Breathe, wave and smile. Along with more than 300 other seniors, I marched into the stadium on the afternoon of May 10. The audience burst into deafening cheers. The huge stadium shook with all the whistling and clapping.
It was as if a Hollywood superstar had walked on stage. And indeed, every single senior that day was a star of the moment. Each deserved it. The seniors had been preparing for four years for this once-in-a-lifetime moment—the commencement (graduation ceremony).
Seated, I waited anxiously for the opening address. As a foreign exchange student, I was not able to receive a diploma. However, I still had the wonderful feeling of being part of things. Like the other graduates, I was dressed in marron cap and gown.
Our principal, Mr. Glover, delivered a short, warm greeting. The US national anthem followed and then, hands on chests, a solemn Pledge of Allegiance(美国的爱国誓言).
Students who had excelled academically gave farewell speeches. The tears in some eyes convinced me that many had deep feelings about the occasion. It was as the class motto says, “Life brings us tears, smiles and memories. The tears dry; the smiles fade; but the memories last forever.”
Then came the core (the most important part) of the commencement. Hundreds of names were announced. Each graduate walked across the stage to receive his or her diploma from the principal. From the different cheers each graduate got, we had the funny sense that it was a kind of competition of who could cheer the loudest.
To be honest, the presentation of diplomas got boring. A girl sitting next to me even started yawning. But it wasn’t boring for those receiving the diploma: they would treasure the moment the principal placed the sacred brown document in their hands for the rest of their lives.
A new page in the book of that person’s life had turned. They were glimpsing their futures: futures of challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which would take all of their courage.What’s the article mainly about?
| A．An American high school’s graduation ceremony. |
| B．The opening ceremony of a sports meeting. |
| C．A presentation of college diplomas. |
| D．A US college’s farewell party. |
Which of the following statements about the author is FALSE?
| A．She was one of the graduates. | B．She was a foreign exchange student. |
| C．She was excited to receive her diploma. | D．She felt it great to be at the ceremony. |
The right order of the following events is______.
a. Diplomas were presented to graduates. b. Students gave farewell speeches.
c. The US national anthem was played. d. The principal gave a short, warm speech.
e. Seniors went into the stadium.
| A．b,c,a,d,e | B．c,d,b,e,a | C．d,b,e,a,c | D．e,d,c,b,a |
From the text, we can conclude that_______.
| A．a diploma ensures a good job |
| B．a diploma guarantees a bright future |
| C．the commencement symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in life |
| D．everyone felt excited at the presentation of the diploma |
According to the passage, which of the following statement is true?
| A．Hollywood superstars went to attend the commencement. |
| B．Every single senior became a superstar on the commencement day. |
| C．All graduates would treasure the diploma for the rest of their lives. |
| D．When each graduate got his or her diploma, there were loud cheers. |
Professor Barry Wellman of the University of Toronto in Canada has invented a term to describe the way many North Americans interact(交流，沟通) these days. The term is “networked individualism”. This concept is not easy to understand because the words seem to have opposite meanings. How can we be individuals(个人，个体) and be networked at the same time? You need other people for networks.
Here is what Professor Wellman means. Before the invention of the Internet and e-mail, our social networks included live interactions with relatives, neighbors, and friends. Some of the interaction was by phone, but it was still voice to voice, person to person, in real time.
A recent research study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project showed that for a lot of people, electronic interaction through the computer has replaced this person-to-person interaction. However, a lot of people interviewed for the Pew study say that’s a good thing. Why?
In the past, many people were worried that the Internet isolated (孤立)us and caused us to spend too much time in the imaginary world of the computer. But the Pew study discovered that the opposite is true. The Internet connects us with more real people than expected—helpful people who can give advice on careers, medical problems, raising children, and choosing a school or college. About 60 million Americans told Pew that the Internet plays an important role in helping them make major life decisions.
