About six years ago I was eating lunch in a restaurant in New York City when a woman and a young boy sat down at the next table. I couldn’t help overhearing parts of their conversation. At one point the woman asked,“So, how have you been?”And the boy who could not have been more than seven or eight years old replied,“Frankly, I’ve been feeling a little depressed lately.”
This incident stuck in my mind because it strengthened my growing belief that children are changing. As far as I can remember, my friends and I didn’t find out we were“depressed”until we were in high school.
The evidence of a change in children has increased steadily in recent years. Children don’t seem childlike any more. Children speak more like adults, dress more like adults and behave more like adults than they used to.
Whether this is good or bad is difficult to say, but it certainly is different. Childhood as it once was no longer exists. Why?
Human development is based not only on born biological states, but also on patterns of access to social knowledge. Movement from one social role to another usually involves learning the secrets of the new situation. Children have always been taught adult secrets, but slowly and in stages: traditionally, we tell sixth graders things we keep hidden from fifth graders.
In the last 30 years, however, a secret-revelation machine has been fixed in 98 percent of American homes. It is called television. Television passes information, indiscriminately, to all viewers alike, whether they are children or adults. Unable to resist the temptation, many children turn their attention from printed texts to the less challenging, more vivid moving pictures.
Communication through print, as a matter of fact, allows for a great deal of control over the social information to which children have access. Reading and writing involve a complex code of symbols that must be memorized and practised. Children must read simple books before they can read complex materials.
【小題1】Traditionally, a child is supposed to learn about the adult world _________ .

A．through touch with society

B．gradually and under guidance

C．naturally and by biological instinct

D．through exposure to social information

【小題2】In the author’s opinion, the phenomenon that today’s children seem adultlike is caused by _____.

A．the widespread influence of television

B．the poor arrangement of teaching content

C．the fast step of human intellectual development

D．the constantly rising standard of living

【小題3】 Why is the author in favor of communication through print for children?

A．It enables children to gain more social information.

B．It develops children’s interest in reading and writing.

C．It helps children to memorize and practise more.

D．It can control what children are to learn.

【小題4】What does the author think of the change in today’s children?

A．He feels amused by the children’s adultlike behavior.

B．He thinks it is a phenomenon worthy of note.

C．He considers it a positive development.

D．He seems to be upset about it.

Starting high school means many changes in your life．Most teenagers look forward to the first day of high school，but still feel a little bit nervous．In order to make your high school life easier, you can follow these tips．
Learn all you can about your first day before the first day．Take part in some activities that are held at the school for new students to know the school better．If parents are invited to these activities, take yours with you．Carefully look over all the materials you receive．Be sure you know where the school’s buildings are．
Get the things you will need for class．Buy the things suggested on your teachers’ supply lists and place your materials for each class separately．
Keep up with your high school workload(工作量)．If you fmd you’re not doing well in a subject，make use of after-school study groups or ask your teacher to help you with your schoolwork．Consider private tutoring to get you through a difficult time．
There’re more extracurricular(課外的)activities in high school than in middle school，such as clubs，music and theater groups，student government，and sports teams． Make friends and be seen at such school activities．Join a club or other organizations to meet people and develop friendships．Ask someone in school activities if you don’t know how．This is a good time to do what you like doing and an opportunity to try new things．Whe said school has to be aH work and no play?
Since you’ll attend more activities in high school than in middle school，you’ll have to learn how to manage your time．
【小題1】 The writer wrote this passage to        .

A．advise us to study hard in high school

B．tell us how to live an easier life in high school

C．show that we may live a hard life in high school

D．explain why there will be many changes in high school

【小題2】 In Paragraph 2，the writer suggests that we should      ．

A．ask our parents to walk us to school

B．ask other students about our high school

C．prepare all the things we need for our classes

D．1earn about our high school well before attending it

【小題3】 According to Paragraph 4，what should we do if we are not doing well in a subject?

A．We should get help from others．

B．We should stop going to activities．

C．We should spend most of our time on it．

D．We should give it up if it is not important．

【小題4】 In Paragraph 5．the writer wants to tell us that   ．

A．every coin has two sides

B．the early bird catches the worm

C．where there is a will, there is a way

D．all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

【小題5】 What will the Writer most probably talk about next?

