We are already familiar with computers—computers work for us at home, in offices and in factories. But it is also true that many children today are using computers at schools before they can write. What does this mean for the future? Are these children lucky or not?
Many people who do not know about computers think of them as machines that children play with. They worry that children do not learn from experience but just from pressing a button and that this is not good for them. They think that children are growing not knowing about the real world.
But people who understand more about computers say that computers can be very good for children. A computer can help them to learn about the real world more quickly, to learn what they want to learn and think for themselves. And for the future, don’t we need people who can think clearly, who know how to get information quickly and use it well? What do you think?“To be familiar with” means to ______.
| A．know nothing | B．know about | C．dislike | D．like |
Does everyone think computers are good for children?
| A．Yes, they do. | B．No, not everyone thinks so. |
| C．They don’t know. | D．They are not sure. |
What can computers help children to do?
| A．To think clearly, to do homework and to write. |
| B．To play games, to do math and to copy. |
| C．To think clearly, to get information and to use it well. |
| D．To count, to clean the house and to get information. |
One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the humblest(卑微的) to the most powerful came for breakfast. I noticed an empty chair next to an elderly, unshaven man, who looked somewhat disheveled. He was wearing a worn-out hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.
We cautiously began a conversation and spoke about a wide rang of things. We never introduced ourselves. I was concerned that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee, I asked,
“My I get you something?”
“A coffee would be nice.”
Then I bought him a cup of coffee, we talked more, and he accepted another cup of coffee. Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and headed for the exit. At the door I met one of my friends. He asked,
“How did you get to know Mr. Galbreath?”
“Who?”
“The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs.”
I could hardly believe it. I was buying, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world’s richest and most powerful men!
My few minutes with Mr. Galbreath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and no matter another human being with kindness and sincerity.What does the underlined word “disheveled” mean?
| A．Unfriendly. | B．Kind. | C．Elegant. | D．Untidy. |
The author bought coffee for the old man because .
| A．he wanted to start a conversation |
| B．he thought the old man was poor |
| C．he intended to show his politeness |
| D．he would like to thank the old man |
How did the author probably feel after he talked with his friend?
| A．Surprised. | B．Pitiful. | C．Proud. | D．Satisfied. |
What is the message mainly expressed in the story?
| A．We should learn to be generous. |
| B．It is honorable to help those in need. |
| C．We should avoid judging people by their appearances. |
| D．People in high positions are not like what we expect. |
Austin Children’s Museum
This 7,000-square-foot museum aims to entertain and educate children up to age 9. In its Global City exhibit, people can go shopping for groceries, order lunch at a diner, pretend that they’re doctors or construction workers, and more. In other fun exhibits, they learn about Austin’s history, explore the world of water, and experience life on a large Texas farm.
Open time: From Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m.～5:00 p.m.
On Sunday, 12:00 a.m.～5:00 p.m.
Address: 201 Colorado St, Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: 512-4722499
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Founded in 1899, it is the world’s oldest children’s museum, featuring interactive exhibits, workshops, and special events. The Mystery of Things teaches children about cultural and scientific objects and Music Mix welcomes young virtuosos (名家).
Open time: From Wednesday to Friday, 2:00 p.m.～5:00 p.m.
On Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.～5:00 p.m.
Address: 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, New York 1213
Phone: 718-7354400
Children’s Discovery Museum
This museum’s hand-on exhibits explore the relationships between the natural and the created worlds, and among people of different cultures and times. Exhibits include Streets, a 5/8-scale copy of an actual city, with streets lights, and waterworks, which shows how pumps can move water through a reservoir system.
Open time: From Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m.～5:00 p.m.
On Sunday, from noon. Closed on holidays.
Address: 180 Woz Way, Guadalupe River Park, San Jose, California 95110
Phone: 408-2985437
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
This museum is the largest of its kind. Exhibits cover science, culture, space, history, and explorations. Among them are the Space Quest Planetarium (additional fee), the 33-foot-high Water Clock, the Playscape gallery for preschools, and the Dinosphere exhibit, along with hand-on science exhibits.
The largest gallery, the Center for Exploration, is designed for ages 12 and up.
Open time: From Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m.～5:00 p.m.
Closed on Thanksgiving Day and December 25.
