When a group of children politely stop a conversation with you, saying: “We have to go to work now,” you’re left feeling surprised and certainly uneasy. After all, this is the 1990s and the idea of children working is just unthinkable. That is, until you are told that they are all pupils of stage schools, and that the “work” they go off to is to go on the stage in a theatre.

　　Stage schools often act as agencies（代理机构）to supply children for stage and television work. More worthy of the name “stage school” are those few places where children attend full time, with a training for the theatre and a general education.

　　A visit to such schools will leave you in no doubt that the children enjoy themselves. After all, what lively children wouldn’t settle for spending only half the day doing ordinary school work, and acting, singing or dancing their way through the other half of the day?

　Then of course there are times for the children to make a name and make a little money in some big shows. Some stage schools give their children too much professional work at such a young age. But the law is very tight on the amount they can do. Those under 13 are limited to 40 days in the year; those over 13 to 80 days.

　The schools themselves admit that not all children will be successful in the profession for which they are being trained. So what happens to those who don’t make it? While all the leading schools say they place great importance on children getting good study results, the facts seem to suggest this is not always the case.

　People would stop feeling uneasy when realizing that the children they’re talking to________.

　　  A. attend a stage school　　　　  B. are going to the theatre

　　  C. have got some work to do 　　  D. love singing and dancing

　　 In the writer’s opinion, a good stage school should ________.

　　  A. produce star performers

　　  B. help pupils improve their study skills

　　  C. train pupils in language and performing arts

　　  D. provide a general education and stage training.

　“Professional work” as used in the text means ________.

　　  A. ordinary school work　　　　　  B. money-making performances

　　  C. stage training at school 　 　  D. acting, singing or dancing after class

　 Which of the following best describes how the writer feels about stage schools?

　　  A. He thinks highly of what they have to offer.　　　　

　　  B. He favours an early start in the training of performing arts.

　　  C. He feels uncomfortable about children putting on night shows.

　　  D. He doubts the standard of ordinary education they have reached.

Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general．Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian（百姓的）clothes．People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform．The television repairman who wears uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes．Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform．What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity（身份）than to step out of uniform?

　　Uniforms also have many practical benefits．They save on other clothes．They save on laundry bills．They are tax-deductible（可减税的）．They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.

　　Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them．Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement．When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.

　　Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems．Though they are long-lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes．Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality _______.

　    A．still judge a man by his clothes

　    B．hold the uniform in such high regard

　    C．enjoy having a professional identity

　    D．will respect an elevator operator as much as a general in uniform

People are accustomed to think that a man in uniform _______.

　    A．suggests quality work

　    B．discards his social identity

　    C．appears to be more practical

　    D．looks superior to a person in civilian clothes

The chief function of a uniform is to _______.

　    A．provide practical benefits to the wearer

　    B．make the wearer catch the public eye

       C．inspire the wearer’s confidence in himself

　    D．provide the wearer with a professional identity

The best title for this passage would be _______.

　    A．Uniforms and Society

　    B．The Importance of Wearing a Uniform

　    C．Practical Benefits of Wearing a Uniform

　    D．Advantages and Disadvantages of Uniforms

第三节  书面表达（满分30分）

假如你是一名中学生，叫李华，请根据下表内容用英语写信给某报社Just ask栏目的主持人Ralph。请求帮助解决一个长期困扰你的问题。

你的情况：           1、学习成绩好。                2、爱母亲。                3、有点害怕母亲。

你母亲的情况：    1. 很少有时间和你说话。   2、对你很严，易发脾气。

你的问题：           1、很少交流。                   2、希望互相了解。     3、不知如何沟通。

注意：词数100左右；参考词汇：发脾气lose one's temper

Dear Ralph,

I'm a middle school student. ____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________.

　  I do hope we’ll be closer. What can I do?

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yours sincerely, 

Li Hua

第三节  书面表达（满分30分）
假如你是一名中学生，叫李华，请根据下表内容用英语写信给某报社Just ask栏目的主持人Ralph。请求帮助解决一个长期困扰你的问题。
你的情况：           1、学习成绩好。                2、爱母亲。                3、有点害怕母亲。
你母亲的情况：    1. 很少有时间和你说话。   2、对你很严，易发脾气。
你的问题：           1、很少交流。                   2、希望互相了解。     3、不知如何沟通。
注意：词数100左右；参考词汇：发脾气lose one's temper
Dear Ralph,
I'm a middle school student. ____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________.
　  I do hope we’ll be closer. What can I do?
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yours sincerely, 
Li Hua

第三节   书面表达（满分30分）

假如你是一名中学生，叫李华，请根据下表内容用英语写信给某报社Just ask栏目的主持人Ralph。请求帮助解决一个长期困扰你的问题。

你的情况：           1、学习成绩好。                2、爱母亲。                3、有点害怕母亲。

你母亲的情况：    1. 很少有时间和你说话。   2、对你很严，易发脾气。

你的问题：           1、很少交流。                   2、希望互相了解。     3、不知如何沟通。

注意：词数100左右；参考词汇：发脾气lose one's temper

Dear Ralph,

I'm a middle school student. ____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________.

　  I do hope we’ll be closer. What can I do?

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yours sincerely, 

Li Hua