High school dropouts(辍学者)earn an average of ＄9000 less per year than graduates．Now a new study dispels a common belief why they quit．It’s much more basic than flunking out(不及格)．
Society tends to think of high school dropouts as kids who just can’t cut it．They are lazy, and perhaps not too bright．So researchers were surprised when they asked more than 450 kids who quit school about why they left．
“The vast majority actually had passing grades and they were confident that they could have graduated from high school, ” John Bridgeland, the executive researcher said．About 1 million teens leave school each year．Only about half of African-American and Hispanic(美籍西班牙的)student will receive a diploma(证书), and actually all dropouts come to regret their decision．So, if failing grades don’t explain why these kids quit, what does?Again, John Bridgeland：“The most dependable finding was that they were bored．”“They found classes uninteresting; they weren’t inspired or motivated．They didn’t see any direct connection between what they were learning in the classroom to their own lives, or to their career aspirations．”
The study found that most teens who do drop out wait until they turn sixteen, which happens to be the age at which most states allow students to quit．In the US, only one state, New Mexico, has a law requiring teenagers to stay in high school until they graduate．Only four states：California, Tennessee, Texas and Utah, plus the District of Columbia, require school ?attendance? until age 18, no exceptions, another researcher, says raising the compulsory(义务的)attendance age may be one way to keep more kids in school．
“As these dropouts look black, they realize they’ve made a mistake．And anything that sort of gives these people an extra push to stick it out and it through to the end, is probably helpful measure．”
New Hampshire may be the next state to raise its school attendance age to 18．But critics say that forcing the students unwilling to continue their studies to stay in school misses the point－the need for reform．It’s been called for to reinvent(彻底改造)high school education to make it more challenging and relevant(中肯的, 切题的), and to ensure that kids who do stick it out receive a diploma that actually means something．Most high school students drop out of school because ________．
| A．they have failing grades |
| B．they take no interest in classes |
| C．they are discriminated against |
| D．they are lazy and not intelligent |
According to the passage, which state has a law requiring school attendance until they graduate?
| A．New Hampshire． |
| B．Utah． |
| C．New Mexico． |
| D．The District of Columbia． |
The underlined words “stick it out” probably mean “________”．
| A．complete schooling |
| B．solve the problem |
| C．love having classes |
| D．believe in themselves |
In the last paragraph, the writer is trying to ________
| A．analyze the reason why students quit school |
| B．suggest raising the compulsory attendance age |
| C．call on to reform high school education |
| D．wish to make laws to guarantee no education |
“Any time! Any where! Decades ago there was no such thing” – “Communication”.
Then, September 7th
1987, the global system for mobile communication or GSM was born. And international agreements that laid out the standards, regulations and practices gave rise to a global mobile phone industry.
To be honest, the world’s first mobiles were not so attractive and the range of effectiveness wasn’t very good. But they became a must-have among those wealthy people who could afford that. However, by advantage of GSM which has many different elements to it, we can all enjoy the ability to go around the world in 217 countries, land in that country and know that a phone would work.
There are other cell phone systems using different technology in the world. The majority of the United States and parts of South America have been using something called CDMA which is very rare in Europe. In some Asian countries like China, GSM and CDMA both exist at the same time. But the GSM Association claims 85% of the global mobile phone market. They estimated there are now about 2.5 billion different users who make more than 7 trillion minutes of calls everyday, and that’s not all.
20 years later, the mobile phone is so much more than just a phone. You can use it to send text messages, take pictures, show video, even surf the internet.
“The phone itself is involved from just being a communication tool, to be a tool for round-the-clock connectivity, you can not live without it even in a minute.” Mobile consultant Nick Lane also points out with so many customized styles and features, your mobile phone will become a symbol of you.
Where will the global mobile phone industry be in another 20 years? Certainly, there will be more connections than better coverage. As for where else technology will take us, one can only imagine.According the passage, we can know that GSM is ____________.
| A．a global-used mobile phone | B．a global mobile phone industry |
| C．a global mobile phone association | D．a global mobile communication system |
It's most difficult to find a CDMA mobile phone in ____________.
| A．the United States | B．South America | C．Europe | D．China |
From this passage, we can infer that ____________.
| A．as soon as the first mobiles appeared, they became popular and many people have one |
| B．with a GSM mobile phone, you can make a phone call in most parts of the USA |
| C．there are only two cell phone systems in the whole world: GSM and CDMA |
| D．most of the mobile phone users in the world now are using the GSM mobile phone |
By pointing out “your mobile phone will become a symbol of you”, what does Nick Lane want to tell us about the mobile phone in the future?
| A．You can have a mobile phone with the unique look and functions as you like. |
| B．Others can find us without any difficulties if we carry our mobile phone. |
| C．The mobile phone can be used as a permit when you enter some places. |
| D．The mobile phone we carry can show others how wealthy we are. |
What does the writer feel about the GSM development in the following 20 years?
| A．Satisfied. | B．Worried. | C．Confident. | D．Confused. |
China Daily Oct. 11----The ministry of Health has called for more awareness from the public on the mental health of the young, as part of efforts to make World Mental Health Day which fell on Friday.
