If there is no difference in general intelligence(智力)between boys and girls,what can explain girls' poor performance in science and mathematics?
It seems to be that their treatment at school is a direct cause.Mathematics and science are seen as subjects mainly for boys,and therefore ,as girls become tee
nagers,they are less likely to take them.Interestingly,both boys and girls often
regard the subjects for boys as more difficult.Yet it has been suggested that girls do not take mathematics courses ,not because they are difficult,but for social reasons.Girls do not want to be in open competition with boys because they are afraid to appear less feminine(女性的)and attractive.
However,if we examine the performance of boys and girls who have taken mathematics courses,there are still more high?achieving boys than there are girls.This difference appears to be world?wide.Biological explanations have been offered for this,but there are other explanations too.
Perhaps the difference which comes out during the teenage years has its roots in much earlier experiences.From their first days in kindergarten,boys are encouraged to work on their own and to complete tasks.Facts show that outstanding(杰出的)mathematicians and scientists have not had teachers who supplied answers.
Besides,there can be little doubt that teachers of mathematics and science expect their boy students to do better at these subjects than their girl students.They even appear to encourage the difference between boys and girls.They spend more time with the boy students ,giving them more time to answer questions and working harder to get correct answers from them.They are more likely to call on boys for answers and to allow them to take the lead in classroom discussion.They also praise boys more frequently.All of this seems to encourage boys to work harder in science and mathematics and to give them confidence(信心)that they are able to succeed.
Such a way of teaching is not likely to encourage girls to take many mathematics
and science courses,nor is it likely to support girls who do.When it comes to these subjects it seems certain that school widens the difference between boys and girls.
1.Girls are likely to think that____________.
A.science courses are for both boys and girls
B.science courses make them more popular
C.science courses make them successful        
D.science courses are difficult for them          
2.The text mainly discusses_____________reasons for the difference between boys and girls in scientific achievements. 
A.biological         B.historical          C.social       D.personal          
3.What are boys usually encouraged to do at school?
A.To get help with their homework.        
B.To play the leading role in class.        
C.To work with girl students in class.        
D.To learn to take care of others.          
4.What does the passage say about great mathematicians?        
A.Their teachers did not supply answers to them.        
B.They started learning mathematics at an earlier age.        
C.They showed mathematical abilities in their teenage years.
D.Their success resulted from their strong interest in mathematics.?
5.The author would probably agree that_____________.
A.boys and girls learn in the same way        
B.boys and girls are equal in general intelligence        
C.girls are more confident in themselves than before        
D.girls should take fewer science courses than boys          

1----5   DCBAB    

1.要求考生根據(jù)細節(jié)進行推斷。文章第二段中第三句話說明女孩們不愿選修這些理科課程,似乎認為這些很難。答案為D。 
2.考查概括主旨大意的能力。文中第三段雖提到了biological reason,但這并不是作者要強
調(diào)的!癇iological explanations have been offered for this ,but there are other explanations too.”再看全文,作者主要探討的是學校教育,甚至學前教育所造成的影響,屬于social reasons.答案為C。 
3.這是一道細節(jié)理解題。文章第五段在討論學校教育時說“They are more likely to call on boys for answers and to allow them to take the lead in classroom discussion.”意思就是說在班里起帶頭作用。答案為B。 
4.考查對文章細節(jié)的理解能力。第四段提到男女生的差異可能源于他們在幼兒園的教育。對大數(shù)學家的調(diào)查提到“Facts show that outstanding mathematicians and scientists have not had teachers who supplied answers.”答案為A。 
5.考查對作者觀點的理解。文章第一句話說“If there is no difference in general intelligence between boys and girls…”,表明作者承認男女之間智力并無大的差異,導致他們后天在理科方面的差距的直接原因不是學校教育。之后作者不再提智力方面的差異,說明作者承認這個前提。答案為B。 
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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Pushy parents and teachers who “hothouse” the under-5s risk causing damage to the children’s long term development, a leading education expert said.
Lilian Katz, Professor of Education at the University of Illinois, said that four-year-olds engaged in reading and writing went on to perform worse academiclly than those engaged in imaginative learning. They scored higher in tests at the age of 5, but children whose first year at school was stimulating outstripped them four years later.
The findings suggest that the government's structured approach to early years' learning could be storing up problems for children. They also raise serious questions about the plan for all children to be able to read by the age of 6.
In many countries formal teaching does not start until children are 6 or 7 and have improved their social and manual skills. Children start learning to read and write at 6 in the United States. France and Germany , and at 7 in Finland and Sweden.
Professor Katz said that in many schools the courses were "boring children to tears". Much academic teaching required children to learn by memorizing pieces of information out of context, she said. Teaching in reception class should instead allow children to develop their intellect by exploring their environments and asking questions.
"Research suggests the benefits of formal academic insturction for four- and five-year-olds seem to be promising when they are tested early, but considerably less so in the long term. When these children are followed over a period of three or more years, those who had early experience in more intellectually engaging curricula were more likely to do well in school than their peers, who had received early academic instruction." She avocates teaching children through first-hand experience and play, in mixed-aged classes. This can include puppet shows, drawing or running a pretend shop in the classroom.
1.According to the passage, those who “hothouse” the under-5s would probably _________.
A. prefer a lot of interaction and stimulation while teaching
B. teach in a lively way to motivate kids’ interest
C. push the kids to memorize pieces of information
D. care about the kids’ physical development
2.What does the underlined word “ outstripped” in Paragraph 2 mean?
A. did better than                               B. looked down upon
C. caught up with                                      D. performed worse than
3.According to Lilian Katz, the government’s structured approach to early-years learning ______.
A. is necessary for improving children’s reading and writing ability
B. needs to be improved to develop children’s academicability
C. will cause problems to children in their future learning
D. has more advantages than disadvantages
4.The message the author wants to deliver through the passage is that formal teaching _______.
A. can start at different times in different countries.
B. should not be started too early
C. is best carried out in Finland and Sweden
D. should include teaching children social and manual skills
5.Which of the following is NOT the opinion of Lilian Katz?
A. Children should be taught through first-hand experience.
B. Learning in a mixed-age class is good for children.
C. Running a shop can help children get good marks.
D. Puppet shows and drawing are useful easy in teaching children.

