According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the U.K. has about 7.7 million families with dependent children, of which 3.7 million have just one child, compared to 3 million with two and 1.1 million with three children or more. The number of families today with just one dependent child is now 47 percent and will likely rise to more than 50 percent in a decade. As the ONS confirms, “It appears that families are getting smaller.”
One obvious reason for this could be that women are putting off having children until they have established careers when they are bound to be less fertile. But it could just as well be a matter of choice. Parents must consider the rising cost of living, combined with economic uncertainty and an increasingly difficult job market. And this trend may continue growing as having an only child becomes more normal, which seems to be the mood on the mothers’ online forum Mumsnet, where one member announced that she “just wanted to start a positive thread about how fab it is to have an only child”.
She had received 231 replies, overwhelmingly in the same upbeat spirit. Parents of only children insist there are plenty of benefits. Nicola Kelly, a writer and lecturer who grew up as an only child and is now a married mother of one, says her 15-year-old son seems more grown-up in many ways than his contemporaries.
Not all products of single-child families are as keen to repeat the experience. In a moving recent account journalist Janice Turner wrote about her own keenness to “squeeze out two sons just 22 months apart” as a reaction to her only-child upbringing.
She was placed on a pedestal by her doting parents, whom she punished with a “brattish, wilful” rejection of everything they stood for. Desperate for a close friend she was repeatedly shattered by rejection and refers to her childhood as being “misery”.
Writer and clinician Dr. Dorothy Rowe, a member of the British Psychological Society, says that we all interpret events in our own individual way and there are some children who no matter what their circumstances feel slighted, while other children see the advantages of their situation.
However, the one part of life that is unlikely to get any easier for only children is when they grow up and find themselves looking after their own parents as they become older.The passage is written with the purpose of ________.
| A．illustrating the strength and weakness of having an only child |
| B．analyzing the reasons why having an only child becomes popular |
| C．presenting us with different opinions about having an only child |
| D．guiding people to look at the same issue from different perspectives |
What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 mean?
| A．Nearly half of families intend to have just one child. |
| B．All people don’t stand for the idea of having an only child. |
| C．Some people fail to recognize the advantage of having an only child. |
| D．People brought up in an only child family resist downsizing the family. |
From what Dr. Dorothy Rowe said, we know that ________.
| A．journalist Janice Turner experienced a miserable childhood |
| B．she has a positive attitude towards Janice Turner’s reaction |
| C．it’s necessary for us to look at the event from our own angle |
| D．some are unable to make an objective assessment of their conditions |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．It’s normal to see the imperfection in character in only children. |
| B．Mumsnet is an online forum which promotes having an only child. |
| C．Economic development plays a determining role in the family size. |
| D．Only children will have difficulty in attending to their parents. |
In tough economic times, school counselors (顾问) don’t just wait for students to come to their offices in search of college brochures, health pamphlets or other help. These days, they are looking for at-risk kids to prevent personal or academic troubles before they arise. Nowadays, students and families need the guidance more than ever.
Counselors play a steadying role in schools as the economy weighs on families, college admission becomes even more competitive, immigration continues to reshape the population and state-testing pressures many students. They use computers to search through attendance data, grades and standardized test scores for kids who might need extra help.
Schlatter, director of guidance and counseling at Prince William County’s Woodbridge Senior High School, has checked attendance records against grades and test results to start peer groups (同年龄群体) for students who are failing classes but not skipping them. She said group counseling is another way to reach more students though it can be difficult. “Kids really do start helping and sharing with each other.”
At Fairfax High School, counselors found through surveys that students who transferred (转学) to the school after ninth grade enjoyed school significantly less than those who had been there all four years. The counseling staff set up a special program and group for new arrivals in response, said Marcy Miller, the school’s director of student services. Counseling staff members also have started small study groups for students to prepare for state Standards of Learning exams, which Miller said have helped raise test scores. She said that some of the newest counselors have had some of the freshest ideas.
63. We can learn from the passage that __________.
A. counselors wait for kids to come to ask for help now
B. counselors are trying to help people with economic problems
C. counselors have made college admission less competitive
D. counselors are trying to reach more kids in need of help
64.The author uses the example of Fairfax High School to show that.
A. counseling work is obviously effective
B. many students transfer there for help
C. new arrivals will no longer skip classes
D. counseling means little to new arrivals
65. What would the author most probably discuss in the following part?
A. What assistance they can offer.
B. The significance of their counseling job.
C. Other approaches to counseling at-risk kids.
D. The barriers of counseling the students with troubles.
66. Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?
A.Counselors Find New Ways
B.Small Study Groups Raise Test Scores
C.Transferred Students Need More Help
D.Tough Times See More At-risk Kids
This booklet is designed to help you and your family plan for and survive a major earthquake. By taking action to be prepared, you can lessen the impact of an earthquake on your family. Set aside some emergency supplies, and teach your family what to do at home during and after a disaster. You could be without help for up to 72 hours, so learn to cope for at least that long.
Movement of the ground is seldom the actual cause of death or injury. Most casualties（意外） result from partial building collapse and falling objects and debris, like toppling chimneys, falling bricks, ceiling plaster, and light fixtures. Many of these conditions are easily preventable.
Because earthquakes occur without warning, it’s important to take steps now to prepare, so that you know what you can do and how to respond — constructive, protective action is possible.
Have on hand for Any Emergency – Ideas for Home, Workplace, and Car.
Because you don’t know where you will be when an earthquake occurs, prepare a disaster supplies.
