__ 1     
     What would you be like if you were to take the college entrance exam tomorrow?    2 _Or, worried
and uneasy?
     "I was surprised at how I could get angry so easily with my parents before a big exam, " said a senior
3 student Wang Yangqian from Beijing. "I couldn't fall asleep even after I'd been in bed for two hours."
     Not only exams but also other things, like a big game, can make you different from how you are
usually. You may act differently because you are stressed out. What is stress?    3     Usually your hands
get wet and your heart beats faster. You feel stressed because you might ask too much of yourself
sometimes. Or, your parents, teachers or classmates put too much pressure on you. This can make you
worried. But being stressed is not always a big problem. Everybody, even sports stars, can get a little
worried before a big game.
     Some kinds of stress are good. Good stress might show up when you' re called on in class or when
you have to give a report.    4     You may do a better job in your book report if the anxiety pushes you
to do more work before you read it to the class.
     Sometimes stress can turn into something bad if you keep having stressful feelings for a long time.This
kind of stress isn't going to help you.It can make you sick.   5    
     Remember to stay relaxed.It won't be the end of the world, even if you don't pass the exam.

A. Peaceful and happy as usual?
B. This kind of stress can help you get things done well.
C. Stress can push you to meet your deadline.
D. Stress can be good or bad for people.
E. You may feel stressed when you ask for too much help.
F. It can also prevent you from working harder.
G. Stress is what you feel when you are worried or uncomfortable about something.

     Most American students go to traditional public schools.There are about 88, 000 public schools, all
over the US.Some students attend about 3000 independent public schools called charter schools.
     Charter schools are self-governing.Private companies operate some charter schools.They are similar
in some ways to traditional public schools.They receive tax money just as other public schools do.
Charter schools must prove to local or state governments that their students are learning.These
governments provide the schools with the agreement called a charter that permits them to operate.
     Charter schools are different because they do not have to obey most laws governing traditional public
schools.Local, state, or federal governments cannot tell them what to teach.Each school can choose its
own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach them.Class size is usually smaller than in traditional
public schools.
     The Bush Administration strongly supports charter schools as a way to re-organize public schools that
are failing to educate students.But some education agencies and unions oppose charter schools.One
teachers' union has just made public the results of the first national study comparing the progress of
students in traditional schools and charter schools.
     The American Federation of Teachers criticized the government's delay in releasing the results of the
study, which is called the National Assessment of Educational Progress.Union education experts say the
study shows that charter school students performed worse on math and reading tests than students in
regular public schools.
     Some experts say the study is not a fair look at charter schools because students in those schools
have more problems than students in traditional schools.Other education experts say the study results
should make charter school officials demand improved student progress.

1. If a private company wants to operate a charter school, it must______.

A. try new methods of teaching      
B. prove its management ability
C. obey the local and state laws      
D. get the government's permission

2.What's the government's attitude toward charter schools?

A. Doubtful    
B. Supportive.  
C. Subjective.  
D. Optimistic.

3. What can we learn from the text?

A. More students choose to attend charter schools.
B. Charter schools are better than traditional schools.
C. Students in charter schools are well educated.
D. People have different opinions about charter schools.

4. It can be interred from the text that ___.

A. charter schools are part of the public education system
B. one-on-one attention should be paid to students
C. the number of charter schools will be limited
D. charter schools are all privately financed    

     Skinner Creek ESL Guest Ranch offers a unique outdoor adventure camp for international students.
Students who come to Skinner Creek have the opportunity to learn English in an environment entirely
different from a regular school setting. English classes are designed to meet the academic and spoken
levels of each student. All English classes will be taught by instructors qualified in teaching English as a
second language. All levels of English are available.
     After class, students can enjoy many outdoor activities in a controlled and safe environment.
Experienced managers and camp teachers will prepare each activity to the level appropriate for each
student.
Students' safety is a priority (优先考虑的事) for the staff of Skinner Creek ESL Guest Ranch. Students
are monitored at all times and supervisors are in the cabins with the students at night. Staff members have
St. John's First Aid and Transportation and Wilderness First Aid. An emergency clinic is nearby and
accessible 24 hours.
     English Classes:
     Class hours are from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm with a one-hour break for lunch.
     Students are challenged in reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary building and conversational English.
     Fun After-class Activities:
     Great after-class activities include: horseback riding lessons, hiking, baseball, volleyball, badminton,
mountain hiking, bonfires and much more.
     Time to watch videos and TV and play games.
     Experience Canadian family life.
     Weekends:
     Special all-day and overnight weekend activities include: camping, days at the lake(fishing, swimming
and boating) and more.
     Travel Information:
     Students will be picked up at Vancouver airport and dropped off again for their individual flights.
Transportation to and from the ranch will be provided as well as overnight stays in Vancouver.
     Please contact the ranch directly for prices: skinnercreek@telus. net.

1. If you attend Skinner Creek Summer Camp, you will___.

A. sometimes have English Classes outdoors.
B. learn how to deal with dangers in the wild.
C. enjoy different sports activities after class
D. experience the traditional farmer lifestyle.

