Bushwick is a tough place to grow up. This part of Brooklyn, in New York City, has a lot of crimes. More than half of its 100,000 residents rely on aid from the government. Only 50% of students at Bushwick High School graduate in four years.
Some people might say, “We should help these poor kids who have so many challenges.” But Malaak Compton-Rock looks at the teens in Bushwick and says, “Go to help kids who have even bigger challenges than you do.” She believes that once young people see the power they have to make things better, they can handle their own problems more easily. So her service group, the Angel Rock Project, took 30 Bushwick kids to Soweto, in South Africa, to help poor families there. Soweto is a township outside the city of Johannesburg. The effort, called Journey for Change, aims to show that any kid can change the world.
“Kids in Bushwick face pressure to drop out of school or become involved in gangs and drugs.” Says Compton-Rock. “We want them to live a life of purpose and service.”
In Soweto, many parents have died of AIDS, a deadly disease. When that happens, a grandparent or a child must lead the family. The Bushwick volunteers helped such families. They tended vegetable gardens, cared for babies and bought groceries.
“The saddest thing was when we visited an orphanage (孤儿院) and I helped a little boy who had been abandoned because he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS,” says Queen Clyde, 12. “It‘s been good to be on this trip. But what’s also important is what we do when it’s finished. That’s what counts.” “I never appreciated what I had until I saw some people who had nothing,” says Sadara Lewis, 12. “It’s really changed my attitude. I want to make a difference.”
The trip was two weeks long. But the kids, aged 12 to 15, will spend all year speaking about their experience, fund-raising and more.
46. What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?
A. Bushwick is the poorest place in New York City.
B. Bushwick still needs more care from the government.
C. It is children who suffer most in New York City.
D. Children in Bushwick are living in a bad situation.
47. In Compton-Rock’s opinion, the Bushwick kids _________.
A. have fewer challenges than those in any other district
B. are living much better a life than people in Africa
C. can learn to deal with their own problems by helping others
D. should be kept out of schools in this part of the city
48. Compared with Bushwick kids, some children in Soweto _________.
A. may have bigger challenges B. receive no care from the government
C. are much more independent D. are able to lead the family
49. According to the passage, “Journey for Change” can be best seen as the saying “_________”.
A. God helps those who help themselves B. saying and doing are two things
C. one stone kills two birds D. a friend in need is a friend indeed
50. From the passage we know that _________.
A. there are few students in Bushwick High School
B. the trip to Soweto will have a long influence in spite of its short time.
C. most children are suffering from AIDS in Soweto
D. kids with HIV will be abandoned in Soweto
Eight-year-old Bethany and seven-year-old Eliza are having a great time jumping around in the orchard of their home in a village near Penrith. They can play any time they like because they don't go to school. Instead, they are educated at home by their parents, Paul and Veronika Robinson. But they don't have lessons, have never used a timetable and learn only what and when they want to learn.
"I want my kids to have freedom in their childhood, not spend it in an institution," says 37-year-old Veronika, "School is all about control and following the rules." Veronika and her 56-year-old husband Paul have never experienced the daily rush to get dressed and out of the door that is common in most households with school-aged children. "We get up at our leisure - usually around 8.30-ish," says Veronika. "We might visit a friend, or go to the library, and on Tuesdays we shop at the market. In summer, we spend most of our time outside and the girls entertain themselves a lot."
New research due to be published this spring reveals a very different picture of Britain's home educators. "Out of 297 families, 184 said that they never use a timetable," says Mike Fortune-Wood of Home Education UK. "Ninety per cent never or rarely use textbooks, and nearly all said that happiness, contentment and self-fulfillment were more important than academic achievement. Only 15% felt that planning what to learn was crucial."
So far, so good. But what, you might ask, are the children actually learning?
