That year, in the local school, there was a new math teacher, as well as some new pupils. One of the new kids was the stupidest child that anyone had ever seen. It made no difference how quickly or how slowly they tried explaining numbers to him; he would always end up saying something enormously stupid. Like two plus two was five, seven times three was twenty-seven, or a triangle had thirty corners...
Before this boy arrived, math lessons had been the most boring of all. Now they were great fun. Encouraged by the new teacher, the children would listen to the pieces of nonsense spouted by the new kid, and they would have to correct his mistakes.
Whenever the new teacher asked questions, the stupid kid would stand up but made the wrong answers, the other students all wanted to be the first to find his mistakes, and then think up the most original ways to explain them. To do this they used all kinds of stuff: sweets, playing cards, oranges, paper planes, etc. It didn't seem like any of this bothered the new kid.
However，little Lewis was sure that it was bound to make him feel sad inside. Lewis was sure he would see him crying. So，one day, he decided to follow the new kid home after school. On leaving school, the new kid walked a few minutes to a local park, and there he waited for a while, until someone came along to meet him...
It was the new teacher!
The teacher gave the new kid a hug, and off they went, hand in hand. Following from a distance, Lewis could hear they were talking about math.
1.The math lessons became interesting because of the new teacher's ______.
A．creativity B．imagination C．responsibility D．curiosity
2.The passage implies that the stupidest child ______.
A．was in great need of the math teacher's help after class
B．was by no means slow in math
C．had no gift for math and was slow to learn it
D．disliked both the new math teacher and his lessons
3.According to the passage, Lewis followed the stupid kid in order to ______.
A．learn about where he lived B．find out if he felt upset
C．say something to comfort him D．make friends with him
4.What does the underlined word “this” in the third paragraph refer to?
A．To find the new kid's mistakes.
B．To think up the most original ways to explain.
C．To use all kinds of stuff.
D．To follow him home after school.
British researchers have found that children’s IQ predicts their probability of becoming vegetarians (素食者) as young adults.
Recent studies suggest that vegetarianism may be associated with lower cholesterol (胆固醇), reduced risk of overweight and heart disease.
“We know from other studies that brighter children tend to behave in a healthier fashion as adults—they’re less likely to smoke, less likely to be overweight，less likely to have high blood pressure and more likely to take exercise.” lead author Catharine Gale said, “This study provides further evidence that people with a high IQ tend to have a healthier lifestyle.”
In the study, Gale’s team collected data on nearly 8,200 men and women aged 30, whose IQ had been tested when they were 10 years of age.
“Children who scored higher on IQ tests at age 10 were more likely than those who got lower scores to report that they were vegetarian at the age of 30.”Gale said.
The researchers found that 4.5 percent of participants were vegetarians. Of these, 2.5 percent were vegan, and 33.6 percent said they were vegetarian but also ate fish or chicken.
There was no difference in IQ score between strict vegetarians and those who said they were vegetarian but also ate fish or chicken，the researchers added.
One expert said the findings weren’t the whole answer，however.
“We don’t know the beliefs or attitudes of the parents of the children，nor do we know if there was a particular event that led these children to becoming vegetarian in their teens or adulthood.” said Lona Sandon, and assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
1.From the article，we know that ________.
A．brighter children are likely to become vegetarians when they are ten.
B．people with a higher IQ will not be overweight
C．brighter children are likely to have a healthier lifestyle
D．overweight may cause high blood pressure
2.What does the underlined word “vegan” in the sixth paragraph mean?
A．Someone who only eats vegetables.
B．Someone who chooses not to eat meat or fish.
C．Someone who likes eating meat and fish.
D．Someone who likes eating vegetables.
3.This study left some unanswered questions EXCEPT “________”．
A．Did the vegetarian children grow up in a family with a vegetarian parent?
B．Did the children eat a primarily vegetarian diet at the age of 10?
C．Were meatless meals regularly served in the participants’ families?
D．Did the vegetarian children really have a high IQ?
4.The main idea of the passage is that ________.
A．the low IQ children will be unhealthier when they grow up
B．being vegetarians can reduce the risk of overweight and heart disease
C．IQ is important to vegetarians
D．high IQ children are more likely to become vegetarian when they grow up
Many people in the world live in big cities, which are often dirty and difficult places to live. So, some cities will get bigger. They will also get higher, and lower, because people will begin to live under the ground as well as in tall buildings. Scientists also say that men can begin to live in cities under the sea, when there is not enough space on the land. Of course, these new cities will be very expensive, and difficult to build, but they are not impossible. Already, some countries are building places to live under the ground so their people can go there if there is a new war. There are underground cities in Switzerland（瑞士）and China, built by the government（政府）to help some of the people live during a great war.
