WASHINGTON—Laura Straub is a very worried woman. Her job is to find families for French teenagers who expect to live with American families in the summer.
It is not easy, even hopeless.
“We have many children left to place—40 out of 75,” said Straub, who works for a Paris-based foreigner-exchange program started 50 years ago. Family life was more than accommodating (提供膳宿). For one thing, more mothers stayed at home. But now, increasing numbers of women work outside the home. Exchange-student programs have struggled in recent years to sign up host (主人) families for the 30 000 teenagers who every year come from abroad to spend a school year in the United States, as well as the thousands more who take part in summer programs.
School systems in many parts of the U.S., unhappy about accepting non-taxpaying students, have also strictly limited the number of exchange students they accepted. At the same time, the idea of hosting foreign students is becoming less exotic.
In search for host families, who usually receive no pay, exchange programs are increasingly broadening their requests to include everyone from young couples to retirees.
“We are open to many different types of families,” said Vickie Weiner, eastern area director for ASSE, a 25-year-old program that sends about 30 000 teenagers on school-year exchange programs worldwide.
For elderly people, exchange students “keep us young—they really do”, said Jen Foster, who is hosting 16-year-old Nina Post from Denmark. The underlined word “exotic” means _________.
| A．difficult | B．wonderful | C．exciting | D．accommodating |
According to the text, why was it easier for Laura Straub to find American families for foreign students?
| A．More mothers wasn’t working outside and was able to afford to look after children . |
| B．American school systems were better than now. |
| C．Foreign students paid hosting families a lot of money. |
| D．The government was happy because it could gain tax. |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．All the families can host foreign students. |
| B．Only young couples can host foreign students. |
| C．Only those who were retired can host foreign students. |
| D．Exchange programs are open to many different types of families including everyone from young couples to retirees. |
Which of the following is the best title of this passage?
| A．U.S. Struggle to Find host Families |
| B．Idea of Hosting Students is Different |
| C．Foreign-exchange Program Is Going on |
| D．Exchange Students Keep Old People Young |
London ［2009-4-01］—In the first
meeting between Chinese President
Hu Jintao and US President Barack
Obama prior to the Group of 20 
summit in London, the two leaders pledged that both countries will be working together to help the world resist the financial crisis.
China and the US have agreed to prioritize（使……更重要; 优化） t
he two countries’ relations by establishing the new strategic economic dialogue.
The two teams will be headed by Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo from the Chinese side and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner from the US side.
President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama made the announcement to the press before they went into the official meeting, their first, at Winfield House, residence of the US ambassador to the UK.
Although it is thei
r first meeting, they have kept a close contact, which Obama said will “set the stage” for both countries “to tackle the challenges in the years to come. ”
Both presidents highlighted the importance of China-US relations, especially during the current economic crisis.
Obama said he hoped their meeting will be constructive and open not only about the whole state of the world economy during the current crisis, but to the efforts to improve peace and security for both countries and the world.
Hu said all the positive results the two countries have achieved have not come easily, adding that he hoped to develop good working relationship and personal friendship with Obama.
Sino-US relations are of fundamental interests not only to both countries, but to peace, stability and prosperity to Asia and the world. What is the best title of this passage?
| A．Hu, Obama set up new economic dialogue. |
| B．Sino-US relations will be improved. |
| C．China and the US are working together to resist economic crisis. |
| D．China and the US have achieved positive results. |
How do China’ s and US’ s presidents think they should deal with their relations?
| A．By trusting and helping each other. |
| B．By sharing their common interests. |
| C．By establishing the new strategic economic dialogue. |
| D．By establishing new economic policy. |
What is Winfield House?
| A．The US ambassador to the UK. |
| B．Residence of UK ambassador to the US. |
| C．The living place of US ambassador to the UK. |
| D．The residence of British Queen. |
All of the following are mentioned EXCEPT____.
| A．The two presidents agreed to work together to resist the financial crisis |
| B．The two presidents announced to the press before the official meeting |
| C．Both countries will make efforts to improve peace and security |
| D．Sino-US relations are of fundamental interests only to both countries |
Interview with a president
While many teenagers may dream of meeting with pop star Jay Chou or NBA hero Yao Ming, Li Jing had a far more powerful person on her mind. The Senior 2 from Beijing No.35 High School dreamt of meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
After more than a year of hard work and with a little good luck,Li fulfilled her dream.On October 11,2004,the 16-year-old girl joined a team of Chinese journalists who went to Kremlin,in Moscow,to interview Putin.
