Academic learning is usually in the spotlight at school, but teaching elementary-age students “soft” skills like self-control and how to get along with others might help to keep at-risk kids out of criminal trouble in the future.

Once a program called Fast Track was started in the early 1990s for more than 7,600 children of 55 schools in America. They were identified by their teachers and parents to be at high risk for developing aggressive behavioral problems. The students were randomly divided into two groups; half took part in the intervention, which included a teacher-led curriculum, parent training groups, academic tutoring and lessons in self-control and social skills. The program, which lasted from first grade through 10th grade, reduced delinquency(少年犯罪), arrests and use of health and mental health services as the students aged through adolescence and young adulthood.

In another latest study, by looking at the data from nearly 900 students in previous findings, researchers found that about a third of the influence on future crime outcomes was due to the social and self-regulation skills the students learned from ages 6 to 11.

The academic skills, or hard skills like learning of physics, which were taught as part of Fast Track, turned out to have less of an influence on crime and delinquency rates than did the soft skills, which are associated with emotional(情绪的) intelligence. Soft skills might include teaching kids to work cooperatively in a group or teaching them how to think about the long-term consequences when they make a decision.

Researchers drew the conclusion that these soft skills should be emphasized even more in our education system and in our system of socializing children. Parents should do all they can to promote these skills with their children as should education policymakers. To the extent we can improve those skills, we can improve outcomes in delinquency.

1.Fast Track was intended for children who      .

A.were randomly chosen from their schools

B.had some problems with academic learning

C.often went against their teachers and parents’ wishes

D.were considered to have criminal trouble in the future

2.What can be learned about "the intervention" in Paragraph 2?

A.It included all the students.

B.It focused on social skills.

C.It improved health services.

D.It had positive outcomes.

3.Compared with soft skills, hard skills      .

A.almost have no influence on students

B.are more affected by students’ emotion

C.are mainly related to academic learning

D.offer children greater self-control abilities

4.Which is the best title for the passage?

A.Soft Social Skills Matter

B.Fast Track Helps Children

C.How to Prevent Delinquency

D.What to DO for Education

    A UK college has started teaching students the Danish concept of hygge — said to make homes nicer and people happier. But what exactly is it?

Sitting by the fire on a cold night, while petting a dog — probably surrounded by candles. That’ s certainly “hygge”. Eating home-made cakes. Watching TV under a warm quilt. Tea served in a china set. Family get-togethers at Christmas. They’re all hygge too.

The Danish word, pronounced “hoo-ga”, is usually translated into English as “cosiness(舒适)”. But it’s much more than that — it is an entire attitude to life that makes Denmark one of the world’s happiest countries.

Morley College, in central London, is teaching students how to achieve hygge as part of its Danish language course. “We have long, cold winters in Denmark,” says lecturer Susanne Nilsson. “That influences things. Hygge doesn’t have to be a winter-only thing, but it isn’t that fine for much of the year.”

With up to 17 hours of darkness per day in winter, and average temperatures staying around 0℃, people spend more time indoors as a result, says Nilsson, meaning there’s greater focus on home entertaining.

The idea is to feel as at-home as possible, forgetting life’s worries. “Hygge works best when there’s not too large an empty space around the person or people,” Nilsson adds.

The recent growth in Scandinavian-themed restaurants, cafes and bars in the UK is helping to export hygge, Nilsson says. Most customers won’t have heard of the term, but they might get a sense of it.

Similarly, in the US, the wallpaper and fabric firm Hygge & West aims to channel the concept through its cheery designs, as does a Los Angeles bakery, called Hygge, which sells traditional Danish cakes and treats.

Hygge is a deep-rooted tradition in Danes’ life. Helen Russell, author of The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World ’ s Happiest Country, says, “Hygge is so important for those who live Danishly that the other day, I saw a camper car parked by the roadside with lit candles in the windows.”

1.Which can be used to explain the concept of hygge?

A.It means success. B.It is a way to relax.

C.It requires a large room. D.It is a candle-involved moment.

2.What makes the Danish have more home life according to the text?

A.The country’s climate. B.The country’s culture.

C.The country’s economy. D.The country’s education.

3.What do we learn about hygge in the UK and the US?

A.It is ignored by the two countries’ people. B.It is quite different from that in Denmark.

C.It is a new trend in the two countries. D.It is related to several traditions.

4.What is the main purpose of the text?

A.To explain the history of hygge. B.To discuss a UK college course.

C.To encourage people to live Danishly. D.To introduce a traditional Danish lifestyle.

