WASHINGTON—There are more than 222million TVs in American homes. And it would make Frank Vespe very happy this week if every last one was turned off.
Vespe is the head of the TV-Turnoff Network. the Washington organization behind TV Turnoff Week. For TV Turnoff week, American children are encouraged to go one week without watching TV. This year, it runs from April 23~29.“Our real message here is to see what life is like without TV and then make watching TV a conscious（自觉的) decision,”said Vespe.
Vespe said that most of the children who go without television for a week go back to watching, but not so much.“They watch more selectively. They do more things as a family. It helps them put TV in its place.”One girl who is turning off her TV is Sarah Foote, 9.of Virginia. Sarah admits that it won’t be too hard to give up TV. She’s allowed to watch only educational television, and he favorite show from last year isn’t on any more.
Of course, there are plenty of things about TV: programs can be entertaining, even educational.
Even so, some experts aren’t sure TV Turnoff Week is the answer.
Susan Neuman, a university educator who studies children and reading ,says the real problem is that parents do not keep track of what their children are watching. They don’t set limits on TV watching. Also, in some families, TV might be the only thing to do.
What message does Sarah have for other children?
“It’s a very good idea. I spent a whole week without TV. It also teaches you to enjoy time doing different things and not being sucked into something on TV, because you don’t want TV taking up all of your time.”Sarah said.
1.From the first two paragraphs we know that .
A. American TV companies will be turned off
B. American families have more TV sets than they need
C. Vespe has persuaded most people to turn off their TV sets
D. Vespe is an active person in the TV-Turnoff organization
2.As Vespe said in this passage, turning off TV a week can help children .
A. forget to watch TV programmes B. improve their habits of watching TV
C. place TV sets out of their bedrooms D. have part-time jobs after school
3.In some experts’ opinion .
A. parents should turn off TV for their children
B. parents should teach their children how to use TV
C. children should enjoy exciting programmes on TV
D. children should learn their lessons on TV
4.What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A. To advise us to turn off TV sets. B. To warn parents of the danger of TV.
C. To report to us a piece of news about TV. D. To praise Vespe and his organization.
Deaf teenagers Orlando Chavez and German Resendiz have been friends since kindergarten. Together the two boys, who go to Escondido High School in California, have had the difficult job of learning in schools where the majority of the students can speak and hear.
Orlando lost his hearing at the age of one. German was born deaf, and his parents moved from Mexico to find a school where he could learn sign language. He met Orlando on their first day of kindergarten.
“We were in a special class with about 25 other deaf kids,” German remembers. “Before then, I didn’t know I was deaf and that I was different.”
“Being young and deaf in regular classes was very hard.”said Orlando.“The other kids didn’t understand us and we didn’t understand them. But we’ve all grown up together. And today. I’m popular because I’m deaf Kids try hard to communicate with me.”
Some things are very difficult for the two boys. “We can’t talk on the phone, so if we need help, we can’t call a crisis service,” German said. “And we can’t order food in a drive-thru（汽车餐厅）.”
Despite their difficulties, the two boys have found work putting food in bags at a local supermarket. They got their jobs through a “workability”program, designed for teenagers from local schools with different types of learning disabilities.
German has worked in the supermarket since August, and Orlando started in November.
“The other people who work here been very nice to us,”Orlando signs. “They even sign sometimes. At first, we were nervous, bus we’ve learned a lot and we’re getting better.”
The opportunity to earn money has been exciting, both boys said. After high school, they hope to attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in New York.
1.Orlando and German have been_______.
A. to Mexico together. B. deaf since they were born.
C. friends since they were very young. D. to different high schools.
2.The word “crisis” in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to_______.
A. food. B. Emergence. C. alarm. D. quick.
3.Both boys are happy to______.
A. have the opportunity to earn money.
B. work at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.
C. help students with learning disabilities.
D. design programs for the deaf.
Raised in a motherless home, my father was extremely tightfisted towards us children. His attitude didn’t soften as I grew into adulthood and went to college. I had to ride the bus whenever I came home. Though the bus stopped about two miles from home, Dad never met me, even in severe weather. If I grumbled, he’d say in his loudest father-voice, “That’s what you are for!”
The walk didn’t bother me as much as the fear of walking alone alone the highway and country roads. I also felt less than valued that my father didn’t seem concerned about my safety. But that feeling was cancelled one spring evening.
It had been a particularly difficult week at college after long hours in labs. I longed for home. When the bus reached the stop, I stepped off and dragged my suitcase to begin the long journey home.
A row of hedge（树篱）edged the driveway that climbed the hill to our house. Once I had turned off the highway to start the last lap of my journey, I always had a sense of relief to see the hedge because it meant that I was almost home. On that particular evening, the hedge had just come into view when. I realized it was the top of my father’s head. Then I know, each time I’d come home, he had stood behind the hedge , watching, until he knew I had arrived safely. I swallowed hard against the tears. He did care, after all.
On later visits, that spot of gray became my watchtower. I could hardly wait until I was close enough to watch for its secret movement above the greenery. Upon reaching home, I would find my father sitting innocently in his chair.“So! My son, it’s you!” he’d say, his face lengthening into pretended surprise.
I replied, “Yes, Dad ,it’s me. I’m home.”
1.What does the underlined word “grumbled”in Paragraph I probably mean?
A. Accepted happily. B. Spoke unhappily.
C. Agreed willingly. D. Explained clearly.
2.What made the author feel upset was _____.
A. the tiredness after long hours in labs.
B. the fear of seeing something moving.
C. the feeling of being less than valued.
D. the loneliness of riding the bus home.
3.The author’s father watched behind the hedge because_______.
A. he wanted to help his son build up courage.
B. he was concerned about his son’s safety.
C. he didn’t want to meet his son at the doorway.
D. he didn’t think his son was old enough to walk alone.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. Terrible Journey Home. B. My College Life.
C. My Father’s Secret. D. Riding Bus Alone.
假如你是李华，你的美国网友Mike即将随父母到中国，并在中国度过中秋节。他发email向你询问有关中秋节的习俗，请你回信告诉他。要点如下：
历史悠久；
中国的传统节日；
家庭团聚；
共进晚餐；
吃月饼，月饼象征团圆（unity）；
赏月。
注意： 1．词数100左右；. 可适当增加细节。
Anyone has ___________（长处）and weaknesses.
You think you are clever; ________ _________ _________（正相反），I think you are foolish.