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Computers. Love them or hate them, it is impossible to escape from them in the modern age. They are so much a part of our everyday lives—from instant messaging to e-mails. With many people preferring to use e-mail rather than traditional regular mail, it has become very important to be aware of how we express ourselves when using e-mail. The requirement of etiquette(網(wǎng)絡禮儀)is obviously needed.
Grammar and spelling
Firstly, if you are dealing with a formal e-mail, pay close attention to grammar and spelling. Don’t forget to run your spell-check (program) at the end of the document, but don’t treat it as the final word. Carefully re-read it yourself, as sometimes even spell and grammar checking programs come up with some strange explanations. Remember, your first e-mail to a potential employer or college could be your last — you won’t want to spoil your first impression by making basic errors.
E-mail addresses
Also, for official e-mails, carefully consider your existing e-mail address. A funny e-mail address (such as pinkfluffycutiepie@…com) may be fine for using with your friends, but what impression do you think this address might give to an employer or college admissions officer? Consider using one address for personal e-mails and a different one for formal use.
Upper case(大寫字母)
Take care also NOT TO TYPE UNNECESSARILY IN UPPER CASE, as this is the e-mail version of shouting.
Personal information
You should beware too about giving away too much personal information over the Internet. It may feel much more comfortable to “talk” using instant messages as there are no uncomfortable silences or awkward moments, but never forget that—unless the person you are speaking to is a friend or family member—you really know nothing about them, so be careful. Further to this, NEVER agree to meet a stranger that you have spoken to online, as it can be extremely dangerous.
My final message though is—have fun! The Internet is exciting, useful and informative. But, as with so many things that we believe we can’t live without, it is a much better servant than a master.
60.The text is mainly about______.
A.how to express ourselves when using e-mail
B.computers, so much a part of our everyday lives
C.the Internet, a much better servant than a master
D.paying close attention to grammar and spelling when dealing with a formal e-mail
61.What does the underlined word “beware” mean?
A.think          B.be careful          C.care     D.know
62.If you use all capital letters, it looks like you are______.
A.yelling             B.careful             C.unprofessional       D.childish
63.Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?
A.As time goes by, many people prefer to use traditional regular mail again.
B.It’s fun to meet a stranger that you have spoken to online.
C.If you want to apply for a job, you can’t use a funny e-mail address when writing e-mails..
D.Grammar and spelling are not important when you write e-mails.