A．How to manage time well in high school．

B．Why we need to learn how to manage time．

C．How to attend more activities in high school．

D．Why middle school is difierent from high school．

A popular student in her small high school, Katie started college, expecting to do well in her courses and be best friends with her roommates. But things didn’t turn out that way. Psych 101, the course she thought would be a first-semester favorite, turned out to be a struggle.
Living away from home tends to be the toughest adjustment for first-year students. You may feel homesick in your first weeks or months. It can help to call, write, or email your parents and friends, making them know how you’re going. You can also talk with your roommates. As first-year students themselves, they’re probably experiencing many of the same fears and worries that you’re dealing with .
But what if you don’t get along well with your roommates?
In some cases, it can be a good thing if you and your roommates aren’t much alike. Different views on things may be helpful, so respect your differences no matter what.
If you and your roommates don’t get along well, it can help to find someone who you feel does understand you, which should be easy on a campus with so many people. Many schools have student organization nights where all of the campus clubs gather and promote their organizations, so you can meet people with the same interests there as you. You’ll also meet tons of people in class or in your dorm building.
As homesickness, painful throats, sprained (扭傷的) ankles and wisdom teeth that act up are common among college students, you should check out your student guidebook or your school’s website to find out information about the university health center.
If you think you cannot deal with your problems, make a stop at the school counseling (咨詢)center. First-year troubles are something the counselors know well. You can get help there.
【小題1】From Paragraph 1 we can infer that __________.

A．Katie had been worried about the changes before starting her college life.

B．Katie felt satisfied when her college life started.

C．Katie wasn’t used to the new environment in college at first.

D．Katie has fallen behind in her study after the first semester in college.

【小題2】What’s the author’s first suggestion on dealing with homesickness?

A．Adjust to it gradually.

B．Never share fears with your parents.

C．Talk to your roommates about it.

D．Get along with your roommates.

【小題3】Which of the following ways of dealing with roommates is RIGHT?

A．Not trying to change them.

B．Avoid making friends with them.

C．Developing the same interest as them.

D．Not talking with them.

【小題4】From the passage, we can know that_________

A．It’s easy for the first-year students to adapt to the college life.

B．First-year students can get along well with roommates quickly.

C．The university center can only help the first-year students solve problems.

D．The school counseling center is familiar with the problems the first-year students face.

【小題5】What’s the main idea of the text?

A．Freshmen may meet many problems.

B．Communication is important in college.

C．How you can adjust to your first year in college.

D．How schools help freshmen to get used to college life.

Children have their own rules in playing games. They seldom need a referee(裁判) and rarely trouble to keep scores. They don’t care much about who wins or loses, and it doesn’t seem to worry them if the game is not finished. Yet, they like games that depend a lot on luck, so that their personal abilities cannot be directly compared. They also enjoy games that move in stages, in which each stage, the choosing of leaders, the picking-up of sides, or the determining of which side shall start, is almost a game in itself.
Grown-ups can hardly find children’s games exciting, and they often feel puzzled at why their kids play such simple games again and again. However, it is found that a child plays games for very important reasons. He can be a good player without having to think whether he is a popular person, and he can find himself being a useful partner to someone of whom he is ordinarily afraid. He becomes a leader when it comes to his turn. He can be confident, too, in particular games, that it is his place to give orders, to pretend to be dead, to throw a ball actually at someone, or to kiss someone he has caught.
It appears to us that when children play a game they imagine a situation under their control. Everyone knows the rules, and more importantly, everyone plays according to the rules. Those rules may be childish, but they make sure that every child has a chance to win.
【小題1】. What is true about children when they play games?

A．They can stop playing any time they like.

B．They can test their personal abilities.

C．They want to pick a better team.

D．They don’t need rules.

【小題2】. To become a leader in a game the child has to             .

A．play well

B．wait for his turn

C．be confident in himself

D．be popular among his playmates

【小題3】. What do we know about grown-ups?

A．They are not interested in games.

B．They find children’s games too easy.

C．They don’t need a reason to play games.

D．They don’t understand children’s games.

【小題4】 Why does a child like playing games?

A．Because he can be someone other than himself.

B．Because he can become popular among friends.

C．Because he finds he is always lucky in games.

D．Because he likes the place where he plays a game.

