Do people ever consider the possibility that, if they’re exposed to increased reports about a social problem, it’s the reporting that has increased rather than the problem? It’s increasingly clear that this is the case with school bullying（欺凌）：Only news reports about it have increased, not the behavior itself. In fact, both bullying and fear of it are down among US middle school students
The rate of students who reported fearing an attack or harm at school at all has dropped dramatically, from nearly 12% in 1995 to less than 4% in 2011. For black and Hispanic students, it’s an even more encouraging shift—from more than 20% of both groups of students worried about being attacked at school to less than 5% in 2011.
The decline in actual physical violence in schools is even more dramatic: It was down 74% between 1992 and 2010, according to the latest US Department of Justice data.
What about cyberbullying? Online harassment increased from 6% in 2000 to 9% in 2005 to 11% in 2010 between, and it’s interesting to note that it increased less between 2005 and ’10 than in the first 5 years tracked. Because social media is very much a reflection of school social life for young people, the peer aggression seen in social media is a lot like the peer aggression seen on school bathroom walls. So once it finds its “dead level,” it will probably decline in the same way verbal and written aggression have.
Besides education and crime prevention at the social level, medicine treatment and better access to mental healthcare also contribute to this downward trend in victimization of self and others.
The rise of social media is what people don’t typically think of as a positive force in society. But Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire says, “These technologies might have prevented crime and bullying by providing more ways of help, more forms of social supervision, and interesting activities that destroy forms of alienation(异化) that lead to crime”.
【小题1】From the first paragraph we learn that __________.

A．school bullying has increased because of increased reports

B．school bullying has decreased because of increased reports

C．the number of reports on school bullying has increased

D．the number of reports on school bullying has decreased

【小题2】The underlined word is closest in meaning to "_________".

A．crime

B．aggression

C．surfing

D．communication

【小题3】The cyberbullying is still increasing probably because ________.

A．it isn't as easy to control as the other school bullying

B．it hasn't been concerned by the governments

C．it isn't part of school social life

D．it hasn't come to its top level

【小题4】Finkelhor believes that social media have a ________ influence on the falling trend of school bullying.

A．positive

B．negative

C．major

D．slight

There are various aspects that go into making a successful school, and success can be measured in various ways. Often, the teachers are praised for a school’s success and blamed for its failure. Yet, in order for a school to be effective, it must be a place where teaching and learning can easily take place, and that requires the hard work of more than just educators. Students must take learning into their own hands and feel as if what they are doing is as important as it actually is. This can only be done with the cooperation of every adult that is involved in the students’ life. Some of these individuals often go unnoticed, yet the role they play in the students’ lives is immeasurable.
In the school, administrative assistants greet students at the start of the day and answer a large quantity of questions. When an assistant remembers a student’s name or even something special about that student, it communicates to him that he is cared for. The assistant can also give that extra encouragement for a student to make better choices, especially when they are visiting the principal’s office.
Meanwhile, though cafeteria workers have a short space of time to interact with students, they can make a big difference as well. Beyond meeting nutritional needs, cafeteria workers may also on occasion meet the emotional needs of the students they serve. Students benefit from positive interaction with adults, and cafeteria workers may give that extra bit of encouragement that a child needs.
Custodians (管理员) are usually underappreciated for what they offer to schools. They have to be knowledgeable about everything from cleaning to fixing the most intricate (复杂的) tools. They get to school early in the morning before teachers arrive and lock up late at night after the last student has left from the after-school event. They also make sure teachers are equipped with the necessary items and prepare the rooms so that they are ready for learning. A great custodian also gives that kind word or extra smile to that student who needs it most.
【小题1】The purpose of the passage is to _______.

A．emphasize the role teachers play in a school

B．highlight the contributions of other staff at school besides teachers.

C．tell us who make the greatest contributions to a school

D．explain what contributes to the success of a student

【小题2】If an assistant remembers a student’s name, the student will feel that _________.

A．he is paid particular attention to	B．he is special
C．he has done something wrong	D．he has made progress in study

【小题3】Which of the following is TRUE about cafeteria workers?

A．It’s enough for them to cook for the students.

B．It’s hard for them to interact with the students.

C．They have the most interaction with students at school.

D．They can also meet the emotional needs of the students.

【小题4】How does the author feel about the staff mentioned in the text?

A．Disappointed.

B．Dissatisfied.

C．Appreciative.

D．Doubtful.

Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time; if corrected too much, he will stop talking. He notices a thousand times a day the difference between the language he uses and the language those around him use. Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people’s. In the same way, children learn to do all the other things without being taught to walk, run, climb, whistle, ride a bicycle…They compare their own performances with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the needed changes. But in school we never give a child a chance to find out his mistakes and correct them for himself. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought that he would never notice a mistake. If it is a matter in mathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time in such routine(日常的) work? Our job should be to help the child when he tells us that he can’t find the way to get the right answer. Let the children learn what all educated persons must some day learn, how to measure their own understanding, how to know what he does not know.
【小题1】According to the passage, the best way for children to learn things is by_____.

A．listening to skilled people’s advice.

B．asking older people many questions

C．making mistakes and having them corrected

D．doing what other people do

【小题2】Which of the following does the writer think teachers should NOT do?.

A．Give children correct answers

B．Allow children to mark mistakes.

C．Point out children’s mistakes to them.

D．Let children mark their own work

【小题3】According to the writer, teachers in school should _____

A．allow children to learn from each other

B．point out children’s mistakes whenever found

C．correct children’s mistakes as soon as possible

D．give children more book knowledge

【小题4】The passage suggests that learning to speak and learning to ride a bicycle are____

A．different from learning other skills

B．the same as learning skills

C．more important than other skills

D．not really important skills

【小题5】The title of this passage could probably be_____

A．Let Us Teachers Stop Work

B．Let Us Make Children Learn

C．Let Children Correct Their Exercises

D．Let Children Learn by Themselves

When times get tough, we all look for ways to cut back. When we’re hungry, we eat at home instead of going out. We take buses instead of taxis. And we wear our old designer jeans just a few months longer. With college expenses at all-time highs, high school students are eager to do anything to cut the cost of a university education.
One cost-cutting proposal is to allow college students to get a bachelor’s degree in three years instead of four. Educational institutions have been actively exploring ways to make the learning process more efficient. But there’s a question: Would the quality of undergraduate(本科生)education suffer? Few US universities have formally approved a “three-year degree” model.
I doubt that mainstream North American colleges will carry out a three-year curriculum(课程) any time soon. For one thing, most universities already allow highly qualified students to graduate early by testing out of certain classes and obtaining a number of college credits(学分). In addition, at famous universities, the committee who determine which courses are required and which courses are electives are unlikely to suddenly “throw out” one quarter of the required credits. Professors will resist “diluting(稀释)” the quality of the education they offer.
In my opinion, a quality four-year education is always superior to a quality three-year education. A college education requires sufficient time for a student to become skilled in their major and do coursework in fields outside their major. It is not a good idea to water down education, any more than it’s not a good idea to water down medicine. If we want to help students find their way through university, we should help them understand early on what knowledge and skills they need to have upon graduation. We should allow students to test out of as many courses as possible. We should give them a chance to earn money as interns(实习生)in meaningful part-time jobs that relate to their university studies, such as the five-year co-op program at Northeastern University.
【小题1】The first paragraph serves as a(n)________．

A．explanation

B．definition

C．introduction

D．comment

【小题2】We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．most American universities are against the “three-year degree” model

B．many famous US universities are considering adopting the “three-year degree” model

C．professors are willing to accept the “three-year degree” model

D．the “three-year degree” model can make college learning more efficient

【小题3】In most US universities，________.

A．college students are offered the co-op program

B．electives’ credits make up one quarter of the required credits

C．all students are required to finish four-year education before graduation

D．some excellent students can graduate ahead of time

【小题4】We can infer that________.

A．the author is a college professor

B．the author thinks the cost of a university education is too high for people to afford

C．the author considers the university education quality very important

D．the author pays special attention to the all-round development of college students

【小题5】Which of the following can be the best title?

A．It’s time to shorten the learning process

B．Best learning takes place over time

C．University education should be watered down

D．College education calls for reform

In a cab, a woman seemed in such a hurry. She constantly rushed the cab driver to drive quickly. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts of getting to the airport as soon as possible that she was not aware they were going by a different route.
All of a sudden, a young man got inside the cab. He took her handbag in which she had put her visa, passport, and all the money for the trip.
The cab driver, who was in collusion with the robber, left her in the exactly middle of a dark street. She thought that she was rather unfortunate in the very situation.
During the very night, she was told a piece of shocking news. Tears came down her cheek. Flight 360, the plane that she should have got on board, had crashed. Had she not lost her important belongings, she could surely have lost the thing far more precious——her life.
Sometimes bad things really happen. There are times when nothing seems to go our way. So what should we do about it? We must get rid of all these frustrations and start all over again in the faith that we will get what we deserve. 
Don’t waste your time and energy on things that can’t be changed. Continuous worrying will only affect your health and you’ll be doing much more damage than what was previously done.
What if it was the other way round? What if we never ran out of good luck?
There was a man who won the lottery. He became greedy and wasted all his money on everything he could get his hands on.
But when he one day made it to the front page of the newspaper again, it was a different story. He had been killed because of his riches. If you attain good luck, you can never be too secure about it. Life is so unpredictable. You never know what will happen next.
Live one day at a time. We sometimes subject ourselves to unnecessary emotional trouble. But please don’t forget: sometimes misfortune can be the source of happiness. Live for the moment. Do what must be done for the present and the future will turn out just fine. Believe me. And believe in yourself. As Captain Planet always says, “The power is yours！”
【小题1】 The underlined phrase “in collusion with” in Paragraph 3 probably means “________.”