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it “was too crowded.” “I can’t go to Sunday School,” she sobbed to the pastor (牧師) as he walked by.Seeing her shabby appearance, the pastor guessed the reason, and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class.The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.
Some years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor buildings and the parents called for the kindhearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements.As her poor little body was being moved, a worn purse was found which seemed to have been picked up from some trash dump.Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, “This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.”
For two years she had saved for this offering of love.When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do.Carrying this note, he told people the story of her unselfish love and devotion.
A newspaper learned of the story and published it.It was read by a Realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands.When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for 57 cents.
Church members made large donations.Checks came from far and wide.Within five years the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000, a huge sum for that time.
When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300 and Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained.Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of Sunday scholars, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.
41.Why did the girl have a purse with 57 cents?
A.To save money for her future career.
B.To build a large building for more children to live in.
C.To help build a church big enough for every child to go to.
D.To remind people to make remarkable history.
42.How did a Realtor help the church?
A.He made the story known to the public by publishing it.
B.He sold a land to the church for free.
C.He offered the church a piece of land for 57 cents.
D.He raised money for the church.
43.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.Church members donated because of their desire for a big church.
B.The girl’s unselfish love was rewarded at last.
C.The pastor found 57 cents saved by the little girl.
D.Temple Baptist Church, Temple University, Good Samaritan Hospital and a Sunday School building all belong to the small church the little girl went to.
44.What’s the best title of the passage?
A.57 Cents                B.A little girl’s wish
C.Pastor and Girl              D.A bigger Church

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Move Earth—it’s no science fiction
LONDON-Scientists have found an unusual way to prevent our planet from overheating: move it to a cooler spot. All you have to do is send a few comets(彗星)in the direction of Earth, and its orbit will be changed. Our world will then be sent spinning into a safer, colder part of the solar system.
This idea for improving our climate comes from a group of US National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) engineers and American astronomers. They say their plan could add another six billion years to the useful lifetime of our planet—effectively doubling its working life.
The plan put forward by Dr Laughlin, and his colleagues Don Korycansky and Fred Adams
,needs carefully directing a comet or asteroid so that it passes close by our planet and sends some of its gravitational energy to Earth.
“Earth’s orbital speed would increase as a result and we would move to a higher orbit away from the Sun,”Laughlin said.
Engineers would then direct their comet so that it passed close to Jupiter or Saturn. The comet would pick up energy from one of these giant planets. Later its orbit would bring it back to Earth, and the process would be repeated.
In the short term, the plan provides an ideal way to global warming, although the team was actually concerned with a much greater danger. The sun is certain to heat up in about a billion years and so “seriously compromise” our biosphere(生物圈)—by cooking us.
That’s why the group decided to try to save Earth.
The plan has one or two worrying aspects, however. For a start, space engineers would have to be very careful about how they directed their asteroid or comet towards Earth. The smallest miscalculation(誤算)in orbit could fire it straight at Earth—with deadly consequences.
There is also the question of the Moon. As the current issue of Scientific American magazine points out, if Earth was pushed out of its current position it is “most likely the Moon would be stripped away from Earth,” it states. This would greatly change our planet’s climate.
1. What makes the scientists plan to move Earth?
A. A few comets are moving to the direction of Earth.
B. Earth’s working life is coming to an end soon.
C. Earth will become too hot for mankind to keep alive.
D. The moon is moving farther and farther away from Earth.
2.If the plan is successful, Earth will have a working life of ______years.
A.12 billion                  B.6 billion                    C.18 billion                  D.24 billion
3.What serious problems might the plan cause according to the passage?
A. The comet might hit Earth and man might lose the moon.
B. Earth might be moved too far away and man might be frozen to death.
C. The comet might hit Jupiter or Saturn and never return to Earth.
D. Earth’s working life might be greatly shortened.
4.What does the underlined word “compromise” mean?
A. provide                    B. benefit              C. share     D. endanger
5.Which of the following best shows how the plan would work?

