If you were to come up with a list of organizations whose failures had done the most damage to the American economy in recent years, you would probably have to start with the Wall Street firms that brought us the financial crisis. From there, you might move on to the automakers in Detroit.
But I would suggest that the list should also include a less obvious nominee: public education.
At its top level, the American system of higher education may be the best in the world. Yet in terms of its core mission---turning teenagers into educated college graduates--- much of the system is failing.
The United States does a good job enrolling (招生) teenagers in college, but only half of the students who enroll end up with a bachelor’s degree.
So identifying the causes of the college dropout crisis in the world’s largest economy matters enormously, and a new book called “Crossing the Finish Line” tries to do precisely that. Its authors are economists William Bowen and Michael McPherson, and a doctoral candidate Matthew Chingos. The first problem they diagnose is something they call under-matching. It refers to students who choose not to attend the best college they can get into. They instead go to a less selective one, perhaps one that is closer to home or less expensive. About half of the low-income students with a grade-point average of at least 3.5 in high school and an SAT score of at least 1,200 do not attend the best college they could have. “I was really astonished by the degree to which well-qualified students from poor families under-matched,” said Mr. Bowen.
In fact, well-off students attend the colleges that do the best job of producing graduates. Meanwhile, lower-income students -–even when they are better qualified—often go to colleges that excel（擅长）in producing drop-outs. “It’s really a waste,” Mr. Bowen said, “and a big problem for the country.” As the authors point out, the only way to lift the college graduation rate significantly is to lift it among poor and working-class students. Instead, it appears to have fallen.
What can be done? Money is clearly part of the answer.
71. Which of the following would people first think of as a factor responsible for the American financial crisis according to this passage?
A. The government. B. Public education
C. The Detroit automakers. D. The Wall Street firms.
72. What is a big problem with American higher education?
A. It is hard to enroll enough students into college.
B. Many colleges are experiencing low rate of graduation.
C. Many college students stay away from classes.
D. It is hard for many colleges to get financial aid from the government.
73. The title of the book Crossing the Finish Line probably means______.
A. running to the end of the line B. going to college
C. finishing college education D. working hard in college
74. Why do some students under--match ?
A. Because they have financial difficulty. B. Because they face ambition crisis.
C. Because they lack confidence. D. Because they can’t get guidance.
75. The passage is mainly about _______.
A. problems with secondary American education and possible solutions
B. America’s financial crisis, its cause and influence
C. low rate of American college graduation, its cause and its influence
D. relationship between American education and its economy
A study of art history might be a good way to learn more about a culture than is possible to learn in general history classes. Most typical history courses concentrate on politics, economics and war. But art history focuses on much more than this because art reflects not only the political values of a people, but also religious beliefs, emotions and psychology. In addition, information about the daily activities of our ancestors can be provided by art. In short, art expresses the essential qualities of a time and a place, and a study of it clearly offers us a deeper understanding than can be found in most history books.
In history books, objective (客观的) information about the political life of a country is presented; that is, facts about politics are given, but opinions are not expressed. Art, on the other hand, is subjective: it reflects emotions and opinions. The great Spanish painter Francisco Goya was perhaps the first truly “political” artist. In his well-known painting The Third of May, 1808, he criticized the Spanish government for its abuse of power over people.
In the same way, art can reflect a culture’s religious beliefs. For hundreds of years in Europe, religious art had been almost the only type of art that existed. Churches and other religious buildings were filled with paintings that described people and stories from the Bible. Although most people couldn’t read, they could still understand the Bible stories in the pictures on church walls. By contrast (对比), one of the main characteristics of art in the Middle East was (and still is) its absence of human and animal images. This reflects the Islamic belief that statues are not holy.
63. Which of the following statements has the closest meaning to the underlined sentence?
A. General history only focuses on politics.
B. Art history shows us nothing but the political values.
C. General history concerns only religious beliefs, emotions and psychology.
D. Art history gives us an insight (洞察力) into the essential qualities of a time and a place.
64. Art is subjective in that __________.
A. it can easily arouse people’s anger about their government
B. it only reflects people’s anger or sadness about social problems.
C. a personal and emotional view of history is presented through it.
D. artists were or are religious, who reflect only the religious aspect of the society.
65. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Francisco Goya expressed his religious belief in his painting.
B. In history books political views of people are entirely presented.
C. For centuries in Europe, painters had only painted on walls of churches.
D. In the Middle East, you can hardly find animal or human figures on church walls.
66. What’s the main topic of the passage?
A. The development of art history.
B. What we can learn from art.
C. The influence of artists on art history.
D. The difference between general history and art history.
Amateur Performance Night
Every third Thursday of the month, aspiring（有抱负的）artists present, read or perform original or existing material, at the Amateur Performance Night -- and anyone can come and watch. So come to the Amateur Performance Night to enjoy presentations and performances on a wide variety of subjects, and practice your languages (Chinese and English) while you do!
