Not long ago I saw the following headline: “An anti-homework trend（趋势）goes global”. The reasoning: It stresses children out and it steals “precious family time”.
Hmm… I wonder. As a teacher, one of the problems I often come across is that students attach far too little importance to their studies, resulting in bad or incomplete work. I also wonder about the “precious family time”. If homework were abolished（废除）, would the time freed up be used for reading poetry aloud at the dinner table or having heart-to-heart discussion about the social and political landscape（局面）? In the age of the Internet and games such as Candy Crush Saga, which have absorbed the time and interest of otherwise intelligent adults, I am doubtful.
When I was a kid, homework actually created precious family time. I still remember, after supper, clearing the table and replacing the dishes with my schoolbooks. And then, in swing shifts, my working-class parents would sit down with me and, to the best of their abilities, help me when and where they could.
I have often thought that the homework question could be dealt with if one thought of homework in terms of learning to play a musical instrument. For me, this was the clarinet（单簧管）, which I began learning to play at age 9. Every week I took a 30-minute lesson from an old Polish man, Mr. Markiewicz. “Practice an hour a day, and you’ll be playing the clarinet before you know it.” Because my motivation was strong, I did practice an hour a day, and I did learn it in a reasonable amount of time.
Let’s get rid of homework, but only the word “homework”, and replace it with “practice”. As a teacher, it’s all I ask: that my students listen up in the class and then go home to practice, so that when they return to me to show how much they understand, I—and their parents—can be proud of them.
1.What might happen in the house with no homework according to the author?
A.Students will play games.
B.Students will develop new interest.
C.There will be more precious family time.
D.There will be more arguments among the family.
2.What does the author intend to do in paragraph 3?
A.Mourn his precious family time’s passing.
B.Show the powerful parental forces.
C.Prove the advantage of homework.
D.Describe his uneasy life as a student.
3.What does the author suggest students do about the homework?
A.Get rid of it. B.Don’t see it as a load（负担）.
C.Take great pride in it. D.Improve their motivation（动机）for it.
4.Which is a suitable title for the text?
A.Why to value the family time.
B.An anti-homework trend begins.
C.How to solve the homework problem.
D.Developing hobbies can replace homework.
Nothing could stop Dad. After he was put on disability for a bad back, he bought a small farm in the country, just enough to grow food for the family. He planted vegetables, fruit trees and even kept bees for honey.
And every week he cleaned Old Man McColgin's chicken house in exchange for manure(肥料). The smell really burned the inside of your nose. When we complained about the terrible smell, Dad said the stronger the manure, the healthier the crops, and he was right. For example, just one of his cantaloupes(甜瓜) filled the entire house with its sweet smell, and the taste was even sweeter.
As the vegetables started coming in, Dad threw himself into cooking. One day, armed with a basket of vegetables, he announced he was going to make stew(炖菜).Dad pulled out a pressure cooker（高压锅）and filled it up with cabbages, eggplants, potatoes, corns, onions and carrots. For about half an hour, the pressure built and the vegetables cooked. Finally, Dad turned off the stove, the pot began to cool and the pressure relief valve sprayed out a cloud of steam. If we thought Dad's pile of chicken manure was bad, this was 10 times worse. When Dad took off the lid, the smell nearly knocked us out.
Dad carried the pot out and we opened doors and windows to air out the house. Just how bad was it? The neighbors came out of their houses to see if we had a gas leak!
Determined, Dad filled our plates with steaming stew and passed them around. It didn’t look that bad, and after the first wave had shut down my ability to smell, it didn’t offend the nose so much, edible, and we drank up every last drop of soup.
1.Why did Dad clean Old Man Mocolgin’s chicken house regularly?
A.To earn some money for the family.
B.To collect manure for his crops.
C.To get rid of the terrible smell.
D.To set a good example to us.
2.What can we infer about Dad’s stew?
A.It is popular among the neighbors.
B.It contains honey and vegetables.
C.It looks very wonderful.
D.It tastes quite delicious.
3.What does the underlined word “offend” in the last paragraph mean?
A.To attract B.To upset
C.To air D.To shut
Nearly 25% of the entire U.S. population is likely to hit the road during the holidays this year. We’ve picked the best road food stops along some of the South’s most traveled interstates（洲际公路）.
1-35∣San Antonio, TX, to Oklahoma City, OK
Fancy That∣Exit 109, Norman, OK I Miles from Interestate:2.8
This downtown store offers a sit-down “classic lunch” for $8 that includes an entrée（主菜）and a side; a big meatball sandwich, perhaps, with a strawberry, blue cheese, or a fat BLT on Texas toast with a salad.
215 East Main Street: 236/908-2209; www.fancythat.us.com
Babe’s Chicken Dinner House Ⅰ Exit 477, Sanger, Texas Ⅰ Miles from Interstate: 0.8
You’ll find yourself at Babe’s by the log-foot-tall chicken standing outside the front door of this store. But here’s the real draw: golden fried chicken and chicken-fried steak, served worth family-style sides.
202 North Fourth Street: 116/498-1208; www. Babeschicken.com
I-40∣Nashville, TN, to Wilmington, NC
The Feed Bag Restaurant I Exit 174, Farmington, NC I Miles from Interstate: 2.2
Located in a former general store down a country road, this simple country restaurant serves fresh, local food with zero cheats and tricks.
2339 NC Highway 801 North; 336/998-1109
Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen I Exit 270, Chapel Hill, NC I Miles from Interstate: 1.8
Sunrise is sandwich king—there’s no beating these giant biscuits filled with egg, sausage, cheese, or whatever filling you’d like. It’s drive-through only—perfect for when you don’t have time to stop and sit. Just get there before 2:30 p.m. when they close.