"It wasn't important to me that the girls could read by a certain age, but they both picked it up for themselves at around seven," says Robinson. "Weighing cooking ingredients uses maths, and making a shopping list teaches them to write. Observing five hens has taught the girls about survival of the fittest. "
But what about when the children grow up? Can they go to university? The home educators' answer is they can if they want to. There are a variety of routes into higher education, but probably the most common is to join a local college. This is what Gus Harris-Reid has done. "I was educated at home all my life. I'd never had a lesson or been inside a classroom until I started GCSEs," says the 18-year-old. "I'm now studying for 4 A-levels at Exeter College. I've had no problem with the work or with fitting in." When asked to reflect on his experience of home education, his considered response is, "Like a permanent holiday, really!" Not a bad start for someone who plans to take a mechanical engineering degree next year.
1. What is the topic of this article?
A. New ways of learning to read and write B. Problems with UK schools
C. Home education in the UK D. Wild, undisciplined children
2. Why do the Robinsons not send their children to school?
A. They think schools control children too much. B. They do not like the courses taught in schools.
C. They want to teach their children farming skills. D. They live in a remote area where there are no schools.
3. According to the article, in homes with school-going children, ______.
A. mornings are rushed and stressful. B. the children hardly ever go outside.
C. the family wakes up around 8.30am. D. the children must ask permission to go to the toilet.
4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Most home educators believe that happiness is more important than good grades.
B. Most home educators believe that planning is important.
C. Most home educators do not follow a timetable or use textbooks.
D. Most home educators are not worried about when their children learn to read and write.
5. What does the article say about home-educated children getting into university?
A. They learn so many useful skills at home that universities are happy to accept them.
B. They can get into university if they have 4 A-levels.
C. They can go to school later and get the qualifications they need in order to enter university.
D. Home education is so relaxed that they are likely to experience problems when faced with the pressures of a degree course.
It is a mystery that has puzzled doctors for decades. But experts believe they have now finally solved the tricky question of why winter is notoriously known as the flu season.
According to a new research, the influenza virus coats itself in a protective fatty shield that is tough enough to resist cold temperatures. The butter-like material only melts when it hits the respiratory tract（呼吸道）, leaving the virus free to infect cells-- a process scientists say is like an M&M melting in the mouth.
However, in warmer outdoor temperatures, the protective coating melts before it reaches a person or an animal, killing the bacteria before they can infect someone. Joshua Zimmerberg, from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), in the US, which led the study, said: “Like an M&M in your mouth, the protective covering melts when it enters the respiratory tract. It's only in this liquid period that the virus is able to enter a cell to infect it.”
In the past, scientists worked on theories that flu is more common in winter because people spend more time inside or the radiation from the sun in summer kills off germs. But no research successfully explained the spread of the disease.
Researchers have already claimed that the report, which is published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, could lead to new ways to prevent and treat flu. “Now that we understand how the flu virus protects itself so that it can spread from person to person, we can work on ways to prevent it.”
Influenza and other respiratory viruses are spread in small drops broadcast by coughing, sneezing and talking and which can also settle onto surfaces, to be picked up on fingertips.
1. What can be the best title of the passage?
A. The mystery that has puzzled doctors for decades. B. New ways to prevent and treat flu.
C. A discovery of how flu strikes in Winter. D. Ways found to prevent flu.
2. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Doctors have been trying hard to discover why flu strikes in winter.
B. In the past, scientists didn’t know how flu spreads.
C. It is possible that flu virus will no longer threaten humans in winter.
D. People get affected by flu because they spend much more time inside in winter.
3. Where should you insert the following paragraph into the passage?
Duane Alexander, the director of NICHD, said: “The study results open new avenues of research for thwarting (使…受挫)winter flu outbreaks.”