7-9 pm, March 15
20 yuan (entrance fee includes one drink and a snack)
Room 109, 2 Dongping Road
amateur.performance.night@gmail.com
Good-Heart Sale
ENO holds a seasonal sale at discounted prices, some more than 50 percent off. When you mention SCAA (Second Chance Animal Aid), 10 percent of the sales income will be donated to the animal rescue group.
Cash only
March 10-24
In Factory, 6F, building A, 1147
Xikang Road, near Wuning Road
Free Coffee for All!
This Friday, March 16, wil be an exciting day for most coffee buyers, especially those who love Starbucks. Between 10 am and 12 noon, Starbucks will hold its second “Coffee Break” and everyone who drops by a local Starbucks outlet can get a free Tall (12-ounce) cup of coffee. The event was first held in America last year and attracted more than 500,000 people. This year the Coffee Break will spread to all Starbucks stores in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and, best of all, China.
Shanghai BookCrossing
Bring books you want to exchange, take away your next fab read. Books are mostly of English language, and include novels, thrillers, chicklit, biography, non-fiction, travel books, classics magazines, etc. Open to all, no registration necessary. Joining in is fun and FREE.
2 pm, March 17, April 21
Figaro Coffee, 160 Xingye Road
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shanghaibxers/
60. In which section will the text appear in the newspaper?
A. News reports. B. Business world.
C. Different voices. D. Life events.
61. By attending which of the events will it be likely for you to practise your English?
A. Amateur Performance Night and Shanghai Book Crossing.
B. Amateur Performance Night and Good heart sale.
C. Good Heart Sale and Shanghai Book Crossing.
D. Good Heart Sale and Free Coffee for All.
62. What can we infer from the passage?
A. Tickets to all the events are free.
B. Free coffee for all will attract more Chinese than foreigners.
C. If you want to get any information about the events, you can only surf the Internet.
D. Both the organizers and participants of Good heart sale show concern about animals.
三、完形填空。（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36-55各题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
In February 2006, I flew into Beijing from Shanghai to watch a performance by Iceland’s Bjork and to interview her.
Some people find it difficult to 36 Bjork’s music. Her sound is an acquired taste, but 37 you get into it, you’re hooked. After the 38 press conference, I was 39 to a room where we did a one-on-one 40 for radio. I was surprised at how intelligent and pleasant she was. And fun.
The 41 at Worker’s Stadium was unbelievably wonderful. Barefoot for most of the show, Bjork 42 the audience’s interest with her music and her spirit.
However, an incident gave me an impression that she was unusual and moody.
The next day I was invited to go to the Great Wall with a lot of 43 who were to take pictures of Bjork. She was with her son and did not seem to be in the 44 for the photographers. She stood and stared at the ground, not facing the 45 .
Then suddenly, she ran off to the 46 , out to her waiting bus, and sped back to Beijing. It was strange to see since she had been so 47 with the press a few days before.
After leaving Beijing, she went on to perform in Hong Kong and Thailand. In a story that 48 around the world, she jumped on and attacked a female reporter at the Bangkok airport who 49 said, “Welcome to Thailand!”
You may have seen her at the Academy Awards a few years ago when she 50 in that usual swan costume, 51 perhaps her performance of Oceania at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Greece Olympics. Bjork does demand attention.
She’s 52 a new album, Volta. She challenges us to enter her own world with every album, and this one is no 53 .
Working with a variety of producers, including Timbaland, she takes us into her music again with an artistic 54 . It is 55 to digest, but if you can appreciate her unusual efforts, you will have a lot to get into.
36. A. receive B. get C. hear D. accept
37. A. while B. after C. before D. once
38. A. heated B. attended C. appointed D. packed
39. A. led B. brought C. fetched D. carried
40. A. lecture B. comment C. interview D. dialogue
41. A. game B. party C. performance D. play
42. A. held B. acquired C. seized D. focused
43. A. viewers B. tourists C. reporters D. officials
44. A. state B. mood C. situation D. position
45. A. cameras B. audience C. films D. directors
46. A. exit B. entrance C. edge D. side
47. A. communicative B. conservative C. cooperative D. aggressive
48. A. turned B. went C. came D. ran
49. A. already B. hardly C. simply D. seldom
50. A. appeared B. accompanied C. presented D. joined
51. A. or B. and C. so D. but
52. A. showed B. collected C. produced D. took
53. A. exception B. excuse C. way D. comment
54. A. spirit B. ability C. talent D. understanding
55. A. easy B. simple C. difficult D. funny
--- Shall we walk around the park or go for a bike ride?
