Recent America's Promise Alliance carried out research on national high school graduation rates. It is a
private (私人的) group helping children receive services they need to succeed. On Tuesday it held a meeting
and made its new report known, saying only about half of all students in the main schools of America's largest
cities finish high school. The report also noted higher rates (比率) of graduation-more than 70%-in the areas
around the cities.
     Researchers carried out this study in the nation's fifty largest cities. They used a new system of
measurement called the cumulative promotion index (累計增長指數(shù)) to find graduation rates. That is because
different areas use different methods to find graduation rates. Meanwhile, many methods do not give a true
picture of the number of students who finish high school.
     Colin Powell was chairman of this private group when it was formed in 1997. He attended the meeting
Tuesday where the report was made. He said studies have shown that the United States must do more to
educate the leadets and work force of the future. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings also spoke. She
said the government will ask states to use the same method when reporting graduation rates.
     Colin Powell also announced (宣布) the start of a nationwide activity to improve graduation rates. It is to
include many meetings to be held in every state over the next two years. The meetings will bring together
government leaders,business owners, students, parents and education officials. They will develop plans to
increase the number of Americans who finish high school.

1. America's Promise Alliance carried out its work mainly to help _____.

A. governmentleades
B. business owners
C. education officials
D. students

2. The cumulative promotion index was used to find graduation rates because _____.

A. different areas didn't use the same system and got unbelievable results
B. it was newer than the old systems
C. it could collect the information of fifty largest cities faster
D. America's Promise Alliance didn't believe other methods

3. What is the finding of America's Promise Alliance about the graduation rates?

A. More than 70% students in the nation's fifty largest cities finish high school.
B. Different areas should use the same method when reporting graduation rates.
C. America has done more to educate the leaders and work force of the future.
D. Rates of graduation areas around the cities are higher than those in the cities.

4. The last paragraph is mainly about _____.

A. why the Promise Alliance will hold meetings in every state
B. how to improve graduation rates in every state
C. who should attend the meetings held in every state
D. what plans should be made to improve graduation rates

5. What do we know about America's Promise Alliance?

A. It was organized by the American govemment in 1997.
B. General Colin Powell formed it and was the chairman of it.
C. It started an activity in America to improve graduation rates.
D. It was controlled by the American government.

     Quality after-school programs are designed to improve academic performance, decrease youth crimes
and other high-risk behaviors, and help young people grow into healthy, successful adults.
     The effect of quality after-school programs on academic performance is clear. Studies show that students
who take part in such programs show better work habits, higher rates of homework completion, improved
grades, and higher scores on achievement tests. They also have fewer absences and are less likely to blame.
After-school programs also influence high-risk teen behavior. Various studies show decreased rates of crime,
drug use, and teen sex among youth who join in well-run after-school programs when compared to similar
youth who do not. Finally, after-school programs play an important role in supporting the following fields of
development: physical, mental and social development. Thus, one can safely say that after-school programming
is an effective method to help young people become contributing members of society.
     Although there is enough proof from both small and large assessments that _____, it is important to note
that not all programs are equal. First, dosage (時量) matters-young people who attend the most hours over
the most years benefit more than members who attend less often or over a shorter period of time. Next, after-
school programs make a bigger difference for those students who need help most and have the fewest choices.
Finally, program qualities matter. After-school programs work best when they create unique opportunities for
youth. They should provide opportunities for positive rela- tionships, skill building, meaningful involvement,
expression, suggestion, service, and work. Staff char-acteristics make an important difference in the quality
of a program. The adults should treat youth as partners, create safe and fair environments, encourage
personalized involvement, and actively create learning opportunities. In short, although after-school programs
have promising future, how they are designed and run matters.

1. What is the best title for this passage? (within 10 words) 
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Which sentence in the passage is the closest in meaning to the f'ollowing one? Quality of the program is to
    a great extent affected by the members' personality.  
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the factors that affect the programs greatly? (within 15 words) 
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
4. Fill in the blank in Paragraph 3 with proper words or phrases. (within 20 words)  
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Translate the underlined sentence in the last paragraph into Chinese. 
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

