Recent studies show that many young people in the United States never finish high school．Some researchers say about fifteen to twenty percent of public school students do not complete their education．But many other experts and policymakers believe that for the past twenty years，the dropout rate has been around thirty percent．For Latino and black students，the numbers are even higher．Researchers say almost half of them leave schoo1．At the same time，almost half the states let students leave school before the age of eighteen without letting their parents know．
Finding a good job without a high school education is _________．A recent study found that almost half of all dropouts aged sixteen to twenty—four did not have a job．The lack of high school education can also lead to other problems．An estimated two—thirds of prisoners in the United States dropped out of high schoo1．
The main reason why many students drop out of school is that they are failing．Many are bored with their classes or feel disconnected from their school and teachers．Some students feel that educators place low expectations on them．
There have been efforts to increase graduation rates through education reforms during the past twenty years．Some communities are working on dropout prevention programs．These include alternative (其他的) high schools to meet special needs．In addition，experts suggest “early warning systems’’ to help identify young school children at the risk of dropping out of high schoo1．They say schools should also keep regular contact with parents，especially if their children are missing school often．
小題1:What is the best title of the passage? (Please answer within 10 words．)
                                                                          
小題2:Which sentence in the passage can be replaced by the following one?
Many students feel tired of their classes or don’t feel connected with their school and teachers．
                                                                         
小題3:Please fill in the blank in Paragraph 2 with proper words or phrases to complete the sentence．(Please answer within 10 words．)
                                                                       
小題4:What do you think is the most important reason for the high dropout rate in the high school?(Please answer within 30 words．)
                                                                      
小題5:Translate the underlined sentence in the last paragraph into Chinese．
                                                                        

Harry is eighteen now. He studies in a middle school.His parents like him very much and hope he can become a famous man. So they often tell him to study hard and they do almost everything for him. They wakes him up at six in the morning, after breakfast his father takes him to school in a car and in the afternoon, as soon as the young man comes back, the supper is ready. Of course, he never washes his clothes or goes to buy anything in the shops.
Once Harry’s father was sent to London on business. He would stay there for half a year. Upon leaving, he told his wife to take good care of their son. The woman had to get up eatlier and did all that her husband did before. And two months later she was so tired that she was ill in bed. Now the young man got into trouble. He couldn’t do any housework. He had to do as his mother told him. He didn’t even know where to get on the bus!
One day Harry’s mother found his shoes were worn out and told him to buy a pair in the shop. But he didn’t  know how to choose  The woman had a sigh (嘆息)and give him a shoe patten(鞋樣)and told him to buy a pair of.shoes himself. With a policeman’s help, Harry found a shop. The shopkeeper was friendly to him. The man brought a lot of shoes and asked him to choose. When he was trying on a pair, suddenly he remembered something and took them off. The man was surprised and asked, “What’s the matter, young man?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve left the shoe pattern at home!”
小題1:         always does some housework in the morning

A．Harry's father	B．Harry's mother
C．Harry	D．Nobody

小題2:The woman had to look after her son by herself because         ．

A．her husband wasn't at home

B．she was stronger than her husband

C．she knew the youno man well

D．she was freer than her husband

小題3:When his father was in London,         ．

A．Harry had to stay at home

B．Harry couldn’t even find the bus stop

C．Harry fell behind in his class

D．Harry wouldn’t go to school

小題4:Harry had to buy shoes himself because _        ．

A．his mother didn't know what kind he needed

B．his mother was busy with the housework

C．something was wrong with his mother

D．his mother wanted her son to do something himself

小題5:According to the passage, what can we learn about Harry?