Thanks to the computer, we are able to be alone and together with other people — at the same time!The underlined phrase “networked individualism” probably means that by using computers people ________.
| A．stick to their own ways no matter what other people say |
| B．have the rights and freedom to do things of their own interest |
| C．do things in their own ways and express opinions different from other people |
| D．are able to keep to themselves but at the same time reach out to other people |
According to the Pew study, what do many people rely on to make major life decisions?
| A．Networks | B．Friends | C．Phones | D．Parents. |
It can be inferred from the Pew study that _______.
| A．people have been separated from each other by using computers |
| B．the Internet makes people waste a lot of time and feel very lonely |
| C．the Internet has become a tool for a new kind of social communication |
| D．a lot of people regard the person-to-person communication as a good thing |
Which would be the best title for this passage?
| A．We’re Alone on the Internet. |
| B．We’re Communicating on the Internet. |
| C．We’re Alone Together on the Internet. |
| D．We’re in the Imaginary World of the Internet |
Memory, they say, is a matter of practice and exercise. If you have the wish and really made a conscious（自觉的）effort, then you can quite easily improve your ability to remember things. But even if you are successful, there are times when your memory seems to play tricks on you.
Sometimes you remember things that really did not happen. One morning last week, for example, I got up and found that I had left the front door unlocked all night, yet I clearly remember locking it carefully the night before.
Memory “trick” work the other way as well. Once in a while you remember not doing something, and then find out that you did. One day last month, for example, I was sitting in a barber（理发师）shop waiting for my turn to get a haircut, and suddenly I realized that I had got a haircut two days before at the barber shop across the street from my office.
We always seem to find something funny and amusing（有趣的）in incidents caused by people’s forgetfulness or absent-mindedness. Stories about absent-minded professors have been told for years, and we never got tired of hearing new ones. Unfortunately, however, absent-mindedness is not always funny. There are times when “trick” of our memory can cause us great trouble.If you want to have a good memory, .
| A．you should force yourself to remember things |
| B．you should make a conscious effort of practice and exercise |
| C．you should never stop learning |
| D．you should try hard to remember tings |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．One night the writer forgot to lock the front door. |
| B．One night the writer forgot having locked the front door. |
| C．The writer remembered to lock the door. |
| D．the writer remembered unlocking the front door. |
In the passage, the writer seems to tell you .
| A．forgetting things is serious and dangerous |
| B．always forgetting things is understandable |
| C．forgetting things at times is natural |
| D．the way to protect yourself from memory “tricks” |
The best title for this passage is .
| A．How to Get a Good Memory |
| B．“Tricks” Of Memory |
| C．Forgetfulness and Absent-mindedness is Dangerous |
| D．Get Rid of Absent-mindedness |
Nearly 600,000 Americans lost their jobs this past month, pushing the nation’s unemployment rate (失业率) to 7.6 percent. But not all of those fired workers are sitting at home, reading the job advertisements and waiting for the phone to ring. Thousands of people are returning to school, making public colleges and universities among the few bright places in the disappointing US economy.
At a time when many Americans have had their work hours cut or have even lost their jobs, Sherian Huddleston is working overtime. She works at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) where she oversees (监督) the enrollment (注册) of new students. The university’s population grew by 800 students this term —an increase of 4 percent over last spring’s enrollment. Huddleston says seeing the enrollment rise in a failing economy is not unexpected. "When people are out of work," she points out, "they will ask 'What else can I do?’ or 'What other careers can I follow?’ They will often return to school if they have not completed a degree before."
Older returning students aren’t the only ones increasing the enrollment at MTSU. Huddleston says she’s also seeing an increase in student transfers (转移). "Students who went out of state, or even within the state, to more expensive schools are transferring to public schools to make use of the lower cost of going to school here," she explains.Which is the best title for the passage?
| A．The Falling American Economy |
| B．College Enrollment up in a Down Economy |
| C．Colleges Have More Students Than Before |
| D．Going to College Is No Longer Difficult |
According to the passage, many students return to school ______.
| A．to make more money | B．to read job advertisements |
| C．to complete a degree | D．to ask their schoolmates for help |
Many students are transferring to public schools mainly because ______.
| A．public schools provide better education |
| B．public schools offer better jobs to their students |
| C．they don’t want to be influenced by the falling economy |
| D．the cost of public schools is lower and they can save money |
Which of the following is TRUE about Sherian Huddleston?
| A．She is working more hours than before because of the worsening economy. |
| B．She is a student of Middle Tennessee State University. |
| C．She disagrees with those who are returning to school. |
| D．She is surprised to see the enrollment go up. |
I took my 9-year-old daughter，Suzan and 5-year-old son，Robbie to the shopping centre．As we got there，we saw a big sign that said，“Petting Zoo”．The kids jumped up and asked，“Daddy，can we go?”
