During the school year many parents take on the role of driver as they drive their children from one lesson to another .Understandably so. Many of us want our children to have a little taste of everything, from organized sports to music, dance and more. But we can overdo it, leaving our children feeling a little burnt out, and according to parent educator Diane Loisie ,it’s their school work which suffers the most. “After school, if they’re busy in a number of sporting events, besides they need to do their homework, then the time they’ll feel sleepy is in the classroom. Your child needs free time. So if you’re filling up that after school time, then it’s during the day that they’re going to be taking a break.”
Professor Claire McDermott agrees that there’s a lot to be gained from sometimes putting those scheduled lessons and activities away. “Relaxing time is important for children. It’s time just to do the things they want to do. A child can go up to their room, or they can play around. It doesn’t look like productive time; parents certainly wouldn’t be saying ‘Wow, are they ever learning things now?’ But this relaxing time gives both the body and the brain just a wonderful chance to relax after a day. It helps a child prepare for sleep, but it also helps to understand the learning that’s gone on that day.”
It’s hard to prevent signing our kids up for some activities and lessons. After all, many of us want our children to have a head start in life and the chance to join in great activities in the arts or sports is a part of that. However, Loisie feels that in the long run most children feel better with just a few key activities because it gives them an opportunity to master them. “When we get our children in too many activities because we want our children to experience everything, then what we’re doing is setting them up not to be good at one thing or gaining a skill.” So choose your children’s activities wisely. It may be one of the best things you’ve ever done for your kids… and for the family drivers!
1.What is the biggest disadvantage for children to attend too many lessons after school?
A.They can get bored easily about everything.
B.They might have no time to do the homework.
C.They might not pay much attention to learning.
D.They cannot easily focus on learning during the day.
2.What should we think of children’s playing around aimlessly?
A.It is productive. B.It is helpful. C.It is a bad habit. D.It is a waste of time.
3.Why should parents limit the activities our children attend?
A.Because children have no time.
B.Because children cannot learn many things.
C.Because children do not have enough sleep.
D.Because children cannot focus on too many activities.
4.What is the main idea of this passage?
A.Don’t be children’s drivers after school.
B.Choose activities for your children wisely.
C.Make your children learn as much as possible.
D.Let children learn something from various subjects.
The United States is well-known for its network of major highways designed to help a driver get from one place to another in the shortest possible time. Although these wide modern roads are generally ________ and well maintained, with ________ sharp curves and many straight sections, a direct route is not always the most enjoyable one. Large highways often pass ________ scenic areas and interesting small towns. Furthermore, these highways generally ________ large urban centers, which means that they becomes crowded with ________ traffic during rush hours and the “fast, direct” way becomes a very slow route.
However, there is almost always another route to take if you are not in a hurry. Not far from the relatively new “superhighways”, there are often older, _________ heavily travelled roads which go through the countryside. Or of these are good two-lane roads; others are uneven roads curving through the country. These secondary routes may go up steep slopes, along high ________ or down frightening hillsides to towns ________ in deep valleys. Through these less direct routes, longer and slower, they generally go to places ________ the air is clean and the scenery is beautiful, the driver may have a chance to get a fresh, clean ________ of the world.
1.A.stable B.splendid C.smooth D.completed
2.A.little B.few C.much D.many
3.A.to B.into C.over D.by
4.A.lead B.connect C.collect D.communicate
5.A.large B.fast C.light D.heavy
6.A.and B.less C.more D.or
7.A.rocks B.cliffs C.roads D.paths
8.A.lying B.laying C.laid D.lied
9.A.there B.when C.which D.where
10.A.view B.variety C.visit D.virtue
Directions: Read the following two passages. Fill in each blank with one proper word or the proper form of the given word to make the passage coherent. Make sure that your answers are grammatically correct.
Athens----- the name brings to mind buildings with tall, white columns and statues of Greek gods and goddesses. Museums take visitors back to the time of ancient Greece. When 1. (visit) the city, visitors feel like they are in the middle of a history lesson.
