When times get tough, we all look for ways to cut back. When we’re hungry, we eat at home instead of going out. We take buses instead of taxis. And we wear our old designer jeans just a few months longer. With college expenses at all-time highs, high school students are eager to do anything to cut the cost of a university education.
One cost-cutting proposal is to allow college students to get a bachelor’s degree in three years instead of four. Educational institutions have been actively exploring ways to make the learning process more efficient. But there’s a question: Would the quality of undergraduate(本科生)education suffer? Few US universities have formally approved a “three-year degree” model.
I doubt that mainstream North American colleges will carry out a three-year curriculum(课程) any time soon. For one thing, most universities already allow highly qualified students to graduate early by testing out of certain classes and obtaining a number of college credits(学分). In addition, at famous universities, the committee who determine which courses are required and which courses are electives are unlikely to suddenly “throw out” one quarter of the required credits. Professors will resist “diluting(稀释)” the quality of the education they offer.
In my opinion, a quality four-year education is always superior to a quality three-year education. A college education requires sufficient time for a student to become skilled in their major and do coursework in fields outside their major. It is not a good idea to water down education, any more than it’s not a good idea to water down medicine. If we want to help students find their way through university, we should help them understand early on what knowledge and skills they need to have upon graduation. We should allow students to test out of as many courses as possible. We should give them a chance to earn money as interns(实习生)in meaningful part-time jobs that relate to their university studies, such as the five-year co-op program at Northeastern University.
1.The first paragraph serves as a(n)________．
A. explanation B. definition C. introduction D. comment
2.We can learn from the passage that ________.
A. most American universities are against the “three-year degree” model
B. many famous US universities are considering adopting the “three-year degree” model
C. professors are willing to accept the “three-year degree” model
D. the “three-year degree” model can make college learning more efficient
3.In most US universities，________.
A. college students are offered the co-op program
B. electives’ credits make up one quarter of the required credits
C. all students are required to finish four-year education before graduation
D. some excellent students can graduate ahead of time
4.We can infer that________.
A. the author is a college professor
B. the author thinks the cost of a university education is too high for people to afford
C. the author considers the university education quality very important
D. the author pays special attention to the all-round development of college students
5.Which of the following can be the best title?
A. It’s time to shorten the learning process
B. Best learning takes place over time
C. University education should be watered down
D. College education calls for reform
In the US and Britain, the slogan around colleges was “Save water. Shower with a friend.” Now, Wuhan University has come up with another system for the campus bathhouse. It charges students for the amount of time in a shower. Before entering the bathhouse, students pay for the amount of time they want in the shower with cash or their student ID card. The clock starts ticking the minute the tape is turned on. It pauses when a button is pressed for soap. An integrated circuit (IC) card reader at each tap shows the time. No money, no water. The benefits of the new system can be seen with the old system, which charged 1 Yuan for each person regardless of time in the shower. The university used about 320 tons of water daily under the old system, but only 160 tons now.
Many students use the new system but opinions on it are divided. Some students say it is bad because bathing had become a sort of race. Many people using it for the first time are not sure how long they need to shower. Some might be embarrassed if their time is up and they’re still covered in soap. They have to ask the bathhouse worker to help them buy extra time.
“It’s a flaw in the system that you can not buy extra time on the ID card,” said Ren, a freshman in Wuhan University. The university is also considering some students’ suggestions that they be allowed to pay after they’ve finished the shower. Not surprisingly, some are complaining about losing the hour shower. But many students say the move helps them develop a water-saving sense.
Without the time limits, most students tended to shower for 30 to an hour in the bathhouse.
Some even used the hot water to wash their clothes. “In my experience, 10—20 minutes is enough,” said Dai Zhihua, a third-year student who usually takes 8 minutes.
A similar system has been installed in other universities. Shanghai Normal University introduced it at its Fengxiang Campus in September. The bathing fee there is 0.2 Yuan per minute. One male student responded by setting a record with a two-minute shower.
1.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. Students buy the time of their showers.
B. The clock times the student’s bathing except when the bather pauses for soap.
C. If money runs out, there will be no water.
D. Having finished bathing, the student has to pay for it.
2.The underline word “flaw” (Paragraph 3) most probably means __________.
A. fault B. advantage C. pity D. perfection
3.Since the new system has performed, __________ of water can be saved.
A. a quarter B. one third C. one half D．two thirds
4.It can be inferred from the passage that __________.
A. the new operation can raise students’ environmental awareness
B. the new operation can solve the water crisis
C. a similar operation has been set in other universities
D. the university has saved a lot of water by using the new system
5.In which column can you find this passage?
A. Culture. B. Society. C. Campus Life. D. Lifestyle.
Mark and his brother Jason both were looking at the shining new computer enviously. Jason was determined not to go against their father’s wishes but Mark was more adventurous than his brother. He loves experimenting and his aim was to become a scientist like his father.
“Dad will be really mad if he finds out you’ve been playing with his new computer” Jason said, “He told us not to touch it.”
“He won’t find out,” Mark said, “I’ll just have a quick look and shut it down.”
Mark had been scolded before for touching his father’s equipment. But his curiosity was difficult to control and this new computer really puzzled him.
It was a strange-looking machine — one his dad had brought home from the laboratory where he worked. “It’s an experimental model,” his father had explained, so don’t touch it under any circumstances.” But his father’s warning only served to make Mark more curious. Without any further thought, Mark turned on the power switch. The computer burst into life and seconds later, the screen turned into colours, shifting and changing, and then two big white words appeared in the centre of the screen: “SPACE TRANSPORTER.”
“Yes!” Mark cried excitedly, “It’s a computer game. I knew it! Dad’s only been pretending to work. He’s really been playing games instead!” A new message appeared on the screen:
“ENTER NAMES
VOYAGE １
VOYAGE ２
Mark’s finger flew across the keyboard as he typed in both of their names.
