What makes a good school? Many people would agree that a good school is one that gets the best out of its pupils. Yet not every pupil can do well in his or her exams. What is most important is the individual development of the child and not the general academic success of the school. Yet how can this be measured and improvements made? This question has been at the heart of my work for the last 20 years. All the facts shows that the quality of an individual school can make a significant difference to its pupils' prospects (前途) in life. My definition (定义) of a good school is one in which students progress further than might be expected considering their social background. Inner-city school, for example, despite receiving many socially-disadvantaged pupils, can still be successful in encouraging their students to progress.

We should recognize that the effectiveness of a school can only be considered in relation to its typical intake. Researchers have discovered a number of factors commonly connected with good schools. There are few surprises among a collection which includes professional leadership, high expectations, and a concentration on teaching and learning. Recognition of the importance of pupils' rights and responsibilities and parental involvement is also important.

8. The underlined words "this question" refers to a search for ________.

A. what qualities make a good school

B. why we have to get the best out of pupils

C. the way to make a school the most academically outstanding

D. how to measure school effectiveness

9. According to the writer, a good school ________.

A. makes a significant difference to pupils' prospects

B. helps to encourage socially-disadvantaged students to progress

C. helps pupils to achieve their academic success

D. helps pupils progress beyond their natural abilities

10. The fact that some schools are less successful academically than others may be due in part to their ________.

A. complexity (复杂) of structure

B. mixture of policies

C. intake of less able students

D. poor standard of school staff(员工)

第二部分 阅读理解（第一节20小题，第二节5小题；每小题2分，满分50分）

第一节：阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A, B, C, 和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。

Now as a mother myself, I'm anxious about the future, but I'm optimistic at the same time. I have the same concerns that my mother had for me and my brothers when we were growing up and going out into the world. The world it's said has shrunk or become flat. We're connected in ways we never were before. So how do we deal with these new challenges? Well, the other day I was speaking about my concerns for the future. And I said that I wanted to make sure that young people would work hard because we're in competition with jobs. When I was sitting where you are now, I didn't have to worry about competition from China or India. There were no global pressures like you will face as you mark your own way. And we need to get every young person to really get a sense of commitment and to work hard. Well, then my daughter said, "Mom I do work hard and my friends work hard." And I said, "I know that. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to convey any impression that you don't work hard. I just want to set the bar high because we are in a competition for the future."

You know, in 1999 when I was thinking of running for the Senate, I did not know what to do. I was really thinking hard because I had to make a decision. And there were a lot of things to consider. Obviously, no first lady had ever sought public office before. I had obviously never run for office before.

You know, often our most fearsome competitor is ourselves. We struggle with all of the internal doubts and anxieties, fears for the future, concerns for the world. Sometimes when I look at what's happening in the world, it's hard to imagine going out and doing anything of meaning. But we can do it and not only that, we must. America needs you to grab hold of this moment. So compete to do the best you can and help make our country the best it can be. So today, after you've accepted your diploma, but before you leave this place, please thank your family for guiding you to this moment. Thank your professors for showing you a new world. Thank your friends for exploring that world and finally remember what this day feels like. Cherish it always. Go for it. The world awaits you.

41．Who is most probably the speaker “I”?

    A．a Chinese   B．an Indian   C．an American adult   D．a university student

42．Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

    A．Quite a few first ladies have run for public offices.

    B．Only after you’ve got your diploma and before you leave your university should you thank your parents, your professors and your friends.

    C．The speaker is always aware of what to do because she is a determined person.

    D．The speaker is concerned about the future even though she is optimistic.

43．Why do you think the speaker urge the students to work harder?

    A．Because the students are not really working hard at all.

    B．Because they are faced with global competition on their way to their future.

    C．Because only in this way can they afford to go to an expensive bar for a good drink.

    D．Because their most fearsome competitors are themselves.

44．On the whole, the speech is ________ .

    A．disappointing   B．encouraging   C．negative   D．necessary

Outside her shabby cottage, old Mrs. Tailor was hanging out laundry on a wire line, unaware that some children lay hidden in the leaves of a nearby tree watching her every move. They were determined to find out if she really was a witch.

   They watched as she took a broomstick to clean the dirt from her stone steps. But, much to their disappointment, she did not mount the broomstick and take flight. Suddenly, the old lady’s work was interrupted by the cackling of her hen—a signal that an egg had been laid in the warm nest on top of the haystack.

   The old broomstick was put aside as she hobbled off towards the haystack followed by Sooty, a black cat she had rescued from a fox trap some time back. With only three legs, it was hard for Sooty to keep up with the old lady. The cat provided proof—the children were sure that only a witch could own a black cat with three legs.

   There, standing on a wooden box, was Mrs. Tailor, stretching out to gather her precious egg. Taking the egg in one of her hands, she began to climb down when, without warning, the box broke and the old lady fell.

 “We have to get and help her,” whispered Amy.

 “What if it is a trick?” replied Ben.

