It's very common for students' marks to fall. Sometimes it is because of situations outside of school, such as problems at home. Sometimes it is simply because the tests get harder as you get older.

If you can think about what was happening when your marks started to fall, you may be able to solve this problem.

Stop comparing yourself with other people. It does not matter if other students get higher test marks than you. What is important is that you do your best.

Try talking to a friendly teacher. He or she will be able to help you with the subjects you find difficult.

Before each test, you should go through your notes from class. You should remember the most important things you have written in a shorter form.

Pictures can also be helpful. Write the subject in the centre of a page, and then surround it with main related points.

Look through your shorter notes and pictures again just before the test. You will be surprised when you find you remember so much.

It may take hard work. And your marks may not improve straight away. But let your confidence rise by every mark. Soon they should begin to climb again.

41. What does the writer think of the marks to fall?

A. It's very hard to believe it's a common thing.

B. It's not possible for the hard working students' marks to fall.

C. It's sometimes because of the problems outside the school and the more difficult tests.

D. When the students get older, it’s very common for their marks to fall.

42. If you want to stop your marks from falling, you should ________ before the tests.

A. remember the most important points you have written in a shorter form

B. draw pictures in the centre of a page in and after class

C. write down all the important points you have learned

D. be surprised that how much you will remember

43 After you do your best and work hard, ________.

A. you'll find your marks may be straight improved

B. you'll find your confidence rising by every mark

C. you'll begin to climb trees again when you are free

D. you'll soon catch up with the others by getting high marks

44. This passage is maybe the most helpful for ________.

A. a good student to win the first place in his tests

B. all the students in trouble to pick up their confidence and good marks

C. only a few poor students in study to catch up with the others

D. few students to find better ways to do well in the tests

Several years ago, a farmer owned some land along the sea. He advertised for workers, but no one wanted to work for him. Most people didn’t want to work there   31   they didn’t like the bad storms. Finally, a   32   man, who looked weak and more than fifty years old, came to see the farmer. “Are you a good farmhand?” the farmer asked him.

 “Well, I   33   sleep well when the wind blows. ” answered the little man.

Although the answer was strange, the farmer let the man stay to work. The little man worked   34   around the farm, busy from morning till evening. The farmer felt very pleased with his work.

Then one night the wind began to blow strongly. Jumping out of the bed, the farmer   35_   into the little man’s room. He shook the little man and cried, “Get up! A   36   is coming!”

The little man said slowly, “No sir, I told you----I can   37   well when the wind blows. ”

The farmer was very angry, but he had to hurry outside to get ready for the storm. To his   38   , everything was ready outside.   39   could be blown away.

The farmer   40   what the man meant, so he returned to his bed to sleep while the wind was still blowing.

--- Lisa is going traveling at the cost of losing her job.

--- Really? She         a lot of money.

A. must save                                                    B. might save           

C. must have saved                                          D. might have saved

The price ________, but I doubt whether it will remain so.

A. went down                                           B. will go down    

C. has gone down                                     D. was going down

--- I can never afford a flat like that!

---         . The price is too high!

A. So I can                                                      B. So can I               

C. Neither I can                                               D. Neither can I

He lives in the house __________windows face south.

A. which           B. that                      C. whose               D. where

Once out, she walked quickly towards her ___________bus stop.

A. normal          B. regular           C. usual           D. ordinary

The cooking chicken        very good. So from whom did you learn to cook it?

A. smelt                           B. smells                   C．is smelt               D．is smelling

A modern city has been set up in ____ was a wasteland.  

A. what                B. which                 C. that                  D. where

She devoted herself        science, and made great contribution        the development of technology.

A. in; to                           B．to; of                  C．in; in                   D. to; to