A．was forced by	B．was fighting bravely against
C．was doing one’s best to beg	D．had cooperated with

【小题2】 From the passage, we learn that ________.

A．robbers are sure to get what they want

B．somebody never runs out of good luck

C．the woman was lucky to miss her flight

D．if one feels oneself lucky, he or she will continue to be so

【小题3】 The writer presents the second example in order to ________.

A．warn people of the danger of winning the lottery

B．tell people life is unpredictable

C．encourage people to buy lottery

D．persuade people not to be greedy

【小题4】 According to the author, which of the following choices is the correct attitude to adopt to life?

A．Never waste any time or energy because time is so limited.

B．One needn’t be worried or feel frustrated. Believe in yourself.

C．Even while everything appears to be going smoothly, we should keep fully alert.

D．Worrying about what you don’t have

【小题5】 The passage above is intended to tell us ________.

A．misfortune sometimes is a blessing

B．we should save up for a rainy day

C．fortune just goes with those prepared minds

D．both losses and gains go hand in hand

Two friends have an argument that breaks up their friendship forever, even though neither one can remember how the whole thing got started. Such sad events happen over and over in high schools across the country. In fact, according to an official report on youth violence, "In our country today, the greatest threat to the lives of children and adolescents is not disease or starvation or abandonment, but the terrible reality of violence". Given that this is the case, why aren't students taught to manage conflict the way they are taught to solve math problems, drive cars, or stay physically fit?
First of all, students need to realize that conflict is unavoidable. A report on violence among middle school and high school students indicates that most violent incidents between students begin with a relatively minor insult (侮辱). For example, a fight could start over the fact that one student eats a peanut butter sandwich each lunchtime. Laughter over the sandwich can lead to insults, which in turn can lead to violence. The problem isn't in the sandwich, but in the way students deal with the conflict.
Once students recognize that conflict is unavoidable, they can practice the golden rule of conflict resolution (解决):stay calm. Once the student feels calmer, he or she should choose words that will calm the other person down as well. Rude words, name-calling, and accusation only add fuel to the emotional fire. On the other hand, soft words spoken at a normal sound level can put out the fire before it explodes out of control.
After both sides have calmed down, they can use another key strategy for conflict resolution; listening. Listening allows the two sides to understand each other. One person should describe his or her side, and the other person should listen without interrupting. Afterward, the listener can ask non-threatening questions to clarify the speaker's position. Then the two people should change roles.
Finally, students need consider what they are hearing. This doesn't mean trying to figure out what's wrong with the other person. It means understanding what the real issue is and what both sides are trying to accomplish. For example, a shouting match over a peanut butter sandwich might happen because one person thinks the other person is unwilling to try new things. Students need to ask themselves questions such as these: How did this start? What do I really want? What am I afraid off? As the issue becomes clearer, the conflict often simply becomes smaller. Even if it doesn't, careful thought helps both sides figure out a mutual solution.
There will always be conflict in schools, but that doesn't mean there needs to be violence. After students in Atlanta started a conflict resolution program, according to Educators for Social Responsibility, "64 percent of the teachers reported less physical violence in the classroom; 75 percent of the teachers reported an increase in student cooperation; and 92 percent of the students felt better about themselves". Learning to resolve conflicts can help students deal with friends,. teachers. parents, bosses, and coworkers. In that way, conflict resolution is a basic life skill that should be taught in schools across the country.
【小题1】This article is mainly about______.

A．the lives of school children

B．the cause of arguments in schools

C．how to analyze youth violence

D．how to deal with school conflicts

【小题2】From Paragraph 2 we can learn that________ .

A．violence is more likely to occur at lunchtime

B．a small conflict can lead to violence

C．students tend to lose their temper easily

D．the eating habit of a student is often the cause of a fight

【小题3】Why do students need to ask themselves the questions stated in Paragraph 5?

A．To find out who to blame.

B．To get ready to buy new things.

C．To make clear what the real issue is.

