In Britain all children have to go to school between the ages of 5 and 16. In the US children must go to school from the age of 6 to between the ages of 14 and 16, depending on the state they live in.
Subject
In England and Wales the subjects taught in schools are laid down by the National Curriculum, which was introduced in 1988 and sets out in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of achievement they should reach by the ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16, when they are tested. The National Curriculum does not apply to Scotland, where each school decides what subjects it will teach.
In the US the subjects taught are decided by national and local governments. Whereas British schools usually have prayers and religious instruction, American schools are not allowed to include prayers or to teach particular religious beliefs.
Examinations
At 16 students in England and Wales take General certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examinations. These examinations are taken by students of all levels of ability in all subjects and may involve a final examination, an assessment, or both of these things. At 18 some students take A-level examinations, usually in no more than three subjects. It is necessary to have A levels in order to go to a university .
In Scotland students take the Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE) examinations. A year later, they can take examinations called HIGHS, after which they can either go straight to a university or spend a further year at school and take the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies. In Scotland the university system is different from that in England and Wales. Courses usually last four years rather than three and students have to study a larger number of subjects as part of their degree.
In the US school examinations are not as important as they are in Britain. Students in High Schools do have exams at the end of their last two years, but these final exams are considered along with the work that the students have done during the school years.
Social Events and Ceremonies
In American high schools there is a formal ceremony for graduation . Students wear a special cap and gown and receive a diploma from the head of the school. Students often buy a class ring to ear, and a yearbook, containing pictures of their friends and teachers. There are also special social events at American schools. Sports events are popular, and cheer leaders lead the school in supporting the school team and singing the school song. At the end of their junior year, at age 17 or 18, students held in the evening. The girls wear long evening dresses and the boys wear TUXEDOS.
In Britain, there are no formal dances or social occasions associated with school life. Some schools have Speech Day at the end of the school year when prizes are given to the best students and speeches are made by the head teacher and sometimes an invited guest.
Title:___1.___in Britain and the US
In Britain In the US
Ages Students ___2.____school between the
ages of 5 and 16. Students go to school from the age of 6 to between the ages of 14 and 16, which __3.___ in different states.
Subjects * The subjects are required by the National Curriculum in England and Wales
* ___4.___in Scotland have the right to determine the subjects to be taught * Prayers or particular religious
beliefs are not ___5.___in
subjects.
* Subjects are decided by national and __6.__government
Exams * In England and Wales, one cannot go to university ___7.___A levels.
* Exams in Scotland are different from __8. in England and Wales *Exams are not so important as they are in Britain.
*Students have exams at the end of their last two years.
Social events and ceremonies * Schools have no formal dances or social occasions related to school life.
* There is Speech Day in some schools, a time for giving prizes and making speeches * A formal ceremony is held for students who ___9.___from high school.
* Sporting events enjoy _ __10._with students.
假设你是李华，是英国诺丁汉大学（Nottingham University）的中国留学生。你负责为在该校就读的32名中国学生筹划圣诞节期间的苏格兰之行，为期7天，请你给诺丁汉的STA（Students’ Travel Agency）经理Phil发一封电子邮件，联系有关事宜。
要点如下：
（1）希望能够派车接送；
（2）需要一名说标准英语，并非常熟悉苏格兰的导游；
（3）请求告知旅行日程及就餐、旅馆、费用等情况；
（4）你的联系方式：电子邮箱地址：LiHua @ yahoo.com.cn或电话号码：07747745007
注意：（1）词数：100词左右；
（2）开头和结尾已为你写出，不计入总词数；
（3）参考词汇：旅馆住宿accommodation；旅行日程安排itinerary；长途客车coach
Hi, Phil,
I’d like you to organize a trip to Scotland for us. _____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Yours truly,
LiHua
短文改错
An Australian farmer found the kangaroo caught 1._________
in the fence around his farms. He thought the poor 2.__________
animal was injured, but the kind farmer took off his 3. __________
jacket and put on the animal. Then he started trying 4. __________
to cut the fence to free the animal. But as soon as 5. __________
the kangaroo were free, it jumped up and ran away 6. __________
with the jacket. The farmer was worried because of his 7.__________
wallet was in the pocket. But, to my surprise, 8.__________
when he gets home, he saw the animal waiting at the door, 9.__________
still wore his jacket with the wallet in the pocket. 10.__________
As Apple tries to maintain its growth and success in China, the world's largest smart-phone market is becoming even more critical. Apple's shares(股份) fell sharply as the company's earnings for the holiday quarter through December disappointed investors.
