Census Bureau (人口普查局) data released Thursday show that 48 of the 50 most populous (人口稠密的) U.S. cities have grown since 2010, compared with only 40 of the top 50 in the first two years after the 2000 Census. Of the top 100, 93 have grown since 2010, compared with just 72 a decade ago.
Many of the biggest, such as New York, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego and Dallas, are outpacing the nation’s 1.7% growth rate since 2010.
“Urban America is recovering faster than more remote places,” said Robert Lang, a professor of urban affairs.
Only two big cities - Detroit and Cleveland - lost population between 2010 and 2012.
The urban recovery is led by mid-sized cities including Austin and Fort Worth and Charlotte. Austin grew 6.6% in two years, becoming the USA’s 11th-largest city. In 2000, it was No. 17.
Other trends:
• New York City grew 2%, adding about 161,500 people since 2010. By far it is the USA’s most populous city.
• The population of New Orleans continues to grow. In 2005 a terrible natural disaster happened to the city, causing the population to decrease. Now it has a population of three hundred and sixty-nine thousand. The number has grown by 7.4% since 2010.
• Government budget crunches (紧缩) have put state capitals in difficulty. Half are behind the growth rate of their regions.
Perhaps the biggest exception to the capital crunch is Austin. It has grown more than 26% since 2000. Population expert William Frey says Austin enjoys a number of qualities that make it attractive. It’s a high-tech city with a state university. And it’s in Texas, an attractive place for newcomers. “In some ways it’s a model of what other cities would like to become,” he says.
Frey notes that Charlotte, which grew 5.4% since 2010 has grown into a high-tech and financial center whose industries do business not just with those in other U.S. cities but with the rest of the world.
1.The statistics in Paragraph 1 suggest that _____.
A. there were fewer cities in the USA a decade ago
B. remote areas in the USA have more people now
C. the population in the USA has grown since 2010
D. many big cities in the USA face population problems
2.William Frey thinks Austin’s growth _____.
A. is due to its education
B. is the steadiest in the USA
C. attracts well-educated people
D. deserves the attention of other cities
3.According to the text, Charlotte _____.
A. is a political center
B. has grown slowly since 2010
C. is the USA’s 11th-largest city
D. does business at home and abroad
Sam Allred suffers from a rare and incurable kidney (肾脏) disease. One day, when his sister was playing a song repeatedly, Sam sang along. His sister thought it was funny so she recorded it and posted the video online. The video — and Sam — became a hit. Only 8 years old at the time, he couldn’t have expected the response.
“(The television show) The Doctors called and wanted me on their show so they paid for me to go to California,” says Sam, now 13, “and we got to stay in a hotel where all the movie stars stayed.”
During that visit to California, Angie Allred, Sam’s mother, had an idea about Sam writing a children’s book. Together, she and Sam wrote Opening Hearts, which tells Sam’s experience of living with a chronic (慢性的) illness.
“I wrote the book to teach people to be kinder to people,” Sam says.
Moreover, Sam wanted to send pillows to sick children staying in hospitals around the country to make their stay more comfortable, an idea that came from a time when he was in the hospital.
“A few kind boys came in with pillows and they gave me one and it meant a lot to me that someone cared about kids in the hospital,” says Sam.
Angie thought of starting a nonprofit organization to provide a way for people to contribute money to realize Sam’s ideas. She named the nonprofit Kindness for Kids.
Since then, Sam has taken pillows to children staying at Providence Hospital in Anchorage.
Sam’s father, Scott Allred, owns a small business that contracts (承包) shipping services with FedEx Ground. He asked the company for help.
“FedEx Ground learned about Sam’s pillow project,” says Erin Truxal, manager of public relations for FedEx Ground. “We thought, ‘What a perfect way for us to get involved.’”
The company provided shipping services for Sam to ship about 5,000 pillows to hospitals.
Sam wants to send more pillows to all of the children’s hospitals in every state. His goal is simple: “Kids in the hospital as happy as they were before they got sick,” he says.
1.We can learn from the text that Sam Allred _____.
A. was a healthy boy
B. was popular at an early age
C. sang the song with his sister
D. worked in his father’s company
2. Opening Hearts is a book that _____.
A. is a best seller
B. is about Sam’s sister
C. was published when Sam was 13
D. was written by Sam and his mother
3.What is FedEx Ground’s attitude towards Sam’s career?
A. Doubtful. B. Surprised.
C. Approving. D. Uninterested.
4.Which of the following can best describe Sam Allred?
