Why should I teach my children history? That sounds like a stupid question to even ask．But，as I hear different home schooling teachers discuss history，I get the idea that there may be different reasons for teaching history．Let me briefly explain the three good reasons for studying history and two bad reasons for studying history．
The major reason I see for studying history is that we can learn from the past．I believe that the world would be a much better place if more people understood the successes and failures of the past and the things that made these successes and failures．However，as the unfortunately(不幸地)true statement goes ‘‘the one thing we seem to learn from history is that we don't seem to
learn from history”，perhaps at least in teaching history, to my children I can do a small part in changing this．
A second major reason for studying history is that it is hard to understand the current(目前的)political climate in the absence of an understanding of its historical context(背景)．We can not
even understand why we are and where we are without history，much less try to figure out where we are going or how we should get where we want to be．
I teach my children history，for one more reason．I bought a set of historical audio tapes for our children．My seven-year-old son listened to them over and over．It was my hope that he would
become inspired by the accomplishments(成就)of people like the Wright brothers to accomplish things by himself．I think that it is good that we celebrate the accomplishments of people like Martin Luther King Jr. By doing so，young people are called on to stand for the principles that he stood for and accomplish what he didn’t accomplish．I also think that by studying people like Adolph Hitler，people can learn to stand against the things that he stood for．
【小题1】What message can we get from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 ?

A．Many people aren’t clever enough to learn well from the past．

B．Many people fail to make good use of history and make the same mistakes．

C．Many people feel it hard to understand history．

D．Many people have no interest in studying history．

【小题2】In Paragraph 3，the author shows that history is useful because

A．it makes the current political situation go smoothly

B．it helps us realize the importance of historical events

C．it helps us understand why things are the way they are

D．it helps people accept the present situation where they live

【小题3】Some historical figures are mentioned in the last paragraph to show____．

A．people can be inspired to do good and also learn to fight against evil

B．people may also learn from bad historical figures

C．more celebrations should be held to honor their achievements

D．today’s people can also achieve what they achieved

【小题4】What would be talked about in the following paragraph?

A．How to teach history effectively．

B．Some negative reasons for studying history．

C．How to get more people to study history．

D．Some bad historical figures．

To learn an instrument such as the violin or accordion（手风琴）takes years. The job opportunities for musicians are scarce and competition is fierce. Then why are more people than ever before paying a lot of good cash to get their children the best music teaching they can afford?
The secret lies in the influence of music on the whole person. It has been found that learning a musical instrument actually increases a person’s IQ over time. Different instruments and different trypes of music have varying effect, with classical music and the string family coming out on top, potentially increasing you IQ by up to 12 points!
When is a good time to start learning music? Experts have found that even the fetus（胎儿）can benefit from listening to classical music. Surround yourself and your family with good music from the first. The Suzuki Piano Method teaches children from the age of 3 years piano, with two lessons per week. From preschool, children can learn to read music and play from sheet music. Progress in learning your instrument is directly proportional（成比例的）to the amount of practicing.
Is there such a thing as an unmusical child? Shinichi Suzuki proposes that music is the native home language of all human beings and therefore nobody can be “unmusical”. Of course there are exceptional talents, compared to which others may seem to be slower learners.
Is there any benefit for adults in starting an instrument? Apart from the purely relaxing aspect, yes. Learning an instrument can earn even adults additional IQ points, and as an added benefit in improves your health by reducing your stress levels. Your social life may benefit too, if you are prepared to come out of your box and join occasions such as Ceilidhs (musical get-togethers) or arrange house concerts. It has been established that people who play instruments tend to be more emotionally balanced and more patient with themselves, others and life in general.
So go ahead, sign up for that amateur orchestra, dust off your old trombone（长号）or take your first real six-string down from the attic（阁楼）; get out there and play!
【小题1】Playing which of the following musical instruments can help increase a person’s IQ most?

A．The piano

B．The violin

C．The trombone

D．The accordion

【小题2】According to Shinichi Suzuki,             .

A．The progress in learning an instrument depends on natural gifts

B．It is too late for an adult to start an instrument

C．Every child has a natural talent for music.

D．All people can understand and read music.

【小题3】What can be inferred from the text?

A．Music can balance our life.

B．Music can improve our living conditions.

C．Playing instruments can make adults keep their IQ points.

D．Playing instruments can help us get along well with others.

【小题4】By writing the text, the author mainly wants to        .

