Sitting across from his teacher, Edgar Martinez repeated the word he couldn't quite pronounce: "situation".The teacher, LisaMojsin, hired to help Martinez reduce his accent, said the word slowly; "Sit-chew-a-shun." "I wish he had taught me this 20 years ago." said Martinez, 37, who comes from Mexico and lives in Los Angeles.In private tutoring classes throughout the nation, immigrants are focused on sounding more American.
Accent reduction classes have been around for years, but experts say."As our workforce becomes more and more global, these classes are becoming more and more popular." Private tutors said they answer calls almost daily from students, when just a few years ago the phones rang only occasionally.Author Amy Gillett said that sales of her book and CD set, "Speak English Like an American", have increased three times in the last few years.Judy Ravin, President of the Accent Reduction Institute, said she has hundreds of students who follow her program, "Lose Your Accent in 28 Days".
Though there is a general tolerance for diversity, experts said, reality has made some immigrants who sound different feel unwelcome.If someone speaks with an accent associated with an Asian language, they may work as engineers or computer scientists.If someone speaks with certain Spanish accents, people may think they are recent immigrants working in landscaping or the hospitality industry (招待性行業(yè)).A French accent gives images of romance.An Australian accent brings to mind adventure and fun.
Accent reduction students said they are aware of how they sound and whether their accents limit their job opportunities or spoil their social lives.Jennie Lo, aged 43, said her accent has been an embarrassment.Sometimes people couldn't even understand her when she said her name.While in college in Oklahoma, Lo said she didn't make many friends, tearing that no one could make out her words.Lo is now taking accent reduction classes and hopes to apply for a manager position at work."I just want to feel good about myself," she said."If I really work hard, if I practice every day, I can't be perfect.But I can be better."
小題1:In the whole passage, the first paragraph serves as a(n) _____.
A.introductionB.comment
C.explanationD.background
小題2:What does the author want to express in the second paragraph?
A.The effect that popular accent reduction classes have.
B.The fact that accent reduction classes become popular.
C.The steps how accent reduction classes become popular.
D.The reasons why accent reduction classes become popular.
小題3:If someone speaks with certain Asian accents, people may think _____.
A.they are romanticB.they are hospitality workers
C.they are computer scientistsD.they love adventure and fun
小題4:What is Jennie Lo's attitude towards her taking accent reduction classes?
A.Confident.B.Helpless.
C.Proud.D.Anxious.

小題1:A
小題1:B
小題1:C
小題1:A

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings(缺點(diǎn)). Sometimes she said I was thin. Sometimes she said I was lazy. Sometimes she said I wasn’t a good student. Sometimes she said I talked too much, and so on. I tried to put up with(忍受) her as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, and then he asked, “Are the things she said true or not? Mary, didn’t you ever wonder what you’re really like? Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.”
I did as he told me and to my surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true.
I brought the list back to my dad. He refused to take it. “That’s just for you,” he said. “You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be helpful to you. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you think is right.”
Many years have passed. The situation often appears in my mind. In our life we often meet with some trouble and we often go to someone and ask for advice. For some advice you will treasure(珍惜) all your life!
小題1:What did the writer’s father do after he heard her complaints(抱怨)?
A.He agreed with her “enemy”.
B.he let her continue to put up with her “enemy”.
C.He told her to write down all her “enemy” had said about her.
D.He told her not to pay attention to what her “enemy” had said.
小題2:The writer felt ______ when she did the things as her father had told her.
A.surprisedB.a(chǎn)ngryC.disappointedD.sad
小題3:Which of the following can we know from the passage?
A.The “enemy” thought the writer was pretty.
B.The “enemy” thought the writer studied hard.
C.The writer and her “enemy” became best friends at last.
D.The writer is grateful to her father.
小題4:Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
A.My Parents
B.A Serious Criticism(批評(píng))
C.What People Say About You Is Always Right
D.The Best Advice I Ever Had

