I find some of the ways in which Chinese parents show love for their children rather surprising.
Obviously there are some pretty big differences between our behavior and theirs in this respect. Most
Chinese children seem to get whatever they want, from ice creams, sweets and toys to endless attention
from the adults around them.Is this a sort of spoiling or love? I wonder.
     Most westerners would think it is a sort of spoiling rather than love. We think love means educating
your children and bringing them up to lead an independent life. That includes learning to accept the fact
that he can't get everything he wants. As an adult, he will not always get the quite expensive car he hunts
for; she will not always manage to acquire the beautiful dress she longs for. So we try to teach our
children early to cope with the disappointment of not getting what they want.
     I find too much such kind of love for the children can actually spoil them. To my surprise, it seems
that the life of a Chinese child is rather hard. Without doubt, the child is the very center of a whole circle
of adults, but on the other hand he or she is also expected to start studying according to adults'wishes.
Many children of my son's age take piano lessons, painting classes and even English lessons. It looks as
if Chinese adults think that just playing without learning anything is a waste of time. So in this respect our
children appear spoiled, just because they are allowed to play. But without this sort of play how can
Western children develop such free and rich imaginations? In fact, the connection between this
imagination and the creativity is so important in the children's future life.

1. In which way do most Chinese children seem to be spoiled?

A. They can be supported by their parents.
B. They can play whenever they want.
C. They need not behave themselves.
D. Their demands can always be satisfied.

2. In the author's opinion, the life of a Chinese child is __________.

A. rather hard  
B. rather easy
C. independent  
D. colorful

3. The author thinks Western children appear spoiled because __________.

A. they can manage time by themselves
B. they can have the freedom to play
C. they can take piano lessons
D. they may have expensive toys

4. The best title of the passage could be __________.

A. Chinese children's early education
B. How to develop kids' imagination
C. What is the real love for children
D. The imagination and the creativity

     Before a new type of airplane goes into service,every part of it
is tested again and again. But there are two tests that are more
important than all the others.
        The first is called the" tank test". A modern airplane must fly
very high in the sky. Air must be pumped into the plane so that the
passengers can breathe. The metal structure(結(jié)構(gòu)) of the plane has
to be very strong for this reason. When the plane is filled with air,
the air presses against the skin of the plane inside. The pressure (壓
力) on a small window is like a huge foot that is trying to get out. If
a small part of the plane were to fail,the plane would explode in the
sky. To test the structure of the plane, the plane is lowered into a
huge tank or container of water. Then it is filled with air. The pressure
inside the plane is greater than it ever will be when it is high
up in the air. Finally,there is an explosion. This does not cause so
much damage inside the water tank as it would anywhere else.
Engineers can discover which part of the plane has broken. Then that
part is made stronger.
     The most dangerous test happens when the new plane is going
through test flights in the air. The test pilot must find out exactly
what happens when the engines(發(fā)動機) are all shut off at once.
The plane begins to fall like a stone. It is the pilot's job to find out
how he can get control of the plane again. These two tests are
examples of how planes are made safe before they ever carry passengers.

1. By doing the"tank test" ,the engineers can find out___． 

A. the amount of air in the plane
B. the strength of the plane structure
C. the pressure inside and outside the plane
D. the power of the airplane engines

2. What will happen to the plane under the "tank test" ?     

A. It will be broken.
B. It will be made stronger.
C. It will be filled with water.
D. It will be tested by pilots.

3. According to the text,why are test flights most dangerous?   

A. The plane may explode in the air.
B. The pilot may lose control of the plane.
C. The engines may be damaged.
D. Too much air may get into the plane.

4. What might be the most suitable title for the text?  

A. Two Important Tests on Airplanes.
B. The Importance of Flying Safely.
C. The Danger of Testing Airplanes.
D. How Airplanes Are Made and Tested.

