The organization representing British universities has expressed concern about the potential effect of tuition fees（学费）after figures showed a drop of more than 6% in student applications with less than a month to go before the deadline for 2013 applications.
Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) showed there were 265,784 university applications by UK-based candidates up to 17 December, 6.3% down on the parallel period in the admissions cycle the year before. While this is less than the 8.4% year-on-urea fall seen in earlier Ucas figures, released in mid-November, the coming January deadline makes it ever more likely that the total 2013 applicant figure will see a second sizeable fall following the introduction of annual fees of up to ￡9,000.
Nicola Dandridge, the chairman of Universities UK, said: “However, we must be concerned about any drops in the numbers applying to university and in particular; we must look closely at how the increase in graduate contributions in England may be affecting the decisions of promising students. However, the December figures show a drop in numbers across the UK, suggesting that it is not only a question of tuition fees in England putting off from applying.”
A report of the Uncas figures to mid-December shows a 6.5% fall for applicants in England and 11.7% for those in Wales, with smaller drops of 3.9% for Scotland and 0.5% for Northern Ireland. Scottish students at home institutions pay on fees, while those from Northern Ireland have fees capped to ￡3,575 for Northern Irish universities.
Dandridge added: “No one should be put off applying to university because of worries about finance.”
“It is important that no one is put off applying to university because they do not have information about the student support available to them. Most new students don’t need to pay directly. There will be more financial support for those from poorer families and everyone will make lower loan repayments than they do now once they are in well paid jobs.”A drop of more than 6% for 2013 applications is probably the effect of .
| A．The increased tuition fees |
| B．The approaching deadline |
| C．The concern from applicants |
| D．The difficulties with applications |
Compared with the previous year, the fall in student applications is .
| A．3.9% | B．2.1% | C．6.3% | D．8.4% |
Why is the fall for application the smallest in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
| A．Because they have more financial support |
| B．Because the tuition is much cheaper for them |
| C．Because the education is better there |
| D．Because the universities are free for them. |
The last paragraph tells us that .
| A．Everyone should apply to university |
| B．Students may get financial supports |
| C．Lower loan repayments is unavailable |
| D．Most new students will not pay fees |
Teachers Wanted for Nexus English Language Learning Centre
Posted By: Nexus English Language Learning Centre (nexus.english.dos@gmail.com)
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for starting teachers that have just finished their qualification (资格) to work and to get professional experience. The position will suit enthusiastic and hardworking career-minded people who want to show how good they are or can become.
Of course, you need to have excellent subject knowledge. And you must be prepared to do front and back end work including developing guidebooks and co-writing workbooks. High rewards await top performers who also want to be leaders. You will also need to be a team player and a skilled organizer.
Application Requirements
* You must have the legal right to work in the UK.
* You must hold a UK recognized teaching qualification.
The Benefits
Nexus English Language Learning Centre (NELLC) offers competitive rates of pay, additional bonuses (奖金), a chance to work in top London schools, and continuous professional development. We pride ourselves on our personal service and support. If you work hard with a strong teaching skill including a high self-motivation, then we certainly want you.
● Location: Talbot Avenue, Leeds LS17 6SF
● Salary (薪水): £110 — £150 per day
● Hours: Full Time
● Telephone: 0113 3368585
● Published: 8, February 2014
● Closing Date: 5, April 2014
Due to the large number of applications, it is not always possible to respond to each candidate. If you are interested in this position, send us a personalized cover letter and tell us more about yourself right now.To work in NELLC, you need to _____.
| A．be prepared to work full-time |
| B．have plenty of teaching experience |
| C．be allowed by the law to live in the US |
| D．be able to write workbooks independently |
What benefits can candidates expect from NELLC?
| A．Additional language skills. |
| B．More earnings and holidays. |
| C．More professional experience. |
| D．Chances of working in a college. |
Which of the following dates is suitable for you to send a cover letter to NELLC?
| A．5, January 2014. | B．6, February 2014. |
| C．8, March 2014. | D．10, April 2014. |
When someone told 85-year-old Johnny Long that he was called a living legend, he replied, “I don’t know about that, but I’m living, and that’s important.”