2. How many hours of English classes do students have every week in Skinner Creek?

A. 35 hours
B. 28 hours
C. 25 hours
D. 20 hours

3. How will most students travel to Skinner Creek if they want to attend the camp?

A. By air
B. By car
C. By boat
D. By train

     A study by St.. Louis University has found that a lovable dog named Sparky and a robotic dog,
AIBO, were about equally effective at reducing the loneliness of nursing home residents. The study
confirmed previous findings that dogs have a good effect on nursing home residents.
Dr. Andrew Smith led the Stanford University team that built a home-assistance robot. "If humans can
feel an emotional tie with robots, some day they could be not just our assistants, but also our
companions," he said.
     To test whether residents responded better to Sparky, a trained dog, or the Sony-made robotic dog,
researchers divided 38 nursing home residents into three groups at three long-term care centers in St.
Louis.
One group had weekly 30-minute one-on-one visits with Sparky; another group had similar visits with
AIBO; a control group had no contact with either dog. The groups' respective levels of loneliness were
tested by having them answer a number of questions at the beginning and near the end of the visits.
After two months, both groups that had contact with the dogs were less lonely and more attached. Most
of the elderly regarded Sparky, a 9-year-old dog, as an audience for their life stories, said investigator
Marian Banks.
     "He listened attentively, wagged his tail, and allowed them to pet him," said Banks, who adopted and
trained Sparky after finding him in a street behind her home seven years ago.
     Those who were together with AIBO took a little longer to warm to the robotic creature. Over time,
however, they grew comfortable with him, and petted and talked to him. He would respond by wagging
his tail, vocalizing, and blinking his lights..
     "AIBO is charming once you start to interact with him," said the study's author, Dr. William Banks,
" He's an attractive sort of guy. He gives a feeling of being personal, not just a robot."

1. Before the new study, it was known that ____.

A. robots were effective at reducing people's loneliness
B. robots could build close connection with humans
C. dogs could help get rid of old people's loneliness
D. dogs and robots were equally effective at reducing loneliness

2. Those who had contact with the robotic dog found that ___.

A. they didn't feel comfortable with it
B. it was hard for them to interact with it
C. they weren't comfortable with it at first
D. the robot's vocalizing and blinking confused them

3. The findings of the researchers tell us that___.

A. robots are better at caring for old people than nurses
B. robots can to some degree replace dogs as companions for old people
C. it's easy for people to become close with robots
D. every home will have a robot assistant one day

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A. Robots Serve People Better Than Thought
B. No More Lonely Old Age with Emotional Robots
C. Advanced Technology Used to Cheer up the Elderly
D. Robots and Dogs Can Equally Cheer up the Elderly

     Some wonderfully creative uses of X-rays have been in the world of art.But the most impressive one
is to uncover what has been covered up.Details unfolded by an X-ray of a painting can ' t be seen any
other way.For example, in the past, paintings were often repaired if small pieces of paint fell off the
canvas (帆布). These repairs cannot be seen just by looking at the painting.It takes an X-ray to discover where the repairs have been made.
    An X-ray of a painting is one of the best ways to tell if it was created by a famous painter or if it is a
forgery.If there is a question as to whether an old master has painted a certain painting or not, X-rays
are made and compared to those of paintings that are known to be original.If the brushstrokes (笔迹) ,
for example, are shown to be totally different than in other work done by a certain artist, then the painting
is proved to be a fake copy.
     Since modern paints are usually made from different materials than paints of hundreds of years ago,
the image they leave on an X-ray film looks different.This is another way X-rays can be used to spot a
forgery.A modem artist will try to make a forgery look hundreds of years old by painting dirty vamish on
it or by using artificial means to get the varnish to look cracked.To the naked eye the forgery may look
old, but when a careful study of the X-ray image is made, the deception is obvious.
     It was common many years ago for an artist to finish a painting, decide it wasn't any good, and paint
a completely different picture on top of it.Or artists would paint over others' work -it was their version
of recycling.Taking an X-ray is the only way to find out if there is a picture under the picture you see with
your eyes.Sometimes museums will be more interested in the painting beneath than the one on top, and
will restore the older one by having the top layer painstakingly removed.

1.What is the main purpose of the article?  

A. To provide information to the police who are looking for stolen art.
B. To persuade art dealers to check for fake copies before selling art.
C. To explain how modern technology can be applied in unique ways.
D. To help artists restore damaged artwork to its original appearance.

2. According to the passage, X-rays are used to ______. 

A. make repairs on paintings in the past
B. tell if an artwork is original or not
C. change the materials of a forgery
D. remove the recyclable paints

3. In Paragraph 3, the word "deception" probably means ______.

A. comparison  
B. drawback    
C. trickery          
D. judgement

4.Which is the best title for the passage?