     "Sesame Street" has been called "the longest street in the world". That is because the television program
by that name can now be seen in so many parts of the world. That program became one of American's exports
soon after it went on the air in New York in 1969.
     In the United States more than six million children watch the program regularly. The viewers include more
than half the nation's pre-school children, from every kind of economic (經(jīng)濟的), racial (種族的), and
geographical group.
     Although some educators object to certain elements in the program, parents praise it highly. Many teachers
also consider it a great help, though some teachers find that problems arise when first graders who have learned
from "Sesame Street" are in the same class with children who have not watched the program.
     Tests have shown that children from all racial, geographical, and economic backgrounds have benefited
from watching it. Those who watch it five times a week learn more than occasional (偶然的) viewers. In the
US the program is shown at different hours during the week in order to increase the number of children who
can watch it regularly.
     The programs all use songs, stories, jokes, and pictures to give children a basic understanding of numbers,
letters and human relationships. But there are some differences. For example, the Spanish program, produced
in Mexico City, devotes more time to teaching whole words than to teaching separate letters.
     Why has "Sesame Street" been so much more successful than other children's shows? Many reasons have
been suggested. People mention the educational theories (理論) of its creators, the support by the government
and private (私人的) businesses, and the skillful use of a variety of TV tricks. Perhaps an equally important
reason is that mothers watch it along with their children, This is partly be- cause famous adult stars often
appear on it. But the best reason for the success of the program may be that it makes every child watching feel
able to learn. The child finds himself learning, and he wants to learn more.

1. "Sesame Street" is actually _____.

A. a street in the US
B. a program for children
C. a program for teachers
D. a program for students

2. Children who often watch the program _____. 

A. can have problems in school
B. will find it a great help
C. will take no interest in their studies
D. will be well educated

3. What is special about the program?

A. It offers great fun.
B. It makes children feel able to learn.
C. It is shown at different hours during the week.
D. Children learn and enjoy themselves while watching.

4. Why is "Sesame Street" so popular in the world?

A. Because it is supported by the government and businesses.
B. Because it uses a variety of skillful tricks.
C. Because mothers watch it along with their children.
D. Because it makes every child watching it feel able to learn.

     The area of child psychology is one of the most significant and well studied of all the branches of
psychology. It aims to help with achieving a greater understanding of the behavior of children through an
understanding of their minds. It deals with children who range from the prenatal (出生前的) stage right
up to the stage of adolescence.
     The psychologist Jean Piaget (1896-1980) has been credited with making a major breakthrough in
this area when he put forward his idea that children were not actually less intelligent than adults, rather
they just thought in a different way. Preciously the development of children right from birth through to
adulthood was an area that was almost completely neglected. In fact very little work was done in this
area. However, interest in this field has now developed to the point of being one of the most debated
of all the areas of psychology.
     Despite popular belief that factors such as genetics or personal characteristics are the only determining
factors that influence a youth's behavior, this is not in fact the case. In reality, development actually
includes many more factors than those contained within an individual. Factors such as environment, which
can include social relationships and the surrounding culture, also play important roles. Relationships with
both peers and adults will no doubt affect how children think and learn, and therefore develop. These
relationships can include those that are found not only within families but also in schools and peer groups.
     Culturally speaking, this factor will contribute greatly to how children develop their personality
concerning the values they end up holding (perhaps for a lifetime) as well as how they view such things as
traditions and customs.
     Nowadays, psychologists have agreed that a child's psychology is both unique and highly complex.
However, there are debates on many different points in this field and many viewpoints exist.

1. The word "neglected" underlined in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by "______".

A. ignored      
B. destroyed        
C. developed      
D. explored

2. What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?

A. Popular belief about child psychology.
B. The role families play in a child's development.
C. Factors that affect a child's development.
D. The importance of relationships to a child.

3. The author's purpose in writing the passage is to ____.

A. introduce an important psychologist.
B. give a brief introduction to child psychology.
C. compare some of the areas of psychology.
D. explain the development in psychology.

