Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literacy skills （读写能力）With their shining brown eyes, wagging tails, and unconditional love, dogs can provide the nonjudgmental listeners needed for a beginning reader to gain confidence （自信心） , according to Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) in Salt Lake City. The group says it is the first program in the country to use dogs to help develop literacy in children, with the introduction of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ).
The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea. “Literacy specialists admit that children who read below the level of their fellow pupils are often afraid of reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-respect, and regard reading as a headache,” said Lisa Myron, manager of the children’s department.
Last November the two groups started “Dog Day Afternoon” in the children’s department of the main library. About 25 children attended each of the four Saturday-afternoon classes, reading for half an hour. Those who attended three of the four classes received a “pawgraphed” book at the last class.
The program was so successful that the library plans to repeat it in April, according to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager.
【小题1】What is mainly discussed in the text?

A．Children’s reading difficulties.	B．Advantages of raising dogs.
C．Service in a public library.	D．A special reading program.

【小题2】Specialists use dogs to listen to children reading because they think _______.

A．dogs are young children’s best friends

B．children can play with dogs while reading

C．dogs can provide encouragement for shy children

D．children and dogs understand each other

【小题3】By saying “The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea”, the writer means the library_______.

A．uses dogs to attract children

B．accepts the idea put forward by ITA

C．has opened a children's department

D．has decided to train some dogs

【小题4】A “pawgraphed” book is most probably _______.

A．a book used in Saturday classes	B．a book written by the children
C．a prize for the children	D．a gift from parent

When I was at University I studied very hard. But a lot of my friends did very little work. Some did just enough to pass exams. Others didn’t do quite enough. Fred Baines was one of them. He spent more time playing than working in the library.
Once at the end of the term, we had to take an important test in chemistry. The test had a hundred questions. Beside each question we had to write “True” or “False”. While I was studying in my room the night before the test, Fred was watching TV. Fred usually worried a lot the night before a test. But on that night he looked perfectly calm. Thenhe told me of his plan. “It’s very simple. There are a hundred questions and I have to get fifty correct to pass the test. I’ll just toss（掷）the coin to decide the answers. That way, I’m sure I’ll get half the questions right.”
The next day, Fred came happily into the exam room. As he sat tossing a coin for half an hour he marked down his answers. Then he left, half an hour before the rest of us.
The next day, he saw the chemistry professor in the corridor. “Oh, good,” he said to the teacher, “Have you got the result of the test?” The teacher reached into his pocket and took out a coin. He threw it into the air, caught it in his hand and looked at it.
“I’m terribly sorry, Fred,” he said, “You failed!”
【小题1】This story mainly wants to tell us          .

A．chemistry is really hard to learn

B．there are many questions for students to prepare.

C．good exam results really need studying hard

D．tossing a coin can not always decide the result

【小题2】Fred Baines was one of those who          .

A．did just enough to pass an exam

B．didn’t work hard enough for their studies

C．had more important work to do than study

D．were quite good at passing exams

【小题3】Fred came happily into the exam room because          .

A．he had got ready for the exam

B．he knew the answers already

C．one excellent student would help him

D．he had his special way to finish the exam

【小题4】Which of the following about the chemistry exam is TRUE?

A．The chemisty exam was not very difficult at all.

B．It in fact took an hour to finish the chemisty exam

C．The chemisty exam had more than one hundred questions.

D．The chemisty exam needed to be done by tossing a coin.

【小题5】The professor tossed a coin to tell Baines that          .