--- _________. They are both good activities to me .
| A．Yes, I like them very much | B．It makes no difference to me |
| C．That’s all right | D．I’d prefer a bike ride |
______ comfortably in his armchair, the old man enjoyed the light music over the radio with his eyes half ______.
| A．Seating; closed | B．Seated; closed | C．Sitting; close | D．Sat; closing |
It is few people, ______ have come to ask for the question, ______fit for the job.
| A．who; I think are | B．that; I think is |
| C．what; who I think is | D．who; that I think are |
______has recently been done to provide more buses for the people, a shortage of public vehicles remains a serious problem.
| A．Despite that | B．Despite of what | C．In spite of what | D．Though what |
第八节：书面表达（共1篇；满分20分）
来自美国的一群中学生要来你们学校访问，为了增进了解，你们将举行一场讨论会，就双方比较关心的话题进行交流。请你以“Losing Weight”为题，写一篇词数为120左右的短文。要点如下：
减肥成了人们生活中的热门话题。
常见的减肥方法有慢跑(jogging)、节食等。
慢跑只需买一双跑鞋，很廉价，而过度节食对身体有害。
只有合理地饮食和经常运动，才能保持身体健康，同时减肥。
第七节：句子翻译（共5句，每句2分；满分10分）
根据句后提示，翻译以下句子。
81. 别想着作弊——对作弊者会严惩不贷。(get away with)
____________________________________________________________________________
82. 多么好的一本小说啊！我从来没有读过一本比这更感人的。(否定副词与比较级连用)
_______________________________________________________________________________
83. 千千万万的人受益于这种新的疗法。(benefit)
_______________________________________________________________________________
84. 你是不是一直在暗中监视我？(spy)
_______________________________________________________________________________
85. 她还欠600美元。(in debt)
_______________________________________________________________________________
第六节：短文改错（共1篇，10错误；满分10分）
假如英语课上老师要求同学们交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，要求你在错误的地方增加、删除或修改某个单词。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(/\)，并在其下面写上该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写上修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词：
2．只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
I have always quite irrationally prided myself for my good health, for I only occasionally had to take a day off the work when I have a cold. So I was quite offended by my doctor who, when we ran to each other in the street the other day, taking one look at me and told me that I was definite fat and that if I did not make effort to lose some weight, I could expect to have a heart attack very long. He added that, like many middle-aged man, I led an inactive life. It was true that I had been gotten fatter, but it was because I was getting older.
第二卷主观题(共60分)
第四节：单词拼写（共10小题，10单词；满分10分）
根据下列句子及所给首字母，写出空缺处各单词的正确形式。
51. She is not s______ enough to wear these tight trousers.
52. What will happen if you do not eat a b______ diet?
53. The teacher g______ at the pupil who was late for school.
54. Never f______ a fish till it is caught.
55. You should allow a little time after a meal for the food to d______.
56. She looked out of the window, s______ for her lost youth.
57. They felt f______ at the lack of progress.
58. Her childhood provided the r______ material for her first novel.
59. I’ve l______ myself to 1,000 calories a day to try and lose weight.
60. We would like to see close c______ between colleges and schools in developing computer use.
第二节：完形填空(共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从21-40各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。
Wise buying is a positive way in which you can make your money go further. The 21 you go about purchasing an article or a service can actually 22 you money or can add 23 the cost.
Take the 24 example of a hairdryer. If you are buying a hairdryer, you might 25 that you are making the 26 buy if you choose one 27 look you like and which is also the cheapest 28 price. But when you get it home you may find that it 29 twice as long as a more expensive 30 to dry your hair. The cost of the electricity plus the cost of your time could well 31 your hairdryer the most expensive one of all.
So what principles should you 32 when you go out shopping?
If you 33 your home, your car or any valuable 34 in excellent condition, you’ll be saving money in the long 35 .
Before you buy a new 36 , talk to someone who owns one. If you can, use it or borrow it to check it suits your particular 37 .
Before you buy an expensive 38 , or a service, do check the price and 39 is on offer. If possible, choose 40 three items or three estimates.
21. A. form B. fashion C. way D. method
22. A. save B. preserve C. raise D. obtain
23. A. up B. to C. in D. on
24. A. easy B. single C. simple D. similar
25. A. convince B. accept C. examine D. think
26. A. proper B. best C. reasonable D. most
27. A. its B. which C. whose D. what
28. A. for B. with C. in D. on
29. A. spends B. takes C. lasts D. consumes
30. A. mode B. copy C. sample D. model
31. A. cause B. make C. leave D. prove
32. A. adopt B. lay C. stick D. adapt
33. A. reserve B. decorate C. store D. keep
34. A. products B. possession C. material D. ownership
35. A. run B. interval C. period D. time
36. A. appliance B. equipment C. utility D. facility
37. A. function B. purpose C. goal D. task
38. A. component B. element C. item D. particle
39. A. what B. which C. that D. this
40. A. of B. in C. by D. from
My teacher said my composition was too long. I must ______ to about 3,000 words.
| A．cut it off | B．cut it up | C．cut it down | D．cut it out |
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