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Some American parents might think their children need better education to compete with those in China and other countries. But how much do the parents themselves need to change?
A new book called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua has caused a debate about cultural differences in parenting. In Chinese culture, the tiger represents strength and power. In the book, Ms. Chua writes about how she demanded excellence from her daughters. She said that she had a clear list of what her daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were not permitted to do, such as attending a sleepover, having a play date, watching TV or playing computer games and getting any grade less than an A.
Many people have criticized Amy Chua. Some say her parenting methods were abusive(辱罵的). She even admits that her husband, who is not Chinese, sometimes objected to her parenting style. But she says that it was the way her parents raised her and her three sisters.
Ms. Chua makes fun of her own extreme style of parenting. She says she eased some of the pressure after her younger daughter rebelled and shouted, “I hate my life! I hate you!”
Ms. Chua says she decided to retreat when it seemed like there was a risk that she might lose her daughters. But she also says American parents often have low expectations of their children’s abilities. “One of the biggest differences I see between Western and Chinese parents is that Chinese parents assume strength rather than fragility(脆弱),” she said.
“The beginning of this intense discussion has to do with what it means to be a successful parent and what it means to be a successful child,” said Stacy Debroff, who has written four books about parenting.
Ms. Debroff says Amy Chua’s parenting style is not limited to Chinese families. She says it represents a traditional way of parenting among immigrants(移民) seeking a better future for their children.
But she also sees a risk. When children have no time to be social or to follow their own interests, they might not develop other skills that they need to succeed in life. Stacey Debroff advises parents to develop their own styles of parenting and not just repeat the way they were raised.
小題1:Amy Chua has been criticized mainly because ____.
A.she looks up to boys and down on girls
B.she has already abused her right as a parent
C.she hasn’t raised her children like her own parents
D.she has fought with her children several times
小題2:Which can best describe Ms. Chua according to the passage?
A.Uneducated.B.Cruel.C.Strict.D.Strong.
小題3: According to Ms. Debroff, _____.
A.Amy Chua’s parenting style should be banned(禁止) in China
B.Amy Chua’s should stop to adopt American parenting styles
C.Amy Chua’s parenting style should be adjusted if possible
D.There isn’t any advantages in Amy Chua’s style
小題4:What does the underlined word “retreat” in Paragraph 5 mean?
A.Give in.B.Pass away.C.Cry out.D.Go ahead.
小題5:What should be the best title of this passage?
A.Some books on studying styles.
B.The disadvantage of Chinese parenting styles
C.Differences between western and eastern parenting styles
D.The comparison between American and Chinese parenting styles

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Against the supposition(假設(shè))that forest fires in Alaska, Canada and Siberia warm the climate, scientists have discovered that cooling may occur in areas where burnt trees allow more snow to mirror more sunlight into space.
This finding suggests that taking steps to prevent northern forest to limit the release of greenhouse gases may warm the climate in northern regions. Usually large fires destroyed forests in these areas over the past decade. Scientists predict that with climate warming, fires may occur more frequently over next several centuries as a result of a longer fire season. Sunlight taken in by the earth tends to cause warming, while heat mirrored back into space tends to cause cooling.
This is the first study to analyze all aspects of how northern fires influence climate. Earlier studies by other scientists have suggested that fire in northern regions speed up climate warming because greenhouse gases from burning trees and plants are released into the atmosphere and thus trap heat.
Scientists found that right after the fire, large amounts of greenhouse gases entered the atmosphere and caused warming. Ozone(臭氧)levels increased, and ash from the fire fell on far-off sea ice, darkening the surface and causing more radiation from the sun to be taken in. The following spring, however, the land within the area of the fire was brighter than before the fire, because fewer trees covered the ground. Snow on the ground mirrored more sunlight back into space, leading to cooling.
“We need to find out all possible ways to reduce the growth of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.” Scientists tracked the change in amount of radiation entering and leaving the climate system as a result of the fire, and found a measurement closely related to the global air temperature. Typically, fire in northern regions occurs in the same area every 80 to 150 years. Scientists, however, found that when fire occurs more frequently, more radiation is lost from the earth and cooling results. Specifically, they determined when fire returns 20 years earlier than predicated, 0.5 watts per square meter of area burned are soaked up by the earth from greenhouse gases, but 0.9 watts per square meter will be sent back into space. The net effect is cooling. Watts are used to measure the rate at which energy is gained or lost from the earth.
小題1:According to the new findings, taking steps to prevent northern forest fires may _______.
   
