We are all called upon to make a speech at some point in life, but most of us don’t do a very good job. This article gives some suggestions on how to give an effective speech.
So, you have to give a speech—and you are terrified. You get nervous, you forget what you want to say, you stumble over words, you talk too long, and you bore your audience. Later you think, “Thank Goodness, it’s over. I’m just not good at public speaking. I hope I never have to do that again.”
Cheep up! It doesn’t have to be that bad. Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech making. Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What is the occasion? Why are you speaking? Then, gather as many facts as you can on your subject. Spend plenty of your time doing your research. Then spend plenty of your time organizing your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow. Use as many examples as possible, and use pictures, charts, and graphs if they help you make your points more clearly. Never forget your audience. Don’t talk over their heads, and don’t talk down to them. Treat your audience with respect. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Just remember: Be prepared. Know your subject, your audience, and the occasion. Be brief. Say what you have to say and then stop. And be yourself. Let your personality come through so that you make person-to-person contact with your audience.
If you follow these simple steps, you will see that you don’t have to be afraid of public speaking. In fact, you may find the experience so enjoyable that you volunteer to make more speeches! You’re not convinced yet? Give it a try and see what happens.
【小题1】The main idea of this article is      .

A．that it is hard to make a speech	B．that a poor speaker can never change
C．to always make a short speech	D．that you can improve your speaking ability

【小题2】Paragraph 2 implies that         .

A．many people talk too long

B．many people are happy to give a speech

C．many people don’t prepare for a speech

D．many people are afraid of giving a speech

【小题3】The phrase “talk over their heads” means         .

A．speak too loudly	B．look at the ceiling
C．look down upon them	D．use words and ideas that are too difficult

【小题4】All of the following statements are TRUE except         .

A．a lecturer does not need to organize his speech

B．few people know how to make good speeches

C．research is important in preparing a speech

D．there are simple steps you can take to improve your speaking ability

【小题5】The title for this passage may be         .

A．Do Not Make a Long Speech	B．Try to Enjoy a speech
C．How to prepare for a Speech	D．How to Give a Good Speech

When Xia Min started drinking alcohol with her classmates at a friend’s birthday, she didn’t realize what would happen to her. She drank a lot and fell into a coma (昏迷). The 15year-old girl from Chongqing never recovered.
Xia’s death is warning to other students. A new rule went into effect on January 1, 2006. Teens are not allowed to buy or drink alcohol. Shops are not allowed to sell it to them.
A 1999 Chinese law forbade (禁止) shops to sell alcohol to youths under 18. But it is not taken seriously by shopkeepers because it doesn’t have specific rules. People hope the new rule will work.
“I tasted alcohol when having the dinner of the last New Year’s Eve,” said Lian Yuqi, a 16-year-old girl in Xiamen. She believes that the new rule will stop teens from drinking and help them grow in a healthy way.
“Although it may be a little disappointing not to have beer at parties, I think we can have soft drinks instead,” she said.
【小题1】Xia Min died from alcohol at the age of ______.

A．15

B．16

C．17

D．18

【小题2】 The underlined word “it” means ________.

A．a warning sing	B．a shopkeeper
C．the new rule	D．a 1999 Chinese law

【小题3】We can know that ________.

A．it is against the new rule for youths under 18 to drink alcohol

B．shops can sell alcohol to a 16 years old youth.

C．without an ID card, young people can’t buy alcohol

D．it seems that the young girl, Liang Yuqi, likes to drink alcohol

【小题4】According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A．The new rule has worked very well.

B．Shopkeepers can sell alcohol to teens above 18.

C．China’s legal drinking age is clearly under18.

D．Many teens drink alcohol to show they’ve grown up.

【小题5】This passage is mainly about _______.

A．the harm of drinking alcohol

B．the legal age for drinking alcohol

C．a new rule to stop teens drinking

D．student’s ideas about drinking alcohol

If English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven't you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?
According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter. This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.
The study also found the effect is greater, the younger people learn a second language.
A team led by Dr Andrea Mechelli, from University College London, took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of "early bilinguals" who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners.
Scans showed that grey matter density (密度) in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference.
"Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language," said the scientists.
It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn.
Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills. "Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible (灵活的),"he said. "You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas."
The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of two and 34. Reading, writing, and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the younger they started to learn, the better. "Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world," explained the scientists.
【小题1】The main subject talked about in this passage is ______.

A．science on learning a second language

B．man’s ability of learning a second language

C．1anguage can help brain power

D．1anguage learning and maths study

【小题2】 In the second paragraph, the writer mentions “exercise” in order to ______.

A．say language is also a kind of physical labor

B．prove that one needs more practice when he (she) is learning a language

C．to show the importance of using the language when you learn the language

D．make people believe language learning helps grey matter work well

【小题3】We may know from the scientific findings that ______.