A．he was satisfied with Baines’ way for the exam

B．he wanted to make friends with Baines

C．Baines’ way for the exam would never work

D．the exam result depended on the coin

I have always really loved receiving my monthly pocket money form my dad. After getting the money I would be very excited and would rush off to my friend’s place where after much consideration we would decide what to do with it and where to spend it. Mostly it would go for the ice cream treats（请客；款待） or jam sessions with our favorite people around. Girls will manage to find some way of budgeting so the money we save can be used for other purposes.
I think that the best way to enjoy your pocket money would be to enjoy those treats that come occasionally. Since just mere pocket money would be not enough, many girls are doing a part time job of some form so that a larger amount of money can be collected. The best use of pocket money is to spend it in such a way that it involves lots of fun with your closest friends. Those treats are no fun if done alone. Company, especially good company can work wonders for providing you the best relaxation that you need. It is also best to spend your pocket money on things that otherwise parents end up refusing. When you use your pocket money to get this sense of achievement you will just feel so crazily happy.
I remember the time when a friend and I were just so tired of our everyday monotonous life that we decided to go out, have some great food and then head out to the beach and have those lovely grape and mango ice-creams. And we did exactly that. That day has just been one of the most refreshing days of my life. I think the true meaning of pocket money is to be able to maximize your fun at a minimal cost!
【小题1】The writer thinks he can get greatest fun from pocket money by ________,.

A．spending it alone	B．treating good friends
C．travelling for fun	D．buying ice creams

【小题2】We can tell from Paragraph 1 that ________.

A．the writer didn’t know where to spend his pocket money

B．girls used pocket money to buy ice creams

C．the writer got pocket money from his dad yearly

D．boys and girls may spend pocket money in different ways

【小题3】What does the underlined phrase “monotonous” in the last paragraph mean?

A．exciting.

B．Boring.

C．Wonderful.

D．Colorful.

【小题4】We can know from the passage that ________.

A．children can’t spend our pocket money wisely

B．there would be no fun without pocket money

C．childhood happiness mainly comes from pocket money

D．we can enjoy ourselves with a little pocket money

【小题5】What is the best title of the passage?

A．How to get much pocket money

B．Save pocket money as much as possible

C．Pocket money brings great fun

D．Pocket money means everything

No one wants to look silly or do the wrong thing at a new job. It’s important to make the right impression (印象) from the first day. You will face new people. You will be in a new place. It may be difficult to know what to do. Here are seven tips to help you make it through the first days at a new job:
1. First impression is important. Make sure you make a good one. Before your first day, find out if your new job has a dress code. If so, be sure to follow it. No matter what you wear, always be neat (整洁) and clean.
2. Get to work on time. Employers value workers who come to work on time. Give yourself an extra 15 minutes to make sure you arrive on time.
3. Pay attention to introduction. One of the first things that your supervisor (主管) may do is to introduce you to co-workers. These co-workers will be important to you. They are the ones who will answer your questions when the boss isn’t around.
4. Ask plenty of questions. Make sure that your supervisor has told you what your are expected to do. If he or she has not told you your job duties, ask for a list. Set daily and weekly goals for yourself.
5. Don't make personal phone calls. You should never make personal phone calls to your friends and family unless it's an emergency.
6. Don’t take too long for lunch. What’s the lunch-hour policy at your new job? You can find out from your supervisor or your company’s personnel department(人事部门). For example, do people eat at their desks or does everyone take a full hour outside the workplace?
7. Never be the first one to leave. Observe how your co-workers behave around quitting (离开) time. It does no good for you to be eager to leave.
【小题1】Which is the best title for the passage?

A．Tips On First Days At a New Job	B．How to Do a Job Well
C．Be the Last to Leave	D．Ways to Find a New Job

【小题2】From the last two paragraphs, we can infer that the most important rule we should follow is ______.

A．to have lunch outside the workplace	B．to do as other people do
C．not to be the first to leave after work	D．to pay attention to introductions

【小题3】The underlined phrase “a dress code” (Para. 2) means ______.

A．a beautiful dress	B．a place where a dress can be placed
C．a neat and clean dress	D．a rule about what you can wear to work

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

A．You should not make personal calls unless very necessary.

B．Co-workers will be important to you when the boss is out.

C．You shouldn’t ask any questions in case you trouble others.

D．Leave an extra 15 minutes earlier to make sure you won’t be late.

