American cities are similar to other cities around the world. In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture. American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.
After World War II, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts（转移）to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents（居民）became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs（郊区）。
Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.
This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s , many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.
Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying . Some city residents now see a bright, new future. Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure: many dying cities are alive again.
1.What does the author think of cities all over the world?
A. They are alive. B. They are hopeless.
C. They are similar. D. They are different.
2.Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War II?
A. Because older American cities were dying.
B. Because they were richer and needed more space.
C. Because cities contained the worst parts of society.
D. Because they could hardly afford to live in the city.
3.According to the 4th paragraph, a great many poor people in American cities .
A. are faced with housing problems. B. are forced to move to the suburbs.
C. want to sell their buildings. D. need more money for daily expenses.
4.We can conclude from the text that .
A. American cities are changing for the worse.
B. people have different views on American cities.
C. many people are now moving from American cities.
D. the population is decreasing in older American cities.
Many people have low iron in their blood. But pregnant women need extra iron for their own health and their baby's health. Iron is important to the development of a baby's brain and central nervous system.
In poor countries, however, providing all pregnant women with iron supplements can be a financial issue. Some experts say giving supplements to babies after they are born is enough.
Someone who disagrees is Paul Christian, a nutritionist at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Maryland. She and other scientists have been doing research in Nepal. She says their latest findings should settle any question about the value of making sure every pregnant woman receives iron supplements.
Iron is a micronutrient. Micronutrients are important substances that are found in small amounts in foods.
The researchers first completed a study among poor women in Nepal ten years ago. During pregnancy some of the women received supplements containing iron and folic acid.
Professor Christian says that study showed the supplements could improve child survival.
Now the children are older. The researchers returned to Nepal and tested their neurological(神经的) development. They found improved intellectual and fine motor abilities among those whose mothers had received iron and folic acid during pregnancy and for three months after.
The findings appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Another new study, published in the journal Pediatrics, looks at levels of vitamin D in babies. It says newborns with the lowest levels were twice as likely to develop respiratory infections(呼吸道感染)as those with normal levels of vitamin D.
Vitamin D helps build strong bones and strengthens the body's defenses against disease. The vitamin is commonly added to cow's milk and also found in supplements. But vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin. The body naturally produces it from sunlight.
Carlos Camargo from Harvard Medical School in Massachusetts and other researchers did the study. It followed more than nine hundred children in New Zealand until they were five years old.
1.The passage is intended to tell us that_________.
A. iron is as important as Vitamin D to people’s health
B. pregnant women need much more iron and Vitamin D
C. in poor countries babies are lacking iron and Vitamin D
D. iron and Vitamin D may lead to smarter, healthier children
2.When expecting a baby, a woman doesn’t necessarily receive some extra_________.
A. iron B. folic acid C. vitamin D D. supplements
3.It can be learnt from the passage that__________.
A. providing all pregnant women with extra iron may be difficult for all countries
B. plenty of micronutrients can be found in foods that you eat in your daily life
C. it’s more possible for babies lacking vitamin D to suffer from respiratory infections
D. all the vitamins that you need to keep healthy can be received from the sunlight
4.The underlined words in Paragraph 5 refer to_________.
A. a micronutrient B. a food C. a metal D. a medicine
Much of the value mothers and fathers bring to their children is due to the fact that mothers and fathers are different. And by cooperating together and complementing each other in their differences，they provide these good things that samesex caregivers cannot provide.
Mothers and Fathers Play Differently. Fathers tend to play with, and mothers tend to care for children. While both mothers and fathers are physical，fathers are physical in different ways.
Fathers are rough while mothers are gentle. Fathers encourage competition；mothers encourage fairness. One style encourages independence while the other encourages security.
Both provide security and confidence in their own ways by communicating love and physical intimacy.
Fathers Push Limits；Mothers Encourage Security. Go to any playground and listen to the parents. Who is encouraging their kids to swing or climb just a little higher，ride just a little faster，throw just a little harder？Who is yelling，“Slow down，not so high，not so hard”？Of course，fathers encourage children to take chances and push limits and mothers protect children and are more cautious.
