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Gift Giving
I'm going to China and everyone in my class is asking me to buy them something. What should I do?
Reply from the Highlights Editor:
Your classmates are probably just excited about your trip. Most likely they don't expect you to buy gifts for everyone. Sending a few postcards to the entire class during your trip would be a wonderful way to share your experiences. The pictures on the cards and your words of description will be the best gift of all.
Dog Begging
My dog always begs for food at the dinner table. I really want to feed him, but my mom says I can't. I'm afraid he won't like me anymore. What should I do?
Reply from the Highlights Editor:
Your dog loves you for many more reasons than just for what you feed him. You can show him that you care about him by playing with him, by petting him and speaking kindly to him and by making sure he has fresh water. It might be best if your dog is not near the dinner table while you are eating. You could teach him to stay in another room.
Being Bilingual(会说双语的)
My aunt insists that we speak our language(Tagalog) at home and English outside the house. Do you think she is right?
Reply from the Highlights Editor:
It is a great gift to have someone in your family who is willing to take the time to teach you another language. It's a good way to keep family traditions alive, and it helps develop your language skills. Your ability to use both English and Tagalog will help you learn a third and fourth language later in life. So it sounds like a great idea!The Highlights editor suggests the student who is going to China _______.
| A．send postcards as the gifts to the class |
| B．make phone calls to all the classmates |
| C．buy gifts for some of the classmates |
| D．give each classmate a picture as a gift |
According to the Highlights editor, if your dog begs for food at the dinner table, you'd better __________.
| A．feed him immediately |
| B．speak loudly to him |
| C．teach him to stay in another room |
| D．provide him with fresh water |
What is the Highlights editor's attitude towards being bilingual?
| A．Opposed(反对） | B．Tolerant（忍受） |
| C．Supportive（支持） | D．Doubtful（怀疑）. |
The Highlights editors give the replies to __________.
| A．show their readers how to send girls |
| B．tell their readers about their interesting work |
| C．help their readers to solve school problems |
| D．offer their readers advice on personal problems |
I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt’s house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hea
ring again the radio program for school children to which listened every morning. I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving, I thought about all the places I was going to see—the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism(乐观主义), but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a
result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to “the hard times”.
My responsibilities(职责) in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with i
mmigration officers, took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.
From my experiences I have learned one important rule: almost all common troubles ev
entually go away! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy. How did the author get to know America?
| A．From her relatives. | B．From her mother. | C．From books and pictures. | D．From radio programs. |
For the first two years in New York, the author. .
| A．often lost her way | B．did not think about her job  |
| C．studied in three different schools | D．got on well with her new friends |
What can we learn from the author from Paragraph 3 ?
A．She  worked as a translator. |
B．She attended a lot of job interviews. |
| C．She paid telephone bills for her family . | D．She helped her family with her English. |
The author believes that.
| A．her future will be free from troubles . | B．it is difficult to learn to become patient. |
| C．there are more good things than bad things. | D．good things will happen if one keeps trying. |
On April twenty-second, some American children stayed out of school but they were not punished. They were with their parents. As Faith Lapidus tells us, it was Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.
The Ms. Foundation for Women started the program seventeen years ago, in 1993. At first it was just called Take Our Daughters to Work. Gloria Steinem and other foundation leaders pointed to studies showing that self-image suffers as girls become teenagers. They can lose trust in their abilities and intelligence, especially in areas like science, math and technology. So the Ms. Foundation planned a day for parents in New York City to show girls all the possibilities for them in the professional world. But there was so much interest, the organizers decided to make it national.
At first, girls mostly followed their mom or dad around at work to learn about their jobs. Later, employers and schools began to offer organized activities. But from the beginning there were protests(反对) from parents and others about the exception of boys. So in 2003 the day was renamed Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work.
2007 was the last year that the Ms. Foundation for Women headed the program. Now, the event is run by a twelve-person group called the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation.
The event is connected with Mattel, the company that makes Barbie dolls.
Carolyn McKecuen is president of the foundation. She says a total of about thirty-three million children and adults are involved in the program. About one-third of the adults work at large companies or nonprofit organizations. Another third are in small businesses. The rest work in education.
Carolyn McKecuen says the numbers from this year's event are not final yet. But early reports suggest that participation was up at least ten percent from last year. And she says the foundation is hoping to find support to expand the program internationally. She says there are lots of requests from other countries for information about how to set up similar programs.It was called Take Our Daughters to Work at first because ______.
| A．girls are considered to be clever than boys |
| B．girls are considered to be more foolish than boys |
| C．girls aren’t confident in some areas as they becomes older |
| D．girls don’t want to learn some science subjects |
Why was the day renamed as Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day later?
| A．Because some parents were against only girls’ having the chance. |
| B．Because some parents wouldn’t like to take their daughters to work. |
| C．Because some employers were against parents’ taking their children to work. |
| D．Because some schools didn’t want to give any students’ time to leave school. |
How many years did the Ms. Foundation for Women head the program?
| A．17 | B．18 | C．14 | D．10 |
From this passage we can learn ______.
| A．April twenty-second is a day for some American children to stay out of school for punishment |
| B．the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is a national in America |
| C．Mattel is the president of the foundation whose company makes Barbie dolls |
| D．Lots of other countries want to set up similar programs for parents and children |
The last paragraph shows that ______.
| A．the program becomes more and more welcome |
| B．the program will come an end without international support |
| C．the program has been copied by many other countries |
| D．Carolyn McKecuen wants more and more children to take part in the program |
Many of the stories written by Mark Twain take place in Hannibal, Missouri.The small wooden house where he lived as a boy still stands there.Next to the house is a wooden fence.It is the kind described in Twain's book, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," published in1876.