The history of Athens is tied to mythology. The god 2. came up with the most valuable legacy for humans was to give the city its name. Poseidon and Athena each wanted the honor. Athena produced 3. olive tree------ the symbol of peace and wealth. Poseidon offered a strong horse needed for war. The gods decided Athena’s gift would better serve the people, and the city became 4. (know) as Athens.
The Acropolis, or “ high city”, stands on a hill overlooking the city. Western civilization’s most important ancient monument was built by Pericles, the leader of Athens from 461-421BC. He spared no expense when he constructed the buildings of the Acropolis. He used only the 5. (good) materials, architects and artists. His artists created huge statues of marble (大理石) and covered them 6. gold and jewels.
More treasure of ancient Greece lies in the National Archeological Museum. Opened in 1874, the museum contains the best collection of Greek art in the world. It is crammed with treasures ------ more 7. visitors can see in a single visit. Visitors can view treasures from all the ancient civilizations that controlled the city 8.history.
Directions: Read the following two passages. Fill in each blank with one proper word or the proper form of the given word to make the passage coherent. Make sure that your answers are grammatically correct.
The warm weather outside may look perfect for outdoor exercise. But for those who are not that sporty, 1. could be nicer than having a relaxing afternoon tea with a few good friends and taking a break from studying？
But are you familiar with the culture of afternoon tea----its origins, what’s included, and the proper etiquette? We sum up a few things you need 2. (know) about this traditional English custom so that you can enjoy it more.
3. the tradition of drinking tea dates back to more than 3,000BC in China, it was not until the mid 17th century 4. the concept of “afternoon tea” first appeared in the UK.
In 1840, Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, 5. (start) asking for a tea tray with butter, bread and cakes at 4 p.m. every day, as she found she was hungry at this time and the evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at 8 p.m. She found this new habit difficult to break and soon invited other ladies in society to join her.
This pause for tea quickly became a fashionable social event. During the 1880s, upper-class and society women 6. (change) into long gowns(礼服), gloves and hats for their afternoon tea. Traditional afternoon tea, 7. is typically served between 4p.m. and 6 p.m., is technically a small meal, not a drink. It consists of a selection of dainty sandwiches, freshly baked scones（松饼）. Of course, tea or coffee, 8. (serve) with milk and sugar, is also provided.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
My name is Chelsea Chowderhead. A chowder is a thick soup. My father says that our early ancestors(祖先）may have invented chowder. For me，the last name teasing(戏弄)began as soon as I started school. So when my family moved to South Carolina, I decided that it was my chance for a fresh start. I asked my dad if I could change my name.
''But the Chowderhead name has a long and rich history--,'' Dad started.
''I know, I know. ''
''Why do you want to change it? '' he asked.
I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but I didn't want to go through another school year as a Chowderhead, either. ''I get teased all the time. ''
''I know it's not always easy being a chowderhead (傻瓜), '' Dad said. ''But you shouldn't change who you are. Let people get to know you first and your name later. ''
''How can people get to know me before they know my name?” I asked.
He said, “Ask good questions, ''
I looked at him blankly (茫然地). He went on, ''When you meet someone new, ask them a good question. Once people start talking about themselves, they don't judge you. They're just happy that someone is interested in what they have to say. ''
Two days later I headed to my school for the first day of class. As soon as I got to my classroom, a girl named Claire introduced herself. She was very nice and we soon became friends.
By lunch, I'd talked to lots of people and was getting the hang (窍门)of finding the right question. But there were two kids, twin brothers, who didn't seem to talk to anyone but each other. When they looked at me, I felt as if they already knew that I was a Chowderhead. Still, my dad's advice had worked out well, so I decided to give it one more try.
注意：1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.至少使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
I asked Claire if we should sit with the twins.
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Paragraph 2:
I took a deep breath, and said，“I’m Chelsea Chowderhead.”
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假设你是李华，你们学校准备举办“中国书法进校园”的活动，请你给外教老师Robert 写封邮件，邀请他参加。内容包括：
1.活动举行的时间，地点；
2.活动的目的和内容。
注意： 1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.开头及结尾已给出，不计入总词数；
4.文中不能出现真实的校名和地名。
Dear Robert,
I'm Li Hua，one of your students.
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Yours,
