In New Britain, Connecticut, a new official in charge of schools named Kelt Cooper wants to end high truancy (逃学) rates among public school students, and he’s suggesting financial punishments to get job done. A plan to fine students up to $75 for each day they skip school is now being considered by New Britain authorities.
The concept of fining kids for skipping school may come as a shock, but it’s not new. In Ohio, the parents responsible for a student guilty of habitual truancy can be fined up to $500 and/or be required to perform up to 70 hours of community service. Until recently, students in Los Angeles could be hit with a $250 punishment for each count of truancy; in early 2012 the law was changed and the heavy fines were removed, though a $20 punishment may still be handed out if a student truants for the third time.
Fines for truancy are also in effect overseas. In the UK, The Guardian reports, parents can be fined ￡50 (about $80) per skipped school day. The punishment doubles if it’s not paid within 28 days.
The question is: Do fines like this work? The vast majority of authorities in the UK said that, indeed, they do. The fines were believed either “very successful” or “fairly successful” by 79% in reducing truancy, according to a survey.
If the plan is passed in Connecticut, it’s unclear how effective the law might be, how to make parents and students obey the law and what might happen if they refuse to pay. However, local officials seem to be willing to give it a shot. According to the Hartford Courant:
“The mayor agrees that truancy is a real issue in New Britain schools, and what’s been done in the past hasn’t been working to reduce truancy.” said Phil Sherwood, assistant to Mayor Timothy O’ Brien.
And what do the students think? In the New Britain Herald, one 17-year-old entering her senior year called the plan “ridiculous” and predicted that the punishments will bring about negative effects on the court system. Besides, “I don’t see the point,” she said. “Kids will just try harder not to get caught.” The passage mainly discusses whether __________.
| A．schools have the right to punish students |
| B．authorities should consider protecting kids |
| C．students should be fined for skipping school |
| D．parents are responsible for children’s truancy |
If a British kid skips two school days and fails to pay fines in a month, the punishment will be __________.
| A．two hundred pounds | B．fifty pounds |
| C．eighty pounds | D．a hundred pounds |
We can learn from the passage that ___________.
| A．truancy is a serious problem in New Britain |
| B．Cooper’s plan has been passed in Connecticut |
| C．fining kids for truancy is a new idea in America |
| D．little has been done to reduce truancy in New Britain |
The underlined part “give it a shot” most probably means _____________.
| A．get used to it | B．help improve it |
| C．try to carry it out | D．fight against it |
Ⅲ. 阅读（共两节。满分40分）
第一节 阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It is commonly known that Japan went from a 19th century national economy to a 20th century global economy in a time span of 30 years between 1945 and 1975. What is less known is that Japan, understanding that fast, efficient transport was the key to a global economy, was the first country in the world to introduce the “Bullet Train”. Kawasaki Heavy Industries was duly appointed the manufacturer and the first high speed train went “on line” in 1964. The Shinkansen, as is known in Japan, made its first journey between her capital and Osaka, a distance of 301 miles, at a speed of 132 mph.
The next country to introduce high speed trains was France. SNGF, the public rail system in France, was losing passengers to other forms of transport and introduced the “TGV” (Train à Grande Vitesse) to counteract the trend in 1981. As a result of Opec controlling the oil market in 1974, the train was designed to be powered by gas turbines. It ran on a specially built track between Lyon and Paris. Eight years later another TGV was introduced, this time between the coast and Paris. Soon, France became the most rail efficient country in the world with high speed train connections to Belgium, London, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and the Netherlands.
There was another positive element that resulted from the introduction of high speed trains. Between 1964 and 1991, Japan’s Shinkansen had transported in excess of three billion passengers without there being a single fatal accident and eleven years after France introduced the TGV, it still had a 100% safety record. This statistic has never been equaled by the traditional slow moving trains in any country.
China has become the fourth country to produce such trains, after France, Germany and Japan. China's first domestically produced bullet train with a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour has rolled off the production line. Equipped with highly-efficient power system, the currently fastest train in China is also energy efficient. When the train is running, it can transfer kinetic energy into electricity, so that it can ensure its electricity supply even when it is cut off from the power grids. In all, 89 such trains are expected to be in commercial operation by the end of 2010.
41. It was ___________ that helped promote rapid economic growth in 30 years in Japan.
A. manufacturers B. ordinary trains
C. Internet D. convenient transportation means
42. France introduced high speed trains to _____________.
A. increase the number of passengers B. fight against Opec
C. develop the finance of France D. connect other cities
43. Which of the following advantage(s) belongs to bullet train?
A. Speedy and energy-wasting. B. Slow but secure.
C. Fast and safe. D. Crowded and expensive.
44. What is the feature of the China’s currently fastest train?
A. It is the most advanced train in the world.
B. It can run faster than any other trains throughout the world.
C. It can produce electricity by energy transformation.
D. It can go into commercial operation.
45. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Bullet trains are the most convenient means of transportation compared with others.