    He runs from explosions, drives over waterfalls and jumps from tall buildings. That might sound like Superman, but stuntman(特技演员) Vince Deadrick Jr. is very much human.

As a stuntman in movies and television shows, Deadrick admits he’s no stranger to getting hurt. He has suffered broken bones, bled, gotten knocked out and nearly fallen to death, but he considers himself lucky to be alive after some of the stunts he has performed.

Deadrick has been a stunt coordinator(协调员) for the Nickelodeon channel for 12 years. He has worked with famous actors, directors and producers, and he has travelled all over the world. But that doesn’t mean his work is easy.

It took him years of hard work to get where he is today. Deadrick’s father, Vince Deadrick Sr., was also a stuntman, but his family connection didn’t give Deadrick a free pass into the movie business. He learned from his dad how to set up cardboard boxes and fall mats for high falls, and he started training on his own once he decided to follow in his father's footsteps.

As a stunt coordinator, Deadrick takes danger seriously. When he hires a new stunt performer, he looks for a professional(专业人士).

“You’re only as good as the people you hire,” he says. A stuntman needs to know his own abilities and limitations so he won’t shy away from doing his best but also won’t be such a daredevil(铤而走险的人) that he could hurt himself or others.

When the actors and stuntmen are going to do something dangerous, they need to know they’re trusting the right person. With over 40 years in the business, Deadrick is an expert at making stunts both realistic and safe.

Though he has a large amount of responsibility, Deadrick loves his job.

“I’m in a position where I have to make decisions on risk factors, keeping the actors and stuntmen safe while still making it look impressive. I love my business, and I love the excitement.”

1.It can be inferred from paragraph 2 that Deadrick is_____.

A.careless B.unfortunate

C.optimistic D.generous

2.What do we know about Deadrick’s path to success?

A.He learned his stunt skills from a stuntman.

B.He made it with hard work and great effort.

C.His dad offered him great encouragement.

D.His dad led him into the movie business.

3.When hiring stuntmen,Deadrick___.

A.is very careful B.prefers the fearless ones

C.likes those with no limitations D.puts experience above all else

4.What does Deadrick think of his job?

A.Hard and boring. B.Easy and attractive.

C.Skilled but relaxing. D.Challenging but exciting.

2019 Oscars Academy Award Nominees (提名) for Best Picture

Black Panther

Type: Adventure

Running Time: 134 min.

Release Date: February 16, 2018

Current rank: ★★★★

Director: Ryan Coogler

Actors: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan

With his father having died in Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa is the new ruler of the advanced kingdom of Wakanda. As the king, whenever a challenger for the crown announces his intentions, he must give up his powers and take them on in a physical challenge.

The Favorite

Type: Drama

Running Time: 120 min.

Release Date: November 30, 2018

Current rank: ★★★

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Actors: Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz

In the early 18th century, with England and France at war, a fragile Queen Anne occupies the throne as her close friend Lady Sarah Churchill governs the country in her stead, while tending to Anne’s ill health and changeable temper.

Green Book

Type: Drama

Running Time: 130 min.

Release Date: November 21, 2018

Current rank: ★★★★★

Director: Peter Farrelly

Actors: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali

Tony Lip, an uneducated Italian-American who’s known for using his fists to get his way, is hired to drive world-class, famous pianist Don Shirley on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South. They must rely on the “Negro Motorist Green Book” to guide them to the few settlements that were then safe for blacks.

A Star is Born

Type: Musical

Running Time: 135 min.

Release Date: October 5, 2018

Current rank: ★★★★

Direct: Bradley Cooper

Actors: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga

When country music star Jackson Maine stops at a bar for a drink after a concert, he’s both entertained and attracted by young nightclub singer Ally. He discovers that she writes songs as well as being a talented singer, but hasn’t had a break because of her looks.

1.Which film is the least popular among audience?

A.Black Panther. B.The Favorite.

C.Green Book. D.A Star is Born.

2.The film about the rights of black people belongs to        .

A.adventure B.musical

C.drama D.comedy

3.Who works as a director and actor?

A.Ryan Coogler. B.Yorgos Lanthimos.

C.Peter Farrelly. D.Bradley Cooper.

请阅读下面文字及图表，并按照要求用英语写一篇150词左右的文章。

（写作内容）

1. 用约30个单词概述上述信息的主要内容；

2. 结合上述信息，简要分析导致交通问题的主要原因;

3. 根据你的分析，从社会规范(rules and regulations)和个人行为两方面谈谈你得到的启示(不少于两点)。

（写作要求）

1. 写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句；

2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称；

3. 不必写标题。

（评分标准）

内容完整，语言规范，语篇连贯，词数适当。

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

请认真阅读下面短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意：每个空格只填一个单词。

The expression,“ everybody’s doing it,” is very much at the center of the concept of peer pressure. It is a strong influence of a group, especially of children, on members of that group to behave as everybody else does. It can be positive or negative. Most people experience it in some way during their lives.

