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.
【小题1】. While making great achievements at college, Asian-American students ________.

Different people use different languages. We Chinese speak Chinese, and, most of us are learning a foreign language. But there is another kind of language we need to know --- the language of the body.

All over the world, people “talk with their hand, with their heads and with their eyes.” When Japanese people meet, they bow. When Indians meet, they put their hands together. What do American and British do? Americans are more imformal(不拘小节的) than the British. They like to be friendly. They use first names, they ask questions and they talk easily about themselves. When they sit down, they like to relax in their chairs and make themselves comfortable. British people are more reserved(保守的). They take more time to make friends. They like to know you before they ask your name.

When British or American people meet someone for the first time, they shake hands. They do not usually shake hands with people they know well. Women sometimes kiss their women friends, and men kiss women friends (on one cheek only). When a man meets a man, he just smiles, and says, “Hello.” Men do not kiss each other, or hold hands. Even fathers and sons do not often kiss each other.

1.In the passsage, the writer thinks that body language is ______________.

A．uselss            B．difficult           C．quite easy         D．important

2.Which of the following is right?

A．different countries hav the same body language.

B．different countries have different body anguages.

C．people in Asia share the same body language.

D．many people only use their body language.

3.If an American friend visits you, he probably _____________.

A．sit straight         B．never sits down     C．makes fun of you    D．sits freely

4.If you want to make a British friend, you may feel it ________________.

A．imopssible         B．too easy           C．too difficult        D．slow

5.Generally speaking, ____________ kiss more often.

A．men             B．women           C．British            D．Americans

In only two decades Asian Americans have become the fastestgrowing 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.

8.While making tremendous achievements at college, Asian?American students           .

A.feel they are mistreated because of limited knowledge of English

B.are afraid that their academic successes bear a strong Asian character

C.still worry about unfair treatment in society

D.generally feel it a shame to have to depend on their parents

9.What are the major factors that determine the success of Asian Americans?

A.A solid foundation in basic mathematics and Asian culture.

B.Hard work and intelligence.

C.Parents’ help and a limited knowledge of English.

D.Asian culture and the American educational systerm.

10.Few Asian American students major in human sciences mainly because            .

A.their English is not good enough

B.they are afraid they might meet with unfair judgment in these areas

C.there is a wide difference between Asian and Western cultures

D.they know little about American culture and society

11.Why do “both explanations” (Para. 3) worry Asian Americans?

A.They are afraid that they will again be isloated from American society in general.

B.People will think that Asian students rely on their parents for success.

C.Asian Americans will be a threat to other minorities.

D.American academic achievements have taken on too strong an Asian character.

In the U.S., people prefer waiting for a table to sitting with people they don’t know. This means a hostess may not seat a small group until a small table is available, even if a large one is. If you are sitting at a table with people you don’t know, it is impolite to light up a cigarette without first asking if it will disturb them.
At American restaurants and coffee shops you are usually served tap water before you order. You may find the bread and butter is free, and if you order coffee, you may get a free refill.
Most cities and towns have no rules about opening and closing time for stores or restaurants, though they usually do make rules for bars. Especially in large cities, stores may be open 24 hours a day.
Serving in restaurants are often large, too large for many people. If you can’t finish your meal but would like to enjoy the food later, ask your waitress or waiter for a “doggie bag”. It may have a picture of a dog on it, but everybody knows you’re taking the food for yourself.
“Supper” and “dinner” are both words for the evening meal. Some people have “Sunday dinner”. This is an especially big noon meal.
Tips are not usually added to the check. They are not included in the price of the meal, either. A tip of about 15% is expected and you should leave it on the table when you leave. In some restaurants, a check is brought on a plate and you put your money there. Then the waiter or waitress brings you your change.
1. According to the passage, which statement is true?
A. American people like sitting with people they don’t know.
B. A Hostess always seats a small group at a large table.
C. American people never sit with people they don’t know.
D. American people would not light up a cigarette if the people who sit at the same table mind their smoking.
2. What is served before you order? ______ .
A. Cold water B. Bread   C. Coffee   D. Butter
3. What do American people always do when servings are too large for them?
A. They take the food home with a doggie bag for their dogs.
B. They leave the food on the table and go away.
C. They ask the waitress or waiter to keep the food for them.
D. They take the food home with a doggie bag and enjoy the food later.
4. What can you learn about “tips” according to the passage?
A. Tips are usually included in the total check.
B. A 15 percent tip in large cities indicates satisfactory service.
C. Tips are supposed to be left on the table when customers leave.
D. People are not expected to pay tips in addition.

In the United States, 30 percent of the adult (成年人) population has a “weight problem”. To many people, the case is clear: we eat too much. But scientific evidence（证据）does little to support the idea. Going back to the America of 1910, we find that people were thinner than today. Yet they ate more food. In those days, people worked harder physically, walked more, used machines much less, and didn’t watch TV.
Several modern studies, moreover, have shown that fat people do not eat more on average (平均) than thinner people. In fact, some investigations (调查), such as a 1990 study of 3,545 London office workers, show that fatter people eat less than slimmer people.
Studies show that slim people are more active than fat people. A study by a research group of Stanford University School of Medicine found the following interesting facts:
The more the men ran, the more fat they lost.
The more they ran, the more they ate.
Thus, those who ran the most ate the most, yet lost the greatest amount of body fat.
【小题1】What kind of physical problem do many adult Americans have?

A．Fat people eat less food and are less active.

B．Fat people eat more food than slim people but are less active.

C．Fat people eat more food than slim people but are more active.

D．Thin people run less, but have greater increase in food intake.