A．the earlier you start to learn a second language, the higher the grey matter density is

B．there is no difference between a later second language learner and one who doesn't know a second language

C．the experience of learning a second language has bad effect on people's brain

D．the ability of learning a second language is changing all the time

【小题4】The underlined word “bilingual'’ probably means ______.

A．a researcher on language learning

B．a person who is good at learning foreign languages

C．a person who can speak two languages

D．an active language learner

We are all called upon to make a speech at some point in life, but most of us don’t do a very good job. This article gives some suggestions on how to give an effective speech.
So, you have to give a speech—and you are terrified. You get nervous, you forget what you want to say, you stumble over words, you talk too long, and you bore your audience. Later you think, “Thank Goodness, it’s over. I’m just not good at public speaking. I hope I never have to do that again.”
Cheep up! It doesn’t have to be that bad. Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech making. Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What is the occasion? Why are you speaking? Then, gather as many facts as you can on your subject. Spend plenty of your time doing your research. Then spend plenty of your time organizing your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow. Use as many examples as possible, and use pictures, charts, and graphs if they help you make your points more clearly. Never forget your audience. Don’t talk over their heads, and don’t talk down to them. Treat your audience with respect. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Just remember: Be prepared. Know your subject, your audience, and the occasion. Be brief. Say what you have to say and then stop. And be yourself. Let your personality come through so that you make person-to-person contact with your audience.
If you follow these simple steps, you will see that you don’t have to be afraid of public speaking. In fact, you may find the experience so enjoyable that you volunteer to make more speeches! You’re not convinced yet? Give it a try and see what happens.
【小题1】The title for this passage may be           .

A．Do Not Make a Long Speech	B．How to Give a Good Speech
C．How to prepare for a Speech	D．Try to Enjoy a speech

【小题2】Paragraph 2 implies that         .

A．many people are happy to give a speech

B．many people are afraid of giving a speech

C．many people don’t prepare for a speech

D．many people talk too long

【小题3】 The phrase “talk over their heads” means           .

A．speak too loudly	B．look at the ceiling
C．look down upon them	D．use words and ideas that are too difficult

【小题4】All of the following statements are TRUE except           .

A．not many people know how to make good speeches

B．a lecturer does not need to organize his speech

C．research is important in preparing a speech

D．there are simple steps you can take to improve your speaking ability

Parents often believe that they have a good relationship with their teenagers. But last summer, Joanna and Henry noticed a change in their older son: suddenly he seemed to be talking far more to his friends than to his parents. “The door to his room is always shut,” Joanna noted.
Tina and Mark noticed similar changes in their 14-year-old daughter. “She used to cuddle up（蜷伏）with me on the sofa and talk,” said Mark. “Now we joke that she does this only when she wants something. Sometimes she wants to be treated like a little girl and sometimes like a young lady. The problem is figuring out which time is which.”
Before age 11, children like to tell their parents what’s on their minds. “In fact, parents are first on the list,” said Michael Riera, author of Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers. “This completely changes during the teen years,” Riera explained. “They talk to their friends first, then maybe their teachers, and their parents last.”
Parents who know what’s going on in their teenagers’ lives are in the best position to help them. To break down the wall of silence, parents should create chances to understand what their children want to say, and try to find ways to talk and write to them. And they must give their children a mental break, for children also need freedom, though young. Another thing parents should remember is that to be a friend, not a manager, with their children is a better way to know them.
【小题1】“The door to his room is always shut” in the first paragraph suggests that the son______.

A．is always busy with his studies

B．doesn’t want to be disturbed

C．keeps himself away from his parents

D．begins to dislike his parents

【小题2】What troubles Tina and Mark most is that______.

A．their daughter isn’t as lovely as before

B．they can’t read their daughter’s mind exactly

C．they don’t know what to say to their daughter

D．their daughter talks with them only when she needs help

【小题3】 Which of the following best explains “the wall of silence” in the last paragraph?

A．Teenagers talk a lot with their friends.

B．Teenagers do not want to understand their parents.

C．Teenagers do not talk much with their parents.

D．Teenagers talk little about their own lives.

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

A．Parents are unhappy with their growing children.

B．Parents have suitable ways to talk with their teenagers.

C．Parents should be patient with their silent teenagers.

D．Parents should try to understand their teenagers.

