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　　I have nothing to say about whether or not "A Day Without Immigrants" had a positive or negative effect on the question of how the federal government should deal with the huge population of undocumented illegal immigrants in this country．I'll leave that question to others．

　　Regardless of how you feel about the event, one conclusion is obvious．Using the theme of" A Day Without" as a way to focus national attention on a particular subject is a great idea, and could serve as a method for increasing public awareness about other issues that affect daily life in America．Here are my top three examples：

　　"A Day Without Speeding．" How hard could this be? If all drivers would strictly obey every posted speed limit on highways, downtown, on neighborhood streets, and in parking lots for one 24-hour cycle, the benefits would be huge．

　　"A Day Without Losing Your Temper．" A higher degree of difficulty here, and I know that from personal experience．When something goes wrong at home or on the job, there may be brief satisfaction in yelling or kicking the furniture, but erupting with anger usually doesn't do anything to solve the problem, and in many cases it makes the situation more unpleasant．

　　"A Day Without Having All The Answers．" I would like to get a break from hearing anyone speak the phrase, "Here's what you're doing wrong．" Right now the US is jampacked with citizens who believe they can point out the cause of every single problem in existence and then solve it on the spot．I believe they need to be quiet sometimes and use their ears instead of their voices．

　　I wonder how would average Americans react to such a collective pause? Would it be a day of angry protests, or joyful celebrations?

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　　URBANA, ILL．(AP)-Mike dropped out of college to support his pregnant(怀孕的)girlfriend and now works as a manager of a trucking company, Lynn graduated with honors from Harvard University and was hired as a lawyer with a top law firm in a major city．What do these two people have in common? Ten years ago they were both high school valedictorians(致告别辞者)．

　　A University of Illinois study follows the lives of 81 valedictorians and salutatorians(致词的学生代表)who graduated a decade ago from public and private high schools in the state．

　　Tales of Success and Failure

　　The study found tales of success and failure．The research on 46 women and 35 men found that some were doctors and scientists, one was a drug addict, another was a waitress with emotional problems．

　　"There is a popular idea about people who do well in school doing well in life," said Terry Denny, professor of education．Denny conducted the study with Karen Arnold, a former graduate student of Denny' s who is now a professor at Boston College．Denny and Arnold contacted the 81 students before graduation, and then followed up with interviews nearly every other year．They also sent them questionnaires in the mail．

　　Varied Careers

　　One-third of the students are lawyers, or have a doctorate．Nineteen are in business and 15 are engineers or computer scientists．Others include a farmer, a stock broker, and an aerobics instructor．

　　Arnold says many of the students have only average positions in the work world and that "most are not headed for greatness in their careers．" Denny, however, says that it is too early to make such predictions．"Who expects someone to be on the Supreme Court at the age of 28 or to be the discoverer of an important scientific invention right after college?" he said．"These students are just getting started in life．They are just beginning to find out what life is all about．"

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　　The Winter Olympics proved no match for television's gold-medal winner, "American Idol"．Fox's unbelievable successful contest crashed the Olympics in head-to-head competition on Tuesday night, 27 million viewers to 16.1 million, according to Nielsen Media Research．

　　The Olympics recovered a bit after "Idol" went off the air, but its overall audience of 18.6 million was the least-watched winter Olympics telecast since Nagano's closing ceremonies in 1998, Nielsen said．

　　Since its opening on Friday, the Turin games have been running well below the 2002 Salt Lake City games in viewership interest．Much of that was expected, but Tuesday's rating was the first alarming sign for NBC that increased TV competition has taken a toll．

　　"The competition from 'Idol' is heavier than the Olympics has ever seen," said NBC Sports spokeswoman Alana Russo．

　　It doesn't figure to get any easier, with "Idol" and ABC's "Lost" on the air Wednesday．CBS' "Survivor" and "CSI：Crime Scene Investigation" offer more competition on Thursday．

　　Even figure skating, the most popular winter Olympics sport for viewers, didn't help much on Tuesday．NBC filled about two-thirds of the hour during which it competed with "American Idol" with tape of the men's figure-skating competition．

　　Through five nights of Olympics coverage, NBC's average prime time rating is 12.7( a rating point represents 1,102, 000 households, or 1 percent of the nation's estimated 110.2 million TV homes)．NBC said before the games started that it had promised its advertisers a rating of between 12 and 14．If it slips below that, NBC will have to make it up to advertisers with free commercial time．

　　" ‘American Idol' is clearly a phenomenon," said Randy Falco, president of the NBC Universal Television Group．"But we expected it and are tracking fight where we planned to be at this point．" Between NBC and its networks, about 65 percent of the nation's television homes have tuned in at least some of the games．

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　　It is always hard for a small fish to live in a big pond．Pluto's recent departure from the classical planet family clearly proves that size really matters．

　　Astronomers voted on August 24 to create the first scientific definition of the word planet, and Pluto obviously didn't make the cut．It turned out to be only a "dwarf planet"(矮行星)．After weeks of heated debate, over 2,500 astronomers from 73 countries voted on the definition of a "planet" at a conference of the international Astronomical Union(IAU)．According to the definition, a planet must have a clear neighborhood around its orbit．Pluto has widely been considered a planet since its discovery in 1930．Unfortunately, it has a special orbit which overlaps with Neptune's．It is all because, compared with Neptune, Pluto is very small．It is attracted by Neptune's gravity when the two planets get closer．

