During her junior year of high school, Diane Ray"s teacher handed her a workshee

During her junior year of high school, Diane Ray"s teacher handed her a workshee

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During her junior year of high school, Diane Ray"s teacher handed her a worksheet and instructed the 17-year-old to map out her future financial life. Ray pretended to buy a car, rent an apartment, and apply for a credit card.  Then, she and her classmates played the "stock market game", investing(投资) the hypothetical(虚拟的) earnings from their hypothetical jobs in the market in the disastrous fall of 2008. "Our pretend investments crashed," Ray says, still frightened. "We got to know how it felt to lose money."
That pain of earning and losing money is a feeling that public schools increasingly want to teach. Forty states now offer some type of financial instruction at the high-school level, teaching students how to balance checkbooks and buy stock in math and social-studies classes. Though it"s too early to measure the full influence of the Great Recession(大萧条), the interest in personal-finance classes has risen since 2007 when bank failures started to occur regularly. Now, many states including Missouri, Utah, and Tennessee require teenagers to take financial classes to graduate from high school. School districts such as Chicago are encouraging money-management classes for kids as young as primary school, and about 300 colleges or universities now offer online personal-finance classes for incoming students. "These classes really say, "This is how you live independently," " says Ted Beck, president of National Endowment for Financial Education.
Rather than teach investment methods or financial skills, these courses offer a back-to-the-basics approach to handling money: Don"t spend what you don"t have. Put part of your monthly salary into a savings account, and invest in the stock market for the long-term rather than short-term gains. For Ray, this means dividing her earnings from her part-time job at a fast-food restaurant into separate envelopes for paying bills, spending and saving.  "Money is so hard to make but so easy to spend," she says one weekday after school. "That is the big takeaway."
Teaching kids about the value of cash certainly is one of the programs" goals, but teachers also want students to think hard about their finances long term. It"s easy for teenagers to get annoyed about gas prices because many of them drive cars. But the hard part is urging them to put off the instant satisfaction of buying a new T-shirt or an iPod. "Investing and retirement aren"t things teenagers are thinking about. For them, the future is this weekend," says Gayle Whitefield, a business and marketing teacher at Uth’s Riverton High School.
That’s a big goal for these classes: preventing kids from making the same financial missteps their parents did when it comes to saving, spending, and debt. Though the personal savings rate has increased up to 4. 2 percent, that’s still a far distance from 1982, when Americans saved 11. 2 percent of their incomes. “It’s hard for schools to reach strict money-management skills when teenagers go home and watch their parents increase credit-card debt. It’s like telling your kids not to smoke and then lighting up a cigarette in front of them,” Beck says.
Even with these challenges, students such as Ray say learning about money in school is worthwhile. After Ray finished her financial class, she opened up a savings account at her local bank and started to think more about how she and her family would pay for college. “She just has a better understanding of money and how it affects the world,” says her mother, Darleen-and that’s sown to the details of how money is spent from daily expenses to various taxes. All of this talk of money can make Ray worry, she says, but luckily, she feels prepared to face it.
小题1:The “stock market game” mentioned in Paragraph 1 is meant to       .
A.introduce a new course to students
B.help students learn about investment
C.teach how to apply for a credit card
D.encourage students’ personal savings
小题2:How does the writer show us that schools’ interest in teaching financial classes has increased in paragraph 2_________?
A.By giving examples.B.By providing data.
C.By raising questions.D.By making comparisons.
小题3:According to the passage, taking money-management courses will        .
A.better students’ learning methods
B.prevent students going into debt
C.help students get accepted by colleges
D.make students become very wealthy
小题4:After completing the financial class, Diane Ray is likely to       .
A.pay off all her debts. B.handle her money better
C.find a job in a bank. D.manage the family income
小题5:The passage is mainly about      .
A.ways to teach students to earn money
B.how Diane Ray learns to value money
C.the push to teach personal finance in school
D.how students choose a proper financial class

