Kuss Middle School serves students in Fall River, Mass. , a former mill town that has struggled economically for decades. Students at Kuss have struggled, too, usually falling short of making the academic progress required under the No Child Left Behind law.
Then, last year, the school experimented with extending the school day. Teachers got paid at a higher hourly rate.
Students weren't thrilled at first with leaving school at 4:15 p.m. instead of at 2:20 p.m. But the added hours gave them more time for physical education and let them select special interest classes. By the end of the year, student scores had risen by enough to enable Kuss to make the progress required under the federal No Child Left Behind law.
The only surprise is that more districts haven't lengthened school schedules set decades ago to accommodate (��Ӧ) a farm economy rather the information economy of today.
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School days The USA ranks 36th of 40 industrialized nations in average weekly instructional time. Selected countries: 1) Thailand--30.5 hours 2) Korea--30.3 hours 7) China--26.5 hours 14) France--24.6 hours 15 ) UK--24.6 hours 16) Mexico--24.2 hours 23 ) Japan--23.8 hours 26)Canada--23.6 hours 36)USA--22.2 hours 40)Brazil--19 hours |
New research suggests the time is ready for a change:
Matched against 39 other developed countries, the United States is near the bottom in the rankings of average weekly instructional time in school. Measured over 12 years, students in the top-scoring countries spend the equivalent of a full extra year in school.
US students perform poorly on math and science tests compared to their international peers, according to a US Education Department comparison released earlier this month. In math, American 15-year-old scored near the bottom among the study's 30 developed countries.
Most countries that boost the number of minutes spent on math instruction find pay offs in improved math scores, according to a study released this month by the Brookings Institution. Small increases in the school day are more effective than a longer school year, the report concluded.
The most encouraging news about the benefits of extending the school day comes from Massachusetts, where an experiment with 10 schools, including Kuss, appears to be working. Those 10 schools lengthened their instructional days by 25% and boosted their state scores in math, English and science at all grades.
Perhaps the concept won't work everywhere. Certainly, it won't instantly be popular. But it's obvious that a problem exists or that adding class time seems to help.
1.What is the main idea of the above passage?
A. Experiments with extended school hours produce academic gains.
B. Kuss Middle School sets a good example for US education.
C. Academic progress has achieved under the No Child Left Behind law.
D. Information age calls for more instructional lime at all schools.
2.A longer school day is suggested for the following reasons except that _________.
A. students from many developed countries spend more time at school
B. American students do a bad job at science subjects
C. teachers are paid at a higher rate with time added
D. a longer school day works better than a longer school year
3.Which statement is true of Kuss Middle School?
A. Kuss Middle School lies in where a farm economy is changing to an information one.
B. Kuss Middle school has joined the federal "No Child Left Behind" progrann
C. Neither teachers nor students are happy with the longer school day.
D. Adding class time functions at Kuss Middle School.
4.The writer has expressed ____________.
A. a positive attitude towards adding school time
B. a negative attitude towards adding school time
C. a changing attitude towards adding school time
D. a right attitude towards adding school time
Honesty may well be the policy, but it often deserts us when no one is watching, psychologists report today. Experiments with an honesty box to collect payments for hot drinks show that people are better at paying up when under the gaze(注视) of a pair of eyes. The surprise was that the eyes were not real, but photographed.
Researchers at Newcastle University set up the experiment in secret. They attached a poster to a cupboard of mugs above an-honesty box alongside a kettle ,with tea, coffee and milk. Over 10 weeks, they alternated each week between images of eyes and pictures of flowers.
Dr. Bateson, a behavioral biologist and leader of the study, said that even though the eyes were not real they still seemed to make people behave more honestly. They effect may arise from behavioral characteristics that developed as early humans formed social groups that increased their chances of survival. Individuals had to co-operate for the good of the group, rather than act selfishly.
"If nobody is watching us, it is in our interests to behave selfishly. But when we think we're being watched,we should behave better, so people see us as co-operative and behave the same way towards us, "Dr. Bateson said.
"We thought we'd get a slight effect with eyes, but it was quite striking how much difference they made. Even at a subconscious(潜意识的) level, it seems people respond to eyes, and that might be because eyes send a strong biological signal we have evolved(进化) to respond to."
