Dear Parents,
It is almost a week since school began. I hope that you and your child are settled and comfortable in the arrangement of the new school year. I would like to take this opportunity to give you news about the art project that the eighth grade students and I will be working on during this unit.
My name is Molly Atkinson and I am a new middle school teacher here at MSAE in Kauai. I feel that it is important for you to know that my approach to classroom management is inspired by Maharishi’s Principle of Ideal Teaching. I believe that it is the most positive method for guiding our students’ education. I also believe that by keeping the lessons interesting, the classroom will be a creative environment for the students to explore the artistic process. My experience with the class this week makes me believe that the students and I will have a fruitful and caring experience in our time together.
The students’ first project is a three-part work that begins with the creation of a collage (拼贴画). A pencil drawing of the collage will follow. The third part of the project will be a geometrical three-dimensional (几何三维的) drawing of the collage. The students have jumped right into the project with enthusiasm (热情) and focus. I can tell that we are going to have a very productive unit.
On October 30th, the students will have a showing of their work for you. I look forward to meeting all of you that day. If you would like to get hold of me before that time I will be here after school until 4:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays and can be available on other afternoons by appointment (预约). I may also be reached at my e-mail address: matkinson@kdsi.net. I am very happy to be here and look forward to working with the eighth grade students.
Sincerely,
Molly AtkinsonIt can be learned that the letter was written _____.
| A．after the school year ended |
| B．before the new school year started |
| C．in the middle of the school year |
| D．at the beginning of the new school year |
The letter was most probably written by _____.
| A．an art teacher |
| B．an eighth grader |
| C．a school gardener |
| D．a head teacher |
In Paragraph 2, Atkinson mentions _____.
| A．her long work experience |
| B．her close relationships with the students |
| C．the teaching method she applies |
| D．the training aim of the new term |
The underlined words “that time” in the last paragraph refer to _____.
| A．October 30th |
| B．4:30 on Mondays |
| C．4:30 on Wednesdays |
| D．other afternoons |
Why don’t birds get lost on their long migratory (迁居的) flights? Scientists have puzzled over this question for many years. Now they’re beginning to fill in the blanks.
Not long ago, experiments showed that birds rely on the sun to guide them during daylight hours. But what about birds that fly mainly by night? Tests with artificial stars have proved conclusively that certain night-flying birds are able to follow the stars in their long-distance flights.
One such bird, a warbler(鸣禽) , had spent its lifetime in a cage and had never flown under a natural sky. Yet it showed an inborn ability to use the stars for guidance. The bird’s cage was placed under an artificial star-filled sky at migration time. The bird tried to fly in the same direction as that taken by his outdoor cousins. Any change in the direction of the make-be-live stars caused a change in the direction of his flight. Scientists think that warblers, when flying in daylight, use the sun for guidance. But the stars are apparently their main means of navigation (导航). What do they do when the stars are hidden by clouds? Apparently, they find their way by such landmarks as mountain ranges, coast lines, and river courses. But when it’s too dark to see these, the warblers circle helplessly, unable to get their direction.The reasons why birds don’t get lost on migratory flights__________.
| A．have been known to scientists for many years |
| B．are known by everyone |
| C．have only recently been discovered |
| D．will probably remain a mystery |
Warblers migrate__________.
| A．from North America to South America |
| B．using what is apparently an inborn navigational ability |
| C．only once during their lifetime |
| D．when they are freed from their cages |
When the stars are hidden by clouds, warblers find their way by__________ .
| A．an artificial star | B．some landmarks |
| C．their inborn ability | D．A and B |
This article is a good example of the way scientists__________ .
| A．discover workable answers to universal questions by studying particular cases(特别案例) |
| B．jump to conclusions |
| C．find a law and then investigate（调查） |
| D．are disappointed by the habits of animals |
Read the following posters carefully and answer the questions below.
| Basketball Match Rockets VS Lakers DATE: July 19, 7 o’clock; Billy Basketball Club For detailed information, see Paul Burton before Friday lunch time. |
| Layla’s Disco No-shop light music show 15 Pembroke Road; Weekdays: 7 pm-11 pm; Sunday closed Over 18s only |
| Fashion Show At the Daxing Square Date: May the 1st to the 8th From 7:30 to 11:00 pm Booking agent: Peter Smith— 010-8266 1555 |
| KARMA Health Food Restaurant 6 Castle Street Hot and cold vegetable food(素食) Lunch(11:00—14:00) Self-service; Dinner(17:00—21:00) Table-service For bookings, ring 0865-5677665 |
________ can give you more information about the basketball match.
| A．John Smith. | B．Tommy Brown. | C．Paul Burton. | D．Tonny Wang. |
Who can’t be allowed to go to the Layla’s Disco?
| A．A 30-year-old worker. | B．A 50-year-old doctor. |
| C．A 22-year-old manager. | D．A 15-year-old student. |
You must phone ________ if you want to get a ticket for the fashion show.
| A．the booking agent | B．the teacher |
| C．the manager | D．a postman |
Which of the following food can you have at KARMA?
| A．Chicken. | B．Tomato. | C．Fish. | D．Beef. |
When a rather dirty, poorly dressed person kneels at your feet and puts out his hands to beg for a few coins, do you hurry on, not knowing what to do, or do you feel sad and hurriedly hand over some money? What should our attitude to beggars be? There can be no question that the world is full of terribly sad stories. It must be terrible to have no idea where our next meal is going to come from. It seems cruel not to give some money to beggars.