Too many people want others to be their friends, but they don’t give friendship back. That is why some friendships do not last very long. To have a friend, you must learn to be one. You must learn to treat your friend the way you want your friend treat you. Learning to be a good friend means learning three rules. Be honest; be generous; be understanding.
Honesty is where a good friendship starts. Friends must be able to trust one another. If you do not tell the truth, people usually find out. If a friend finds out that you haven’t been honest you may lose your friends’ trust. Good friends always count on one another to speak and act honestly.
Generosity means sharing and sharing makes a friendship grow. You do not have to give your lunch money on your clothes of course. Instead you have to learn how to share things you enjoy, like your hobbies and your interest. Naturally you will want to share your ideas and feelings. These can be very valuable to a friend. They tell your friend what is important to you. By sharing them you help your friend know you better.
Sooner or later every one needs understanding and help with a problem. Something may go wrong at school. Talking about the problem can make it easier to solve. Turning to a friend can be a first step in solving the problem. So to be a friend you must listen and understand. You must try to put yourself in your friend’s place so you can understand the problem better.
No two friendships are ever exactly alike. But all true friendships have three things in common. If you plan to keep your friends, you must practise honesty, generosity, and understanding.
【小题1】Some friendships don’t last very long because ____.

A．there are too many people who want to make friends.

B．those who never give others friendships receive no friendship from others.

C．those who give others friendship receive friendship from others.

D．they don’t know friendship is something serious.

【小题2】According to the passage honesty is _____.

A．something good	B．the base of friendship
C．as important as money	D．more important than anything else

【小题3】The underlined word “generosity” means ___.

A．大度

B．节约

C．吝啬

D．和气

【小题4】Which of the following isn’t mentioned (提及)in the passage?

A．Always tell your friend the truth.

B．Sharing your mind with your friend is of great value.

C．Discussing your problems with your friend often helps to solve the problem.

D．A friend who gives you his lunch money is a true friend.

Most American students go to traditional public schools. There are about 88,000 public schools all over the US. Some students attend about 3000 independent public schools called charter schools.
Charter schools are self-governing. Private companies operate some charter schools. They are similar in some ways to traditional public schools. They receive tax money just as other public schools do. Charter schools must prove to local or state governments that their students are learning. These governments provide the schools with the agreement called a charter that permits them to operate.
Charter schools are different because they do not have to obey most laws governing traditional public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell them what to teach. Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach them. Class size is usually smaller than in traditional public schools.
The Bush Administration strongly supports charter schools as a way to re-organize public schools that are failing to educate students. But some education agencies and unions oppose charter schools. One teachers’ union has just made public the results of the first national study comparing the progress of students in traditional schools and charter schools.
The American Federation of Teachers criticized the government’s delay in releasing the results of the study, which is called the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Union education experts say the study shows that charter school students performed worse on math and reading tests than students in regular public schools.
Some experts say the study is not a fair look at charter schools because students in those schools have more problems than students in traditional schools. Other education experts say the study results should make charter school officials demand improved student progress.
【小题1】If a private company wants to operate a charter school, it must                    .

A．try new methods of teaching	B．prove its management ability
C．obey the local and state laws	D．get the government’s permission

【小题2】Charter schools are independent because                       .

A．they make greater progress	B．their class size is smaller
C．they enjoy more freedom	D．they oppose traditional ways

【小题3】What’s the government’s attitude toward charter schools?

A．Doubtful.

B．Supportive.

C．Subjective.

D．Optimistic.

【小题4】What can we learn from the text?

A．More students choose to attend charter schools.

B．Charter schools are better than traditional schools.

C．Students in charter schools are well educated.

D．People have different opinions about charter schools.

【小题5】It can be inferred from the text that                       .

A．charter schools are part of the education system

B．one-on-one attention should be paid to students

C．the number of charter schools will be limited

D．charter schools are all privately financed

Teaching children to read well from the start is the most important task of elementary schools．But relying on educators to approach this task correctly can be a great mistake．Many schools continue to employ instructional methods that have been proven ineffective．The staying power of the “look-say” or “whole-word” method of teaching beginning reading is perhaps the most flagrant example of this failure to instruct effectively．
The whole-word approach to reading stresses the meaning of words over the meaning of letters, thinking over decoding, developing a sight vocabulary of familiar words over developing the ability to unlock the pronunciation of unfamiliar words．It fits in with the self-directed, “learning how to learn” activities recommended by advocates of “open” classrooms and with the concept that children have to be developmentally ready to begin reading．Before 1963, no major publisher put out anything but these “Run-Spot-Run” readers．
However, in 1955, Rudolf Flesch touched off what has been called “the great debate”  in beginning reading．In his best-seller Why Johnny Can’t Read, Flesch indicted（控诉）the nation’s public schools for miseducating students by using the look-say method．He said – and more scholarly studies by Jeane Chall and Rovert Dykstra later confirmed – that another approach to beginning reading, founded on phonics, is far superior．
Systematic phonics first teaches children to associate letters and letter combinations with sounds; it then teaches them how to blend these sounds together to make words．Rather than building up a relatively limited vocabulary of memorized words, it imparts a code by which the pronunciations of the vast majority of the most common words in the English language can be learned．Phonics does not devalue the importance of thinking about the meaning of words and sentences; it simply recognizes that decoding is the logical and necessary first step．
【小题1】The author indicts the look-say reading approach because ________．