【小題5】. The writer believes that             .

A．children should make better rules for their games

B．children should invite grown-ups to play with them

C．children’s games can do them a lot of good

D．children play games without reasons

Common phrases like “ no pains, no gains” give the impression that we ought to be suffering while we study. It’s almost as though the only way to know if we’re putting in enough work is the sense of hardship we bear.
When we haven’t taken the time to come up with another idea, all we know how to do is shut ourselves in a room with a book. It’s no surprise that we find revision boring and difficult. Just as children learn from playing, we can learn from doing, or at least from study techniques that interest us, rather than make us switch off.
Shutting yourself away can make you learn to hate studying. This leads to a situation where instead of being able to concentrate on your work, you are troubled by how unfair it is that you must study.
When you hate your work it’s very difficult to make yourself star, or approach it with any kind of structure or enthusiasm. This can be part of a vicious cycle(惡性循環(huán)) that traps you into ineffective revision, your poor progress fuelling further annoyance.
Just being around other people really helps fight against feelings of loneliness and, thankfully, it’s perfectly possible to work in the company of other people. We just need to learn how to deal with distractions(使人分心的事物).
It’s not necessary to avoid all company, just idle(懶散的) company. Studying in the same room as someone who is ironing or working out is perfectly possible. People who are bored and looking to be distracted, however, are terrible to work around. They constantly try to keep others in conversation.
It’s also a good idea to avoid the company of people involved in activities that you would rather be doing than studying. Working while sitting next to someone playing video games is much more likely to end with a new high score than a productive few hours of revision.
If being around others means working in a noisy environment, a pair of headphones and some background music can block out even noisy children. They also act as a psychological barrier, so that people think twice before interrupting you.
When you’re studying for a big exam, it seems like your whole life is taken up with study. Friends and family can lessen feelings of isolation(孤立). And connecting with other people makes us happy, so it’s important not to give that up and to make sure that we take the time to socialize.
【小題1】The author might believe that the phrase “no pains, no gains” ______.

A．best describes how to study well

B．makes people treat study as a habit

C．encourages people to learn step by step

D．is not a good inspirational phrase for study

【小題2】Which saying about study might the author prefer?

A．There is no royal road to learning.

B．It’s better to work behind closed door.

C．A positive motivation leads to good study results.

D．He who is ashamed of asking is ashamed of learning.

【小題3】Which might lead to an effective study based on this text?

A．A correct goal.	B．A good teacher.
C．A favorable interest.	D．A hard task.

【小題4】 The underlined sentence in Paragraph 7 implies that ______.

A．playing video games is helpful for an effective study

B．one shouldn’t let a video player to be his / her company

C．one should study from certain activities that he / she is interested in

D．the more time one spends in playing games, the higher marks he / she will get

【小題5】If you are studying in a noisy environment, you’d better ______.

A．give indication of not wanting to be interrupted

B．give up others’ company at one

C．think twice before taking any action

D．force yourself to be accustomed to the environment

Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it.
●Recite and repeat in conversation.
When you hear a person’s name, repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial.
●Ask the other person to recite and repeat.
You can let other people help you remember their names. After you’ve been introduced to someone, ask that person to spell the name and pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort you’re making to learn their names.
●Admit you don’t know.
Admitting that you can’t remember someone’s name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say. “I’m working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?”
●Use associations.
Link each person you meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example, you could make a mental note: “Vicki Cheng－tall, black hair.” To reinforce your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible.
●Limit the number of new names you learn at one time.
When meeting a group of people, concentrate on remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering every one. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning first names. Last names can come later.
●Go early.
Consider going early to clubs, parties and classes. Sometime just a few people show up on time. There’re fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to other an automatic review for you.
【小題1】If you can’t remember someone’s name, you may ________.

A．tell him the truth

B．tell him a white lie

C．ask him for pity

D．ask others to help you

【小題2】When you meet a group of people, it is better to remember ________.

A．all their games

B．a couple of names first

C．just their last names

D．as many names as possible

【小題3】What does the text mainly tell us?

A．Tips on an important social skill.

B．Importance of attending parties.

C．How to make use of associations.

D．How to recite and repeat names.

