Last month when I was taking part in a US college interview, I was asked, “ what makes you special ? ” In fact I had answered questions likes this many times since I decided to go to college in the US .college paid special attention to different achievement . For example, a person who is very good at math can go to a famous college but also can be a good football player .

This experience made me think again that I must try to find where my own interests might lead me . To be honest, it was not easy . However, I never felt sorry to choose this way because it helped me understand myself . If I took the College Entrance Examination,as we call it gaokao in China, it could never possibly do .

When I entered high school, I took gaokao seriously because it seemed to me a great way to show how good at my lessons . However,as I grew older, I realized gaokao did make me work hard at my lessons, but the pressure also pushed many other activities out of my life, like guitar―playing . Although I had no time for it, I will still get to it in the future .

No doubt, gaokao provides a way of choosing those who are successful in their studies . But it is really important for all of us to rethink what “ talent ” really is today . This is because we now live in a world in which all of our other human qualities ( 品质）are needed for success, not just the high grade .

Ken Robinson once said, “ the society depends on different kinds of talents . ”  However, gaokao pays too attention  to a person’s grades but little to his other qualities. And it is these qualities that makes life colorful and fun .

As high school students, we can not change the present situation of eduction, but we are always free to think outside of the box . Although good school grade is still useful, I hope one day we will see our education also welcomes the amazing possibilities in different people .

1.The US College pay special attention to ________.

A．students’family background .

B．the different achievement

C．students’ideas about way of life .

D．the school a student is from .

2.When at high school, the writer ________.

A．had a lot of activities .

B．did not work hard at her lessons .

C．did well in gaokao

D．had no time to play the guitar .

3.From the passage, we know that the writer may ________.

A．go to college in America .

B．give up the US college interview .

C．become a good football player in the US.

D．change the present situation of eduction .

4.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A. My school life abroad.             B. Different exams in the US.

C My view on gaokao           D. The importance of school grades

   Watch for us on TV
THIS summer, many Beijing middle school students had a different kind of vacation. Instead of hanging out with friends or traveling, they were training hard for the National Day celebration.
To mark the special anniversary (周年纪念)of China this year, the students performed a group dance in a big parade(游行)on Tian’anmen Square on October 1.
Students were training from 7:30am to around 10:00am or from 4 pm to 6:30pm. It was to avoid the summer heat.
They wore white hats, T-shirts and dark-blue trousers. The hats and T-shirts were printed with a red logo, the number ‘60”.
The first week of training was PE. Students practiced standing and squatting（蹲)。 Then they moved on to practice the group display. The use colored sheets in the shape of flowers as a prop(道具). When we watch the parade on TV we will see them making colorful patterns(图案)with them.
What do the students think of their unusual summer?
“Sometimes we find it a bit tiring.” says Lu Wenqi,13.”But most of us think it’s a great honor to take part in such an important celebration.”
Li Hui, 15, thinks the same as Lu. She says her classmates are seldom late for training.
“It’s a wonderful chance for us,’ says Li. “When my parents were in college, they also took part in a national day celebration. Now it’s my turn!”
By Wang Min
21st Century Teens staff
【小题1】How long were the students training every day?

（Four students are talking about the future after class.）
Deng Yu ：In 2050, China will be richer than it is now, Beijing will be getting ready for the 40th Olympic Games in 2052. We will see the blue and clear sky and smell the fresh air. There will be more pandas living happily China. I believe that 2050 will be the year of China.
Liu Yuan ：A holiday to the moon will no longer be a dream. We can also travel far to other planets and talk with the spacemen. We might also eat something like pills（药丸）instead of today’s meals. Everyone will enjoy a longer life.
Sun Wei ：Robots will be very popular. They will do what people don’t want to do. We’ll build new homes on other planets. By then, I’ll be sixty years old. Maybe we will have an exciting talk in my new home on another planet!
Zhang Lan：By the year of 2050, cloning（克隆）will be used in many ways. It will bring back animals which disappeared many years ago. There will be no pollution, the whole world will be one big family. There will be no wars. As time passes, we’ll live a much easier and better life.
【小题1】      thinks that people can spend their holidays on the moon in the future.
A．Deng Yu              B．Zhang Lan            C．Liu Yuan
【小题2】．What does Zhang Lan think will happen in the future.
A．There’ll be more animals which disappeared many years ago.
B．Robots will do the things that people don’t want to do.
C．People can talk with the spacemen.
【小题3】The 40th Olympic Games will be hosted in       .
A．Paris                B．Beijing              C．London
【小题4】How old will Sun Wei be        by 2050?
A．50                   B．60                   C．70
【小题5】．From the talk, we can know that       .
A．the 40th Olympic Games will take place in 2052.
B．we will have the same food in 2050 as we do now.
C．all the people will move to another planet in the future.

We will see even stronger China in near future .

A. a , the B. an ,a

C. the , a D. an , the