Most American students go to traditional public schools.There are about 88, 000 public schools, all over the US.Some students attend about 3000 independent public schools called charter schools.
Charter schools are self-governing.Private companies operate some charter schools.They are similar in some ways to traditional public schools.They receive tax money just as other public schools do.Charter schools must prove to local or state governments that their students are learning.These governments provide the schools with the agreement called a charter that permits them to operate.
Charter schools are different because they do not have to obey most laws governing traditional public schools.Local, state, or federal governments cannot tell them what to teach.Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach them.Class size is usually smaller than in traditional public schools.
The Bush Administration strongly supports charter schools as a way to re-organize public schools that are failing to educate students.But some education agencies and unions oppose charter schools.One teachers' union has just made public the results of the first national study comparing the progress of students in traditional schools and charter schools.
The American Federation of Teachers criticized the government's delay in releasing the results of the study, which is called the National Assessment of Educational Progress.Union education experts say the study shows that charter school students performed worse on math and reading tests than students in regular public schools.
Some experts say the study is not a fair look at charter schools because students in those schools have more problems than students in traditional schools.Other education experts say the study results should make charter school officials demand improved student progress.If a private company wants to operate a charter school, it must______.
A.try new methods of teaching |
B.prove its management ability |
C.obey the local and state laws |
D.get the government's permission |
Charter schools are independent because_____.
A.they make greater progress |
B.their class size is smaller |
C.they enjoy more freedom |
D.they oppose traditional ways |
What's the government's attitude toward charter schools?
A.Doubtful | B.Supportive. | C.Subjective. | D.Optimistic. |
What can we learn from the text?
A.More students choose to attend charter schools. |
B.Charter schools are better than traditional schools. |
C.Students in charter schools are well educated. |
D.People have different opinions about charter schools. |
It can be interred from the text that ___.
A.charter schools are part of the public education system |
B.one-on-one attention should be paid to students |
C.the number of charter schools will be limited |
D.charter schools are all privately financed |
More than half of parents in the United States are helping , or have helped their adult children who have been hit by high unemployment and stagnant(无变化的)wages, according to a new survey. It showed that present economic conditions are discouraging young adults from leaving home and forcing those who have already gone, so - called boomerang children, to return.
“Parents are continuing their financial involvement longer than we expected,” said Ted Beck, the president and CEO of National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE).
About 60 percent of parents questioned in the survey said they are helping their adult children who are no longer in school financially, providing housing and living expenses.
For an increasing number of adult children, the situation is bad. Two - thirds of adult children, aged 18 to 39, who are not in school said they faced tougher financial pressures than previous generations, according to the survey. And nearly one - third of parents agreed that it was easier for them to earn money than for their children.
Parents are helping their children out of genuine concern, and because they do not want to see them struggle. But Beck said that parents who make sacrifices to help their adult children should be cautious about their own finances.
“If you are taking on extra debt or delaying retirement to help your adult child, you could be making a mistake and putting your own financial future in danger.” Beck warned.
Boomerang children can also cause other problems for their parents. Thirty percent of parents said they had given up privacy since their adult children moved back home, while more than a quarter have taken on added debt, and ten percent have delayed retirement. But the survey also showed that 42 percent of adult children living at home are helping with the cooking and cleaning.The underlined words “boomerang children” in the first paragraph likely means ________.
A.adult children visiting parents often |
B.married adult children |
C.adult children depending on parents for financial support |
D.adult children independent and successful in life |
What is Ted Beck’s suggestion to the parents?
A.Asking their children to help with the housework. |
B.Leaving their children to struggle to live. |
C.Being careful when helping their children financially. |
D.Putting off their time of retirement. |
According to the survey, we can know that ________.
A.about 50% of parents give money to their adult children to cover the daily cost |
B.two - thirds of adult children are faced with financial problems in school |
C.one - third of adult children earn money more easily than their parents |
D.one in ten parents has delayed retirement |
What is the main idea of the whole text?
