At the middle school level, there are many academic clubs in which students can participate. Students can choose clubs that focus on an area of interest.

    Mathcounts Club

Mathcounts tries to increase excitement towards mathematic achievement. It hopes to provide students  with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. School select individuals and teams to participate in competitions.Local competitions are held in February  with winners progressing to state competitions and then on to the national level. Mathcounts works to challenge student math skills, develop self-confidence and give rewards for their achievements.

Envirothon

The Envirothon program focuses on natural resources knowledge and exposes students to diverse environmental issues, ecosystems, and topography. The ecology field competition for five-member  middle school teams offers competitions in wildlife, soils, forestry, current environmental issues and aquatics. Students work and learn in middle school clubs and can compete at the local and state level.

Future Problem Solvers                                                                 

Future Problem Solvers is an academic club that uses a six-step process to solve problems that may happen in the future. Students who are in the talented and gifted program,who like to “think out of the  box,” or who enjoy thinking about futuristic problems may like this club. Teams comprised of four students read future scenes and write up solutions in a booklet using the six-step process. Teams that score high enough can go to the state competition and then to the international competition.

BuiIders Club                                                                     

Builders Club is open to any middle school student who wishes to perform community service. Each Builders Club is co-sponsored by a Kiwanis club and the middle school. The members learn by doing and they learn organization, teamwork, and leadership. Builders Clubs can sponsor a “ Teacher of the Year”program, provide a recycling collection point, organize canned food and clothing drives to support local shelters, adopt a resident at a local senior citizens home, adopt a highway, tutor, etc.

Middle school academic clubs offer students a place to explore interests or talents. The clubs they join in middle school can help guide choices in high school and beyond.

49. The students who are not interested in competitions would like to choose      .

A. Mathcounts Club                                B. Builders Club

C. Future Problem Solvers                       D. Envirothon

50. Why do some of the students choose Mathcounts Club?

A. To be successful in science careers.          B. To enjoy solving future problems.

C. To perform community service.                D. To study wildlife and soils.

51. What is the common feature of the four clubs?

A. Competitions.  B. Sponsorship,   C. Scientific researches.  D. Teamwork,

52. The passage mainly talks about      .      

  A. the state academic competitions      B. middle school clubs

  C. extra-curricular activities           D. the gifted students

I grew up in San Pedro. My Dad was a big fisherman, and he loved the sea. He had his own boat, but it was hard making a living on the sea. He worked hard and would stay out until he caught enough to feed the family.

    When the weather was bad he would drive me to school in his old truck, which was older than he was. As he would drive toward the school, I would shrink down into the seat hoping to disappear. Half the time, he would slam to a stop and the old truck would belch (喷出) a cloud of smoke. He would pull right up in front, and it seemed like everybody would be standing around and watching. Then he would lean over and give me a big kiss on the cheek and tell me to be a good boy. It was so embarrassing for me. Here, I was twelve years old, and my Dad would lean over and kiss me goodbye!

I remember the day I decided I was too old for a goodbye kiss. When we got to the school and came to a stop, he had his usual big smile. He started to lean toward me, but I put my hand up and said, "No, Dad. "It was the first time I had ever talked to him that way, and he had this surprised look on his face. I said, “Dad, I'm too old for a goodbye kiss." My Dad looked at me for the longest time, and his eyes started to tear up. Then he turned and said, "You are a big boy, a man. I won't kiss you anymore. "

It wasn’t long after that when my Dad went to sea and never came back. His boat was found adrift with its nets half in and half out. He must have gotten into a strong wind and was trying to save the nets and the boats.

    Now how I wish to have my Dad give me just one more kiss on the cheek. I wish I had been a man then. If I had been a man, I would never have told my Dad I was too old for a goodbye kiss.