     It's not easy being a teenager (13至19歲青少年)-nor is it easy being the parent of a teenager. You can
make your child feel angry, hurt, or misunderstood by what you say without realizing it yourself. It is important
to give your child the space he needs to grow while gently letting him know that you you'll still be there for
him when he needs you.
     Expect a lot from your child, just not everything. Except for health and safety problems,such as drug use
or careless driving; consider everything else open to discussion. If your child is unwilling to discuss something,
don't insist he tell you what's on his mind. The more you insist, the more likely that he'll clam up. Instead, let
him attempt to solve (解決) things by himself. At the same time, remind him that you're always there for him
when he seek advice or help. Show respect for your teenager's priyacy (隱私). Never read his mail or listen in
on personal conversations.
     Teach your teenager that the family phone is for the whole family. If your child talks on the family's
telephone for too long, tell him he can talk for 15 minutes, but then he must stay off the phone for at least an
equal period of time. This not only frees up the line so that other family members can make and receive calls,
but teaches your teenager moderation (節(jié)制). Or if you are open to the idea, allow your teenager his own phone
that he pays for with his own pocket money or a part-time job.

1. The main purpose of the text is to tell parents _____.

A. how to get along with a teenager
B. how to respect a teenager
C. how to understand a teenager
D. how to help a teenager grow up

2. What does the phrase "clam up" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A. Become excited.
B. Show respect.
C. Refuse to talk.
D. Seek help.

3. What should parents do in raising a teenager according to the text?

A. Not allow him to learn driving or take drugs.
B. Give him advice only when necessary.
C. Let him have his own telephone.
D. Not talk about personal things with him.

     Speeding off in a stolen car, the thief thinks he has got a great catch. But he is in for an unwelcome surprise.
The car is fitted with a remote immobilizer (遠程控制器) and a radio signal from a control center miles away
will make sure that once the thief turns the engine off, he will not be able to start it again.
     The idea goes like this. A control box fitted to the car contains a mini-cell phone, a micro-processor and
memory and a GPS satellite positioning receiver. If the car is stolen, a coded (編碼的) cell phone signal will tell
the control center to block the vehicle's engine management system and prevent the engine being restarted.
     In the UK, a set of technical fixes is already making life harder for car thieves. "The pattern of vehicle crime
has changed," says Martyr Randall, a security expert. He says it would only take him a few minutes to teach a
person how to steal a car, using a minimum of tools, but only if the car is more than 10 years old.
     Modern cars are far tougher to steal, as their engine management computer won't allow them to start unless
they receive a unique ID code beamed out by the ignition (點火) key. In the UK, technologies like this have
helped to achieve a 31% drop in vehicle crime since 1997.
     But determined thieves are still managing to find other ways to steal cars, often by getting hold of the owner's
keys. And key theft is responsible for 40% of the thefts of vehicles fitted with a tracking system.
     If the car travels 100 meters without the driver conforming (一致) the ID, the system will send a signal to
an operation center that it has been stolen. The 100-meter minimum avoids false alarm be- cause of some
possible errors of the GPS signal.
     Staff at the center will then contact the owner to confirm that the car really is missing and keep the police
informed of the vehicle's movements via the car's GPS unit.

1. What's the function of the remote immobilizer fitted to the car?

A. To help the police make a surprise attack on the car thief.
B. To order the car to lock automatically when stolen.
C. To prevent the car thief from restarting it once it stops.
D. To send a radio signal to inform the car owner of the theft.

2. The underlined sentence "The pattern of vehicle crime has changed" suggests that ____.

A. it takes less time for the car thief to do the stealing
B. many self-prepared too]s can be used for car theft
C. the theft becomes more difficult because of modern technology
D. the thief has lost interest in stealing cars over 10 years old

3. ____ is essential in making a modern car tougher to steal.

A. A micro-processor
B. A special ID code
C. A special cell phone
D. A GPS satellite positioning receiver

4. Why does the tracking system set a 100-meter minimum before sending an alarm to the operation center?

A. To leave time for the operation center to give an alarm.
B. To keep the police informed of the car's movement.
C. To give the driver time to contact the operation center.
D. To allow for possible mistakes in the GPS system.

5. What will the operation center do first after receiving an alarm?

A. Start the tracking system.
B. Stop the engine.
C. Contact the owner.
D. Locate the missing car.

     School education is very important and useful. Yet no one can learn everything from school. A teacher,
no matter how much he (1)_____, can't teach his students everything (2)_____ want to know. The teacher's
job is to show his students (3)_____ to leam. He teaches them how to read and think. So much more is to be
leamed (4)o_____ school by the students. (5)_____ (自己). It is always more important to know how to study
by oneself than to remember some facts. Creat scientists, (6)_____ as Einstein, Newton and Galileo, didn't get
everything from school. (7)_____ they were all so (8)_____ (成功). They worked hard all their lives,wasting
not a single moment. They would ask (9)_____ many questions as they read and they did thousands of
(10)_____ (實驗).