Li felt nervous before talking to Putin. “But his greeting and warm smile put me at ease,” she said.
Li admired Putin very much,because of his strong will and style of leadership. “He looks very cool,” Li said.During her interview,Li asked Putin whether he plans to educate his two daughters to be officials in the future.Putin smiled and answered he hopes they can do whatever job suits their interests and personalities.
Although li would only have several minutes,she started working on her interview questions last August after applying for the opportunity. “Journalists” work is by no means easy.You need to do lots of homework on your “interviewee,”she said.She read many books about Putin and Russia in her spare time.
Li’s parents encouraged her to be a student journalist. “We fully supported her,as long as it does not affects her studies,” said her father.Previously in her job for a student magazine, Chinese Young Journalists, she wrote a letter to President Hu Jintao during the SARS epidemic.
Li has learnt a lot from her experience.She said learning to manage her time and develop the confidence to speak with important people were not things she could learn in class.The underlined word “interviewee”in the fifth paragragh probably means_____.
| A．the person who interviews |
| B．the person who is interviewed |
| C．the person who knows how to interview |
| D．the person who plans to interview a famous people |
Which of the following best descibes Li Jing’s parents’attitude towards her being a student journalist?
| A．They think to be a student journalist is purely a waste of time. |
| B．they worry that to be a student journalist will affect her study. |
| C．They consider it is quite good for Li Jing on the condition of not striking her study. |
| D．They neither support it nor object to it. |
Li Jing is different from those students of her age in that______.
| A．she doesn’t like pop star Jay Chou |
| B．she hates meeting with the NBA hero Yao Ming |
| C．she wants to meet neither Jay Chou or Yao Ming |
| D．she dreams of meeting the present powerful Russian leader |
A serious problem for today’s society is who should be responsible for our elderly and how to improve their lives.It is not only a financial problem but also a question of the system we want for our society.I would like to suggest several possible solutions to this problem.
First,employers should take the responsibility to the individual.This means each person must save during his working years to pay for his years of retirement.This does not seem very fair model since some people have enough trouble paying for their daily life without trying to earn extra to cover their retirement years.This means the government could take responsibility for the care of the elderly.This could be financed through government taxes to increase the level of pensions.Furthermore,some institutions should be created for senior citizens,which can help provide a comfortable life for them.Unfortunately,as the president situation in our country shows,this is nota truly viable answer.The government can seldom afford to care for the elderly,particularly when it is busy trying to care for the young.
One further solution is that the government or social organizations establish some working places especially for the elderly where they are independent.
To sum up, all these options have advantages and disadvantages.Therefore,it is reasonable to expect that some combination of these options may be needed to provide the care we hope to give to our elderly generations.What is the passage mainly talk about?
| A．The problems faced by the old in society. |
| B．Why we should take reponsibility for the old. |
| C．How we can improve the lives of the old. |
| D．Where the old can go to get their pensins. |
According to the passage,how can the government help to improve the lives of retired people?
| A．Set aside some profits to help people with problems after they retire. |
| B．Increase savings levels of people during their working years. |
| C．Increase the discounts for food and transport for the old. |
| D．Make available pensions for those who have retired. |
The underlined word “viable” most probably means____.
| A．impossible | B．practical | C．useful | D．successful |
What can be concluded from the passage?
| A．Taking care of the old is mainly an issue of money. |
| B．Empoyers should allow their workers to retire at a later age. |
| C．Becoming independent should be the goal of most old people. |
| D．There is no single solution to the problems of the old. |
Self-esteem(自尊心)is all about how much we feel valued,accepted and thought well of by others---and how much we value,love and accept ourselves.Poeple with healthy self-esteem are able to feel good about themselves,appreciate their own worth,and take pride in their abilities,skills,and accomplishments with others,feel happier,find it easier to deal with low self-esteem may feel as if no one will like them or accept them or that they can’t do well in anything.
