You may say it’s just a slip of the tongue. But as a senior official and a well-educated person, a professional who is supposed to be expert at using words shouldn’t have made such a remark like “Why did only two teachers commit suicide?” We use “only” to emphasize（强调） how small an amount is or how unimportant the matter is. When talking about death toll, such a word as “only” should never be appropriate.

Of course, it seems unfair to put all the blame on her, especially about the suicide of any individual. We should never indirectly encourage any self-destructive behaviour by making finger-pointing remarks afterwards. Any sensational accusation may help spread a very wrong message which will lead to even more copycat（模仿他人行为者）cases.

As expected, Professor Li has spoken out in her defence, saying that her remarks concerning the two suicides had been taken out of context, adding that she is a caring and warm-hearted person.

However, a seemingly “caring and warm-hearted person” without enough political sensitivity can hardly make a good government official. Mr. Tung used to be described as kind and selfless, but being kind is not enough. It is misleading to say such characteristics as kindness and devotion make somebody fit or capable.

Last time, her saying that students were the least qualified to criticize the Chief Executive had led to much criticism. Then she apologized. This time, a much more widespread furore（公众的骚动） has been brought. Again, she apologized. How many times is she going to apologize before she is willing to step down?

We need a more diplomatic（外交的） person to calm teachers, students and parents alike.

1. The purpose of the passage is to _____.

A. encourage teachers to commit suicide

B. criticize professor Li

C. put stress on the official’s remarks

D. show her dissatisfaction with the senior official

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The official used improper words in her remarks.

B. The senior official’s apologies were not sincere.

C. Nobody could comfort the people.

D. The professional tried to mislead the people to continue their suicide.

3. The author thought ________.

A. the official was very fit for her office

B. the official used the word “only” not by mistake

C. it was quite right to blame the official

D. the official won’t make such mistakes any more

4. From the passage we can infer that ______.

A. the officials’ remark led to more suicide committing

B. the official was a sensitive politician

C. the official believed the students had rights to talk about the Chief Executive

D. professor Li showed favor to the official

根据下列句子及所给的汉语注释, 在句子右边的横线上写出空缺处各单词的正确形式．（每

空只写一词）

1.He was very _________（善解人意的）and gave me some green tablets．

2.The Smiths bought a beautiful dress for their daughter’s ____ （十二岁） birthday．

3.She inspires those who want to cheer the __________________（成就） of women．

4.The talented young singer was _____________（热烈地）welcomed by the fans．

5.Last of all, the chief editor read it and ______________（赞成） it．

6.The gun fired, and all the birds flied in every _______________（方向）．

7.Greatly _________（鼓励） by the teacher’s words, she put her heart into study．

8.The question needs _____________（进一步） discussion．

9.First aid is a very important first step in the______________（治疗） of burns．

10.The clock ____________（敲） ten when we got home．

Surveys of American teenagers find that about half of them do not get enough sleep on school nights. They get an average of 60 to 90 minutes less than experts say they need.

Experts say teens are biologically programmed to go to sleep later and wake up later than other age groups. Yet many schools start classes as early as seven in the morning.

As a result，many students go to class feeling like Danny，16 years old. He plays two sports，lacrosse and football. He is an active teen—except in the morning. DANNY：“Getting up in the morning is pretty terrible. I’m just very out of it and tired. And through first and second period I can hardly stay awake.”

Michael Breus，a clinical psychologist with a specialty in sleep disorders says：“These aren’t a bunch of lazy kids—although，you know，teenagers can of course be lazy. These are children whose biological rhythms，more times than not，are off.”Teens，he says，need to sleep eight to nine hours or even nine to ten hours a night. He says sleepy teens can experience a form of depression that could have big effects on their general well-being. It can affect not just their ability in the classroom but also on the sports field and on the road because any tired driver is dangerous，especially a teenager with a lack of experience.

So what can schools do about sleepy students？The psychologist says one thing they can do is start classes later in the morning.

Eric Peterson，head of St.George’s School in the northeastern state of Rhode Island，says，“In the end，schools ought to do what’s the right thing for their students，first and foremost.”And he wanted to see if a 30-minute delay would make a difference. It did.

According to the passage，which of the following is the chief cause of sleepy teenagers？

A. Persona haibits.                    B. Early school hours.

C. Sports activities.                    D. Too much home work.

According to Michael Breus，          .

A. Teenagers are too lazy to get up early for school.

B. Teenagers should change their biological rhythms.

C. Lacking sleep can cause serious problems.

D. Sleepy teenagers shouldn’t drive to school.

What is Eric Peterson’s opinion on the issue？

A. Schools should try their best to help students.

B. Students should adjust to their school’s schedule.

C. Changing school schedule is their last choice.

D. Something has to change at the end of a school day.

What does the underlined word“It”in the last sentence might refer to？

A. St.George School.                 B. Rhode Island State.

C. Students in St.George School.        D. 30-minute delay of school day.

What can you infer might follow the passage immediately？

A. Some positive changes in St.George’s school.

B. Some complaints from teachers and parents.

C. Some tips on how to help students foremost.

D. Some unexpected outcome of the delay.

Qian Xuesen is one of the pioneers of China's space science. As a world-famous expert on aerospace rockets and aerodynamics, he obtained great achievements in the areas of applied mechanics, engineering cybernetics and system engineering and made distinguished contributions to the foundation and development of Chinese aerospace undertaking(事业).

