Schooling matters
THIS is an excerpt(摘录) from Michelle Obama’s speech at No 7 High School in Chengdu on March 25,2014 :
You see, the truth is that I grew up like many of you. My Mom, my dad, my brother and I, we lived in a tiny apartment in Chicago, which is one of the largest cities in America. My father worked at the local water plant……
While we certainly weren’t rich, my parents had big dreams for me and my brother. They had only a high school education themselves, but they were determined to send us both to universities. So they poured all of their love and all of their hope into us, and they worked hard. They saved every penny. And I know that wasn’t easy for them, especially for my father. You see, my father had a serious illness called multiple sclerosis(多发性硬化). And as he got sicker, it got harder for him to walk, and it took him longer to get dressed in the morning.
But no matter how tired he felt, no matter how much pain he was in, my father hardly ever missed a day of work, because he was determined to give me and my brother a better life. And every day, like so many of you, I felt the weight of my parents’ sacrifices(牺牲)on my shoulders. Every day, I wanted to make them proud.
So, while most American kids attend public schools near their homes, when it was time for me to attend high school, I took an exam and got into a special public high school where I could get a better education. But the school was very far from my home, so I had to get up early every morning and ride a bus for an hour, sometimes an hour and a half if the weather was bad. And every afternoon, I’d ride that same bus back home and then immediately start my homework, often studying late into the night—and sometimes I would wake up at 4:30 or 5：00 in the morning to study even more.
And it wasn’t easy. But whenever I got tired or discouraged (气馁的，沮丧的), I would just think about how hard my parents were working for me. And I would remember something my mother always told me—she said: “A good education is something that no one can take away from you.”Which of the following is TRUE about Michelle Obama and her family?
| A．Her parents were poor but had good educational backgrounds． |
| B．She attended a public high school near her home． |
| C．She was aware of her parents’ sacrifices and expectations. |
| D．Her father suffered a serious disease and became disabled. |
Which of the following words best describes Michelle’s father?
| A．Strong-minded | B．Humorous | C．Artistic | D．Generous |
What does Michelle mainly want to tell readers in this excerpt?
| A．She struggled a lot to become the US First Lady． |
| B．Our parents always have high expectations for us． |
| C．She is an ordinary person from an ordinary family． |
| D．We should work hard and get good educations． |
“I will never marry, ” the future Elizabeth I declared at the age of eight, and, to the terror of her people, the Great Queen kept her word.
For four centuries, historians have guessed why Elizabeth never married. In her own day, her decision to remain single was considered absurd and dangerous. A queen needed a husband to make political decisions for her and to organize and lead her military campaigns. More important, she needed male heirs (继承人) to avoid a civil war after her death.
There was no shortage of suitors for the Queen, both English courtiers (朝臣) and foreign princes, and it was confidently expected for the best part of 30 years that Elizabeth would eventually marry one of them. Indeed, although she insisted that she preferred the single state, she kept these suitors in a state of permanent expectation. This was a deliberate policy on the Queen's part, since by keeping foreign princes in hope, sometimes for a decade, she kept them friendly when they might otherwise have made war on her kingdom.
There were, indeed, good political reasons for her avoiding marriage. The disastrous union of her sister Mary I to Philip II of Spain had had an unwelcome foreign influence upon English politics. The English were generally prejudiced against the Queen taking a foreign husband, particularly a Catholic one. Yet if she married an English, jealousy might lead to the separation of the court.
There were other deeper reasons for Elizabeth's unwillingness to marry, chief of which, I believe, was her fear of losing her autonomy as Queen. In the 16th century, a queen was regarded as holding supreme dominion(统治权)over the state, while a husband was thought to hold supreme dominion over his wife. Elizabeth knew that marriage and motherhood would bring some harm to her power.