答案

小题1:B
小题2:A
小题3:B
小题4:B
小题5:C
解析

试题分析:由于受金融危机的影响,公立学校正在逐渐开设金融课,来教授学生基本知识,认识金钱和如何使用、分配金钱,并未将来做打算。
小题1:根据第一段“instructed the 17-year-old to map out her future financial life.”可知,老师是在指导Ray如何进行投资,故选B。
小题2:根据“Now, many states including Missouri, Utah, and Tennessee require teenagers to take financial classes to graduate from high school. School districts such as Chicago are encouraging money-management classes for kids as young as primary school, and about 300 colleges or universities now offer online personal-finance classes for incoming students.”可知,作者通过举例子的方式来说明学校对教授金融课的兴趣的增加,故选A。
小题3:根据第三段“Rather than teach investment methods or financial skills, these courses offer a back-to-the-basics approach to handling money: Don"t spend what you don"t have. Put part of your monthly salary into a savings account, and invest in the stock market for the long-term rather than short-term gains.”和第五段“That’s a big goal for these classes: preventing kids from making the same financial missteps their parents did when it comes to saving, spending, and debt.”可知,学校更多的是教授学生基本的用钱之道,而不是教授投资技巧和金融知识,目标是防止孩子犯他们父母犯过的错误,故选B。
小题4:根据最后一段“Ray say learning about money in school is worthwhile. After Ray finished her financial class, she opened up a savings account at her local bank and started to think more about how she and her family would pay for college.”可知,Ray在上过金融课之后,会更好地分配钱,故选B。
小题5:根据“That pain of earning and losing money is a feeling that public schools increasingly want to teach. ...the interest in personal-finance classes has risen since 2007 when bank failures started to occur regularly”可知,经济危机带来的损失正在越来越促使各地对的学校开设金融课,故选C。
举一反三
Vans, Keds, Dollies—they sound like the names of rock bands,but if you have teenagers, you"ll know they’re actually the latest in teenage footwear.
But experts are now warning that the current shoe fashions will be causing teenagers discomfort in the short term and storing up years of foot, knee and back pain in the future. Here, the experts identify the problems caused by teenagers’ shoe choice.
KEDS/VANS

Slip­on shoes with elastic (弹性的) sides are particularly popular among teenage boys—with Keds and Vans the most sought-after brands.
The main problem is that they are just too flat—so flat that the heel, which strikes the ground first, also becomes damaged and painful.
BALLET PUMPS

The worst shoes of all are such light and thin dolly shoes. The problem is partly their flatness, as with Keds and Vans. However ballet pumps, which have no string or heel, have other specific problems.
“As the shoe has no fastening device, it relies on the toes to keep the shoe on, causing an awkward gait (步法) , this leads to short—and long-term problems such as calluses (茧子), heel and knee pain.”
WEDGES AND STILETTOS

These shoes can also cause problems with gait. They may look good, but the heels on these are so high they can force the wearer’s body weight forward, making them very unstable.
Teens who wear these shoes regularly are also in danger of joining those millions of women with constant back pain.
SCHOOL SHOES
So what do podiatrists (足科医生)have on their wish list, especially for everyday wear?
Something in a natural, breathable fabric, with a string to hold it on,with a small heel and a deep toe­box that does not press the toes,such as Clark"s,Marks & Spencer or Rhino.
If your teen insists on wearing “bad” shoes, get them some simple foot orthotics(矫形器) in the shoes. These support and correct the movement of the foot and, properly fitted by a podiatrist, can often transform their walk and halt the damage.
小题1:Of all the shoes mentioned in the passage, which can cause the worst problems?
A.Ballet Pumps.B.Wedges & Stilettos.C.Keds and VansD.Marks & Spencer.
小题2:The underlined word “halt” in the last paragraph probably means________.
A.increaseB.stopC.worsenD.cure
小题3:From this passage we can infer________.
A.podiatrists are expert at producing branded shoes
B.fashionable shoes all have orthotics in them
C.experts are strongly against wearing popular shoes
D.trendy shoes may ruin teenager’ health