A．persuade us to send our children to music schools

B．express his great interest in musical instruments

C．tell us the importance of Music in Development

D．invite us to attend Ceilidhs

People use their mouths for many things. They eat, talk, shout and sing. They smile and they kiss. In the English language, there are many expressions using the word “mouth.”
For example, if you say bad things about a person, the person might protest and say “Do not bad mouth me.” Sometimes, people say something to a friend or family member that they later regret because it hurts that person’s feelings. Or they tell the person something they were not supposed to tell. The speaker might say: “I really put my foot in my mouth this time.” If this should happen, the speaker might feel down in the mouth. In other words, he might feel sad for saying the wrong thing.
Another situation is when someone falsely claims another person said something. The other person might protest: “I did not say that. Do not put words in my mouth.”
Some people have lots of money because they were born into a very rich family. There is an expression for this, too. You might say such a person, “was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.” This rich person is the opposite of a person who lives from hand to mouth. This person is very poor and only has enough money for the most important things in life, like food.
Parents might sometimes withhold sweet food from a child as a form of punishment for saying bad things. For example, if a child says things she should not say to her parents, she might be described as a mouthy child. The parents might even tell the child to stop mouthing off.
But enough of all this talk. I have been running my mouth long enough.
【小题1】In what kind of situation will a person say “Do not bad mouth me.” ?

A．When he feels down.	B．When he feels regretful.
C．When he is spoken ill of.	D．When he feels innocent.

【小题2】If a person feels sorry for what he has said, he might say “          .”

A．Do not bad mouth me

B．I really put my foot in my mouth this time

C．Do not put words in my mouth

D．Stop mouthing off

【小题3】If a person lives from hand to mouth, it implies           .

A．he is badly – off	B．he is hard – working
C．he is well – off	D．he has enough to eat

【小题4】By saying, “I have been running my mouth long enough”, the speaker means “            ”.

A．I have run a long way	B．I have been a mouthy person
C．I have learned a lot	D．I have talked too much

People say teenagers are no good．They make too much noise in shopping malls; they drive recklessly up and down America’s main streets; they carry chips on their shoulders as big as the Sears Tower．And at least some of the time those things are true．But we shouldn’t forget that there are hard moments in the life of a teenager too．
I watched such a moment not long ago at a woman’s funeral（葬礼）．I didn’t expect the event to affect me．Through much of the ceremony, in fact, I remained unmoved．
Then her teenage grandson stepped forward．With his very first deep breath, every heart in that church was achingly reminded of something we had all forgotten．Softly he began: “I want to share a few values that Nana taught me．She never failed to see light in any situation．When our family dog would literally attact her, what would Nana say? ‘Oh, what beautiful markings that dog has．’ That was Nana．
“She was a strong woman who often lived in the shadow of my grandpa, who was a successful businessman in this city．But she was the one behind the scenes who provided the strength and support for Grandpa’s career,” he said, with a voice now trembling．“That was Nana’s way．”
Through a muffled sob, he continued．“Whenever she did anything worth recognition, you’d have to hear about it from a different source, because she was never one to brag．”
Finally, in a voice breaking free of sorrow, he looked up and said, “Nana taught me courage．She put up an incredible fight to the end, when she died peacefully, which is how she lived her life．That was Nana’s way, and I hope I can carry on in the same manner．”
There are no hearts as sensitive as those of teenagers, because everything is happening to them for the first time．The trouble with teenagers is that they haven’t learned to be controlled．
When that boy rose to speak about the woman who surely had been his truest ally and est friend, his honest voice dragged each of us out into the open where we could no longer hide in the calm ritual．He exposed us to the truth about this very real woman who believed in a boy who probably tried the patience of many adults．He reminded us that his grandmother was more than another dot on the chart of life and death．
All over again we felt those powerful losses crisscrossing our own hearts, and we knew that when you say good-bye to a beloved grandparent, you say good-bye to something happy, something young in yourself．And that something never really returns, and the pain never really goes away．
【小题1】From the boy’s speech, we know his grandmother ____________．