A. Optimistic and warm-hearted.
B. Honest and responsible.
C. Unusual and confident.
D. Friendly and brave.
书面表达
假定你是李华。校学生会正在举办“魅力中学生”评选报名活动，旨在给学生提供展示风采的舞台，为大家树立学习的榜样。下面的海报吸引了正在你校访问的美国学生Catherine的关注。请向她介绍此次活动，并阐述你心目中“魅力中学生”的标准。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3．首句已给出，不计人总词数。
The poster is about a selection registration named Charming Students.
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改．
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（^），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词。
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
In order to promote participation in outdoor exercise, our school had organized an activity to climb the West Mountain on April 10. The moment we arrived at the foot of a mountain, we set out for the top in high spirit. We supported each other to pass the rocky areas on the course of the climb. Laughing and cheering, we eventually reached the summit, there we were greeted by the bright sunshine and fresh air. Viewing from the top, the city was extremely beautiful This event was very benefit, for not only we take a break from our heavy school workload, but we also learned what to cooperate. Therefore, we strongly suggest that similar events are held every year!
阅读下面材料，在空白处填人适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
On receiving my learner's permit a couple of months ago ,I started driving lessons straight away. However, it wasn't until two days ago 1. Dad finally allowed me to drive on the motorway. Our destination was Orewa, 2. seaside town.
That morning I made sure I had enough to drink and went to the toilet about three times3. we left. I thought l was totally prepared__4. the journey, but nothing could have prepared me for my family's complaints.
“Relax! Don't hold the steering wheel so 5. (tight)." called a nervous voice from the backseat.
"Speed up. 70km/h isn't fast enough. You are holding up the traffic," another voice ordered from the seat next to _6.(1).
How 7. (annoy)! To content them ,I 8. (step) hard on the accelerator(加速器), and within a second, an angry voice began to yell again.
‘‘Stop! Slow down! Are you crazy? Did I tell you to go above l00km/h'?"
Finally I drove into the city, where the speed limit was only 50km/h.
My family seemed relieved and stopped_9.(tell) me what to do. On our way home, the journey was much 10. (easy) than before as everyone else fell fast asleep. So ,I just took my time and enjoyed the drive.
完形填空
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填人空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It was my first college acting class. With great hesitation, sweating hands and an heart,1 walked into the classroom. I had spent my entire life__ public speaking. But now here l was, not only to learn how to speak like someone on _ .but to become them entirely. Theater classes are _ at many high schools and universities in the US. "Theater kids" are a quite different bunch who always seemed able to _ a room with their personalities.
__ _ it was only a beginner-level course, my college class was filled with students who seemed a _ _ fit for acting. They were confident, funny and _ .The professor, a stout（矮胖） woman with a permanent smile and gentle behavior,_ _ just as well, She _ us each with a handshake and welcoming eyes. The class was held in a circular room with _ situated around the edges. This allowed everyone in the room to have a(n) _ 0f whatever performance or lecture was _ in the center.
After our first-day of introductions, each week we _ in a series of activities designed to help us find our own inner _ .We sang songs, danced to music, and recited _ _ from our favorite short stories.
The _ _ was eye opening .I learned that anyone has the _ to act, and many of us already do in our daily life. In the end, I'm not _ 一that l would consider myself an actor. But I don't think I ever had more fun in a college class.
1.A. unsteady B. unsatisfied C. unusual D.unfair
2.A. practicing B. avoiding C. delivering D. learning
3.A. refusing B. happening C. preparing D. hesitating
4.A. stage B.campus C. strike D. trial
5.A. difficult B. expensive C.advanced D.popular
6.A. put up B. make up C. light up D.break up
7.A. Though B. Since C. Unless D. Once
8.A. strange B. natural C.common D. formal
9.A. outgoing B. cautious C. hardworking D. patient
10.A. served B. prepared C. spoke D. fit
11.A. inspired B. supplied C. greeted D. comforted
12.A. blackboards B. tables C. lights D. chairs
13.A. view B. opinion C. debate D. command
14.A. leaving B. occurring C. arriving D. declining
15.A. took B. succeeded C. shared D. participated
16.A. singer B. actor C. professor D. dancer
17.A. characters B. proverbs C.lines D.plots
18.A. adventure B. concert C. competition D. experience
19.A. gift B. interest C. tendency D. desire
20.A. content B. sure C. aware D. Doubtful