A.Adult children are less independent. |
B.Parents help support adult children. |
C.Bad conditions affect children a lot. |
D.Adult children like living with parents. |
An Ofsted (英国教育标准办公室)study reports that teachers are discouraging students who want to leave school and work as apprentices (学徒)in beauty salons (美容中心)or hair dressers.
Inspectors questioned 105 young people for a report on apprenticeships published on Wednesday. They found several examples of young people who felt they had been laughed at by their teachers for wanting to progress to work-based learning, particularly in care or hairdressing, rather than stay on at school.
Right or wrong, is it any surprise that this is happening? From 2014,the government will measure schools according to the rate of their pupils who go to university. Brian Lightman , general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, says the government has already put teachers under “very great pressure to focus on academic subjects”
On the other hand, the Education Act 2011,which came into force in November, places schools under a duty to give fair career advice to pupils. This advice must include information on all post-16 education and training choices, including apprenticeships. This doesn’t appear to be happening in several schools, according to Ofsted9S report. Many of the young people the inspectors talked to said the advice they had received on apprenticeships was “unsatisfactory”.
Schools were also blamed for lack of work experience courses, which are particularly important for teenagers considering an apprenticeship. They help students decide whether they enjoy a line of work and enable employers to see whether those on work experience have the potential to be hired as apprentices in future years.
But there is a good reason why they can’t do this: they’d be unable to adapt to GCSE (英国齊通中等教育证书)exams if they did. Sometimes, it seems, schools just can’t win.Why do teachers oppose the students’ leaving school and working as apprentices?
A.The government urges teachers to concentrate on academic subjects. |
B.The students are only wasting time working as apprentices. |
C.Employers are under great pressure of taking GCSE exams. |
D.Employers don’t give students chances to work as apprentices |
Pressure for schools to provide pupils with career advice comes from ______.
A.Association of School and College Leaders |
B.Education Act 2011 |
C.GCSE exams |
D.OFSTED |
The underlined word “They” in Paragraph 5 refers to _____.
A.schools |
B.employers |
C.work experience courses |
D.teenagers considering an apprenticeship |
What does the author think of teachers’ discouraging students working as apprentices?
A.Surprising | B.Understandable |
C.Wrong | D.Right |
Amazing Rafting Adventures
White water rafting is one of the classic, wild, activities in the outdoors. It is also an opportunity for an unbelievable family adventure. Around the country, there are several rivers—and rafting outfitters—that are perfectly suited to the entire family.
Here are three of the best:
New River Gorge, West Virginia
Rafting in West Virginia is renowned for its established infrastructure, reliability, and easy access. These things make it an obvious choice for a family vacation. Famous areas, including the New River Gorge, offer everything from lazy floats to intense Class IV runs.
READ MORE: Water Water Rafting: Top 5 U.S. Locations
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole provides a full range of opportunities in the outdoors—and white water rafting is certainly one of them. Popular trips include the rough rapids of the Snake River and gentle floats in nearby Yellowstone National Park.
READ MORE: What You Need to Know Before Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon, Arizona
For really bold families, a multi-day trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is the penultimate adventure. Guided trips typically pack in boats-worth of supplies so the overnight adventures are far from “roughing it.” Instead, evenings are catered in a rugged luxury style, allowing everyone to rest up for the next day’s activities.
Whether looking for a casual float or a challenging adventure, white water rafting is a great option for any active family vacation. What is the common feature of the three rafting adventures?
A.All three rafting rivers are suitable for the whole family. |
B.All three rafting rivers are boring to access and reliable |
C.All three rafting rivers are suitable for active families |
D.All three rafting rivers offer overnight adventures |
Which of the following about Grand Canyon, Arizona is NOT true?
A.A multi-day trip down the Colorado River is really challenging. |
B.Really brave families will like to have a multi-day trip down the river |
C.Everyone can rest for the next day’s activities. |
D.People can only enjoy the rough rapids down the river |
What is the author’s attitude to white water rafting?
A.Passive | B.Encouraging | C.Discouraging | D.Negative |
There are two dangers to be guarded against in old age. One of these is undue absorption in the past. It does not do to live in memories, in regrets for the good old days, or in sadness about friends who are dead. One’s thoughts must be directed to the future and to things about which there is something to be done.
