Language is always changing. In a society where life continues year after year with few changes, the language does not change either. The earliest known languages had difficult grammar but a small, limited vocabulary. Over the century, the grammar changed, and the vocabulary grew. For example, the English and Spanish people who came to America during the sixteenth century gave names to all the new plants and animals they found. In this way, hundreds of new words were introduced into English and Spanish vocabularies. Today life is changing very fast, and language is changing fast too.
There are several major language families in the world. Some scientists say there are nine main families, but other scientists divide them differently. The languages in each family are connected, and scientists think that they came from the same parent language. About 3 percent of the people in the world speak languages that are not in these major families. （词数155）
【小题1】The early language had ________.

A．a lot of problems	B．words and easy grammar
C．words but no grammar	D．grammar but not many words

【小题2】 In the next few hundred years we can expect language to _____.

A．stay exactly the same	B．change a great deal
C．change only a little	D．ask more words and drop some grammar

【小题3】What this article shows is that _____.

A．languages change fast	B．languages really don't want to change
C．language really with changes in society	D．Spanish and English change

There is no excuse for not doing your assignments（作业）. If you can’t come to school, you should call your teacher or your classmate and ask about homework. It is your responsibility（责任）to find out what homework you have missed. It is not the teacher’s job to remind you of the missed assignments.
You must not be absent on a test day. If you are seriously ill, call and let the teacher know you will not be there for the test. If your teacher allows a make-up test（补考），you should take the test within one or two days after you return to class. Serious illness is the only reason for missing a test.
Be on time! It is impolite to be late. Also, it bothers other students. If you must come in late, be sure to do it quietly. Have your books and papers out of your bag before you come into the room. Then go to your seat and sit down quietly. In the USA, it is not necessary to knock before you enter the classroom. Most teachers will give you a low grade if you are often late.
In America, you should call your teacher by his or her last name instead of “ teacher”. Also you should use Mr, Miss, Ms or Mrs before the last name ( such as Mrs Smith or Mr Jones). This is polite. The teacher will tell you the title that he or she likes. It is impolite in the USA to eat, drink or chew gum during class. Don’t do these until the break. Also, removing your shoes in the classroom is not polite.
【小题1】What should you do if you miss a class?

A．Give an excuse for missing the assignments.

B．Tell the teacher you can’t come to school or do the assignments.

C．Ask your teacher to remind you of the missed assignments.

D．Call your teacher or your classmate to find out what assignments were given.

【小题2】 When can a student miss a test according to the passage?

A．When he / she is late for the test.

B．When he/ she is really sick.

C．When he / she failed another test.

D．When he / she doesn’t want to have the test.

【小题3】 In America, if your teacher’s name is Susan Black, what should you call her politely?

A．Ms Black

B．Ms Susan

C．Susan Black

D．Teacher Black

【小题4】Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．A student is thought to be impolite when he / she takes off his / her shoes in the classroom.

B．A student is thought to be impolite when he / she eats and drinks in class.

C．When a student is late for class, he / she must knock before he / she enters the classroom.

D．A student is thought to be impolite when he/she doesn’t come for class on time.

Students who say they never or hardly ever used dictionaries often speak English well but usually write poorly, because they make many mistakes.
The students who use dictionaries most do not learn especially well either. The ones who look up every new word do not read fast. Therefore they do not have time to read much. Those who use small two-language dictionaries have the worst problems. Their dictionaries often give only one or two words as translations of English. But one English word often has many translations in a foreign language and one foreign word has many translations in English.
The most successful students are those who use large college edition dictionaries with about 100,000 words but do not use them too often. When they are reading, these students first try to get the general idea and understand new words from the context. Then they reread and use the dictionary to look up only key words that they still do not understand. They use dictionaries more for writing. If they are not sure how to spell a word, or divide it into syllables (音节), they always use a dictionary. Also, if they think a noun might have an unusual plural form, they check these in a dictionary.
【小题1】 The writer thinks that        .

A．choose a good dictionary, and you’ll be successful in learning English

B．dictionaries are not necessary to the students who learn English

C．it is very important for students to use good dictionaries properly

D．using dictionaries very often can’t help to improve writing

【小题2】According to the passage, which of the following is wrong?

A．Dictionaries have little effect on learning to speak English.

B．Whatever new words you meet while reading, never use dictionaries.

C．Small two-language dictionaries have serious defects (缺陷).

D．Reading something for the first time, you’d better not use dictionaries.

【小题3】When in the reading does the writer advise students to use a good dictionary?

A．At the beginning of the reading

B．At the end of the reading

C．During the first reading

D．After the first reading

【小题4】This passage mainly tells us        .

A．students shouldn’t use small two-language dictionaries

B．what were the defects of small two-language dictionaries

C．why students should use large college edition dictionaries

D．what dictionary students should choose and how to use it

【小题5】 Which is not mentioned in this passage?

A．How to make good use of a dictionary.