    He graduated from Shanghai Jiaotong University in 1934, and Qian Xuesen went to the United States to study in MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one year later. After receiving master's degree in MIT, he went to study in California Institute of Technology and received PhD degrees in both aerospace and mathematics.

    In 1955, six years after the founding of People's Republic of China, Qian Xuesen returned to his motherland. His return brought China the hope of developing space science and its own missiles. In 1956, Qian Xuesen put forward “Proposal on the Development of China's Aviation Industry for National Defense”. With the support from Zhou Enlai, the premier, and marshal Nie Rongzheng, Qian Xuesen began to prepare for the establishment of China's first missile and rocket research and development structure, the Fifth Research Institute of State Ministry of Defense. Henceforth(从此以后), he has long been in charge of the chief technological research and development of China's missile, rocket and spacecraft.

    Due to research and development led by Qian Xuesen, China successfully exploded its first atom bomb in 1964. Later, China launched its first man-made satellite, Dong Fang Hong I, to the earth orbit on April 24, 1970, becoming the fifth country in the world to independently launch satellite following the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the USA, France and Japan. The satellite floated around the earth, blaring(高声播放)the song Dong Fang Hong, which has the same name as the satellite.

    As a forerunner leading the development of China's aerospace science and technology, Qian Xuesen also provided chances for young scientists. Wang Yongzhi, former chief designer of China's manned-space project, has benefited a lot from Qian Xuesen. “He suggested that rocket of the second generation should be developed by our second generation scientists. This suggestion gave us chances to be general designers.” Recalling the experience working with Qian Xuesen, Sun Jiadong, general designer of China's lunar orbiter project, is very grateful. “He put great expectation on us and trusted us a lot. Whenever we made mistakes, he seldom blamed us, but helped us to find out the reason so we could avoid it in the future.”

    Honored as Father of China's Missile and King of Rockets, Qian Xuesen never stopped his work on scientific research after he retired. He said he had no time to review the past, but looked forward to the future.

When did Qian xuesen begin to study in Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

A. In 1955.     B. In 1935.    C. In 1936.     D. In 1934.

Which of the following is about the five countries that launched man-made satellite independently before 1970?

A. The former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the UK, France, China and Japan.

B. The former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the USA, Japan, Canada and China.

C. America, France, Japan, China and Australia.

D. The former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, America, France, Japan and China.

What does the underlined word “forerunner”(Paragraph 5) probably mean?                                 

A. A leader.

C. A competitor.    B. A pioneer.

D. A successful scientist.

According to the passage, which of the following about Qian Xuesen is NOT true?

A. In 1956, he made good preparations for the Fifth Research Institute of State Ministry of Defence.

B. He made outstanding contributions to the establishment and development of Chinese aerospace

undertaking.

C. He returned to China, bringing China the hope of developing space science and its own missiles.

D. He devoted all his life to China’s space science.

It can be inferred from Paragraph 5 that _________.

A. Qian Xuesen is very concerned about the development of young scientists

B. The help of Qian Xuesen is beneficial to young scientists

C. Qian Xuesen gives many opportunities to general designers

D. When the chief designers do something wrong, Qian Xuesen helps them find out the cause

  The American newspaper has been around for about three hundred years. In 1721, the printer James Franklin, Benjamin’s older brother, started the New England Courant, and that was what we might recognize today as a real newspaper. He filled his paper with stories of adventure, articles on art, on famous people, and on all sorts of political subjects.

   Three centuries after the appearance of Franklin’s Courant, few believe that newspapers in their present printed from will remain alive for long. Newspaper companies are losing advertisers(广告商)，readers, market value, and in some cases, their sense of purpose at a speed that would not have been imaginable just several years ago. The chief editor(主编) of the Times said recently, “At places where they gather, editors ask one another, ‘How are you?’, as if they have just come out of the hospital or a lost law case.” An article about the newspaper appeared on the website of the Guandian, under the headline “NOT DEAD YET.”

    Perhaps not, but the rise of the Internet, which has made the daily newspaper look slow and out of step with the world, has brought about a real sense of death. Some American newspapers have lost 42% of their market value in the past three years. The New York Times Company has seen its stock(股票) drop by 54% since the end of 2004, with much of the loss coming in the past year. A manager at Deutsche Bank suggested that stock-holders sell off their Times stock. The Washington Post Company has prevented the trouble only by changing part of its business to education; its testing and test-preparation service now brings in at least half the company’s income.

53. What can we learn about the New England Courant?

   A. It is mainly about the stock market.

   B. It marks the beginning of the American newspaper.

   C. It remains a successful newspaper in America.

   D. It carries articles by political leaders.

54. What can we infer about the newspaper editors?

   A. They often accept readers’ suggestions.

   B. They care a lot about each other’s health.

   C. They stop doing business with advertisers.

   D. They face great difficulties in their business.

55. Which of the following found a new way for its development?

   A. The Washington Post.

   B. The Guardian.

   C. The New York Times.

   D. New England Courant.

56. How does the author seem to feel about the future of newspapers?

   A. Satisfied.

   B. Hopeful.

   C. Worried.

   D. Surprised.