Joined together，they keep each other in balance and help children remain safe while expanding their experiences and confidence.
Mothers and Fathers communicate differently. A major study found that when speaking to children，mothers and fathers are different. Mothers will simplify their words and speak on the child's level. Men are not as inclined to modify(修改) their language for the child simply.
Children who do not have the chance to meet both will not learn how to understand and use both styles of conversation as they grow. These boys and girls will be at a disadvantage because they will experience these different ways of communicating in relationship with teachers，bosses and others.
Mothers and Fathers Discipline Differently Educational psychologist Carol Gilligan tells us that fathers stress justice，fairness and duty，while mothers stress sympathy，care and help. Again，either of these parenting styles by themselves is not good，but together，they create a healthy，proper balance.
1.From Paragraph 1，we learn that .
A. mothers and fathers bring much of the important value to their children
B. the fact that mothers and fathers are different is considerable and thoughtful
C. parents and samesex caregivers all want to provide good things to their children
D. cooperating together and complementing each other in parents' differences are very valuable
2.The main purpose of writing the passage is .
A. to report the different roles mothers and fathers play in childdevelopment
B. to introduce a famous educational psychologist to readers
C. to explain the natural state of mothers and fathers
D. to show children's agreement on parents' differences
3.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage？
A. Children need moms' softness as well as dads' roughness.
B. Fathers tend towards encouraging risk while mothers tend towards security.
C. Fathers' talk tends to be briefer while mothers' tends to be more childish.
D. Either of these parenting styles by itself can be healthy to children.
4.What would be the best title for the passage？
A. How Children Recognize Their Fathers and Mothers
B. Why Children Need Fatherlove and Motherlove
C. What Children Need during Their Study
D. When Children Should Be Taught
Many language learners think their pronunciation is good enough because their teacher doesn't correct them too often or because other students can ______ them.
Pronunciation is the area which is ______ the least attention to in language learning. Most teachers ______ just let their students speak and stop them ______they say something completely wrong. Working on each student's pronunciation in class is just______. Also, the students who are ______ at pronunciation may be afraid that it will embarrass their classmates if they help______their mistakes.
If you believe your pronunciation is good enough to ______ because it is good enough for your teacher and other students, you may be ______ when you actually go to a foreign country. One of my friends was the best student in his ______ class in Poland. When he went to America, he found Americans didn't understand _______ of what he said.
Your pronunciation may still be quite ______ that of a native speaker. If this is the ______，other people will find it ______ to understand what you're saying and will not be comfortable with you.
____，don't think you can communicate in a foreign language _____ you've tested your skills on real native speakers. ______ for native or nearnative pronunciation so that people you talk to can communicate with you______. In order to achieve this goal, there's ______ that you will need to start thinking about pronunciation and ______ time on it.
1.A. mistake B. watch C. surround D. understand
2.A. fixed B. drawn C. paid D. called
3.A. never B. ever C. even D. usually
4.A. only if B. if only C. even if D. if ever
5.A. fantastic B. impossible C. necessary D. important
6.A. poor B. well C. good D. strict
7.A. find out B. work out C. try out D. point out
8.A. communicate B. travel C. pronounce D. exchange
9.A. happy B. disappointed C. surprised D. excited
10.A. Polish B. French C. German D. English
11.A. none B. half C. rest D. lot
12.A. near to B. different from C. far from D. from far
13.A. same B. matter C. case D. fact
14.A. easy B. beneficial C. convenient D. hard
15.A. In conclusion B. In a word C. On the contrary D. In short
16.A. when B. until C. unless D. while
17.A. Stand B. Look C. Aim D. Account
18.A. smoothly B. Difficultly C. truly D. practically
19.A. no way B. no need C. no doubt D. no wonder
20.A. take B. cost C. spend D. kill
—Mum , what did the doctor say ?
—He advised me to live _________ the air is fresher.
A. if B. because C. where D. when
— Why was our foreign teacher unhappy yesterday?
— News about the tsunami striking her country ______ an attack of homesickness.
A. set for B. set out
C. set about D. set off