A．was a weak woman living in the shadow of his grandpa

B．liked dogs very much even if they often attacked her

C．could see everything around her though she was old

D．had great influence over the boy when she was alive

【小题2】According to the first paragraph, _____________．

A．young people should keep quiet before the public

B．people don’t think highly of the teenagers

C．people shouldn’t forget the young people

D．young people are living a hard life

【小题3】The writer wanted to tell the readers ____________．

A．the young people were too weak to face the fact

B．the young people had to learn to control themselves

C．the adults could learn something valuable from the young

D．the adults should teach the young how to deal with the death

【小题4】We can infer from the passage that the boy ___________．

A．was filled with sadness and gave up finishing his talk

B．was always very good at expressing himself

C．practiced a lot in order to give a moving speech

D．had great difficulty in accepting the loss of Nana

Sitting across from his teacher, Edgar Martinez repeated the word he couldn't quite pronounce: "situation"．The teacher, LisaMojsin, hired to help Martinez reduce his accent, said the word slowly; "Sit-chew-a-shun．" "I wish he had taught me this 20 years ago．" said Martinez, 37, who comes from Mexico and lives in Los Angeles．In private tutoring classes throughout the nation, immigrants are focused on sounding more American．
Accent reduction classes have been around for years, but experts say．"As our workforce becomes more and more global, these classes are becoming more and more popular．" Private tutors said they answer calls almost daily from students, when just a few years ago the phones rang only occasionally．Author Amy Gillett said that sales of her book and CD set, "Speak English Like an American", have increased three times in the last few years．Judy Ravin, President of the Accent Reduction Institute, said she has hundreds of students who follow her program, "Lose Your Accent in 28 Days"．
Though there is a general tolerance for diversity, experts said, reality has made some immigrants who sound different feel unwelcome．If someone speaks with an accent associated with an Asian language, they may work as engineers or computer scientists．If someone speaks with certain Spanish accents, people may think they are recent immigrants working in landscaping or the hospitality industry （招待性行业）．A French accent gives images of romance．An Australian accent brings to mind adventure and fun．
Accent reduction students said they are aware of how they sound and whether their accents limit their job opportunities or spoil their social lives．Jennie Lo, aged 43, said her accent has been an embarrassment．Sometimes people couldn't even understand her when she said her name．While in college in Oklahoma, Lo said she didn't make many friends, tearing that no one could make out her words．Lo is now taking accent reduction classes and hopes to apply for a manager position at work．"I just want to feel good about myself," she said．"If I really work hard, if I practice every day, I can't be perfect．But I can be better．"
【小题1】In the whole passage, the first paragraph serves as a（n） _____．

A．introduction	B．comment
C．explanation	D．background

【小题2】What does the author want to express in the second paragraph?

A．The effect that popular accent reduction classes have．

B．The fact that accent reduction classes become popular．

C．The steps how accent reduction classes become popular．

D．The reasons why accent reduction classes become popular．

【小题3】If someone speaks with certain Asian accents, people may think _____．

A．they are romantic	B．they are hospitality workers
C．they are computer scientists	D．they love adventure and fun

【小题4】What is Jennie Lo's attitude towards her taking accent reduction classes?

A．Confident．	B．Helpless．
C．Proud．	D．Anxious．

“It hurts me more than you,” and “This is for your own good.” There are the statements my mother used to make years ago when I had to learn Latin, clean my room, stay home and do homework.
That was before we entered the permissive(自由的) period in education in which we decided it was all right not to push our children to achieve their best in school．The schools and the educators made it easy on us．They taught that it was all right to be parents who take a let-alone policy．We stopped making our children do homework．We gave them calculators, turned on the television, left the teaching to the teachers and went on vacation．
Now teachers, faced with children who have been developing at their own pace for the past 15 years, are realizing we’ve made a terrible mistake．One such teacher is Sharon Clomps who says of her students—“so passive”—and wonders what has happened．Nothing is demanded of them, she believes．Television, says Clomps, contributes to children’s passivity．“We’re talking about a generation of kids who’ vet never been hurt or hungry．They have learned somebody will always do it for them, instead of saying ‘go and look it up’, you tell them the answer．It takes greater energy to say no to a kid．
Yes, it does．It takes energy and it takes work．It’s time for parents to end their vacation and come back to work．It’ s time to take the car away, to turn the TV off, to tell them it hurts you more than them but it’ s for their own good．It’s time to start telling them no again．
【小题1】We learn from the passage that the author’s mother used to lay emphasis on（强调：重视）_______．

A．natural development	B．education at school
C．discipline	D．learning Latin

【小题2】Children are becoming more inactive in study because _______．

A．they watch TV too much	B．they have to fulfill too many duties
C．they have done too much homework	D．teachers are too strict with them