The sales of the iPhone, which include both the iPhone 5 and older models, came in at the low end of analysts' expectations, while the company's income plan for the second quarter was below analysts' forecasts, though Apple is known to give conservative (保守的) forecasts.
Some analysts have said that for Apple to regain its growth, the company needs a more aggressive strategy(进攻型策略) for markets, or more specifically for China, where the market for smart phones has been expanding more rapidly than anywhere else. In China, demand is particularly great for inexpensive phones that run on Android(安卓) operating system, sold by many Chinese phone makers as well as South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co.
But Apple says it's already enjoying strong growth in China. "We saw big growth in iPhones," Chief Executive Tim Cook said. He said that the company has been quickly expanding its sales channels in China, including the number of Apple stores. "This isn't nearly what we need, we're not even close to that, but we're making great progress.” he said.
In China, a big missing piece for Apple is China Mobile Ltd. , the biggest local telecom carrier that doesn't yet sell the iPhone. Earlier this month, Mr. Cook met China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua in Beijing and discussed cooperation, stirring hopes that the world's largest mobile carrier may soon start offering the iPhone.
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is working on a lower-end iPhone that could launch as early as this year. But one possible challenge for Apple in China is that low-priced Android-based phones are getting better in terms of quality. A report from CLSA in late November showed that many smart-phones sold at about1,000 yuan ($160) came with higher- resolution screens, better cameras and more powerful processors than phones at that price did a year earlier.
1.Apple's shares dropped sharply because in December______________.
A．the iPhone wasn't popular in China
B．its product quality was widely criticized
C．the earnings for the holiday quarter was disappointing
D．the investors were not satisfied with Apple's management
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A．Apple tends to offer a lower sales forecast.
B．China Mobile Ltd began to team up with Apple.
C．Cook is pessimistic about what Apple did in China.
D．Apple didn't take measures to develop Chinese market.
3.The author uses the report from CLSA to prove _____.
A．their prices are actually lower than a year earlier
B．Apple in China has ability to deal with any problem
C．low-ended Android-based phones are progressing fast
D．the promotion of lower-end iPhone will face a challenge
4.The main purpose of the passage is to show the readers ______________.
A．Apple's high popularity in China
B．the challenge Apple faces in China
C．the approaching failure Apple will suffer in China
D．Apple's aggressive strategy in its market expansion
There have been big changes in the attitudes of most parents over the last few years. Physical punishment is banned in schools in most countries, and in many countries, there are moves to ban all physical punishment of children even at home. However, many parents still believe that they have the right to use some physical punishments to deal with certain misbehavior at certain ages.
It’s easy to find reasons to allow some physical punishments. One issue is that many parents find it very difficult to abandon physical punishment completely. Parents argue that this was the way they were brought up and that it didn’t do any harm to them. They believe that for the child’s sake they have the right to discipline the child in any way they consider fit, including using some physical punishments. The other one is that physical punishment can be quick and effective. There is not much point reasoning with a screaming child in the supermarket.
However, there are several reasons why we should stop using physical punishment. One point is that most parents are not trained to deal with misbehaving children. They don’t have enough resources or choices to handle the situation. As a result, they immediately react by hitting the child even if there are other solutions to the problem. Another point is that unless people are challenged or forced to change their belief, they may keep following negative habits. An example is seat belt use —now most people wear seat belts without thinking, while years ago the idea of using seat belts was strange to most people. In the same way, banning physical punishment will force people to change their habits.