A．He wanted his mother to buy shoes for him．

B．He would rather use the shoe pattern than try the shoes himself．

C．He wouldn't listen to his mother．

D．He was strong enough to buy shoes for himself．

If you do not use  your arms or your legs for some time, they will become weak; when you start using them again, they will slowly become stronger again．Everybody knows that ．yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way．When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it．
When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong．If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault．But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame, and few of us know that it is just his own fault．Have you ever noticed that some people can’t read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write so they have to remember things; they cannot write them down in a little notebook．They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memories are being exercised the whole time．So if you want to have a good memory, learn from these people:Practise remembering．
小題1:One has a poor memory mainly because       ．

A．his father or mother may have a poor memory

B．he does not use his arms or legs for some time

C．his memory is not often used

D．he can’t read or write

小題2:If you do not use your arms or legs for some time,       .

A．you can’t use them any more

B．they will become stronger

C．they become weak and won’t become stronger until you use them again

D．they will become neither stronger nor weaker

小題3:Which of the following is NOT true?

A．Your memory works in the same way as your arms or legs.

B．Your memory, like your arms or legs,becomes weak if you don’t give it enough chance for practice.

C．Don’t learn how to read and write if you want to have a better memory.

D．A good memory comes from more practice.

小題4:Some people can’t read or write, but they usually have better memories, because       .

A．they have saved much trouble

B．they have saveed much time to remember things

C．they have to use their memories all the time

D．they can’t write everything in a little notebook

小題5:Which is the best title for this passage?

A．Don’t Stop Using Your Arams or Legs

B．How to Have a Good Memory

C．Strong Arms and God Memories

D．Learn from the People

On the first day of the new term, I met my new headmaster at the school gate. “Follow me, please!” he said. He had a quiet, kind voice. He took me into my new classroom and left. In front of me, thirty pairs of eyes looked at me. I knew he had told the students that I was blind. I could almost feel the question behind their eyes: Blind? I felt the answer too: If she’s blind, this should be good! I heard quiet voices in a corner of the classroom. For a moment, I felt afraid. I knew at once that I had to be strong.
“Class,” I said as loudly as I could. “I may be blind. But I am not foolish. Take those naughty smiles off your faces, and stop talking, please!” Of course, I could not see their faces; I just guessed that some of them were smiling. The class were quiet. They were very surprised. I knew that I had done the right thing.
As the days went by, the students had more surprises. I could smell when the children were eating sweets. I could easily hear combs going through hair, students passing messages, and so on. Once I found a girl passing a message to a friend. I took the message to the teachers’ room. A teacher read it to me. On one side it said, “Do you think she can see?” on the other it said, “I think so. She always knows what we’re doing.”
Soon the students stopped being naughty, and started to work hard. Before long, they brought in photos of their families for me to look at; I knew then they were my friends. I also knew they had forgotten that I could not see.
小題1:In Paragraph(段) 1 the writer said she must be strong because        .

A．she was too weak

B．the students laughed at her

C．the headmaster left her alone

D．she felt the students were not friendly to her

小題2:The students were surprised for the first time because          .

A．the teacher seemed to know everything

B．the teacher caught them smiling

C．the teacher caught them talking

D．the teacher was not foolish

小題3:In the new teacher’s class the students often          .

A．exchanged sweets	B．combed their hair
C．wrote letters	D．read letters

小題4:The students brought their photos for the writer to look at        .

A．to interest her	B．to cure her illness
C．to make friends with her	D．to show their friendliness

There are three separate sources of danger in supplying energy by nuclear power.
First, the radioactive material must travel from its form of production to the power station. Although the power stations themselves are strongly built, the containers used for the transport of the materials are not. Normally, only two methods of transport are in use, namely road or rail. Unfortunately, both of these may have an effect on the general public, since they are sure to pass near, or even though, heavily populated areas.
Secondly, there is the problem of waste. All nuclear power stations produce waste that in most cases will remain radioactive for thousands of years. It is impossible to make these waste radioactive, and so they must be stored in one of the inconvenient ways that scientists have invented. For example, they may be buried under the ground, or dropped into deserted mines, or sunk in the sea. However, these methods do not solve the problem, since an earthquake could easily break the containers.
Third, there may occur the danger of a leak or an explosion at the power station. As with the other two dangers, this is not very likely, so it does not provide a serious objection to the nuclear program. However, it can happen.
Separately, these three types of dangers are not a great cause for worry. Taken together, though, the probability of disaster is extremely high.
小題1:Which of the following is FALSE ?