A. X-ray Detectives              
B. Creative Uses of Technology
C. Forgery Studies                
D. X-ray Painting Technique

     People have been growing chrysanthemums (菊花) for more than 2,000 years. Chrysanthemums
make bright and colorful gardens. People in China and other countries make tea with the flowers.
     One basic kind of chrysanthemums is the garden chrysanthemum. The other basic kind is the florist
chrysanthemum.   The garden chrysanthemum is better able to handle different growing conditions.
     There are many varieties of chrysanthemums. The decorative chrysanthemum is often seen in gardens. Another popular type, the quill chrysanthemum, has long, straight petals (花瓣) like a tube
or needle.
     Chrysanthemum blooms(花) can be white, yellow, gold, red, or other colors. The plants often
grow one meter high.
     The soil for chrysanthemums should be kept moist (潮湿) but well drained so it does not get too
wet.
     Newly-planted chrysanthemums should be watered two or three times a week, depending on conditions. Plants established in the ground may do well just with normal rainfall.
     Chrysanthemums grow best in full sunshine. They produce colorful blooms when days get shorter and
nights get longer. The life cycle of the plant depends on the amount of daylight. This is why experts advise
against placing chrysanthemums near nightlights or streetlights. The night may
interfere (干扰) with their normal growth cycle. The plants may develop buds(花苞) too soon.
     In climates where temperatures fall below freezing, plant chrysanthemums at least six weeks before the
first frost. That way, the plants will be well established for cold weather.
     Some gardeners say the most beautiful presentation comes from planting chrysanthemums close
together. But be sure to leave enough space to let air flow between the plants. If not, there may be a
greater chance of disease.
     To get more blooms, gardeners pinch out (掐掉) the branches when new growth has reached
fifteen centimeters. Squeeze (压缩) about five to seven centimeters off each branch. Pinch it again when a branch grows another twelve to fifteen centimeters. Stop the pinching about one hundred
days before you want the plants to bloom.

1. What has a great effect on the life cycle of the chrysanthemums?

A. The conditions of the soil.
B. The amount of daylight.
C. The amount of rainfall.
D. Cold weather.

2. Why do gardeners pinch out the branches when new growth reaches certain length?

A. To make chrysanthemums grow thick.
B. To get more blooms.
C. To prevent chrysanthemums from falling ill.
D. To let air flow between the plants.

3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Growing chrysanthemums has a very long history and all the people in the world like
     making teawith chrysanthemums.
B. chrysanthemums can grow one meter high and the closer they are planted, the higher they grow.
C. Though planting chrysanthemums close together can make them look more  beautiful, enough
      space should be left.
D. The petals of chrysanthemums are long and straight and the more water chrysanthemums get,
     the more quickly they grow.

4. From the text we can know ____.

A. Florist chrysanthemums are more difficult in handling different growing conditions.
B. China has the longest history of growing chrysanthemums.
C. In case the plants develop buds too soon we'd better not put them near lights.
D. There are five colors of chrysanthemums in total.

     Researchers found that walking around with a forced smile and fake (假的) happiness simply leads to
people feeling unhappier. So, putting a brave face on your sadness could be harmful. The research also
found that women suffered more than men when pretending to be happy.
     Dr. Brent Scott, who led the study, said employers should take note because forcing workers to smile when dealing with the public can result in bad outcomes. He said, "Smiling for the sake of smiling can lead
to emotional tiredness, and that's bad for the organization." He also said the research showed
customer-service workers who had "fake smiles" throughout the day fell into a bad mood and didn't want
to work, so their productivity dropped.
     The study is one of the first of its kind to examine emotional expressions over a period of time and
compare the different effects on men and women. Dr. Scott's team examined the effects of "surface
acting", or fake smiling, compared to "deep acting", or making people smile by thinking of peasant
memories.
     Dr. Scott said, "Women were harmed more by surface acting, meaning their moods worsened even
more than men's. However, they were helped more by deep acting, which means their moods improved
more by thinking of pleasant memories. "
     According to Dr. Scott, women tend to suffer more when pretending to be happy because they are
expected to be more emotionally expressive than men. Therefore, forcing a smile while feeling down is
more likely to go against their normal behavior and cause more harmful feelings.
     Although deep acting can improve moods a little in the short term, Dr. Scott says, it's not a long-term
solution to feeling unhappy. "There have been some suggestions that if you do this over a long period you
start to feel unreal. You're trying to develop positive emotions, but at the end of the day you may not feel
like yourself any more."

1. According to the passage, Dr. Scott's study ______.

A. is supported by some big employers in the USA
B. is meaningful as there haven't been many similar ones
C. examined more women than men for a long time
D. aimed to make the employees more productive

2. Women suffer more from fake happiness mainly because ______.

A. they usually turn up shy in public places
B. they should be more emotionally expressive
C. they are often treated in a terrible way
D. they like thinking of pleasant memories

3. It is implied in the passage that deep acting _____.

A. doesn't have any effect on men
B. cannot improve our moods in any case
C. harms our feelings in the long run
D. pleases people by feeling like another person

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Fake smiling makes people unhappy.
B. Women shouldn't be forced to smile.
C. An important suggestion for workers.
D. Why people don't want to work.