But will people change if they live under the ground for a long time？For example some fish go blind if they live in the dark sea for a long time. People will not go blind, because there will be light underground, but they may change in some way. Scientists say that people who live in cities today are losing their senses of smell, touch and taste. They can’t smell the dirty air, they can’t taste the chemicals（化学制剂）in their food. These senses are not as strong as before, when people lived in the country and grew their own food. The city has changed that. What will the underground city change in everyone？
1.People will live under the ground because _________．
A．it’s neither hot nor cold there
B．they’ll be afraid of the war
C．there’ll be less space on the ground
D．they’ll make their life comfortable
2.Some countries try to build some places under the ground so that people will be able to live there _____．
A．when summer comes
B．when a war breaks out
C．because they think it’ll be safer for them
D．when they’re fed up with the life on the land
3._________, so people who will live there won’t go blind．
A．There’ll be enough light under the ground
B．It’ll be easy to go upstairs
C．Glasses will be sold under the ground
D．Medicine will be supplied for free
4.People will lose some senses under the ground because _______．
A．the world are polluted
B．it’s dark there
C．the air is dirty and there are a lot of chemicals in their food
D．they can’t grow their own food in the sun
Music died here last spring, or rather, it was killed by members of the school committee who ignored the importance of music and drama as part of the high-school curriculum.
The committee decided that teaching students how to take a standardized test is more important than a curriculum in which students can explore their interests in the arts as well as academics. Because the school system is running out of funding, it needs to make sure that students pass the mastery test or even more money will be lost. If students fail the state standardized test，it is not the fault of drama and music classes—they are failing because the “academic” classes are not sufficient.
It is painful to think of how many students will be discouraged from singing, acting, and playing instruments because school programs are no longer offered. Many families cannot afford private music lessons，and many potential musicians and artists may not find their calling if they are not exposed to it in school. The fact that the school committee thinks the arts are not worth the investment will certainly make some students believe the arts are not worth their time or support and the cycle will continue.
Teaching for a test does not shape students into complete，well-rounded people. It blocks the natural sense to create and express feelings through art—there is more to life than the analytical thinking that math and English provide. What happens after a test? Sure, a student might graduate, but they will have limited knowledge—certainly not a good preparation for the real world.
1.Music and drama are not included in the high-school curriculum mainly because ________.
A．the school committee pays no attention to them
B．the school is afraid of losing financial support
C．the students are not interested in both of them
D．the state standardized test is more important
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A．The sufficiency of the classes determines students' performance in the mastery test.
B．Quite a few students are discouraged from learning music and art in today's school system.
C．Students can be musicians and artists only if they can afford private music lessons.
D．The school committee completely influences students' attitude towards the arts.
3.We can learn that music and art can ________.
A．motivate students in creativity and expression
B．make students round-shaped people in future
C．provide students with analytical thinking
D．prevent students graduation from high school
4.The best title of the passage can be ________.
A．“Who killed music and drama？”
B．“Can curriculum go without music？”
C．“Why is music so important？”
D．“How to prepare for the real world？”
June was lying by the Olympic size swimming pool in her new swimsuit. She was really hot and dived into water. else was in the pool. The refreshing water cooled her body immediately, which her to continue doing some laps there.
Now having swum in the past several years and being a bit out of , June began to tire . “Ah, no pains, no gains,” June thought to herself. June to swim, realizing her head was . Breathing became difficult. Her vision wasn’t so . She saw the lifeguard and a couple of others around the pool. No sense in anyone. She continued.
She found in the middle of the pool. Deciding not to make a scene, she continued to swim. , she made it to the other side of the pool. Nausea (恶心), weakness and exhaustion (精疲力竭) it difficult for June to get out of the pool. she stood, her body slowly shook back and forth, Losing her .
Realizing she needed help but to even say anything, she the pool side and stood there. Several minutes later she had enough energy to only her body up out of the pool. Sitting at the side of the pool with her feet in the water she felt that someone was at her. It was the lifeguard. June was just able to her hand, telling him she was okay.
Have you ever found yourself in a where you’re in trouble and you don’t ask for help? There is nothing in asking for help. June could have drowned. However, we all have the tendency, as June did.
1.A. someone B. No one C. Anyone D. Everyone
2.A. advised B. encouraged C. allowed D. forced
3.A. mind B. time C. shape D. fashion
4.A. hardly B. easily C. falsely D. unexpectedly
5.A. remained B. stopped C. happened D. continued
6.A. hurting B. hurt C. suffering D. suffered
7.A. sure B. clean C. clear D. poor
8.A. bothering B. interrupting C. attracting D. helping
9.A. one B. it C. her D. herself
10.A. Lastly B. Finally C. Suddenly D. Surprisingly
11.A. found B. let C. made D. felt
12.A. Since B. As C. Until D. Unless
13.A. life B. courage C. chance D. balance
14.A. unable B. ready C. proud D. afraid
15.A. lay on B. came across C. leaned against D. fought with
16.A. pull B. push C. raised D. rise
17.A. laughing B. staring C. glimpsing D. shrugging
18.A. hold B. lend C. move D. wave
19.A. condition B. atmosphere C. situation D. environment
20.A. difficult B. different C. useful D. wrong
I went to her home and found her living conditions were_______ than mine.
A. bad off B. badly off C. worse off D. bader off