A．It is possible that a leak or an explosion occurs at a power station.

B．It is unusual for radioactive materials to be transported across land.

C．The containers are likely to be broken by an earthquake.

D．Nuclear wastes remain dangerous in most cases for many years.

小題2:The author thinks that the ways to store nuclear wastes are ____________.

A．easy

B．impossible

C．reasonable

D．ineffective

小題3:What do we learn from the last paragraph ?

A．The power station is a safe place.

B．The dangers of nuclear energy can be prepared.

C．The general public are strongly against the nuclear program.

D．Itself, none of the three dangers is very likely to cause much worry.

小題4: What is this passage mainly about ?

A．uses of nuclear power

B．Dangers from nuclear power

C．Public anger at nuclear power

D．Accidents caused by nuclear power.

How to improve our life? Many people think that they have to accept whatever life throws at them. They'll say，“my destiny(命運(yùn)). I cannot change it. ”
Of course not! You don't have to suffer needlessly. Your life depends on you, not on any other external(外部的) factor.
I know a woman who says she just accepts what life gives her because she has done everything she can to improve it. Guess what her lifestyle is. She wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes back home, relaxes, chats with people, watches TV, and then goes to sleep. Next day, the same routine cycle follows.
Huh! Is this what she calls “doing her best”？ She believes she has tried her best and just accepts for her heart that this is the life that has been intended for her, and that her luck can only change if God wills it. She hasn't realized that we have to do our share of making the effort to live the life of our dreams.
Remember that you harvest what you sow. You have to get off the sofa, get your eyes off the TV screen, get your hands off the phone(unless it contributes to your success), and get your mind and body to work! Don't expect your luck to change, unless you do something about it.  If something goes wrong, don't just regard it as a temporary setback; instead, learn your lesson, make the most of the situation, and do something to solve the problem. It's not enough to think positively; you also have to act positively.
If someone's life is in trouble, do you just hope and pray that things will turn out fine? Of course not! You get to do anything you can to save the person. So it is with your own life. It is not enough to hope for the best, but you have to do your best. In other words, don't just stand(or sit) there, do something to improve your life.
小題1:According to the woman mentioned in Para. 3, her life ________.

A．doesn't need improving

B．couldn't be improved

C．will be better some day

D．will be worse in the future

小題2:What does the author think of the woman's life?

A．Passive.	B．Positive.
C．Colorful.	D．Boring.

小題3:Which of the following statements is the author's opinion?

A．Your temporary problem is not discouraging.

B．Your luck can be changed by your efforts.

C．You can only achieve success when God wills it.

D．You should treat yourself in the way you treat friends.

小題4:In Para. 5, the author emphasized the importance of ________.

A．hope for the best

B．intention to succeed

C．positive thinking

D．positive action

Which animal has the fastest snapping jaw (顎)? If you're guessing a shark or perhaps a larger animal, you'll have to think smaller. The trap­jaw ant, which lives in Central and South America, moves its mouth parts at 35 to 63 meters per second. Another way to think about this is that the ant's jaws close at 125 to 233 kilometers per hour. That's 2, 300 times faster than the blink of an eye.
Scientists were able to measure the amazing jaw speed using high­speed video techniques. Sheila Patek, a biologist, says the key is that the jaws have a springy (有彈性的) system, which is critical in getting explosive (爆發(fā)性的) speeds.
Consider a bow and arrow. If you try to throw an arrow with your arm, it won't go very far. If you use a bow, elastic energy stored in the bow is released almost instantly when you release the arrow with your finger or a latch. The combination of the springy bow and latch mechanism is what makes the arrow zoom through the air.
Maybe even more amazing than how fast these ants grab food or even enemies is how they use this same energy to move. As the ant closes its jaws, it uses them to push off the ground—all faster than the eye can see without slow motion video. A snap of the jaw can send an ant up to 8.3 centimeters into the air. That's like someone who is 1.7 meters jumping 13 meters high! Not only can they quickly escape from enemies, but often a group of ants will start jumping all at once. It would be hard for their enemies to grab just one.
People have suspected the ants used their jaws to jump for over a century, but could only prove it with today's modern video equipment.
小題1:The fast speed of the trap­jaw ant's jaw lies in ________.

