Essay is optional and no penalties(处罚) for wrong answers．These changes will take place in SAT college exam．The changes include the use of some words more commonly used in school and on the job instead of the words such as “prevaricator” and “sagacious”.
College Board officials said the change is needed to make the exam better representative of what students study in high school and the skills they need to succeed in college and afterward．The new exam will be rolled out in 2016, so this year’s ninth graders will be the first to take it, in their junior year．The new SAT will continue to test reading, writing and math skills, with an emphasis on analysis．Scoring will return to a 1,600-point scale last used in 2004, with a separate score for the optional essay．For the first time, students will have the option of taking the test on computers.
They also said many students who are terrified they will be tested on lots of SAT words currently can ask for help: practicing with flashcards．They know flashcards are not the best way to build real word knowledge that lasts, but when the SAT rolls around they become the royal road．Students stop reading and start flipping.
The essay will be changed in other ways, too．It will measure students’ ability to analyze and explain how an author builds an argument and it will also be up to colleges whether the essay will be required．Each exam will include a passage drawn from “founding documents”: such as the Declaration of Independence or from discussions they’ve inspired．Instead of testing a wide range of math concepts, the new exam will focus on a few areas, like algebra, thought to be most needed for college and life afterward．A calculator will be allowed only on certain math questions, instead of on the entire math portion(部分).
Jim Rawlins, the director of admissions at the University of Oregon, said the changes will potentially help the students but it will take a few years to know its influence, after the students go on to college．He said some colleges are still dealing with questions about the changes made in 2005, such as how to consider the essay portion．The criticism of the SAT is that students from wealthier families do better on the exam because they can afford expensive test preparation classes.
The SAT was taken last year by 1.7 million students．It has historically been more popular on the coasts, while the other main standardized college entrance exam, the ACT, dominated the central U.S．The ACT took over the SAT in total use in 2012, partly because it is taken by almost every junior in 13 states as part of those states’ testing scheme(方案).
ACT president Jon Erickson said when hearing of the SAT changes, his reaction was that they could’ve been talking about the ACT now．“I didn’t hear anything new and different, so I was a little left wanting, at least at the end of this first announcement,” Erickson said .
Bob Schaeffer, education director at the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, or FairTest, said it is laudable(值得称道的) that the SAT will provide free test preparation, but it is unlikely to make a dent in the market for such preparation．He also said the new test is unlikely to be better than the current one．His organization has a database with institutions that don't require ACT or SAT scores to make admissions decisions.
We can learn from the third paragraph that flashcards_________.
| A．will become the only way to test words |
| B．can help students get ready for SAT words |
| C．can help students memorize the words forever |
| D．are the best way for the students to get high scores |
SAT exams will be less required in 2016 with the purpose of _________.
| A．getting more students interested in the entrance exam |
| B．making it easier for students to be admitted into colleges |
| C．offering chances for the students to be tested on every subject |
| D．testing the students better on the knowledge and skills they’ve learnt |
The change in the 2016’s SAT college entrance exam include the following EXCEPT that _________.
| A．students will use calculators if they get stuck in certain math questions |
| B．some words that are uncommonly used won’t appear in the exam |
| C．students will be given the chance to take the test on computers |
| D．students will be tested on a wide range of math concepts |
According to Jim Rawlins, _________.
| A．the changes are mainly aimed at students from the rich family |
| B．the changes will force students to give up writing essay |
| C．the changes will probably have some bad influence |
| D．the changes will be of no benefit to students |
Which of the following statements is TRUE about the ACT ?
| A．It is more popular in the coastal cities. |
| B．More than 1.7 million students took it last year. |
| C．Jon Erickson felt worried about the SAT changes. |
| D．It has been the most popular college entrance exam so far. |
When I was four years old，I broke my elbow. After many weeks in a cast (石膏) I returned to the hospital to finally have it removed. My mother found it strange that I was so enthusiastic about returning to the place where I had experienced so much pain. Yet she soon discovered my fascination with the healing process and how doctors helped to enhance it.
I was in fear as the doctor removed my cast and asked me to move my arm，and immediately became scared as the pain came shooting back through my elbow. After another series of X-rays and examinations my arm was put into a new cast I had begun to doubt the reliability of the doctor，and my mother thought I would be unwilling to return a second time.
When the day came to have my cast removed again，I was nervous. Yet I was optimistic enough to trust the doctor as he once again removed my cast and asked me to move my arm. And this time it was better! Nothing hurt!