Starting in 1949 as a high school band director and later as director of the Troy University band, Johnny Long became known as one of the most inspirational band directors in America. More than three hundred of his students went on to become band directors them-selves. “I have been a band director for more than 60 years and all I know about the word band is that you spell it F-U-N,” Long said. “And if you change that, it’s over.”
Long retired 14 years ago to spend more time with his wife Mary Lynn. But his passion (热情) for bands never went away. He dreamed of forming a top-notch (拔尖的) community band in Troy. But Troy is a small town — with not a ton of top-notch talent. “I didn’t think it would work, I really didn’t,” Long said.
Fortunately, there was one thing Johnny hadn’t considered: the devotion of his former students. Now, once a week during the concert season, they drive in from all over the south and across the decades.
65-year-old Bobby Johnson was in Long’s first college class. He lives in Atlanta and drives 3 hours to practice. Johnson said he does it because Long’s “such a unique character and I just admire him so much.”
Many people do it for the same reason. “He’s the single biggest influence on my career.” “He was a father figure to me. He’s just a genuine person.”
Long said he wanted to be remembered as a teacher. “I think ‘teacher’ is the greatest word in the English language, next to ‘mother’.”What Long got most from bands was ______.
| A．pleasure | B．health | C．wealth | D．honor |
Why did Long retire 14 years ago?
| A．Because he found no band talent in Troy. |
| B．Because he was tired of working as a director. |
| C．Because he hoped to spend more time with his wife. |
| D．Because he found his students were not devoted to music. |
The words of Long’s students show that ______.
| A．Long treated his students like a father |
| B．Long was born to be a good teacher |
| C．Long influenced his students greatly |
| D．Long was very special as a teacher |
What’s the main idea of the text?
| A．Johnny Long still teaches at the age of 85. |
| B．A band director had more than 300 students. |
| C．A band lover organized a band in a small town. |
| D．85-year-old band director still inspires others. |
It was September 5, 2009. Lexi Youngberg, then 16, was on vacation in Spring Lake, Michigan. She was riding on a small boat with her friends, Robby and Kaitlin, when a motorboat crashed into them. The sound was so loud that other boaters heard it over the roar (轰鸣声) of their engines. The teen boy who had been driving the motorboat stepped on the gas by mistake. Kaitlin, 23, had only small cuts, but Robby, 15, had been badly cut by the propeller (螺旋桨). And Lexi was floating facedown in the water. When one boater swam to Lexi, she was breathing. However, she was unconscious. She had a deep cut on her head. And the lower part of her left leg, just below the knee, was gone. A doctor rode up in another boat and tried to save Robby, but it was too late.
For Lexi, the good news is that she survived while the bad news is that she lost one of her legs forever. When Lexi looked at her swollen(浮肿的) leg, she felt hopeless. But as time passed, Lexi began to feel stronger. She was grateful that her life had been spared, and she decided to make the most of it. At the end of November 2009, Lexi met with Dr. John Hardy, who was an expert at making artificial legs. She hoped he would help her get back to doing the things she loved.
Three years after the accident, Lexi moved on with her life. In spring 2011, she joined a soccer team in her school. That fall, she started college. Lexi is thankful that she can still do the things she loves. One day, she wants to be a physical therapist (理疗师) and work with those with disabilities. But first she plans to compete in the Paralympics. Whatever Lexi decides to do, one thing is certain: Nothing is going to get in her way.How was Lexi in the accident?
| A．She had a small cut on her head. |
| B．She was unable to feel anything. |
| C．She was badly cut by the propeller. |
| D．She lost the lower parts of her legs. |
What’s the right order of the events about Lexi?
a. She went to college.
b. She met with Dr. John Hardy.
c. She had one of her legs removed.
d. She played with her friends on a boat.
e. She joined a soccer team in her school.
| A．d, c, b, e, a | B．c, b, a, e, d |
| C．d, c, e, a, b | D．c, d, a, e, b |
It can be inferred from the text that Lexi was _____.
| A．generous | B．strong-minded |
| C．creative | D．warm-hearted |
The main purpose of the text is to _____.
| A．persuade us not to go boating |
| B．entertain us with sports news |
| C．tell us the story of a brave teen |
| D．show how to survive an accident |
Different countries and cultures celebrate New Year in different ways. Many countries still follow the lunar calendar, meaning that their new year often starts in late January or in February. New Year celebrations for some countries (like China, Vietnam and Korea) last not one day, but up to two weeks!
