No news ________ good news.

[　　]

A．is　　B．are　　C．was　　D．were

A new school term begins, Is anything new at your school? Sichuan students are getting an extra (额外的)hour to sleep in the morning.
This year, Sichuan schools decided that students should start classes later. This should help them feel less tired, For Junior high schools, the first classes will begin no earlier than 8:30 am.
The changes have made students happy.
Liu Xian, 15, said his class was excited by the news on the first day of school. “It’s so good we can get up later!” said Liu.
Liu studies in Chengdu No.4 Middle School. He used to get up at 6:40 am. Now he can get up at 7:40 am because class doesn’t start until 8:40 am.
Wu Hongli, 15, said the new timetable is good for her health. “I used to drink coffee every night or I would feel to sleepy to finish my homework, ”said Wu. “Now I can finish it without coffee.”She used to get up at 6:30 am. Now she can get up at 7:30 am.
Wu Hongli’s mother was happy, too. She thought more sleep would help her daughter grow taller.
But some parents worried that more sleep would mean less learning. There used to be five classes in the morning. Now there are only four.
Many teachers, though, say the changes will help students learn better.
“Students used to doze(瞌睡)for the first two classes in the morning,”said Wu Zongping, an English teacher at Chendu No.12 Middle School. “But now they look fine and they learn much better than before.”
A.The new school term began.                        B.Their schools took on a new look.
C.They felt a little bit tired.          D.They could get up later.
【小题1】In the new term, the first class in the morning in middle schools started at about          .

A．7:00

B．7:30

C．8:00

D．8:40

【小题2】Why was Liu Xian excited at the news on the first day of school?

A．There were many changes in his school.

B．He could sleep one more hour in the morning.

C．He could study in Chengdu No.4 Middle School.

D．He would have only five classes in the morning.

【小题3】What did the teachers think of the changes of the school timetable?

A．They didn’t like the changes.	B．They could use the timetable more easily.
C．They spoke highly of the changes.	D．They looked fine when they taught.

A new school term begins, Is anything new at your school? Sichuan students are getting an extra (额外的)hour to sleep in the morning.
This year, Sichuan schools decided that students should start classes later. This should help them feel less tired, For Junior high schools, the first classes will begin no earlier than 8:30 am.
The changes have made students happy.
Liu Xian, 15, said his class was excited by the news on the first day of school. “It’s so good we can get up later!” said Liu.
Liu studies in Chengdu No.4 Middle School. He used to get up at 6:40 am. Now he can get up at 7:40 am because class doesn’t start until 8:40 am.
Wu Hongli, 15, said the new timetable is good for her health. “I used to drink coffee every night or I would feel to sleepy to finish my homework, ”said Wu. “Now I can finish it without coffee.”She used to get up at 6:30 am. Now she can get up at 7:30 am.
Wu Hongli’s mother was happy, too. She thought more sleep would help her daughter grow taller.
But some parents worried that more sleep would mean less learning. There used to be five classes in the morning. Now there are only four.
Many teachers, though, say the changes will help students learn better.
“Students used to doze(瞌睡)for the first two classes in the morning,”said Wu Zongping, an English teacher at Chendu No.12 Middle School. “But now they look fine and they learn much better than before.”
【小题1】What made the Sichuan middle school students happy?

A．The new school term began.	B．Their schools took on a new look.
C．They felt a little bit tired.	D．They could get up later.

【小题2】In the new term, the first class in the morning in middle schools started at about          .

A．7:00

B．7:30

C．8:00

D．8:40

【小题3】Why was Liu Xian excited at the news on the first day of school?

A．There were many changes in his school.

B．He could sleep one more hour in the morning.

C．He could study in Chengdu No.4 Middle School.

D．He would have only five classes in the morning.

【小题4】What did the teachers think of the changes of the school timetable?

A．They didn’t like the changes.	B．They could use the timetable more easily.
C．They spoke highly of the changes.	D．They looked fine when they taught.

　It was near Christmas during my first term teaching at a new school. I loved my small special class more than any group I had taught in the past. They were hungry for knowledge and I was enjoying teaching.

Other teachers had told me that our children were from poor families and not to expect any child to bring a Christmas gift. In fact, I wasn’t expecting any gifts.

Imagine my surprise when every child brought me a gift on the day before our holiday break. First, I got a much-loved toy monkey from a shy girl. I was told, “He is my favorite, but I love you and I want him to be with you, Miss Taylor.” How thrilled I was!

Next came a new set of Christmas tree lights that was “missing” from a mother’s cupboard(碗橱).

Finally, I came to one little boy’s gift which I had never received. It was an old, dirty and broken Christmas storybook. Just when I wanted to show my happiness, I was interrupted(打断) by the giver, “And see, it is new! It still has the price tag.”

　 When other children laughed at him, I stopped them and said, “Oh, books are good in that way. The story is always news if you have not read it before. Now, Let’s read one together.” Everyone listened quietly as I read the most wonderful Christmas story of my life.

　 I still keep those Christmas gifts. They always remind me of my lovely kids.

54. Miss Taylor loved her small special class so much because______________.

　 A. this was her first term teaching at a new school

　 B. these little kids were from rich families

　 C. the students studied very hard and she enjoyed teaching them

　 D. she didn’t get any Christmas gifts

55. ____________ brought Miss Taylor a Christmas gift.

　 A. Every child B. Most of the children C. Only three children D. No one

56. Miss Taylor felt __________ when she got the gifts from the children.

　 A. sad　　　　　　　　　　 B. scared　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. thrilled　　　 　　　　　　　　 D. tired

57. Many gifts were mentioned (被提及) in the article except____________.

　 A. a toy monkey B. an old storybook　　　　　　　　　　

C. a set of Christmas tree lights　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. a Christmas card