Here are some steps that may help improve your self-esteem:
Try to stop Try to thinking about negative thoughts about yourself.If you’re used to focusing on your shortcomings,start thinking about positive aspects of yourself that outwheigh them .Each day,write down three things about yourself that make you happy.it is good to aim high,but your goals should be within reach.That’s why you should set pratical goals and never expect the impossible.Mistakes are part of learning,so view mistakes as learning opportunities.Accept that you will make mistakes because everyone does.Also, you should recognize what you can change and what you can’t.if you realize that you’re unhappy with something about yourself that you can change, then start today.If it’s something you can’t change(like your height),then start to work toward loving yourself the way you are.Feeling like you’re making a difffference and that your help is valued can do wonders to improve self-esteem.So don’t hesitate to make a contribution.Help a classmate who’s having trouble,help clean up your campus,or volunteer your time in some other way.
Self-esteem plays a role in almost everything you do.It’s never to be late to build healthy positive self-esteem.It takes some work,but healthy self-esteem is an asset you’ll have for life.What does the author mainly want to tell us in this passage?
| A．Self-esteem plays an important role in life. |
| B．What self-esteem means |
| C．How people can improve their self-esteem. |
| D．What people with healthy self-esteem are like. |
The underlined word “them” in paragagh 3 refers to_____.
| A．negative thoughts | B．your shortcomings |
| C．positive aspects | D．your goals |
According to the passage,which of the following can help you improve your self-esteem?
| A．Setting high goals. |
| B．Never forgiving yourself for your mistakes. |
| C．Changing all the things that make you upset. |
| D．Lending a hand to a classmate in trouble. |
How many ways to improve your self self-esteem are given in this passage?
| A．4 | B．5 | C．6 | D．7 |
Kristy,28,a cook in La Gross, often wondered what she’d do in a life threatening situation. On August 29, she got her answer. While she was driving on a road,a big truck hit its head on a pickup car.The pickup burst into flames.Kristy rushed out and ran to the pickup.Two farmers,Dean Bernhard,51, and his brother,Donald,44,were inside.
When she got close,Kristy could see the unconscious driver.The other man was under the passenger seat. “The smells were sicking.I was afraid the truck would blow up and kill us all,” said kristy.
The driver of the big truck was struggling to open the passenger door,so Kristy rushed to the driver’s side.Finally they opened the door.She reached in,seized the driver and, to her horror,felt her hands sink into his chest.She quickly dragged the man to safety on the roadside,then hurried back.As Kristy started down the ditch(水沟) with the passenger,the pickup exploded..She jumped on top of him and they both rolled to safety.
Today,the two farmers,each the farmer of two children,are good friends with Kristy.To show their deep appreciation,they bought her a ring with nine diamonds---one for each member of their immediate families,and the ninth for her.Which is the correct order according to the passage?
a.carried Dean and Donald to safety
b.rushed to the pickup
c.the pickup exploded
d.saw the truck hit on the pickup
e.got out of her car
f.wondered what she’d do when in danger
| A．e,d,b,a,c,f | B．f,e,b,a,d,c | C．f,d,e,b,a,c | D．f,c,e,d,b,a |
When coming to save Donald and Dean Bernhard,Kristy never thought that she___.
| A．could have any help from others |
| B．would be successful in saving both of them |
| C．might be killed |
| D．would be tested in dangerous situations |
This sentence “The pickup burst into flames.”in the first paragragh means “_______”.
| A．The pickup was on fire |
| B．The pickup started smoking badly |
| C．A terrifying cry came out of the pickup |
| D．The pickup was broken into pieces |
Which of the following best shows Kristy’s true heroism?
| A．She did not feel terrified at the accident |
| B．She protected herself as well as the two brothers from harm. |
| C．She put her life “on the line” to save others. |
| D．She was regarded as a member of Dean’s and Donald’s families. |
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