The finding, which researchers believe sheds light on our evolutionary past, could be turned to practical use. The psychologists say images of eyes could promote ticket sales on public transport and improve monitor systems to prevent antisocial behavior.
1.This passage is mainly about _______________.
A. the policy of honesty
B. an honesty box to collect money
C. evolution on honesty
D. an experiment on honesty
2.The reason for doing the experiment secretly is that the researchers _____________.
A. wanted to get a comparatively more exact result
B. had known they wanted to do something illegally
C. meant to get the co-operation of their colleagues
D. intended to sell the hot drinks at a higher price
3.People behave honestly under watchful gaze of eyes because _____________.
A. they want to leave a good impression
B. they fear to be laughed at by others
C. they've got the nature through evolution
D. they take the photo for a real pair of eyes
4.The underlined phrase" sheds light on" in the last paragraph means _____.
A. causes somebody to become cheerful
B. makes something easier to understand
C. comes upon something by accident
D. brings something into the broad daylight
You can be proud of yourselves, even if you can only make one or two of these green changes. The goal here is to limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which are closely associated to the big problem of global-warming.
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Strategy 1: Bring your own cup to Starbucks |
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You'll get a 10-cent discount, and it's one less paper cup to end up in a dustbin. |
The store won't create more waste when they throw away a cup. |
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Strategy 2: Turn off your computer |
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When in standby mode, your PC is still using energy. |
Turning off a monitor for 40 hours a week may only save $ 5 a month, but it reduces CO2 by 750 pounds. |
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Strategy 3: Reuse plastic bags |
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Instead of throwing away 100 billion plastic bags a year, try and get a second, third, or tenth use out of them. Better yet, next time you shop, try a reusable bag. |
You're reducing pollution. The amount of oil it would take to make just 14 plastic bags would run your car for one mile. |
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Strategy 4: Use recycled paper in the bathroom |
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Most of the toilet paper we use is made from trees found in forests previously untouched by humans. |
If every household replaced one roll of toilet paper with a recycled one,424,000trees would still be standing. Look for eco paper towels too. |
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Strategy 5: Buy energy-efficient appliances(电器) |
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Replace the old fridge with an Energy Star appliance and you'll use 15 percent less energy. It might be a little expensive to buy, but you'll save money on your electricity bills and help the environment. |
If we all used one Energy Star appliance at home, it would be like planting 1.7 million acres of new trees. |
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Strategy 6: Plant a tree |
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Adding green to your garden is beautiful and earth-pleasing. |
Just one tree will help make cleaner air and save the environment from 5, 000 pounds of hot carbon dioxide each year. |
1.What is the best title for the passage?
A. Strategies to Save Money
B. Ways to be Earth-Friendly
C. Strategies to End Global-Warming
D. Ways to Limit Carbon Dioxide
2.According to the writer, what will happen if our PC is switched off when not in use?
A. It will help to save a large amount of money.
B. It will help to reduce a great deal of CO2.
C. It will save the amount of oil that runs your car for a mile.
D. It will be like planting 1.7 million acres of new trees.
3.Which strategies suggest recycling or reuse of things?
A. Strategies 1 & 3. B. Strategies 2 & 5.
C. Strategies 3 & 6. D. Strategies 4 & 5.
4.What benefits do these strategies have in common?
A. They all help reduce the use of energy like electricity.
B. They all cut down the amount of the use of paper.
C. They all result in producing less greenhouse gases.
D. They all aid to preserve our trees and forest.
Maybelle said she wouldn't be coming with me to the library. I asked why, and she said she could get all the short stories she wanted off the Internet. Saved walking all the way to the library, and putting up with my long chat on the way there, and on the way back. Maybelle is very direct like that, always has been.
"But, Maybelle, we've been walking to the library every Monday for the last fifty years!"
She said," Why don't you get Internet'? We can send each other emails."
So I had to get Internet. I called the local high school. They said they'd send me a good student to tell me all about computers and such.
Evil thing, this Internet. Makes you lose old friends, forces you to learn new complex ideas, even if you're too old. But Maybelle said you have to be modern; otherwise, you're dead.
The kid came the next day. Tall skinny black kid, by the name of Arsenius, said his work would cost more.
I said, "All right. As long as I get Internet."