In that story, Tom has been told to paint the fence.He does not want to do it.But he acts as if the job is great fun.He tricks other boys into believing this.His trick is so successful that they agree to pay him money to let them finish his work."The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is considered one of the best books about an American boy's life in THE the1800s.
Tom Sawyer's good friend is Huckleberry, or "Huck," Finn.Mark Twain tells this boy's story in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."Huck is a poor child, without a mother or home.His father drinks too much alcohol and beats him.
Huck's situation has freed him from the restrictions of society.He explores in the woods and goes fishing.He stays out all night and does not go to school.He smokes tobacco.
Huck runs away from home.He meets Jim, a black man who has escaped from slavery.They travel together on a raft made of wood down the Mississippi River.Huck describes the trip: "It was lovely to live on the raft.Other places seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft...Sometimes we'd have that whole river to ourselves for the longest time... We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them---.“From the second paragraph we learn Tom Sawyer is a ______ boy.
| A．kind | B．smart | C．clumsy | D．honest |
The reason why Huck runs away from home is that ______.
| A．his family is poor | B．he wants to find a friend live with |
| C．there’s no warn in his home | D．he loves nature and likes to adventure |
The underlined word “restrictions” can be replaced by _____.
| A．limits | B．prohibition | C．forces | D．rules |
Why did Huck feel comfortable living in a raft? Because _____.
| A．Huck made the raft by himself | B．Huck could eat fresh food here |
| C．Huck could have the river there | D．Huck likes to be free |
The stories of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” are probably _____.
| A．completely imaginary | B．according Mark Twain’s experiences |
| C．Mark Twain’s autobiography(自传) | D．records from his last generation |
Jesse was a great teacher, tutor, mentor, and family member. He was a dedicated (忠诚的)volunteer in the Peace Corps in Guinea, West Africa. He went to a place where he knew he could make a difference and wanted to help teach children who otherwise would not have a teacher. He made friends wherever he went and touched the hearts of many.
Jesse was never one to go anywhere without making a good impression on everyone he met. His sudden death in a tragic car accident in Africa brought his family and friends together in a celebration of his life. They came from all over: Africa, Canada, the US. The church was filled with people who knew that Jesse had made a difference in their lives, in the lives of the children, and in the hearts of his loved ones.
Jesse volunteered with the Peace Corps to help educate children in Guinea, Africa. Guinea is a very poor and complex country where tribalism（种族主义） is strong. Each tribe that Jesse worked with wanted him to commit（致力于）to one or the other.
Jesse would not surrender（投降）to tribalism when he took an African name, and he wanted a tribal last name. Each of the two tribes in which he taught insisted that he choose their name. He would not choose but married the tribes' two names into one.
Jesse was a light to all who knew him. We will always remember the joy and love he brought to his work, to his family, his friends. The people who loved Jesse are planning to build a school in Guinea in his honor. So his work continues...Why were there so many people remembering Jesse?
| A．Because he was a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Guinea. |
| B．Because he was kind and helpful to people from heart. |
| C．Because he wanted to make friends with all people. |
| D．Because he loved children who needed education. |
Jesse died from _____.
| A．a tribal fight | B．a traffic accident | C．a sudden disease | D．tiredness of overwork |
The way he dealt with the tribalism was ______.
| A．giving in to one side | B．criticizing both sides |
| C．uniting both sides | D．satisfying both sides |
From this passage we can learn _____.
| A．Jesse was a person had great influence in Guinea |
| B．Jesse was a person who had religion belief |
| C．Jesse was a hero of many local people |
| D．Jesse did great contribution to local peace |
The writer wrote this passage _____.
| A．in memory of the teacher | B．in praise of a teacher |
| C．in honor of a teacher | D．in approval of a teacher |
If you want to learn anything at school, you need to listen to your teachers. Unfortunately, millions of kids can’t hear what their teachers are saying. And it’s not because these students are goofing off. Often, it’s the room’s fault. Building architecture and building design can create echo(回声)-filled classrooms that make hearing difficult.
Children with hearing impairments（损伤）suffer most from noisy classrooms. They sometimes can’t hear questions that other students ask in class. Compared with kids with healthy hearing, they have a harder time picking up new vocabulary words by hearing them in talking.
Even kids with normal hearing have a harder time in the classroom when there’s too much noise. Younger children in particular have trouble separating important sounds – like a teacher’s voice – from background noise. Kids with learning disabilities and speech impediments（障碍）and kids for whom English is a second language also have a harder time learning in noisy situations.
In recent years, scientists who study sound have been asking schools to reduce background noise, which may include loud air-conditioners and pipes. They’re also targeting outdoor noises, such as highway traffic. Noise reduction is a big deal. Why? Because quieter classrooms might make you smarter by letting you hear your lessons better.
“It’s so obvious that we should have quiet rooms that allow for access to the lesson,” says Dan Ostergren, a hearing scientist. “Sometimes it surprises me that we spend so much time discussing this topic. I just want to go. Why is this hard for anyone to grasp?” The underlined part “goofing off” in the first paragraph can be replaced by “ ”.
| A．lazy | B．intelligent | C．sleepy | D．foolish |
Who is most affected by noisy classrooms?
| A．Children with learning disabilities. | B．Children with hearing impairments. |
| C．Children with speech impediments. | D．Children with normal hearing. |
Why should noise be reduced in classrooms?
| A．Quiet classrooms are suitable for kids to have discussions. |
| B．Quiet classrooms help kids recover from hearing impairments. |
| C．Kids can become smarter after hearing lessons better. |
| D．Kids can’t separate sounds of air-conditioners and pipes. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Noisy classrooms | B．Classroom design |
| C．The sense of hearing | D．Disabled kids |