BALTIMORE – When 15–year–old Michael Thomas left home for school last May, he couldn’t have been prouder. On his feet, thanks to his mother’s hard work, were a pair of new Air Jordans — ＄ 100 worth of leather, rubber and status（身份）that to today’s youth are the Mercedes – Benz of athletic footwear.

The next day it was James David Martin, 17, who was walking down the street in Thomas’ new sneakers, while Thomas lay dead in a field not far from his school. Martin was arrested for murder.

For the Baltimore school system, Thomas’ death was the last straw. He was the third youngster to have been killed over his clothes in five years. Dozens of others had been robbed of name brand sneakers, designer jogging suits, leather jackets and jewelry. This fall, the school board announced a dress code（规定）preventing leather skirts and jackets, jogging suits, gold chains and other expensive items.

Clothes, said board president Joseph Smith, had just gotten out of hand.

Across the nation, parents, school officials, psychologists and even some children agree.

They say that today’s youngsters, throughout the nation, have become clothes fixated（专注）.They worry about them, compete over them, ignore school for them and sometimes even rob and kill for them.

In many cases, students are so concerned about what they and their classmates are wearing, they forget what they come to school for, educators said.

In response, many public schools, mainly in Eastern cities, have adopted school uniforms to cut down on competition. Educators say, in the current fashion climate, dressing students alike allows them more freedom to be individuals.

1．Why was Michael so proud of himself?

       A．His hard – working mother earned a lot of money.

       B．He wore expensive clothes worth ＄100.

       C．He was in a pair of name brand shoes.

       D．He was good at playing basketball.

2．Martin was arrested for            .

       A．killing Thomas                                     B．robbing several students

       C．stealing expensive things                       D．murdering three people for their clothes

3．By saying “Clothes had just gotten out of hand”, the board president meant clothes were

                  .

       A．the target of robbery                            B．thrown away soon

       C．hard to control                                    D．easily worn out

4．According to the text, adopting school uniforms means to            .

       A．have students wear ordinary clothes      B．make students more competitive

       C．keep students less clothes focused      D．dress students all alike