An increase in students applying to study economics at university is being attributed to （归因于）the global economic crisis awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works.
Applications for degree courses beginning this autumn were up by 15% this January, according to UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. A spokesman for the Royal Economic Society said applications to do economics at A-level were also up.
Professor john Beath, the president of the society and a leading lecture at St Andrews University, said his first-year lectures—which are open to students from all departments—were drawing crowds of 400, rather than the usual 250.
“There are a large number of students who are not economics majors, who would like to learn something about it. One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way that one hasn’t traditionally done. ” He added.
University applications rose 7% last year. But there were rises above average in several subjects. Nursing saw a 15% jump, with people’s renewed interest in careers in the pubic sector（部门）, which are seen as more secure in economic crisis.
A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters, and almost half said their children had asked them what was going on, although a minority of parents felt they did not understand it themselves well enough to explain.
Zack Hocking, the head of Child Trust Funds, said: “It’s possible that one good thing to arise from the downturn will be a generation that’s financially wiser and better equipped to manage their money through times of economic uncertainty.”
1. Professor John Beath’s lectures are .
A．given in a traditional way
B．connected with the present situation
C．open to both students and their parents
D．warmly received by economics
2.Careers in the public sector are more attractive because of their .
A．better reputation B．higher pay C．fewer applications D．greater stability
3.In the opinion of most parents, .
A．economics should be the focus of school teaching
B．more students should be admitted to universities
C．the teaching of financial matters should be strengthened
D．children should solve financial problems themselves
4.According to Hocking, the global economic crisis might make the youngsters .
A．get jobs in Child Trust Funds B．have access to better equipment
C．confident about their future careers D．wiser in money management
5.What’s the main idea of the text?
A．Universities have received more applications.
B．Economics is attracting an increasing number of students.
C．College students benefit a lot from economic uncertainty
D．Parents are concerned with children’s subject selection.
Rae Armantrout, who has been a poetry professor at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) for two decades, has won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for her most recent book, "Versed".
"I'm delighted and amazed at how much media recognition that the Pulitzer brings, as compared to even the National Book Critics Award, which I was also surprised and delighted to win," said Armantrout.
"For a long time, my writing has been just below the media radar, and to have this kind of attention, suddenly, with my 10th book, is really surprising."
Armantrout, a native Californian, received her bachelor's degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied with noted poet Denise Levertov, and her master's in creative writing from San Francisco State University. She is a founding member of Language Poets, a group in American poetry that analyzes the way language is used and raises questions to make the reader think.
In March, she won the National Book Critics Circle Award for "Versed."
"This book has gotten more attention," Armantrout said, "but I don't feel as if it's better."
The first half of "Versed" focuses on the dark forces taking hold of the United States as it fought the war against Iraq. The second half looks at the dark forces casting a shadow over her own life after Armantrout was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.
Armantrout was shocked to learn she had won the Pulitzer but many of her colleagues were not. "Rae Armantrout is a unique voice in American poetry," said Seth Lerer, head of Arts and Humanities at UCSD.
"Versed", published by the Wesleyan University Press, did appear in a larger printing than her earlier works, which is about 2,700 copies. The new edition is scheduled to appear in May.
1.According to Rae Armantrout, __________
A．her 10th book is much better
B．her winning the Pulitzer is unexpected
C．the media is surprised at her works
D．she likes being recognized by her readers
2.Which of the following is true of Rae Armantrout?
A．She published a poetry textbook.
B．She used to teach Denise Levertov.
C．She started a poets' group with others.
D．She taught creative writing at UC Berkeley.
3.What can we learn about "Versed"?
A．It partly concerns the poet's own life.
B．It is mainly about the American army.
C．It is a book published two decades ago.
D．It consists of three parts.
4.Rae Armantrout's colleagues think that she __________.
A．should write more B．has a sweet voice
C．deserves the prize D．is a strange professor
5.What can we learn from the text?