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


It seems that some people go out of their way to get into trouble. That’s more or less what happened the night that Nashville Police Officer Floyd Hyde was on duty.
“I was on the way to a personal-injury accident in West Nashville. As I got onto Highway 40, blue lights and sirens(警笛)going, I fell in behind a gold Pontiac Firebird that suddenly seemed to take off quickly down the highway. The driver somehow panicked at the sight of me. He was going more than a hundred miles an hour and began passing cars on the shoulder.”
But Hyde couldn’t go after him. Taking care of injured people is always more important than worrying about speeders, so the officer had to stay on his way to the accident. But he did try to keep the Firebird in sight as he drove, hoping another nearby unit would be able to step in and stop the speeding car. As it turned out, keeping the Firebird in sight was not that difficult. Every turn the Pontiac made was the very turn the officer needed to get to the accident scene.
Hyde followed the Pontiac all the way to his destination (目的地). At that point he found another unit had already arrived at the accident scene. His help wasn’t needed. Now he was free to try to stop the driver of the Firebird, who by this time had developed something new to panic about.
“Just about that time,” Hyde says, “I saw fire coming out from under that car, with blue smoke and oil going everywhere. He’d blown his engine. Now he had to stop.”
“After I arrested him, I asked him why he was running. He told me he didn’t have a driver’s license(執(zhí)照).”
That accident cost the driver of the Firebird plenty - a thousand dollars for the new engine- not to mention the charges for driving without a license, attempting to run away, and dangerous driving.
63. The meaning of “panicked” in Paragraph 2 is related to _____.
A. shame B. hate    C. anger  D. fear
64. Why did the driver of the Firebird suddenly speed down the highway?
A. Because he was racing with another driver on the road.
B. Because he realized he had to hurry to the accident scene.
C. Because he thought the police officer wanted to stop him.
D. Because he wanted to overtake other cars on the shoulder.
65. Which of the following statements is true?
A. Someone else was taking care of the injured person.
B. The Pontiac reached its destination at the accident scene.
C. Hyde knew where he was going by following the right car.
D. The policeman was running after a speeder on Highway 40.
66. The driver of the Firebird ______.
A. took a wrong turn on the way
B. had some trouble with his car
C. was stopped by the police officer
D. paid for the expenses of the accident
67. What is probably the best title for the article?
A. Losing His Way?   B. Going My Way?
C. Fun All the Way?   D. Help on the Way?

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

These days we hear a lot about how air pollution is changing temperatures on the earth. New evidence from a mountaintop in China now suggests that pollution can also change the amount of rain and snow that falls in some places.
Usually, more rain falls in mountainous places than in flat areas upwind from the mountains. That’s because air can hold a lot of water. When wind blows wet air up a mountainside, the air gets colder. This temperature change often forces water to fall as rain or snow.
In recent years, however, many mountainous areas in the western United States have been getting less rain than normal. Mountains that are downwind from cities have experienced the biggest drops.
Some scientists have theorized(推理)that pollution drifts (趨勢)from the cities into the mountains, affecting rainfall, but proving this link has been difficult.
Searching for answers, a team led by a scientist from the Hebrew University went to s mountain in China called Mount Hua, which is 2,060 meters tall and lies about 120 kilometers east of the Chinese city Xi’an. Since 1954, scientists have been collecting details about rainfall, humidity(濕度), and visibility(能見度)in the area.
Using this data, the scientists compared rainfall on Mount Hua to rainfall in the nearest city, Huayin, on days with different levels of visibility. When the air was clear and people could see as far as 20 km, the scientists found that 65% more rain fell on the mountain than in the city.
But when the air was smoggy, allowing only 8 km of visibility through the mist, the mountain received just 20% more rain than the city. The new data supports the theory that pollution affects rainfall.
Some scientists believe that there are other explanations for the numbers. It’s possible, for example, that natural particles(微粒)in the air, rather than particles produced by pollution, are affecting visibility.
小題1:According to the 1st paragraph, air pollution is changing the following EXCEPT ______.
A.the temperature B.the amount of rain
C.the habit of eatingD.the amount of snow
小題2:According to the passage, what will probably happen when the wet air in the sky gets colder?
A.It will probably rain or snowB.It will probably be cloudy.
C.It will probably windD.It will probably become dry.
小題3:Why did the team led by a scientist go to Mount Hua?
A.They wanted to pay a visit to Mount Hua.
B.They wanted to collect the data for their theory.
C.They wanted to measure Mount Hua.
D.They wanted to have a good rest on Mount Hua.
小題4:You can most probably read the passage in _______.
A.a(chǎn) travel guide
B.a(chǎn) telephone book
C.a(chǎn) cartoon book
D.a(chǎn) science book

