Until the 1980s, the American homeless population comprised (组成) mainly older males. Today, homelessness strikes much younger part of society. In fact, a 25-city survey by the U. S. Conference of Mayors in 1987 found that families with children make up the fastest growing part of the homeless population. Many homeless children gather in inner cities; this transient(变化无常的) and frequently frightened student population creates additional problems — both legal and educational — for already overburdened（负担过重的）urban school administrators and teachers.
Estimates of the number of homeless Americans range from 350,000 to three million. Likewise, estimates of the number of homeless school children vary radically. A U.S. Department of Education report, based on state estimates, states that there are 220,000 homeless school-age children, about a third of whom do not attend school on a regular basis, But the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are at least two times as many homeless children, and that less than half of them attend school regularly.
One part of the homeless population that is particularly difficult to count consists of the “throwaway” youths who have been cast of their homes. The Elementary School Center in New York City estimates that there are 1.5 million of them, many of whom are not counted as children because they do not stay in family shelters and tend to live by themselves on the streets.
Federal law, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, includes a section that addresses the educational needs of homeless children. The educational provisions of the McKinney Act are based on the belief that all homeless children have the right to a free, appropriate education.

1. 1.

   It is implied in the first paragraph that ____.

   1. A.
      the writer himself is homeless, even in his eighties
   2. B.
      many older homeless residents are going on strike in 25 cities
   3. C.
      there is a serious shortage of academic facilities (设施).
   4. D.
      homeless children are denied the opportunity of receiving free education
2. 2.

   The National Coalition for the homeless believes that the number of homeless children is _____.

   1. A.
      350,000
   2. B.
      1,500,000
   3. C.
      440,000
   4. D.
      110,000
3. 3.

    One part of the homeless population is difficult to estimate. The reason might well be ____.

   1. A.
      the homeless children are too young to be counted as children
   2. B.
      the homeless population is growing rapidly
   3. C.
      the homeless children usually stay outside school
   4. D.
      some homeless children are deserted by their families
4. 4.

   The McKinney Act is mentioned in this passage in order to show that ___.

   1. A.
      the educational problems of homeless children are being recognized
   2. B.
      the estimates on homeless children are hard to determine
   3. C.
      the address of grade-school children should be located
   4. D.
      all homeless people are entitled（有权利的） to free education
5. 5.

   The passage mainly deals with ____.

   1. A.
      the legal problems of the homeless children
   2. B.
      the educational problems of homeless children
   3. C.
      the social status of older males
   4. D.
      estimates on the homeless population

Until he told me yesterday,I knew______of what had happened to him .

          A.everything     B.something     C.anything     D.nothing

Until I was twenty-three I never ________ attending night school three nights a week.

A. doubted     B. failed  C. missed      D. requested

Until I was twenty-three I never ________ attending night school three nights a week.

A. doubted     B. failed

C. missed       D. requested

Until 1954 it was thought that no man could run one mile in less than four minutes.  As years 36  ,the record came closer and closer to four minutes and Roger Bannister, a young English    37   ,began to believe be might   38  this almost magic barrier.

It was a cold afternoon on May 6th, 1954 , when Bannister knew be had a   39  chance.  Bannister had been   40  hard and was very fit, but the weather conditions were a real  41  to him.  Describing the   42   later, Bannister said,“On the way to the track the wind blew strongly.  As I  43  for the start I glanced at the flag.  It moved  44  now.  This was the moment when I made my decision. ”

“The gun fired.  My legs  45  to meet no resistance, as if I was  46  forward by some unknown force.  The noise from the faithful  47  gave me greater strength.  I felt the  48  of a lifetimes had come. ”

“I was driven on by a   49  of fear and pride.  My body had long since used up all its energy   50  it went on running just the same.  This was the critical moment when my legs were strong enough to carry me over the last few yards as they  51  could have done in previous years.  When I leapt at（冲向）the    52  tape, I fell, almost    53  .

“I knew I had done it, even before I  54  the time.  The announcement came.  ‘Result of the one mile…Time, three minutes…’the test was  55 in the noise of excitement. ”

36. A. passed along       B. passed down    C. went by            D. went over

37. A. coach                        B. athlete              C. captain             D. judge

38. A. defeat                       B. move               C. beat                 D. break

39. A. real                          B. lucky               C. serious             D. false

40. A. competing          B. training            C. fighting            D. attending

41. A. eagerness           B. pleasure            C. relief                D. worry

42. A. accident             B. event                C. issue                D. topic

43. A. did up                       B. made up           C. put up              D. lined up

44. A. safely                       B. heavily             C. thinly               D. gently

45. A. seemed              B. used                        C. happened              D. had

46. A. dragged             B. drawn              C. pulled             D. pushed

47. A. mass                 B. residents           C. crowd             D. team

48. A. moment                    B. period              C. while              D. date

49. A. concentration      B. collection                C. combination      D. classification

50. A. so                     B. but                     C. or                       D. as

51. A. never                B. ever                C. even                 D. still

52. A. starting             B. lasting             C. finishing           D. running

53. A. unconcerned       B. unconscious      C. unknown                 D. unnoticed

54. A. offered                     B. told                  C. announced        D. beard

55. A. stuck                 B. involved           C. lost                  D. spread