It is unwise to be too attached to the youth in the hope of sucking vigor from its vitality. When your children are grown up they want to live their own lives, and if you continue to be as interested in them as you were when they were young, you are likely to become a burden to them, unless they are cold to you.
I think that a successful old age is easiest for those who have strong impersonal interests involving appropriate activities. It is in this sphere that long experience is really fruitful, and it is in this sphere that the wisdom born of experience can be exercised without being oppressive. It is no use telling grown-up children not to make mistakes, both because they will not believe you, and because mistakes are an essential part of education. But if you are one of those who are incapable of impersonal interests, you may find that your life will be empty unless you concern yourself with you children and grandchildren. In that case you must realize that while you can still render them material services, such as making them an allowance or knitting them jumpers, you must not expect that they will enjoy your company.
Some old people are afraid of death. But in fact the best way is to make your interests gradually wider and ore impersonal. An individual human existence should be like a river-small at fist, rushing passionately past rocks and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider and the banks move back and in the end they become mixed in the sea without any visible break.
The old man who can see life in this way will not suffer from the fear of growing old and death.The author suggests that old people should_______.
A.develop impersonal interests with proper activities. |
B.tell their children not to make mistakes |
C.concern themselves with their children |
D.not give their children an allowance |
The underlined word “render” in Paragraph 3 is close to the meaning of “_____”.
A.return | B.reward | C.offer | D.demand |
The author compares an individual human existence to a river because _____.
A.Life is like a river, first small, and then it becomes wide |
B.life is like a river finally flowing into the sea |
C.old age and death are both natural just like a river |
D.old people will be mixed in the crowd like a river mixed in the sea |
What’s the best title of this passage?
A.Setting Sun Is Beautiful | B.Growing Old Successfully |
C.Why Fear Getting Old | D.Caring for Olds More |
I’m not so sure I like my friends any more. I used to like them-to be honest. We’d have lunch, talk on the phone or exchange emails, and they all seemed normal enough. But then came Face Book, and I was introduced to a sad fact: many of my friends have dark sides that they had kept from me.
Today my friends show off the more unpleasant aspects of their personalities via FaceBook. No longer hidden, they’re thrown in my face like TV commercials -unavoidable and endless advertisements for the worst of their personalities.
Take Fred. If you were to have lunch with him, you’d find him warm, and self-effacing(谦逊的).Read his FaceBook and you’ll realize he’s an unbearable, food-obsessed boring man. He’d pause to have a cup of coffee on his way to save a drowning man-and then write about it.
Take Andy. You won’t find a smarter CEO anywhere, but now he’s a CEO without a company to run. So he plays Mafia Wars on FaceBook. He’s doing well-level 731. Thanks to FaceBook, I know he’s playing about 18 hours a day. Andy, you’ve run four companies-and this is how you spend your downtime? What happned to golf?What happened to getting another job?
Take Liz. She is positive that the flu vaccine will kill us all and that we should avoid it. And then comes Chris who likes to post at least 20 times a day on every website he can find, so I get to read his thoughts twice, once on FaceBook and once on Twitter.
In real life, I don’t see these sides of people. Face to face, my friends show me their best. They’re nice, smart people. But face to FaceBook, my friends is like a blind date which goes horribly wrong.
I’m left with a dilemma. Who is my real friend?Is it the Liz I have lunch with or the anti-vaccine madman on FaceBook? Is it the Fred I can grab a sandwich with or the Fred who weeps if he’s at a party and the wine isn’t up to his standard? Who is opposed to the flu vaccine in the text?
A.Fred | B.Andy | C.Liz | D.Chris |
What’s Andy probably busy in doing now?
A.He’s running his company |
B.He’s playing golf all day |
C.He’s looking for another job |
D.He’s playing computer games |
According to the text, FaceBook tends to _______.
A.present another side of people |
B.offer some foods for free |
C.show endless advertisements |
D.get you to more parties |
The text is developed mainly by _____.
A.giving examples | B.following the time order |
C.listing figures | D.raising questions |