Chinese are very generous when it comes to educating their children．Not caring about the money, parents often send their children to the best schools or even abroad to England, the United States or Australia．They also want their children to take extra-course activities where they will learn a musical instrument or ballet or other classes which will give them a head start in life．The Chinese believe that the more expensive an education is, the better it is．So the parents will spend an unreasonable amount of money on education．Even poor couples will buy a computer for their son or daughter．
However, what most parents fail to see is that the best early education they can give their children is usually very cheap．
Parents can see that their children’s skills vary, skilled in some areas while poor in others．What most parents fail to realize though, is that today’s children lack （缺乏） self-respect and self-confidence．
The problem is that parents are only educating their children on how to take multiple-choice tests and how to study well, but parents aren’t teaching them the most important skills they need to be confident, happy and clever．
Parents can achieve this by teaching practical skills like cooking, sewing and doing housework．
Teaching a child to cook will improve many of the skills that he will need later in life．Cooking demands patience and time．It’s an enjoyable but difficult experiment．A good cook always tries to improve his cooking, so he will learn to work hard and gradually to finish his job successfully．His result, a well-cooked dinner, will give him much satisfaction and a lot of self-confidence．
Some old machines , such as a broken radio or TV set that you give your children to play with will make him curious （好奇） and arouse his interest He will spend hours looking at them, trying to fix them; your child might become an engineer when he grows up．These activities aren’t merely teaching a child to read a book, but rather to think, to use his mind．And that is more important．Parents in China, according to this passage, _________．
| A．are too strict with their children |
| B．are too rich to educate their children |
| C．have some problems in educating their children correctly |
| D．are too poor to educate their children |
Generally speaking, children’s skills_______．
| A．come from their parents |
| B．have nothing to do with their education |
| C．may be different |
| D．have something to do with their marks in the exams |
The writer of this passage doesn’t seem to be satisfied with_______．
| A．the parents’ idea of educating their children |
| B．the education system |
| C．children’s skills |
| D．children’s hobbies |
Doing some cooking at home helps children_________．
| A．learn how to serve their parents |
| B．learn how to become strong and fat |
| C．benefit from it and prepare themselves for the future |
| D．make their parents believe that they are clever |
According to the last paragraph, we can conclude that_________．
| A．broken radios and television sets are useful |
| B．one’s curiosity may be useful for his later life |
| C．an engineer must fix many broken radios |
| D．a good student should spend much time repairing radios |
Cooler temperatures, attractive colors, smaller crowds autumn is the perfect time for travel and tourism. Here, three places are listed as the best fall trip destinations. Don’t worry if you can’t go to these places. By reading this page, we hope to take you on grand tour and let you experience fun and culture around the world.
| Cannstatter Volkfest, Stuttgart, Germany Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volkfest is listed as the world’s second largest beer-drinking event–following Munich’s Oktoberfest. But it is considered Germany’s more authentic celebration of local heritage and, of course, beer. Started as an agricultural fair in 1818–a symbolic 24-meter-high “fruit column” pays homage to the past–the three-week festival (from September 23 to October 9 this year) features live music, a re-created Alpine village, and carnival（狂欢节） rides. In addition, Stuttgart is recognized as a global car capital. Both the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums are worth a visit. |
| Churchill, Manitoba, Canada Here in the northern Canadian town at Hudson Bay, visitors can see the area’s most famous fall residents–polar bears. More than a thousand of the world’s largest land carnivores migrate through the “polar bear capital of the world” during October and November, when the first ice forms on the edge of Hudson Bay. The frozen conditions make it easier for hungry bears to hunt for seals (by walking instead of swimming). Under the snowy, winter weather, visitors can hardly have too many clothes to put on. Insulated boots, jackets, and gloves; layered clothing; thermal underwear; and woolen socks and hats are required. |
| Dublin, Ireland The Ireland’s capital and largest city is a center for arts, entertainment, culture and commerce. With few tourists and lower temperatures, fall is the ideal season for walking the historic Georgian streets and cruising the River Liffey. Visitors can explore the city’s 20 square kilometers of public gardens, nature reserves, and parks, including St. Stephen’s Green, which borders Grafton Street, one of the world’s most expensive retail locations. Along the way, enjoy traditional, paper-wrapped fish and chips at Leo Burdock. Healthier eats will be on the menu on October 31, when more than 12,000 runners are expected for the National Lottery Dublin Marathon, named “the Friendly Marathon” for the affable crowds cheering there. |
The passage is presented for those who.
