Here is the Nine O’clock News：
1. President Absul Krim of Syria says that the danger of war in the Middle East is greater now than for the past two years. His country does not want war，he says，but the Syrian people have waited too long for an end to the troubles with their neighbors. If war comes，says Mr. Krim， Syria will be ready.
2. Ben Kitson，a writer of stories and plays for children，has died at his home in California. Mr. Kitson was 82. His most famous book of stories，“The Gentleman‘s House” sells all over the world，in more than twenty-five languages.
3. Policemen in New York have gone on
strike. Their leader Mr. Paul Angeli says that they will return to work only when they receive more money for working long hours and doing what Mr. Angeli calls “the most dangerous job in the city”。
4. It has been a good year on the farm. The warm， wet spring and the fine summer have been very good for all kinds of food plants. This means that fruits and vegetables will cost less in the shops this year.
5. MORE than 1，100 people committed suicide（自杀）in Beijing last year， and experts have been encouraging the capital to set up a mental health care system as soon as possible，local media reported last week. About 20 per cent of the people of Beijing live in unhealthy conditions，with 3 per cent of these suffering from affective disorder and 5 per cent reporting symptoms（症状）of depression，according to the Beijing Mental Health Service Centre.The Syrian people _______.
| A．are ready and waiting for war |
| B．are ready to wait another two years for war |
| C．do not want war，but will be ready if it comes |
| D．are a great danger of peace in the Middle East |
Mr. Kitson wrote _______.
| A．plays and stories for children |
| B．82 stories about his home in California |
| C．in more than twenty-five languages |
| D．books，and then sold them all over the world |
It can be inferred from the third piece of news that _________.
| A．policemen in New York hate their dangerous jobs |
| B．policemen in New York love their important jobs |
| C．the government will refuse to raise the policemen‘s salary and the policemen will never return to work |
| D．the government will be forced to raise the policemen‘s salary and the policemen will return to work |
As food plants have grown well， _______.
| A．fruit and vegetables will be cheaper this year |
| B．there will be a warm，wet spring and a fine summer |
| C．food will be cheaper than it was in the spring |
| D．plants will be cheaper in the shops this year |
What is the best title for the last pieces of news？
| A．MORE than 1,100 people committed suicide（自杀）in Beijing last year. |
| B．About 20 per cent of the people of Beijing live in unhealthy conditions. |
| C．Beijing needs mental health care |
| D．People living in Beijing suffer a lot. |
Lisa is ten years old. She is disabled because she has brain damage. She could not do even the simplest thing until a year ago. She could not comb her hairorfeed herself. Her parents loved her. And they treated her like a baby.
Mr. Ching has a daughter and a son. They are both grown. They live far from their father. Mr. Cling felt lonely. He decided to become a foster grandfather to a handicapped child. And that was how he met Lisa.
Foster grandparents are grandparents who are not related by birth but foster parents love the children they care for. They also help the handicapped children in special ways. They help to dress and feed the children. They read to them and tell them stories. They also help with handicapped children’s therapy. Therapy is the treatment of a diseaseordisorder. It helps the children overcome their handicaps.
Mr. Cling became a foster grandparent to Lisa when she was nine years old. At first, Lisa was shy. She was afraid because Mr. Cling was a stranger. But he came to see her every day, gradually she began to trust him. At last, Lisa let Mr. Cling do things for her.
Cling speaks for most foster grandparents when he say, “We all benefit. The handicapped children benefit because we help them live more useful lives. And we benefit because we know the children need us and love us. For any person, there is no greater happiness than that.”Why did Lisa need help?
| A．She was a baby |
| B．She did not want to do anything. |
| C．She had brain damage. |
| D．She was a blind girl. |
What does the underlined word “foster” in paragraph 2 mean?
| A．Elderly | B．Related by birth |
| C．Not related by birth | D．King-hearted |
Which five things do foster grandparents do for handicapped children?
a help with their treatment b dress them c live in their homes
d feed them e charge them money f read to them
g tell them stories h make fun of them
| A．a,b,d,e,f | B．a,c,e,f,h | C．b,c,d,f,g | D．a,b,d,f,g |
Why did Mr. Cling foster Lisa?
| A．Lisa needs looking after. |
| B．The passage doesn’t mention of. |
| C．Lisa need caring for and Mr. Cling also gets enjoyment from it. |
| D．Mr. Cling is too lonely. |
The best title for this passage is ________.
| A．Lisa, A Handicapped Girl |
| B．Why Did He Do That? |
| C．Foster Grandparents |
| D．The Greatest Happiness! |
The advertisement appeared in my e-mail—“1-800-Flowers: Mother’s Day Madness —for just $39.99！” I almost clicked on it, forgetting that those services would not be needed this year. My mother, Margaret Feiddman, died at the age of 89, and so this is my first Mother’s Day without my mom.