She once pointed out that marriage seemed too uncertain a state for her. She had seen several unions in her immediate family break down, including that of her own parents. Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, had had her mother, Anne Boleyn, killed; her stepmother Catherine Howard later suffered the same fate. When Elizabeth was 14 she was all but attracted by Admiral Thomas Seymour, who also went to the prison within a year. Witnessing these terrible events at an early age, it has been argued, may have put Elizabeth off marriage.
Elizabeth had to decide her priorities. Marriage or being single? Elizabeth was far too intelligent. The choice she made was courageous and revolutionary, and, in the long run, the right one for England.
To the suitors including English courtiers and foreign princes, Elizabeth ________.
| A．held back the truth |
| B．gave a definite answer “no” |
| C．kept them expecting on purpose |
| D．said she preferred the single state |
If Elizabeth had married a foreign prince, there might have been ________.
| A．prejudice against her |
| B．separation of the court |
| C．jealousy among English courtiers |
| D．a negative impact on English politics |
Which of the following implications is right according to the passage?
| A．Queen Elizabeth was not a Catholic. |
| B．Some foreign princes made war on Britain. |
| C．Catherine Howard was killed by Anne Boleyn. |
| D．Admiral Thomas Seymour was killed by Henry VIII. |
What is the attitude of the author towards Queen Elizabeth never marrying in her life?
| A．Pitiful. | B．Approving. | C．Negative. | D．Neutral. |
You put a great deal of effort into reaching the college of your choice. It’s time to get started. But what’s next? Beginning college can be an exciting but awkward time. Follow these tips to adjust to your new life rapidly and make the most of your college experience.
● To save time and money, use the college’s bus system. Taking the bus to school is quick, easy and free in most college towns. You won’t have to locate or afford a place to park either. It’s also a good way to be environmentally aware.
● Save pennies on books by waiting until class starts. You might not even need all of the recommended books. New textbooks cost an arm and a leg. Try buying used textbooks — it’s a surefire way to save money and serves the purpose as well.
● Do never look at college life as an endless series of parties and social activities. But there is a whole lot more to college if you’re serious about graduating. Having a good college experience is all about balancing work and fun.
● Be aware that your living environment can largely affect your academic success. If the dorm doesn’t suit you, consider living at home with your family or renting your own apartment. The best location for your studies isn’t always your dorm. Find a quiet area, like the library, to do your work. Alternatively, buy some headphones that block out noise.
● Be mindful of your diet. Make healthy food choices and watch what you eat. Avoid foods that are processed or high in sugar. The “freshman 15” is real. Many college students gain at least 15 pounds during their freshmen year.
● While electives (选修课) can be helpful when figuring out your major, you shouldn’t entirely rely on them. Clubs and other organizations exist around. Get involved. Make sure, though, that you still have time to study. Having too much on your plate can hurt your grades. Which of the following ideas can be financially wise?
| A．Driving your own car. | B．Buying used books. |
| C．Renting an apartment. | D．Attending activities. |
In the text, freshmen are repeatedly warned against ______.
| A．academic failures | B．physical problems |
| C．traffic accidents | D．social activities |
The “freshman 15” tells the fact that some freshmen ______.
| A．attend limited activities on campus |
| B．have little regular physical exercise |
| C．focus less on their academic work |
| D．take relaxed attitudes to their diets |
The underlined phrase “having too much on your plate” in the last paragraph probably refers to ______.
| A．using too much money for meals |
| B．eating too many unhealthy foods |
| C．taking part in too many after-class activities |
| D．taking an elective that has too many students |
They will be here in a minute, surely. I’ll just stare at my shoes a little while longer to pass the time. Wish I’d brought a book. Hang on, though, what if I’ve got the wrong day? The wrong place? Have the clocks gone back? No, damn it, I’m off home. Whoever I’m waiting for clearly lives in a different time zone from me.
I am always 10 minutes early, so if you’re 10 minutes late, I’ve been foot-tapping for 20 minutes. I know it’s not fair to hold the first 10 against you, but I just can’t help myself. I never wait more than 20 minutes beyond the meeting time we decided upon, not for anyone, ever.