B. Bullet trains are the only key to developing the economy of a country.
C. Bullet trains can save time and energy for people.
D. Bullet trains have many advantages and are accepted by more and more countries.
Some houses are designed to be smart. Others have smart designs. An example of the second type of house won an Award of Excellence from the American Institutes of Architects.
|
Located on the shore of Sullivan’s Island off the coast of South Carolina, the award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashed to pieces by Hurricane（飓风）Hugo 10 years ago. In September 1989, Hugo struck South Carolina, killing 18 people and damaging or destroying 36,000 homes in the state. Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolina’s shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement of building laws wasn’t strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who created the cleverly-designed beach house. In Huff’s wake all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced requirements. The new beach house on Sullivan’s Island should be able to withstand(经受) a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour.
At first sight,
the house on Sullvan’s Island looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble “a large party lantern” at night, according to one observer. But looks can be cheating. The house’s wooden frame is reinforced with long steel bars to give it extra strength.
To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings – long, slender columns of
wood anchored deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also elevate the house above storm attacks. The pilings allow the waves to run under the house instead of running into it. “These swells of water come on shore at tremendous speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings,” said Huff.
Huff designed the timber pilings to be partly masked by the house’s ground-to-roof shell. “The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesn’t look like it’s standing with its pant legs pulled up,” said Huff. In the event of a storm surge, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.
| A．to be easily reinforced | B．to look smarter in design |
| C．to meet stricter building standards | D．to be designed in the shape of cubes |
The award-winning beach house is quite strong because .
| A．it is strengthened by steel bars | B．it is made of redwood |
| C．it is in the shape of a shell | D．it is built with stone and concrete |
Huff raised the house 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings in order to .
A．withstand peak winds of about 200 km/hr |
| B．strike stronger pilings keep into the sand |
| C．break huge sea waves into smaller ones |
| D．prevent water from rushing into the house |
The main function of the shell is .
| A．to strengthen the pilings of the house |
| B．to give the house a better appearance |
| C．to protect the wooden frame of the house |
| D．to slow down the speed of the swelling water |
Experience the newly opened Grand Canyon(大峡谷) West Skywalk in Colorado. Departing from Grand Canyon South Rim by Airplane to Grand Canyon's West Rim, you will land and take a
ground tour to the Skywalk! Walk on air for 70' feet over the edge of Grand Canyon West.
This Skywalk has been open since March 28, 2007. Daily visitorship to the Skywalk has been over 4,000 people. Please be patient to enjoy your moment on the Skywalk.
After you have experienced the one and only Grand Canyon Skywalk Glass Bridge, you will return to the Grand Canyon West Airport and take your A
irplane for a flight back to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This is a tour never to be forgotten as you will have walked on air over the Grand Canyon.
Tour Itinerary (行程)
| Tour Duration |
5.7 Hours |
The Grand Indian Adventure Skywalk |
| Flight from Grand Canyon South Rim to Grand Canyon West |
1 Hour |
Experience an eagle-eye view of the Grand Canyon as you make your way to Grand Canyon West. |
| Lunch/Light Meal at Guano Point at Grand Canyon West |
2 Hours |
You will be taken by bus to Guano Point with breathtaking views of the western part of the Grand Canyon where the Colorado River makes it way into Lake Mead. Every table for Lunch has a view. |
| Walk on the World Renowned Skywalk |
1.5 Hours |
Finally, you will board your bus to Eagle Point, home of the Grand Canyon Skywalk. Now it is time for you to walk on air for 70' feet over the Grand Canyon. |
| Flight Back to Grand Canyon South Rim |
1.2 Hours |
After time on the Skywalk, you will return to the Grand Canyon West Airport and return to Grand Canyon South Rim in time for dinner and sunset. |
This advertisement is for ___________.
A．Grant Canyon W est |
B．Grant Canyon South |
| C．Grant Canyon | D．the Skywalk |
The package fee does NOT cover the cost of __________.
the Grand Canyon Skywalk Bridge is made of glass because ________.
| A．it looks stronger | B．it is cheaper to build |
| C．it looks more beautiful | D．it gives you a better view |
According to the Tour Itinerary, the route is __________.
| A．South Rim→Guano Point →West Airport→Eagle Point → West Airport →South Rim |
| B．South Rim→West Airport →Guano Point→Eagle Point→West Airport →South Rim |
| C．South Rim→West Airport →Eagle Point→Guano Point→West Airport →South Rim |
| D．South Rim →West Airport→Eagle Point→West Airport→Guano Point →South Rim |
HANS Christian Andersen put Denmark on the map of the world literature with his stories The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid （小美人鱼） and The Ugly Duckling．Now Copenhagen, the country's capital, has become the center of the world political map, with 190 world leaders attending the climate talks there, not to mention thousands of reporters．
Just how much do you know about the Scandinavian country?