59．Who is the passage mainly written for ?
A．scientists B．parents C．the public D．teachers
60．How can we lessen the impact of an earthquake on our family?
A．Stay at home
B．Keep away from high buildings
C．learn some knowledge about the cause of earthquakes
D．know what to do in a disaster
61．What will the writer talk about next?
A．emergency supplies B．first aid
C．toppling chimneys D．ceiling plaster
62．which can be the best title of this passage?
A．Are You Prepared for the Next Earthquake
B．Earthquakes Occur without Warning
C．How to prevent earthquakes
D．Cause of Earthquakes
第三部分: 阅读理解 (共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A,B,C,D)中选出最佳选项
One of the most important aspects of an image is color. People are very sensitive to color, and different colors have different effects on people .
In general , red is an exciting color , which creates an image of action, energy and danger. Red is also the most frequently used color in flags .Eighty percent of the world’s flags contain red. A study in “Germany showed that football teams wearing red are more successful .Blue is a very calm color .Business executives usually wear dark blue suits .Blue is also a peaceful color. The flag of the United Nations is light blue .Yellow is associated with openness and freedom. Green is a very relaxing color .Surgeons nowadays wear green ,because it’s less tiring than white .Black creates an image of power and authority .It can also be a very threatening color .Gangsters and vampires often wear black .white is a pure and strong color .This is one reason why doctors wear white coats .We trust them more .Grey is a very anonymous color .People wearing grey don’t want other people to notice them .Brown is the opposite of black .It’s warm and friendly ,while black is threatening .
56．What does the author mainly talk about in the passage?
A．Color and Character B．Color and Image
C．Color and Occupation D．People are sensitive to color
57．Which of the following is true about color according to the passage?
A．Eighty per cent of the world’s flags contain green.
B．Brown is the opposite of pink, presenting warmth.
C．Red creates an image of energy , danger and freedom.
D．Blue is a peaceful and calm color.
58．The underlined word “anonymous” roughly means ______
A．outstanding B．beautiful C．exciting D．unknown
China news, Beijing, Feb. 9 – Housing price in China has always aroused heated discussions among property developers and ordinary Chinese. To many property developers and local government officials, housing price in China is still low compared with many developed countries. However, the average housing price in the United States is only 8,000 yuan per square meter, while in China, it is even higher than in the United States. This shows that there are some bubbles(泡沫) in Chinese real estate market, the International Finance News reported.
Although the average price of residential houses in the United States, after converted to Renminbi, is about 8,000 yuan per square meter, the houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses. If US property developers sell their houses according to the building area, then the housing price will be even lower than 8,000 yuan per square meter. In most big Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, houses are sold at a price even higher than those in the US.
The high housing sales price in large cities in China proves that Chinese real estate market does have some bubbles. Moreover, Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities. Furthermore, it should be noted that American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people. How can the Chinese afford to buy a house which is even more expensive than that sold in US?
At the beginning of 2007, Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public. Now in order to reduce the high housing prices, the government can regulate the real estate market by raising tax on property industry and controlling the release of loans and lands to property developers. At the same time, the government should allow people to build more houses through various fund-raising channels, such as funds collected from buyers or raised by working units. By applying these multiple means, it is expected that the high housing prices can be lowered.
72．According to the passage, what is the average housing price per square meter in China?
A．8000 yuan B．10000 yuan C．7000 yuan D．It’s not mentioned here
73．We can’t learn from the passage that_________.
A．Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities.
B．American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people.
C．The houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses.
D．There are more people who need houses in China.
74．What is the main idea of this passage?
A．The housing price in China is so high that the government should do something useful to prevent it.
B．There are some bubbles in Chinese real estate market.
C．The average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States.
D．Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public.
75．How many measures are mentioned in the last paragraph in order to reduce the high housing prices?
A．Four B．Three C．Five D．Two
Dear Harry Potter,
Hi! I'm Kevin from India．I really feel lucky to write you a letter．
Though I live far away from your world, I think we are a little alike, You are a great wizard(魔术师) ．You have done lots of magical things to be amazed at．Although I don't do magic, I do believe in it．Well, I'm also a wizard at school．And I can often get As, but I am not a bookworm．I like to play jokes in class, which sometimes make my teachers angry．I also have many friends．They often get me into and out of trouble．No matter what has happened, we still get close together．
Oh, I almost forget to tell you that our school is almost like yours, Hogwarts．It's a special one for excellent students．We have modern classes and technology lessons．But when much is given, much is expected, so I often stay up late just to finish my homework．It really makes me tired and bored．
Luckily, I can read your stories in my free time．I feel like I know you．You have a mind of your own．You are young, but you know how to take responsibility for your decisions．Also you think with a clear head even in danger．What a great boy you are ! How I wish I could meet you soon!
May you have a nice time．
yours, Kevin
68．Kevin and Harry are a little alike because_______．
A．they almost have the same experience B．their worlds are full of magic
C．their schools are close to each other D．they both like the same subjects．
69．In the passage, "a bookworm" means a person_______．
A．who likes keeping worms B．who is loved by teachers at school
C．who is nervous of reading books D．who enjoys nothing but reading
70．From the passage we know that Kevin_______．
A．is a slow boy in class B．is fed up with much homework
C．doesn't believe in magic D．likes to keep quiet in class
71．Kevin writes to Harry to tell him many things EXCEPT_______．
A．his friendsB．his school life C．his trouble D．his family