46. In Frank’s eyes, when his father said” You are a big boy, a man.” ,he probably felt       .

A. disappointed               B. hurt           C. excited        D. proud

47. By saying the sentence "I wish I had been a man then. " , Frank meant       .

A. he was fed up with his father kissing him goodbye

B. he deeply regretted what he had done to his father

C. he was then too young to refuse a goodbye kiss

D. he hoped that his father would forgive him

48. Which of the following may be the best title for this passage?

A. The Smell of the Ocean.                     B. We All Need Love.

C. A Goodbye Kiss.                               D. Father's Embarrassment.

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

I was at the post office early that morning finding myself standing in a line that zigzagged(曲折前进) its  way. I had never seen so many people there. The line 26 extremely slowly. I turned upset, then annoyed .The longer it took, the 27 I became. When I 28 got to the counter—I concluded my business rudely and walked quickly past the line.

   "Excuse me," I said, trying not to be too 29. Several people had to make 30 for me to get to the exit. I was worried I was going to be late 31 to my dentist appointment.

      As I headed into the parking lot, a woman was coming across the lot in my 32 . I noticed that she was also in a bad emotion and she looked as if she could breathe 33 . I recognized myself and it wasn't 34. Had I looked like that? Her body language said that she was having a really 35 day. My anger melted away. I wished I could give her a hug but I was a  36 . So I did what I could before she went past me—I 37. In a second everything changed. I could 38 that she was a little shocked, then somewhat 39. Then her face softened. I saw her pace 40 and she smiled back at me as we passed each other.

   I 41 to smile all the way to my car. Wow, I thought. Look what a simple smile can do. Now I use that 42 on an everyday basis ,letting it 43 me that when I am fighting the world , or see someone else in that position,I can try a smile. More often than not, the energy of the moment 44 with that one little gesture. The smile makes the day become new again, 45 a bright face toward the activities that are yet to come.

26. A. walked         B. dropped         C. reduced          D. moved

27. A. worse          B. better           C. happier          D. angrier

28. A. finally          B. hurriedly        C. luckily          D. unfortunately

29. A. busy           B. calm            C. pushy           D. puzzled

30. A. changes        B. excuses          C sense            D. room

31. A. getting         B. leading          C. contributing       D. applying

32. A. view           B. direction         C. mind            D. dream

33. A. fire            B. air              C. excitement         D. peace

34. A. difficult        B. false             C. pretty             D. available

35. A. regular         B. long             C. relaxing           D. rough

36. A. stranger        B. patient           C. boss              D. clerk

37. A. signed         B. smiled            C. nodded           D. paused

38. A. declare         B. tell              C. admire            D. accept

39. A. sad            B. natural           C. severe            D. confused

40. A. quickened      B. bent             C. slowed            D. tightened

41. A. continued       B. began           C. remembered        D. wished

42.  A. hobby          B. expression        C. attitude           D. confidence

43.  A. warn           B. promise          C. remind           D. encourage

44.  A. fills            B. stores            C. changes          D. works

45.  A. washing        B. turning           C. seeing            D. clearing

 Only when she had arrived home      her appointment with her doctor.

A. she remembered   B. did she remember    C. had she remembered    D. she had remembered

 The experiment shows that proper amounts of exercise, if       regularly, can improve our health.

A. being carried        B. carrying out         C. carried out         D. to carry out

 China’s grain output has been increasing for nine consecutive years, with this year's output about 150 million tons more than       of 2003

A. one                B. it                  C. that              D. this

You      be joking! Are you really going to lend Jack your new car, the most careless man in the world?

A. might              B. must                    C. could            D. should

 —Didn't you find the new movie exciting?

   —      , I nearly fell asleep in the cinema!

A. In the way              B. On the contrary        C. By the way        D. In other words

 The teachers are so busy that they have no time for outdoor activities     they have the interest.

A. now that           B. as if                 C. even if            D. so that

 China, with 1.3 billion people,       21 percent of the world's population on 9 percent of the world’s arable land and 6 percent of the world’s fresh water.

A. feeds                     B. produces          C. measures          D. grows