May the first is an important date in the college admission process in the United States. This is the last day for high school seniors to accept or reject offers of admission in the fall. But according to a recent report, there is a great change. Acceptance rates at the top colleges this year were lower than ever.
These days, college applicants are applying to more colleges because online and common applications make the process easier. On the other hand, deciding students for top colleges to accept can be difficult because it takes much time. Students may not like being put on waiting lists. Also, common colleges work more to get the students they accept to accept them. Some colleges hold visiting days that offer a chance to attend classes and stay overnight. Some universities send gifts.
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For many families, the most important thing colleges can do is to show them the money, especially this year; the weak economy makes parents nervous. . The recent problems that spread from the housing market to credit markets have even affected student’s loans. So lately, top schools have to spare lots of money to increase their financial aid for students.
. The Education Department expects the number of high school graduates to start to go down. This will happen as the last of the children of the baby boom generation finishes high school. The number is not expected to start rising again until 2015.
| A．Besides, top colleges are facing changes in the population. |
| B．What contributes to it? |
| C．But a mistake can be costly if it happens. |
| D．But top colleges ignore them. |
E. They have international students who know English.
F. It can mean several acceptances to choose from.
G. They cannot afford college as planned.
根据短文内容，从短文后的A-F选项中选出能填入空白处的表示该段主题句的最佳选项。选项中有一项是多余选项。
| A. Surround Yourself with English B. Listen to English Music C. Log on the English website D. Watch English Films E. Use all of your Resources F. Speak without Fear |
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The biggest problem most people face in learning a new language is their own fear. They worry that they won’t say things correctly or that they will look stupid so they don’t talk at all. Don’t do this. The fastest way to learn anything is to do it – again and again until you get it right. Like anything, learning English requires practice. Don’t let a little fear stop you from getting what you want.________
Even if you study English at a language school it doesn’t mean you can’t learn outside of class. Using as many different sources, methods and tools as possible, will allow you to learn faster. There are many different ways you can improve your English, so don’t limit yourself to only one or two. The internet is a fantastic resource for virtually anything, but for the language learner it's perfect. _________
The absolute best way to learn English is to put yourself in it. Take notes in English, put English books around your room, listen to English language radio broadcasts, watch English news, movies and television. Speak English with your friends whenever you can. The more English material that you have around you, the faster you will learn and the more likely it is that you will begin “thinking in English.” ________
This is not only a fun way to learn but it is also very effective. By watching English movies (especially those with English subtitles) you can expand your vocabulary and hear the flow of speech from the actors. If you listen to the news you can also hear different accents. ________
Another very effective method of learning English is singing. In fact, it is often used as a way of improving comprehension. The best way to learn is to get the lyrics (words) to the songs you are listening to and try to read them as the artist sings. There are several good internet sites where one can find the words for most songs. This way you can practice your listening and reading at the same time.
根据短文内容，从下框的A—F选项中选出能概括每一段主题的最佳选项选项中有一项为多余项。
The earth is getting warmer. People burn coal, oil and gas and this produces carbon dioxide, methane（沼气）and nitrous oxide. These gases, called “greenhouse gases”, prevent the heat of the sun from leaving the earth’s upper atmosphere and this makes the earth warmer
A few weeks ago a group of scientists produced a report about global warming and the natural world. They wanted to find out if global warming was dangerous for plants and animals. According to what they found, the scientists say that during the next 50 years about 25% of land animals and plants will become extinct. More than a million plant and animal species will be extinct by 2050.
More than 10% of all plants and animals will become extinct. It is too late to save many plants and animals because of the greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere. But the scientists say if we control greenhouse gases now, we could save many more plant and animals from extinction.
The scientists studied some regions of the world with a very rich biology. These were Europe, Australia, Central and South America, and South Africa. Their studies showed that species living in mountainous areas had a better chance of survival because they could move uphill, to get cooler. In flat areas, such as deserts, plants and animals would have to move a very long distance to get cooler, so they are in grater danger of extinction.
The scientists found that half of the 24 species of butterflies they studied in Australia would soon become extinct. 60% of the species in the Kruger National Park in South Africa would also die out, and more than 100% of the 300 South Africa plant species they studied would also become extinct. One of the plants in danger of extinction is the national flower of South Africa, the King Protea. They studied 163 tree species in the Cerrado region of Brazil and found that 70 would become extinct. Many of the plants and trees that live in the region live nowhere else in the world. In Mexico, they studied 1,870 species and found that more than 30% of these were in danger of extinction.
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Making Peace with Your Parents
As a teen, you’re going through big changes physically and mentally. Your interests are expanding. .
Here is the challenge: Kids need to explore the world in new ways, and parents need to protect them from the dangers that are out in that world. These conflicts can easily set off fireworks in otherwise calm houses. Sometimes conflicts can’t be avoided. But by paying attention to the building blocks of successful relationships, you can work towards making home a happy and healthy place for you and your parents.