Princeton University
Location
The University is in Princeton, New Jersey. It is an hour's train ride south of New York City and an hour's train ride north of Philadelphia.
Students
There are 4,600 undergraduates (本科生). There are also 1,900 graduate students, but Princeton is unusual among universities in having a student body made up largely of undergraduates.
Faculty
Princeton has about 700 full-time faculty members (教员). There are another 300 or so part-time and visiting faculty. All faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research.
Degrees
Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees：the bachelor (学士) of arts (A. B. ) degree and the bachelor of science in engineering (B. S. E.) degree.
Academic Year
An academic year runs from September to late May and lasts two terms (fall and spring). A normal course load is four or five courses per term, although many students take extra courses.
Residences
Princeton provides housing for all undergraduate students. Freshmen and second-year students are required to spend their first two years in one of five colleges. Each college has its own dining hall, common rooms and computer centers.
Fees and Expenses (Academic Year 2011-2012)
Tuition (学费): $29,910
Room and board: $ 8,387
Other expenses (books, telephone, etc．): $ 3,083
Total: $ 41,380
【小题1】How many kinds of faculty members are there in Princeton University?

A．One

B．Two

C．Three

D．Four

【小题2】In Princeton University, an undergraduate will have to pay ______for the Academic Year 2011-2012.

A．$11,470

B．$ 52,850

C．$ 41,380

D．$ 8, 387

【小题3】In what way is Princeton University different from other American universities according to the text?

A．It has five colleges.

B．Its students are mainly undergraduates.

C．It provides housing for all undergraduate students.

D．All the faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research.

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

A．Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees.

B．An academic year lasts about nine months in Princeton University.

C．Undergraduates should spend their first two years in one of five colleges.

D．It's about an hour's train ride from Princeton University to the north of New York City.

Franz Kafka wrote that “A book must be the ax(斧子)for the frozen sea inside us.” I once shared this sentence with a class of seventh graders, and it didn’t seem to require any explanation.
We’d just finished John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men. When we read the end together out loud in class, my toughest boy, a star basketball player, wept a little, and so did I. “Are you crying?” one girl asked, as she got out of her chair to take a closer look. “I am,” I told her, “and the funny thing is I’ve read it many times.”
But they understood. When George shoots Lennie, the tragedy is that we realize it was always going to happen. In my 14 years of teaching in a New York City public middle school, I’ve taught kids with imprisoned parents, abusive parents, irresponsible parents; kids who are parents themselves; kids who are homeless; kids who grew up in violent neighborhoods. They understand, more than I ever will, the novel’s terrible logic—the giving way of dreams to fate (命运).
For the last seven years, I have worked as a reading enrichment teacher, reading classic works of literature(文学) with small groups of students from grades six to eight. I originally proposed this idea to my headmaster after learning that a former excellent student of mine had transferred out of a selective high school—one that often attracts the literary-minded (有文学头脑的) children of Manhattan’s upper classes—into a less competitive school. The daughter of immigrants (移民), with a father in prison, she perhaps felt uncomfortable with her new classmates. I thought additional “cultural capital” could help students like her develop better in high school, where they would unavoidably meet, perhaps for the first time, students who came from homes lined with bookshelves, whose parents had earned Ph.D.’s.
Along with Of Mice and Men, my groups read: Sounder, The Red Pony, Lord of the Flies, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. The students didn’t always read from the expected point of view. About The Red Pony, one student said, “it's about being a man, it’s about manliness (男子气概).” I had never before seen the parallels between Scarface and Macbeth, nor had I heard Lady Macbeth’s soliloquies (独白) read as raps, but both made sense; the interpretations were playful, but serious. Once introduced to Steinbeck’s writing, one boy went on to read The Grapes of Wrath and told me repeatedly how amazing it was that “all these people hate each other, and they’re all white.” His historical view was broadening, his sense of his own country deepening. Year after year, former students visited and told me how prepared they had felt in their first year in college as a result of the classes.
Year after year, however, we are increasing the number of practice tests. We are trying to teach students to read increasingly complex texts, not for emotional punch (碰撞) but for text complexity. Yet, we cannot enrich the minds of our students by testing them on texts that ignore their hearts. We are teaching them that words do not amaze but confuse. We may succeed in raising test scores, but we will fail to teach them that reading can be transformative and that it belongs to them.
【小题1】The underlined words in Paragraph 1 probably mean that a book helps to________.