Teaching is more than leadership. Some of the teacher’s time and effort is directed toward instruction, some toward evaluation. But it is the teacher as a group leader who creates an effective organizational structure (結構) and good working environment so that instruction and evaluation activities can take place. A group that is totally disorganized, unclear about its goals, or constantly fighting among its members will not be a good learning group. The leadership pattern includes helping to form and maintain a positive learning environment so that instruction and evaluation activities can take place.
On the first day of class, the teacher faces a room filled with individuals (個體). Perhaps a few closely united groups and friendships already exist. But there is no sense of group unity, no set of rules for conduct in the group, no feeling of belonging. If teachers are successful leaders, they will help students develop a system of relationships that encourages working together.
Standards and rules must be set to keep order, make sure of justice and protect individual rights, but do not contradict school policy. What happens when one student hurts another’s individual rights? Without clear regulations agreeable to the students and teachers, the classroom can become chaotic. Students may break rules they did not know existed. If standards are set without participation from the class, students may spend a great deal of creative energy in destroying the class environment or finding ways to break rules.
No matter how skillful the teacher is in uniting students and creating a positive atmosphere, the task is never complete. Regular maintenance is necessary. Conflicts arise. The needs of individual members change. A new kind of learning task requires a new organizational structure. Sometimes outside pressures such as holidays, upcoming tests or sport competitions, or family troubles cause stress in the classroom. One task for the teacher is to recreate a positive environment by helping students deal with conflict, change, and stress.
【小題1】The underlined word “maintain” in Para.1 probably means_______.

A．conserve

B．build

C．recreate

D．evaluate

【小題2】According to the author, the teacher should _______.

A．free students from outside pressures

B．set the standards and rules on his own

C．be responsible for a well-organized class

D．focus more on instruction and evaluation

【小題3】From the passage we can learn that ______.

A．rules cannot be changed once they’re formed

B．outside pressures may not cause tension among students

C．if the teacher well unites his students, he then will finish his task

D．if rules are not acceptable both to students and teachers, the classroom can be a mess

【小題4】What is the author’s main purpose of writing the passage?

A．To provide information for teaching.

B．To show the importance of teaching a class.

C．To study the teacher’s behavior in the classroom.

D．To compare the teacher’s behavior with the students’ in class.

Home stay provides English language students with the opportunity to speak English outside the classroom and the experience of being part of a British home.
What to Expect
The host will provide accommodation and meals. Rooms will be cleaned and bedcovers changed at least once a week. You will be given the house key and the host is there to offer help and advice as well as to take an interest in your physical and mental health.
Accommodation Zones
Home stays are located in London mainly in Zones2,3 and of the transport system. Most hosts do not live in the town centre as much of central London is commercial and not residential(居住的). Zones3 and 4often offer larger accommodation in a less crowned area. It is very convenient to travel in London by Underground.
Meal Plans Available
? Continental Breakfast
? Breakfast and Dinner
? Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
It’s important to note that few English families still provide a traditional cooked breakfast. Your accommodation includes Continental Breakfast which normally consists of fruit juice, cereal（谷物類食品），bread and tea or coffee. Cheese, fruit and cold meat are not normally
part of a Continental Breakfast in England. Dinners usually consist of meat or fish with vegetables followed by desert, fruit and coffee.
Friends
If you wish to invite a friend over to visit. You must first ask your host’s permission. You have no right to entertain friends in a family home as some families feel it is an invasion of their privacy.
Self-Catering Accommodation in Private Homes
Accommodation on a room-only basis includes shared kitchen and bathroom facilities and often a main living room. This kind of accommodation offers an independent lifestyle and is more suitable for the long-stay student. However, it does not provide the same family atmosphere as an ordinary home stay and may not benefit those who need to practise English at home quite as much.
【小題1】The passage is probably written for ____________.

A．host willing to receive foreign students

B．foreigners hoping to build British culture

C．travellers planning to visit families in London

D．English learners applying to like in English homes

【小題2】 Which of the following will the host provide?

A．Room cleaning.	B．Medical care.
C．Free transport.	D．Physical training.

【小題3】What can be inferred from Paragraph3?
Zone 4 is more crowded than Zone 2
B. The business centre of London is in Zone.
C. Hosts dislike travelling to the city centre.
D. Zone 2 is more crowded than Zone 4.
【小題4】 According to the passage. What does continental Breakfast include?