Denmark is famous for its design culture．At the heart of “Danish Design” is the idea that, as poet and designer Piet Hein puts it: “There is one art, not more, nor less, [and that is] to do all things with artlessness （朴实）”．
Danish design places equal emphasis on practicality and quality．From Lego toys to furniture, Danish products are known for their clean lines, simplicity and functionality．“Remove material where it's not needed．Keep things simple and functional and make them carefully,” explained Hans J．Wegner, the first Danish designer to achieve worldwide fame: “The aim is not to create a work of art, but to produce a good chair．”
“The Danes have done a better job than most in promoting arts in Europe, considering their country's size and population, in the fields of architecture, sculpture and design,” writes Helena Smith, reporter with British newspaper the Guardian．
The simplicity of Danish design may extend to the quality of life there．Some even claim that the Danes have the highest quality of life of any nation in the world．
Kate Vial, a 55-year-old American who has lived and worked in Denmark for more than 30 years, explaining why she chooses to live in Denmark rather than the US, told Germany's biggest news weekly Der Spiegel: “I just chose a simpler life
style, one where I could ride my bike all over and where I don't have to make a great living to survive．”What’s the writer’s purpose of mentioning Denmark’s literature?
| A．To show the readers that Denmark is best known for its stories． |
| B．To arouse readers’ interest in Denmark． |
| C．To tell the readers that this passage is related to literature． |
| D．To show why Denmark can attract so many political leaders． |
What is Denmark famous for according to the passage?
| A．Design culture | B．Making chairs |
| C．Writing poems | D．Climate prediction |
Which statement i
s true according to the passage?
| A．Danish design pays more attention to arts than its function． |
| B．Danish products don’t need much material． |
| C．Danish people like to keep simple life． |
D．Compared with other countries in Europe, Denmark does lit tle in promoting arts． |
In Piet Hein’s opinion, the characteristic of Danish cultur
e is _____________．
| A．Creative | B．Complicated | C．Impractical | D．Simple |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Danes conquer the world with simple designs． |
| B．Denmark—a new political center． |
| C．Life in Denmark． |
| D．Designer’s idea of Denmark． |
The Zhoukoudian Beijing Man Site is one of the most important world heritage sites in China．Since the discovery, which changed China’s knowledge of its history, was made in the 1920s, Zhoukoudian has become an important place for ar
chaeologists from all over the world．At the site in the south-west suburb of Beijing, there is, for example, the earliest evidence of the use of fire by humans．It has also been proved that people lived there continuously between 500,000 and 10,000 years ago．
Today, however, Zhoukoudian is in serious danger．Parts of the cave have been badly affected by rain and exposure to the air．Some areas are almost completely covered in weeds, causing serious damage．Pollution from nearby cement factories has also contributed to the problem．
The site is extremely expensive to maintain and it will cost between three and five million yuan to repair it．At the moment, visitors are not allowed to v
isit the caves．
Zhoukoudian is on the World Cultural Heritage List, organized by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization．The list is constantly checked．Any site which is seriously damaged or which is not properly protected is an endangered heritage, and UNESCO is very quick to do something about situations like this．They have recommended that the site be closed and repaired．If nothing is done to repair it, it could be removed from the list．
This is a very serious matter and the Chinese Academy of Sciences is trying to raise public awareness about it．They have suggested that the general public be encouraged to help with the problem．A professor at the Academy has proposed that a fund be established to raise money．
Dr Zhu Ming of the Academy said, “ We have requested that the government get involved, but we also need assistance from ordinary people．They can help by c
ontributing to the cost of repairing the caves．They are a precious part of our cultural heritage—it is of vital importance that we do something．If not, it will be a catastrophe．”Why is Zhoukoudian of great importance in China?
| A．Because the site tells some information about how man lived in the old times． |
| B．Because it has brought in lots of money as a place of interest． |
| C．Because it is the only place in China on the World Cultural Heritage List． |
D．Because it chan ged our knowledge of China’s history of the 1920’s． |
What is the second paragraph about?
| A．Zhoukoudian’s discovery | B．Zhoukoudian’s future |
| C．Zhoukoudian’s in danger | D．Zhoukoudian’s protection |
The following has caused the damage of the site except________________．
| A．Weeds | B．Rain | C．Fire | D．Cement factories |
The passage suggests that to repair Zhoukoudian, Chinese Academy of Sciences is seeking help from_________．
| A．Archaeologists from all over the world |
| B．Government and the public |
| C．Experts from UNESCO |
| D．Visitors |
Which of the following can replace the underlined word “catastrophe”?
| A．case | B．worry | C．wonder | D．disaster |
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