| 1. 难度：中等 | |
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How I Turned to Be Optimistic I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt's house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning. I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see-—the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then. The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism, but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to "the hard times." My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with Immigration officers, took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives. From my experiences I have learned one important rule: almost all common troubles eventually go away! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy. 1.How did the author get to know America? A. From her relatives. B. From her mother. C. From books and pictures. D. From radio programs. 2. Upon leaving for America the author felt_______. A. confused B. excited C. worried D. amazed 3. For the first two years in New York, the author _________. A. often lost her way B. did not think about her future C. studied in three different schools D. got on well with her stepfather 4. What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 4? A. She worked as a translator. B. She attended a lot of job interviews. C. She paid telephone bills for her family. D She helped her family with her English. 5. The author believes that______. A. her future will be free from troubles B. it is difficult to learn to become patient C. there are more good things than bad things D. good things will happen if one keeps trying
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| 2. 难度：中等 | |
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Educators are seriously concerned about the high rate of dropouts among the doctor of philosophy candidates and the consequent loss of talent to a nation in need of Ph. D. s. Some have placed the dropouts loss as high as 50 percent. The extent of the loss was, however, largely a matter of expert guessing. Last week a well-rounded study was published. It was published. It was based on 22,000 questionnaires sent to former graduate students who were enrolled in 24 universities and it seemed to show many past fears to be groundless. The dropouts rate was found to be 31 per cent, and in most cases the dropouts, while not completing the Ph. D. requirement, went on to productive work. They are not only doing well financially, but, according to the report, are not far below the income levels of those who went on to complete their doctorates. Discussing the study last week, Dr. Tucker said the project was initiated ‘because of the concern frequently expressed by graduate faculties and administrators that some of the individuals who dropped out of Ph. D. programs were capable of competing the requirement for the degree. Attrition at the Ph. D. level is also thought to be a waste of precious faculty time and a drain on university resources already being used to capacity. Some people expressed the opinion that the shortage of highly trained specialists and college teachers could be reduced by persuading the dropouts to return to graduate schools to complete the Ph. D.’ “The results of our research” Dr. Tucker concluded, “did not support these opinions.” Lack of motivation was the principal reason for dropping out. Most dropouts went as far in their doctoral program as was consistent with their levels of ability or their specialities. Most dropouts are now engaged in work consistent with their education and motivation. Nearly 75 per cent of the dropouts said there was no academic reason for their decision, but those who mentioned academic reason cited failure to pass the qualifying examination, uncompleted research and failure to pass language exams. Among the single most important personal reasons identified by dropouts for non-completion of their Ph. D. program, lack of finances was marked by 19 per cent. As an indication of how well the dropouts were doing, a chart showed 2% in humanities were receiving $ 20,000 and more annually while none of the Ph. D. ‘s with that background reached this figure. The Ph. D. ‘s shone in the $ 7,500 to $ 15,000 bracket with 78% at that level against 50% for the dropouts. This may also be an indication of the fact that top salaries in the academic fields, where Ph. D. ‘s tend to rise to the highest salaries, are still lagging behind other fields. As to the possibility of getting dropouts back on campus, the outlook was glum. The main condition which would have to prevail for at least 25 % of the dropouts who might consider returning to graduate school would be to guarantee that they would retain their present level of income and in some cases their present job.
1.The author states that many educators feel that [A] steps should be taken to get the dropouts back to campus. the fropouts should return to a lower quality school to continue their study. [C] the Ph. D. holder is generally a better adjusted person than the dropout. [D] The high dropouts rate is largely attributable to the lack of stimulation on the part of faculty members. 2.Research has shown that [A] Dropouts are substantially below Ph. D. ‘s in financial attainment. the incentive factor is a minor one in regard to pursuing Ph. D. studies. [C] The Ph. D. candidate is likely to change his field of specialization if he drops out. [D] about one-third of those who start Ph. D. work do not complete the work to earn the degree. 3.Meeting foreign language requirements for the Ph. D. [A] is the most frequent reason for dropping out. is more difficult for the science candidate than for the humanities candidate. [C] is an essential part of many Ph. D. programs. [D] does not vary in difficulty among universities. 4.After reading the article, one would refrain from concluding that [A] optimism reigns in regard to getting Ph. D. dropouts to return to their pursuit of the degree. a Ph. D. dropout, by and large, does not have what it takes to learn the degree. [C] colleges and universities employ a substantial number of Ph. D. dropouts. [D] Ph. D. ‘s are not earning what they deserve in nonacademic positions. 5.It can be inferred that the high rate of dropouts lies in [A] salary for Ph. D. too low. academic requirement too high. [C] salary for dropouts too high. [D] 1000 positions.
Vocabulary dropout 辍学者，中途退学 well-rounded 全面的 attrition 缩/减员，磨损 drain 枯竭 bracket 一类人，（尤指按收入分类的）阶层 lagging behind other fields 落后于其它领域 glum 阴郁的
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| 3. 难度：中等 | |
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Somali pirates(海盗) robbed three Thai fishing ships with 77 sailors on board nearly l，200 Miles off the Somali coast，the farthest-off-shore attack to date，an officer said Tuesday. Pirates have gone farther south and east in answer to increased patrols(巡逻)by warships off the Somali shore. The robbing of the three ships Sunday was about 600 miles outside the normal operation area for the international force，said a spokesman． The spokesman said the attack so far out at sea was a clear sign that the international patrols against pirates were having a “marked effect on pirate activity in the area”. “Once they start attacking that far out，you’re not even really talking about the Somali basin or areas of water that have any connection with Somalia,” said an officer，Roger Middleton. “Once you’re that far out，it's just the Indian Ocean，and it means you’re looking at trade going from the Gulf to Asia，from Asia to South Africa.” "This is the farthest robbing to date. They are now operating near the Maldives and India,” said another officer. The three ships--the MV Prantalay 11，12，and l 4—had 77 members on board in total．All of them are Thai, the spokesman said. Before the Sunday robbing，pirates held l l ships and 228 sailors. Pirates have increased attacks over the past year in hopes。f catching more dollar payments. Because of increased patrols and defenses on board ships，the success rate(率)has gone down，though the number of successful attacks has stayed the same year over year. 1. The pirate attack reported in the text happened .
B. in the normal patrol area C. near the Somali, coast D. in the south of Africa 2. According to the text, which can best describe the situation of the pirate problems? A. More goods on board are lost. B. Pirate attacks happen in a larger area now. C. The number of attacks has stayed the same these years. D. Pirate attacks are as serious as before along the Somali coast. 3. Which is true about the warship patrols according to the text?
B. The patrols are more difficult. C. More patrols are quite necessary even in Asia. D. The patrols only drive the pirates to other areas. 4.. How many sailors were held by the pirates up to the time of the report? A. 228. B. 77. C. 383. D. 305.
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