A．Dessert and coffee	B．Fruit and vegetables.
C．bread and fruit juice	D．Centre and cold meat.

Usually, when your teacher asks a question, there is only one correct answer. But there is one question that has millions of current answers. That question is “What’s your name?” Everyone gives a different answer, but everyone is correct.
Have you ever wondered about people’s names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?
People’s first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used. Some parents choose the name of a well-known person. A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.
Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means “bright”; Beatrice means “one who gives happiness”; Donald means “world ruler”; Leonard means “as brave as a lion”.
The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near brook(小溪)；someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.
Other early surnames came from people’s occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter — a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter  —a person who made pots and pans.
The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter’s great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.
Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with the gray hair probably became John Gray. Or the John was very tall could call himself John Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.
Some family names were made by adding something to the father’s name. English-speaking people added –s or –son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family’s ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the MacDonnells and the O’Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell.
【小題1】Which of the following aspects do the surnames in the passage NOT cover?

A．Places where people lived.

B．People’s characters.

C．Talents that people possessed.

D．People’s occupations.

【小題2】 According to the passage, the ancestors of the Potter family most probably _______.

A．owned or drove a cart

B．made things with metals

C．made kitchen tools or contains

D．built houses and furniture

【小題3】Suppose and English couple whose ancestors lived near a leafy forest wanted their new-born son to become a world leader, the baby might be named _______.

A．Beatrice Smith	B．Leonard Carter
C．George Longstreet	D．Donald Greenwood

【小題4】The underlined word “descendants” in the last paragraph means a person’s _____

A．later generations	B．friends and relatives
C．colleagues and partners	D．later sponsors

Primary schools could be told to remove some traditional subject-based lessons and replace them with “personal development” classes to encourage children to improve their social and practical skill. Parents, teachers and pupils, who took part in the investigation carried out for the biggest ever official review of the primary curriculum, argued that the number of subjects taught to very young people should be reduced.
The review, being conducted by the government’s school’s director Sir Jim Rose, will consider how to redesign the primary school day to handle concerns that too many pupils leave primary school unable to read, write and do maths at the level expected of them. It will also address criticisms that pupils are expected to study so many subjects there is little time for creative learning.
The 60 focus groups brought together 1,500 parents, pupils and school staff and is expected to heavily influence the thinking of the Rose review, which the government is promising to back. Instead of a broad range of subjects, pupils should study in-depth literacy and maths lessons alongside a more creative curriculum that encourages pupils to develop personal, learning and thinking skills, they say. Such lessons might include “healthy lifestyles, sex and relationships education, drugs and alcohol education”.
“Child and personal development as priorities have been shamefully neglected in recent years in the rush to hit targets in the basics.” John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, said, “The worst thing would be to evaluate child development through the current high stakes testing system. That would weaken the capacity of teachers to meet children’s unique needs.”
However, the shadow schools minister, Nick Gibb, said, “If lessons on lifestyle are given the same status as traditional subjects, it is the most disadvantaged children who will be worst affected.” “Children are not able to personally develop and succeed in the future if they don’t have a grasp of basic subjects such as maths and English early on in primary school. Removing high requirement from the primary curriculum would increase the inequality gap between less well-off pupils and the rest.” Nick added. A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) said, “This is a summary of stake holder’s view, not the views of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority or the DCSF, and has been submitted to Sir Jim Rose’s review as evidence to consider.”
【小題1】 According to the focus groups, the result of learning too many subjects is most likely to be that __________.

A．children may not have any freedom

B．children may not have enough time for personal interest

C．children may not know anything outside the classroom

D．children may not have creative ability

【小題2】Which of the following is False about the review conducted by Sir Jim Rose?

A．It will greatly influence the country’s future primary curriculum.

B．It will remove high requirement from the primary curriculum.

C．It is supported by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority or the DCSF.

D．It needs to take fully into account varied views from the society.

【小題3】John Bangs’s attitude towards the current high stakes testing system is __________.

A．negative	B．positive
C．uncertain	D．cautious

【小題4】According to Nick Gibb, grasp of basic subjects early on in primary school is important for _______.

A．the primary curriculum reform

B．children’s development in the future

C．children’s educational equality

D．increasing the children’s confidence