Roger Alvarez, 22, was one of the 52 percent of students who didn’t make it through his senior year at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles.
He dropped out several years ago, but by the time he was in ninth grade, Alvarez says he already knew he wasn’t going to graduate.
“There’s a certain amount of knowledge you have to have when you enter in a specific grade, and I didn’t have it.” Alvarez says,“Every class I used to go in, I was like, ‘Do I know this? I don’t know this.’”
It was a shameful attitude, he tells his former English teacher, Antero Garcia, 29.
“You were determined to help me, but what was I willing to give? I could have actually tried.”
For his part, Garcia wants to know how he could have reached out to Alvarez better, but Alvarez says Garcia had always been helpful.
“I mean, you could cheer me up, and then I see other students doing way better,” Alvarez says,“So then, I get nervous. I get stuck, and then my motivation goes to the floor.” He felt the situation was hopeless.
“You talked to me like if I could do it, but inside me, I knew I couldn’t.” he tells Garcia,“I just didn’t want you to think that I’m…stupid.”
Now, school is a life tool that Alvarez says he’s missing—but his teacher isn’t to blame.
“Always, I just wanted you to know…you were a good teacher, and I always respected you.” he tells Garcia,“Some teachers, I felt like they only wanted to teach a certain group of people. But you looked at me and you paid attention.”
“Maybe it didn’t get me to graduate, but there’re a lot of teachers, they don’t take the time to take a look. And it was never your fault.”
Alvarez now works the night shift at a loading dock(码头). He still hopes to get his degree one day.
1.When Alvarez entered a grade, he was sure that ___________.
A. he wasn’t going to pass the class
B. he would do better than other students
C. he might learn an amount of knowledge
D. he would try his best to learn at class
2.By saying “my motivation goes to the floor”, Alvarez meant __________.
A. he hid his goal from others B. he lost heart gradually
C. he built up his motivation D. he fell to the ground completely
3.In the opinion of Alvarez, most teachers _______.
A. paid no attention to teaching B. had no time to read books
C. didn’t care about what he did D. showed no respect to students
4.The passage mainly tells us that _________.
A. a dropout complains about being treated badly
B. a dropout plans to get his degree again
C. a dropout shows respect for not graduating
D. a dropout has thanks to his teacher not blame
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
I was hard at work on a museum project when the client(客户) suddenly canceled it. In January, my __ told me I was no longer needed. I had just $1,000 in savings.
I one interview after searching the Internet for architecture jobs, but came of it. Finally, I took a job as a in a restaurant. I knew I’d have to find a place to live that less than the $500 a month I was paying.
I went to see a bedroom for rent. The landlord(房东) me $500 for it, but he said I could have it for $350 if he maintained control of the closet for storage, I told him later,“I don’t want the bedroom, I’m interested in the closet” I suggested that I pay $150 a month for it. He thought I was .
The closet measured just 5.5 feet 14 feet. With my experience, I was I could make it into a great living space. I it for three days. I measured old pieces of wood that people donated. It was like putting together a .
In March, I moved in. It was a legal rental. The landlord a door so I’d have access to a kitchen and bathroom, which I with three other tenants(租客). I had a mini-fridge, a microwave, and a storage bin for dry goods. I a loft(阁楼) for my bed, TV, and DVD player.
On my website, I’ve posted of my new home, and that’s some freelance(自由职业的) design work. A few more and I’ll be able to afford a new place. That’s definitely a(an) thing: My girlfriend, Susan, and I are engaged, and once we’re married next March, I’m sure I’ll leave my little closet .
But now I know that I don’t need much to live well.
1.A. teacher B. officer C. doctor D. boss
2.A. ordered B. acquired C. watched D. prepared
3.A. nothing B. something C. anything D. everything
4.A. worker B. player C. waiter D. student
5.A. cost B. earned C. saved D. spent
6.A. proved B. charged C. named D. called
7.A. and B. so C. or D. but
8.A. joking B. quarreling C. bargaining D. talking
9.A. to B. for C. by D. on
10.A. negative B. confident C. afraid D. curious
11.A. mended B. painted C. covered D. designed
12.A. secret B. problem C. puzzle D. game
13.A. cut out B. cut off C. cut up D. cut in
14.A. worked B. studied C. played D. shared
15.A. took B. made C. drew D. imagined
16.A. pictures B. desks C. windows D. books
17.A. brought out B. brought up C. brought in D. brought down
18.A. chances B. jobs C. items D. gifts
19.A. unique B. challenging C. genuine D. excellent
20.A. behind B. forward C. ahead D. upside
In order to have the arrangements ________ for the party, the organizers have spent three days preparing.
A. in charge B. in sight C. in case D. in place
So original is this cartoon designed that it ________ a large number of children inland.
A. adapts to B. applies to C. appeals to D. attends to
A Korean survey shows that shopping cart handles are the most bacteria-carrying items among some ________used objects.
A. relatively B. frequently C. ordinarily D. sincerely
Having worked abroad for several years, Janson wanted to settle down to a _________ job in his homeland.
A. permanent B. constant C. primary D. thorough