OK, that’s not strictly true. I have, on occasion, hung around anxiously and heart-brokenly for up to an hour, but the bitter anger that follows is never a pretty sight. If you’ve made me wait that long, you will wish you hadn’t bothered turning up at all.
How come some people are always late and some are always on time? If I can manage to be punctual, why can’t you? Because I left a hot cup of coffee at home while you sat down to roll another cigarette. Because I spilled jam on my pants and quickly wiped it off whereas you took time to change your whole outfit. Because I switched off midway through a TV series, but you had to ride out the end, didn’t you? And don’t even think about blaming the traffic. How do you think I got here? By flying carpet? Only carelessness or arrogance (傲慢) can explain a habit of lateness.
Some people are always late because they can’t make realistic calculations about how long it takes to do things. There are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour. Just deal with it. Painful as it may be, you have to accept that, as you’ve agreed to meet at eight and it’s now a quarter to, you don’t have time to phone your girlfriend.
Much worse, though, are those with big egos (自我). Being late is just rude. Being late on purpose really means that you hate the person you are meeting.
Of course, there are some perfectly lovely latecomers out there. I just never wait long enough to find out.Which of the following words best describes how the author feels in the first paragraph?
| A．Anxious. | B．Curious. |
| C．Thankful. | D．Joyful. |
What does the author think contributes to people always being late?
a. Their big egos.
b. Traffic jams.
c. Their carelessness.
d. Being picky when choosing clothes.
e. Their realistic calculations of how long it takes to do things.
| A．a, b | B．a, c | C．b, d, e | D．c, d, e |
We can learn from the article that the author ___________.
| A．is tolerant of people being late |
| B．has missed lots of meetings |
| C．has trouble getting along with others |
| D．has a strong preference for good timekeeping |
According to the author, people should ____________.
| A．be patient when waiting for a latecomer |
| B．keep in mind that being late is rude and selfish |
| C．always arrive 10 minutes early for an appointment |
| D．ask people around them to remind them about an appointment |
When introducing American universities, some of the first institutions to mention are the Ivy League schools. Originally, the Ivy League was an athletic conference made up of 8 private institutes of higher learning in northeastern United States. However, as time went on, these schools also became known for their excellence in academics besides athletics. Until now, these 8 schools have been recognized as some of the best colleges and universities in the United States.
Harvard University is a private institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The university includes a number of graduate and professional schools, as well as a college for undergraduates. In 2012, Harvard ranked number one in US News’ ranking of national universities again. Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institute of higher education in the United States. It can be said that first there was Harvard, then the United States of America. Also, Harvard’s library contains the oldest collection of books in the United States as well as the largest private collection in the world. Harvard has also been described by Forbes Magazine as one of the “billionaire universities” as of their recent list of 469 billionaires, 50 received a degree from Harvard.
Harvard College (the institute for undergraduate students) is one of the most famous schools in the United States. It offers over 40 undergraduate fields of study, including astrophysics, mathematics, neurobiology(神经生物学), etc. And the financial aid program there is amazing. Even though the tuition is about 37,576, and there are other expenses throughout the year, about 70% of undergraduate students received financial aid. Out of those students, over 90% of them had their full need met. And the policies for international students are the same for U.S. citizens.
Harvard College is very selective, as it only admits about 6% of their applicants. For admission into Harvard College, it is required that students take the SAT or the ACT, as well as 2 SAT Subject Tests. Harvard will also look at other factors during admission such as your application essay, high school transcript, recommendations, and most importantly, your character and personal qualities.