A．its light body

B．its springy system

C．its living environment

D．the length of its jaw

小題2:The passage uses “a bow and arrow” as an example to show ________.

A．how an arrow gets so much energy to fly

B．why the trap­jaw ants have springy system

C．why the trap­jaw ants jaws move so fast

D．how a bow and arrow works

小題3:Which of the following may amaze the scientists most?

A．How high the ants can leap by using their jaws.

B．How quickly the trap­jaw ants can move on the ground.

C．How wonderfully the springy system in the trap­jaw ants' jaws works.

D．How quickly the trap­jaw ants can grab food or enemies.

小題4:According to the passage, the trap­jaw ants' jaws keep them safe because ________.

A．they can catch their enemies easily with their jaws

B．their jaws make them difficult to recognize

C．their jaws help them find food easily

D．their jaws help them escape from their enemies

Is there something that you've always wanted to try but just never had the time? Well, make plans to try it now since you are on summer vacation. Not all vacations call for taking a tour bus to take photos of famous landmarks. Some vacations allow you plenty of opportunities to learn.
The most difficult aspect of a learning vacation may be choosing one because the possibilities are endless. If you enjoy cooking, various companies can take you to Italy, France, Spain, Mexico or even Peru. Once there, you can learn to prepare the local cuisine(烹飪). Trips are often planned to fit in with local food festivals or special events.
The term “l(fā)earning vacation” often brings language to mind. The best way to learn a language is in an environment where it's spoken. Study Spanish, French or English. Or attempt a more unusual language like Polish, Estonian or Thai. You'll be able to learn about the country and absorb the culture at the same time.
If you are fond of sports, you can polish your skills or learn new ones. Golf and tennis schools welcome players of all levels. If you want a bigger thrill, you can learn to surf, go climbing or race cars. It's even possible to learn the art and techniques of bull fighting while on vacation!
You can also discover our inner artist.  Many places offer painting classes in different mediums. The scenic locations, of the schools offer plenty of subjects that provide inspiration for practice.
If you prefer capturing the world on film, take a photography vacation. Travel with a small group to photograph beautiful animals or scenery.  You can also practise your technique on people or at historical sights.
Once you decide on a vacation, choose a company carefully.  Request names of recent customers you can contact,  and then ask them for an evaluation. The more you know before you go,  the better prepared you'll be.  Then go out and learn something!
小題1:Why is it hard for you to decide on a learning vacation?

A．Because it is hard for you to make plans.

B．Because the possibilities are unlimited.

C．Because there are many good foods from abroad.

D．Because there're too many food festivals or events.

小題2:The advantage of learning a language in its native country is that ________.

A．the environment is fit for you to use the language

B．you are able to learn the original foreign language

C． native speakers offer you a lot of chances to practise

D．you can learn the language and experience its culture

小題3:Which of the following sports suits you if you don't like thrills?

A．Car racing.	B．Playing tennis.
C．Rock climbing.	D．Surfing.

