Ask an American schoolchild what he or she is learning in school these days and you might even get a reply, provided you ask it in Spanish. But don't bother, here's the answer: Americans nowadays are not learning any of the things that we learned in our day, like reading and writing. Apparently these are considered fusty old subjects, invented by white males to oppress women and minorities.
What are they learning? In a Vermont college town I found the answer sitting in a toy store book rack, next to typical kids' books like Heather Has Two Mommies and Daddy Is Dysfunctional. It's a teacher's guide called Happy To Be Me, subtitled Building Self Esteem.
Self-esteem, as it turns out, is a big subject in American classrooms. Many American schools see building it as important as teaching reading and writing. They call it "whole language" teaching, borrowing terminology from the granola people to compete in the education marketplace.
No one ever spent a moment building my self-esteem when I was in school. In fact, from the day I first stepped inside a classroom my self-esteem was one big demolition site. All that mattered was "the subject", be it geography, history, or mathematics. I was praised when I remembered that "near", "fit", "friendly", "pleasing", "like" and their opposites took the dative case in Latin. I was reviled when I forgot what a cosine was good for. Generally I lived my school years beneath a torrent of castigation so consistent I eventually ceased to hear it, as people who live near the sea eventually stop hearing the waves.
Schools have changed. Reviling is out, for one thing. More important, subjects have changed. Whereas I learned English, modern kids learn something called "language skills." Whereas I learned writing, modern kids learn something called "communication". Communication, the book tells us, is seven per cent words, 23 per cent facial expression, 20 per cent tone of voice, and 50 per cent body language. So this column, with its carefully chosen words, would earn me at most a grade of seven per cent. That is, if the school even gave out something as oppressive and demanding as grades.
The result is that, in place of English classes, American children are getting a course in How to Win Friends and Influence People. Consider the new attitude toward journal writing: I remember one high school English class when we were required to keep a journal. The idea was to emulate those great writers who confided in diaries, searching their souls and honing their critical thinking on paper.
"Happy To Be Me" states that journals are a great way for students to get in touch with their feelings. Tell students they can write one sentence or a whole page. Reassure them that no one, not even you, will read what they write. After the unit, hopefully all students will be feeling good about themselves and will want to share some of their entries with the class.
There was a time when no self-respecting book for English teachers would use "great" or "hopefully" that way. Moreover, back then the purpose of English courses (an antique term for "Unit") was not to help students "feel good about themselves." Which is good, because all that reviling didn't make me feel particularly good about anything.
Which of the following is the author implying in paragraph 5?
A．Self-criticism has gone too far.
B．Communication is a more comprehensive category than language skills.
C．Evaluating criteria are inappropriate nowadays.
D．This column does not meet the demanding evaluation criteria of today.
第1题：
(A)You can’t ask me.
(B) Don’t ask that.
(C) No, I can’t say that.
(D) Sure. It’s just round the corner.
正确答案：D
解答参考：D。本题问题为你能告诉我怎么去最近的肯德基快餐店吗。选项A你不能问我，B别问这个和C我不能说都非礼貌用语。
第2题：
Passage Three
Many visitors finds the fast pace at which American people move very troubling. One's first impression is likely to be that everyone is in a rush. City people always appear to be hurrying to get where they are going and are very impatient if they are delayed even for a short moment.
At first, this may seem unfriendly to you. People will push past you as they walk along the street. You will miss smiles, brief conversations with people as you shop or dine away from home. Do not think that because Americans are in such a hurry they are unfriendly. Often, life is much slower outside the big cities, as is true in other countries as well.
Americans who live in cities often think that everyone is equally in a hurry to get things done; just as city people do in Tokyo, Singapore or Paris, for example. But When they discover that you are a stranger, most Americans become quite kindly and will take great care to help you. If you need help and say, "I am a stranger here. Can you help me?' Most people will stop, smile at you, and help you find you way or answer your questions. Occasionally, you may find someone too busy or perhaps too rushed to give you help. If this happens, do not be discouraged (气馁); just ask someone else. Most Americans enjoy helping a stranger.
41. Many people who first visit the United States will find that______.
A. America is a highly developed country
B. Americans are impatient and unfriendly people
C. the fast pace in American life often causes much trouble
D. American city people seem to be always in a rush
41．答案为D 从短文第一段可知美国人看起来都很忙碌。
第3题：
21. --- What do you think of their school?
