What is most likely to affect your success at school or at a job? The ability to

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What is most likely to affect your success at school or at a job? The ability to read. And that goes for your kids too. The declining literacy(读写能力的下降) of our society has been a main concern of educators for a while now, and yet things are not getting better.
In most cases, how well we learn to read will depend largely on our exposure（接触） to language as children. If we hear people around us talking about all kinds of subjects as children, we naturally pick up the words and phrases they use. If we pick up a lot of words, we will learn to read better.
Much of the traditional advice to struggling readers, theses days, seems to include developing “cognitive strategies”（认知策略）. In this way, readers are asked to centre more, to think, to be interested and ask questions, to analyze, to predict, to reason, and to check their understanding, or worse still to answer questions of what they have read. In other words they are asked to become self-conscious（有自我意识的） readers. I do not agree with this approach.
Here are my several strategies for reading improvement.
Read about things that interest you. If you are interested in what you are reading about, the words will come alive, and you will understand better. The more you read, the better you will become at reading. Just get started and it will become a habit, as long as you are interested in what you are reading.
Read material that is at your level or just a little difficult for you. Read material that you find easy to read, or just a little challenging. Looking up many unknown words in a dictionary is dull, and the results of the dictionary search are quickly forgotten.
_____ If you can hear the new words and phrases that you are reading, you will have an easier time understanding and remembering them. Hearing the rhythm of someone reading a text will help your own reading.
Don’t worry about what you don’t understand. Most of your reading should be for pleasure. You can still enjoy reading without understanding all of what you read. You may even understand some things in your own personal way.
Unfortunately not all reading is just for pleasure. When you are reading a textbook or report or other material for school, you may need to underline, take notes and read some parts over again. However, if you have developed the habit of reading for pleasure, you will find that the skills you need will come naturally, and that you will understand a lot better than before.
小题1:In Paragraph 2, the author tells us the importance of _____.

A．hearing people around as children	B．talking ability as children
C．contacting different people	D．learning different languages

小题2:Which sentence is best to be filled in the blank in the passage?

A．Listen as much as possible.	B．Try to use your imagination.
C．Great works need to be read out loud.	D．Listen first if you have trouble reading.

小题3:It can be learned from the last paragraph that _____.

A．you should find pleasure from reading a textbook

B．the habit of reading for pleasure is important

C．reading for school is helpful for reading for pleasure

D．reading for school requires different skills from reading for pleasure

小题4:What is the purpose of the author in writing the passage?

A．To tell us some ways to improve reading ability.

B．To show that poor literacy has been a big problem.

C．To teach us how to look for fun in reading.

D．To tell us some ways to pick up new words and phrases.

答案

小题1:A
小题2:D
小题3:B
小题4:A

解析

略

举一反三

About 45 percent of Americans don’t get enough sleep, according to a recent survey. However, the benefits of getting enough sleep far outweigh the thrill of watching TV for one more hour or surfing the web. Getting a better night’s sleep will help you lose or keep your weight more effectively. Try these simple steps to improve your quality of sleep.
Take time to relax
So many of us go-go-go until it’s time for bed, but it’s important to take time to slow down and relax before sleeping. Do relaxing things, such as listening to soothing (抚慰的) music or deep breathing. Avoid stimulating (刺激的) activities such as writing e-mails, talking on the phone and watching TV. Some guidelines (指导方针): no e-mail after 8 p.m. and no TV or phone calls after 9 p.m..
Darker is better
Your body regulates your sleep cycle in response to the presence and absence of light, so dim the lights as evening approaches. Try getting ready for bed by candlelight. When you’re ready to sleep, make sure your room is as dark as possible.
Put your thoughts to bed
We all need time to process our day, but bed is not the place to do it if you want to sleep well. Take 10 to 15 minutes to record your thoughts in a journal. This effective technique will capture what’s in your mind so you don’t lie awake. Tell yourself you’re putting your thoughts to bed so that you can go to bed.
No sugar or alcohol before bed
These may wake you up. If you need a snack before bed, make it protein.
Try to get more sleep
Get an extra hour or two of sleep every night for a week and see how you feel. You’ll notice the difference!
小题1:The purpose of writing this text is to ________________________.