【小题3】By “permissive period in education” the author means a time _______．

A．when everything can be taught at school

B．when children are permitted to receive education

C．when children are allowed to do what they wish to

D．when every child can be educated

【小题4】The main idea of the passage is that _______．

A．It’s time to be more strict with our kids

B．parents should always set a good example to their kids

C．parents should leave their children alone

D．kids should have more activities at school

Some American parents might think their children need better education to compete with those in China and other countries. But how much do the parents themselves need to change?
A new book called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua has caused a debate about cultural differences in parenting. In Chinese culture, the tiger represents strength and power. In the book, Ms. Chua writes about how she demanded excellence from her daughters. She said that she had a clear list of what her daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were not permitted to do, such as attending a sleepover, having a play date, watching TV or playing computer games and getting any grade less than an A.
Many people have criticized Amy Chua. Some say her parenting methods were abusive(辱骂的). She even admits that her husband, who is not Chinese, sometimes objected to her parenting style. But she says that it was the way her parents raised her and her three sisters.
Ms. Chua makes fun of her own extreme style of parenting. She says she eased some of the pressure after her younger daughter rebelled and shouted, “I hate my life! I hate you!”
Ms. Chua says she decided to retreat when it seemed like there was a risk that she might lose her daughters. But she also says American parents often have low expectations of their children’s abilities. “One of the biggest differences I see between Western and Chinese parents is that Chinese parents assume strength rather than fragility(脆弱),” she said.
“The beginning of this intense discussion has to do with what it means to be a successful parent and what it means to be a successful child,” said Stacy Debroff, who has written four books about parenting.
Ms. Debroff says Amy Chua’s parenting style is not limited to Chinese families. She says it represents a traditional way of parenting among immigrants(移民) seeking a better future for their children.
But she also sees a risk. When children have no time to be social or to follow their own interests, they might not develop other skills that they need to succeed in life. Stacey Debroff advises parents to develop their own styles of parenting and not just repeat the way they were raised.
【小题1】Amy Chua has been criticized mainly because ____.

A．she looks up to boys and down on girls

B．she has already abused her right as a parent

C．she hasn’t raised her children like her own parents

D．she has fought with her children several times

【小题2】Which can best describe Ms. Chua according to the passage?

A．Uneducated.

B．Cruel.

C．Strict.

D．Strong.

【小题3】 According to Ms. Debroff, _____.

A．Amy Chua’s parenting style should be banned(禁止) in China

B．Amy Chua’s should stop to adopt American parenting styles

C．Amy Chua’s parenting style should be adjusted if possible

D．There isn’t any advantages in Amy Chua’s style

【小题4】What does the underlined word “retreat” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Give in.

B．Pass away.

C．Cry out.

D．Go ahead.

【小题5】What should be the best title of this passage?

A．Some books on studying styles.

B．The disadvantage of Chinese parenting styles

C．Differences between western and eastern parenting styles

D．The comparison between American and Chinese parenting styles

Sometimes children do not do what their parents tell them to do. When this happens, a parent tries to help the child to do the right thing. When this does not work, the parent usually punishes the child.
There are many things that a parent can do. One thing that people have done is to spank (打屁股) the child. When a parent spanks a child, they will use their hand or a hard object to strike them on their bottom. This is meant to show the child that they have done something wrong.
One parent remembers being spanked when he was a child. His parents used a wooden spoon. When he spanked his own children with his hand, he saw that he put a red mark on his child’s leg. He never did that again.
One problem with spanking is that it teaches the child to hit someone when they do not like what the other person is doing. Another problem with spanking is that the parent is usually angry and can hit the child too hard. Sometimes parents will use spanking for everything and not try other ways to get the child to do the right thing.
Many parents are not sure of what to do instead of spanking. Some people think that their religion tells them that spanking is okay. Some think that the law lets them do it. The courts (法院) say that parents have the right to teach their children how to behave.
Other things should be tried before a parent decides to spank a child. Telling the child exactly what is wanted from them can be one thing. Giving a child more than one choice is another thing that can be tried. Getting down to the child’s level and taking a more child-friendly approach (方法) can help as well.
【小题1】According to the passage, when children do something wrong, one thing that parents usually do to punish them is to ________.

A．strike them on the bottom	B．try to help them do the right thing
C．teach them what to do	D．take them to court

【小题2】 Which of the following is NOT the problem caused by spanking?

A．It teaches the child to hit others when they offend（使人不快） him or her.

B．The parent may get angry and hit the child too hard.

C．Sometimes parents may use spanking for everything.

D．It makes parents try other ways to make the child do right.

【小题3】Which of the following can best describe the writer’s attitude towards spanking?

A．favorable

B．indifferent

C．interested

D．unfavorable

【小题4】From this passage, we can conclude that ________.