　　According to IAU, a "dwarf planet" should have an orbit around the Sun．It will not have a clear neighborhood around its orbit, and must not be a satellite．The new classification means that the science textbooks will have to be updated．The solar system is now made up of the eight "classical planets," together with a number of dwarf planets．The classical planets are：Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune．The debate over Pluto's status started in 1992．After an advanced telescope was sent into space, astronomers started find a belt of objects, which lies beyond Neptune．The belt contains nearly 1,000 objects, including Pluto．As they continued the exploration, scientists recently discovered at least 41 dwarf planets at the edges of the solar system．There are at least two objects of a similar size to Pluto．

　　It seems that even if the IAU had kept Pluto's status as a planet, the classical theory of nine planets in the solar system would have had to be changed, but the other way around．More dwarf, planets of a similar size to Pluto would join the family of planets．Scientists will probably find many more dwarf planets．

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　　A few years ago, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, where I was employed．purchased Norand Corporation．Pioneer's sales representatives in the field used Norand hand-held terminals to upload daily sales information and download new price and sales incentive information．Pioneer bought so many of these hand-held-terminals, the economies made the purchase of Norand look interesting．Owning Norand also allowed Pioneer to explore high-technology markets outside agriculture．

　　But after a few years, the emerging laptop PC technology made the hand-held units obsolete(已废弃的)．Pioneer sold Norand at a loss．Pioneer always took a given percent of the annual profits to divide equally among all employees, so our profit-sharing checks were lower than if Pioneer had not purchased Norand．Additionally, my Pioneer stock was lower than it had been before the purchase of Norand．I was not pleased．

　　The CEO of Pioneer, Tom Urban, made annual formal visits to each of the Pioneer divisions to talk about the state of the business and to listen to employees' concerns．When he walked into the meeting room for his first visit after the sale of Norand, he acknowledged the group, remove his jacket, and neatly folded it across the back of the chair．He loosened his tie, undid his collar and rolled up his sleeves．The next thing he said was the last thing I ever expected to hear a CEO say．

　　He said, "I made a mistake buying Norand and I am sorry．I am sorry your profit-sharing was lower because of the purchase, and I am sorry your stock was hurt by the purchase．I will continue to take risks, but I am a bit smarter now, and I will work harder for you．"

　　A great man and leader stood before us that day．As I sat listening to him, I knew I could trust him, and that he deserved every bit of loyalty I could give to him and to Pioneer．I also knew I could take risks in my own job．

　　In the brief moment of silence before the questions started, I recall thinking that follow him into any battle．

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请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　As we drove along, my spirits went up again, and I turned, with pleasure, to the thought of the new life which I was entering．But though it was not far past the middle of September, the heavy clouds and strong north-easterly wind combined to make the day extremely cold; and the journey seemed a very long one, so that it was nearly one o'clock before we reached the place of our destination．Yet when we entered the gateway, my heart failed me, and I wished it were a mile or two farther off．For the first time in my life I must stand alone∶there was no retreating now．I must enter that house, and introduce myself among its strange people．But how was it to be done? True, I was near nineteen; but, thanks to the protecting care of my mother and sister, I well knew that many a girl of fifteen, or under, was gifted with a more womanly address, and greater ease and self-possession, than I was．Yet, anyway．I would do very well, after all; and the children, of course, I should soon be at ease with them．

　　"Be calm, be calm, whatever happens," I said within myself; and truly I was so fully occupied in steadying my nerves and keeping down the rebellious beat of my heart that when I was admitted into the hall and into the presence of Mrs．Bloomfield, I almost forgot to answer her polite greeting; and it afterwards struck me that the little I did say was spoken in the tone of one half-dead or half-asleep．

　　With due politeness, however, she showed me my bedroom, and left me there to take a little refreshment for a little while and led me into the dining-room．Some beefsteaks and potatoes were set before me; and while I dined upon these, she sat opposite, watching me(as I thought)and trying to keep something like a conversation－ consisting chiefly of commonplace remarks．In fact, my attention was almost wholly absorbed in my dinner∶not from appetite, but from the toughness of the beefsteaks, and the numbness of my hands．

　　“I have had so little time to attend to their education myself, but I think they are clever children, and very willing to learn, especially the little boy; he is, I think, the flower of the flock－ a generous, noble-spirited boy, one to be led, but not driven, and remarkable for always speaking the truth．” “His sister Mary Ann will require watching,” continued she, “but she is a very good girl on the whole, though I wish her to be kept out of the nursery as much as possible, as she is now almost six years old, and might acquire bad habits from the nurses．I have ordered her bed to be placed in your room, and if you will be so kind as to look after her washing and dressing, and take charge of her clothes, she needs to have nothing further to do with the nursery maid．”

