College and university graduations in the United States are arriving earlier each year as the average length of school year gets shorter．

The school year has fallen by nearly six weeks，from 197days in 1964to 156days in 1994，according to the National Association of Scholars． 1　 ，most American kindergarten，elementary（初等的）and high school students are 2　 to spend 180days a year in their schools．The length of the average class period also has 3　 ，from more than 57minutes to less than 54，the Association reports．

“The 4　 has to be that students are simply 5　 less，”said the director of the Association．“If you count the actual 6　　 of contact hours，you'll find they are 7　 four years in college getting an education that would have taken about 8　 years in 1964．”

The universities argue that they are simply teaching more 9　 ．“The traditional idea that learning 10　 in the classroom and through reading and writing 11　 based on seat time is out of date，” said a spokesman for the American Council on Education． 12　 than attending lectures，students now chat with their professors on their computers or use other types of 13　 technology，allowing for a shorter school year，he said．“It is very 14　 that，in many schools，they are going to spend less time 15　 than they used to．”

1．A．By comparison　　　　　　　 B．In particular C．Strangely enough D．As a result

2．A．intended　 B．required　　　 C．requested　　 D．inquired

3．A．fallen　　 B．declined　　　 C．oppressed　　 D．lowered

4．A．reason　　 B．cause　　　　 C．conclusion　　 D．condition

5．A．playing B　 B．learning　　　 C．working　　　 D．paying

6．A．number　　 B．times　　　　 C．need　　　　　 D．arrangement

7．A．spending　 B．given　　　　 C．living　　　　 D．asked

8．A．five　　　 B．two　　　　　 C．three　　　　 D．six

9．A．quickly　　 B．thoroughly　　 C．wisely　　　　 D．efficiently

10．A．came　　　 B．took place　　 C．started　　　 D．appeared

11．A．questions B．books　　　　 C．assignments　 D．texts

12．A．Rather　　 B．More　　　　　 C．Less 　　　　 D．Easier

13．A．knowledge B．information　 C．message　　　 D．intelligence

14．A．possibly　 B．probably　　　 C．lovely　　　　 D．likely

15．A．at home　 B．in the laboratory　　　　　　　 C．in the classroom D．on computer

 

第三部分阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）

（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）

My daddy doesn’t know how to express love at all. It is my mum that makes everyone happy and calm in our family; while daddy only works day and night, never looking us in the face. But mum makes a wrongdoing list of us for daddy scolding us. She’s a spy!

　　Once, I stole a candy. Daddy asked me to put it back and told the shopkeeper that I would like to carry loads for her. Well, mum told him I was just a child.

　　I broke my leg on the playground. It’s still mum that held me tightly in her warm arms. Daddy drove us right to the emergency room. He was asked to move the car away for that vacant was for ambulance. Daddy got angry, “what do you think of it? A touring car?”

　　On my birthday party, it was, again, my mum that took over the cake for me. My dad? He was busy blowing balloons and setting the table and doing the housework.

　　While looking over our album, friends always ask, “What does your father look like?” God knows. He photos others all the time. So there are many and many photos of my mum and me, pretty and lovely photos.

　　And I still remembered the day when dad taught me riding. I asked him not to let his hands away, but he did the opposite. And I certainly fell onto the ground. I got angry and decided to get on the bike and rode. But he smiled again.

　　Mum wrote every letter to me while I was in college. He, except checks, did write a letter, but extremely short, just a few words, saying, “Without your playing on the lawn, my son, my lawn grows prettier than before.”

　　Every time I phoned, it seemed he wanted to talk, but he would say, “I will get your mum.”

　　On the day of my wedding, mum cried as if we would never meet again, while dad went out with a nasal sound.

　　From very young, I heard him saying, “Where have you been?” “When do you go home?” “Did you get oil for your car?” “No, I don’t agree.” Dad really knows nothing about showing love. Unless... 

Maybe he showed while I didn’t notice, is it?