A.result in a warming climate
B.cause the forest fires to occur more frequently
C.lead to a longer fire season
D.protect the forests and the environment there
小題2: The following are all the immediate effects after a forest fire EXCEPT _________.
A.large amounts of greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere
B.the levels of ozone which is a type of oxygen increase
C.snow on the ground mirrors more sunlight back into space
D.a(chǎn)shes from the fire fall on the ice surface and take in more radiation from the sun
小題3:Earlier studies about northern forest fires _________.
A.a(chǎn)nalyze all aspects of how northern fires influence climate
B.indicate that forest fires will pollute the atmosphere
C.suggest that people should take measures to protect environment
D.suggest that the fires will speed up climate warming
小題4:The underlined part “soaked up” in the last paragraph most probably means ________.
A.releasedB.a(chǎn)bsorbedC.createdD.distributed
小題5:From the passage we can draw a conclusion that forest fires in Alaska, Canada and Siberia may __________.
A.warm the climate as the supposition goes
B.a(chǎn)llow more snow to reflect more sunlight into space and thus cool the climate
C.destroy large areas of forests and pollute the far-off sea ice
D.help to gain more energy rather than release more energy

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Apple iPod classic 160 GB Black (7th Generation) NEWEST MODEL



Meet a Musical Genius
Say you’re listening to a song you really like and want to hear other ones that go great with it. With a few clicks, the Genius feature finds the songs in your library that go great together and makes a Genius playlist for you. You can listen to the playlist right away, save it for later, or even refresh it and give it another go.
Hold everything
iPod classic gives you 160GB of storage (容量) capacity, good for up to 40,000 songs, 200 hours of video, or 25,000 photos. And you get up to 36 hours of battery life, so you can keep on rocking for a long long time.
With 160GB of space, iPod classic means you can always have your entire music and movie library with you. Carry it from the living room to a party in the backyard. Or take it on a cross- country road trip and never listen to the same song twice.
Watch movies and TV Shows
The bright 2.5-inch display makes video come alive. Purchase or rent movies, buy TV shows, and download video podcasts from the iTunes Store, then sync (同步) them to your iPod classic to watch anywhere, anytime.
Play iPod Games
Put hours of fun at your fingertips. iPod classic comes with three free games- Vortex, iQuiz, and Klondike, and you can purchase games such as Cake Mania from the iTunes Store. All iPod games are designed specially for the iPod interface.
Share your photos
iPod classic uses iTunes to sync the photos you have in iPhoto on a Mac. You can view photo slideshows complete with music and transitions on iPod classic, or play them on a TV using an AV cable.
小題1:If you order an Apple iPod classic now, you can save        .
A.$218.54B.$51.45 C.$24.36 D.$31.45
小題2:The advertisement wants to emphasize that       .
A.the Apple iPod classic has a powerful storage capacity
B.the customer can enjoy a good post-sale service
C.the Apple iPod classic has a big display screen
D.you can enjoy photos while listening to music
小題3:The battery can last as long as       .
A.46 hoursB.36 hoursC.30 hours D.25 hours
小題4:You have to pay extra money of you want to play the game        .
A.Cake ManiaB.VortexC.iQuizD.Klondike
小題5: The writer wrote the passage mainly to        .
A.introduce the newest model of Apple iPodB.list the functions of Apple iPod classic
C.a(chǎn)ttract the customers to buy the newest model
D.tell the customers how to operate the new model