　　I replied I was quite willing to do so; and at that moment the children entered the room．Tom Bloomfield was a well-grown boy of seven．Mary was a tall girl, for her age of six, somewhat dark like her mother．The second sister was Fanny, a very pretty little girl, looking little younger than Mary．The remaining one was Harriet, a little broad, fat, merry, playful thing of scarcely two, whom I had more desire for than all the rest － but with her I had nothing to do．

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请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　Abuse can be defined as “to treat wrongfully or harmfully”．There are different categories of abuse that have been recognized and within our case study there appear to be two distinct forms of abuse, family abuse and child abuse．These can be subdivided into terms of physical abuse and　psychological abuse．Physical abuse is the intentional physical injury or harm or deliberately not preventing harm occurring．The minimum physical signs seen in our study of James are bruises but they might feel more painful to his heart than the more serious invisible injuries．Emotional abuse is the continual failure to meet basic emotional needs．Emotional development is prevented and well-being harmed．The emotional signs in our case study can be seen in James by his actions of being withdrawn and non-communicative．The behavioural sign to abuse taking place to James is his aggressive behaviour．

　　The short term effect of physical abuse on James is physical pain．In the long term, injuries that often happen can result in secondary illness and complications, permanent scars or even disabilities．His emotional effects in the short term are a fear of people, withdrawal, and poor relationship with others．The long term emotional effects could be low self-respect, depression, inability to form relationships．

　　Abuse can arise for many reasons and there are a number of theoretical views which may be useful in clarifying why the abuse has taken place．The female view believes that sex and family roles give approval to a culture of abuse．Considering the historical and fixed ideas, men have power and control．In James' case he lives in a re-constructed family with the father being rude and a heavy drinker．From a psychological angle, alcohol misuse can bring mental health problems which may increase aggression in the person and so James is more at risk from abuse by his stepfather．The relationship between the mother and James involves a dependency of James on his mother．With other problems in James' mother's life, this leads to increasing stress and the inability of his mother to cope with and manage a family with four children borne by two mothers．The attachment theory states that significant separations of a child from the carer in the early years can have an effect on their emotional development and can lead to psychological and social difficulties in later life．The loss of both his father and his half sister's father with whom he lives may have contributed to his behaviour．

　　Abusive behaviour can sometimes be the result of mental health problems, brain damage or being abused themselves．By becoming the abuser they believe they are taking control; some even believe that they are not doing anything wrong and cannot stop themselves．When working with individuals who have abused, it is important to be aware that they may go on to abuse again and there is a need to protect the community from the abuser．

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请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

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请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　The long, lonely voyage of the Japanese ghost ship is over．

　　A US Coast Guard cutter poured cannon fire into an abandoned Japanese ghost ship that had been drifting since last year's tsunami(海啸), sinking the vessel into waters more than 305 meters deep in the Gulf of Alaska and removing the danger it posed to shipping and the coastline on Thursday．

　　The cutter's guns tore holes in the 164-foot Ryou-Un Maru, and then it began to take on water and lean to one side．In about four hours, the ship disappeared into the sea, said Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow．

　　The ship had no lights or communications system, and its tank was able to carry more than 7,570 liters of diesel fuel．Officials, however, didn't know exactly how much fuel was aboard．

　　“It's less risky than it would be running into shore or running into other ships,” coast guard spokesman Paul Webb said．

　　The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency studied the problem and decided it is safer to sink the ship than let the fuel evaporate and pollute the sea environment．

　　Ryou-Un Maru was probably among the first wave of the 1.5 million tons of garbage of　refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, roofs and fishing nets heading toward North America since last March when a magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck Japan．

　　As the coast guard was ready to fire on the vessel, a Canadian fishing vessel, the 19-meter Bernice C, claimed the rights to save the ghost ship in international waters．

　　Plans to sink it were paused so the Canadian crew could have a chance to take the stricken ship．A Canadian official with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press that the Bernice C was unable to drag it．

　　Then the Canadian boat left, and once it was about 10 kilometers from the Japanese vessel, the Coast Guard began to fire, first with 25 mm shells, then a few hours later with ammunition twice that size．

　　State officials have been working to test the danger of garbage including materials affected by a damaged nuclear power plant, to see if Alaska residents, seafood or wild animals could be affected．

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　　Zoe Chambers was a successful PR(Public Relations)consultant and life was going well－she had a great job, a beautiful flat and a busy social life in London．Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work．The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through．" she said．"After everything I'd done for the company, they dismissed me by text! I was so angry and I just didn't feel like looking for another job．I hated everything about the city and my life．"

　　Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay．Kathy and her husband had just bought a farm in north-west Wales．Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later, she is still on the farm．

　　"The moment I arrived at Kathy's farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay．" said Zoe．"Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless．"

　　Zoe has been working on the farm since then and says she has no regrets．"It's a hard life, physically very tiring．" she says．"In London 1 was stressed and often mentally exhausted．But this is a good, healthy tiredness．Here, all I need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and Kathy's wonderful dinners．"

　　Zoe has never felt bored on the farm．Every day brings a new experience．She has learned how to ride a horse and drive a tractor．She has been helping with the lambing．"Watching a lamb being born is one of the most moving experiences for me．I could never go back to city life now," she says．

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