American middle school students don't seem to care that they're worse at maths than their counterparts(同龄人) in China's Hong Kong and Finland. "I don't need it," my student says. "I'm going to be a basketball star. Or a car mechanic, or a singer."

Middle school students' maths skills were tested by the International Organization for Economic Co--operation and Development. The United States ranked 28th out of 41 countries tested. After all, when was the last time you used algebra(代数)?

But maths isn't just about training Americans to become scientists. It has its own value. It helps you see patterns and develops your logic skills, and it teaches you to concentrate and to separate truth from falsehood. Maths helps you make wise financial decisions, so you can avoid false claims from advertisers, politicians and others. It helps you determine risk. For example, after an airplane crash, studies show that people are more likely to drive than to take a plane in spite of the fact that they are much more likely to be killed or injured while driving. Planes are not like criminals who repeat the same crime over and over. One plane is not more likely to crash just because another plane recently did. In fact, the most dangerous time to drive is probably right after a plane crash because so many people are on the road.

It is not possible to really understand science and the scientific method without understanding maths. A rainbow is even more beautiful and amazing when we understand it.

The precision of maths helps us think in a very special way. How do we bring the learning of maths back to life? I don't have the big answer. I try my best to help pupils find answers to some maths problems.  When I can get one to say, "wow, that's great," I feel the joy of a small victory.

1．Some American students don't care about their poor maths results because    .

A．maths is useless to most people

B．they have no interest in maths

C．they think maths has nothing to do with their future

D．they don't do well in maths

2．The example in Paragraph 3 is used to show        .

A．every coin has its two sides     

B．we should not be cheated by fault facts

C．maths is close to our daily life    

D．a simple fact shows complicated rules

3．The writer would agree that        .

A．it's normal that American kids are weak in maths

B．without maths we'11 miss much in our life

C．maths is the most important subject at school

D．American kids don't work hard at school

4．This text is most probably written by        .

A．a student career guide                   B．a researcher on students’ problems

   C．a specialist in students’ studies             D．a maths teacher

SECTION B（18 points）

Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A,B,C and D．Fill in each blank with word or phrases that best fits the context．

Those days I’ve prepared to complete my college degree. The last project was named “smile”, which required us to go out and smile at three people and   36   their reactions.

It was freezing. My friend and I went out to a fast food restaurant. We were standing in line, waiting to be   37  , when all of a sudden people around us began to back away from their position.

As I   38  I smelt a terrible “dirty body” smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman close to me, he was smiling and his nice sky – blue eyes searched for   39  .

To sit in the restaurant and   40  up, they had to buy something. When the young casher at the counter asked what they wanted to order, one of them said coffee because that was all they could   41  . I smiled and asked the casher for two more breakfast meals on two   42  plates. Then I walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the plates on the table and   43   the blue – eyed little man’s cold hands with my hands. With tears in his eyes, he said. “Thank you”. I noticed that all the   44  in the restaurant were set on me at that time.

I returned to college and   45   a paper about this story as my project to the instructor. She read it and though highly of my project. Just then I realized in my own way I had   46   the people at the restaurant, my friend, the instructor, and every person that shared the classroom. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn unconditional acceptance.

Much love and compassion is sent to each person who may read this and learn how to   47  people.

36．A．recognize  B．record         C．describe       D．imagine

37．A．paid     B．treated         C．served         D．charged

38．A．turn up     B．turn down     C．turn to         D．turned around

39．A．assistance  B．acceptance       C．advice         D．admission

40．A．break          B．pick         C．cheer         D．warm

41．A．afford      B．enjoy          C．spend          D．drink

42．A．big       B．separate       C．beautiful      D．special

43．A．shook       B．shared         C．clapped        D．covered

44．A．customers B．hands          C．eyes         D．sounds

45．A．handed in B．wrote down      C．took out       D．search for

46．A．involved   B．contacted     C．investigated      D．touched

47．A．hate     B．please          C．love         D．beat

SECTION B（18 points）

Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A,B,C and D．Fill in each blank with word or phrases that best fits the context．

Those days I’ve prepared to complete my college degree. The last project was named “smile”, which required us to go out and smile at three people and   36   their reactions.

It was freezing. My friend and I went out to a fast food restaurant. We were standing in line, waiting to be   37  , when all of a sudden people around us began to back away from their position.

As I   38  I smelt a terrible “dirty body” smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman close to me, he was smiling and his nice sky – blue eyes searched for   39  .

To sit in the restaurant and   40  up, they had to buy something. When the young casher at the counter asked what they wanted to order, one of them said coffee because that was all they could   41  . I smiled and asked the casher for two more breakfast meals on two   42  plates. Then I walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the plates on the table and   43   the blue – eyed little man’s cold hands with my hands. With tears in his eyes, he said. “Thank you”. I noticed that all the   44  in the restaurant were set on me at that time.

I returned to college and   45   a paper about this story as my project to the instructor. She read it and though highly of my project. Just then I realized in my own way I had   46   the people at the restaurant, my friend, the instructor, and every person that shared the classroom. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn unconditional acceptance.

Much love and compassion is sent to each person who may read this and learn how to   47  people.

36．A．recognize  B．record          C．describe        D．imagine

37．A．paid      B．treated          C．served          D．charged

38．A．turn up     B．turn down     C．turn to          D．turned around

39．A．assistance  B．acceptance       C．advice          D．admission

40．A．break           B．pick          C．cheer         D．warm

41．A．afford      B．enjoy           C．spend           D．drink

42．A．big        B．separate        C．beautiful       D．special

43．A．shook       B．shared          C．clapped         D．covered

44．A．customers B．hands           C．eyes          D．sounds

45．A．handed in B．wrote down      C．took out        D．search for

46．A．involved   B．contacted      C．investigated      D．touched

47．A．hate      B．please           C．love          D．beat