A. Between Paragraphs 1 and 2. B. Between Paragraphs 3 and 4.
C. Between Paragraphs 4 and 5. D. Between the last two paragraphs.
4.In what process or order does flu occur?
a. The virus infects cells b. The influenza virus was born
c. The butter-like material melts d. The virus hits respiratory tract
e. The virus coats itself in butter-like shield f. The virus is free
A. a, c, d, e, b, f . B. c, f, d, b, e, a. C. b, e, d, c, f, a. D. d, b, e, c, f, a.
| From: |
<joseph_yana@orange.net> |
| IP Address: |
193.252.22.118 (originates from France) |
| Date: |
Mon, 02-Feb-2009 09:37:04am |
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[G-Spam] PLEASE REPLY BACK. |
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| CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL. FROM THE DESK OF: MR. JOSEPH YANA. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) BURKINA-FASO. Dear Sir / Madam, I am the Bill and Exchange (assistant) Manager of the Africa development Bank, MR. JOSEPH YANA. In my department I discovered an abandoned sum of USD$9.900.000 in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customer who died along with his wife and two children in July 2000 in a plane crash. Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin(近亲属) to come over and claim his money, but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him in the plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claim. It is therefore upon this discovery that I in my department now decided to make this business proposals to you and release the money to you as next of kin or relation since nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund. The banking law and guidelines here says that if such money remains unclaimed after ten years, the money will be transferred into the bank treasury. The request of foreigner in this transaction is necessary because our late customer was a foreigner. We agree that 30% of this money will be for you as foreigner partner, 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred during the business and 65% would be for me, after which I shall visit your country for disbursement(开支) according to the percentages indicated. Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the bank, and send your account number, your private telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and location where the money will be sent. Upon receiving your reply, I will send to you by fax or e-mail the text of the application which you shall retype and fax to us. Trusting to receive your urgent reply through my alternative Email : jyana96 @ yahoo.co.id Best regards. MR. JOSEPY YANA. |
1. A foreigner who receives this letter should ________.
A. be a close relative of the dead. B. send hundreds of dollars to Africa
C. go to African Development Bank for the wealth D. not take it seriously.
2. Which of the following is true according to the text?
A. Many millionaires died in the plane crash. B. Any money unclaimed will be given to a poor foreigner.
C. the division of the money seems quite reasonable. D. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK doesn’t exist at all.
3. A person who believes “__________” will fall into it.
A. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. B. There's no such thing as a free lunch.
C. All rivers run into the sea D. A short cut is often a wrong cut
第三部分：阅读理解（共15小题;每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Most people don't know the true story of the little boy who came to be known as Douglas Craig. He was found wandering around the streets of Washington, D.C. He could not hear or speak. At night, he drew the knees up to his body in doorways and slept. Sometimes people pitied him and gave him food and clothing. If not, he ate what he could find in garbage cans.
Dr. E. M. Gallaudet at Gallaudet College let him stay in the Kendall School until he was old enough to work. He became the best "handy man" that Gallaudet had ever had. He had many duties, such as picking up mail at the post office, mowing grass, tending the flower beds, and carrying notes from the boys to the girls. Clearly, he was a familiar sight on campus.
It is said that Douglas courted(求爱) a black woman from Baltimore. Since his courtship required letter-writing, and he was illiterate, he had a student in the college act as his "private secretary." Though that relationship did not work out, he did marry a black deaf woman. The wedding took place in a church, and most of the college faculty and teachers were present. Douglas was dressed in a full-dress suit with a white tie and white gloves. The happy couple went to Baltimore for a honeymoon, but the honeymoon only lasted for one day. Their plans were cut short when his pocketbook containing about $300 was either lost or stolen.
He once went to Norfolk, Virginia on a vacation, but he did not know what a vacation was. He spent the entire time working around the docks of Norfolk. He came home with a pocketful of money, and told everyone that he had a fine vacation.
Douglas' last public duty was to raise the flag to the top of the new flagpole. He was very weak and sat in an armchair during the ceremonies. He died in 1936, but left a legend at Gallaudet that would live forever.