| A．care for fun and culture around the world |
| B．have planned to go for traveling this autumn |
| C．hate to have their holidays in other seasons |
| D．have not ever been to Europe and America |
If you spend your holidays on October 31, you may.
| A．enjoy live music at the beer – drinking festival |
| B．watch polar bears hunt seals |
| C．taste traditional, paper – wrapped fish and clips |
| D．win a prize in “the Friendly Marathon” |
According to the passage, we can know that.
| A．Car exhibitions will be held for two months. |
| B．It’s not necessary to take more clothes with you to Churehill, Martitoba |
| C．The beer – drinking event in German dates from the eighteenth century |
| D．Your favourite goods might be available in the expensive shop in Dublin |
The passage is probably taken from the column ofin a newspaper.
| A．economics | B．science | C．tourism | D．fashion |
China is now sending more college students to study in the United States than any other country. A new report shows a 23 percent increase in the number of Chinese students coming to the U.S.
The latest edition of the annual Institute of International Education（IIE）and another US institute found a 5 percent rise in the number of international university students in the US compared to one year ago. There are now over 157, 000 Chinese students at U.S. colleges and universities.
Aisa accounted for four of the top five countries and regions to take advantage of the US higher education system. “Increased numbers of students from China, particularly at the undergraduate level, largely accounts for the growth this past year,” the report stated. “They really enroll in a full range of US higher education,” said Peggy Blumenthal, senior counselor to the president of IIE, the group that made the report. “20 years ago, students from China only knew of a handful of US insitiutions, but now, they are enrolling in our community colleges, in our small liberal arts institutions, in the research universities. Really spread across the country,” she said.
Chinese mainland was in the number one spot, while India was the number two country of origin. South Korea was third and Canada was number four. China’s Taiwan held the number five spot. Saudi Arabia was in sixth with a 44-percent increase, while Japan was seventh, down 14 percent.
Blumenthal attributes the increase in the number of Chinese students heading to US colleges to limited university places in China, as well as a feeling from students and their parents than they want a “unique” educational experience. China’s family planning policy, says Blumenthal, has also meant that families can concentrated resources on a single child.
The University of California at Los Angeles has one of the largest Asian student populations of any college in the United States.Which ranked the third place sharing US higher education?
| A．Saudi Arabia | B．South Korea | C．Canada | D．India |
Why is the number of Chinese students going to the US increasing?
| A．The US colleges are better than those in China. |
| B．Each family in China has only one child. |
| C．China lacks enough educational resources. |
| D．Chinese students can enter varieties of US colleges. |
Which of the following is right according to Peggy Blumenthal?
| A．The number of Chinese students going to the US has increased by 23%. |
| B．The University of California has contributed to Asian education greatly. |
| C．Chinese student populations in the US mainly consist of undergraduates. |
| D．Chinese students know more about US higher education than before. |
The best title for the passage can be.
| A．Chinese College Students Rush to US Schools |
| B．The Large Number of Chinese Students in the US |
| C．Chinese Students Make Up Largely Foreign Students in the US |
| D．Asian Middle School Students in the US Universities |
For years, my family has vacationed in the same Florida town. In fact, we just returned home after spending a week of spring break there with our three sons.
Many nights, we take the same scenic drive to dinner at a favorite restaurant. As we travel along Gulf Shore Boulevard, we admire a combination of small beach apartments, swanky high-rises and spectacular homes.
A few years ago, we noticed that whenever we drive this particular route, there are always two men sitting in front of the same third-floor window of a low-rise apartment building that overlooks the road. All that is visible from the road are their two silhouettes. Even during off-peak months, they’ve always been there. Over the years, we’ve had great fun speculating about who they are, whether they’re having a drink, and if so, what they fancy, where they’re from, and what they might be discussing. Our guesses have become a modern form of car bingo. Widowers? Retirees? Partners? We’ve run through the gamut of possibilities.
Eventually, I started beeping the horn as we passed. We’d wave. Our new friends would do likewise. There was something comforting in seeing them. In a world of constant change, it has been nice to look up and see that they are there, just as we remember from our last visit. And then last spring, we drove by and they were missing. The apartment was dark. No one was visible in the window. Strangely, we drove by and they were missing The apartment was dark. No one was visible in the window. Strangely, we grew worried about two people we’d never even met. Where did they go? A new round of the guessing game began.