1305 East Franklin, Street; 919/933-1324
1.If you are interested in meatball sandwiches, which telephone number will you call?
A.116/498-1208. B.336/998-1109.
C.919/933-1324. D.236/908-2209.
2.What is special about Sunrise Backlit Kitchen?
A.You can taste fresh local food.
B.You don’t have to stop and sit.
C.A sit-down classic lunch is served.
D.A 10-foot-tall chicken stands outside.
3.What do the four food stops have in common?
A.Providing giant biscuits. B.Having their own websites.
C.Being open 24 hours. D.Being close to the interstates.
阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇60词左右的概要。
Look inside any family home in the evening, and you might see a typical enough scene: Mom and Dad, each on their own laptop or tablet, streaming movies, catching up on work or maybe answering emails on their smartphones. Meanwhile, one child is chatting online with one school friend while texting another. The other is playing a video game with a friend on the other side of the city at the same time. Each member of the family is totally absorbed in his or her own piece of technology.
According to some experts, the effect of technology on human relationships is worrying as technology becomes a substitute for face-to-face human relationships. It appears to be the case that many people would much rather spend time with their electronic gadgets(电子产品) than with one another. Young people say it is difficult to get their parents’ attention and they have to compete with smartphones, tablets and other technology.
However, a report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project offers a more helpful and encouraging view, suggesting that far from replacing human contact, technology can actually better family relationships. Just over half of the 2,253 people surveyed agreed that technology had enabled them to increase their contact with distant family members and 47 percent said it had improved the communication with the people they lived with. Moreover, even the closest members of families need time away from each other at some point to seek their own interests. Family members who might otherwise have sat in separate rooms can now be in the same one while still occupying a different mental space.
Look back at our typical family scene above. Is it any different from four people reading their own books? Or is it driving families apart? Where technology will lead us remains to be seen. Yet there is no need to worry. As a matter of fact how it affects our family relationships depends on our attitude toward technology.
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阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Researchers examined the benefits of singing among people with mental health conditions 1. (include) anxiety and depression.
They found people who took part in a community singing group improved their mental health and that the combination of singing and socialising was an important part of 2. (recover).
The grassroots action runs weekly singing workshops for the people 3. mental health conditions as well as the general public. It 4. (original) began at a hospital in 2005, 5. afterwards moved into the community. Around 120 people now attend four free workshops each week across Norfolk, two thirds of 6. have had contact with mental health services.
The research project followed the group for six months and 7. (undertake) interviews and focus groups with participants, organisers, and workshop 8. (leader).
The report shows how singing and socialising gave participants 9. feeling of belonging and wellbeing that often lasted a day or 10. (many), as well as improved social skills and confidence.
China's Great Wall, Australia's remote Outback, Italy's ancient ruins, Jane Sun, CEO of CTip, Asia's largest online travel agency, connects people with the best destinations the world has to offer. She believes cultural experiences can_________ divides and conflicts, strengthen industries and create peace.
Actually she herself is a living breathing advertisement for how travel can_________a life. But her journey was much longer and more_________ than her recent completion of the Shanghai marathon.
While_________Peking University, Sun was invited to a program in the University of Florida, where she_________managed to further her study, majoring in accounting. Compared to her fellow students, Sun's life_________was rapid. She bicycled 6 miles to campus each morning, taking the earliest classes_________ so she could spend the rest of the day, and Saturdays, working to pay her education fees.
_________Sun recalls her UF days fondly. “I learned a lot from my experience in the USA,” says Sun.
Many discussions I had at UF still _________ my style of leadership today.____________, I have developed an appreciation for hearing other persons different ____________ over a certain issue.”
“I try to put myself in other people's shoes”, Sun says, “In a global market, you have to have a very good understanding of different peoples and____________ different cultures.”
Feeling it her duty-to help the next generation, Sun ____________ a scholarship to other students in need. Her tips for them include, “be open-minded,” give 100 percent effort to whatever you want to____________That’s the exact attitude she holds to life.
Now as a mother of two daughters, she shoulders the____________as CEO of what is now a $25 billion company.
“Some people ask me why I work so hard, but I feel mothers are best role____________for children,” Sun says. “I show them that to work is actually to____________ yourselves, but if you double your efforts at work and being a mother. it is doubly____________.”
As for her future____________Sun is preparing for the day when virtual reality, advanced vehicles and even space travel will change the travel industry.
One thing that won't change: the____________of travel to build bridge.
1.A.bridge B.separate C.suspect D.foresee
2.A.observe B.change C.entertain D.disturb
3.A.enjoyable B.unique C.difficult D.hopeless
4.A.representing B.guiding C.inspecting D.attending
5.A.finally B.constantly C.especially D.roughly
6.A.career B.settlement C.pace D.rate
7.A.worthwhile B.accessible C.valuable D.available
8.A.Therefore B.However C.Meanwhile D.Moreover
9.A.influence B.direct C.satisfy D.inspire
10.A.At ease B.By chance C.In particular D.In general
11.A.Impressions B.explanation C.conclusions D.arguments
12.A.preserve B.respect C.develop D.create
13.A.set up B.carried on C.referred to D.came across
14.A.defend B.accomplish C.expand D.approach
15.A.credit B.blame C.responsibility D.failure
16.A.models B.performers C.supporters D.pioneers
17.A.expose B.delight C.challenge D.clarify
18.A.convincing B.astonishing C.thrilling D.rewarding
19.A.efforts B.opportunities C.possibilities D.motivations
20.A.freedom B.power C.focus D.determination