56. From the first and second paragraphs, we can infer that____.

A. it was the daddy that was in charge of his children’s education

B. the writer’s parents loved their children; at the same time, they were strict with them

C. the children were all afraid of their father so they had to be cute

D. the writer’s mom was like a spy who reported what the children did to the father

57. Why did the father get angry when he sent the writer to the hospital?

A. Because he parked his car at a wrong place.

B. Because the parking space of the ambulance was very crowded.

C. Because the writer’s injury made the father quite upset.

D. Because the person paid little attention to his son’s serious injury.

58. According to Paragraph Six, we know the father ____.

A. was not patient when he taught the writer riding

B. might want to see his child fall off the bike

C. used a wrong way of teaching his child riding

D. might want his son to learn riding through independent practice

59. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A. The dad posted checks to the writer while he was in college.

B. The dad had no single photo of his own in the album.

C. The dad scolded the writer for having damaged the lawn.

D. The dad got excited when participating in the writer’s wedding.

 

The back door of the ambulance (救护车) was suddenly shut and the driver ran to the front, jumped into the seat, and started the engine. Inside were the 　36　 parents, Mr. and Mrs. Green, the mother holding their baby daughter, Ally. The little girl had some food stuck in her 　37　and could hardly 　38　.?

    The driver, Mr. White, 　39　 his siren (警报器) and flashing light, and started speeding toward the 　40　 hospital, fighting against 　41　. The cars ahead of him pulled out of way 　42　 he drove through the busy traffic. From the back of the ambulance the parents were shouting at him to 　43　, since Ally almost stopped breathing. In front of him he saw some traffic 　44　, with the red “stop” light shining. Mr. White knew he had no time to lose, so he drove straight past the traffic lights, looking 　45　 his left and right as he did so.

    Coming towards him from his right was a 　46　. The driver had the windows 　47　, since the car was air-conditioned, and he was playing his radio. He did not hear the ambulance.

    The lights were 　48　, so he drove straight 　49　 into the path of the ambulance. Mr. White tried to stop his ambulance, but it was too late. It hit the taxi. Everyone was shaken but no one was hurt. Mr. White looked back to see 　50　 little Ally was. He was 　51  to see relief instead of fear in the face of the parents.

    “Look!” cried Mrs. Green. “She is 　52　 again.”?

    “It must have been the crash (撞击),” said her husband. “It 　53　 the food out of her throat.” The baby’s color was turning normal, and she was crying in a loud 　54　 healthy voice.

They were all joyful, and quite forgot about the 　55　, the taxi, and the lines of cars all around them.

1.A. worried            B. excited      C. angry            D. surprised

2.A. mouth             B. nose      C. throat           D. ear

3.A. talk　            B. breathe       C. cry                  D. hear

4.A. turned on         B. opened on　   C. turned off       D. sped up

5.A. best              B. biggest　     C. first            D. nearest

6.A. time              B. cars          C. policemen    D. speed

7.A. that              B. as            C. there        D. if

8.A. stop              B. slow down C. hurry            D. keep safe

9.A. lights            B. signs         C. policemen    D. marks

10.A. at                   B. to                C. down     D. forward

11.A. taxi             B. car           C. truck        D. train

12.A. up               B. down          C. open         D. covered

13.A. red              B. green         C. yellow       D. out

14.A. out　            B. away          C. on           D. off

15.A. who              B. what          C. where        D. how

16.A. lucky　          B. astonished        C. worried      D. happy

17.A. crying              B. breathing      C. smiling      D. talking

18.A. made             B. let           C. knocked      D. pulled

19.A. and              B. with          C. or　             D. but

20.A. driver               B. accident      C. girl         D. reporters

 

短文改错

I am writing to you just tell you how much	1．_____
I enjoyed myself at last weekend. It was my first	2．_____
visit to an American family and l was naturally	3．_____
a bit nervous. As when I saw you with a warm	4．_____
smile of welcoming on your face, I immediately	5．_____
knew that anything was going to be all right.	6．_____
I have many happy memories of weekend.	7．_____
I especially enjoy the visit to the market. I	8．_____
liked playing chess to your son, too.	9．_____
I hope some days you will visit my home	10．____
in China and I can return your kindness.