阅读理解

　　English is a language spoken all around the world．There are more than 42 countries where the majority① of the people speak English．Most native speakers of English are found in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand．In total, for more than 375 million people, English is their mother tongue．An equal number of people learn English as a second language．These people will perhaps speak the language of their own country at home with their family, but the language of the government, schools, newspapers and TV is English．This situation is found in countries such as India, Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines．

　　However, the number of people who learn English as a foreign language is more than 750 million．Everywhere in the world, children go to school to learn English．Most people learn English for five or six years at high school．In China students learn English at school as a foreign language, except for those in Hong Kong, where many people speak English as a first or a second language．

　　In only fifty years, English has developed into the language most widely spoken and used in the world．English is the working language of most international organizations, international trade② and tourism③．Businessmen and tourists often come to China without being able to speak Chinese．Chinese businessmen, taxi drivers and students talk with them using English．English is also the language of global culture, such as popular music and the Internet．You can listen to English songs on the radio or use English to communicate with people around the world through the Internet．With so many people communicating in English every day, it will become more and more important to have a good knowledge of English．

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阅读理解

　　In only two decades Asian Americans have become the fastest-growing US minority．As their children began moving up through the nation’s schools, it became clear that a new class of academic achievers was forming．Their achievements are reflected in the nation’s best universities, where mathematics, science and engineering departments have taken on a decidedly Asian character．This special liking for mathematics and science is partly explained by the fact that Asian-American students who began their educations abroad arrived in the US with a solid grounding in mathematics but little or no knowledge of English．They are also influenced by the promises of a good job after college．Asians feel there will be less unfair treatment in areas like mathematics and science because they will be judged more objectively．And the return on the investment in education is more immediate in something like engineering than with an arts degree．

　　Most Asian-American students owe their success to the influence of parents who are determined that their children take full advantage of what the American educational system has to offer．An effective measure of parental attention is homework．Asian parents spend more time with their children than American parents do, and it helps．Many researchers also believe there is something in Asian culture that causes success, such as ideals that stress family values and emphasize education．

　　Both explanations for academic success worry Asian Americans because of fears that they feed a typical racial image．Many can remember when Chinese, Japanese and Filipino immigrants were the victims of social separation．Indeed, it was not until 1952 that laws were laid down giving all Asian immigrants the right to citizenship．

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　　In only two decades Asian Americans have become the fastest-growing U.S．minority．As their children began moving up through the nation’s schools, it became clear that a new class of academic achievers was emerging．Their achievements are reflected in the nation’s best universities, where mathematics, science and engineering departments have taken on a decidedly Asian character．This special liking for mathematics and science is partly explained by the fact that Asian-American students who began their educations abroad arrived in the U．S．with a solid grounding in mathematics but little or no knowledge of English．They are also influenced by the promise of a good job after college．Asians feel there will be less unfair treatment in areas like mathematics and science because they will be judged more objectively．And the return on the investment(投资)in education is more immediate in something like engineering than with an arts degree．

　　Most Asian-American owe their success to the influence of parents who are determined that their children take full advantage of what the American educational system has to offer．An effective measure of parental attention is homework．Asian parents spend more time with their children than American parents do, and it helps．Many researcher also believe there is something in Asian culture that needs success, such as ideals that stress family values and emphasize education．

　　Both explanations for academic success worry Asian Americans because of fears that they feed a typical racial image．Many can remember when Chinese, Japanese and Filipino immigrants(移民)were the victims of social isolation．Indeed, it was not until 1952 that laws were laid down giving all Asian immigrants the right to citizenship．

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阅读理解

　　“In only six days I lost seven pounds of weight．”

　　“Two full inches in the first three days!”

　　These are the kinds of statements used in magazine, newspaper radio and television ads, promising new shapes and new looks to those who buy the medicine or the device．The promoters of products say they can shape the legs, slim the face, smooth wrinkles, or in some other way to add to beauty or desirability．

　　Often such products are nothing more than money-making things for their promoters．The results they produce are questionable, and some are dangerous to health．

　　To understand how these products can be legally promoted to the public, it is necessary to understand something of the laws covering their regulation．If the product is a drug, FDA(Food and Drug Administration)can require proof under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that it is safe and effective before it is put on the market．But if the product is a device, FDA has no authority to require premarketing proof of safety or effectiveness．If a product already on the market is a danger to health, FDA can request the producer or distributor to remove it from the market voluntarily, or it can take legal action, including seizure(查封)of the product．

　　One notable case a few years ago involved an electrical device called the Relaxacisor, which had been sold for reducing the waistline．The Relaxacisor produced electrical shocks to the body through contact pads．FDA took legal action against the distributor to stop the sale of the device on the grounds that it was dangerous to health and life．

　　Obviously, most of the devices on the market have never been the subject of court proceedings(法律诉讼), and new devices appear continually．Before buying, it is up to the consumer to judge the safety or effectiveness of such items．

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阅读理解

　　In only two decades Asian Americans have become the fastest-growing U．S．minority．As their children began moving up through the nation schools, it became clear that a new class of academic achievers was emerging．Their achievements are reflected in the nation’s best universities, where mathematics, science and engineering departments have taken on a decidedly Asian character．This special liking for mathematics and science is partly explained by the fact that Asian-American students who began their education abroad arrived in the U．S．with a solid grounding in mathematics but little or no knowledge of English．They are also influenced by the promise of a good job after college．Asians feel there will be less unfair treatment in areas like mathematics and science because they will be judged more objectively．And the return on the investment in education is more immediate in something like engineering than with an arts degree．

　　Most Asian-American students owe their success to the influence of parents who are determined that their children take full advantage of what the American educational system has to offer．An effective measure of parental attention is homework．Asian parents spend more time with their children than American parents do, and it helps．Many researchers also believe there is something in Asian culture that breeds success, such as ideals that stress family values and emphasize education．

　　Both explanations for academic success worry Asian Americans because of fears that they feed a typical racial image．Many can remember when Chinese, Japanese and Filipino immigrants were the victims of social isolation．Indeed, it was not until 1952 that laws were laid down giving all Asian immigrants the right to citizenship．

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