“INPUT ACCEPTED.
START TRANSPORT PROGRAM.
AUTO-RETRIEVE INITIATED(自动回收程序已启动).”
The screen turn even brighter and a noise suddenly rose in volume.
“I think we’d better shut it off, Mark,” Jason yelled out in terror, reaching for the power switch. A beam(光束) of dazzling white light burst out of the computer screen, wrapping the boys in its glow(光芒)，until they themselves seemed to be glowing. Then it died down just as suddenly as it had burst into life. And the boys were no longer there. On the screen, the letters changed：
“TRANSPORT SUCCESSFUL．
DESTINATION: MARS.
RETRIEVE DATE: 2025
1.Why did Mark touch the computer against his father’s warning?
A. He wanted to take a voyage.
B. He wanted to practice his skills.
C. He was so much attracted by it.
D. He was eager to do an experiment.
2.Where did the boy’s father most likely work?
A. In an electronic factory.
B. In a computer company.
C. In a scientific research center.
D. In an information processing center.
3.Mark thought “SPACE TRANSPORTER” on the screen was the name of ________.
A. a computer game B. a company website
C. a software producer D. an astronomy program
4.Why did Jason want to shut off the computer?
A. He was afraid of being scolded.
B. He didn’t like the loud noise and light.
C. He didn’t want to play games.
D. He was afraid something dangerous might happen.
5.What happened to the boys at the end of the story?
A. They were blown into the air.
B. They were sent to another planet.
C. They were hidden in the strong light.
D. They were carried away to another country.
A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit(坑). When the other frogs saw 1. a deep pit it was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as 2. (die) . The two frogs didn't listen to the others and tried to jump out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop. Finally, one of the frogs heard what the other frogs 3. (say) and gave up, so he died.
The other frog went on jumping as hard as he could 4. (get) out. Once again, the other frogs cried at him and told him to stop and just allow 5. to die, but he jumped even 6. (hard) and finally made himself out. When he was out, the other frogs said, "Didn't you hear us?" The frog explained to them that 7. was wrong with his hearing. He thought they were encouraging him 8. whole time.
There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone 9. is down can lift him or her up and help them make it 10. the day, while bad words can rob another of the spirit to go on in difficult times. Be careful of what you say.
There is a small shop about 200 meters from where I live that sells groceries, meat and other basic necessities. About 10 years ago, there was a beggar who would go into the shop every day and ask the owner for a . The owner, although he would love to help, simply didn’t have any jobs available, so he kept the man’s request.
This situation continued for a few months, until the owner to give the homeless man a job which sweeping outside the shop. Every single day from 5 am, the homeless man was there doing the very best he could for the , and it did earn him some pennies. , the owner saw how good a job the man was doing and gave him a job working as a cashier. He was watched closely to make sure that he didn’t any of the money received from the sales. He was still homeless, after all. The homeless man did a/an job as a cashier for over 2 years, and did such a good job that he was promoted to the finance for the whole shop.
To my , this was the arrangement up until 2 years ago, when the owner . In his will, he only had one , to give the whole shop to the now stable, “homeless” man. Now, I could walk into that shop and see him working as hard as ever, with his own business that is still and active 10 years after getting his job as a sweeper.
From this story, we can probably get the inspiration: work hard and give everything your best effort, even if it isn’t your situation, it very well may turn out to be some day in the future.
1.A. coin B. home C. job D. meal
2.A. ignoring B. considering C. accepting D. refusing
3.A. again B. weekly C. often D. daily
4.A. wanted B. agreed C. planned D. expected
5.A. meant B. involved C. included D. kept
6.A. family B. owner C. shop D. money
7.A. Normally B. Accurately C. Generally D. Eventually
8.A. lose B. pocket C. spend D. save
9.A. honest B. practical C. fantastic D. kind
10.A. take B. raise C. provide D. manage
11.A. knowledge B. mind C. regret D. joy
12.A. got tired B. grew old C. passed away D. gave up
13.A. thought B. purpose C. request D. suggestion
14.A. big B. new C. different D. popular
15.A. ideal B. current C. reasonable D. financial
阅读下面的短文，然后按照要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。
The 11.11 Shopping Festival, as the event is now called, occurs on the day known in China as Single’s Day, a holiday on which young people cry about or celebrate being single. Five years ago the shopping website Alibaba began promoting the day as a shopping festival, and it has now turned to be the country’s busiest day for online sellers, millions of shopping lovers and thousands of delivery companies.
Every Nov. 11, millions of Chinese shoppers go to the e-commerce websites operated by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., which is the world’s largest e-commerce platform: The total value of goods sold last year by Taobao and Tmall, the company’s two main shopping sites, topped one trillion yuan ($160 billion), larger than last year’s totals for Amazon.com and eBay combined.
But not everyone likes shopping on that day. Chen Jing, a lawyer in Beijing, says, “Nobody knows what anything is really worth. Online shoppers are guided by shallow tips (“this is cheaper than that”) and vague emotions (“it just feels like a good deal”) rather than knowledge and deliberate thinking.” Critics like Chen complain that people believe the most popular day of the year to shop is the best day of the year to buy anything. But the fact is that the prices of many items on that day are not the lowest of the year and usually shoppers buy lots of things they don’t need.
【写作内容】
1. 以约30个词概括上文的主要内容。
2. 以约120个词就“网络购物”的话题谈谈你的想法，内容包括：
（1）你对文中所描述的网赂购物现象的看法；
（2）描述你或他人网络购物的经历；
（3）说明网络购物时应注意的问题。
【写作要求】
1. 作文中可以使用亲身经历或虚构的故事，也可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不得直接引用原文中的句子。
2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。
