When times get tough, we all look for ways to cut back. When we’re hungry, we eat at home instead of going out. We take buses instead of taxis. And we wear our old designer jeans just a few months longer. With college expenses at all-time highs, high school students are eager to do anything to cut the cost of a university education.

One cost-cutting proposal is to allow college students to get a bachelor’s degree in three years instead of four. Educational institutions have been actively exploring ways to make the learning process more efficient. But there’s a question: Would the quality of undergraduate(本科生)education suffer? Few US universities have formally approved a “three-year degree” model.

I doubt that mainstream North American colleges will carry out a three-year curriculum(课程) any time soon. For one thing, most universities already allow highly qualified students to graduate early by testing out of certain classes and obtaining a number of college credits(学分). In addition, at famous universities, the committee who determine which courses are required and which courses are electives are unlikely to suddenly “throw out” one quarter of the required credits. Professors will resist “diluting(稀释)” the quality of the education they offer.

In my opinion, a quality four-year education is always superior to a quality three-year education. A college education requires sufficient time for a student to become skilled in their major and do coursework in fields outside their major. It is not a good idea to water down education, any more than it’s not a good idea to water down medicine. If we want to help students find their way through university, we should help them understand early on what knowledge and skills they need to have upon graduation. We should allow students to test out of as many courses as possible. We should give them a chance to earn money as interns(实习生)in meaningful part-time jobs that relate to their university studies, such as the five-year co-op program at Northeastern University.

1.The first paragraph serves as a(n)________．

A. explanation          B. definition      C. introduction         D. comment

2.We can learn from the passage that ________.

A. most American universities are against the “three-year degree” model

B. many famous US universities are considering adopting the “three-year degree” model

C. professors are willing to accept the “three-year degree” model

D. the “three-year degree” model can make college learning more efficient

3.In most US universities，________.

A. college students are offered the co-op program

B. electives’ credits make up one quarter of the required credits

C. all students are required to finish four-year education before graduation

D. some excellent students can graduate ahead of time

4.We can infer that________.

A. the author is a college professor

B. the author thinks the cost of a university education is too high for people to afford

C. the author considers the university education quality very important

D. the author pays special attention to the all-round development of college students

5.Which of the following can be the best title?

A. It’s time to shorten the learning process

B. Best learning takes place over time

C. University education should be watered down

D. College education calls for reform

Job interviews never seem easy. To get a job, you may have more interviews than you can count. To succeed in an interview, you should pay attention to the following common mistakes.

Lack of proper preparation. Failure to gather information on the company and the job before the interview makes a very poor impression on interviewers; it suggests that you really are not that interested in the position.

Inappropriate personal appearance. Consider the nature of the position and dress accordingly. When in doubt, dress somewhat more formally than you think would be expected for the job. Be conservative (保守的)and pay attention to details, such as shiny shoes, neat hair, etc. First impressions are very important.

Poor non?verbal communication. In addition to what you are saying, your non?verbal behavior is very important in an interview. Are you making eye contact? Are you listening attentively when the interviewer is speaking? Are you giving a firm handshake when greeted by the interviewer(s)? Are you nervous during the interview? Practice with a friend or in front of a mirror to assess these factors.

Poor attitude. Self?centered behavior (i.e. a “what's in it for me” attitude) is very poorly received by interviewers. Ask yourself what you can contribute to the company? What skills and experience would you bring to the job?

Failure to ask questions. Employers will assess your interest in the company and the position by the types of questions you ask. Proper research prior to the interview will help ensure that the questions you ask are intelligent ones.

Being disorganized. Make sure you arrive at the interview a few minutes early so that you have time to get calm and check your appearance. Arriving late is simply unacceptable, so plan for the unexpected. Always bring an extra copy of your resume (简历) and references to an interview.

Over or under?answering questions. For most interview questions a “Yes” or “No” answer is not appropriate. Provide more details for an employer and cite (引用) examples from personal experience wherever possible. Do not, however, talk endlessly and feel that you have to keep speaking if there's a silence. When you have said what you want to say, stop talking. If you do not understand a question, seek clear explanation before responding.

Failure to send a thank?you note or card following the interview. Take the time to send a thank?you card，which can make an important impact on an employer. Not only does it show your sincere interest in the position, but it also helps make you different from other interview candidates.