A．share some ways to slow down and relax before sleeping

B．guide readers to improve their quality of sleep

C．tell readers the importance of getting a good night’s sleep

D．publish the results of a recent survey on quality of sleep

小题2:According to the text, we know that __________________________.

A．we should keep our bedrooms in strong light before going to bed

B．writing a diary may excite us and influence our sleep

C．we should never get up later on weekends than we do on weekdays

D．candlelight is a good choice for our bedrooms when we’re getting ready to sleep

小题3: We should take time to slow down because it can _________________________.

A．inform us of the importance of sleeping

B．signal to our body it’s time to sleep

C．tell us to stop watching TV for making phone calls

D．tell us not to do stimulating activities

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IS IT TIME TO GET － MP3
Your computer has been playing music for years, one CD at a time．Now hundreds of songs can be stored in your PC if they’re in the MP3 format．
What is it?
MP3 compresses (压缩) music into small computer—friendly files．You access MP3 music several ways: Tunes can be downloaded from websites that have converted (转变) vast music libraries into MP3．Or you can prerecorded CDs into your PC and convert songs in minutes into MP3．Once MP3 music is on your PC’s hard drive, you can play it through your computer’s speakers, “burn” it onto blank CDs or swap (交换) MP3 files with friends using e—mail．
How much?
Software needed to play and convert MP3 music is often free．It is preinstalled (预先安装)on most new computers or can be downloaded from many websites, including MP3, com．Some MP3 sites are free．Just type at around $50 and can hold hundreds of songs．A blank CD on which you can record music costs about a dollar．
Advantages
MP3 turns your home PC into a jukebox (自动唱机)．Tiny MP3 players are the size of a deck of cards, making it easy to take hundreds of songs with you．
Disadvantages
You may find that music at many sites is limited．And some only allow you to listen rather than download offerings．Others let you download music that then can’t be copied to MP3 players．And a growing number of new CDs make it impossible to copy songs to a computer．
小题1:How can you get Mp3 music?

A．By turning your home PC into jukebox．

B．By taking you own music or songs with you．

C．By copying songs to a PC through the speakers．

D．By downloading from websites which have converted music libraries．

小题2:Which is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Software needed to play and convert MP3 music is often free of charge．

B．MP3 music can be “burned” onto bland CDs or swapped with friends by e-mail．

C．MP3 music can be taken along while traveling．

D．A greater number of new CDs make it possible to copy songs to a computer．

小题3:How much will you pay for a MP3 player?

A．Free of charge	B．Free downloading
C．At least fifty dollars	D．About a dollar

小题4:What is the closest meaning of the underlined word “burn”?

A．Copy

B．Play

C．Store

D．Change

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Growing up the daughter of an outstanding educator, Andrea Peterson knew at a young age that
she wanted to serve others. It was with this mindset that she started to take a degree in medicine. However ,while visiting her brothers who were away at college studying music education, she realized that she too was drawn to teach music.
In her ten years at Granite Falls, she has revitalized（复兴） the music programs at both the
elementary and high school levels, to the extent that an additional music teacher was hired by the district to assist with the workload. The growth of the music program in Granite Falls School District has encouraged students to participate in county ,state ,and national music competitions, and won a lot of prizes for the district.
Teaching music is only part of Peterson"s instruction—it serves as a vehicle to other areas .
"Music is an amazing tool to unlock students" potential. The most visible benefit from their success in music is their increased confidence and self-esteem," Peterson said. "However, I don"t believe it is the only benefit, nor the most powerful. It is truly exciting to see how my music teaching can transfer back to other classrooms." With this philosophy, Peterson introduced a cross-curriculum program ,where she takes lessons taught in other classes, such as English and math ,and expands upon them in an eight-week unit.
One of the most popular projects in Peterson"s classes is the creation and performance of a musical, In the activity students create a play from one of the books they have read in another class. Students work together to choose the music that best fits with the overall feel of the play and then perform it for the greater community. "Through Andrea"s efforts these kids have helped to put Granite Falls, Washington, on the map for musical talents. Parents, staff, and community members continue to be in awe of what she is able to bring forth from the children," said Debra Rose Howell, a colleague of Peterson"s at Monte Cristo Elementary School.
小题1:At the beginning, Andrea Peterson planned to work as a (n) .

