There is a group of people whose numbers the British Government desperately wants to see dropping. They're mostly in their early 20s, without jobs and not at university. They often wander the streets and are seen as a threat.
The Office for National Statistics reported on Dec, 11, 2006 that the number of young people who are not in school and not working or in training in Britain has risen sharply since 1997.
Britain now has 1.24 million people aged 15 to 24 who have nothing to do. That's a 15 percent increase over 1997. One in six people in this age group is idle.
These people are most likely to be from lower-income families and be supported by their families or the government. Those aver 18 can get a weekly job seeker's allowance of ￡46,69(690 yuan) from the government. This is only enough to cover the basic cost of living.
Housing benefits are also available. But for single people under 25, these only cover rent for very cheap accommodation, such as a shared room. So most unemployed young people choose to live with their parents, where they can have a room of their own
Some charities or local governments offer free housing for homeless young people as well. Nightstop UK, for example, offers help to young people aged 16--25. However, the housing is often only short-term.
British politician Iain Duncan-Smith blames the breakdown of traditional families on the increasing number of unemployed or untrained young people.
In Britain today, about one in 10 families are headed by a cohabiting couple, Cohabiting parents are twice as likely to break up as married parents, according to a Conservative Party report. Family breakdown is likely to lead to ignoring a child's education.
Poor post-school vocational training programmes are also being criticized. Independent research suggests that some training programmes are a waste of time.
The New Deal, a major programme to help the unemployed young, is one example. In 1998, 61 per cent of those leaving the programme could find jobs. That number is now down to 35 per cent.
" It, shows a failure of government policy. Even if you put in a large amount of money, if you haven't got the basic policies right, you won't get me results." said politician David Willetts .
60. What does the underlined word "idle" probably mean in the third paragraph?
A. engaged B. unemployed C. diligent D. busy
61. How many factors are mentioned in this passage that lead to the increase of unemployment?
A. 2 B.3 C. 4 D. 5
62. We can learn from the passage that_______________
A. the allowance from, the government can help those young people to live a comfortable life
B. the New Deal is always successful in helping job hunters
C. homeless young people depend on local governments for permanent accommodation
D. most unemployed young people choose to live with their parents because they can have their own room
63. The best title for this news report might be________________.
A. Success of Government Policy B. Vocational Training in Britain
C. Jobless Youth Concerns D. Job Hunting Problems
For the most part, you are probably only exposed to the music that is played on your favorite radio stations and TV shows, music Web sites, or the music that your friends and family members enjoy. While you probably know a lot about your favorite type of music, it can be a rewarding experience to enlarge your horizons (眼界), discovering artists and types of music that you’re not familiar with. Who knows, you might discover you like certain types of music you never even considered.
Have you ever wondered about the history and influences of your favorite types of music? For example, did you know that rock ’n’ roll originated (起源) from the blues, and that the blues began as a form of musical expression for African Americans during slavery(奴隶制度)? Did you know that most hip-hop is heavily influenced by early rhythm blues and jazz?
There are many fun ways to learn about different musical styles and their historical roots. For example, if you like hip-hop, listen to some of your favorite CDs and take note of the samples the performers used to create the songs. There is a possibility that the artist used parts of older songs to create the music. You can go to the library or online to learn more about the artists and listen to more of their music by checking out CDs from the library or downloading songs online for a small fee.
You can learn so much about culture and history just by paying attention to different types of music and what is being expressed in the songs. There are so many different styles of music to learn about, and you owe (欠) it to your-self to make an effort to listen to and learn about them.The main topic of this passage is _______.
| A．creating music |
| B．performing music |
| C．enjoying your favorite music |
| D．learning about music |
What music did African Americans use to express their feelings of being slaves?
| A．Rock ’n’ roll. | B．The blues. | C．Hip-hop. | D．Jazz. |
How can you learn about culture and history through music?
| A．By writing down the names of the music |
| B．By creating music from older songs yourself. |
| C．By caring about what is being expressed in music. |
| D．By keeping a record of fees after downloading songs online. |
By saying the underlined sentence in the last paragraph, the author probably means that _______.
| A．you should try harder to learn about music |
| B．you should return something to music |
| C．you should borrow music CDs from others |
| D．you should buy music CDs yourself |
Increasingly, over the past ten years, people--- especially young people –have become aware of the need to change their eating habits, because much of the food they eat, especially processed food(加工过的食品), is not good for the health. As a result, there has been a growing interest in natural foods: foods which do not contain chemical additives(添加剂) and which have not been affected by chemical fertilizers(化肥), widely used in farming today.