     As a professor at a large American university, there is a phrase that I hear often from students: "I'm
only a 1050." The unlucky students are speaking of the score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT),
which is used to determine whether they will be admitted to the college or university of their choice, or
even have a chance to get a higher education at all. The SAT score, whether it is 800, 1 100 or 1550, has
becomes the focus at this time of their life.
     It is obvious that if students value highly their test scores, then a great amount of their self-respect is
put in the number. Students who perform poorly on the exam are left feeling that it is all over. The low test
score, they think, will make it impossible for them to get into a good college. And without a degree from a
prestigious university, they fear that many of life's doors will remain forever closed.
     According to a study done in the 1990s, the SAT is only a reliable indicator of a student's future
performance in most cases. Interestingly, it becomes much more accurate when it is set together with other
indication--like a student's high school grades. Even if standard tests like the SAT could show a student's
academic proficiency (學(xué)業(yè)水平),they will never be able to test things like confidence, efforts and willpower,
and are unable to give us the full picture of a student's potentialities (潛力). This is not to suggest that we
should stop using SAT scores in our college admission process. The SAT is an excellent test in many ways,
and the score is still a useful means of testing students. However, it should be only one of many methods
used.

1.The purpose of the SAT is to test students' _____.

A. strong will
B. academic ability
C. full potentialities
D. confidence in school work

2. Students' self-respect is influenced by their _____.

A. scores in the SAT
B. achievements in mathematic
C. job opportunities
D. money spent on education

3. "A prestigious university"is most probably _____.

A. a famous university
B. a technical university
C. a traditional university
D. an expensive university

4. This passage is mainly about _____.

A. how to prepare for the SAT
B. stress caused by the SAT
C. American higher education
D. the SAT and its effects

     It is easy for us to tell our friends from our enemies. But can other animals do the same? Elephants
can! They can use their sense of vision and smell to tell the difference between people who pose a threat
and those who do not.
     In Kenya, researchers found that elephants react differently to clothing worn by men of the Maasai
and Kamba ethnic groups. Young Maasai men spear animals and thus pose a threat to elephants;
Kamba men are mainly farmers and are not a danger to elephants.
     In an experiment conducted by animal scientists, elephants were first presented with clean clothing or
clothing that had been worn for five days by either a Maasai or a Kamba man. When the elephants
detected the smell of clothing worn by a Maasai man, they moved away from the smell faster and took
longer to relax than when they detected the smells of either clothing worn by Kamba men or clothing that
had not been worn at all.
     Garment color also plays a role, though in a different way. In the same study, when the elephants saw
red clothing not worn before, they reacted angrily, as red is typically worn by Maasai men. Rather than
running away as they did with the smell, the elephants acted aggressively toward the red clothing.
     The researchers believe that the elephants' emotional reactions are due to their different interpretations of the smells and the sights. Smelling a potential danger means that a threat is nearby and the best thing to
do is run away and hide. Seeing a potential threat without its smell means that risk is low. Therefore,
instead of showing fear and running away, the elephants express their anger and become aggressive.

1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true about Kamba and Maasai people?

A. Maasai people are a threat to elephants.  
B. Kamba people raise elephants for farming.
C. Both Kamba and Maasai people are elephant hunters.
D. Both Kamba and Maasai people traditionally wear red clothing.

2. How did the elephants react to smell in the study?

A. They attacked a man with the smell of new clothing.
B. They needed time to relax when smelling something unfamiliar.
C. They became anxious when they smelled Kamba-scented clothing.
D. They were frightened and ran away when they smelled their enemies.

3. What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Elephants use sight and smell to detect danger.
B. Elephants attack people who wear red clothing.
C. Scientists are now able to control elephants' emotions.  
D. Some Kenyan tribes understand elephants' emotions very well.

      Parents whose children show a special interest in a sport feel very difficult to make a decision about their
children's careers. Should they allow their children to train to become top sports men and women? For many
children it means starting schoolwork very young, and going out with friends and other interests have to take
a second place. It's very difficult to explain to a young child why he or she has to train five hours a day, even
at the weekend, when most of his or her friends are playing.
      Another problem is of course money. In many countries money for training is available from government
for the very best young sportsmen and women. If this help can not be given, it means that it is the parents
who have to find the time and the money to support their child's development and sports clothes, transport to
competitions, special equipment, etc. Can all be very expensive?
      Many parents are worried that it is dangerous to start serious training in a sport at an early age. Some
doctors agree that young muscles may be damaged by training before they are properly developed. Professional
(專業(yè)的) trainers, however, believe that it is only by training young that you can reach the top as a successful
sports person. It is clear that very few people do reach the top, and both parents and children should be
prepared for failure even after many years of training.