In the U.S., many people attend New Year parties. They drink champagne, dance, and cheer at the stroke of midnight. Fireworks, which in olden times scared away evil spirits, are very popular throughout the U. S. . U.S. residents often make one or more New Year’s resolutions, such as promising to quit smoking, lose weight, stop drinking. Most of these resolutions last little longer than a month.
In the southern U.S. , many people eat black-eyed peas for good luck in the new year. In Mexico and Venezuela, many people wear red or yellow underwear for good luck. In Brazil, residents wear red white clothes for good luck, and in China, they wear red clothes and give children red envelops with money in them. In Iran, people wear brand new clothes on the first day of the new year.
In Scotland, homeowners open the front door at midnight to let in the new year, and open the back door to let out the old year. In Switzerland, people kiss each other three times at midnight. In Spain, people eat 12 grapes-----one per chime----as the clock chimes midnight. In Japan, they ring a bell 108 times to get rid of the108 bad desires that people have. In Korea, they ring a bell 33 times in honor of 33 ancient soldiers. How do Americans celebrate their New Year?
| A．They kiss each three times at the stroke after midnight. |
| B．They use fireworks to scare away evil spirits. |
| C．Men and women make New Year’s plants together. |
| D．Many people attend New Year parties. |
The underlined word “resolutions” in Paragraph 2 probably means________.
| A．beliefs | B．solutions |
| C．principles | D．promises |
In which countries is red regarded as a lucky color?
| A．Mexico and Brazil. | B．Mexico and China. |
| C．Venezuela and Brazil. | D．China and Iran. |
The best title for the passage would be “__________”.
| A．Different customs around the world |
| B．New activities in America and Europe |
| C．New Year celebrations around the world |
| D．Different countries have different customs |
Women have jumped ahead of men for the first time in using the Internet to do their holiday shopping, according to a study published last week in the US.
For years men have been more likely to shop on the Internet than women, but during the 2007 holiday season 58percent of those shopping on line were women, “It shows how popular the Internet is becoming,” said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project group, which carried out the study, Rainie said it was only a matter of time before women shoppers caught up with men. This is because women traditionally make decisions about spending.
Users were more likely to shop online to save time. Internet users between the ages 18 and 29 were responsible for some of the surprising increase in the online gift-buying population this time around. However, three-quarters of the US Internet users did not buy holiday gifts online in 2007. they worried about credit card security(安全), or just compared online prices with off-line prices, then dashed off to the shops to get the best deals.
“But even if shoppers don’t buy online, websites are becoming promotion(促销) tools for stores, ” said Dan Hess, vice president of ComScore Network Inc. Hess said that actually most stores’ websites can make customers fully believe the security of their credit card numbers. And most are able to ensure that gifts arrive on time. “It’s all about making the shopping experience more efficient, more reliable and more comfortable.” Hess said. Which of the following statements is true?
| A．There were fewer women online shoppers than men in 2007. |
| B．Most of the Internet users between the ages of 18 and 29 are women. |
| C．More women shopped online than men in 2007. |
| D．People in the US were more likely to buy gifts online. |
We can infer from the passage that______.
| A．shopping online will be more popular in years |
| B．women usually decide what to buy in the family |
| C．the Internet is used in all shops |
| D．men usually decide how to spend money in the family |
According to Dan Hess, shopping online ______.
| A．is unsafe | B．is convenient |
| C．is a waste of money | D．is cheaper |
Which of the following is the best title?
| A．Women turn to online shopping |
| B．Men stop online shopping |
| C．More young people shop online |
| D．Shopping off-line provides better service |