                                                                       The Moon
     Three hundred and eighty thousand kilometres away from the earth, the moon is man's closest neighbor
in the universe. Its surface is as large as Asia. Though so far away, the moon has a strong influence on the
ecological balance on the earth. For example, partly because of the moon's gravity, our seas and oceans have
tides.
     Nearly forty years ago, man's dream of reaching the moon was realized when American astronaut Neil
Armstrong stepped onto the moon's surface. As Armstrong said, it was a small step for a man, but a giant
leap for mankind. Just think of the past when our forebears could hardly find enough to keep alive!
     Understanding the moon is of great significance. Since there is no water and no air there, the moon is an
ideal place from which to observe the universe. A huge astronomical telescope has been installed on the moon.
And the moon's solar energy can be used more fully than the earth's. Finally there are the moon's rich mineral
resources. It is no exaggeration to say that the moon is a mini-earth in terms of mineral resources.
     Maybe it won't be long before man can benefit from the development of the moon's resources.

1. Which of the following is correct according to the passage?

A. The moon has hardly any influence on anything on the earth because it is too far away from us.
B. Tides in the seas and oceans are partly caused by the moon's gravity.
C. The moon's surface is the same as that of Asia.
D. The ecological balance depends on the moon.

2. What Armstrong said shows that _____.

A. he made only one step on the moon's surface and he believed that man would make more in the future
B. his step on the moon was not big enough
C. his step on the moon marked man's entrance to a new era (時代) of the moon's research
D. anyone could leave bigger and more steps on the moon than he did

3. "Just think of the past when our forebears could hardly find enough to keep alive!" What does this sentence
     really mean?

A. Our forefathers had to labor themselves to find the insufficient food so as to live on,but we now can go to
     the moon to open a new world!
B. Just think that our ancestors (祖先) were working so hard, while we are leading so happy a life!
C. Every time when we think of our hardworking forebears,we can't help feeling shamed of ourselves. How
     lazy we are!
D. If you have landed on the moon,you will certainly think of your forefathers, who did a lot in the development
    of science.

4. All the following statements show the great significance of the moon except _____.

A. you can more easily observe the universe on the moon
B. the moon is rich in mineral resources
C. a huge astronomical telescope is more easily installed on the moon than on the earth
D. you can more fully use the solar energy on the moon than on the earth

5. What conclusion can you draw after reading this passage?

A. The further research of the moon is of great importance.
B. The moon is a likely place to have a lot of diamonds.
C. It is no exaggeration to say that the moon is full of gold and silver as well as all kinds of treasures which
     the earth has.
D. The development of the moon's resources will benefit man, but we shall wait a long time.

     Education is not an end, but a means to an end. In other words, we do not educate children only for the
purpose of educating them. Our purpose is to fit them for life.
     In some modern countries it has for some time been fashionable to think that hy free education for all-
whether rich or poor, clever or stupid-one can solve all the problems of society and build a perfect nation.
But we can already see that free education for all is not enough; we find in such countries a far larger
number of people with university degrees refuse to do what they think to be "low" work, and, in fact, work
with hands is thought to be dirty and shameful in such countries. But we have only to think a moment to
understand that the work of a completely uneducated farmer is far more important than that of a professor.
We can live without education, but we die if we have no food. If no one cleaned our streets and took the
rubbish away from our houses, we should get terrible diseases in our towns.
     In fact, when we say that all of us must be educated to fit us for life, it means that we must be educated
in such a way that, firstly, each of us can do whatever work suited to his brains and ability and, secondly,
that we can realize that all jobs are necessary to society, and that is very bad to be ashamed of one's work.
Only such a type of education can be considered valuable to society.

