In America, when the eighth graders leave the middle school, they are often worried about moving to the high school. It is a hard time for them, but it can be an exciting one as well. To make it easier, students need to get familiar with their school.
Even though they’ve done this already in the middle school, it’s still important to find where their classrooms are. Most schools take students to the high school for a visit at the end of their eighth grade year. And, most schools also have a freshman (新生) speech for parents and students before the first year begins. Sometimes the main office will give away a map of the school. This can help students and parents to find different places in the school.
One way to know your high school more and make new friends is to join a club or play a sport. Schools often offer chances to join different clubs and sports. Fall activities begin in August before the first day of school. If you are not interested in sports, there are clubs for any interest, such as drama, dance, chess, photography, community service, etc. These clubs allow students from different grades. By joining an activity, students can find new friendships, not to mention improving their chances in future college applications (申请). The school office will have a list of activities offered at the school and information on how to join them.
What’s more, to have a great start to a high school year, students can write down some of their worries, and ask for help from teachers and school workers.According to the text, most students feel ________ when entering the high school.
| A．excited | B．nervous | C．lonely | D．disappointed |
Which of the following is TRUE about the school clubs?
| A．There are fewer students from higher grades in the school clubs. |
| B．The school clubs in high school only welcome sports fans. |
| C．Summer activities begin before school starts. |
| D．The school office can help new students join school clubs. |
When do many schools take students to visit their new high school?
| A．Before the eighth grade year starts. |
| B．Right after the high school year starts. |
| C．At the beginning of the new term in the high school. |
| D．At the end of their eighth grade year |
The main offices will give away maps of their schools________.
| A．only to help students to find different places of the schools |
| B．only to help parents to find different places of the schools |
| C．to help students and parents to find different classrooms of the schools |
| D．to help students and parents to find different places of the schools |
What is the purpose of this text?
| A．To tell the new students how to learn in high school |
| B．To introduce new schools. |
| C．To give the teachers some advice. |
| D．To give advice to new high school students. |
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.
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 purple 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(效忠宣誓).
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 (核心) 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 graduation ceremony. |
| B．The opening ceremony of a sports meeting. |
| C．A presentation of college diplomas. |
| D．A US college’s farewell party. |
According to the text, which of the following statements about the author is TRUE?
| A．Hollywood superstars went to attend the ceremony. |
| B．Every single senior became a superstar at the ceremony. |
| C．When each graduate got his or her diploma, there were cheers. |
| D．All graduates would treasure the diploma for the rest of their lives. |
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．b-d-c-e-a | C．e-d-b-a-c | D．e-d-c-b-a |
From the text, we can infer that_______.
| A．foreign exchange students could get a diploma |
| B．a diploma guarantees a bright future |
| C．the ceremony symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in life |
| D．everyone felt excited at the presentation of the diploma |
Read this article and find out which one is a must-read for your children for Thanksgiving.
Clifford’s Thanksgiving Visit
Clifford has to stay home with his neighbors, as Emily Elizabeth’s family goes visiting her grandmother. At first, Clifford feels lonely, thinking of his own family, but then he decides to visit his mother too. He travels many miles, crosses bridges, and he even gets into the subway! Follow Clifford’s trip to the big city! At http://www.powells.com. it is $3.99. The author is Norman Bridwell. It is for children aged 4-8.
The Magic Tree House
The Magic Tree House describes how Jack and Annie return back to the eve of the first Thanksgiving. There they meet the pilgrims(移民) as well as Squanto, a native American who helped them. The story offers an age-appropriate, in-depth picture of what life was really like for early settlers, as well as their adventures and excitements. It is for ages 4-8. The book costs
$2.50 at http://www.powells.com. The author is Sal Murdocca.
Franklin’s Thanksgiving
Franklin thinks that there will be an over-abundance of food for Thanksgiving dinner. So he invites his teacher and friends for Thanksgiving dinner. It costs $2.50 at www.Powells.com. The book is for children aged 4-8. The author is Paulette Bourgeois.
The First Thanksgiving
The First Thanksgiving is for ages 4-8 and it tells about the story of the pilgrims’ learning languages. It is beautifully illustrated with plenty of beautiful watercolors(水彩画). The author is James Waiting and the price of the book is $2.50. You can find it on http://www.powells.com.Clifford travels to the big city probably because ________.
| A．he is eager to visit his grandmother | B．he is not happy at home |
| C．he misses his neighbors very much | D．he likes traveling very much |
If you are interested in the pilgrims’ life you can read ________.
| A．Clifford’s Thanksgiving Visit | B．The Magic Tree House |
| C．Franklin’s Thanksgiving | D．The First Thanksgiving |
Kids can understand The First Thanksgiving better with the help of ________.
| A．teachers | B．other readers | C．pictures | D．computers |
Mr. Patrick was new to the school and to us. Even though he was a great teacher, he seemed rather like a character out of a horror movie. He didn’t look that bad, but somehow, he looked extremely scary to me.
Some kids began to believe that he was a murderer or a ghost; some believed he was mad and a few believed that he might have suffered a lot in his life. I was one of those ‘few’.
One day I gathered up my courage and headed towards the school garden. He was, as usual, sitting on a bench alone. I breathed heavily a few times and then walked towards him.