In my childhood, my mom appeared to be a typical suburban housewife of her generation. She sewed many of my sisters’ clothes, including both of their wedding dresses and boy’s suits for me. And on the side, she won several national bridge tournaments(桥牌锦标赛).
My mom left many indelible marks on me. The first was to never lose heart and to be independent. My dad died suddenly when I was 19. My mom worked hard for a couple of years. But in1975, I won a scholarship to study in Britain and my mom surprised us all by announcing that she decided to go with me. When I met difficulties, she always said: “You’re a man, so never lose heart, never be knocked down, and try your best to pursue(追求) your dreams.”
My mom’s other big influence on me is a sense of optimism. She had taken her knocks. But every time life knocked her down, she got up and kept on marching forward, encouraged by the saying that pessimists(悲观者) are usually right, optimists are usually wrong, but most great changes are made by optimists.
How I wish to listen to my mother’s words, and give my best regards on this Mother’s Day, but I have no chance now! My best friends, treasure(珍惜)your mother’s love!The author mentioned the advertisement to ___.
| A．show he’s tired of the advertisements |
| B．explain he missed his mother very much |
| C．make you believe that he was very kind |
| D．urge the readers to buy the present for their mothers |
What experience of the author’s mother surprised the author?
| A．That she volunteered to go to Britain with her son. |
| B．That she gained knowledge all by herself. |
| C．That she did all the housework by herself. |
| D．That she won several national bridge tournaments. |
What dose the underlined word “indelible” in the 3rd paragraph probably mean?
| A．be out of control | B．be easy to remember |
| C．be destroyed easily | D．be impossible to forget |
We can know about the author’s mother that_____.
| A．She encouraged the author to pursue his dreams |
| B．she felt very lonely in her late life |
| C．She never received a present from her children |
| D．she passed away before the author’s father |
Which can be the best title for the passage?
| A．My Great Mother | B．Mother and I |
| C．Treasure Mother’s Love | D．Mother’s Day Madness |
Do you know what your child is going to do when the school bell rings at the end of the day? More than 14 million students leave school every afternoon and have nowhere to go, since they do not have access to(使用) affordable afterschool opportunities. According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center (NYVPRC), 90% of the Americans think all youths should have access to afterschool programs(课外活动项目), but twothirds of parents say they have trouble finding programs locally. The bad news is that the situation may be getting worse.
Afterschool hours are the peak time for juvenile crimes and risky behaviors, including alcohol(酒精) and drug(药物) use. NYVPRC states that children who do not spend any time in afterschool activities are 49 percent more likely to use drugs and 37 percent more likely to become a teen parent. Kids are also at the highest risk of becoming a victim of violence after school, particularly between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The highest amount of juvenile crime occurs between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., when most children are dismissed from school(放学).
The NYVPRC defines afterschool programs as safe and structured activities that offer children opportunities to learn new skills. The skills students learn can range from technology and math to reading and art. Some programs also offer opportunities for internship (实习), community service, or mentoring. These programs have been shown to improve academic achievement, as well as relieve the stresses(减压) on working families. A report by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S Department of Justice shows that students in afterschool programs have fewer behavioral problems and more selfconfidence, and can handle conflicts better than students who are not involved with these programs. In addition, according to the Harvard Family Research Project, afterschool programs help students from low income families overcome the inequities (不公平) they face in the school system.Which of the following is TRUE according to the first paragraph?
| A．Most parents don't believe in afterschool programs. |
| B．Students are not willing to attend afterschool programs. |
| C．It's difficult for parents to find afterschool programs for their kids. |
| D．Parents don't care about where their children go after school. |
The underlined word “juvenile” in Paragraph 2 has a similar meaning to “________”.
| A．student | B．teenager | C．adult | D．campus |
We learn from the second paragraph that________.
| A．the teachers should watch over kids after school |
| B．children are dismissed from school too late |
| C．afterschool hours are a risky time for children |
| D．children should go home immediately school is over |
The author of the passage probably________.
| A．fully supports afterschool programs |
| B．doubts the effects of afterschool programs |
| C．believes structured activities are useless for children |
| D．thinks students today are too stressed |
What is the theme of the passage?
| A．Prevention of juvenile crimes. |
| B．Risks kids face after school. |
| C．A research report on the stresses of the students. |
| D．The benefits of afterschool programs. |
The United States of America is the most culturally diverse(多样化) country in the world in terms of culture religion, ethnicity(种族) and sexual orientation. As a combination of various races and cultures, America is home to all. The culture here is so unique that citizens can be just as proud of their original cultural heritage(遗产) as they are to be American.