1. The main idea of the story is that_____:
A. Craig liked no women except those from universities.
B. Gallaudet is the best place for an orphan to grow up.
C. No one ever found out exactly what happened to Craig’s family.
D. Craig, a man with an unusual background, worked at Gallaudet for many years.
2. It is most likely that Douglas Craig enjoyed working at Gallaudet because_____:
A. Gallaudet was a good place to collect junk. B. he found it easy to communicate with people.
C. people felt sorry for him so he didn't have to work hard. D. he didn't have a home.
3. Craig and his new wife's honeymoon did not last long because_______:
A. their money was lost or stolen. B. Craig missed Gallaudet and wanted to come back early.
C. they spent all their money. D. their baggage and clothing was lost or stolen.
From hitting the mall with your girl fiends on a Saturday afternoon, to holiday spending on gifts that go under the tree, shopping could be called one of America’s favorite pastimes. For most people, it means some new clothes for work or a small trinket for a friend. For others, however, shopping is much more than an enjoyable pastime, and in some cases, it is a real and destructive addiction that can turn into a financial disaster. Compulsive shopping and spending are defined as inappropriate, excessive过度的, and out of control. Like other addictions, it basically has something to do with impulsiveness and lack of control over one’s impulses冲动. In America, shopping is embedded in our culture; so often, the impulsiveness comes out as excessive shopping. Sometimes this is referred to as “shopholism”. Shopping addiction can damage a person’s life, family, and finances. “No one knows what causes addictive behaviors, like shopping, alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling”, says a professor of applied health science. Some of the new evidence suggests that some people, maybe 10%-15%, may have a genetic predisposition to an addictive behavior, coupled with an environment in which the particular behavior is triggered引发, but no one really knows why.” Individuals will get some kind of high from an addictive behavior like shopping.
What are the telltale signs that shopping has crossed the line and become and addiction? What should a concerned family member or friend look out for when they think shopping has become a problem? The behaviors can signal a serious problem:
·Shopping or spending money as a result of feeling angry, depressed, anxious, or lonely
·Having arguments with others about one’s shopping habits
·Feeling lost without credit cards — actually going into withdrawal without them
·Buying items on credit, rather than with cash
·Describing a rush or a feeling of euphoria with spending
·Feeling guilty, ashamed, or embarrassed after a spending spree(大买特买)
·Thinking obsessively about money
·Spending a lot time juggling accounts or bills to accommodate spending
“If someone identifies four or more of any of these behaviors, there may be a problem”, experts say. Treating a shopping addiction requires a multifaceted approach. There are no standard treatments for shopping addiction. Medications have been used, but with mixed results. Therapists also focus on cognitive-behavioral treatment programs. There is no quick and easy answer that will immediately cure a shopping addiction, and while treatment is a necessary part of solving the problem, so is behavior change on the part of the addict.
Some basic changes in behavior that will have a big impact on breaking a shopping addiction are recommended:
·Admit that you are a compulsive spender, which is half the battle.
·Get rid of checkbooks and credit cards, which fuel the problem.
·Don’t shop by yourself because most compulsive shoppers shop alone and if you are with someone you are much less likely to append more.
·Find other meaningful ways to spend time.
And keep in mind that while behavior change is clearly important to recovery, so is reaching out for professional help.(509)
1. The best title of this article is _________
A. Should We Shop or Not? B. Shopping Behaviors, Good or Bad?
C. Shopping Spree, or an Addiction? D. The Dangers of Shopholism.
2. You should be carefully think about your shopping behavior if you ________.
A. are angry to go shopping
B. lost your credit card while shopping
C. are overjoyed and overwhelmingly excited to go shopping.
D. count your money while shopping
3. Which of the following statement is not true? ________.
A. Medication will not help to cure a shopping addiction
B. No one really knows why people get addicted to doing something which is no good to them
C. By the word shopholism, we refers to the impulsive and excessive shopping behavior
D. Shopping addiction can turn into a real disaster in one’s life
4. The most important way to get rid of the addiction is ________.
A. use credit card instead of checkbooks
B. change one’s behavior as well as seek professional advice
C. find somebody else to shop for you
D. go to a doctor for a standard treatment