A．realize our dreams

B．give support to our life

C．smooth away difficulties

D．awake our emotions

【小题2】Why were the students able to understand the novel Of Mice and Men?

A．Because they spent much time reading it.

B．Because they had read the novel before.

C．Because they came from a public school.

D．Because they had similar life experiences.

【小题3】The girl left the selective high school possibly because ________.

A．she was a literary-minded girl

B．her parents were immigrants

C．she couldn’t fit in with her class

D．her father was then in prison

【小题4】To the author’s surprise, the students read the novels ________.

A．creatively

B．passively

C．repeatedly

D．carelessly

【小题5】The author writes the passage mainly to ________.

A．introduce classic works of literature

B．advocate teaching literature to touch the heart

C．argue for equality among high school students

D．defend the current testing system

From the health point of view we are living in a marvelous age. We are immunized (免疫) from birth against many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once deadly illnesses can now be cured by modern drugs and medical treatment. It is almost certain that one day cures will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased enormously. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the unbelievable slaughter (屠杀) of men, women and children on the roads. Man vs the motor-car! It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.
It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel (方向盘), his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man’s very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-olds and absolutely selfish. All their hidden disappointments and regrets seem to be brought by the act of driving.
The surprising thing is that society smiles so kindly on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost impossible to live in because of heavy tragic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the mass annual slaughter becomes nothing more than a statistic, to be conveniently forgotten.
It is high time a world system of laws were created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. As for driving, the laws of some countries are not strict and even the strictest are not strict enough. Here are a few examples of some the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict annual tests for safety. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can affect a person’s driving ability. Present drinking and driving laws (where they exist) should be made much stricter. Maximum and minimum speed limits should be introduced on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications (规范) for manufacturers, as has been done in the USA. All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned. These measures may sound inordinately severe. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the annual toll of human life. After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars.
【小题1】The main idea of this passage is _________.

A．Traffic accidents are mainly caused by motorists.

B．Thousands of people the world over are killed each year.

C．The laws of some countries about driving are not too strict.

D．Only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents.

【小题2】What does the author think of society toward motorists?

A．Society laughs at the motorists.

B．Huge car parks are built in the cities and towns.

C．Victims of accidents are nothing.

D．Society forgives their rude driving.

【小题3】Why does the author say: “his car becomes the extension of his personality?”

A．Driving can show his real self.

B．Driving can show the other part of his personality.

C．Driving can bring out his character.

D．His car can express his temper.

【小题4】Which of the followings is NOT mentioned as a way against traffic accidents?

A．Build more highways.	B．Make stricter driving tests
C．Test drivers every three years.	D．Raise age limit and lay down safety specifications.

【小题5】The attitude of the author is  _________. Zxxk

A．ironical

B．critical

C．appealing

D．favorable

The practice of students endlessly copying letters and sentences from a blackboard is a thing of the past. With the coming of new technologies like computers and smart phones, writing by hand has become something of a nostalgic(怀旧的) skill. However, while today’s educators are using more and more technology in their teaching, many believe basic handwriting skills are still necessary for students to be successful—both in school and in life.
Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, says it’s important to continue teaching handwriting and help children acquire the skill of writing by hand.
Berninger and her colleagues conducted a study that looked at the ability of students to complete various writing tasks－both on a computer and by hand. The study, published in 2009, found that when writing with a pen and paper, participants wrote longer essays and more complete sentences and had a faster word production rate. Zxxk
In a more recent study, Berninger looked at what role spelling plays in a student’s writing skills and found that how well children spell is tied to how well they can write. “Spelling makes some of the thinking parts of the brain active, which helps us understand our vocabulary, word meaning and concepts. It is allowing our written language to connect with ideas.” Berninger said.
Spelling helps students translate ideas into words in their mind first and then to transcribe (转换) “those words in the mind into written symbols on paper or keyboard and screen,” the study said. Seeing the words in the “mind’s eye” helps children not only to turn their ideas into words, says Berninger, but also to spot spelling mistakes when they write the words down and to correct them over time.
“In our computer age, some people believe that we don’t have to teach spelling because we have spell checks，” she said. “But until a child has a functional spelling ability of about a fifth grade level, they won’t have the knowledge to choose the correct spelling among the choices given by the computer.”
【小题1】What makes writing by hand a thing of the past?

