A primary school teacher who left a class of 25 pupils in tears after she told them Santa Claus did not exist has been fired. When excited youngsters became rowdy as they talked about Santa, the supply teacher said out suddenly, "It's your parents who leave out presents on Christmas Day."

The class of seven-year-olds at Blackshaw Lane Primary School, Royton, Greater Manchester burst into tears and told their parents when they arrived home. Mothers and fathers then complained about the incident and were sent a letter by the school saying the teacher, who only worked at the school for one day last week, has been punished.

The school has now said it will not hire her again.

One father said, "My son came home and said that his teacher had told the class that Santa doesn't exist and it’s their mum and dad that put out presents for them. Obviously, they were all talking about Christmas and being a bit rowdy. She just came straight out with it. "

"My son was in tears and so was everyone else in the class — especially as it was so close to Christmas. I thought it was wrong. He was crazy about it. He’s only seven-year-old and it's part of the magic of Christmas to him. "

"We told him that she did not believe in Father Christmas because of her religion and he's fine now."

"The father described the incident as ' shocking' and believed it was done with malicious intent (恶意地). A lot of parents were angry and complained to the school. The teacher, who was supplied by Rochdale and Oldham Supply Agency, is still listed and will work with other schools," the agency said.

However, the head teacher in Angela McCormick refused to comment on the incident.

1. Who felt the angriest about the incident?

A. The teacher who was fired.                 B. The parents whose children cried.

C. The pupils who were in tears.              D. Santa Claus the teacher talked about.

2. We can infer from the passage that       .

A. the teacher was fired and couldn't continue her career in teaching

B. the parents complained about the discipline of the school

C. the little pupils felt disappointed after hearing the words said by the teacher

D. in reality, Santa Claus exists and gives out presents once a year

3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word "rowdy"?

A. surprised.         B. noisy.               C. discouraged.         D. annoyed.

We live in a digital world now, and a student's technology needs have changed. For the early years, say when you are in primary school, you can get by with no technology at all. Even if you have a computer, it's a good idea to get children familiar with libraries. At this age, trips to the library are like family outings.

As you get closer to middle school, a computer with Internet access becomes more of a necessity. Teachers will often give assignments that require a student to use the Internet for research. After a computer, technology choices for students become more difficult to make – especially when it comes to cell-phones. Kids will beg their parents for a cell-phone, especially in middle school. For many parents, it's a safety issue: They want to know that their kids can reach them quickly if necessary. For teachers, cell phones can be used to record lessons when students are absent. But many teachers dislike cell-phones. Some kids send messages or have talks in the class. Sending messages also raises the problem of cheating on exams. More and more schools are now forbidding the use of cell-phones.

Many kids see iPods as necessary things to have. IPods are great for music, but do they do anything good for your children’s education? Maybe they do. That’s the opinion of Doug Johnson, an educator for 30 years. Johnson says that educators should accept all new forms of technology in the classroom, including iPods. “Some do more with their cell- phones than we can do with our laptops,” he jokes. “I don’t think we should be afraid. The truth is that it’s easier to change the way we teach than to change the technology habits of an entire generation.”

1. According to author, primary school children should___.

2. Why do parents agree to buy their children cell-phones?

3. The following are all reasons why many teachers dislike cell-phones EXCEPT ____.

4. We can infer from what Doug Johnson said that _____.

There are several ski hills that can be found locally, and not so locally. Here's a bit of an informal snow report for any visitors to the city who may be unfamiliar with the local options for skiing.

Sunshine Village

   Sunshine is definitely the premier ski hill in the area. Of all the hills in Alberta, Sunshine is the one that has earned international renown. Ticket prices are cheaper this year than they have been in the past. Adults pay $76.5, seniors $61.5, and children only pay $26.5. At present, they have a snow base of 107 cm. The terrain (地形) is a mix of both easy and hard runs.

Lake Louise

   Of all the ski resorts nearby it is the largest with 4,200 acres of ski-able terrain. It has the best balance between easy and difficult runs, and it gets snow of 93 cm right now. Adults pay $75.5, seniors pay $54.5, and children pay $24.5. Lake Louise is a great choice for anyone looking to do some easy access backcountry skiing.

Nakiska

   While it will be opening shortly, Nakiska is popular to the public. Currently, they have a base of 71cm. The terrain at Nakiska is varied, but slants (倾斜) more towards the easy side. It's the best place for families to go skiing as there is a lot of beginner and kid terrain. Tickets are relatively cheap. Adults pay $64.5, seniors pay $51.5, and children only pay $19.5.