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Teaching children to read well from the start is the most important task of elementary schools.But relying on educators to approach this task correctly can be a great mistake.Many schools continue to employ instructional methods that have been proven ineffective.The staying power of the “l(fā)ook-say” or “whole-word” method of teaching beginning reading is perhaps the most flagrant example of this failure to instruct effectively.
The whole-word approach to reading stresses the meaning of words over the meaning of letters, thinking over decoding, developing a sight vocabulary of familiar words over developing the ability to unlock the pronunciation of unfamiliar words.It fits in with the self-directed, “l(fā)earning how to learn” activities recommended by advocates of “open” classrooms and with the concept that children have to be developmentally ready to begin reading.Before 1963, no major publisher put out anything but these “Run-Spot-Run” readers.
However, in 1955, Rudolf Flesch touched off what has been called “the great debate”  in beginning reading.In his best-seller Why Johnny Can’t Read, Flesch indicted(控訴)the nation’s public schools for miseducating students by using the look-say method.He said – and more scholarly studies by Jeane Chall and Rovert Dykstra later confirmed – that another approach to beginning reading, founded on phonics, is far superior.
Systematic phonics first teaches children to associate letters and letter combinations with sounds; it then teaches them how to blend these sounds together to make words.Rather than building up a relatively limited vocabulary of memorized words, it imparts a code by which the pronunciations of the vast majority of the most common words in the English language can be learned.Phonics does not devalue the importance of thinking about the meaning of words and sentences; it simply recognizes that decoding is the logical and necessary first step.
小題1:The author indicts the look-say reading approach because ________.
A.it overlooks decoding
B.Rudolf Flesch agrees with him
C.he says it is boring
D.many schools continue to use this method
小題2:One major difference between the look-say method of learning reading and the phonics method is _________.
A.look-say is simpler
B.Phonics takes longer to learn
C.look-say is easier to teach
D.phonics gives readers access to far more words
小題3:The phrase “touch-off”(Para 3, Line 1) most probably means _________.
A.talk about shortlyB.start or cause
C.compare withD.oppose

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Geniuses amaze us,impress us and make us all a little jealous. How do they differ from the average person?Scientists are working hard to figure out that answer. Tune in to the National Geographic Channel to find out about the discoveries they’re making in the series My Brilliant Brain.
When Marc Yu was only two years old,he began to play the piano. After a year, he started learning pieces by Beethoven. Now he’s a world-famous concert pianist at age eight. He learns newer and more difficult pieces with ease and can identify any note he hears. He seems to be specially designed for music. In Born Genius, National Geographic looks at the science behind child prodigies (神童) to explain why some children seem to be born without limits.
Geniuses didnt come naturally to Tommy McHugh. His came only after he nearly died from bleeding in his brain. After recovering, McHugh’s head was filled with new thoughts and picture. So, he began to express them in the form of poetry and art. Now, he’s a seemingly unstoppable creative machine. Suffers of brain injury have shown that great mental ability can sometimes come from damage or disease. Accidental Genius explores this puzzling relationship.
Can normal people be trained to be geniuses? Susan Polger has shown no sign of extraordinary intelligence. Yet, during her childhood, she studied thousands of chess patterns and learned to recognize them immediately. As a result, she was able to beat skilled adult players by age 10 and can now play up to five games at the same time without even seeing the boards. Make Me a Genius examines what is takes to turn an ordinary brain into that of a genius.
If becoming a genius were easy, we’d all be done. Yet, there is much more to super intelligence than simply being born lucky. Learn more about amazing brains this month on National Geographic’s My Brilliant Brain.
小題1: In paragraph 2, Marc Yu’s story tells us_________________.
A.a(chǎn) child prodigy can work easier than others.
B.a(chǎn) child prodigy is trained by family.
C.a(chǎn) child prodigy has an unbelievable listening skill.
D.a(chǎn) child prodigy always practise his skills.
小題2:In paragraph 3, the sentence “Geniuses didn’t come naturally to Tommy McHugh.” means that ______________.
A.Tommy McHugh could not be called a genius.
B.Tommy McHugh became a genius when he was young.
C.Tommy McHugh was a robot but not a real human being.
D.Tommy McHugh became a genius after a sudden accident.
小題3:The writer provides different examples to _____________.
A.show how people can be geniuses.B.show becoming a genius is easy.
C.show geniuses are common.D.show people know how to explain geniuses.
小題4:The passage may come from_________.
A.a(chǎn) reportB.a(chǎn) novel C.a(chǎn) TV programD.a(chǎn) newspaper