1. This article is most probably taken from ____.

A. a letter
B. an advertisement
C. a personal diary
D. a newspaper article

2. According to the passage, parents whose children show a special interest in sport ____.

A. feel uncertain if they should let their children train to be sports men or women.
B. try to get financial(財政的) support from the government for their children's training.
C. have to get medical advice from doctors about training methods.
D. prefer their children to be trained as young as possible.

3. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. By starting young, you won't have much time for your schoolwork.
B. Early training may damage your muscles.
C. Most children may become professional sports men after a long period of training.
D. It's very expensive for parents to support their child's development in sports.

4. The phrase "to take a second place" means ____.

A. to repeat the activities some other day
B. to become less important
C. of all the things, they are the most important
D. to happen again

5. ____ can become the best players after many years of training.

A. Most people
B. Some people
C. Hardly any people
D. No people

     From the first use of the rocket to carry satellites into space to the setting up of space stations,
human beings have been putting great effort into space research. And so far, we have achieved many
successes. But there are still numerous tasks in front of us and we should not cease trying to progress.
     The international space station is an important step we should take in space exploration. It is not
only helpful but also essential. It provides a proper space environment for many experiments that we
have wanted to do for a long time. It is also a base for the observations of the earth and the universe. It
could also be an important base for later travel to the moon and Mars. In a word, if we want to explore
space more, the first thing we should do is to set up a space station.
     As the space station costs a lot of money, it is hard for one country alone to establish one. The USA
seems to be the only country that has the ability to build a space station alone, and it has tried to do so,
but not very successful. So it aggregated many other countries to work on it together. Though it is still
extremely expensive, it is much cheaper than doing it alone. It is really a job that needs everyone's effort
and will benefit everyone.
     But even so, the funds needed are still a big problem. As for the USA, it seems that it has too many
things to spend its money on. Although it is the richest country in the world, it has much debt every year.
It has to make arrangements about its finance, a try to find a balance in all these issues.

1. What is the author’s attitude towards building and developing the international space station?

A. Supportive.    
B. Doubtful.
C. Critical.  
D. Dissatisfied.

2. From Paragraph 2 we learn that __________.

A. the necessity of building the international space station is not realized now
B. many experiments have been done in the international space station
C. the international space station is necessary for people to explore space more
D. people have traveled to Mars from the international space station

3. Which of the following is NOT a reason for countries' cooperation in building the international
space station?

A. That it requires a lot of money.
B. That it needs everyone’s effort.
C. That it will benefit every participating country.
D. That it is too far away from the earth.

4. The underlined word "aggregated" in Paragraph 3 can be replaced by "__________".

A. united  
B. scolded
C. allowed  
D. forbade

5. Which of the following aspects about building the international space station is NOT mentioned in
the passage?

A. Difficulties.  
B. Cooperation.
C. Significance.  
D. Specific arrangements.

1. Which of the following is the result of the long summer vacation?

A. Kids become much stronger.
B. More kids drop out of school.
C. Kids become poor in learning.
D. Kids take part in all kinds of activities.

2. Some American schools have their vacations ________.

A. every two months  
B. every few weeks
C. every three months  
D. every four months

3. The study at Ohio State University suggests that ________.

A.  the traditional calendar is better than the year－round one
B. the year-round calendar is better than the traditional one
C. the traditional calendar is as bad as the year-round one
D. the year-round calendar is the same as the traditional one

4. The summer vacation is most likely to have bad effect on the kids ________.

A. who are too young  
B. whose families are poor
C. who are too naughty  
D. who don't work hard

5 According to American culture during the summer vacation kids ________.

A.  should try their best to improve their lessons
B. must choose to take part in one of the programs
C. should do what they like and enjoy themselves
D. must be forced to make up for their poor lessons