Olympic Park

    O.P. was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Canada, and it is a world-class facility (设施） for almost every winter sport. It has facilities not only for skiing, but also for all kinds of other activities. It has a snow base of 102 cm, but it isn't the primary focus. However, with tickets starting at $5 and capping at $39, it is very inexpensive.

1.What can we know about Sunshine Village?

    A. It is a ski hill in Europe.

    B. Its snow is the thickest of the four.

    C. It is suitable for ski beginners.

    D. its ticket prices are getting more expensive.

2.What does the underlined word "renown" mean in the passage?

    A. Good attraction.       B. Place of interest.

    C. Prize or reward.       D. Fame or reputation.

3. Which will be the best choice for someone who is fond of other sports games besides skiing?

    A. Sunshine Village.  B. Lake Louise.

    C. Olympic Park.    D. Nakiska.

4. How much will a woman pay if she and her husband with two children go skiing in the best family place?

    A. 168 dollars.   B. 103.5 dollars.

C. 209 dollars.   D. 129.5 dollars.

短文改错(共l0小题；每小题1.5分，满分l5分)

此题要求改正所给短文中的错误。对标有题号的每一行作出判断：如无错误，在该

行右边横线上画一个勾(√)；如有错误(每行只有一个错误)，则按下列情况改正：

此行多一个词：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉，在该行右边横线上写出该词，并也用斜线划掉。

此行缺一个词：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，在该行右边横线上写出该加的词。

此行错一个词：在错的词下划一横线，在该行右边横线上写出改正后的词。

注意：原行没有错的不要改。

Have you ever been bored with the busy life in the city？If so，    1．___________

have glimpse of the primary forest with me. The breathtaking       2．___________

scenery make you forget everything when you’re exploring what      3．___________

the forest has to offer. With thousands of trees surrounded             4．___________

you，you will feel like to floating on the green ocean. Under the       5．___________

leaves are all kinds of flowers，peacefully and shy. And a          6．___________

variety of birds were singing happily in the trees. While you’re       7．___________

enjoying the scenery on the ground，watching out for the sky！  8．___________

It will give your eye a feast. Wandering alone in the forest，  9．___________

we will have the feeling of returning to nature.            10．___________

 The 28-year-old had spent six years working nights while she gained her university degree during the day. When she finally   16  , she had her eye on a teaching   17   at a nearby primary school. With the help of her friends, she had  18   with the Head.

“I noticed a tiny   19  in one of my stockings earlier.” she recalled. “I thought about   20   them, but I knew I’d be   21   if I did. And by the time I got to the interview，it was bigger. I walked in apologizing for not looking my best.” The would-be teacher didn’t   22   the job. In fact her friends told her that the Head’s only comment was, “If someone doesn’t take the time to   23   her best image at an interview, what kind of   24   is she going to be?”

In job-hunting, personal   25   is very important. After all, you’re selling a product—  26   —to an employer. When going to a job interview, always brush your hair tidily, polish your shoes and above all,   27   yourself properly. It will give you a competitive   28   and a positive first   29 . The above idea was also suggested in a best-seller for jobseekers named Dress for Success.

First impressions are   30   ones. In other words, if you’re viewed positively within the critical first four  31 , the person you’ve met will   32   feel everything you do is positive. Leave the interviewer a bad impression, and often he will guess you have a lot of other   33   characters. In a word, he may not take the time to give you a second   34 . Most employers believe that those who look as if they care about   35   will care about their jobs.

1.A. determined                B. graduated                      C. succeeded            D. returned

2.A. post                        B. advertisement              C. assistant               D. competition

3.A. a word                         B. a promise                       C. an agreement      D. an interview

4.A. hole                         B. mud                                 C. ink                           D. color

5.A. throwing                B. mending                         C. changing               D. removing

6.A. foolish                          B. different                         C. late                         D. punctual

7.A. appreciate                  B. get                                   C. abandon                D. refuse

8.A. present                       B. mind                                C. obtain                    D. confirm

9.A. person                B. student                           C. graduate               D. teacher

10.A. appearance             B. experience                     C. ability                     D. preparation

11.A. yourself               B. knowledge                 C. skills                       D. advice

12.A. behave                      B. dress                               C. show                      D. introduce

13.A. start              B. confidence                     C. advantage            D. benefit

14.A. chance                      B. performance                 C. job                           D. impression

15.A. remaining                 B. lasting                             C. useful                     D. serious

16.A. minutes               B. interviewers                  C. tests                       D. jobseekers

17.A. seldom                      B. occasionally                   C. probably                D. certainly

18.A. incredible                 B. unsatisfactory               C. complicated         D. impolite

19.A. job                         B. thought                           C. opportunity          D. question

20.A. students                       B. salary                              C. others                    D. themselves