A．Good children always do the right thing.

B．Parents should try their best to avoid spanking their children.

C．Parents have no choice but to spank their children when they do something wrong.

D．Children can have more than one choice to avoid being spanked.

Do you want to improve the way you study? Do you feel nervous before a test? Many students say that a lack of concentration (注意力) is their biggest problem. It seriously affects their ability to study, so do their test results.
If so, use these tips to help you.
Study Techniques
l You should always study in the same place. You shouldn’t sit in a position that you use for another purpose. For example, when you sit on a sofa to study, your brain will think it is time to relax. Don’t watch TV while you are studying. Experts warn that your concentration may be reduced by 50 percent if you attempt to study in this way. Always try to have a white wall in front of you, so there is nothing to distract (make less concentrated) you. Before sitting down to study, gather together all the equipment you need. Apart from your textbooks, pens, pencils and knives, make sure you have a dictionary. If your study desk or table is needed when you are not studying, store all your equipment in a box beside it.
l Your eyes will become tired if you try to read a text which is on a flat surface. Position your book at an angle of 30 degrees.
l Be realistic and don’t try to complete too much in one study period. Finish one thing before beginning another. If you need a break, get up and walk around for a few minutes, but try not to telephone a friend or have something to eat.
Test-taking Skills
l All your hard work will be for nothing if you are too nervous to take your test. Getting plenty of
rest is very important. This means do not study all night before your test! It is a better idea to have a long-term study plan. Try to make a timetable for your study which lasts for a few months.
l Exercise is a great way to reduce pressure. Doing some form of exercise every day will also
improve your concentration. Eat healthy food too.
l When you arrive in the examination room, find your seat and sit down. Breathe slowly and
deeply. Check the time on the clock during the test, but not too often. Above all, take no notice of everyone else and give the test paper your undivided attention.
【小题1】Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．You should study in a different place every day, so you don’t get bored.

B．Your concentration will improve if you study and watch TV at the same time.

C．Check the time during the exam at a certain time.

D．Staying up all night and studying is tiring, but you will learn a lot using this method.

【小题2】What does the underlined word “it”（paragraph 2）refer to?

A．Your study desk or table.	B．Your textbook.
C．Your dictionary.	D．The equipment you need.

【小题3】What can be inferred from the passage?

A．You shouldn’t look at everyone else during the test.

B．You will have enough energy to deal with your study and exams by eating healthy diet.

C．You’ll concentrate more if there is nothing to distract you.

D．If you feel tired during study, you can walk around for a few minutes.

“I had a test and didn’t want to do it, so I pretended to be ill”, says 13-year-old Mary. But Mary did not enjoy her day off. “It was boring. I wished I had gone to school.”
Mary’s story is not unusual in Britain. According to the latest government figures, pupil absences are rising, despite schools taking a hard line on truancy (逃学).
Dr Philip James from Cardiff University thinks she knows why: “As schools make more efforts to find and punish missing students, students find better ways to avoid being caught.”
For several years, James has researched teenager truancy and discovered that most truancy was “a response to factors within the school”. Students that skip school are not necessarily less advanced or less intelligent. They complained of teachers who failed to engage them, and of “boring” lessons. “Many of them really enjoy school and believe in education, but drop out when aspects of it are ineffective.” James says.
The views of students like Adam, who believes that skipping lessons has little impact on his schooling, are common. “I only take off for a lesson, or a couple of days. It doesn’t affect my education,” he told James.
James believes that schools need to address the question of why pupils want to leave in the first place. “Pupils need help from the start.” she says. “Schools need to look at the reasons for truancy rather than the number, so that instead of walking away from school, students have the skills and chances to talk through problems and make a change.”
【小题1】What is one of the reasons that many students skip school according to James’ study?

A．They feel they have fallen behind in their studies.

B．They have no interest in school education.

C．They now have more interesting things to do.

D．They find some lessons and teachers uninteresting.

【小题2】The underlined phrase “taking a hard line” (Paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to “________”.

A．experiencing a problem with	B．having a strict attitude towards
C．finding it difficult to deal with	D．having little success with

【小题3】The writer used Adam’s comments (Paragraph 5) to show that ________.

A．school education needs improvement

B．good students also need a break from school

C．schools need to pay more attention to truancy

D．many students believe occasional truancy isn’t serious

【小题4】What does Dr James suggest schools do about truancy?

A．Fire all their unqualified teachers.

B．Improve communication with students.

C．Develop better ways to discover truancy.

D．Introduce more serious punishments.