"You need a computer, then you need to get hooked up," he said.
"Let's buy a computer and get hooked up, then."
"How much you want to spend?"
"Whatever it takes."
"How many rams you want?"
I wasn't going to show him my ignorance, so I said, "Whatever it takes."
"Let's go to the mall. You got a car?"
"In the garage."
When I opened the garage door, he gasped. Daddy's car is still there, a'57 Chevy. I never drive it. Walk everywhere.
I said," Let's walk. It's only a mile or so."
He said," Let's drive, or you will faint on me in this heat."
"Young man, I don't faint, never have. We're walking."
"I get paid by the hour," he said. "Walking will cost you a lot more. Also, you feel like carrying a computer a mile or so?"
1.What kind of person is Maybelle?
A. She always says what she means in an honest way.
B. She no longer likes reading in her old age.
C. She doesn't want to be friends with the writer any more.
D. She doesn't want to keep up with the time.
2.Why does the writer want to have Internet at his place?
A. Because the writer believes that one is never too old to learn.
B. Because the writer thinks that it is better late than never.
C. Because of the pressure from people of his age.
D. Because of the convenience the Internet will bring.
3.Arsenius gives _________ reasons for driving to the mall.
A. two B. three C. four D. five
It was just getting dark. There was a touch of fog and I was on a lonely stretch of road. 36
I was going along cheerfully, thinking about the dinner I would eat when I got to Salistury.
I was going along 37 at about thirty-five miles an hour when suddenly I heard a scream, a 38 scream--- “ Help! ” I looked round, but the only 39 of life was a large, black, rather suspicious-looking car just 40 a bend in the road about a hundred yards away. That was where the cry had come from. I 41 speed and went after it. I think the driver saw what I was doing, for he did the same and began to draw 42 me. As I drew near, the girl’s voice came again, a lovely voice but trembling with 43 .
“Let me go, you coward; you’re hurting me. Oh ! Oh ! ”
I felt my 44 boil. The fog was coming down 45 now, and the countryside was lonelier. I had no 46 that the murderous guy in the car noticed this. Again came a cry.
“Drop that knife, you fool. Oh ! ” Then a cry and a groan（呻吟）.
If I was to save her, it was now or 47 . Perhaps even now I was too late. But if I couldn’t save the girl, I would at least try to bring the murderer to 48 . The car was only a couple of yards away now. I drove the bike right across its 49 , and its brakes screamed as the driver tried to pull it over and 50 into the ditch（沟）at the side of the road. The door of the car was pushed open angrily and a dark, evil-looking fellow stepped out .
“You fool!” he shouted as he came towards me with his fist raised to hit me. But I was 51 than he. I put all I could into 52 that would have knocked out Joe Louis. It 53 him right on the point of the chin; his 54 slowly bent under him, and he dropped to the ground without a sound. I rushed to the car, 55 open the door and looked inside. There was no girl there. Suddenly from the back of the car came a voice.
“You have been listening to a radio play, Murder in Hollywood, with Mae Garbo and Clark Taylor. The news will follow immediately . ”
1.A. And B. Though C. Therefore D. But
2.A. quietly B. quickly C. carefully D. nervously
3.A. boy’s B. man’s C. woman’s D. driver’s
4.A. person B. sign C. sound D. form
5.A. turning B. crossing C. going D. driving
6.A. slowed down B. put on C. added to D. took up
7.A. right behind B. close to C. away from D. near by
8.A. joy B. sorrow C. fear D. anger
9.A. tears B. heart C. face D. blood
10.A. slighter B. thicker C. lower D. harder
11.A. need B. effort C. trouble D. doubt
12.A. never B. late C. ever D. then
13.A. justice B. court C. lawyer D. sentence
14.A. direction B. path C. front D. nose
15.A. drove B. ran C. crashed D. sped
16.A. slower B. quicker C. taller D. heavier
17.A. an anger B. a fist C. a beat D. a blow
18.A. caught B. struck C. knocked D. beat
19.A. chin B. fists C. knees D. body
20.A. hit B. brought C. pushed D. pulled
The detective, ________ to read a newspaper, glanced at the man ________ next to a woman.
A. pretending; seat B. pretending; seated C. pretended; seat D. pretended; seated
