Question

   In the United States，“hitting the books”means studying a subject with great effort.

   One of the great challenges for students 1 taking tests. Students 2 long hours preparing for a test. They read all their books carefully,and then read them 3 and a third time. They prepare for 4 possible question. They study every night. They are “hitting the books”.

   In the United States,most children go to school 5 they are five years old. Public education is free and most children go to schools near their homes. School in these early years is 6 . The children learn to read and write,but they also play games and go on trips. There is no reason 7 such an early age for them to hit the books.

   This situation changes as children become older. The subjects become more difficult. Students must 8 world history,algebra (代数) and the life sciences. Tests become more common.

   Pressure 9 to hit the books,study hard,and advance (升级) . 10,most students only really begin hitting the books for long hours when they reach high school.

  Knowledge is a prize that is not easy to gain.[2013 山东涌博]

() 1. A. are   B. is   C. were   D. was

() 2. A. cost   B. take   C. spend   D. pay

() 3. A. a first time   B. a second time   C. a third time   D. a fourth time

() 4. A. all   B. no   C. few   D. every

() 5. A. when   B. since   C. for   D. that

() 6. A. boring   B. difficult   C. fun   D. strange

() 7. A. at   B. on   C. in   D. for

() 8. A. look for   B. learn about   C. set up   D. hear of

() 9. A. is growing   B. is disappearing   C. is falling   D. is going

() 10. A. Although   B. Even   C. Whatever   D. However

Answer 1

1. B 2. C 3. B 4. D 5. A 6. C 7. A 8. B 9. A 10. C

阅读提示：本文是一篇说明文，介绍美国的学生从小到大是如何接受 教育的。在美国，很小的孩子学习是比较轻松的，随着年龄的增长， 他们的挑战也越来越多，直到进入高中才开始真正的花费大气力攻读课程。

1. B 句子的主语 one of the greatest challenges for students 谓语动 词用单数，故选B.

2. C spend的用法，spend…doing sth.，花费一段时间做某事。

3. B句意:他们一遍又一遍地读书，形式跟下文a third time保持—致。

4. D句意:他们要准备每一个可能的问题。

5. A when引导的时间状语从句。大多数孩子当他们五岁的时候就去上学。

6. C根据下文:年龄很小的孩子学习读书写字、玩游戏、旅行，因此 对他们来说是很有趣的。

7. A考査固定词组。at such an early age在年龄这么小的时候。

8. B句意:孩子们必须学习关于世界历史、代数以及生命科学的书。

learn about在此句中是“学习关于”的意思。

9. A句意:压力不断增加，从而(要求大家) 刻苦学习，研习攻读，而 且还会不断升级。

10. C此空表转折，许多学生上了高校才开始花数小时来研究课程。