1. The writer of this passage thinks that _____.

A. education can settle all of the world's problems
B. free education for all probably leads to a perfect world
C. free education won't help to solve social problems
D. all the social problems can't be solved by education

2. The writer wants to prove that _____.

A. our society needs all kinds of jobs
B. our society needs free education for all
C. a farmer is more important than a professor
D. people with university degrees refuse to do what they think to be "low" work

3. According to the passage _____.

A. work with hands is dirty and shameful
B. work with hands is low work
C. work with hands is the most important
D. we can't regard work with hands as low work

4. The purpose of education is _____.

A. to choose a system of education
B. to prepare children mainly for their future work
C. to let everyone receive education fit for him
D. to build a perfect world

5. The passage tells us about _____.

A. system of education
B. means of education
C. value of education
D. type of education

     Zipped into a bag, it looks like a large umbrella. Unfolded, it goes along the street like any other bicycle.
     It's the "A-bike", the brainchild (腦力勞動的產(chǎn)物) of British inventor Sir Cive Sinclair, who made history
in the 1970s hy devel oping the world's first pocket calculator. He described his new invention as "the world's
smallest, lightest foldable bicycle".
     "My original thought was that if you could have a bicycle that was dramatically lighter and more firm than
the ones that exist today, it would change the way in which bicycles are used," said Sinclair.
     The mini-bike showed in Singapore last week and set to go on sale worldwide in 2005 at a price of nearly
US $300, is built for riders as heavy as 112 kilograms and is height-adjustable (可調(diào)整高度的). It takes about
20 seconds to fold or unfold.
     Its wheels are a quarter the size of those on a regular bicycle, but Sinclair promises a smooth ride for most
cyclists. "You require no extra energy to ride the A-bike and it can go up to 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers
per hour)," he said. Constructed mainly of plastic, the 5.5-kilogram bicycle folds into a package of less than
0.03 cubic meters (立方米).
     Sinclair also invented the first pocket TV in 1984 and the futuristic C5 electric tricycle in 1985. He said he
hoped the bicycle would attract common citizens, officials, campers or anyone needing transport for a short
trip and he said the next step for the A-bike was to add an electric motor in a few years.

1. The most important character of this kind of bike is its _____.

A. hig size
B. light weight
C. beautiful appearance
D. foldable structure

2. The wheels of a regular bicycle is _____ the size of this kind of bike.

A. four times
B. three times
C. one-fourth
D. one-third

3. This kind of new bike is mainly made of _____.

A. plastic
B. packages
C. bags
D. metal

4. The best title of the text is _____.

A. World's smallest foldable bicycle arriving
B. A new bike a large umbrella
C. A foldable bike, a large bag
D. A great inventor of a new bike

5. This kind of new bike hasn't been fixed with _____.

A. a wheel
B. an electric motor
C. pedal
D. a hand

     The girls in this sixth grade class in East Palo Alto, California, all have the same chance to use computers
as boys, but researchers say, by the time girls get to high school, they may be victims (犧牲品) of what
researchers call "a major new gap in technology".
     "Girls are likely to be less comfortable than boys with the computers. They use it more for word processing
rather than for problem solving rather than discover new ways in which to understand information."
     After reexamining a thousand studies, the American Association of University Women Researchers found
that girls make up only a small percentage of students in computer science classes. Girls usually consider
themselves significantly lower than boys in their ability and confidence in using computers. And they use
computers less often than boys outside the classroom.
     Six years ago, the software company Purple Moon noticed girl's computer usage was falling behind boys.
The number one reason girls told us they don't like traditional computer games is not because they're too
violent or much too competitive. Girls would say they're boring.
     Purple Moon says it found what girls want: characters they can relate to and story lines relative to what's
going on in their own lives. "But we found from girls that there's no intrinsic (內(nèi)在的) reason why they
wouldn't want to play on the computer. It was a just a content thing." The sponsor (發(fā)起人) of the study
says: The technology gap that separates girls from boys must be closed if women are to compete effectively
with men in the Twenty First Century.

1. The American Association of University Women Researchers found _____.

A. girls prefer to solve problems rather than use word processing with the computer
B. girls are lack of ability and confidence in using computers
C. only a small number of girls attend the computer science classes in high school
D. the girls don't like computer games because they are too violent or competitive

2. According to the study of Purple Moon, computer games aren't considered _____ by the girls.

A. interesting
B. violent
C. competitive
D. boring

3. If the content of traditional computer games changed, most girls would probably _____.

A. be against them
B. be in favor of them
C. give up using word processing
D. learn computers quickly

4. In the sponsor's opinion, why must the technology gap be got rid of in the 21st century?

A. Because women can have an effective competition.
B. To improve women's social position.
C. For an unknown reason.
D. Because bosses won't look down upon women.