Tourism probably started in Roman times. Rich Romans visited friends and family who were working in another part of the Roman Empire. But when the empire broke down，this kind of tourism stopped.
　　In the early 17th century, the idea of the “Grand Tour” was born. Rich young English people sailed across the English Channel（英吉利海峽）.They visited the most beautiful and important European cities of the time, including Paris in France, and Rome and Venice（威尼斯）in Italy. Their tours lasted for two to four years, and the tourists stayed a few weeks or months in each city. The “Grand Tour” was an important part of young people’s education—but only for the rich.
In the 18th century, tourism began to change. For example, people in the UK started to visit some towns, such as Bath to” take the waters”. They believed that the water there was good for their health. So large and expensive hotels were built in these towns.
　　In the 19th century, travel became much more popular and faster. When the first railways were built in the 1820s, it was easier for people to travel between towns, so they started to go for holidays by the sea. And some started to have holidays in the countryside as cities became larger, noisier and dirtier.
　　Traveling by sea also became faster and safer when the first steamships were built. People began to travel more to far away countries.
　　The 20th century saw cars become more and more popular among ordinary people. Planes were made larger, so ticket prices dropped and more people used them.
　　Thus tourism grew. In 1949, Russian journalist Vladimir Raitz started a company called Horizon Holidays. The company organizes everything—plane tickets, hotel rooms, even food—and tourists pay for it all before they leave home. The package tour and modern tourist industry was born.
　　The first travel agency in China was set up as early as 1949.But tourism did not take off until 1978.In 2002,the industry was worth 500 billion yuan and became an important part of China’s social development.
小題1:In the early times, the travelers ________.

A．a(chǎn)ll came from Roman

B．were very young and strong

C．had lots of money

D．traveled by boat

小題2:________ played the most important role in the tourism development.

A．Education

B．Money

C．Transportation

D．People’s ideas

小題3:Modern tourism was born ________.

A．in 1949	B．in Roman times
C．in the early 17th century	D．in the 19th century

小題4:The underlined phrase “take off” means ________.

A．a(chǎn) plane rising into the air

B．develop very fast

C．remove hats and clothes

D．bring down the prices

While football fans feel strongly angry about mistakes made by referees (裁判) because they cannot see clearly what has happened, a small German company is quietly pleased.
For Cairos Technologies, mistakes made by referees are the kind of advertising that money cannot buy. The company has developed a tiny chip(芯片) that fits inside a football and determines whether the ball has crossed the goal line, by being able to discover its exact location on the field. The world football organization, FIFA, has shown interest in the technology. It is very possible that the new technology will be used in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
"We've been testing the technology at the main soccer stadium in Nuremberg for some time and more recently in an under-17 FIFA Cup in Peru," said Gunter Rohmer, a director of the company. "The technology has performed well, and we're pretty optimistic that it will be used at the games in Germany next year."
The chip only weighs 12 grams, and is placed in the center of the football. It sends 2,000 signals a second to a receiver network of 12 antennas(天線), placed around the field. The receivers then send information about the ball's location to a central computer, and because it works in real time, it can immediately tell the referee whether a goal has been scored. The chip even can tell when the ball crosses the line in mid-air. Oliver Braun, one of the inventors of the chip, says that feedback from German referees was generally positive. Germany sports-wear giant Adidas is also optimistic about using this kind of chip in other ball sports.
FIFA aims to test the technology later this year at another game in Japan before deciding whether or not to introduce it in all 12 stadiums in Germany for next year's World Cup.
小題1:Carlos Technologies is pleased because ________.

A．football fans are angry with referees

B．their new product can satisfy football fans

C．their new product will have a good market

D．they can sell a lot of football in the future

小題2: In the first sentence in Paragraph 2,"... mistakes made by referees are the kind of advertising that money cannot buy" means ___________.

A．Carios Technologies can't afford the high price for advertising their product

B．Mistakes in production are also a kind of advertisement

C．Carios Technologies has already spent a lot of money on advertising their product

D．Referees' mistakes will be of great help for the sale of Carlos Technologies' new product

小題3:The underlined word "feedback" probably means ___________.

A．information given back by a user

B．a(chǎn)dvice given by someone

C．supplying food to customers

D．food given back by consumers