D．To figure out how to stop the shouting match.

【小题4】After the conflict resolution program was started in Atlanta, it was found that______.

A．there was a decrease in classroom violence

B．there was less student cooperation in the classroom

C．more teachers fell better about themselves in schools

D．the teacher-student relationship greatly improved

Pupils remember more and behave better when 3D images are used in lessons，research suggests．They are quicker to learn and absorb new concepts，and display higher levels of concentration．
Professor Anne Bamford，of the University of the Arts，London， studied the effectiveness of 3D content in 15 schools across seven countries，including the UK．Pupils in 3D classes can remember more than those in the 2D classes after four weeks，improving test scores by an average of 1 7 percent compared with eight percent for 2D lessons．They gave more detailed answer to the tasks and were more likely to think in 3D, using hand gestures and mime(模仿动作) to answer the test questions successfully．
The teachers commented that the pupils in the 3D groups had deeper understanding，increased attention span．more motivation and higher engagement in the lessons．
Children are used to 3D with the rise of computer games that use the technology—90 percent of those in the study had seen a 3D film．Schools would need 3D—enabled projectors(投影仪)，laptops with good picture capabilities，3D software and glasses for children to introduce animations(动作) into classrooms．
But Danny Nicholson，an educationist，said the technology would be impractical to use in schools and could be costly．He said，“While I think the idea of 3D technology is very interesting， I worry that 3D is a bit of an expensive gimmick(小玩意儿)．There are a few cases where a true 3D image might help，but most of the time，good 2D models that can be moved would be just as effective．”
In the US，one school district in Colorado is already in the process of having 1．000 3D projectors fixed in classrooms．And the University of Caledonia．which carries out scientific research into the Lake Tabon Basin．has used 3D presentations with Grade Six pupils．Those who watched the 3D presentations were more engrossed and reported a general increase in their interest in science compared with students who watched the 2D version．
【小题1】What is the main idea of the first three paragraphs?

A．There are slight differences between 3D and 2D images．

B．Pupils perform better when 3D images are used in classes．

C．Schools have difficulties in making full use of 3D technology．

D．3D technology is always more effective than 2D technology．

【小题2】Danny Nicholson holds the view that 3D_____.

A．is of no help in classes

B．has a bright future in classes

C．is more practical than 2D models

D．may not be affordable for schools

【小题3】What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．3D technology will replace 2D models in the future．

B．Many pupils are now more Interested In science than before．

C．Teachers will use the 3D technology through specific training．

D．3D will soon be put into use in one school district in Colorado．

【小题4】The underlined word “engrossed” in the last paragraph means_____.

A．absorbed	B．annoyed
C．relaxed	D．confused

Having just quit a highly moneymaking job with tech giant Microsoft in the United States，where he’d made millions working as a program manager，Patrick Awuah would wake up once in a while wondering if he’d done the right thing．
What Awuah wanted was to create a university in his native Ghana．a state-of-the-art education centre that would help educate the country’s next generation of leaders．Awuah moved with his family back to Ghana．There，he invested his own money and with the help of other donors he founded Ashesi University．
“Africa needs to have a renaissance(复兴),” says Awuah as he explained what drove him to take the risky decision．“The world needs to change in this way and I strongly believe that people like me need to be part of the solution；I need to be really actively involved in helping to drive this change in Africa‘‘
Located about an hour's drive from the capital Accra，Ashesi，which appropriately translates to “beginning,” is the first Ghanaian university to combine technical majors with a liberal arts approach．Its campus，set on 100 acres in a town called Berekuso，was designed to be inspiring for the more than 500 young Ghanaians studying there．
“So when I look at universities I see Africa fast—forward 30 years．When this 20-year-old is now in his or her 50s，that person is going to be a leader．”
Today Ashesi，which celebrates its 10^th anniversary this year，offers degrees in business，information systems and computer science．There are plans to offer engineering and economics majors in the near future．The school’s graduation rate is between 70％and 90％，according to Awuah．
In our last freshman class，50％ of the students paid full tuition(学费)，25％were on full scholarships and 25％on partial scholarships ,”he said．“The reason why variety is so important is that the most important conversation on campus is a conversation about the good society—what is the good society we would like to see in Africa? That conversation is a lot more interesting if you have variety in the classroom，”adds Awuah．
【小题1】In Awuah’s opinion，Africa should be changed by

A．investing more money for development

B．developing computer science

C．training future leaders for development

D．founding more universities

【小题2】The underlined sentence in the first paragraph infers that “_____”.