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
Some weight­loss camps, which are rare in China just a few years ago,have multiplied in Beijing, Qingdao, Shenzhen,and other cities. Today about 15 percent of adults, or 200 million Chinese, are reportedly overweight.Of these, 90 million—about 7 percent—are obese(极肥胖的).
Experts say the obesity epidemic(流行病) is spreading to children, though more slowly than in adults. The obesity, they say, will do harm to the health of China’ s citizens and economy.“We"re seeing a very large number of teenagers who are quite heavy and aren"t moving much,” said Barry Popkin, a nutrition(营养) professor. Popkin carries out an ongoing health­and­nutrition survey of 16,000 households in China. He says more kids today are overeating and putting on weight “quite quickly.” In just ten years China‘s childhood obesity rate has doubled,with the greatest gains coming in urban areas.“In big cities it"s a big problem.”
Some experts blame the extra fat on a range of factors, many of them tied to China’ s rapidly changing economy and culture. The diets of Chinese adults and children are far higher in meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, fats and sugars than ever before. In addition,kids—especially city dwellers—are more sedentary today and spend more time indoors in front of homework, television,computer games, and the Internet.
Shuwen Ng,a health economist, says that kids in China now have pocket money, and they spend a portion of it on junk food. Ng adds that advertising and peer groups influence kids" food choices. Certain foods, such as new candies or fast food, have attractive features.
China’ s childhood obesity rate stillfall behind that of the United States, where some 15 percent of kids are said to be obese. But the long­term effects are equally serious.
小题1:According to the passage we know________.
A.weight­loss camps have been very popular in China six years ago
B.about 290 million Chinese are overweight in China in all
C.in China childhood obesity rate in rural areas is lower than that in major cities
D.America’ s childhood obesity rate is lower than China’s
小题2:Which of the following reasons of China’s childhood obesity is NOT mentioned?
A.Advertising on some new candies.
B.ignorance of weight-control.
C.Playing computer games for long time.
D.Having pocket money.
小题3:The underlined word “sedentary” in the third paragraph probably means________.
A.confidentB.patientC.energeticD.inactive
小题4:According to the passage we can infer________.
A.obesity explosion in China will affect the United States
B.there are great difference in kids" food choices now
C.junk food leads to childhood obesity
D.city children eat more than rural children
小题5:What"s the best title for the passage?
A.Chinese Childhood Obesity problem
B.Weight­loss Camps in China
C.Obesity problem"s influence on Chinese Economy
D.Obesity problem in China and America

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What will people die of 100 years from now? If you think that is a simple question, you have not been paying attention to the revolution that is taking place in bio­technology. With the help of new medicine, the human body will last a very long time. Death will come mainly from accidents, murder and war. Today"s leading killers, such as heart disease, cancer, and aging itself, will become distant memories.
In discussion of technological changes, the Internet gets most of the attention these days. But the change in medicine can be the real technological event of our times. How long can humans live? Human brains were known to decide the final death. Cells are the basic units of all living things, and until recently, scientists were sure that the life of cells could not go much beyond 120 years because the basic materials of cells, such as those of brain cells, would not last forever. But the upper limits will be broken by new medicine. Sometime between 2050 and 2100, medicine will have advanced to the point at which every 10 years or so, people will be able to take medicine to repair their organs. The medicine, made up of the basic building materials of life, will build new brain cells, heart cells, and so on—in much the same way our bodies make new skin cells to take the place of old ones.
It is exciting to imagine that the advance in technology may be changing the most basic condition of human existence, but many technical problems still must be cleared up on the way to this wonderful future.
小题1:According to the passage, human death is now mainly caused by ________.
A.diseases and agingB.accidents and war
C.accidents and agingD.heart disease and war
小题2:In the author"s opinion, today"s most important advance in technology lies in ________.
A.medicineB.the InternetC.brain cellsD.human organ
小题3:Humans may live longer in the future because ________.
A.heart disease will be far away from us
B.human brains can decide the final death
C.the basic materials of cells will last forever
D.human organs can be repaired by new medicine
小题4:How long can humans live in the future according to the passage?
A.Over 100 years.B.More than 120 years.
C.About 150 years.D.The passage doesn"t tell us.
小题5:We can learn from the passage that ________.
A.Cells aren’t the basic units of all living things any more
B.humans have to take medicine to build new skin cells now
C.much needs to be done before humans can have a longer life
D.we have already solved the technical problems in building new cells