On our last trip at Christmastime, we were relieved to see them once again. We were driving past about 6 p.m., and there they were at cocktail hour. I told my wife that I suspected they were gin drinkers and said we should buy them a bottle. She said that if I bought it, she’d deliver it. I said, “Tomorrow.”Driving along the scenic route, the author’s family were to.
| A．meet their friends there | B．visit the Florida town |
| C．appreciate a place of interest | D．have supper together |
Why did the author blow the horn?
| A．It was a pleasure for them to see the two men again. |
| B．It was his habit while driving along the special route. |
| C．It was an agreement between him and the two men. |
| D．It was for the sake of safety while driving. |
Which of the following can best describe the family?
| A．generous and sensitive | B．curious and kind |
| C．helpful and brave | D．friendly and hurnorous |
Which of the following will best continue this passage?
| A．The two men’s favorite drinks. |
| B．The two men’s beach apartments |
| C．The reason of the two men’s absence |
| D．The author’s next visit to the town |
Dr. Wiseman started the “laugh lab” project in September 2001. It is the largest study of humor. Participants are invited to log on the laugh lab website, give a few personal details, tell their favorite jokes and judge the jokes told by other people.
Their project will last for a year, and the organizers hope to finally discover the world’s funniest joke. But there is also a serious purpose. The researchers want to know what people from different nations and cultures find funny. And they want to find out the differences between male’s and female’s sense of humor. The idea is that if we want to understand each other, we have to find out what makes us laugh.
This is a subject that has long interested psychologists (心理学家) and philosophers (哲学家). Most of the time, people are not completely honest. We do things that society expects us to and say things that help us get what we want. But laughing cannot be controlled. When we laugh, we tell the truth about ourselves.
By December 2001 over 10,000 jokes had been submitted (公认的). This gave the scientists enough evidence to make early conclusions. It seems that men and women do have different senses of humor, for example.
“Our findings show the major differences in the ways in which males and females use humor,” said Dr Wiseman. “Males use humor to appear superior (高傲的，有优越感的) to others, while women are more skilled in languages and prefer word play.”
Researchers also found that there really is such a thing as a national sense of humor. The British enjoy what is usually called “toilet humor”. But the French like their jokes short and sharp, “You’re a high priced lawyer. Will you answer two questions for $ 500?” “Yes. What’s the second question?”
The Germans are famous for not having a sense of humor. But the survey found that German participants were more likely to find submitted jokes funny than any other nationality. Perhaps that proves the point. Is this joke funny? I don’t know, but let’s say yes, just to be safe.
Dr Wiseman and his workmates also submitted jokes created by computer. But none of those who took part in the survey found any of them amusing. Perhaps this is relief (安慰). Computers already seem like they can do everything. But at least they should leave the funny things to us.The scientist started the “laugh lab” project ________.
| A．to find the funniest joke in European countries |
| B．to know what funny people are from different nations and cultures |
| C．to find out the differences between the male’s and female’s sense of humor |
| D．to get more personal details about participants |
The writer gave the examples of the British, the French and the Germans_____.
| A．to show that the French people have a better sense of humor |
| B．to prove the British people have a sense of “toilet humor” |
| C．to show people from different nations have different senses of humor |
| D．to prove that the Germans have no sense of humor |
Which statement is true according to the passage?
| A．The jokes by computer are less funny than those by humans. |
| B．The Germans cannot find the submitted jokes amusing. |
| C．Males are better at word play compared with women. |
| D．Females like to use humor to show that they are superior. |
·Put sunscreen (防晒油) on before going out in the sun.
·Take it with you.
·Use it
— after a swim.
— every hour or so while playing outdoors.
— if you get sweaty.
·Cover up when the sun is overhead
— 10 a.m.—2 p.m..
— especially at lunch time.
·Get your suntan (晒黑) gradually and not too much.
·Controlled exposure (暴露) to sunshine helps avoid skin cancer.
Ask your chemist to recommend a suitable sunscreen.
Queensland Cancer Fund
P. O. Box
Spring Hill, QLD.4000
Phone (07) 8397077
Provided for community awareness by the Queensland CancerThis passage is most likely to be ______.
| A．an article from a student text book |
| B．a direction from a bottle of medicine |
| C．a suggestion from a chemist |
| D．an advertisement from a newspaper |
Which statement is TRUE?
| A．You should frequently put on sunscreen while playing outdoors. |
| B．You’ll never have skin cancer with controlled exposure. |
| C．You mustn’t stay outside from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| D．The more you get sunshine, the better your health will be. |
According to the passage we can see that Queensland Cancer Fund wants to _____.
| A．sell sunscreen, shirt and hat |
| B．help people guard against skin cancer |
| C．encourage people to play in the sun |
| D．make money out of sunscreen |
If you want a sunscreen, you should ask _____ for advice.
| A．the seller | B．the advertiser |
| C．your doctor | D．your parents |