People are social creatures by nature, and so it is hardly surprising that part of their self-respect comes from the approval of others. This instinct (天性) is why the approval of peers, or the fear of disapproval, is such a powerful force in many people’s lives. It is the same instinct that drives people to dress one way at home and another way at work, or to answer “fine” when a stranger asks“ how are you?” even if it is not necessarily true. There is a practical aspect to this: it helps society to function efficiently, and encourages a general level of self-discipline that simplifies day-to-day interaction.

For certain individuals, seeking social acceptance is so important that it becomes like an addiction; in order to satisfy the desire, they may go so far as to abandon their sense of right and wrong. Teens and young adults may feel forced to use drugs, or join gangs that encourage criminal behavior. Mature adults may sometimes feel pressured to cover up illegal activity at the company where they work, or end up in debt because they are unable to hold back the desire to buy a house or car that they can’t afford in an effort to“ keep up with the Joneses”.

However, peer pressure is not always negative. A student whose friends are good at academics may be urged to study harder and get good grades. Players on a sports team may feel driven to play harder in order to help the team win. This type of influence can also get a friend off drugs, or to help an adult take up a good habit or drop a bad one. Study groups and class projects are examples of positive peer groups that encourage people to better themselves.

Schools try to teach kids about the dangers of negative peer pressure. They teach kids to stand up and be themselves, and encourage them to politely decline to do things that they believe are wrong. Similarly, it can be helpful to encourage children to greet the beneficial influence of positive peer groups.

What is Peer Pressure

    Arriving in Sydney on his own from India, my husband, Rashid, stayed in a hotel for a short time while looking for a house for me and our children.

During the first week of his stay, he went out one day to do some shopping. He came back in the late afternoon to discover that his suitcase was gone. He was extremely worried as the suitcase had all his important papers, including his passport(护照).

He reported the case to the police and then sat there, lost and lonely in a strange city, thinking of the terrible troubles of getting all the paperwork organised again from a distant country while trying to settle down in a new one.

Late in the evening, the phone rang. It was a stranger. He was trying to pronounce my husband’s name and was asking him a lot of questions. Then he said they had found a pile of papers in their trash can(垃圾桶)that had been left out on the footpath.

My husband rushed to their home to find a kind family holding all his papers and documents. Their young daughter had gone to the trash can and found a pile of unfamiliar papers. Her parents had carefully sorted them out, although they had found mainly foreign addresses on most of the documents. At last they had seen a half-written letter in the pile in which my husband had given his new telephone number to a friend.

That family not only restored the important documents to us that day but also restored our faith and trust in people. We still remember their kindness and often send a warm wish their way.

1.What did Rashid plan to do after his arrival in Sydney?

A.Go shopping. B.Find a house. C.Join his family. D.Take a vacation.

2.The girl’s parents got Rashid’s phone number from______.

A.a friend of his family B.a Sydney policeman

C.a letter in his papers D.a stranger in Sydney

3.What does the underlined word “restored” in the last paragraph mean?

A.Showed. B.Gave back. C.Delivered. D.Sent out.

    One of the latest trends(趋势) in American childcare is Chinese au pairs.Au Pair in Stamford,Conn.,for example,has got increasing numbers of requests for Chinese au pairs from zero to around 4,000 since 2004.And that’s true all across the country.

“I thought it would be very useful for him to learn Chinese at an early age,”Joseph Stocke,the managing director of a company,says of his 2-year-old son.“I would at least like to give him the chance to use the language in the future.”After only six months of being cared for by a 25-year-old woman from China,the boy can already understand basic Chinese daily expressions,his dad says.

Li Drake,a Chinese native raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband,had another reason for looking for an au pair from China:She didn’t want her children to miss out on their roots.“Because I am Chinese,my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to(接触) the language and culture(文化),”she says.

“Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom,” says Suzanne Flynn,a professor in language education of children.“But parents must understand that just one year with an au pair is unlikely to produce wonders.Complete mastery demands continued learning until the age of 10 or 12.”

The popularity of au pairs from China has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children to learn Chinese.It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.

1.What does the term “au pair” in the text mean?

A.A mother raising her children on her own.

B.A young foreign woman taking care of children.

C.A professor in language education of children.

D.A child learning a foreign language at home.