Common mistakes in interviews????????????? What you should do for a(n)_ 1._interview.

__2.__preparations????????????? __3._enough information on the company and the job.

Inappropriate personal appearance????????????? Dress __4._to the nature of the position.

Poor non?verbal communication????????????? Non?verbal communication, such as making eye contact, listening attentively, shaking hands __5.__，etc is very important.

Poor attitude????????????? _6._on yourself will make a very bad impression on interviewers. Think about what you can do for the company instead.

Failure to ask questions????????????? Do proper research before the interview, which helps make _7.__you won't ask stupid questions.

Being disorganized????????????? Arrive a few minutes early to plan for the unexpected and bring an extracopy of your resume and references to an interview.

Over or under?answering questions????????????? When answering questions, provide more details or cite examples when needed, instead of talking without __8.__.

Failure to express your _9._????????????? Do remember to send a thank?you card which shows your interest in the position and your __10.__.

There was once a boy who was very rich and clever but nothing could make him feel happy. He had almost everything a boy could ever want, so he was only _36_ in the most rare things. One day his parents bought him a very strange _37_. When the boy went to see his reflection (映像) in it, he looked very_38_. He tried smiling, _39_ his reflection continued with its sad expression.

_40_, the boy went off to buy sweets and lots of toys. He came home as happy as he could be, but he _41_ looked sad in that mirror.

“What a(n) _42_ mirror! It’s the first time I’ve seen a mirror that didn’t _43_ properly!”

That afternoon he went out to buy some toys and on his way he saw a little girl who was _44_. The boy went over to see what had __45_ to her. The little girl said that she couldn’t find her parents. Together the two children set off _46_ them. As the little girl wouldn’t stop crying, the boy spent all of his money buying her sweets to _47_ her up. After much walking, they _48_ her parents who were looking for her, very worried.

Then the boy said _49_ to the family. When seeing the time, he _50_ to head for home, without toys and without _51_. In his room, to his great surprise, he found a(n)  _52_ face in the mirror. And so he understood the _53_ of that mirror. The mirror could only reflect the _54_ feelings of its owner. He felt really happy at having _55_ that little girl.

1.                A．interested      B．confident       C．skilled    D．rich

2.                A．book           B．mirror          C．sweet    D．toy

3.                A．shy            B．sad            C．excited   D．beautiful

4.                A．for            B．or             C．but D．and

5.                A．Proud          B．Hungry         C．Satisfied  D．Surprised

6.                A．already         B．once           C．still  D．never

7.                A．nice           B．terrible         C．big  D．expensive

8.                A．work           B．move          C．change   D．appear

9.                A．studying        B．playing         C．sleeping  D．crying

10.               A．devoted        B．referred        C．happened D．turned

11.               A．in need of      B．in search of     C．in honor of D．in charge of

12.               A．put            B．bring           C．dress D．cheer

13.               A．found          B．recognized      C．left   D．accepted

14.               A．no            B．hello           C．sorry D．goodbye

15.               A．decided        B．agreed         C．pretended D．refused

16.               A．effort          B．hope          C．doubt D．money

17.               A．red            B．dark           C．angry D．happy

18.               A．meaning        B．mystery        C．game D．reason

19.               A．general        B．strange         C．true  D．good

20.               A．introduced      B．helped         C．invited    D．saved

Another person’s enthusiasm was what set me moving toward the success I have achieved. That person was my stepmother.

I was nine years old when she entered our home in rural Virginia. My father  36  me to her with these words: “I would like you to meet the fellow who is  37  for being the worst boy in this county and will probably start throwing rocks at you no  38  than tomorrow morning.”

My stepmother walked over to me,  39  my head slightly upward, and looked me right in the eye. Then she looked at my father and replied, “ You are  40  . This is not the worst boy at all,    41  the smartest one who hasn’t yet found an outlet for his enthusiasm.”

That statement began a (n)  42  between us. No one had ever called me smart. My family and neighbors had built me up in my  43  as a bad boy. My stepmother changed all that.

She changed many things. She  44  my father to go to a dental school, from which he graduated with honors. She moved our family into the country seat, where my father’s career could be more  45  and my brothers and I could be better  46  .

