My teenage son Karl became withdrawn(孤僻) after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year. In this way he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked. One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and asked God for help. "Please God, I can't do anything more for my son. I'm at the end of my rope. I'm giving the whole thing up to you." I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. "I want to talk to you about Karl's absences." Before he could say another word, I choked up (哽咽) and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. "I love my son, but I just don't know what to do. I've tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It's out of my hands." For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line. The headmaster seriously said, "Thank you for your time", and hung up. Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he was even on the list of the best students at school. In his fourth year, I attended a parent-teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, "Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?" I nodded. "That was me. I thought I'd play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That's when I knew I had to make you proud."According to the first report card, Karl __________.
| A．often went to school late |
| B．failed in all the exams |
| C．did a good job at school |
| D．didn't do well at school |
When the mother said "It's out of my hands." to the headmaster, she meant that she________.
| A．didn't know what to do about her son |
| B．would drive her son away from the house |
| C．had no money to support the family |
| D．she would have to hang up |
Who was it that telephoned Karl's mother that day?
| A．The headmaster. | B．The school adviser. |
| C．Karl himself. | D．The passage doesn't tell us. |
From the passage we can learn that _________.
| A．children in single-parent families always have mental problems |
| B．mother's love plays an important role in teenagers' life |
| C．parents should give their children as much help as possible |
| D．school education still works well without support from parents |
Family Vs Technology
Modern technology certainly changes family behavior, but does it really damage family life as many people fear? Not necessarily, says Dr. Silva, a professor in Sociology(社会学) at the Open University, she also argues it is wrong to assume technology erodes(腐蚀，侵蚀) the quality of family life.
“There is the idea that technology has an influence on the family and the family suffers. My take is quite different,” she explains. “Technological change happens because people’s lives change. And it is people’s choices of how to live that creates processes of innovation(革新) as well. The family has a role like the economy or like technology itself in changing the world. The imagination is important in driving the things technologists want to find for our daily lives. People desire to see nature as it is, so color television comes about,” she says.
In another case, the increase in working mothers helped create a market for labor-saving kitchen equipment. “The time that women have to shop every day for food is no longer available so there is a need to have a refrigerator for food storage,” says Dr. Silva. “The need to cook that food more easily and quickly, means you have developments in cooking technology like the microwave oven(微波炉). The microwave oven already existed because it was developed for the navy during World War Two but it wasn’t used in ordinary families until the early 1980s.
“Technologies for housework were as important as those for work itself,” she says, “So washing machines, refrigerators and microwave ovens are terribly important. We couldn’t imagine what life would be like if we didn’t have them.” Technological changes in the kitchen have played an important role in the changes of family behavior, creating a new social focus in the home.
“With advanced technology, you can feed the family in an easier manner. People can do housework with less difficulty. But that doesn’t mean that family practices are not important — it’s just a different way of doing things.”What is Dr. Silva’s attitude towards the effect that technology has on family life?
| A．Worried. | B．Optimistic(乐观的). |
| C．Puzzled. | D．Uncertain. |
What causes advances in technology according to Dr. Silva?
| A．People’s love for nature. |
| B．Great changes in people’s way of life. |
| C．People’s desire to change the world. |
| D．The wonderful imagination in inventing things. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．The microwave oven was first used by working mothers. |
| B．People cook less because of modern kitchen equipment. |
| C．Technology has little effect on the changes of family behavior. |
| D．People need less skill to do housework due to advanced technology. |
Fifty-two years ago in the USA, a little black girl named Ruby Bridges arrived at her new primary school. The school was in New Orleans, Louisiana.
As she walked toward the school’s front door, an angry crowd of people shouted at her. United States marshals walked with her. A marshal is a police officer. They were there to protect the first grader. That’s because the people didn’t want Ruby to go inside the school. But the 6-year-old walked into the school anyway. As she did, she marched into history books.
The day was Nov. 14, 1960. On that morning, little Ruby became one of the first African Americans to attend an all-white primary school in the South.
Before then, the law in many states said that black children could not attend the same schools as white children. People of different races also had to use separate public restrooms. It was called segregation. That is when people of different races are kept separate.
U.S. leaders worked to end segregation. They helped bring civil rights to all Americans. Those are the rights mean that all people should be treated equally. A few months before Ruby started school, a federal court (联邦法庭) had just ordered an end to school segregation in New Orleans.
By the time Ruby started the second grade, there were no more angry people outside her school. There were other African American students in her class. Today, children of all races go to school together.
Bridges said she was never scared to go to school during the first grade. She wasn’t really afraid and she didn’t really know what was going on at the time.Why was Ruby Bridges famous in the American history?
| A．She served on the U.S. federal court. |
| B．She got along well with the U.S. marshals. |
| C．She helped end school segregation in New Orleans. |
| D．She brought all rights to the Americans with U.S. leaders. |
Which of the following is about “segregation” (in Paragraph 4)?
| A．White and black children couldn’t study in the same school. |
| B．All people should have the right to be treated equally. |
| C．Different races can use the same public convenience. |
| D．Students of all races should be able to attend school together. |
What do you think of the U.S. leaders’ work to end segregation?
| A．Disappointing. | B．Acceptable. |
| C．Successful. | D．Confusing. |
Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando in Florida
People say that it is the home of the “Harry Potter Theme Park”. The Wizarding World is the most popular part of the park. Other popular rides include the Adventures of Spider-Man, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges and the Jurassic Park River Adventure.