For instance, try to find a time to talk when your parents are not angry, tired, distracted, or hungry. A good time to talk is when you’re all relaxed. Timing is everything. If the conversation begins to turn into an argument, you’d better calmly and coolly ask to stop the conversation --- for now.. Listen to what your parents are saying, and repeat it back to them. This shows them that you’re listening.
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Respect is the building block of good communication. People who respect each other and care about each others’ feelings can disagree without things getting ugly. . How do you build trust? Trust comes by actually doing what you say you’re going to do. Some teens find that doing fun activities with their parents can improve their relationships. Sometimes we forget that parents are more than rule-makers --- they’re interesting people who like to watch movies, and go shopping --- just like their teenagers!
What do you do if you are trying your best, but your relationship with your parents continues to be rocky?. You can find supportive adults, such as a teacher or a coach, who can lend an ear.
Remember you can only change your own behavior. You parents are the only ones who can change theirs.
| A．It also gives them a chance to clear things up if you’re not on the same page. |
| B．You can pick it up again when everyone’s more relaxed. |
| C．And then you’ll be able to accept what your parents say. |
| D．Faced with the challenge, children don’t know what to do. |
E. You are more likely to get along with your parents and have more independence if your parents believe in you.
F. And your desire to take control of your own life is growing.
G. You may consider seeking outside help.
根据对话内容，从对话后的选项中选出最佳选项，并将其答案标号填入题后的空白处。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Question: Why is it so hard for some people to apologize after they’ve done something wrong? I have made every effort to persuade my uncle to be nice to people that he knows he’s hurt. How I wish things would be better if he’d just say he’s sorry and ask them to forgive him.
Answer: _It’s just easier for him to pretend nothing happened than to face the embarrassment (尴尬) of admitting he was wrong. You’ve probably done the same thing yourself at some time. In fact, most of us have. Furthermore, what if others won’t forgive him even if he apologizes?
Pride blinds us to our mistakes or faults. Or at least it makes us pay less attention to their seriousness.
Pride also makes us unwilling to admit to others that we were wrong. Perhaps we’re afraid they will look down on us if we admit it.
But others see through our pride. And things would be far better if we admitted our faults and asked for forgiveness.
Now you know why your uncle refuses to apologize, talk to him again. Help him to learn how to apologize and ask for forgiveness from others.
| A．But a deeper reason is pride. |
| B．But he just refuses to do that. |
| C．We may even hope that somehow they will ignore it. |
| D．As a result, you would offend others and hurt their feelings. |
E. There are a variety of reasons for your uncle’s refusal to apologize.
F. Otherwise our pride would only hurt us and cause conflict with others.
G. One reason your uncle finds it hard to apologize could be embarrassment.
A. Learn to Listen and Speak
B. Develop Healthy Relationships
C. Arrange Some Time to Go Out
D. Respect Each Other
E. Agree to Disagree
F. Learn Every Day
Healthy Relationship Tips
Healthy relationships are effortless, if both the people involved take equal effort to maintain it. Here are a few healthy relationship tips to help you build the dream of your life. Communication is an art of putting your thoughts into words, so that they are exactly understood by the opposite person. Communication does not mean going on talking unnecessarily. This is the first mistake that couples make. One person in the relationship assumes the role of talker and the other becomes the listener. Their roles remain so forever. The talker forgets to listen and the listener becomes used to listening and not reacting. If your partner takes time to open up, help them out by asking questions. So hear them out and give proper reactions. You will obtain the benefits of a healthy relationship through increased confidence in both of you to open up and hear things out.
Regular conversations take the form of heated arguments amongst many couples. Understand that not every statement needs a reaction. Maybe a certain reaction may lead to an argument with your partner. Just agree with whatever it is and there will be no harm done. Try and reach a mutual(相互的)agreement. If that’s not possible leave the topic for later. If you give it time, maybe both of you will be able to think about it rationally.
Every single day is a blessing. Each moment with your partner is a moment to learn something new and discover the finer nuances(细微差别)of your relationships. Each one of us keeps changing every day, the circumstances around us change every day and with that our attitude also needs to change. The same applies when you are living with a person. Learning every day and taking every day as a challenge will help you perfect healthy relationship tips.
This tip is especially meant for couples with children on how to maintain healthy relationships. After a certain period, couples complain about romance being lost. To keep your relationship healthy, take some time out from your day-to-day routines to spend some quality time with your partner. This can be done as dinners, indulging in outdoor activities or just hanging out at a coffee shop like old times.
Respect has to be earned. It can be earned only if you learn to respect. Often, one of the partners plays the role of a dictator to give orders, while the other simply follows. Both sides involved are equally responsible for this mistake. Learn to respect each other and understand that both of you are equally responsible for the relationship.
Creating a healthy relationship takes equal effort from both sides. Sharing, caring, being apologetic, forgiving and having realistic expectations are some of the important ingredients to the recipe of a healthy relationship.