“How are you?” I asked with my voice crackling.
He managed to say, “Fine.”
“Well, good to know,” I tried to be happy.
“Hmmm…” was all I heard.
“What’s up with you?” then seeing a puzzled look on his face, I tried to be more formal and respectful. “I mean, why aren’t you like all other people in the school? Why are you always so quiet and sad? Why…”
“No dear, some things are better left unsaid,” he said gloomily.
“Oh no sir, nothing is better left unsaid. If you want to share your feelings with me and reduce the pain of your heart, you are free to do so. I promise I will never ever tell anyone.”
“With you? You are just a little girl; what will you understand?”
I was somehow offended but still I managed to persuade him, “So what, Sir? You see, if you tell me your problem, you will have a light heart and you will have the feeling that someone somewhere cares about you.”
“Oh okay, that was a very nice belief indeed; let’s take a walk and I will let you know everything.”
Soon after our little talk, there was a visible change on his face. Later that day in the class, there was a smile on his face.From the text, we can know about Mr. Patrick that he .
| A．once acted a character in a horror movie |
| B．scared his students with his looks |
| C．often punished the students for bad marks |
| D．did better in teaching than others in the school |
Mr. Patrick was thought by the author to .
| A．be a murderer or a ghost | B．be mad |
| C．have suffered a lot | D．have a special personality |
While walking towards Mr. Patrick in the school garden, the author felt .
| A．excited | B．nervous | C．worried | D．happy |
THE WAY TO READ FAST
Perhaps you have been told about some habits（习惯） which stop a person reading fast、and have been strongly asked to break those habits which you might have.
Do you still have any of these bad habits7 Check yourself by answering "yes" or "no" to
these questions:
1. Do you move your lips(嘴唇) when reading silently？
2. Do you point to words with your finger as you read?
3. Do you move your head from side to side as you read?
4. Do you read one word at a time?
If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, start at once to break the habit.
If you move your lips, hold your fingers over them, or hold a piece of paper between your lips while you are reading. Then if your lips move, you will know it and can stop them.
If you point to words, hold the two sides of your book, one side with your left hand, the other side with your right hand. Then you will not have a free finger to use in pointing while reading.
If you move your head, place your chin（下巴）in one hand, and hold your head still(不动地，静止地).
If you read no more than one or two or three words at a time, you need to work very hard in learning to take in more words at each glance(看一眼) as your eyes travel across the lines of words.You may hold your fingers over your lips while reading
| A．to hold a piece of paper between them |
| B．to stop yourself talking to others |
| C．to tell others to be silent |
| D．to feel whether y our lips move or not |
When your eyes travel across the lines of words,
| A．you need to read the words out |
| B．you need to look at every word carefully |
| C．you need to read several words at a time |
| D．you need to remember every word |
When you read,
| A．don’t use your finger to point to words |
| B．don’t hold your books with your hands |
| C．don’t hold your head still |
| D．don’t do any of the things mentioned(提到)above. |
When other nine-year–old kids were playing games , she was working at a petrol station．When other teens were studying or going out , she struggled to find a place to sleep on the street．But she overcame these terrible setbacks to win a highly competitive scholar and gain entry to Harvard University．
Her amazing story has inspired a move , “ Homeless to Harvard : The Liz Murray Story ”, shown in late April．
Liz Murray , a year- old American girl , has been writing a real-life story of willpower and determination．
Liz grew up in the shadow of two drug-addicted．There was never enough food or warm clothes in the house．Liz was the only member of the family who had a job．
Her mother had AIDS and died when Liz was just 15 years old．The effect of that loss became a turning point in her life．Connecting the environment in which she had grown up with how her mother had died , she decided to do something about it．
Liz went back to school．She threw herself into her studies , never telling her teachers that she was homeless．At night , she lived on the streets．
“ What drove me to survive had to do with understanding , by understanding that there was a whole other way of being．I had only experienced a small part of the society , ” she wrote in her book “ Breaking Night ”．
She admitted that she used envy to drive herself on．She used the benefits that come easily to others , such as a safe living environment , to encourage herself that “ next to nothing could hold me down ”．
She finished high school in just two years and won a full scholarship to study at Harvard University．But Liz decided to leave her top university for a couple of moths earlier this year in order to take care of her father , who has also developed AIDS．“ I love my parents so much．They are drug addicts．But I never forget that they love me all the time．”
Liz wants moviegoers to come away with the idea that changing your life is “ as simple a making a decision．”In which order did the following thing happen to Liz ?
a．Mum died b．Worked at the petrol station
c．Got admitted into Harvard d．had trouble finding a place to sleep
| A．b-a-d-c | B．a-b-d-c | C．d-b –a –c | D．b-d-a –c |
What decision did Liz make that changed her life ?
| A．To go back to school | B．To go to the best university |
| C．To survive | D．To live a different life from her parents |
What actually drove her on towards her goal ?
| A．Envy | B．Her love for her parents |
| C．He Mum’s death | D．Her willpower and determination |
When she wrote “ I had only experienced a small part of the society ”, she _____
| A．wanted to encourage herself |
| B．suggested something she wanted for her life |
| C．suggested people often look back |
| D．meant that she had little experience |