B．When to use a dictionary.

C．How to improve spoken English.

D．How to practise reading fast.

Do you always understand the directions on a bottle of medicine? Do you know what is meant by “Take only as directed”? Read the following directions and see if you understand them.
To reduce pain, take two tablets with water, followed by one tablet every eight hours, as required. For night time and early morning relief take two tablets at bedtime. Do not take more than six tablets in twenty-four hours.
For children six to twelve years old, give half the amount. For children under six years old, ask your doctor’s advice.
Reduce the amount if you suffer from restlessness or sleeplessness after taking the medicine.
【小题1】 How many tablets at most can a person over 12 have in 24 hours?

A．Three

B．Four

C．Six

D．Eight

【小题2】How many tablets should a nine-year-old child normally take in 24 hours?

A．Half a tablet

B．One tablet

C．Two tablets

D．Four tablets

【小题3】 What is the advice for one who can not sleep well after taking the medicine?

A．Stop taking the medicine at bedtime	B．Continue to take the normal amount
C．Take more than the normal amount	D．Take less than the normal amount

【小题4】 It can be inferred from the directions that this medicine ___________ .

A．helps you to fall asleep quickly	B．may be dangerous to small children
C．cannot be taken if one feels sleepy	D．should not be taken by children under six

【小题5】This text is most probably taken from a _____________ .

A．textbook

B．newsreel

C．doctor’s notebook

D．bottle of medicine

Providing small classes for at least several grades starting in early primary school gives students the best chance to succeed in late grades, according to groundbreaking new research from a Michigan State University scholar.
The research by Spyros Konstantopoulos, a professor of education, is the first to examine the effects of class size over a period and for all levels of students. The study appears in the American Journal of Education.
He is also a member of a group for the Department of Education’s Instiute of Education Sciences that will give official advice on class size to the states. He said the advice will mirror his research: the best plan is to provide continuous small classes(13 to 17 students) for at least several years starting in kindergarten or first grade.
“For a logn time states thought they could just do it in kindergarten or first grade for one year and get the benefits,” He said. “I don’t believe that. I think you need at least a few years in a row where all students, and especially low-achievers, receive the treatment, and then you see the benefits later.”
His research used data from the Project Star study in Tennessee that analyzed the effects of class size on more than 11,000 students in primary and middle school. He found that students who had been in small classes from kindergarten through third grade had actually higher test scores in grades four through eight than students who been in larger classes early on.
Students from all achievement levels benefited from small classes, the research found. “But low-achievers benefited the most, which narrowed the achievement gap with high –achievers in science, reading and math, ” he said.
Although the study didn’t consider classroom practices, he said the reason for the narrowing gap is likely due to low-achieving students receiving more attention from teachers.
“This is especially important in poorer schools because teacher effectiveness matters more in schools with more disadvantaged and low-performing students, ” he said.
【小题1】The professor argues about ________ .

A．the size of the class	B．the period of the class
C．the attention from teachers	D．the achievements of students

【小题2】The result of the research shows that _________.

A．small classes for one year in early grade are enough

B．continuous small classes help students achieve more

C．it’s best to attend small classes in kindergarten

D．small classes do equal good to students of all levels

【小题3】What can we infer from the passage?

A．High achievers will not benefit from small classes.

B．Continuous small classes have not been widely accepted.

C．Low-achievers should be separated from high-achievers.

D．Teachers’ attention matters less than classroom practices.

【小题4】The underlined word “This” in the last paragraph refers to _______.

A．the gap between low and high achievers	B．continuous small classes
C．classroom practices in later grades	D．the Project Star Sturdy

Respect your teachers．   
First of all，students should respect the teachers．They should pay attention in the classes．That means to salute him，to stand from his chair when the teacher enters the classroom etc．Attend any lesson attentively．In class of a certain subject or teacher you don’t like very much，if it’s total anarchy，how can we talk about respect?
Play by the rules．
If your teacher wants you to use wide-lined paper--do it ! If she tells you to sharpen your pencils only before class starts，listen to her．If she doesn’t accept late homework，do yours on time．Sometimes classroom rules seem strict or even silly，but most teachers know what’s necessary to make things run smoothly，what it takes to let the learning begin．And the better the learning environment，the smarter you’ll be!
Expect her／him to like you．
Teachers are teachers because they like kids．Given the chance，most teachers want to be your friends too．Respect your teacher，but don’t be afraid of her／him．She／He wants you to have a great school year just as much as you want to have!
Put first things first．
Friends are a fun part of school．But they’re not the most important part．When your teacher is teaching，give her／him your full attention．Even when it's hard to do．— recess_ will come soon enough，and that’s the time for playing with your friends．
【小题1】Which of the following would be the best title for the text? ______

A．Advice Before You Go To School	B．What You Should Do At School
C．How To Get Along With Your Teacher	D．How To Plan Your Time At School

【小题2】What do you think the title of the second paragraph“ Play by the rules’’ mean ?