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Dreams can be familiar and strange, fantastical or boring, but some dreams might be connected to the mental processes that help us learn. In a recent study, scientists found a connection between nap-time dreams and better memory in people who were learning a new skill.
In the study,99 college students between the ages of 18 and 30 each spent an hour on a compute, trying to get through a virtual maze(迷宫).The maze was different place each time they tired—making it even more difficult. They were also told to find a particular picture of a tree and remember where it was.
For the first 90 minutes of a five-hour break, half of the participants stayed awake and an half were told to take a short nap .Participants who stayed awake were asked to describe their thoughts. Participants who took a nap were asked about their dreams before sleep and after sleep—and they were awakened within a minute of sleep to describe their dreams.
Stickgold, a neuroscientist(神经科学家),wanted to know what people were dreaming about when their eyes weren't moving during sleep.
Four of the 50 people who slept said their dreams were connected to the maze. Some dreamed about the music that had been playing when they were working ; others said they dreamed about seeing people in the maze. When these four people tried the computer maze again, they were able to find the tree faster than before their naps.
Stickgold suggests the dream itself doesn‘t  help a person learn—it's the other way around.He suspects that the dream was caused by the brain processes associated with learning.
All four of the people who dreamed about the task had done poorly the first time, which makes Stickgold wonder if the dreams show up when a person finds a new task particularly difficult. People who had other dreams, or people who didn't take a nap, didn't show the same improvement.
小题1:Before having a short nap, participants of the experiment were asked to       .
A.stay in a different place in the maze
B.design a virtual maze which is difficult to get through
C.experience the experiment and try to remember something
D.get through a virtual maze on a computer from the same place
小题2:What can we learn from the text?
A.Participants who took a nap were required to express their thoughts.
B.Some dreams may encourage people to invent something new.
C.Participants who dreamed about films could finish the task more easily.
D.Participants whose dreams had something to do with the maze could find the tree faster.
小题3:According to Stickgold,       .
A.every person may dream about what they learned
B.people's brain processes may still be connected with their learning in their dreams
C.once people's eyes stop moving, they are sure to dream about something
D.no matter how fantastical or boring, dreams are connected with people's life
小题4:What is the best title for this text?
A.Dreams Are StrangeB.Not All Dreams Are True
C.Dreaming Makes PerfectD.Stickgold, a Dream Expert

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Farmers, especially in developing countries, are often criticized for cutting down forests. But a new study suggests that many farmers recognize the value of keeping trees.
Researchers using satellite images found at least ten percent tree cover on more than one billion hectares of farmland. That is almost half the farmland in the world. Earlier estimates were much lower but incomplete. The authors of the new study say it may still underestimate the true extent worldwide.
The study found the most tree cover in South America. Next comes Africa south of the Sahara, followed by Southeast Asia. North Africa and West Asia have the least.
The study found that climate conditions alone could not explain the amount of tree cover in different areas. Nor could the size of nearby populations, meaning people and trees can live together. There are areas with few trees but also few people, and areas with many trees and many people. The findings suggest that things like land rights, markets or government policies can influence tree planting and protection.
Dennis Garrity, who heads the World Agroforestry Center, says farmers are acting on their own to protect and plant trees. The problem, he says, is that policy makers and planners have been slow to recognize this and to support such efforts.
The satellite images may not show what the farmers are using the trees for, but trees provide nuts, fruit, wood and other products. They also help prevent soil loss and protect water supplies. Even under drought(干旱)conditions, trees can often provide food and a way to earn money until the next growing season.
Some trees act as natural fertilizers. They take nitrogen(氮气)out of the air and put it in the soil. Scientists at the Center say the use of fertilizer trees can re-duce the need for chemical nitrogen by up to three-fourths. Trees also capture carbon dioxide, a gas linked to climate change.
小题1:Through the study, the researchers found that               .
A.there are more trees on farmlands than expected
B.fewer trees are being cut in developing countries
C.most farmers still don’t realize the value of trees
D.trees play a key role in preventing climate change
小题2:Which of the following has the least tree cover?
A.Southeast AsiaB.West Asia.
C.South America.D.Africa south of the Sahara.
小题3:In Dennis Garrity’s opinion,              .
A.most farmers care about nothing but their own interests
B.there are usually few people living in areas with few trees
C.government plays a small role in tree planting and protection
D.government should support farmers in planting and protecting trees
小题4:The sixth paragraph mainly tells about          .
A.how farmers plant trees
B.what products trees can bring
C.the importance of trees to farmers
D.the environmental value of tree cover

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