Anne Whitney, a sophomore (大学二年级学生) at Colorado State University, first had a problem taking tests when she began college. "I was always well prepared for my tests. Sometimes I studied for weeks before a test. Yet I would go in to take the test, only to find I could not answer the questions correctly. I would blank out because of nervousness and fear. I couldn't think of the answer. My low grades on the tests did not show what I knew to the teacher. “Another student in biology had similar experiences. He said, "My first chemistry test was very difficult. Then, on the second test, I sat down to take it, and I was so nervous that I was shaking. My hands were moving up and down so quickly that it was hard to hold my pencil. I knew the material and I knew the answers. Yet I couldn't even write them down!"
　　These two young students were experiencing something called test anxiety. Because a student worries and is uneasy about a test, his or her mind does not work as well as it usually does. The student cannot write or think clearly because of the extreme tension and nervousness. Contrary to people’s common belief that poor grades are often a result of poor study habits, sometimes test anxiety plays a role in students’ achieving low grades. Recently, test anxiety has been recognized as a real problem, not just an excuse or a false explanation of lazy students.
　　Special university advising courses try to help students. In these courses, advisors try to help students by teaching them how to manage test anxiety. At some universities, students take tests to measure their anxiety. If the tests show their anxiety is high, the students can take short courses to help them deal with their tensions. These courses teach students how to relax their bodies. Students are trained to become calm in very tense situations. By controlling their nervousness, they can let their minds work at ease. Learned information then comes out without difficulty on a test.
　　An expert at the University of California explains, " With almost all students, relaxation and less stress are felt after taking our program. Most of them experience better control during their tests. Almost all have some improvement. With some, the improvement is very great. "
【小题1】To "blank out" is probably______.

A．to be like a blanket	B．to be sure of an answer
C．to be unable to think clearly	D．to show knowledge to the teacher

【小题2】Poor grades are usually believed to be the result of______.

A．poor sleeping habit	B．laziness
C．test anxiety	D．inability to form good study habits

【小题3】Test anxiety has been recognized as______.

A．an excuse for laziness	B．the result of poor study habits
C．a real problem	D．something that cannot be changed

【小题4】A University of California advisor said______.

A．all students could overcome the anxiety after taking a special test anxiety program

B．almost all students felt less stress after taking a University of California advising course

C．students found it difficult to improve even though they had taken a special test anxiety course

D．students found it easy to relax as soon as they entered a University of California advising course

　　In 1995,I return to Miami Beach High School to speak to the drama(戏剧) class.Afterward I ask the drama teacher if any of my English teachers is still there.“Irene Roberts,”he tells me,“is in class just down the hall.”

　　 I was no one special in Miss Roberts' class.I don't remember any one special bit of wisdom she passed on.Yet I cannot forget her respect for language,for ideas and for her students.I realize now,many years later,that she is a selfless teacher.I'd like to say something to her,but I don't want to pull her from a class.

　　The drama teacher brings Miss Roberts into the hallway where stands this 32-year-old man she last saw at 18.“I'm Mark Medoff,”I tell her.“You were my 12th grade English teacher in 1981.”She raises her head,as if this angle(角度) might bring back her memory.And then,though armed with a message I want to deliver in some perfect words,I can't think up anything more memorable than this,“I want you to know,”I say,“you were important to me.”

　　And there in the hallway,this slight and lovely woman,now nearing a retirement age, this teacher who doesn't remember me,begins to weep;she holds me in her arms.

Remembering this moment,I began to sense that everything I will ever know,everything I will ever pass on to my students,to my children,is an inseparable part of a treasure of our shared wonder and hope that we can,must,make ourselves better.

　　 Irene Roberts holds me in her arms and through her tears whispers against my cheek,“Thank you.”And then,with a quick look into my forgotten face,she disappears back into her classroom,returns to what she has done thousands of days through all the years of my absence.

　　 On reflection,maybe those were,after all,just the right words to say to Irene Roberts. Maybe they are the very words I would like to speak to all those teachers I carry through my life as part of me,the very words I would like spoken to me one day by some returning student:“I want you to know you were important to me.”

1.The writer of this passage is most probably ________.

A.a college student of drama

B.a 32-year-old actor

C.a high school student

D.a drama teacher

2.What the writer remembers most about his teacher is________.