When I turned fourteen, she bought me a secondhand  47  and told me that she believed that I could become a writer. I knew her enthusiasm, I  48  it, and I saw how it had already improved our lives. I accepted her  49  and began to write for local newspapers. I was doing the same kind of  50  that great day I went to interview Andrew Carnegie and received the task which became my life’s work later. I wasn’t the  51  beneficiary(受益者). My father became the  52  man in town. My brothers and stepbrothers became a physician, a dentist, a lawyer, and a college president.

What power  53  has! When that power is released to support the certainty of one’s purpose and is  54  strengthened by faith, it becomes an irresistible force which poverty and temporary defeat can never  55  .

You can communicate that power to anyone who needs it. This is probably the greatest work you can do with your enthusiasm.

1.A. rushed                 B. introduced             C. sent                      D. carried

2.A. mistaken            B. favored           C. distinguished    D. rewarded

3.A. later             B. sooner           C. longer             D. earlier

4.A. dragged            B. raised            C. shook               D. bent

5.A. perfect            B. right                C. impolite           D. wrong

6.A. so                    B. but                           C. or                  D. and

7.A. agreement    B. gap                  C. friendship       D. relationship

8.A. opinion           B. image             C. mind                       D. expectation

9.A. persuaded       B. begged                C. ordered                      D. invited

10.A. meaningful   B. successful          C. helpful                             D. useful

11.A. treated                   B. entertained       C. respected              D. educated

12.A. camera         B. radio                C. typewriter             D. bicycle

13.A. considered      B. appreciated     C. ignored                            D. suspected

14.A. criticism       B. belief             C. request           D. description

15.A. writing               B. teaching                           C. studying                           D. reading

16.A. only                            B. next                          C. same                                 D. real

17.A. cleverest          B. strongest                          C. healthiest                         D. wealthiest

18.A. fortune        B. sympathy         C. enthusiasm             D. confidence

19.A. deliberately    B. constantly               C. traditionally            D. happily

20.A. win                     B. reach                         C. match            D. doubt

One of my fondest Christmas memories was also one of our family’s bleakest（最令人沮丧的）.We were just little kids, and on Christmas Day mom   us all around her to tell us,     , that there would be no presents because all we really wanted was to     for our daddy. He was very sick. I don’t remember anything else except four little girls surrounding my mother, crying       a miracle（奇迹）

  At that very moment, someone      loudly on the door.      Behind him was a merry group of soldiers from the Army base where my father     as a minister. News had     that we were in trouble, and his colleagues knew we needed some      .

  With all the excitement ,even my dad      in a blanket to keep warm , came down and sat in front of a roaring fire in our room to watch his children be      by good Samaritans（乐善好施的人）. The presents were unwrapped, and we girls       packages and found a doll each and four board games.

  What is       to me is that I don’t even remember what sickness my father was suffering from.I      remember an evening of laughter and      There were no expensive toys but priceless moments of friendship and fun given by young men who knew that a family was having a(n) rough time . They gave their time and their attention to little children who needed to laugh.

  The most important thing in life aren’t things. And what about the true spirit of holidays? I hope we all are able to remember a thing about the holidays that stirs(搅动)our heart , that isn’t really a thing at all, but the smile on a child’s face because we take a moment to hug or wipe away a tear.

1.A. requested  B.  gathered    C. commanded D.  recommended

2.A. in tears    B.  in doubt     C.  in silence  D.  in surprise

3.A. apply     B.   pray        C.  pay      D.  ask

4.A. to        B.   with       C.   for       D.  in

5.A. knocked   B.  beat        C.   tapped    D.  struck

6.A. Fighting   B.  Shooting    C.   Following   D. Running

7.A. charged   B.   existed     C.   worked     D.  governed

8.A. expanded  B.   spread     C.   distributed  D.  disappeared

9.A. confidence  B.  cheer      C.   trust       D.  wisdom

10.A. dressed    B.  attached    C.  trapped    D.   wrapped

11.A. persuaded  B.   saved      C.   taught     D.   entertained

12.A. discovered  B.  sought      C.   unfolded   D.  packed

13.A .strange     B.   frightening  C.   useful     D.   encouraging

14.A. seldom     B.   just        C.   even      D.   hardly

15.A. anxiety   B.   surprise     C.   doubt     D.   happiness