A. "Versed" has been awarded twice. B. Cancer made Armantrout stop writing.
C. Armantrout got her degrees at UCSD. D. About 2,700 copies of "Versed" will be printed.
When I was six, Dad brought home a dog one day, who was called “Brownie”. My brothers and I all loved Brownie and did different things with her. One of us would walk her, another would feed her, then there were baths, playing catch and many other games. Brownie, in return. loved each and every one of us. One thing that most touched my heart was that she would go to whoever was sick and just be with them. We always felt better when she was around.
One day, as I was getting her food, she chewed up (咬破) one of Dad’s shoes, which had to be thrown away in the end. I knew Dad would be mad and I had to let her know what she did was wrong. When I looked at her and said, “Bad girl,” she looked down at the ground and then went and hid. I saw a tear in her eyes.
Brownie turned out to be more than just our family pet, she went everywhere with us. People would stop and ask if they could pet her. Of course she’d let anyone pet her. She was just the most lovable dog. There were many times when we’d be out walking and a small child would come over and pull on her hair. she never barked (吠) or tried to get away. Funny thing is she would smile. This frightened people because they thought she was showing her teeth. Far from the truth, she loved everyone.
Now many years have passed since Brownie died of old age. I still miss days when she was with us.
1.What would Brownie do when someone was ill in the family?
A．Look at them sadly. B．Keep them company.
C．Play games with them. D．Touch them gently.
2.We can infer from Paragraph 2 that Brownie________.
A．world eat anything when hungry B．felt sorry for her mistake
C．loved playing hide-and-seek D．disliked the author’s dad
3.Why does the author say that Brownie was more than just a family pet?
A．She was treated as a member of the family.
B．She played games with anyone she liked.
C．She was loved by everybody she met.
D．She went everywhere with the family.
4.Some people got frightened by Brownie when she________.
A．tried to be funny B．barked C．rushed to them D．smiled
5.Which of the following best describes Brownie?
A．Caring B．Polite C．Brave D．Shy
Chinese writer Mo Yan has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, announced the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday．The win makes Mo Yan the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel in its history．Informed of his win today, the author, who was having dinner at home, was “overjoyed and scared"．
Born in 1955 to parents who were farmers, Mo Yan－a pen name for Guan Moye，grew up in Gaomi in Shandong province in eastern China. At the age of 12, he left school to work, first in agriculture, later in a factory. In 1976 he joined the army and during this time began to study literature and writing．
He published his first book in 1981, but found literary success in 1987 with Hong Gaoliang Jiazu, which was successfully filmed in the same year, directed by a famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. In his writing, Mo Yan draws on his youthful experiences and on settings in the province of his birth and his works show the life of Chinese people as well as the country's unique culture and folk customs. Mo Yan is known as a prolific（多产的）writer. In addition to his novels, he has published many short stories and essays on various topics. Despite his social criticism, he is seen in his homeland as one of the most famous contemporary authors. Dozens of his works have been translated into English, French, Japanese and many other languages．
The awarding ceremony will be held on December 10．The winner will win a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of about $l million．
1.How did Mo Yan feel when he was told about the news?
A．Excited and proud． B． Happy and surprised
C．Worried and cautious D． Uncertain and shocked
2.Mo Yan developed his ability for writing when he was ．
A．on a farm B．in a factory C．in a school D．in the army
3.One of Mo Yan's characteristics of writing is that he .
A．writes about topics he is familiar with
B．focuses on social problems in the country
C．describes his characters in a unique way
D．explains difficult matters in simple words
4.Which of the statements is true?
A．Mo Yan published his first book when he was 20 years old.
B．The movie Hong Gaoliang was made in 1987.
C．Mo Yan only writes novels.
D．Mo Yan’s works are mostly about city life.
5.What's the best title for this passage?
A．How Mo Yan Gets Nobel Prize B．An Introduction to Nobel Prize
C．Mo Yan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature D．A World Famous Writer, Mo Yan
Great changes ______ in the past few years, and a lot of factories ________.
A．had taken place; have been set up B．have taken place; have been set up
C．took place; have set up D．were taken place; were set up
—What about going for a walk?
—______.
A．Go ahead, please B．Me, too C．Help yourself D．Good idea