A.her wisdom

B.her devotion to teaching

C.her way of teaching drama

D.her encouraging words

3.When the writer saw Miss Roberts,he ________.

A.held her in his arms

B.could hardly recognize her

C.talked a lot with her

D.successfully expressed his true feelings

4.According to the writer,the most important thing is ________.

A.self-improvement

B.a good memory

C.good health

D.good school grades

Dear XXX,　

As we drove off from Columbia, I wanted to write a letter to you to tell you all that is on my mind.

Do your best in classes, but don’t let pressure get to you. If you graduate and learn something in your four years, we would feel happy. Your Columbia degree will take you far, even if you don’t graduate with honors. So please don't give yourself pressure. The only thing that matters is that you learned. The only measurement you should use is that you tried.

Most importantly, make friends and be happy. College friends are often the best in life, because during college you are closer to them physically than to your family. Also, going through independence and adulthood is a natural bonding (结合的) experience. Pick a few friends and become really close to them — pick the ones who are genuine and sincere to you. Don’t worry about their hobbies, grades, looks, or even personalities. If you think you like someone, tell her. You have very little to lose. People are not perfect, so as long as they are genuine and sincere, trust them and be good to them. They will give back. This is my secret of success — that I am genuine with people and trust them (unless they do something to lose my trust).

College is the four years where you have:

　　•the greatest amount of free time

　　•the first chance to be independent

　　•the most flexibility to change

　　•the lowest risk for making mistakes

So please treasure your college years – make the best of your free time, become an independent thinker in control of your destiny. May Columbia become the happiest four years in your life, and may you blossom into just what you dream to be.

                                                                   Love,

                                                                  XXX

1.What is the most probable relationship between the writer and the receiver of the letter?

A. Friends.                                                                                    B. A parent and his or her daughter.

C. A teacher and a student.                                                  D. Sisters.

2.Which of the following suggestions is not given to the receiver in the letter?

A. How to adapt to the college life quickly.                 

B. To make new friends.

C. To learn to be independent in thinking.                 

D. Not to make herself under much pressure in grades.

3.According to the writer of the letter, college is a time _______.

A. during which one may make mistakes      

B. during which one has little free time

C. during which it is hard for one to change    

D. during which one needs to learn to be independent

 

 

第四部分  阅读理解（满分 30分）

Dear Daughter,

As we drove off from Columbia, I wanted to write to tell you that is on my mind.

First, I want to tell you how proud we are. Getting into Columbia is real testament (证明) of what a great well – rounded student you are. You should be as proud of yourself as we are.

  Your college years will be the most important of your life. It is in college that you will discover what learning is about. This will be the period when you go from teacher taught to master inspired, after which you must become self – learner. So do take each subject seriously, and even if what you learn is of no practical use in real life, the learning skills you get will be something you will value forever.

　　Follow your passion in college. Take courses you think you will enjoy. Don’t be bothered by what others think or say, but make up your own mind. Most importantly, make true friends and be happy. Don’t worry about their hobbies, grades, looks, or even personalities.

Start planning early what you’d like to do. Where would you like to live? What would you like to learn? I think your plan to study fashion is good, and you should decide where you want to be, and get onto the right courses. I will always be there for you, but the time has come for you to be in the driver’s seat – this is your life, and you need to be in corral. Being in control feels great. Try it, and you’ll love it!

So please treasure your college years – make the best use of your free time, become an in depended ticker in control of your destiny, and learn through your successes and challengers.

May your years at Columbia be the happiest of your life, and may you grow into just what you dream to be .

Love,

Dad (& Mom)

(Excerpt from Kai – Fu Lee’s letter to his daughter)

1．We can read between the lined that            .

        A．Dad has s strong love for his daughter

         B．Dad is very strict with his daughter

         C．Dad always worries about his daughter

         D．Dad is much concerned about his daughter’s health

2．The underlined word “destiny” in the passage is the closest in meaning to “_______”.

         A．weight        B．life      C．position      D．time

3．Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

         A．Plan thing – before you do them.

         B．Self – learning as very important in college.

         C．Follow your passion and what other people say.

         D．Leading a life is just like driving a car.

4．The purpose of the author in writing the letter is to tell his daughter to_________.

        A．smile to her trouble in life B．fight till she succeeds

         C．be confident and happy    D．make the most of the college