 “Don’t be silly, Ben. If she were a witch, she would have turned us into frogs already,” reasoned Meg. “Come on Amy, let’s go.” The girls climbed down the tree and ran all the way to the haystack.

   Approaching carefully, they could see a wound on the old lady’s face. She had knocked her head on a stone and her ankle was definitely broken. “Go and get Dad,” Amy yelled to her brother. “Tell him about the accident.”

   The boys did not need another excuse to leave. They ran as fast as they could for help, hoping that Mrs. Tailor would not wake and turn the girls into frogs.

1. Why were the children hiding in the tree?

  A. They wanted to watch Mrs. Tailor do her housework closely.

  B. They were playing a hide-and-seek game

  C. They wanted to find out if the rumors about Mrs. Tailor were true

  D. They were pretending to be spies

2. Mrs. Tailor stopped sweeping when____  

  A. her front steps were clean             B. she noticed the children in the tree

  C. she was ready to take a flight          D. she heard the hen cackling

3. Ben did not rush in help Mrs. Tailor because_____

  A. he thought that she could be tricking them

  B. he knew that they could not have been in the tree

  C. he did not see the old lady fall down

  D. he was afraid of the three-legged cat

4. Which of these old sayings best suits the story’s lesson for us?

  A. Make hay while the sun shines.

  B. Never judge a book by its cover.

  C. People in glasshouses should not throw stones.

  D. A bird in the hands worth two in the bush.

Now as a mother myself, I'm anxious about the future, but I'm optimistic at the same time. I have the same concerns that my mother had for me and my brothers when we were growing up and going out into the world. The world it's said has shrunk or become flat. We're connected in ways we never were before. So how do we deal with these new challenges? Well, the other day I was speaking about my concerns for the future. And I said that I wanted to make sure that young people would work hard because we're in competition with jobs. When I was sitting where you are now, I didn't have to worry about competition from China or India. There were no global pressures like you will face as you mark your own way. And we need to get every young person to really get a sense of commitment and to work hard. Well, then my daughter said, "Mom I do work hard and my friends work hard." And I said, "I know that. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to convey any impression that you don't work hard. I just want to set the bar high because we are in a competition for the future."
You know, in 1999 when I was thinking of running for the Senate, I did not know what to do. I was really thinking hard because I had to make a decision. And there were a lot of things to consider. Obviously, no first lady had ever sought public office before. I had obviously never run for office before.
You know, often our most fearsome competitor is ourselves. We struggle with all of the internal doubts and anxieties, fears for the future, concerns for the world. Sometimes when I look at what's happening in the world, it's hard to imagine going out and doing anything of meaning. But we can do it and not only that, we must. America needs you to grab hold of this moment. So compete to do the best you can and help make our country the best it can be. So today, after you've accepted your diploma, but before you leave this place, please thank your family for guiding you to this moment. Thank your professors for showing you a new world. Thank your friends for exploring that world and finally remember what this day feels like. Cherish it always. Go for it. The world awaits you.

1. 1.

   Who is most probably the speaker “I”?
   

   1. A.
      a Chinese  
   2. B.
      an Indian  
   3. C.
      an American adult  
   4. D.
      a university student
2. 2.

   Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
   

   1. A.
      Quite a few first ladies have run for public offices.
   2. B.
      Only after you’ve got your diploma and before you leave your university should you thank your parents, your professors and your friends.
   3. C.
      The speaker is always aware of what to do because she is a determined person.
   4. D.
      The speaker is concerned about the future even though she is optimistic.
3. 3.

   Why do you think the speaker urge the students to work harder?
   

   1. A.
      Because the students are not really working hard at all.
   2. B.
      Because they are faced with global competition on their way to their future.
   3. C.
      Because only in this way can they afford to go to an expensive bar for a good drink.
   4. D.
      Because their most fearsome competitors are themselves.
4. 4.

   On the whole, the speech is ________ .
   

   1. A.
      disappointing  
   2. B.
      encouraging  
   3. C.
      negative  
   4. D.
      necessary

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
If you are hungry, what do you do? Have your favorite meal and stay quiet after that?  1  But it never lets you know, because you keep it busy thinking about your friends or favorite stars．So it silently serves your needs and never lets itself grow．When mind loses its freedom to grow, creativity gets a full stop．This might be the reason why we all sometimes think "What happens next?", "Why can't I think?"
  2  Why reading but not watching TV? It is because reading has been the most educative tool used by us right from childhood．Since it develops other aspects of our life, we have to get help from reading．
Once you read a book, you run your eyes through the lines and your mind tries to explain something to you．  3 Now this seed is unknowingly used by you to develop new ideas．If it is used many times, the same seed can give you great help to relate a lot of things which you would have never thought of in your wildest dreams!
This is nothing but creativity．  4  Within no time you can start talking with your friends in English or any other language and never run out of the right words．
So guys, do give food for your thoughts by reading, reading and more reading．  5 Go and get a book!