If you could design your own school and study whatever you wanted, what would you choose to learn?
This isn’t an unlikely question for students at Monument Mountain Regional High School, who are taking part in an activity called the Independent Project. The program is a special school within the Massachusetts public high school that’s completely run by students - no teachers, parents, or adults are allowed - and they’re in charge of deciding their whole curriculum (课程).
These teens’ homework and what they study in the classroom are all totally up to them. Charles Tsai, a journalist, made a 15-minute film about the project that shows the wide variety of activities different students join.
Students aren’t taking this lightly - instead of reacting irresponsibly (不负责任地) to the freedom to design their own studies, they’re dealing with their own interests by writing poetry (诗歌) collections, learning instruments and taking flight lessons.
The program is this: On Mondays students come up with questions in relation to one of their school subjects, then they spend the rest of the week researching and coming up with possible conclusions to these questions. On Fridays, they present this information to their classmates.
“I think the more choices we have in our school, the more students we will help develop into the kind of citizens that we need,”Principal (校长) Marianne Young explains in the film.
In the video, teens express their satisfaction with the program because it holds different kinds of learners, even those who don’t always succeed in a traditional study situation.
“I have difficulty in reading and writing. School has always been a big problem for me,” one student named Sergio explains in the video. “If it were not for this program, I don’t know if I’d be graduating - I don’t know where I’d be right now. I think this has really been my savior (救星) and got me through the last two years of high school.”
1.What is the Independent Project about?
A.Various activities for students. B.Student-centered curricula.
C.A self-designed school. D.Teacher-free classes.
2.How does the program work?
A.Teachers work out a curriculum for students.
B.Students research topics they put forward.
C.Teachers work together with students.
D.Students serve as teachers in turn.
3.What’s Marianne Young’s attitude towards the project?
A.Curious. B.Doubtful.
C.Uncertain. D.Optimistic.
4.What do we know about Sergio?
A.He finds it hard to graduate.
B.He has bitter memories of high school.
C.He feels grateful to the Independent Project.
D.He performs badly in the Independent Project.
David Unaipon was an inventor and writer. He was the first Aboriginal (土著的) Australian to write published books. He also worked hard to make life better for Aboriginal people.
David Unaipon was born in South Australia, in 1872. As a young man, he loved to read and was interested in science and music. He thought a lot about new ways to fix engineering problems. Between the years 1909 and 1944, Unaipon made nine important inventions. He also made drawings for a helicopter design. He got the idea from the Australian boomerang (回飞镖) and the way it moved through the air. This happened in 1914, before we had helicopters.
Unaipon lived most of his life in Adelaide and worked for the Aborigines’ Friends’ Association. He worked and travelled around southeastern Australia for fifty years. Sometimes, while travelling from town to town, he was told he couldn’t stay in a hotel because he was black, so he understood the problems of racism (种族主义).
In 1925, Unaipon became the first Aboriginal writer to be published. His first published writing was an article in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper. The article had the title:“Aboriginals: Their Traditions and Customs”. He wrote many other articles for newspapers and magazines, getting publicity about the rights of Aboriginal people. He also wrote about the need for white and black people to work together and the need for equal rights for both black and white Australians. He was well educated in both cultures, and in 1929 he helped with a government survey of Aboriginal health and interests.
David Unaipon died in 1967 at the age of 95, in the same year that Aboriginal people were first counted as part of Australia’s population. In 1995, David Unaipon’s picture was put on the Australian fifty-dollar note, with a drawing of one of his inventions.
1.Which of the following can describe David Unaipon when he was young?
A.He was calm. B.He was brave.
C.He was patient. D.He was creative.
2.What can we learn about David Unaipon’s helicopter design?
A.It was the model for modern helicopters.
B.It was a copy of another helicopter.
C.It was based on a local tool.
D.It was done in his 30s.
3.What do we know about David Unaipon as a writer?
A.He was the first Aboriginal writer.
B.He was concerned about racial inequality.
C.He finished most of his writings while travelling.
D.He had his writings published mainly in newspapers.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.David Unaipon died an unexpected death.
B.David Unaipon was proud of his inventions.