Address: 3000 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208
Phone: 317-3343322Suppose that December 25 is Tuesday, which of the following museums can you visit?
| A．Austin Children’s Museum. |
| B．Brooklyn Children’s Museum. |
| C．Children’s Discovery Museum. |
| D．Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. |
If you want to see how pumps can move water through a reservoir system, you should visit the museum in _____.
| A．Texas | B．New York | C．California | D．Indiana |
After entering the museum you need to pay an additional fee to see _____.
| A．the Center for Exploration |
| B．the Space Quest Planetarium |
| C．the Global City exhibit |
| D．Waterworks |
Which of the following is not exhibited in Children’s Museum of Indianapolis?
| A．culture | B．history | C．explorations | D．special events |
We were on tour a few summers ago, driving through Chicago, when right outside of the city, we got pulled over. A middle-aged policeman came up to the car and was really being troublesome at first. Lecturing us, he said, “You were speeding. Where are you going in such a hurry?” Our guitarist, Tim, told him that we were on our way to Wisconsin to play a show. His way towards us totally changed. He asked, “Oh, so you boys are in a band（乐队）？” We told him that we were. He then asked all the usual band questions about the type of music we played, and how long we had been at it. Suddenly, he stopped and said, “Tim, you want to get out of this ticket, don’t you?” Tim said, “Yes.” So the officer asked him to step out of the car. The rest of us, inside the car, didn’t know what to think as we watched the policeman talk to Tim. Next thing we knew, the policeman was putting Tim in the back of the police car he had parked in front of us. With that, he threw the car into reverse（倒车），stopping a few feet in back of our car. Now we suddenly felt frightened. We didn’t know if we were all going to prison, or if the policeman was going to sell Tim on the black market or something. All of a sudden, the policeman’s voice came over his loudspeaker. He said, “Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time ever, we have Tim here singing on Route 90.” Turns out, the policeman had told Tim that the only way he was getting out of the ticket was if he sang part of one of our songs over the loudspeaker in the police car. Seconds later, Tim started screaming into the receiver. The policeman enjoyed the performance, and sent us on our way without a ticket.The policeman stopped the boys to.
| A．put them into prison | B．give them a ticket |
| C．enjoy their performance | D．ask some band questions |
The policeman became friendly to the boys when he knew they.
| A．had long been at the band | B．played the music he loved |
| C．were driving for a show | D．promised him a performance |
The boys probably felt when they drove off.
| A．joyful | B．calm | C．nervous | D．frightened |
Selina, Michael, Tony and Sam enjoy listening to the radio. Read the following description and help them make proper choices.
57. ________ Tony, a sports lover, always cares much about sports events. He dreams to be a sports reporter after graduation.
58. ________ Michael is a university student. He likes music very much, especially rock and pop music.
59. ________ Sam is a teacher. He is one of the most popular teachers, because he always likes to tell his students what is going on world widely. So he needs to know global events of all kinds.
60. ________ Selina has three children. They are very lovely. They are interested in drama, reading and watching TV as well.
| A. BBC Radio 3 BBC 3 broadcasts radio entertainment all day, every day. Hear the original radio comedies which became TV hits and the all-time comedy greats. There’s drama as well as reading of favourite books and a daily show just for kids. |
B. BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 Music celebrates the very best in music. It’s a station for people who are passionate about rock and pop music. The station plays a rich mix of modern and classic artists and is devoted to the success of new rising bands. |
| C. BBC Radio 1 Devoted to giving you comments on news and sports events. Special rights on all the major sports events including up to the minute news and debates. |
D. BBC World Service World Service gets to the heart of global events. Programmes cover news to science and the environment to arts, religion and music of all kinds. |
When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings(缺点). Week by week her list grew: I was very thin, I wasn’t a good student, I talked too much, I was too proud, and so on. I tried to hear all this as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, and then he asked. “Are the things she says true or not? Janet, didn’t you ever wonder what you’re really like? Well, you now have that girl’s opinion. Go and make a list of everything she said and mark(标记) the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.”
I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn’t change (like being very thin), but a good number I could — and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I go to fairly clear picture of myself.
I brought the list back to Daddy. He refused(拒绝) to take it. “That’s just for you,” he said. “You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just close your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your duty. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you know is the right thing to do.”
Daddy’s advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice.What does “Week by week her list grew” mean in the first paragraph?
| A．As time went by, she discovered more shortcomings of mine. |
| B．She made a longer list of my shortcomings the next week. |
| C．She more and more disliked me as time went by. |
| D．She added one more shortcoming on the list every week. |
What did the father ask her daughter to do when she complained(抱怨) about her “enemy”?
| A．To pay no attention to her “enemy’s” gossiping. |
| B．To keep away from her “enemy” at school. |
| C．To write down what the girl said and accept the truth. |
| D．To do whatever she wanted to as usual. |
Why did her father refuse to take the list her daughter made?
| A．Because he wanted her daughter to perfect herself. |
| B．Because what the list said were not his shortcomings. |
| C．Because he thought the list didn’t belong to him. |
| D．Because he believed the list could be well kept by her. |
Which do you think would be the best title for this passage?
| A．Not an Enemy, But a Good Friend | B．The Best Advice I’ve Ever Had |
| C．My Father and I | D．My Childhood |