It is open from Monday to Saturday. $15.95 for children, 3 to 13 years old; $29.95 for ages 14 and over.
PI-O Indoor Theme Park in Longueuil
The PI-O Indoor Theme Park features(以……为特色) 16 rides, a small sea train, a kid-sized bowling alley(保龄球场), a mirror maze(迷宫), theme rooms which include the Christmas room on-the-sea, and a private reception room.
“I wanted to create a safe environment for kids aged 1 to 10,” explains owner Jocelyne Pinard. She noted how many competing amusement parks have sections that can be unsafe for young kids — such as the “ball rooms” full of loose plastic balls. So this is how it is different from other amusement parks.
Open seven days a week. The admission fees are $16.99 for individuals(个人) and $64 for families.
Legoland Windsor Theme Park in London
Legoland Windsor is the best choice for young families. The park is designed for children from 3 to 12. There are over 50 rides as well as live shows, workshops, and other attractions aimed at younger children, and especially those who are already fond of building-block(积木) toys.
The park is open every single day. Adults: $35; Ages 3-15 and 60+: $26. Buy online and save $3 per person.
Wonder La Theme Park in India
Wonder La is a world-class amusement park. It’s modern, clean and green, and has all kinds of attractions. There are over 50 rides, 12 of which are water based and 9 especially for small children. If you love getting wet, don’t miss the Rain Disco — an indoor dance floor with a rain system that provides showers of warm water to the music.
Monday to Friday 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, Holiday and Festival seasons 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Single adult / child — $13.50; Family ticket (for any four people) — $50.00; Children 3 and under — Free.If Jim is free this Sunday, he can choose to visit the following parks EXCEPT________.
| A．Islands of Adventure | B．PI-O |
| C．Legoland Windsor | D．Wonder La |
How is PI-O Indoor Theme Park mainly different from other parks?
| A．It is much safer. | B．It features more rides. |
| C．It is much cheaper. | D．It offers more activities. |
If a couple want to visit Legoland Windsor Theme Park with their 5-year-old son, how much do they need to pay when booking online?
| A．$70. | B．$87. | C．$93. | D．$96. |
Which of the following about Wonder La Theme Park is NOT true?
| A．It is located in India. |
| B．It is free for children of 3 and under. |
| C．There are nine rides especially for small children. |
| D．The Rain Disco lets children enjoy cool showers while dancing. |
Where is the passage most probably taken?
| A．A science magazine. | B．A text book. |
| C．A travel guide. | D．A local newspaper. |
Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of imagination, ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's grand entrance for a long time!The text is mainly about ________.
| A．a strange man |
| B．an unusual party |
| C．how roller skating began |
| D．how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century |
People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he ________.
| A．often gave others surprises | B．was a gifted musician |
| C．invented the roller skates | D．was full of imagination |
Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to ________.
| A．impress the party guests | B．arrive at the party sooner |
| C．test his invention | D．show his skill in walking on wheels |
What is the main point that the writer tries to convey(表达) in the last paragraph?
| A．The roller skates was dangerous and harmful. |
| B．The party guests thought Merlin was a fool. |
| C．Merlin succeeded beyond expectation. |
| D．Merlin should never do that again. |
I got your letter and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again in Tennessee, promising to do better for me than anybody else can.
Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again and see Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this.
I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here in Ohio. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with food and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy, the folks call her Mrs. Anderson; and the children—Milly, Jane, and Grundy—go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. We are kindly treated.
Now, if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again. We have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct（扣除）what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor’s visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future.
In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. I would rather stay here and starve—and die, if it should come to that—than have my girls brought to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young Masters. You will also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to give my children an education and have them form virtuous habits.
Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.According to the passage, the letter was written by Jourdon to his former _______.
| A．friend | B．master | C．neighbor | D．relative |
Which of the following is RIGHT according to the passage?
| A．The family name of this letter writer is Anderson. |
| B．The writer is paid the same as he was in Tennessee. |
| C．The writer will certainly get at least 11,680 dollars. |
| D．Safety rather than education weighs a lot to the writer. |
The writer’s description of his present situation implies that _______.
| A．he shows his intention of going back in Tennessee |
| B．he is somewhat richer and does not need to go back |
| C．his life is relatively good but still needs improvement |
| D．he is not a little satisfied with his present life in Ohio |
The purpose of the writer’s asking for his pay back is _______.
| A．to show he needs that amount of money urgently |
| B．to show he is determined to get what he deserved |
| C．to test whether the letter receiver is worthy of trust |
| D．to tell the letter receiver he still has faith in him |
From the passage, we can see the writer is very _______.
| A．wise | B．stupid | C．greedy | D．generous |