A．Awuah regretted that he had once worked with Microsoft

B．Awuah would doubt if he should resign from Microsoft

C．Awuah wondered whether it was right to invest for a university

D．Awuah felt it wrong that he had refused a job with a large salary

【小题3】The university founded by Awuah_____.

A．came into being 10 years ago	B．was named with “beginning”
C．is located in the capital of Ghan	D．will be run for 30 years

【小题4】Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．Ashesi has offered five degrees since it was founded．

B．Awuah had earned millions of dollars before he left Microsoft．

C．50％ of the new students in Ashesi receive education for free．

D．Awuah was the only investor in setting up Ashesi University．

I am a strong believer that if a child is raised with approval (准允), he learns to love himself and will be successful in his own way. Several weeks ago, I was doing homework with my son in the third grade and he kept standing up from his chair to go over the math lines. I kept asking him to sit down, telling him that he would concentrate better. He sat but seconds later, as if he didn’t even notice he was doing it, he got up again. I was getting frustrated (受挫), but then it hit me. I started noticing his answers were much quicker and accurate when he stood up. Could he be more absorbed while standing up?
This made me start questioning myself and what I had been raised to believe. I was raised to believe that a quiet, calm child was a sure way to success. This child would have the willpower to study hard, get good grades and become someone important in life.
Now those same people perhaps come to realize that their kids are born with their own sets of DNA and personality qualities, and all you can do is loving and accepting them. As parents, throughout their growing years and beyond that, we need to be our kids’ best cheerleaders, guiding them and helping them find their way.
I have stopped asking my son to sit down and concentrate. Obviously, he is concentrating just in his own way and not mine. We need to learn to accept our kids’ ways of doing things. Some way may have worked for me but doesn’t mean we need to carry it through generations. There is nothing sweeter than being personal and unique (独特的). It makes us free and happy and that’s just the way I want my kids to live their own life. 
【小题1】Time and again the author got his son seated in order to make him ______.

A．work fast

B．go polite

C．stay relaxed

D．keep attentive

【小题2】The underlined “it” (in the first paragraph) probably refers to ______.

A．his son’s doing better while standing up

B．his failure in keeping his son under control

C．his own experience as a school boy

D．his disappointment with his active child

【小题3】By this passage, the author attempts to tell other parents to ______.

A．correct their kids’ manners from the early ages

B．respect and trust their kids’ ways of behaviors

C．develop a good relationship with their children

D．guarantee their children’s freedom at home

【小题4】Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?

A．Parental help with teens’ study

B．Adult influence on teen growth

C．Kids’ success in their own styles

D．Friendship between generations

You put a great deal of effort into reaching the college of your choice. It’s time to get started. But what’s next? Beginning college can be an exciting but awkward time. Follow these tips to adjust to your new life rapidly and make the most of your college experience.
● To save time and money, use the college’s bus system. Taking the bus to school is quick, easy and free in most college towns. You won’t have to locate or afford a place to park either. It’s also a good way to be environmentally aware.
● Save pennies on books by waiting until class starts. You might not even need all of the recommended books. New textbooks cost an arm and a leg. Try buying used textbooks — it’s a surefire way to save money and serves the purpose as well.
● Do never look at college life as an endless series of parties and social activities. But there is a whole lot more to college if you’re serious about graduating. Having a good college experience is all about balancing work and fun.
● Be aware that your living environment can largely affect your academic success. If the dorm doesn’t suit you, consider living at home with your family or renting your own apartment. The best location for your studies isn’t always your dorm. Find a quiet area, like the library, to do your work. Alternatively, buy some headphones that block out noise.
● Be mindful of your diet. Make healthy food choices and watch what you eat. Avoid foods that are processed or high in sugar. The “freshman 15” is real. Many college students gain at least 15 pounds during their freshmen year.
● While electives (选修课) can be helpful when figuring out your major, you shouldn’t entirely rely on them. Clubs and other organizations exist around. Get involved. Make sure, though, that you still have time to study. Having too much on your plate can hurt your grades.
【小题1】Which of the following ideas can be financially wise? 

A．Driving your own car.	B．Buying used books.
C．Renting an apartment.	D．Attending activities.

【小题2】In the text, freshmen are repeatedly warned against ______.

A．academic failures	B．physical problems
C．traffic accidents	D．social activities

【小题3】The “freshman 15” tells the fact that some freshmen ______.

A．attend limited activities on campus

B．have little regular physical exercise

C．focus less on their academic work

D．take relaxed attitudes to their diets

【小题4】 The underlined phrase “having too much on your plate” probably refers to ______.

A．using too much money for meals

B．eating too many unhealthy foods

C．taking part in too many after-class activities

D．taking an elective that has too many students