A recent online poll (民意调查) asked kids what they hated most about school. “Classes are boring” came in first. “Too much homework” was a close second. Since all activities remain interesting for only so long, too much homework can lead to ennui. So, why are some kids getting homework overload? Teachers give two reasons. First, they say, the government now requires schools to meet higher-than-ever achievement goals for students. If students don’ t succeed, the school faces punishment. Second, many parents want their children to be able to get into the best colleges and universities. These parents believe homework is a way to ensure that students are learning as much as possible.
People who favor homework argue that it can have many beneficial effects. They claim it can help students develop good study habits. Homework can help students recognize that learning can occur at home as well as at school. It can help develop their independent learning and responsible character traits(性格特征).
But studies show that middle school students doing 60 to 90 minutes of homework a night are doing just as well in school as those doing more than 90 minutes. And homework can have negative effects. Homework can deny students access to leisure(休闲) activities that also teach important skills. For example, sports teams teach cooperation and leadership, in addition to helping kids stay physically active. Another problem with too much homework is that parents can get too involved. They can put too much pressure on their kids.
So what should be done? Good homework assignments in the proper amount will have positive effects. Too much homework, however, will have negative effects. The bottom line: Students in grades three through six should do no more than 30 to 60 minutes of homework each night.
1.The underline word “ennui” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “______” .
A. relaxation B. fancy C. boredom D. intelligence
2. According to Paragraph 1, the kids are given much homework because ________.
A. schools are evaluated in terms of students’ achievement.
B. the government doesn’t take the problem seriously
C. it is a good way to improve the students’ ability
D. time will be made full use of in this way
3.Those who are in favor of homework think that _______.
A. homework helps students to succeed
B. it’s good for kids to help each other in learning
C. parents are a great help when kids do homework at home
D. homework helps children to learn independently
4. Which of the following is NOT a negative effect of too much homework?
A. Kids have little time to do leisure activities.
B. There is a lack of sleeping time.
C. The chances of learning other skills are lost.
D. Kids are under pressure from their parents.
5. The author’s purpose in writing the passage is _______.
A. to criticize the school teachers
B. to attract public attention to kids’ study
C. to offer more help to today’s kids
D. to call for proper amounts of homework
HOLIDAY HOMES IN MALLORCA
Holiday houses in Mallorca sailing and fishing port—quiet even in summer season. Beautifully situated houses with sights of sea and mountains, yet near to shops and restaurants. Cars and bicycles for hire. Sailing and sports clubs nearby.
ITALY IN COMFORT
Luxury coach(carriage) trips of Italy, out of normal holiday season. 21days to visit five Italian cities starting from London 1st May, 1st September. The trips are guided by profess or Martin Davis, head of Italian Studies, London University. See the arts and culture of historic Italy.
KIBBUTZ HOLIDAYS IN ISRAEL(以色列)
Working holidays on a kibbutz (co-operative farm) in Israel. All nationalities welcome for one to three months, if prepared to work morning with kibbutz members. Accommodation, food and trips to historic sights all provided free—you pay only for the special low- cost return flight.
TWO WEEKS ON A CARIBBEAN ISLAND
Two- week holidays in the Hotel Splendid, on a lovely beach with golden sands and deep-blue sea. Tennis, golf, sailing and all water sports, trips around the island arranged. Near to town of Castries with lively evening entertainment—dancing.
1st November—31st March = ￡720 per person
1st April—30th October = ￡850 per person
Jack and his wife Mary, who have recently retired, want to see places of cultural and historic interest abroad, but Mary hates flying.
Peter and Maria, university students, want to travel as far as possible on little money, and would like to get to know a country by working there for three months with other young people.
Michael, a young computer programmer, has been working hard and needs a holiday to relax in winter. He would like to go somewhere warmer and sunny, where he can swim in the sea, and he enjoys sports and dancing.
Harry and Kate, both teachers, and their two sons, have to take their holiday during the school summer holidays. There must be plenty for the boys to do, although Harry and Kate just want to have beautiful scenery, good food and wine and peace.
1. Michael would most probably go to ________ for his holiday.
A. Italy B. Israel C. Mallorca D. a Caribbean island
2.The most suitable place where Peter and Maria can enjoy their holiday would be________.
A. an Italian city B. a kibbutz in Israel
C. a Caribbean island D. the port in Mallorca
3. The best holiday for Jack and Mary would be________.
A. the 21- day coach trip of Italy
B. the 2-week stay in the Hotel Splendid
C. the 14-day trip around a Caribbean island
D. the working holidays for 1-3 months on a kibbutz in Israel
4. Harry and Kate and their sons would like________.
A. a holiday working on a kibbutz in Israel
B. a holiday visiting cities by coach in Italy
C. a holiday house in the fishing port in Mallorca
D. a holiday hotel on a lovely beach on a Caribbean Island
5. You can find this passage most probably in ________.
A. a school library B. a tourist agency C. the post office D. the museum
When my father was dying, I traveled a thousand miles from home to be with him in his last days. It was far more heartbreaking than I’d expected, one of the most difficult and painful times in my life. After he passed away I stayed alone in his apartment. There were so many things to deal with. It all seemed endless. I was lonely. I hated the silence of the apartment.