--- It’s really beautiful. But I don’t think their school is as big as ____.
A. ours B. us C. we D. our
第4题：
Many visitors finds the fast pace at which American people move very troubling. One’s first impression is likely to be that everyone is in a rush. City people always appear to be hurrying to get where they are going and are very impatient if they are delayed even for a brief moment. At first, this may seem unfriendly to you. Drivers will rush you; storekeepers will be in a hurry as they serve you; people will push past you as they walk along the street. You will miss smiles, brief conversations with people as you shop or dine away from home. Do not think that because Americans are in such a hurry they are unfriendly. Often, life is much slower outside the big cities, as is true in other countries as well. Americans who live in cities such as New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, often think that everyone is equally in a hurry to get things done; they expect others to “push back”, just as city people do in Tokyo, Singapore or Paris, for example. But when they discover that you are a stranger, most Americans become quite kindly and will take great care to help you. Many of them first came to the city as strangers and they remember how frightening a new city can be .If you need help or want to ask a question, choose a friendly looking person and say, “I am a stranger here. Can you help me?” Most people will stop, smile at you, and help you find you way or answer your questions. But you must let them know that you need help. Otherwise they are likely to pass you by, not noticing that you are new to the city and in need of help. Occasionally, you may find someone too busy or perhaps too rushed to give you aid. If this happens, do not be discouraged; just ask someone else. Most Americans enjoy helping a stranger.
1.Many people who first visit the United States will find that _______.
A、 America is a highly developed country
B、 American city people seem to be always in a rush
C、 the fast pace in American life often causes much trouble
D、 Americans are impatient and unfriendly people
2.When the author says “You will miss smile”, he means ___________.
A、 you will fail to notice that Americans are pleasant and happy
B、 you will be puzzled why Americans do not smile at you
C、 you will feel that Americans do not seem very friendly
D、 you will find that Americans don't have much sense of humor
3.In the author’s opinion, ___________.
A、 it is true that life in New York is much faster than that in any other city
B、 people living outside big cities are lazy and miserable
C、 most American people enjoy living in the suburbs of big cities
D、 those who are busy are not necessarily unfriendly
4.The life pace in cities is much ___________ than the one outside cities.
A、 faster
B、 slower
C、 happier
D、 sadder
5.If you say to an American that you are a stranger there, most probably he will _________.
A、 offer his help
B、 stop smiling at you
C、 help you find the way
D、 reply that he is pleased to meet you
第5题：
Some students get angry more often or more easily than other students． Sometimes，their anger (11) be so strong that their feelings get out of control(控制4)． People say that kids like this have a(n) (12) temper(脾气)． When some kids get angry，they might ( 13) at their par- ents，break something，or，even (14) ，hit someone． Kids should express(表达) their feelings when they are angry，(15) it's not okay for a kid to do any of those things． Kids don-t want ． to act in this way，but sometimes angry feelings can be (16) to manage． What do you do if you're very angry and your temper is getting you int0 (17) ? Here are steps you can take，e- ven when you're not angry．
Exercise more． Any exercise，such as running or swimming can be helpful because it，s a (18) to burn off(释放) energy and stress． (19) your mom or dad． If you're angry about something，tell your parents that you're (20) to control yourself． Ask for their h_lp and advice on how to do this． Put feelings into words． Using words might keep you from getting into trouble． Using words helps people manage their strong feelings． In a word，kids should learn to control their tempers．
( )11．
A． should
B． mustn't
C． might
D． can’t
第6题：
(A)All right. Thank you anyway.
(B) It’s a pleasure.
(C) Sorry, I’m not sure about it. Let’s go and ask the policeman.
(D) Don’t bother!