On the way back home I released (松开) my mother's hand and ran ahead，and out of her sight. She was immediately worried that I would come upon someone dangerous. At the age of four I was already known for liking to talk with strangers that I felt were potential friends. When she caught sight of me again， I was looking up into the face of an old broken-legged man，saying，“Don't worry，sir! The doctor will fix your leg. Look how he fixed my arm！”
Since then I have continued to be fascinated with the human body and medicine. I also still love to help people，and never miss an opportunity to encourage someone. But most of all，I still believe that optimism and trust are the building blocks of happiness and success. Many things can change，but I am proud to say that these parts of me have always stayed the same.
56.The author was nervous when he returned to the hospital the second time because.
A. the hospital seemed like a more frightening place B. the doctor there was unskilled
C. he was afraid of the pain D. he was sure his elbow wouldn't recover
57.What did the mother fear when the author ran out of her sight on the way back home?
A. That he would break his elbow again.
B. That he would run down others and break their legs
C. That he would lose his way.
D. That he would come upon a dangerous stranger and get hurt.
58.What can we learn about the author from the passage?
A. He is optimistic and enthusiastic. B. He was hard-working as a young boy.
C. He doesn't like making friends with strangers.
D. He could become anything but a doctor.
59.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. An Unforgettable Hospital Experience B. Lessons of a Broken Bone
C. What Makes for Happiness and Success? D. Broken Bones Take Long to Heal
D
Can trees talk? Yes --- but not in words. Scientists have reason to believe that trees do communicate with each other. Not long ago, researchers learned some surprising things. First a willow tree (柳树) attacked in the woods by caterpillars (毛毛虫) changed the chemistry of its leaves and made them tasteless so that the caterpillars got tired of the leaves and stopped eating them. The even more astonishing, the tree sent out a special vapor--- a signal causing its neighbors to change the chemistry of their own leaves and make themselves taste also terrible.
Communication, of course, doesn’t need to be always in words. We can talk to each other by smiling, raising our shoulders and moving our hands. We know that birds and animals use a whole vocabulary of songs, sounds and movements. Bees dance their signals, flying in certain patterns that tell other bees where to find nectar (花蜜) for honey. So shy shouldn’t trees have ways of sending messages?
71.When attacked, a willow tree will protect itself by _______.
A. changing its leaves’ chemistry B. changing its leaves’ color
C. talking to caterpillars D. sending a special vapor
72. From the passage we know that caterpillars _______.
A. like willow trees B. enjoy eating fallen leaves
C. feed on willow tree leaves D. could communicate with willow trees
73.Caterpillars will stop eating willow tree leaves which _______
A . have a chemical change and become tasteless B. have a pleasant taste
C. are being attacked D. are communicating
74.According to the passage, how do willow trees communicate with each other?
A. They talk in words. B. They send a special vapor.
C. They wave their leaves. D. They make special sounds.
75.According to the passage, bees communicate with each other by _______.
A. talking B. making unusual sounds
C. singing D. flying in certain patterns
C
People think being an artist must be a wonderful way to earn one's living. Of course, there are lots of great things about working for oneself, at home alone. What I really like is that nobody tells me what time to start in the morning, what to wear; or whether I can take the afternoon off and go to a football match.
But then, I have no one to chat with when I'm bored, no one to discuss last night's match with during the lunch-hour. Sure, I can spend the afternoon doing something I enjoy like swimming, walking the dog, or even sleeping, if I choose. But the work will still be there when I do finally get back home, and it's still got to be finished in time. Unfortunately, working at home means that people can always find me, whether I’m bored or not and once I’ve answered the doorbell, it's too late——my thoughts have been interrupted. No one would dream of calling if I worked in an office, but in an office I find myself making cups of coffee and listening to friends' troubles. As they talk, my ideas disappear and I feel increasingly stressed thinking of my work waiting to be done.
66. What is the writer trying to do in the text?
A. To encourage readers to work at home.
B. To explain why he has changed his job.
C. To describe his working life.
D. To say how he would like to work.
67. What can the reader learn from the text?
A. How to start working for oneself.
B. What it's like to work at home.
C. Why the writer decided to work for himself.
D. How artists become successful?
68. What does the writer like about his life?
A. He has plenty of opportunities for sport.
B. He is his own boss.
C. He can see people when he wants to.
D. He has a comfortable place to work.
69. What does the writer imagine he might do with colleagues ( 同事 ) ?
A. Have meals in restaurants.
B. Go to the swimming pool.
C. Spend time in the countryside.
D. Talk about sport.
70. Which of these notices would be most useful for the writer to put on his door?
B
It was a warm April day when a big fat envelope came in the mail from the only college I had ever imagined attending. I tore open the packet. My eyes were fixed on the word "congratulations". I don't remember ever smiling so wide.
