To be sure, only children experienced some things differently from those with sisters and brothers. Many feel more pressure to succeed. In the absence of brothers and sisters, only children also tend to look more exclusively to their parents as role models.

In India, 10-year-old Saviraj Sankpal founded a support group for the tiny minority of only children. Among other things, the group does volunteer work to counter the myth that they are not responsible. “People think we’re treated too kindly and ruined,” says Sankpal, a computer engineering student. “But I’d like to remind them how lonely it can get.”

Most only children, however, say they wish for sisters or brothers only when it comes to caring for aging, unhealthy parents. Britain’s David Emerson, coauthor of the book The Only Child, says that such a person bears a terrible burden in having to make all the decisions alone. Emerson knows from experience: After his father died, he chose to move his elderly mother from their family home, where she was vulnerable(易受攻击的) to house breakers, to a new one with more security. “The move was quite hard on her, and she might feel that I pushed her into it,” he says. “After all, I am left with that responsibility.”

In the future, more and more only children will likely face similar choices. With working mothers increasingly the rule, many families are finding they simply don’t have the time, money or energy to have more than one child. As only children become common, perhaps the world will realize that the charge made against them is unjust.

1.It can be inferred from the passage that the author’s attitude towards only children is 　　　. 

A. critical          B. objective       C. hostile     D. unjust

2.It can be inferred from the passage that only children’s parents should 　　　.

A. find a support group for their only children

B. do volunteer work to help their only children

C. let their only children make all the decision alone

D. set good examples for their only children

3.Emerson decided to move his elderly mother to a new house because he 　　　.

A. is the only one who cares about her

B. doesn’t want to leave her alone

C. wants to share the responsibility with her

D. is worried about her safety

4.It is quite usual now for a working mother to 　　　.

A. spend all her time and money on her only child

B. be responsible for bringing up her only child

C. have and bring up only one child

D. devote all her energy to her job

 

 

　　      

第二卷（45分）

第一节：阅读表达（每小题３分，共１５分。）

阅读下面的短文，并根据要求回答问题。

         Confidence: you’ve either got it or you haven’t, right? Wrong. Most people learn confidence

as they go through life.

         Even if you are shaking like a leaf on the inside, you’ll make a lasting impression if you can come across as confident. Here are some confidence-building tips.

         Fake(假装) it! If you can pretend that you feel confident when you don’t and keep on doing so, your fake confidence will soon turn into real confidence. It only takes a few repetitions of an activity for it to become a habit—so get in the habit of         .

         Think it. For an instant encouragement to yourself-esteem (自尊心), recall three things that give you positive emotions. It could be a great compliment somebody paid you, a special time when you felt happy and popular, or when you really excelled (胜过别人) at something. Bringing them to mind will help you to feel good instantly—and when you feel good, you have greater confidence.

         Focus it. Difficult situations, such as interviews or new jobs, can make you feel shy. If you’re feeling anxious about yourself, stop thinking about yourself and focus on something else. It could be that you focus on something normal, like the view out of the window, or that you pay more attention to the task at hand—getting the job! Either way, you'll feel less awkward.

         Talk it. If you keep telling yourself that you're not good at something, you’ll start to believe it. Next time you blame yourself, ask yourself whether you'd talk to your friends like that. So quit being negative and start recognizing and appreciating the things you are good at.

         Walk it. Great posture can signal great confidence. Walk with a purposeful stride, walk with your back straight and with your head held up high!

1．What is the best title of the passage?  （within 8 words）

                                                                               

2．Please fill in the blank in the 3rd paragraph with proper words to complete the sentence. 

    （within 6 words.）

                                                                               

3．Which sentence in the passage can be replaced by the following one?

         Stop finding fault with yourself and try to think more about your advantages.

                                                                               

4．Which of the tips given in the passage will work best with you? Why? （within 30 words.）

                                                                               

                                                                               

5．Please translate the underlined sentence in the third paragraph into Chinese.

                                                                               

 

American cities are similar to other cities around the world. In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture. American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.

　　After World War II, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts(转移) to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents (居民) became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs(郊区).

Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.

This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.

     Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright, new future .Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure：many dying cities are alive again.

What does the author think of cities all over the world ?

   A. They are alive .    B. They are hopeless.   C. They are similar      D. They are different.

Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War Ⅱ?

   A. Because older American cities were dying.

   B. Because they were richer and needed more space.

   C. Because cities contained the worst parts of society.

   D. Because they could hardly afford to live in the city.

According to the 4^th paragragh, a great many poor people in American cities ______. 

   A. are faced with housing problems       B. are faced to move to the suburbs

   C. want to sell their buildings            D. need more money for daily expenses

We can conclude from the text that ______.

   A. American cities are changing for the worse   B. people have different views on American cities

   C. many people are now moving from American cities D. the population is decreasing in older American cities

When three of my grandchildren acquired a half－grown dog I agreed to help them build a dog house. As we began the __1__， I knew that keeping them involved was going to be a __2__. Much of my energy was spent calling them back to the job and finding __3__ of the project that could be handled by small children. I held to my initial(最初的) determination that building this dog house was to be a (n) __4__  project.

Early in the project I had __5__ the grandkids that we would roast wieners(香肠) in the back yard __6__ we finished painting the dog house.__7__ three of the largest house－painting brushes I could find, I supervised (管理) the __8__ of our homemade structure. Kids and paint. How could I have __9__ the potential (潜在的) harm that such a combination can create?

After cleaning up the paint __10__－kids, brushes, carport(车棚)－I __11__ that we would probably eat earlier if we just asked Grandma to heat the wieners in water on the gas range. A pain of __12__ came over me as I realized I was trying to weasel(躲避) out of a(n)__13__ promise.

As Jamie, Jeffrey and Kimberley looked on, I built a first－class fire in our back yard pit, cut some roasting sticks, and prepared for the __14__ cooking event. When we __15__ eating I leaned back on the cool grass and __16__ the last remnants(残余) of our fire. Six－year－old Jeffrey was leaning back against my chest, and I began to think about what it meant to be a Grandpa.

The __17__ was broken when Jeffrey quietly reflected, “Know what Grandpa？” And without breaking his __18__ at the dying embers(灰烬) he continued, “This is the best day of my whole life.”

After a few moments of __19__ silence he glanced up and said, “Are you crying, Grandpa? You've got a __20__ on your cheek.”

Clearing my throat I explained that it must be from the smoke.

1. A. plan　　　B. question　  　C. project　　D. problem

2. A. challenge  B. design        C. duty         D. job

3. A. all        B. parts         C. none         D. most

4. A. part－time  B. group         C. interesting  D. difficult

5. A. demanded   B. required      C. informed     D. promised

6. A. so long as   B. in order that  C. as soon as   D. even if

7. A. Selecting  B. Bringing      C. Washing      D. Arranging

8. A. building   B. moving        C. painting     D. cleaning

9. A. remembered        B. forgotten

C. regretted          D. prevented

10. A. colour      B. drops         C. mess         D. dirt

11. A. suggested   B. ordered       C. told         D. thought

12. A. wound      B. body         C. head         D. guilt

13. A. longer     B. bigger        C. better       D. earlier

14. A. indoor     B. outdoor       C. field        D. kitchen

15. A. began      B. finished      C. continued    D. liked

16. A. watched    B. made          C. raised       D. kept

17. A. fire       B. glass         C. silence        D. night

18. A. words      B. gaze          C. mind         D. attention

19. A. fixed      B. broken        C. mixed        D. continued

20. A. tear       B. grain         C. dirt           D. leaf