More than 15 percent of Chinese youths have been found with mental problems, and about 30 million young people under 17 are suffering from depression, the Shang-based Wenhui Daily reported. The World Health Organization estimates that before 2020, the rate of children with mental problems will increase to 50 percent, and mental problems will become a major factor behind deaths and illness in the young worldwide.
Deng Xiaohong, the spokesperson for the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, said rapid changes are one of the reasons behind the rising number of youngsters with psychological problems. If these mental diseases are not addressed on time, occurrence of crimes, drug-taking and other dangerous behavior are expected to rise. Experts said mental diseases could be caused by many factors, such as the inability to handle interpersonal relations well, unstable emotions and pressures from an overload of studies. A number of experts have also said the one-child policy is another reason leading to poor mental health in the young. Children are said to be too “ spoiled” and “selfish” in a one-child family.
It’s reported schools in many cities are rolling out measures to help students maintain their mental well-being. Yin Jingmiao, a teacher of the Beijing No.105 Middle School, told China Daily that the school invites psychologists to provide counseling to students three times a month.” Students can be arranged to have 40-minute counseling sessions,” Yin said. The school also gives lectures on mental health to senior grade students before they take the national college entrance exams to help ease any anxiety arising from the tests.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Efforts to Mark World Mental Health Day |
| B．Seriousness of Youngsters’ Mental Health Problems |
| C．How to Maintain Mental Well-being |
| D．Public Awareness on Youngsters’ Mental Disease Expected |
The writer intends to tell us in the second paragraph that________
| A．mental health problems of the young are becoming a popular problem. |
| B．only young people are suffering from mental health problems. |
| C．mental problems will become as serious as deaths and illness. |
| D．the rate of children with mental problems will increase to 50 percent. |
Which could be the consequence if the problem is left untreated?
| A．Inability to handle interpersonal relations. | B．Unstable emotions |
| C．Drug-taking and other dangerous behavior | D．Rapid social changes |
Why is the Beijing No.105 Middle School mentioned in the passage?
| A．To provide the students with counseling sessions. |
| B．To give an example showing how mental problems are dealt with. |
| C．To help ease the anxiety arising from the national college entrance exams |
| D．To call on other schools to learn from the No.105 Middle School |
This is the place for you to come to share stories with other real kids who are trying hard to improve their bodies and minds! Did you score a goal in your soccer game? Have you got rid of a bad habit? Are you working to reduce your stress in life? Tell the world what makes your body and mind healthy!
Posted by Dp, Ohio
I have been working on a fitness equipment to exercise for over four months. I have completed my goal of losing weight and I am very proud of myself. That is so cool!
Posted by MK, Missouri
I was always tired at school, because I used to stay up late watching TV. I even fell asleep one day in my history class, and when I woke up, the teacher was looking at me and laughing! I decided that minute to start going to bed on time. It’s kind of a drag missing the shows I like, but I can tell my body loves it – I feel so much better!
Posted by SP, Georgia
Last year, I didn’t make the soccer team at school. I didn’t want to try out again this year, but a few weeks before tryouts(选拔赛), I started kicking the ball around and practicing. When tryout day came, I decided to give it another shot. Guess what? I made the team!
Posted by JS, New York
I’m deaf, so I’ve had more trouble playing sports than other people. But who wants to sit at home all the time? I like to play basketball with guys in my neighborhood. I can’t hear the ball bounce(弹起) or listen to the guys call plays, but I’ve taught them to use some sign language, and so far, we’ve been unstoppable! The kids mentioned in the text came here _________.
| A．to make new friends |
| B．to learn to tell stories |
| C．to talk about their efforts to keep fit |
| D．to share weight-losing experiences |
The achievement that SP, Georgia has made is that ________.
| A．he was admitted to the school soccer team |
| B．he scored a goal in an important soccer match |
| C．his soccer skills have improved a lot this year |
| D．he helped the school soccer team win an important match |
Who taught other kids sign language?
| A． DP, Ohio | B． JS, New York |
| C． SP, Georgia | D． MK, Missouri |
The underlined part “a drag” in the text probably refers to something that is ____.
| A． satisfying | B． rewarding | C． puzzling | D． annoying |
For Americans, a mosquito bite is an itchy bother. But for many in Africa, a tiny bite can be deadly. One million people die each year of malaria, a disease spread by infected mosquitoes. Most of these people live in Africa, and are under age 5.