Certainly, most of the world’s great religions order us to be open-hearted and share what we have with those less fortunate than ourselves. But has the world changed? Maybe what was morally（道德方面）right in the old days, when one knew exactly who in the village had suffered misfortune and needed help, is no longer the best idea. Quite a few people will not give to beggars. Let us look at their arguments.
First, some believe that many city beggars dress up on purpose to look pitiable and actually make a good living from begging. Giving to beggars only encourages this sort of evil（恶行）.
Secondly, there is the worry that the money you give will be spent on beer, wine or drugs.
Thirdly, there is the opinion that there is no real excuse for begging. One might be poor, but that is no reason for losing one’s sense of pride and self-dependence.
There is an opinion that the problem should be dealt with by the government rather than ordinary people. Some people think the local government department should help the beggars
It is hard to come to any final conclusion: there are various cases and we must deal with them differently. A few coins can save a life in some situations, and even if the money is wasted, that does not take away the moral goodness of the giver.What is mainly discussed in the passage?
| A．Moral deeds of people. |
| B．Arguments on giving to beggars. |
| C．Moral goodness of the giver. |
| D．Religious activities of the church. |
What can we infer from the underlined sentence “But has the world changed?” in Para.2 ?
| A．People no longer know who suffers misfortune in the village. |
| B．Some people will not do what was morally right in the past. |
| C．We don’t meet with those who need help any more. |
| D．Now it is the government’s duty to help the beggars. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Some people dress up to pretend to be beggars. |
| B．Some beggars have no excuse for begging. |
| C．Some beggars use the money to buy drugs. |
| D．Some beggars need money for their children’s schooling. |
In the last paragraph, the writer thinks that it is hard to come to any final conclusion, because________.
| A．there is so much money wasted |
| B．there are so many beggars |
| C．the cases can be so different |
| D．there are so many different arguments |
Recently Dr. Cleiman has proved that everyone has a daily energy cycle. During the hours when you labor (work) through your work, you may say that you are “hot”. That is true, the time of day when you feel most energetic is when your cycle of body temperature is at its peak (顶峰). For some people the peak comes during the forenoon (上午前). For others it comes in the afternoon or evening. No one has discovered why this is so.
Much family quarrelling ends when husbands and wives realize what this energy cycle means and which cycle each member of the family has.
You cannot change your cycle, but you can learn to make your life fit it better. “Habits can help,” Dr. Cleiman believes. If your energy cycle is low in the morning but you have an important job early in the day, rise before your usual hour, and then you will work better at your low point.
Get off to a slow start which saves your energy. Get up with a lazy yawn(哈欠) and stretch(伸展). Sit on the edge of bed before putting your feet on the floor. Avoid the troublesome searching for clean clothes by laying them out the night before.Dr. Cleiman did not explain in the passage ___________.
| A．how people can make their life fit their cycle |
| B．whether everyone has a daily cycle or not |
| C．why people have their energy cycle at different times |
| D．what will happen in the family if the couple fail to realize which cycle each member has |
For what reason may husbands and wives quarrel with each other?
| A．Either of them gets up late in the morning. |
| B．Husbands and wives have different cycles of energy. |
| C．Either of them wants to change the cycle of the other’s. |
| D．They do not know which cycle they themselves have. |
According to the passage, ____________.
| A．one works better at one’s peak energy point |
| B．if you know your cycle you can change it to fit your life. |
| C．whenever you feel hot, your energy cycle reaches the highest |
| D．your energy cycle must be in the morning if you can get up early |
Which of the following can save your energy in the morning?
| A．Getting up late. |
| B．Jumping out of bed as quickly as possible. |
| C．Looking for clean clothes. |
| D．Sitting for a while before getting out of bed. |
Today, traditional opinions about men still exist. A man has to be strong, brave, sports loving and manly. Anything less would not be considered manly. Sports such as football, basketball and boxing all tend (往往是) to be men’s sports. However, the dance of ballet is considered feminine because it requires nice movements. This tradition is shown in the movie, Billy Elliot.
Billy Elliot is a movie that protests against this traditional view of men. Billy Elliot is an eleven-year-old boy that has a natural talent for ballet dancing, but his father will not allow it. Billy’s father wants him to take up boxing and become stronger, but Billy goes against his father’s wishes and takes up ballet dancing. This difference of opinion makes Billy sad. What’s more, his friends also laugh at him.
After saving enough money, his father sends Billy to a weekly boxing course; however, Billy doesn’t enjoy boxing because he always loses in matches and is often hurt. His ballet teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson thinks that men or women should not be judged by the activities they like to do, so she tells Billy’s father that although he wants his son to make a good living, he should let his son do what he loves to do because he has a talent for it. When his father finally realizes the truth, Billy is surprised. In the end, with the help of his father, brother and all the people around him, Billy goes to the Royal Ballet Academy in London and becomes a very successful ballet dancer.The underlined word “feminine” in the first paragraph most probably means ______
| A．of men | B．of children | C．of women | D．of students |
Why is Billy laughed at by other children?
| A．He always loses in boxing matches. | B．He isn’t strong. |
| C．He looks like a girl. | D．He loves ballet. |
What do we know about Billy?
| A．His teacher encourages him to take up ballet dancing. |
| B．He does well in ballet dancing and boxing. |
| C．He does what his father wants him to do. |
| D．He has never taken up any men’s sports. |
From Billy’s story, we can see that _______.
| A．children should accept their parents’ opinions |
| B．we should try to fight against traditional opinions |
| C．men and women play different sports |
| D．parents should let their children do what they are interested in |