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Why should I teach my children history? That sounds like a stupid question to even ask.But,as I hear different home schooling teachers discuss history,I get the idea that there may be different reasons for teaching history.Let me briefly explain the three good reasons for studying history and two bad reasons for studying history.
The major reason I see for studying history is that we can learn from the past.I believe that the world would be a much better place if more people understood the successes and failures of the past and the things that made these successes and failures.However,as the unfortunately(不幸地)true statement goes ‘‘the one thing we seem to learn from history is that we don't seem to
learn from history”,perhaps at least in teaching history, to my children I can do a small part in changing this.
A second major reason for studying history is that it is hard to understand the current(目前的)political climate in the absence of an understanding of its historical context(背景).We can not
even understand why we are and where we are without history,much less try to figure out where we are going or how we should get where we want to be.
I teach my children history,for one more reason.I bought a set of historical audio tapes for our children.My seven-year-old son listened to them over and over.It was my hope that he would
become inspired by the accomplishments(成就)of people like the Wright brothers to accomplish things by himself.I think that it is good that we celebrate the accomplishments of people like Martin Luther King Jr. By doing so,young people are called on to stand for the principles that he stood for and accomplish what he didn’t accomplish.I also think that by studying people like Adolph Hitler,people can learn to stand against the things that he stood for.
小題1:What message can we get from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 ?
A.Many people aren’t clever enough to learn well from the past.
B.Many people fail to make good use of history and make the same mistakes.
C.Many people feel it hard to understand history.
D.Many people have no interest in studying history.
小題2:In Paragraph 3,the author shows that history is useful because
A.it makes the current political situation go smoothly
B.it helps us realize the importance of historical events
C.it helps us understand why things are the way they are
D.it helps people accept the present situation where they live
小題3:Some historical figures are mentioned in the last paragraph to show____.
A.people can be inspired to do good and also learn to fight against evil
B.people may also learn from bad historical figures
C.more celebrations should be held to honor their achievements
D.today’s people can also achieve what they achieved
小題4:What would be talked about in the following paragraph?
A.How to teach history effectively.
B.Some negative reasons for studying history.
C.How to get more people to study history.
D.Some bad historical figures.

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Do you want to improve the way you study? Do you feel nervous before a test? Many students say that a lack of concentration (注意力) is their biggest problem. It seriously affects their ability to study, so do their test results.
If so, use these tips to help you.
Study Techniques
l You should always study in the same place. You shouldn’t sit in a position that you use for another purpose. For example, when you sit on a sofa to study, your brain will think it is time to relax. Don’t watch TV while you are studying. Experts warn that your concentration may be reduced by 50 percent if you attempt to study in this way. Always try to have a white wall in front of you, so there is nothing to distract (make less concentrated) you. Before sitting down to study, gather together all the equipment you need. Apart from your textbooks, pens, pencils and knives, make sure you have a dictionary. If your study desk or table is needed when you are not studying, store all your equipment in a box beside it.
l Your eyes will become tired if you try to read a text which is on a flat surface. Position your book at an angle of 30 degrees.
l Be realistic and don’t try to complete too much in one study period. Finish one thing before beginning another. If you need a break, get up and walk around for a few minutes, but try not to telephone a friend or have something to eat.
Test-taking Skills
l All your hard work will be for nothing if you are too nervous to take your test. Getting plenty of
rest is very important. This means do not study all night before your test! It is a better idea to have a long-term study plan. Try to make a timetable for your study which lasts for a few months.
l Exercise is a great way to reduce pressure. Doing some form of exercise every day will also
improve your concentration. Eat healthy food too.
l When you arrive in the examination room, find your seat and sit down. Breathe slowly and
deeply. Check the time on the clock during the test, but not too often. Above all, take no notice of everyone else and give the test paper your undivided attention.
小題1:Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.You should study in a different place every day, so you don’t get bored.
B.Your concentration will improve if you study and watch TV at the same time.
C.Check the time during the exam at a certain time.
D.Staying up all night and studying is tiring, but you will learn a lot using this method.
小題2:What does the underlined word “it”(paragraph 2)refer to?
A.Your study desk or table.B.Your textbook.
C.Your dictionary.D.The equipment you need.
小題3:What can be inferred from the passage?
A.You shouldn’t look at everyone else during the test.
B.You will have enough energy to deal with your study and exams by eating healthy diet.
C.You’ll concentrate more if there is nothing to distract you.
D.If you feel tired during study, you can walk around for a few minutes.

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