Is early childhood education really necessary? Early childhood education primarily focuses on learning through playing to develop the child’s physical, sensory, communicational and social development. Early childhood education has become a concern of the government, who pushes poor children to be formally trained before they are old enough for Kindergarten.
There are good reasons for the government to push early childhood education. Studies have shown that orphaned children who did not receive good care and education become developmentally delayed causing failure in school, and even in life. Further studies show that poor children who take part in Head Start programs are more prepared for school, less likely to end up in Special Education classes, and are less likely to receive public help or go to jail.
There are also negative parts to putting a child in formal education programs too early. Time Magazine online explains that “the younger the child the less his chances of catching up with first-grade work.” I have personally witnessed many children of my generation who went to Head Start programs become frustrated and bored with school before they finished high school. Yet patents have been sure that the earlier the child starts school, the better off he or she is, so they push to start childre
n earlier.
Actually while early formal education of poor children does show great gains in the early elementary years, studies also show that this head start is really a “false start”, as the gains are lost in middle and high school years. It seems that environment is a bigger factor on life’s success than early education. Head Start programs have not achieved its original goal in closing the achievement gap in poor and middle school children. Perhaps it is time to find other ways to close that gap. The purpose of the government valuing the early childhood education is ________.
| A．to develop the children’s communication |
| B．to give orphaned children good care and education |
| C．to get the children prepared for the kindergarten |
| D．to train the children formally and regularly |
According to the studies, which of the following is True?
| A．Children with good early education may have a rich life. |
| B．The orphaned children are usually unhappy in their life. |
| C．Children without early education can do well at school. |
| D．Head Start programs are helpful to the poor children. |
“……the younger the child the less his chances of catching up with first-grade work.” suggests that
_________.
| A．the early childhood education is helpless to the child’s grade |
| B．it is good for the young children to receive early education |
| C．the early education can help the children follow the grade |
| D．the younger the children are, the more clever they will be |
The author’s attitude toward the early childhood education is _________.
| A．puzzling | B．objective | C．indifferent | D．approving |
The main idea of the last passage is that __________.
| A．the early childhood education is very necessary |
| B．Head Start programs have helped the children a lot |
| C．environment is the most important to life’s success |
| D．better ways should be found to help the poor children |
Maurice Sendak's children's book，Where the Wild Things Are，published in 1963，has become very successful throughout the years and was made into a movie earlier this year.
The book's main character is a boy named Max who gets into trouble with his mother and is sent to bed without any supper.Before long，Max's room magically becomes a forest，and he sails away to a land where monsters live.Max isn't scared，though，and becomes king of the wild things，but after a while，he begins feeling homesick.Max sails back home and his supper is still hot when he arrives in his bedroom.
Many teachers and professors like this story and use it to help children develop creativity and imagination. Melina Davis，an education professor，said she likes how the book contains a couple of pages that have only pictures on them. “This allows children to shape the story themselves，” she said.
The book contains a few of larger words that some parents worry may confuse children，but experts say those words help improve children's reading skills and challenge them.
Davis said the book is well written which helps kids get involved in the story. “The book talks about what all children go through，like ‘I was naughty but my mommy still loves me'” Davis said.
The book also encourages children to face their fears.“I think it's really good to show that Max is friends with the monsters，” Davis said.“Kids can find out monsters aren't always the thing under the bed that's going to scare them.I think this is good because it shows that the children can go to scary places but still have a positive experience.”
Since the book has been successful throughout the years，a movie was recently made and many people are excited to see it.Davis said she thinks the movie will be wonderful but it might be a little scary for younger children.“You don't want bad dreams over a book that's extremely wonderful'” Davis said.Teachers and professors like the book Where the Wild Things Are because it helps children ________.
| A．learn to draw their own pictures |
| B．understand their own fear |
| C．develop more quickly |
| D．become more imaginative |
What is the intention of using the larger words in the book?
| A．To add to the difficulty while children are reading. |
| B．To help challenge the children's reading skills. |
| C．To cause the children some confusion. |
| D．To help children get involved in the story. |
Which of the following is TRUE about the book?