Then I looked at my financial (财政的) package. The cost of Dream School's tuition( 学费), room and board was around. $40,000—an impossible sum! How could I afford to attend? What good reasons did I have to go there when three other fine colleges were offering me free tuition? My other choices were good, solid schools even if they weren't as famous as my first choice.
In my mind, attending my dream university would be the only way to realize my dream of becoming a world-class writer. My parents understood how I felt. They told me that even though it would be a financial problem, I could go wherever I would be happiest. But as I was always careful with money, I wasn't sure what to do.
One of the schools that offered me a full ride had an informational dinner one night in the spring. Considering my parents' financial difficulties, I decided to drive the 45 minutes and attend. At first, all I’d planned to do was smile politely, eat free food, listen quietly. But I surprised myself.
At dinner the president of the university talked about the wonderful, activities on campus ( 校园 ) including guest lectures and social gatherings. He also made it perfectly clear that free food would be offered at all future events. He continued with explanations of professors, class sizes, activities, and sporting events on campus. As he spoke, I began to realize that this school, though not as good as my first choice, might be the best one for me. It seemed small yet with many great programs. It seemed challenging yet caring.
As the president ended his speech, we clapped politely and pushed back our chairs. As I walked out that door, a feeling of to comfort washed over me. Looking at the campus that night, I realized that I would be spending the next four years right there.
In all honesty, my university is not as well-known as my "dream" university. However, it turned out to be the right choice of schools for me.
62. How did he author feel when he started to read the letter?
A. He was full of joy.B. He was lost in his dream.
C. He was worried about the moneyD. He was uncertain which school to go.
63. We can learn from the passage that the parents were_______.
A. honest. B. strict C. supportive D. decisive
64. In Paragraph 5, "offered me a full ride" can be replaced by "______".
A. would pay for transport to the school
B. would show me around the campus
C. would offer free meals at all events
D. would charge me nothing for tuition
65. What does the author mainly want to say?
A. Your second-choice college may actually be your best fit.
B. You should consider comfort in your choice of schools.
C. You should try your best to attend your dream school.
D. Your choice of schools should be based on their fame.
第三部分: 阅读理解（共20题，每题2分，满分40分）
A
It is natural that young people are often uncomfortable when they are with their parents. They say that their parents don't understand them. They often think that their parents are out of touch with modem ways; that they are too serious and too strict with their children; and that they seldom give their children a free hand.
It is true that parents often find it difficult to win their children's trust and they tend to forget how they themselves felt when young.
For example, young people like to act on the spot without much thinking. It is one of their ways to show that they have grown up and they can face any difficult situation. Older people worry more easily. Most of them plan things ahead, at least in the back of their minds, and do not like their plans to be upset by something unexpected.
When you want your parents to let you do something, you will have better success, if you ask before you really start doing it.
Young people often make their parents angry with their choices in clothes, in entertainment and in music. But they do not mean to cause any trouble—— it is just that they feel cut off from the older people's world, into which they have not yet been accepted. That's why young people want to make a new culture of their own. And if their parents do not like their music or entertainment or clothes or their ways of speech, this will make the young people extremely happy.
Sometimes you are so proud of yourself that you do not want your parents to say "yes" to what you do. All you want is to be left alone and do what you like. It is natural enough, after being a child for so many years, when you were completely under your parents' control.
If you plan to control your life, you'd better win your parents over and try to get them to understand you. If your parents see that you have a high sense of responsibility, they will certainly give you the right to do what you want to do.
56. _______ are to blame for the quarrels between parents and their children, according to this article.
A. Parents B. Young people
C. Neither parents nor their children D. Both parents and their children
57. This article is particularly written for__________
A. parents B. both parents and their children
C. young people D. teachers
58. According to the text, young people tend to__________.
A. ask for advice before they really start to do anything
B. do things without thinking carefully ahead
C. be very strict with themselves
D. think in the same way as their parents do
59. Older people tend to__________.
A. remember how they themselves felt when they were young
B. act on the spot without thinking very carefully
C. plan things before they act
D. ask for advice from others
60. Young people like to have clothes, entertainment and music in their own way, because ___.
A. they want to make their parents angry
B. they try to get their parents into trouble
C. they want to try on something new and look different from the older people
D. they know they are cleverer than the older people
61. According to the text , young people want to make a new culture of their own, because ___.
A. they don't feel they belong to the world of the older people
B. they do not want to get into trouble
C. they feel they are cleverer than the older people
D. they want to show they have grown up