正确答案：C
解答参考：C。本题问题为请问，百货商店该怎么走?。选项A好的，谢谢你和选项B很高兴答非所问，选项D不要烦我为非礼貌用语。
第7题：
Do you know how to study better and make your study more effective(有效率的)? We all know that Chinese students usually study very hard for long (11) ．This is very good，but it doesn't (12)a lot，for an efficient student must have enough sleep，enough food and enough rest and exercise． Every day you need to go out for a walk or visit some friends or some places． lt' s good for your study．
When you return (13) your study，your mind will be refreshed and you'll learn more (14) study better． Psychologists(心理学家)(15) that learning takes place this way． Here takes English learning (16) example． First you make a lot of progress and you feel happy． Then your language study seems (17) the same，so you will think you're learning (18) and you may give up． This can last for days or even weeks，yet you needn't give up． At some points your language study will again take another big (19) ． You will see that you really have been: learning all long． lf you get enough sleep，food，rest and exercise，studying English can be very． effective and (20) Don-t give up along the way learning slowly and you're sure to a
good result．
( )11．
A．days
B．time
C．hours
D．weeks
第8题：
In writing assignments in English classes my students frequently raise the topic of friendship. Reading what they write, I start to understand Chinese friendship obligations. Chinese can usually expect more from their friends than Americans can. For instance, once a student wrote that she understood that her friend wanted to go shopping. My student was busy and really had no time to do that, but she kept silent, put her work aside and went shopping with her friend. This is quite different from what American young people would say about friendship. In the U.S. you feel free to ask your friend for help, but you recognize that the friend may say no, if they give you a reason. A friend in China is someone who, sensing that you are in need in some way, offers to assist you without waiting to be asked. In China there are few limits on what you can ask or expect of a friend.
Another difference is that Chinese expect friendships to be more lasting. They think a true friendship is a relationship that endures through changes in the lives of the friends. In the U.S. a person is likely to change even “best friends” several times over the years. Even the relationship in which people feel close emotionally and tell each other their secrets and personal problems may not survive life changes such as a move to another city, graduation from university, a significant change in economic circumstances, or the marriage of one of the friends. I think the reason is that friendship, like so many other relationships in the U.S. including marriage, depends on frequent interaction with the other person. If the people involved do not see each other and inter act regularly, the relationship is likely to fade and die.
(1)What may an American girl do if she is busy when her friend asks her to go shopping?
A、She may keep silent.
B、She may put her work aside and go shopping with her friend.
C、She may say no, giving reasons.
D、she may help you without waiting to be asked.
(2)Which of the following statements is true?
A、Chinese people don't feel free to ask their friends for help.
B、Chinese people always try to help their friends without being asked.
C、Americans wouldn't offer help when you ask.
D、Americans always say no to their friends.
(3)Which of the following sayings can properly describe Chinese friendship?
A、A friend in need is a friend indeed.
B、Love me, love my dog.
C、Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
D、None of the above.
(4)According to the passage, why are Americans likely to change their friends several times over the years?
A、Because this is their nature.
B、Because they don't have best friends all through their lives.
C、Because American friendship depends on frequent interaction with the other person.
D、Because American friendship is to fade and die.
(5)What is the most proper title for this passage?
A、Chinese Friendship
B、American Friendship
C、Friendship
D、Friendship in China and America
第9题：
A、hesitate
B、hate
C、hasten
D、habitat
第10题：
Write your essay on the Answer Sheet in 200-250 words.(30 points)
An English person recently came to your school to give a talk(what was the talk
about?).
He/She left a personal possession (what is it?)at the school(}cuhere exactly?). You
want to return the possession(how will you return it?)but you have had difficulty
contacting the person (howhave you tried to contact him/her?). You have a possible address for the person, but you're not sure if it's correct (why?).
Write a letter to the person.
.Thank them for coming to give the talk.
.Explain the situation.
.Ask them to contact you.
Student Committee
St Giles School
Swindon
18/4/2007
Mr Brendan Collins
Chairman
ILP Industries Ltd
Bristol BS3 20X
Dear Mr Collins，
I am writing to thank you for attending our school careers day last week
and giving such
an inspirational and interesting speech on career prospects in the
financial services industry.
I am also writing to inform. you that you left a CI}ROM in the computer
which you used
during your speech. Iwould like to return it to you as soon as possible but
Iwas unsure
whether to send it to your company or adifferent address.
I contacted your office but，unfortunately, you were away on business and I
spoke to a
secretary. She said that the disc belonged to your own private consultancy
business and that I should send it there. She provided me with an address but I am afraid
that I may havewritten it down incorrectly. The address I have is as
follows:Collinsi一Consultancies, Box 283A, Bristol. Could you please confirm that this is the correct address to
which I shouldsend the disc?
Thank you once again for your generosity in giving up your valuable time
for the
students at our school and Iam sorry I have been unable to return your
CD-ROM morepromptly.
Yours sincerely，
John Smith
John Smith
Student Committee Chairperson