What is now the US was initially inhabited(居住) by native people until the land was settled by various European groups and African slaves. Since the 20th century, the country has become a heaven for people from all over the globe(全球).
The arrival of immigrants(移民) has shifted populations from rural(农村的) areas into cities because immigrants tend to settle in urban areas. At present, 81 percent of the inhabitants in the US live in cities.
Cultural and ethnic diversity adds a unique flavor to cities that is expressed through distinct(独特的) neighborhoods, restaurants, places of worship, museums, nightlife and multicultural learning environments.
Unique musical forms, such as jazz, rock and roll, Chicano music, and the blues, grow in the US by mixing a variety of culturally distinct musical traditions to create a new form.
At the executive (行政的) level, the country is headed by a mixedrace president; two posts(职位) on the Supreme Court are held by members of the country's two largest minorities.There is also diversity in state and local governments.
Without its rich mixture of races and cultures, America would not be the nation that it is today. Founded upon the basis of equality and freedom, America acts as a stage where different cultures not only coexist peacefully, but develop well.According to the passage, America is a country________.
| A．that welcomes people from all over the world |
| B．where citizens take more pride in their original culture |
| C．that is mostly settled by Europeans and Africans |
| D．where 81% of the population are immigrants |
Where did most people live before many immigrants came to America?
| A．In the urban areas. | B．In the rural areas. |
| C．In the southern part of America. | D．In the northern part of America. |
We can learn from the sixth paragraph that________.
| A．diversity(多样化) has existed in America in almost every aspect(方面) |
| B．most posts in American state governments are held by mixedrace people |
| C．equality and freedom make America a fair country |
| D．diversity has greatly affected the American political field |
What's the best title for this passage?
| A．The effects of culture and diversity on America. |
| B．The influence of globalization on America. |
| C．The political development of America. |
| D．The bright future of America. |
We would most probably read this passage in a book about________.
| A．science | B．history | C．culture | D．amusement |
Tabb doesn't look like a typical music teacher. But every weekday evening in the French Quarter New Orleans, he beats out the rhythm on his music stand as students play their chosen instruments.
“I'm doing my best to take young people away from harmful things,” said Tabb. His program, "The Roots of Music”, offers free music education to more than 100 students. He struggles to keep young people on the straight and narrow in the city with the nation's highest murder rate(凶杀率).
Tabb chose to target 9to14yearolds with his program. “That's a very important time in your life,” he said. “If I catch them then, I can hold onto them for at least four or five years and guide them the way that will lead them to success.”
Students meet from 4 pm to 7 pm every weekday, all year round. They work with tutors(助教) on schoolwork, practice their music and eat a hot meal before heading home. With the money provided by some people, Tabb's group is able to provide bus transportation, instruments and food for free. He calls it his “no excuse” policy. “You have no excuse why you're not here,” Tabb said. Tabb owes the success in part to the nature of music. “You're always learning something new,”he said. “That's what keeps the kids coming back every day.”
But the program isn't only about fun. “Music is about discipline (纪律),”said Tabb. He insists on good behavior and keeps kids in order with threats of situps(仰卧起坐), pushups(俯卧撑) or tasks like picking up grains of rice — but these measures aren't just punishment. Tabb wants young people to realize that music can help them build a better future. “I don't say that I'm saving lives,” he said. “I say I'm giving life — a whole different life of music.”The underlined phrase "keep young people on the straight and narrow” may mean ________.
| A．keep young people standing straight |
| B．keep young people on the correct life track(道路) |
| C．keep young people busy performing music |
| D．keep young people away from the dangerous parts of the city |
Which of the following kids may NOT be included in Tabb's program “ The Roots of Music”？
| A．Jack, 8 years old. | B．Tom, 9 years old. |
| C．John, 11 years old. | D．Linda, 13 years old. |
What attracts children to join in the program to learn music?
| A．The free food and transportation. | B．The famous music teacher. |
| C．The chance to learn new things. | D．The strict discipline rules. |
By saying “music is about discipline”, Tabb means ________.
| A．keeping discipline is more important than learning music |
| B．obeying(遵守) rules is important in playing music well |
| C．music is also connected with kids' grades |
| D．kids can learn how to behave through music |
What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．Tabb's program offers young people help. |
| B．Kids improve grades through music learning. |
| C．Tabb offers kids free food to learn music. |
| D．Tabb performs music for street children. |