| A．The character Max is brave enough in the story. |
| B．Max was sent to the forest as punishment. |
| C．It is suitable for people of all ages. |
| D．It is the most popular children's book ever published. |
What does Davis think of the movie?
| A．She thinks children of all ages will love it. |
| B．She encourages children to see it to fight against their fear. |
| C．She worries that it might be too frightening for some children. |
| D．She believes it will be a better choice for children than the book. |
What's the author's purpose in writing the passage?
| A．To suggest ways to improve children's reading. |
| B．To comment on a famous children's book. |
| C．To encourage children to read scary stories. |
| D．To introduce a movie based on a children's book. |
In many countries today，laws protect wildlife.In India the need for such protection was realized centuries ago.
About 300 B．C.an Indian writer described forests that were somewhat like national parks today.The killing of game animals was carefully governed.Some animals were fully protected.Within the forest，nobody was allowed to cut trees，burn wood，or trap animals for their furs.Animals that became dangerous to human visitors were trapped or killed outside the park，so that other animals would not become uneasy.
The need for wildlife protection is greater now than ever before.About a thousand sorts of animals are in danger of extinction，and the speed at which they are being destroyed has been putting_on.With mammals(哺乳类动物)，for example，the speed of extinction is now about one sort every year；from A. D．1 to 1800，the speed was about one sort every fifty years.Everywhere，men are trying to solve the problem of saving wildlife while caring for the world's growing population.This report says that the need for protecting wildlife________.
| A．is met in many countries today |
| B．was understood centuries ago |
| C．is carried out in forests as well as in national parks |
| D．was described by an Indian writer about 2,300 years ago |
The report says that in Indian forests long ago________.
| A．hunters were given permits to hunt game |
| B．no killing of animals was allowed |
| C．only dangerous animals were killed |
| D．the killing of game animals was forbidden |
According to the report，men trying to save wildlife are thinking about ________as well.
| A．the animals in national parks |
| B．stricter laws against hunting |
| C．the trees in the forests |
| D．the needs of people |
The underlined phrase “putting on” in the third paragraph probably means ________.
| A．slowing down | B．rising |
| C．growing up | D．going on |
The growth of the world's population means________.
| A．greater danger to wild life |
| B．people like animals better |
| C．over a thousand sorts of animals are extinct |
| D．only one sort of animal is extinct every year |
Sure，it's good to get along well with your teacher because it makes the time you spend in the classroom more pleasant.
And yes，it's good to get along well with your teacher because，in general，it's smart to learn how to get along well with the different types of people you'll meet throughout your life.
In fact，kids who get along well with their teachers not only learn more，but they're more comfortable with asking questions and getting extra help.This makes it easier for them to understand new materials and makes them do their best on tests.When you have this kind of relationship with a teacher，he or she can be someone to turn to with problems，such as problems with learning or school issues(问题)．
Here is a question：what if you don't get along with your teachers？In fact，teachers want to get along well with you and enjoy seeing you learn.But teachers and students sometimes have personality clashes(个性冲突)，which can happen between any two people.If you show your teacher that you want to make the situation better，he or she will probably do everything possible to make that happen.By dealing with a problem like this，you learn something about how to get along with people who are different from you.
However if a certain teacher isn't your favorite，you can still have a successful relationship with her or him，especially ________.Here are some of those responsibilities(责任)：
Attend class ready to learn.
Be prepared for class with the right stationery，books，and completed assignments(作业)．
Listen when your teacher is talking.
Do your best，whether it's a classroom assignment，homework，or a test.The passage is written for ________.
| A．students | B．teachers |
| C．advisers | D．parents |
According to the passage，getting along well with your teachers will make you ________.
| A．have no problems with study |
| B．get a better seat in the classroom |
| C．get the best scores in the exams |
| D．have more pleasant time in the classroom |
The underlined word “that” in the fourth paragraph refers to ________.
| A．the happy time you have in the classroom |
| B．getting along very well with classmates |
| C．a better relationship between you and your teacher |
| D．the disappearance of personality differences |
“________”can be filled in the blank.
| A．if you fulfill(履行)your basic responsibilities as a student |
| B．if you are thought of as a good student |
| C．if you know some basic social skills |
| D．if you are easygoing and helpful |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．The importance of friendship in schools. |
| B．The importance of a good relationship with your teachers. |
| C．Studying skills for students. |
| D．Useful skills to get along well with your teachers. |
Dana Cummings was in his thirties before he first went surfing. But, even more interesting is that Dana Cummings chose to learn the sport after losing a leg in a car accident. Now, nine years later, he helps other disabled (伤残的) people learn how to ride the waves in AmpSurf.