Both my wife and I were out of work．However，I said，“Sure”，giving them a quarter each. They went away, leaving only fifty cents left in my pocket．
A petting zoo is made up of a hundred of little baby animals of all kinds．Kids pay their money and stay in the enclosure(围场)pleased with the little animals while their parents shop．
A few minutes later，I saw Suzan walking along behind me．I was surprised and asked what was wrong．
She said sadly，“Well，Daddy，a ticket for Petting Zoo costs fifty cents．So I gave Robbie my quarter．” Then she said the most beautiful thing I ever heard．She repeated the family motto(座右铭)，which is “Love is Action!”
I knew clearly no one loves little animals more than Suzan. She had watched both my wife and me do and say "Love is Action!” for years，and now she had put it into her lifestyle．It had become part of her，because she knew the whole family motto．It’s not only “Love is Action”；it’s “Love is SACRIFICAL(牺牲的)Action!" Love always pays a price．
I was moved．We went back to the Petting Zoo．Suzan stood with her hands and chin(下巴)resting on the fence and just watched Robbie go crazy petting and feeding the animals．I had fifty cents burning a hole in my pocket. I put my hand into my pocket and took out the money．Sure，I must do that !What is the best title for this passage?
| A．A Petting Zoo． | B．Try Your Best to Help Others． |
| C．An Attractive Shopping Centre． | D．Love Is Sacrificial Action! |
The underlined part “the most beautiful thing” in Paragraph 5 refers to．
| A．the Petting Zoo | B．the family motto |
| C．their lifestyle | D．the ticket for Petting Zoo |
Which of the following best describes Suzan?
| A．Unselfish． | B．Healthy． | C．Childish． | D．Clever． |
What might happen next according to the story?
| A．The author would buy Suzan some candies． |
| B．The author would get angry with Robbie． |
| C．Suzan would play happily with the little animals． |
| D．The author would play together with Suzan． |
A microscope is a useful instrument for observing small objects. By producing a bigger image, the microscope reveals details that are undetectable to the naked eye(裸眼).
Before using the microscope, please read the instructions below.
CAUTION: Microscopes are both delicate and expensive and must be handled with care.
1. Always carry the microscope with two hands — one supporting the base and the other on the arm.
2. Avoid stretching the wire of the lamp across a walkway.
3. Keep the stage clean and always use a glass slide for specimens(样本).
4. To avoid crushing the glass slide when focusing, begin with the lens close to the specimen and gradually back off to focus.
5. Keep the microscope covered to prevent the dust while it is being stored.
HOW TO USE THE MICROSCOPE:
1. Plug(接通电源) in the lamp.
2. Place a sample of what you wish to observe on a slide.
3. Adjust the mirror so it reflects light from the room up into the objective lens. When the mirror is correctly adjusted, a complete circle of light iwll appear when you look through the eyepiece.
4. Place your slide with the specimen directly over the center of the glass circle on teh stage. If it is a wet slide, be sure the bottom of the slide is dry.
5. With the LOW POWER objective leans placed over the slide, use the coarse focus knob to lower the lens to the lowest point.
6. Look through the eyepiece with one eye while closing the other eye. Slowly raise the lens until teh focus is relatively clear.
7. Use the fine focus knob to fine -tune(微调)the focus.
8. Without changing the focus knobs, switch to the HIGH POWER objective lens. Once you have switched to HIGH POWER, use only the fine focus knob to make the image sharper.Which of the following is the correct way to use a microscope according to the text?
| A．Use one hand to carry the microscope |
| B．Place a sample directly on the clean stage |
| C．When stored, the microscope should be adjusted. |
| D．Look through the eyepiece with one eye. |
If you want to observe a thin piece of hair, which of the following should you do first.?
| A．Switch to objective lens. | B．Adjust the mirror. |
| C．Look through the eyepiece. | D．Place the hair on a glass slide. |
According to the text, you could see a complete circle of light _____.
| A．after correctly adjusting the mirror |
| B．while looking at the specimen on a glass slide |
| C．after slowly raising the objective lens |
| D．before positioning the mirror correctly |