Natural foods, for example, are vegetables, fruit and grain which have been grown in soil that is rich in organic matter. In simple words, this means that the soil has been nourished(给…营养) by unused vegetable matter, which provides it with vitamins and minerals. This in itself is a natural process compared with the use of chemicals and fertilizers, the main purpose of which is to increase the amount—but not the quality—of foods grown in commercial farming area.
Natural foods also include animals which have been allowed to feed move freely in healthy pastures(牧场). Compare this with what happens in the mass production of poultry(家禽)：there are battery farms, for example, where thousands of chickens live crowded together in one building and are fed on food which is little better than rubbish. Chickens kept in this way are not only tasteless as food; they also produce eggs which lack important vitamins.
There are other sides of healthy eating which are now receiving increasing attention from experts on diet. Take, for example, the question of sugar. This is actually unnecessary food. It is not that sugar is harmful in itself. But it does seem to be addictive: the quantity we use has grown steadily over the last two centuries and in Britain today each person consumes an average of 200 pounds a year! Yet all it does is provide us with energy, in the form of calories. There are no vitamins in it, no minerals, and no fibre.People have become more interested in natural foods because______.
| A．they want to keep healthy |
| B．they want to taste all kinds of foods |
| C．natural foods are more delicious than processed foods |
| D．they want to return to nature |
Chickens raised in poultry farms are all of the following EXCEPT that _____.
| A．they are fed on food which is little better than garbage |
| B．they live in very crowded condition |
| C．the eggs they produce lack vitamins |
| D．they are allowed to move about and eat freely |
According to the passage, ______.
| A．people can only find sugar to give them energy |
| B．sugar is bad for the health |
| C．the use of sugar is habit forming |
| D．sugar only sweetens food, but provides us with nothing useful |
At times we all get angry when we are driving. It might be because we are stuck in a traffic jam or stuck behind a very slow driver. It might be because we think another driver has done something very stupid and dangerous. Whatever the reason, it seems that getting angry in a car is something which happens more and more often and there is now a special term for it “road rage”. Some experts even think that road rage is a kind of mental illness! How can we recognize this “illness” of road rage?
There are two kinds of road rage: aggressive driving and aggressive reactions to the way other people are driving. Aggressive driving can take different forms:
●Driving much faster than the speed limit.
●Increasing your speed very quickly.
●Driving very close behind the car in front and sounding the horn or flashing the headlights.
●Changing lanes very suddenly and blocking another car.
●Moving into a parking space where another car is trying to park.
There are also different reactions to the way other people are driving. These include:
●Making rude signs at people.
●Shouting at people and threatening them.
●Deliberately driving into another person’s car.
●Hitting somebody.
●Using a weapon such as a baseball bat, or even a gun or a knife.
Road rage is certainly not a joke. There have been incidents of road rage which have led to serious injuries and even murder.
Experts think that one reason for road rage is that films show a lot of examples of fast and aggressive driving such as car chases where this kind of driving seems to be positive.
Experts also think that the punishments for dangerous driving are not serious enough.
Experience shows that driving problems can be controlled, but it takes a long time. In the UK in the last 30 years, the police have been quite successful in reducing the number of people who drink and drive. They are now working to stop people using mobile phones when they are driving. Let’s hope they can have the same success with the road rage.Which of the following statements does NOT describe aggressive driving?
| A．Driving much faster than the speed limit. |
| B．Drinking and driving |
| C．Moving into a parking space where another car is trying to park. |
| D．Changing lanes very suddenly and blocking another car. |
Road rage happens possibly because______.
| A．the drivers are drunk |
| B．it won’t cause serious injuries or death |
| C．we’re in a fast-changing society |
| D．the punishments are not serious enough |
What’s the tone（语气）of the last paragraph?
| A．Sad | B．Cold | C． Optimistic | D．Exciting |
As you move around your home, take a good look at the things you have. It is likely that your living room will have a television set and a video, and your kitchen a washing machine and a microwave oven. Your bedroom drawers will be filled with almost three times as many clothes as you need. You almost certainly own a car and possibly a home computer, holiday abroad at least once a year and eat out at least once a week.
Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for. Seeking material success is beginning to trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them. Six percent of workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year.
One couple who downshifted is Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she used to work for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs, leaving their two children with a nanny. Most evenings Daniel wouldn’t get home until eight or nine o’clock and nearly twice a month he would have to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.
Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have a farm then,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It’s taken some time getting used to, but it’s been worth it. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are much happier.
Liz, however, is not quite sure. “I used to enjoy my job, even though it was hard work and long hours. I’m not really a country girl, but I suppose I’m gradually getting used to looking after the animals. One thing I do like, however, is being able to see more of my children. My advice for other people wanting to do the same is not to think about it too much, or you might not do it at all.”The passage tells us that .
| A．people seldom work long hours to make money |
| B．people hardly buy more things than necessary |
| C．people are sure everything they own is in the right place |
| D．people realize there is more to life than just making money |
When Daniel was a reporter, he ______.
| A．lived in central London | B．was well paid |
| C．missed his children | D．disliked his job |
Daniel and Liz both agree that the move to the farm ______.
| A．was easy to organize | B．was extremely expensive |
| C．has improved family life | D．has been a total success |
The underlined word “downshifting” in the 2nd paragraph refers to ______.
| A．repairing your car by yourself |
| B．spending money carefully |
| C．moving out to the countryside to live a simpler and better life |
| D．living in a big house in the suburbs and dining out once a week |
Parents are a child’s first teachers. But some parents never learned from good examples. In New York City, a nonprofit agency called Covenant House tries to help homeless young mothers become good parents.
The twelve or so teenagers who live at the shelter attend parenting classes four days a week. The class is called Mommy and Me. Teacher Delores Clemens is a mother of five and a grandmother. She teaches basic skills, like how to give a baby a bath and how to dress a baby depending on the season.
She remembers one student who learned from her mother not to pick up a crying baby. The mother said that would only make the child needy and overly demanding. Delores Clemens says, “That’s not true. You have to hold your baby! He is crying for a reason. If you never pick him up, he’s going to keep crying. Pick your baby up. Cuddle your baby. Hug him! And she started to do that. They just want a little cuddling and a little love. And it works!”
Delores Clemens says her students also learn how to be good mothers by letting themselves be mothered. Around three hundred fifty teenage mothers graduate from Covenant House's Mommy and Me class every year.
In class, with her baby son is Natasha．She lived on the streets. She is glad not only for the warmth and shelter of Covenant House. As she told reporter Adam Phillips, she is also glad for the help they offer in seeking a more secure life.
The World Health Organization says the United States has forty-one births for every one thousand girls age fifteen to nineteen. That is higher than other developed countries, as well as some developing ones. By comparison, northern neighbor Canada has fourteen births and southern neighbor Mexico has eighty-two.What is the text mainly about?
| A．Parents who are a child’s first teachers. |
| B．A nonprofit agency that offers a more secure（安全的）life. |
| C．A class where teens learn mothering and are mothered. |
| D．A kind teacher who helps homeless young mothers. |
Covenant Houses’ Mommy and Me class is intended to _____.
| A．provide homeless young mothers with a warm shelter |
| B．help homeless young mothers become good parents |
| C．help mothers in New York be good parents |
| D．teach some parents how to love their children |
What can we know about Delores Clemens from the text?
| A．She thinks a crying baby should be picked up and hugged. |
| B．She has a mother of five and a grandmother. |
| C．She teaches advanced skills on how to be good mothers. |
| D．She is very glad for the warmth and shelter of Covenant House. |
According to the World Health Organization, which country has the highest births for girls age fifteen to nineteen?
| A．Canada |
| B．The United States of America |
| C．Britain |
| D．Mexico |