2.Li Drake has her children study Chinese because she wants them ______.

A.to live in China some day

B.to speak the language at home

C.to catch up with other children

D.to learn about the Chinese culture

3.How can children learn a foreign language best according to Flynn?

A.From their parents.

B.By attending classes.

C.From a native speaker.

D.By starting at an early age.

4.What can we infer from the text?

A.Learning Chinese is becoming popular in America.

B.Educated women do better in looking after children.

C.Chinese au pairs need to improve their English skills.

D.Children can learn a foreign language well in six months.

    Metro Pocket Guide

Metrorail (地铁)

Each passenger needs a farecard to enter and go out. Up to two children under five may travel free with a paying customer.

Farecard machine are in every station, Bring small bills because there are no change machines in the station and farecard machine only provide up to $ 5 in change.

Get one of unlimited Metrorail rides with a One Day Pass. Buy it from a farecard machine in Metro stations. Use it after 9:30 a.m. until closing on weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays.

Hours of Service

Open: 5 a.m. Mon — Fri           7a.m. Sat — Sun.

Close midnight Sun — Thur.      3. a.m. Fri — Sat. nights

Last train times vary. To avoid missing the last train, please check the last train time posted in the station.

Metrobus

When paying with exact change, the fare is $ 1.35. When paying with a smatTrip CARD the fare is $1.25

Fares for the Senior /disabled customers

Senior citizens 65 and older and disabled customers may ride for half the regular fare. On Metrorail and Metrobus, use a senior/disabled farecard or SmarTrip card. For more information about buying senior/disabled farecards, farecard or SmarTripR card and passes, please visit MetroOpenDoors.com or call 202-637-7000 and 202-637-8000.

Senior citizens and disabled customers can get free guide on how to use proper Metrobus and Metrorail services by calling 202-962-1100

Travel tips

Avoid riding during weekday rush periods — before 9:30 a.m. and between 4 and 6 p.m.

If you lose something on a bus or train or in a station, please call Lost & Found at 202-962-1195.

1.What should you know about farecard machine?

A.They start selling tickets at 9:30 a.m.

B.They are connected to change machines.

C.They offer special service to the elderly.

D.They make change for no more than $5.

2.At what time does Metrorail stop service on Saturday?

A.At midnight B.at 3 a.m.

C.at 5 am D.at 7 p.m.

3.What is good about a SmarTrip card?

A.It is convenient for old people B.It saves money for its users[

C.it can be bought at any time D.it is sold on the Internet

4.Which number should you call if you lose something on the Metro?

A.202-962-1195 B.202-962-1100

C.202-673-7000 D.202-673-8000

Which boy hasn’t dreamed of being a cool secret agent (特工)? The wonderful fighting abilities and the world-saving adventures are much more colourful than most people’s everyday lives. Well, Cody Banks is just like any other boy，except that he is not just dreaming. He has a big secret his friends never know about. He was trained to be a spy (间谍）by a special CIA programme，which was made to look like a summer camp. He learned high-speed driving，hand-to-hand fighting and the use of high-tech tools.

After proving he could become a young hero by saving a baby from a runaway car，Banks gets his first real task. He must make friends with a popular girl at school，Natalie Connors. Then，he must spy on her father，a scientist who has developed a dangerous technology (技术).Banks must stop a group of bad people from forcing Natalie’s father into using the technology to endanger the world.

The CIA may have taught him first-class self-defence moves，but they didn’t show him how to talk to girls. Banks has zero ability when it comes to dealing with girls. How can he get around his problem and get an invitation to the girl’s upcoming birthday party? Will he finally become Natalie’s boyfriend and find out whatever he can about her father’s work?

Agent Cody Banks has everything that young people are interested in: big explosions, breath-taking performances and funny girl-dating experiences. It was listed No.2 in the American box office last week.

“This story is interesting and fun for the whole family to enjoy，and especially cool for young boys，” said Paul Perkins, a film reviewer in theUS.

1.What is Banks’ first real task?

A.To test a high-tech tool. B.To save a baby from a car.

C.To study a new technology. D.To watch a scientist secretly.

2.Banks wanted to go to Natalie’s birthday party to______ .

A.meet her father B.know more people

C.make friends with her D.steal some information

3.What is considered as a great danger in the text?

A.The technology developed by Natalie’s father.

B.An explosion set off by some bad people.

C.The CIA’s training of boys for its tasks.

D.Secret agents’ spying on scientists.

4.What is the purpose of the text?

A.Making known the work of the CIA. B.Telling the story about a cool boy.

C.Showing the dark side of science. D.Introducing a new film.