On the coast of Maine, he is working with 27-year-old Matthew Fish, who is partly blind. Cummings takes hold of Fish and leads him into the ocean. The surfboard floats next to them. Fish lies on the surfboard. He tries to stand up on it. After a few attempts (尝试) he is up and riding all the way back to land. “That was exciting,” Fish says.
A car accident in 2002 took Dana Cummings’ leg. He says the crash changed him more than just physically. “Losing my leg made me realize how precious (珍贵的) life is and get off the couch and start living. I do more things now than I ever did before. Next week I am going to compete in a contest in Hawaii,” Dana says.
One year later Dana Cummings formed AmpSurf. AmpSurf is a group that volunteers to hold surfing classes and events for people with all kinds of disabilities.
Recently, AmpSurf took its training programs to the East Coast. Eleven students attended the class in Maine. They came from all over the northeastern United States.
Dana Cummings thinks AmpSurf can change the way a disabled person thinks. “Most people with disabilities consider himself or herself unlucky and useless, but we want them to see what they can do. Who cares you lose your leg or you are blind, whatever? Have fun. Just enjoy life. Take the most advantage of it you can,” Dana says.Matthew Fish thinks learning to ride the waves is _____.
| A．interesting | B．easy |
| C．boring | D．difficult |
When did Dana Cummings set up AmpSurf according to the text?
| A．In 2002. | B．In 2003. |
| C．In 2008. | D．In 2011. |
According to Dana Cummings, AmpSurf can _____.
| A．ease the physical pain of the disabled |
| B．help the disabled learn to get used to their life |
| C．change the attitude of the disabled towards life |
| D．make the disabled pay more attention to their disabilities |
What is the best title for the text?
| A．Dana Cummings — a great surfer |
| B．AmpSurf — a training group |
| C．How to learn to live with disabilities |
| D．Disabled surfers ride the waves |
After a year of being prepared, Laura Dekker can’t wait to set sail .Last August ,the Dutch government decided that Laura Dekker was too young to take on the challenge of sailing around the world alone. But after a year of preparing herself , Laura has been allowed to sail.
”I was so happy I almost jump into the water,” Laura said , after learning of the court’s judgement. She was born on a yacht(游艇) in the South Pacific ,and now lives with her father in a boat. When Dutch child protection groups first heard about her plan to sail alone , they stopped her from doing so .
Since the decision, though, Laura had been preparing with her father to persuade the courts that she was ready. Last week she received the books and other materials she would need for school while she was at sea. She added safety equipment to a new, big ship. And she took her first aid course to learn several survival skills, like how to put out fires on the boat, take care of her own injuries and deal with lack of sleep. She also planned a safer course --- adding alternate routes(备用路径) to avoid pirate(海盗) attacks, and planning a course that would have her on dry land as she moved from port to port across the world.
Laura is using a larger and more safer boat. If she finished successfully in less than two years, she will take the title from current record-holder Jessica Watson, of Australia, who was 16 when she completed the journey.Why didn’t the Dutch government allow Laura Dekker to sail alone ?
| A．She was too old to take care of herself |
| B．She was too young to sail alone. |
| C．She was not well prepared |
| D．It would cause trouble to the government. |
It can be inferred that Laura’s sailing plan was first ______.
| A．not allowed by her father and mother |
| B．supported by her father and mother |
| C．not allowed by Dutch child protection groups |
| D．supported by Dutch child protection groups |
When Laura is at sea ,she might _____.
| A．learn some lessons by herself |
| B．learn some lessons with the help of her father |
| C．stop her school lessons for some time |
| D．not learn any lessons of her schooling |
According to the passage , Laura made good preparations in the following EXCEPT _____.
A, struggling against sharks
B. learning knowledge in first aid
C. improving the yacht
D. improving herself with survival skills