A．Don’t play if you haven’t completed your homework．	B．Follow what the teacher says．
C．Work is work and play is play．	D．Make the learning environment as good as possible．

【小题3】According to the last paragraph，what do you think the first thing is?

A．The teacher．	B．The teacher’s lecture．
C．The students．	D．Friends．

【小题4】The underlined word “recess” most probably means ______  ．

A．break

B．play

C．parents

D．news

“Sesame Street” has been called “the longest street in the world.” That is because the television program by that name can now be seen in so many parts of the world. That program became one of American’s exports soon after it went on the air in New York in 1969. ?
In the United States more than six million children watch the program regularly. The viewers include more than half the nation’s pre-school children, from every kind of economic, racial(种族的), and geographical group. ?
Although some educators object to certain elements in the program, parents praise it highly. Many teachers also consider it a great help, though some teachers find that problems arise when first graders who have learned from “Sesame Street” are in the same class with children who have not watched the program. ?
Tests have shown that children from all racial, geographical, and economic backgrounds have benefited from watching it. Those who watch it five times a week learn more than occasional(偶尔的）viewer. In the US the program is shown at different hours during the week in order to increase the number of children who can watch it regularly. ?
The programs all use songs stories, jokes and pictures to give children a basic understanding of numbers, letters and human relationships. But there are some differences. For example, the Spanish program, produced in Mexico City, devotes more time to teaching whole words than to teaching separate letters. ?
Why has “Sesame Street” been so much more successful than other children’s shows? Many reasons have been suggested. People mention the educational theories of its creators, the support by the government and private businesses, and the skillful use of a variety of TV tricks. Perhaps an equally important reason is that mothers watch it along with their children. This is partly because famous adult stars often appear on it. But the best reason for the success of the program may be that it makes every child watching feel able to learn. The child finds himself learning, and he wants to learn more. ?
【小题1】 “Sesame Street” is actually______. ?

A．a street in the US	B．a program for children?
C．a program of teachers	D．a program for students?

【小题2】Children who often watch the program______. ?

A．can have problems in school	B．will find it a great help?
C．will take no interest in their studies	D．will be well educated?

【小题3】What is special about the program?

A．It offers great fun. ?

B．It makes children feel able to learn. ?

C．It is shown at different hours during the week. ?

D．Children learn and enjoy themselves while watching. ?

【小题4】Why is “Sesame Street” so popular in the world?

A．Because it is supported by the government and businesses. ?

B．Because it uses a variety of skillful tricks. ?

C．Because mothers watch it along with their children. ?

D．Because it makes every child watching it feel able to learn. ?

【小题5】The best title for this passage can be______. ?

A．TV Programs	B．Educating Children?
C．Sesame Street	D．A Greet Success?

“Football is a very short-term career. Football really prepares you for almost nothing. The only thing I got out of football was the ability to work hard.” says Gales Sayers. So what do you do after your glory days on the field are over? Here’s what one of the top players, Gales Sayers did after he put down the pigskin.
Gales Sayers: #40, Chicago Bears, Running Back.  
Gales Sayers became famous in 1965. After recovering from a serious knee injury in 1968, Sayers returned to the Bears in 1969 and was awarded the George Halas Award as “the most courageous player in professional football.” At the award ceremony, he owed his prize to his friend and teammate Brian Piccolo, who was dying of cancer.
Sayers couldn’t get away from the injuries, though, and another blow to his knee put an end to his football career in 1971. His personal life was unfortunate as well, as he and his wife, Linda, split up that year. Shortly after that, Sayers started a new life and career as an assistant athletic director in the University of Kansas. By 1976 he was moving up the ladder at Southern Illinois University, becoming the first African-American athletic director at a major university.
Sayers started a computer supplies company in 1984 with his second wife, Ardie, whom he married in 1973. The couple was looking for a field with a future, and computers seemed to have it all. Seventeen years later, the company that bears his name is a national provider of technology solutions, with 10 locations and over 350 employees across the country. Just like in the old days the honors started rolling in. Sayers was listed into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship(企业家) Hall of Fame in 1999.
【小题1】What does the underlined sentence “he put down the pigskin” mean?
A. Sayers ended his football career.              
B. Sayers was too tired to go on playing.
C. Sayers intended to start a new career.            
D. Sayers only wanted to rest for some time.
【小题2】 How many times was Sayers honored in his life?

A．Only once as a football star.

B．Only once as a businessman.

C．Twice in all.

D．We are not quite sure.

【小题3】 Sayers started his new career mainly because of _______ .

A．the first knee injury in l 968

B．his unfortunate personal life

C．another more serious knee injury

D．a friend’s being deadly ill

【小题4】What can be learned from this passage?

A．Football players are not successful all the time.

B．A successful businessman should be a ball player first.

C．A retired football player can easily make money.

D．Whatever you do, working hard is the most important.