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Sports shoes that work out whether their owner has done enough exercise to warrant time in front of the television have been devised in the UK.
The shoes — named Square Eyes — contain an electronic pressure sensor and a tiny computer chip to record how many steps the wearer has taken in a day. A wireless transmitter(傳話器) passes the information to a receiver connected to a television, and this decides how much evening viewing time the wearer deserves, based on the day’s efforts.
The design was inspired by a desire to fight against the rapidly ballooning waistlines among British teenagers, says Gillian Swan, who developed Square Eyes as a final year design project at Brunel University to London, UK. “We looked at current issues and childhood overweight really stood out,” she says. “And I wanted to tackle that with my design.”
Once a child has used up their daily allowance gained through exercise, the television automatically switches off. And further time in front of the TV can only be earned through more steps.
Swan calculated how exercise should translate to television time using the recommended daily amounts of both. Health experts suggest that a child take 12,000 steps each day and watch no more than two hours of television. So, every 100 steps recorded by the Square Eyes shoes equals precisely one minute of TV time.
Existing pedometers (計步器) normally clip onto a belt or slip into a pocket and keep count of steps by measuring sudden movement. Swan says these can be easily tricked into recording steps through shaking. But her shoe has been built to be harder for lazy teenagers to cheat. “It is possible, but it would be a lot of effort,” she says. “That was one of my main design considerations.”
小題1:According to Swan, the purpose of her design project is to ________.
A.keep a record of the steps of the wearer
B.deal with overweight among teenagers
C.enable children to resist the temptation of TV
D.prevent children from being tricked by TV programs
小題2:Which of the following is true of Square Eyes shoes?
A.They regulate a child’s evening TV viewing time.
B.They determine a child’s daily pocket money.
C.They have raised the hot issue of overweight.
D.They contain information of the receiver.
小題3:What is stressed(強調(diào))by health experts in their suggestion?
A.The exact number of steps to be taken.
B.The precise number of hours spent on TV.
C.The proper amount of daily exercise and TV time.
D.The way of changing steps into TV watching time.
小題4:Compared with other similar products, the new design ________.
A.makes it difficult for lazy teenagers to cheat
B.counts the wearer’s steps through shaking
C.records the sudden movement of the wearer
D.sends teenagers’ health data to the receiver
小題5:Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A.Smart Shoes Decide on Television Time
B.Smart Shoes Guarantee More Exercise
C.Smart Shoes Measure Time of Exercise
D.Smart Shoes Stop Childhood Overweight

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

A new college guide in the United States compares educational requirements in seven subjects. These include math, science, writing and United States history or government. The other subjects are economics, foreign language and literature.
The free online guide is from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. The council is a nonprofit group that supports liberal arts education.
Its president, Anne Neal, says these areas of knowledge are needed to succeed in a twenty-first century society and an increasingly connected world. Yet she told VOA’s Faiza Elmasry it was surprising how many students can graduate with, in her words, a “thin education.”
Forty-two of the one hundred colleges and universities surveyed received the lowest marks. This meant they required two or fewer of the seven subjects. Five schools received a top grade for requiring six subjects. These were Brooklyn College in New York City, Texas A&M, the University of Texas-Austin, West Point and the University of Arkansas.
Robert Costrell is a professor of education reform and economics at the University of Arkansas. He says many, if not all, of the top American colleges once had a core curriculum —a set of courses required for all students.
But over the years, many have dropped these requirements. Or they have watered them down, Professor Costrell says, into what became known as distribution requirements. This system lets a student choose from a number of different courses to satisfy a requirement.
ROBERT COSTRELL: “And in many cases these courses went too far, I would say, towards the fluffy treatment of serious material, and students could satisfy their requirement by taking such courses.”
Professor Costrell says schools should not only re-examine what they teach. They should also measure what students have learned — for example, through some form of examinations or papers.
A new report this week from the College Board showed that college prices continue to rise. But Anne Neal from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni says higher prices do not guarantee a better general education. In fact, the group found that the higher the tuition, the more likely that students have to develop their own general education.
The college guide is on the Web at whatwilltheylearn.com. Anne Neal says her group is surveying more colleges. The hope, she says, is to discover what college graduates have really learned, and how ready they are to compete in the global marketplace.
67. Where does the passage probably come from?
A. A scientific fiction.                      B. A research newspaper.  
C. A fashion magazine.                     D. An entertainment newspaper.
68. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni does all the following EXCEPT _________.
A. support liberal arts education
B. concern itself with education in America
C. devote time to helping improve college education
D. make money by helping with college education
69. The words “watered them down” underlined in Paragraph 6 most likely mean “_______.”
A. reduced required courses                 B. improved required courses
C. increased required courses                D. developed required courses
70. In this passage, the new college guide mainly tells its readers that American colleges  should ______.
A. meet the requirements of the new century
B. reduce the number of required courses
C. have different standards on required courses
D. cut down on their tuitions

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