But one evening the silence was broken: I heard crying outside. I opened the door to find a little cat on the steps. He was thin and poor. He looked the way I felt. I brought him inside and gave him a can of fish. He ate it and then almost immediately fell sound asleep.
The next morning I checked with neighbors and learned that the cat had been abandoned by his owner who’s moved out. So the little cat was there all alone, just like I was. As I walked back to the apartment, I tried to figure out what to do with him. Having something else to take care of seemed like the very last thing I needed. But as soon as I opened the apartment door he came running and jumped into my arms. It was clear from that moment that he had no intention of going anywhere. I started calling him Willis, in honor of my father’s best friend.
From then on, things grew easier. With Willis in my lap time seemed to pass much more quickly. When the time finally came for me to return home I had to decide what to do about Willis. There was absolutely no way I would leave without him.
It’s now been five years since my father died. Over the years, several people have commented on how nice it was of me to rescue the cat. But I know that we rescued each other. I may have given him a home but he gave me something greater.
1. When the author first saw the cat, she_____________.
A. was very happy B. felt sympathy for him
C. didn’t know what to do D. was angry with his crying
2. The underlined sentence in the third paragraph implies that the author___________.
A. needed something to fill the empty apartment
B. was too busy and tired to keep a cat
C. loved to stay alone in the apartment
D. needed something to take care of to kill time
3. The cat rescued the author by ____________.
A. making her feel better in her hard times
B. giving her courage to go on with her life
C. helping her tidy the department
D. telling her what life is
4. We can learn form the passage that _________.
A. Willis was named after his previous owner
B. Willis didn’t like staying in the apartment
C. the author and Willis were both homeless
D. time passed quickly after the author adopted Willis
5. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. A little cat B. A painful experience
C. How to take care of animals D. What I got from a little cat
Ostriches(鸵鸟) have been said to be so stupid that they react to danger by burying their heads in sand. This belief caused the popular phrases to be born: play the ostrich. It’s often used to describe people 1.________ refuse to face painful facts. They prefer to ignore the truth. It is like children sticking their fingers in the ears 2.________ crying, “I can’t hear you!”
But do ostriches really bury their heads in sand when they are in danger? The answer is no for sure! 3._______ ostriches are flightless(不会飞的) birds, they can run as fast as 40 miles per hour. So, if they find 4._______ in danger, they will run very fast.
It’s a false statement we’ve thought of as 5.________ truth for long. So, how did the phrase “play the ostrich” come from? Well,6.______ fact, ostriches swallow sand and pebbles(鹅卵石) to help grind(磨碎) food in their stomachs. This means they have to bend 7._______ and put their heads into sand to collect pebbles. That’s 8._______ a false statement was born
Last Tuesday I took two daughters, aged five and seven, to town by car. It began to rain 36 , so I decided I would leave the children in the car 37 I rushed into a shop. I warned the girls not to 38 anything and told them I would be back within a few minutes. Then I locked all the doors and left 39 happily out of the window.
I returned to the car in less than five minutes but the girls had 40 ! I could hardly believe my eyes. The car doors were 41 locked, the windows tightly shut and on the back seat were only two coats. Being 42 , I ran to the corner of the street 43 there was no sign of them. I rushed up to an old lady nearby and asked 44 _she had seen two small girls but she said “No”.
Feeling quite sick with fear, I sat on the driver’s seat, and went to stop trembling (发抖). Suddenly, I heard a merry laugh 45 me. I got out of the car, ran round to open the boot (车尾行李箱) and inside were two very red-faced and 46 children. They had obviously pulled out the back seat, climbed behind it and then been unable to push the seat forward again. 47 tears in my eyes, I leaned forward and pulled their ears.
【小题 1】A.heavy B. hard C. big D. quick
【小题 2】A.before B. since C. after D. while
【小题 3】A.talk B. reach C. hear D. touch
【小题 4】A.them B. her C. herself D. themselves
【小题 5】A.discovered B. disappeared C. described D. delivered
【小题 6】A.even B. again C. already D. still
【小题 7】A.foolish B. proud C. frightened D. pleased
【小题 8】A.where B. which C. that D. when
【小题 9】A.what B. when C. whether D. how
【小题 10】A.behind B. over C. before D. with
【小题 11】A.worried B. excited C. surprised D. interested
【小题 12】A.For B. About C. With D. Down
I think nobody makes _______ contributions to the company than him.
A. greater B. more great C. more greater D. much great