What are the Ivy League schools famous for?
| A．Athletics and location. | B．Academics and history. |
| C．Financial aid and training. | D．Athletics and academics. |
Harvard University includes .
| A．only one college |
| B．a number of colleges for undergraduates |
| C．a kindergarten, a middle school and a college |
| D．many graduate and professional schools and a college for undergraduates |
Why is Harvard called one of the “billionaire universities”?
| A．Because people can get a lot of money from Harvard. |
| B．Because there are 50 billionaires in Harvard. |
| C．Because nearly one ninth of the billionaires once studied in Harvard. |
| D．Because 469 billionaires sponsor Harvard. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．90% students in Harvard have their full need met. |
| B．About 70% of undergraduate students received financial aid. |
| C．Harvard College is the institute for graduate students. |
| D．The policies for international students are different for U.S. Citizens. |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中选出最佳选项。
奥朗德
President Normal
(2012年洛阳二模)BEFORE Nicolas Sarkozy became French president，he was asked if he thought about presidency when he looked in the mirror while shaving(刮胡子)．“Not just when I'm shaving，”he answered.
When Francois Hollande，now presidentelect(总统当选人)of France，was asked the same question，he replied：“Do I see myself as president？No，I am a presidential candidate.A candidate must not think himself president；he must give hope that he becomes president.”
Hollande has promised to be a“normal(普通的) president”－something Sarkozy certainly was not.Sarkozy celebrated his election in 2007 at a worldclass Parisian restaurant.He took holidays on the yachts(游艇)of wealthy businesspeople.Hollande，by contrast，was still going around Paris on his threewheeled motorbike at the start of this year.One member of his party said he looked“more like a pizza delivery man”than the next president.
“That is the key to Hollande's success because the election is turning into a sort of referendum(公民投票)for or against Nicolas Sarkozy，”Eric Dupin，a journalist and political observer(观察员)told Global Post.“Francois Hollande is the one who appears not only as his main opponent(对手)politically，but also as his complete opposite psychologically(心理上)．”
When he was the Socialist party leader，Hollande was nicknamed“the marshmallow(软糖)”because he hated fights.Sarkozy，by contrast，is known to be loud and aggressive(好斗的)．
When faced with Sarkozy's verbal attacks during the election，Hollande stayed calm.This sometimes annoyed even his own supporters.“I wish he would just let go and savage(用暴力对付)Sarko，”one Hollande voter said to the Guardian.
But Hollande still knows how to fight.Stéphane Le Foll，a Sicialist MEP who has been one of Hollande's closest advisors for 17 years and is codirecting his campaign，said Hollande had quietly planned his presidential bid(投标) for 10 years.“I think we all underestimated(低估)this guy，”Alain Minc，one of Sarkozy's closest friends and advisers，told Reuters.
Hollande was born in 1954 into a middleclass family.He lived through the 1968 protests(抗议)that nearly overthrew(推翻)the French government.“They shocked him，but also politicized him，he said in a recent interview，making him understand that change was possible，”reported the New York Times.When Hollande was 15，he told friends he expected to become president.
“I didn't come to the first rank either by chance or by obsession(执迷)，”Hollande said in an interview with Reuters.“I got there because I put myself in this situation，and because I deserved (值得的；应受的)it.”By citing Hollande and Sarkozy's replies to the same question，the author intends to show ________.
| A．Sarkozy is more confident than Hollande |
| B．Hollande is more modest than Sarkozy |
| C．Hollande is less ambitious than Sarkozy |
| D．Sarkozy is more humorous than Hollande |
What is the key to Hollande's success in the presidential election according to Eric Dupin?
| A．His dislike of fights. |
| B．His careful plan for the presidential bid. |
| C．How different he is form Sarkozy. |
| D．The gentle way in which he ran his campaign. |
How did Hollande react to Sarkozy's verbal attacks according to the article?
| A．He fought back violently. |
| B．He got annoyed on the spot. |
| C．He didn't say anything. |
| D．He dealt with them calmly. |
What did Hollande think he owed his success to，according to the article?
| A．His good luck. |
| B．His devotion and efforts. |
| C．His obsession with politics. |
| D．His personality and experience. |
What is the purpose of the article?
| A．To show what kind of person Hollande is. |
| B．To compare the differences between Hollande and Sarkozy |
| C．To show what French people think of Hollande. |
| D．To explain why Sarkozy lost the election. |
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