A．teacher

B．doctor

C．educator

D．musician

小题2:The 2nd paragraph mainly tells about .

A．Andrea Peterson’s life at Granite Falls

B．county, state and national music competitions

C．the growth of the music program in Granite Falls School District

D．Andrea Peterson’s contributions to Granite Falls’ music programs

小题3:Which of the following is NOT a benefit the students get from Andrea Peterson’s class?

A．Music talent development.	B．Increased self-confidence.
C．Ability in learning other subjects.	D．Prizes for English and maths.

小题4:The following sentences tell what the students have to do about their musical project. Which is the right order of the events?
a．They chose proper music for their play.
b．They adapt the story into a play.
c．They put on the play for the whole school or the whole community.
d．They practice performing the play.
e．They choose a story they have read in another class.

A．e→b→a→d→c	B．e→b→c→a→d
C．a→e→b→d→c	D．a→b→e→d→c

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Researchers are placing robotic dogs（机器狗）in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated（应急的） ,”Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”
In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.
“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady, “When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own.”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled(行动不便的) and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes（免除） exercise and feeding concerns.
“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says，“But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”
“Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels, or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds.”
小题1: The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to .

A．understand human-animal relationship

B．find the causes of old people’s loneliness

C．make lonely old people’s life better

D．promote the animal-assisted research

小题2:In the research, the old people are asked to .

A．note the activities of AIBOs	B．record their feelings and activity
C．keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks	D．analyze the collected information

小题3:What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?

A．It is easier to keep at home.	B．It responds to all the human orders.
C．It can help the disabled people.	D．It can watch TV with its owner.

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Psychologists tell us that there are four basic stages that human beings pass through when they enter and live in a new culture．This process begins with the “honeymoon stage”．This is the period of time when we first arrive in which everything about the new culture is strange and exciting．We may be suffering from “jet lag” but we are thrilled to be in the new environment, seeing new sights, hearing new sounds and language, eating new kinds of food．This stage can last for quite a long time because we feel we are involved in some kind of great adventure．
Unfortunately, the second stage can be more difficult．After we have settled down into our new life, we can become very tired and begin to miss our homeland and our family, friends, pets．All the little problems in life seem to be much bigger and more disturbing when you face them in a foreign culture．This period of cultural adjustment can be very difficult and lead to rejecting or pulling away from the new culture．
The third stage is called the “adjustment stage”．This is when you begin to realize that things are not so bad in the host culture．Your sense of humour usually becomes stronger and you realize that you are becoming stronger by learning to take care of yourself in the new place．Things are still difficult, but you are now a survivor!
The fourth stage can be called “at ease at last”．Now you feel quite comfortable in your new surroundings．You can cope（deal） with most problems that occur．You may still have problems with the language, but you know you are strong enough to deal with them．
小题1:This passage mainly talks about ________．

A．culture and foreign language learning	B．adventures in a foreign land
C．getting used to a new culture	D．the interaction of different cultures

小题2:Which of the following best describes the first stage?

A．Lonely and depressed	B．Bored and homesick
C．Happy and excited	D．Angry and frustrated

小题3:According to the passage, people are most likely to return to their own culture at the ________stage．

A．1st

B．2nd

C．third

D．fourth

小题4:It can be concluded from the passage that ________．

A．people feel better in their own culture

B．it is not easy to adapt to a new culture

C．culture shock doesn’t occur at the beginning

D．it is human nature to long for adventures

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