In conclusion, parents have to change some of their belief and ideas about how children should be raised. It is possible to avoid the use of physical force, and doing so will help us move closer to the dream of removing violence from our society.
1.According to the first paragraph, many parents think that ____________.
A．they are free to use physical punishment on their children
B．most of the children behave badly in their daily life
C．they have changed their attitudes towards their children
D．physical punishment is effective to educate their children
2.Many parents won’t give up physical punishment because _____________.
A．they are disappointed with their children
B．they were brought up just in the same way
C．they don’t want to hurt their children badly
D．they don’t know what to do with their children
3.The author gives the example of using seat belts in order to show ____________.
A．most people are used to wearing seat belts
B．it’s not difficult to change some negative habits
C．seat belts are really very necessary and useful
D．people won’t change their old habits unless forced
4.The main purpose of the author in writing this passage is to ____________.
A．talk about a ban on using physical punishment
B．tell us we should educate our children in other ways
C．advise parents to give up using physical punishment
D．suggest physical punishment should be used at home
What does the word“youth” mean to you? Many define it as a precious time in their life when they are young, when fun, passion, and imagination seem limitless. But for most high school students, youth is a time of determination and willpower for achieving their goals.
This is vividly shown in Mark of Youth, a movie that opened on Feb 5. Mark of Youth tells the story of four Senior 3 students in a top high school in the days leading up to the national college entrance examination.
Each character represents a different type of student, ranging from the most mischievous(调皮的)to the most motivated. Like most teenagers, they enjoy carefree moments and like to talk about their schoolmates. But the tension of the approaching exam, probably their first life-changing event, is common—they must memorize seemingly endless English words and Chinese poems, work through piles of practice test papers, and improve their scores despite the increasing pressure.
But life exists beyond campus. That the college entrance examination is coming up doesn’t mean they can escape family changes, such as when one character’s parents get divorced or another’s father is arrested. Can these four young people handle their problems and eventually make it to their ideal universities despite their on –and –off campus stress?
The story is set in Hubei Huanggang Middle School, known for its students’ outstanding performances on the big exam. The four students are played by the actors who played in the reality shows Happy Boys and Happy Girls. HongKong actor Alex Fong plays their teacher.
Students may look more fashionable in Mark of Youth than in real life, but it is the story about the final year of high school that many viewers relate to.
“The film is very inspiring,” said Senior 2 student Yao Lingqian, 16, from Leshan Foreign Language School in Sichuan province. “A total commitment(投入)to hard work, though it can be lonely and no fun at all, will leave precious marks on my youth.”
And for Senior 3 student Gao Jing, the film has given her optimism. “The characters taught me that what you score is not the only important thing. The way you approach the exam matters the most,” said the 17-year-old from Zhenping County No 1 High School in Nanyang, Henan province.
“The film really reflects senior 3students’life.” Zhang Ping, a teacher from a senior high school in Qingdao, commented.
1.What is the function of the first paragraph in the passage?
A．To tell us what the word “youth” means.
B．To introduce what will be mainly talked about.
C．To tell youth is a time of determination and willpower.
D．To introduce some famous actors.
2.Why must the four Senior 3 students memorize seemingly endless English words and Chinese poems?
A．They want to enjoy carefree moments.
B．They want to gossip about their schoolmates.
C．They want to work through piles of practice test papers.
D．They want to improve their scores.
3.Which of the following is true about the film?
A．Mark of Youth tells a story that happened on Feb 5.
B．The characters in the film have to face the pressure from both study and their families.
C．The film tells a story that really happened in Hubei Huanggang Middle School.
D．Most characters in the film are played by actors from HongKong.
4.What kind of belief does the film convey?
A．Youth is a wonderful thing.
B．We youth should face challenge with smile.
C．Entrance examination is very important in our life.
D．The entrance examination isn’t so terrible.
5.Which of the person can we see in the film?
A．Alex Fong B．Yao Lingqian C．Gao Jing D．Zhang ping