A．it overlooks decoding

B．Rudolf Flesch agrees with him

C．he says it is boring

D．many schools continue to use this method

【小题2】One major difference between the look-say method of learning reading and the phonics method is _________．

A．look-say is simpler

B．Phonics takes longer to learn

C．look-say is easier to teach

D．phonics gives readers access to far more words

【小题3】The phrase “touch-off”（Para 3, Line 1） most probably means _________．

A．talk about shortly	B．start or cause
C．compare with	D．oppose

Any foreigner who has tried to learn Chinese can tell how hard it is to master the tones required to speak and understand. And anyone who has tried to learn to play the violin or other instruments can report similar challenges.
Now researchers have found that people with musical training have an easier time learning Chinese. Writing in the online edition of Nature Neuroscience，researchers from Northwestern University say that both skills draw on the same parts of the brain that help people discover changes in pitch(音调)．
One of the study’s authors，Nina Kraus，said the findings suggested that studying music “actually tunes our sensory system”．This means that schools that want children to do well in languages should hesitate before cutting music programs，Dr.Kraus said. She said music training might also help children with language problems.
Mandarin(普通话)speakers have been shown to have a more complex encoding(编码) of pitch patterns in their brains than English speakers do. This is because in Mandarin and other Asian languages，pitch plays a central role. A single­syllable word can have several meanings depending on how it is intoned.
For this study，the researchers looked at 20 non­Chinese speaking volunteers，half with no musical background and half who have studied an instrument for at least six years.
As they were shown a movie，the volunteers also heard an audio tape of the Mandarin word “mi” in three of its meanings：squint，bewilder and rice. The researchers recorded activities in their brain stems to see how well they were processing the sounds. Those with a music background showed much more brain activities in response to the Chinese sounds.
The lead author of the study，Patrick C．M.Wong，said it might work both ways. It appears that native speakers of tonal languages may do better at learning instruments.
【小题1】When learning Chinese，a foreigner will find ________.

A．he has a difficult time learning music at the same time

B．he has an easier time learning music at the same time

C．it is hard to master the tones required to speak and understand

D．it is easy to use the brain to help him discover changes in pitch

【小题2】Why does Chinese learning have something to do with music training?

A．Because there is the same difficulty in learning Chinese and music.

B．Because skills to learn the two make use of the same parts of the brain.

C．Because music training might help people with language study.

D．Because people who do well in Chinese study do well in music.

【小题3】The underlined word “intoned” in the fourth paragraph can be replaced by the word “____”．

A．created	B．spelled
C．seemed	D．pronounced

【小题4】What would be the best title for this passage?

A．Mandarin Speakers Are Smarter than English Speakers

B．Skilled Ear for Music May Help Language Study

C．Pitch Plays a Central Role in Chinese Learning

D．Schools Need to Develop Music Programs

While most high school students spend most of their time worrying about who likes who, and different relationships between their classmates, I choose to focus on my school lessons and sports.
When I was young, my mother encouraged me to develop and keep friendship with boys in order to build strong relationships. But she told me not to risk a good friendship with a boy with the title of boyfriend. It’ s indeed a wise choice to stay friends with those of the opposite sex. In my opinion, even though some high school relationship might continue after graduation, the probability of them lasting much longer is so slim that there really is not a point to it.
Firstly you have to think about such a question— whether it is possible to hurt both of you, or even hurt both of your future husbands or wives. My second point is that you still can date if you hope marriage could possibly follow. Except this, there really is not any other reason for dating. Some students desire relationships for a chance to be romantic. While these are nice to have, there are many more important things at this point in our lives.
The titles of boyfriend and girlfriend put too much stress on a relationship between high school students. Just staying as common friends may be the best choice for us. I strongly recommend we should deal with it in an appropriate way and follow our teachers’ advice if necessary.
【小题1】The author writes this passage probably for        to read.

A．high school students	B．school teachers
C．parents and teachers	D．married couples

【小题2】 Between sexes, the relationship of being good friends might be        than that of being boy/girl-friends.

A．weaker

B．safer

C．slimmer

D．stronger

【小题3】How does the writer like the idea of dating among the students?

A．Dating is a nice chance for students to be romantic.

B．Studying is far more important than dating in school.

C．In high school dating can surely lead to future marriage.

D．Dating in high school is sure to hurt your future family.

【小题4】The underlined word “it” in the last paragraph might refer to       .

A．the title of boyfriend or girlfriend at school

B．advice given by both teachers and parents

C．the pressure from school lessons and sports

D．the relationship between students of opposite sexes