Malaria can be prevented and treated. However, many African nations don’t have the funds to fight it. Nothing but Nets (NBN) hopes to change that. The United Nations Foundation created the campaign in 2006. The aim is to prevent malaria by covering sleeping areas with nets. Hanging bed nets treated with insecticide(杀虫剂) is the simplest way to stop mosquitoes from biting at night. The chemicals last four to five years. For $10, anyone can send a net to Africa and help save a life.
So far, NBN has raised $19 million and delivered 700,000 nets to seven countries. Families are taught how to use the nets. Kids also get vaccines (疫苗)and vitamins. "Women line up for miles to get the medicine for their kids," says NBN director Elizabeth McKee Gore. "They understand the importance."
So do kids in this country. "They get so excited thinking of ways to raise money," says NBN spokesperson and basketball star Ruth Riley.
NBN’s biggest fund-raiser is Katherine Commale, 7. She’s been spreading the information about bed nets for the past two years. To show how they work, she and her brother made a video. "We teach that bed nets can save lives," she said.
Katherine has raised $42,000 for NBN. "She just wants those who need a net to have one," says her mom, Lynda. "It’s pretty simple to her." To find out how you can help, visit nothingbutnets.net.We know from the passage that NBN is in fact _________.
| A．a deadly disease | B．an organization |
| C．a piece of equipment | D．a game |
The purpose of the passage is most probably ___________.
| A．to list the sufferings of the African people |
| B．to introduce new ways to avoid mosquito bites |
| C．to call on people to offer their help to Africans |
| D．to tell people how to buy nets in Africa |
By saying “So do kids in this country” in Paragraph 4,the author means that kids in this country also ___________.
| A．know the importance of the bed nets |
| B．know how to protect themselves |
| C．lack nets to protect themselves |
| D．suffer from malaria |
What do we know about Katherine from the passage?
| A．She set up the website nothingbutnets.net. |
| B．She is the youngest money-raiser for NBN. |
| C．She raised money by making and selling videos. |
| D．She started working for NBN at the age of 5. |
A new study by Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey is a better and safer treatment for children than cough medicines.
Ian Paul, the study’s lead researcher, was motivated to test honey because treating coughs in children has recently become a sticky subject. Coughing is the body’s way of cleaning irritated (受刺激的) airways to help you breathe. But too much coughing can irritate your lungs and throat even more. It can also make it tough to get the sleep your body needs to heal. Hoping to ease the suffering of their children, parents often give them cough medicines.
But there have never been any good studies showing that they work. Cough and cold medicines may also cause serious side effects. Hundreds of kids die in the hospital each year after receiving too much cough medicine by mistake. Last October, the US Food and Drug Administration suggested that parents should 
not give cough medicines to children under 6.
In order to search for a different solution, Paul designed a study that involved 105 kids who were sick with coughs and other cold conditions. At bedtime, the kids took buckwheat(荞麦) honey, honey-flavored (蜜蜂味的) DM (one of the most common ingredients成分in cough medicine), or no treatment. Parents and kids in the no-treatment group knew they weren’t getting anything, but the other two groups weren’t told which treatment they were getting.
The surveys showed that kids who swallowed about 2 teaspoons of buckwheat
honey before bedtime coughed less and slept better than kids in other groups.
“When parents want something for their kids to take,” Paul says, “honey seems
like the best option.”
But what gives honey its healing power? Substances called antioxidants(抗氧化剂) may be part of the answer. All honey contains antioxidants that protect our cells from damage. Studies show that antioxidant levels in the body rise after someone swallows honey.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
| A．Sweet solution to kids’ coughing |
| B．No cough medicines to children |
| C．Best treatment for your cold |
| D．Cough medicines don’t work |
We can learn from Paragraph 2 that coughing ______.
| A．can cure lung and throat diseases |
| B．is more harmful to children |
| C．sometimes does good to people |
| D．helps improve children’s die |
During Paul’s experiment, the kids who received treatment __________.
| A．seemed much worse than before |
| B．had no idea what they swallowed |
| C．knew they weren’t getting anything |
| D．coughed less and slept better |
According to the passage, Paul’s experiment proved that ____.
| A．honey may have real healing power |
| B．cough medicines may cause side effect |
| C．cough medicines don’t really work |
| D．buckwheat honey contain more antioxidants |