A．The absence of blackboards in classrooms.

B．The use of new technologies in teaching.

C．The lack of practice in handwriting.

D．The popular use of smart phones.

【小题2】Berninger’s study published in 2009 ________.

A．focused on the difference between writing by hand and on a computer

B．indicated that students prefer to write with a pen and paper

C．found that good essays are made up of long sentences

D．discussed the importance of writing speed

【小题3】Which of the following best shows the role of spelling?

A．Spelling improves one’s memory of words.

B．Spelling ability is closely related to writing ability.

C．Spelling benefits the translation from words into ideas.

D．Spelling slows down finding exact words to express ideas.

【小题4】What does “mind’s eye” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Window

B．Soul

C．Picture

D．Imagination

【小题5】What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?

A．Computers can help people with their choice of words.

B．Spell checks can take the place of spelling teaching.

C．Handwriting still has a place in today’s classrooms.

D．Functional spelling ability develops fast in the fifth grade.

To learn an instrument(乐器) 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（弦乐） 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

【小题5】There are many benefits for the adult to learn instruments, which of the following is NOT RIGHT?

A．Feeling relaxed.	B．Earn additional IQ points.
C．Improve your health.	D．Show your talents

As the father of a student, I have experienced first hand what a great teacher is. My son was in the 4^th grade last year, and he had a teacher called Miss Green. I believe that when he is an adult he will surely look back on her as the best teacher he has ever had.
My son has attention deficit disorder(注意力缺损症) that makes it a little more difficult for him to learn. She was able to change her teaching methods for him so that he could keep up with the rest of the class. As a result, he got straight As on many subjects. She regarded her class as a family and they even had their own class song. She would often have them sing it to encourage them and develop a team spirit for them. When she saw that they were no longer listening carefully to what she was teaching, she would have them close their textbooks, stand up all around the room and throw around a small football. This helped them clear their minds and then focus on the lesson again. Besides, she was quick to reply to any phone calls or emails from us and got rid of our worries about children quickly.
When my son went to the 5^th grade this year, we happened to pass her classroom. When she saw my son, her face lit up(露出喜色) and she came out and hugged him. She generally loves all of the children in her classroom and that love really shows. I can only pray(祈祷) that my son will continue to get teachers just like her for the rest of his school years.
【小题1】With the teacher’s help, the writer’s son ______.

A．became the best student in his class

B．was interested in singing songs

C．quickly finished his 4th grade lessons

D．improved his grades greatly

【小题2】Which of the following is NOT true about Miss Green?

A．She regarded the students as members of a family.

B．She had special ways to help students study.

C．She was good at teaching football and music.

D．She usually made a quick reply to parents’ emails.

【小题3】The underlined phrases “focus on” in Paragraph 2 means ______.

A．look forward to	B．pay attention to
C．get away from	D．take care of

【小题4】We can learn from the text that ______.

A．Miss Green was the best teacher at the school

B．all the students in the school liked Miss Green

C．Miss Green didn’t teach the writer’s son in the 5th grade

D．the writer’s son had many teachers like Miss Green

【小题5】In the text, the writer mainly tells us ______.

A．what his son studied at school

B．his son once had a good teacher

C．how to be a good and popular teacher

D．a teacher who liked playing with students