C.David Unaipon’s contributions were recognised.
D.David Unaipon’s drawing abilities were appreciated.
Where Is Spring Break
Where is Spring Break going to be？The options are endless. Do you want to get your blood pumping from thrilling travels？Look no further！These tours and destinations will keep you on your toes all week long.
Panama：This underrated destination is a littleknown secret of the most travelers! Through this tour you’ll get to hike，snorkel (浮潜) and explore all the best sights this beautiful country has to offer! Eight days tours for $250/day.
Canada：This diverse country is full of options. Explore the East of Canada and visit cities such as Montreal，Quebec or Toronto. If you’re feeling adventurous，explore the Western part of the country with a Canadian Rockies Tour. During this twelve days tour you will hike a glacier to beautiful scenery and wander through postcardworthy villages. Tours to Canada for $200/day.
Iceland：Check off one of the seven wonders of the world with a tour of the Northern Lights and Golden Circle. Spend seven days full of adventure like hiking glaciers，snowshoeing through Thingvellir National Park，relaxing in the Geysir Hot Springs and of course experiencing the glory of the Northern Lights! Seven days tours for $300/day.
South Africa：Discover the diverse culture and wildlife that makes up South Africa. Your tour plan includes a journey along the coast known as “Rainbow Nation”. Here you will enjoy beautiful scenery, a hunting travel through Addo Elephant National Park and the wildlife in Tsitsikarnma National Park. Nine days tours for $230/day.
1.What is the similar characteristic of the travels mentioned in the text?
A.Exciting. B.Risky.
C.Educational. D.Environmental.
2.According to the text，Panama is a destination which .
A.is not famous to most travelers B.you can go to for enjoying surfing
C.offers an option to hunt in the park D.has diverse culture and wildlife
3.Which destination costs tourists the most money?
A.Panama. B.Canada.
C.Iceland. D.South Africa.
假设你是卓越中学学生会主席李华。你们学校将举办一次英语话剧比赛（drama competition）,希望你能够邀请附近某大学的外教Ms. Smith来做评委（judge）。请参照以下比赛通知给她发一份邮件。
英语话剧比赛：
主题：人与自然
时间：7月15日下午2：00-5：00
地点：101教室
参赛选手：10名学生
联系人：Li H ua (电话44876655)
注意：1.词数：100词左右；
2.可以适当增加细节使行文连贯。
Dear Ms. Smith,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
With best wishes,
Li Hua
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句不超过两个错误。 错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。 增加： 在缺词处加一个漏字符号（^），并在其下面写出该加的词。 删除： 把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改： 在错的词下面划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。 注意： 1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词。
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Last weekend, I helped my grandparents prepare for our trip to Xi'an. On Saturday morning, together with them, I searched the Internet for the train schedule, the weather in Xi'an, or some hotel informations. In the afternoon, I went to the train station and manage to buy two tickets for them since there was a long queue. After dinner, I packed all the things that might be need into suitcase. And the next morning, I went to the station to see them away off. Wave goodbye to them on the platform, I felt very happy for them and wished them a safer journey.
1.2.3.4.5.
6.7.8.9.10.
阅读下面短文,在空白处填入１个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
A Thanksgiving Day story in the newspaper told of a school teacher who asked her class of first graders to draw a picture of something they were thankful for.She thought of how little these children from poor neighborhood 1.（actual）had to be thankful for.But she knew that most of them would draw pictures of turkeys or tables2.food.The teacher was taken back with the picture Douglas handed in﹣a small childishly hand!
But whose?hand?The class was3.（puzzle）by the abstract drawing."I think it must be the hand of God4.brings us food,"said one child."a farmer,"said another,"because he5.（feed）the turkeys."Finally,when the others were at work,the teacher6.（bend）over at Douglas' desk and asked whose hand it was."It's your hand,Teacher,"he said in a low voice.She remembered that frequently at break she had taken Douglas,a small lonely child by7.hand.She often did that with the8.（child）.But it meant so much to Douglas.Perhaps this was everyone's Thanks﹣giving,not for the material things9.（give）to us but for the chance,in whatever small way,10.（give）to others.
