry on like this ,you will end up in prison ,which will ruin your bright future you may have.”
Luz achieved a degree in design at university in her native Spain, went on to a famous university in Berlin , Germany for her master’s degree and is now studying for a PhD at Cambridge University ,UK.What does the underlined sentence “She is at a loss to explain it” mean?
| A．In her opinion it was a loss to the clothes shops where she stole things. |
| B．She doesn’t have any idea why she has the desire to steal from shops. |
| C．She thinks it is a loss for her to explain why she stole things from shops. |
| D．Personally she feels ashamed and embarrassed for her shoplifting actions. |
Which of the following best explains the meaning of the word “shoplifting” used in the passage?
| A．Carrying goods in a lift for a shop. | B．Taking goods to the ladies’ toilet . |
| C．Selecting some goods from a display. | D．Taking goods from a shop without paying. |
From the passage we can learn that .
| A．Ana Luz is already got her PhD at Cambridge University ,UK |
| B．Ana Luz is ashamed and embarrassed and knows why she often did so |
| C．the university graduate will be put in prison if she steals in shops once more |
| D．Phillip Lemoyne is the “respectable and intelligent” woman’s defense lawyer |
What would be the best title for the passage ?
| A．Shoplifting Shame of a PhD Student. |
| B．Apologizing for the Actions in Shops. |
| C．Seeking Professional Help from Experts. |
| D．Controlling the Desire to Steal from Shops |
Animals are natural resources that people have wasted all through our history.
Animals have been killed for their fur and feathers, for food, for sport, and simply because they were in the way. Thousands of kinds of animals have disappeared from the world forever. Hundreds more are on the danger list today. About 170 kinds in the United States alone are considered in danger.
Why should people care? Because we need animals. And because once they are gone, there will never be any more.
Animals are more than just beautiful and interesting. They are more than just a source of food. Every animal has its place in the balance of nature (生态平衡). Destroying one kind of animal can create many problems.
For example, when farmers killed large numbers of hawks (老鹰), the farmers’ stores of corn and grain were destroyed by rats and mice. Why? Because hawks eat rats and mice. With no hawks to keep down their numbers, the rats and mice multiplied(繁殖)quickly.
Luckily, some people are working to help save the animals. Some groups raise money to let people know about the problem. And they try to get the governments to pass laws protecting animals in danger.
Quite a few countries have passed laws. These laws forbid (禁止) the killing of any animals or plants on the danger list. Slowly, the number of some animals in danger is growing. Animals are important to us mainly because____ .
| A．they give us a source of food |
| B．they are beautiful and lovely |
| C．they keep the balance of nature |
| D．they give us a lot of pleasure |
What has happened to the animals on the earth?
| A．Hundreds of kinds of animals have disappeared forever. |
| B．Many kinds of animals have died out. |
| C．About 170 kinds of animals have disappeared forever. |
| D．All kinds of animals are in danger. |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．People care much about animals because they need them. |
| B．Once a certain kind of animals is gone forever, there will never be any more. |
| C．Killing rats and mice will cause some problems. |
| D．Laws have been passed to forbid the killing of any animals or plants on the danger list in some countries. |
What can we infer from the fact that quite a few countries have passed laws protecting animals in danger?
| A．Every person will know the importance of protecting wild animals. |
| B．Animals in danger will not be killed any more. |
| C．Animals in danger will be kept away from people. |
| D．The number of some animals in danger will increase. |