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A Smashing tradition: MIT Students Drop Piano
One of the highlights of the school year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology only lasts a few seconds but has a big influence. Residents of an MIT dormitory dropped an upright piano from their roof on 26th April to celebrate the last day students can drop classes without having them appear on their college report.
About 200 onlookers watched as the piano crashed into a second piano, a baby grand, positioned on the ground six stories below for a better smash. People scrambled (争先恐后) for souvenir pieces-keys, hammers, strings and splinters. The tradi
tion began in 1972 at the Baker House dormitory and has been observed irregularly until 2006 when it became an annual event.
Crafton Family Comes Back Home after 7 Years at Sea
While most of us will love to go on a vacation for a week or two on a small private sailboat, without doubt, spending seven precious years on sea is something most of us will never imagine or dare to do. However, that is what an American family has done. Tom Crafton and Kathy Crafton along with their three children have traveled across the world on their 43-foot sailboat named Nueva Vida. Over the past seven years the family had sailed 30,000 miles and visited more than 20 different countries. The family has recently come back to their homeland.
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Living in the limelight（聚光灯）can be difficult but as these splendid pictures show for one bear the tourist train never stops. This arctic animal loves nothing more than an audience and will even climb out of his snowy bed to give the crowd a wave. The funny poses(姿态) of the friendly polar bear were caught on camera by Swedish photographer, Hams Strand.
1.Which of the following is true about the first incident?
A. The typical style of celebration has been kept alive every year since1972.
B. Another small piano on the ground is meant to hold the falling one.
C. The students dropped the piano in celebration of their graduation.
D. The tradition became an annual event for MIT students several years ago.
2.The writer thinks Crafton family’s seven-year sailing is ______.
A. unusual B. strange C. common D. doubtful
3.What would be the best subtitle for the third incident?
A. The Limelight Makes Polar Bear Live Hard
B. Splendid Pictures of Polar Bear Attract Tourists
C. The Tourist Train Would Stop without Polar Bear
D. Polar Bear Says Hello to Tourists with a Friendly Wave
4.The passage is probably taken out of ______.
A. a novel B. a magazine C. a diary D. a report
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The increase in tuition fees(学费) has led to a “clear drop” in the number of English students applying for university places this autumn. There are 15,000 “missing” applicants this academic year, according to the Independent Commission on Fees. Chairman Will Hutton said: “We’re asking our young men and women to have more debt than any other country in the world — it’s higher than the average debt in the US. It’s not clear whether those lost students this year will return next year, or if it’s a storm warming of a worrying trend.”
But the commission’s report says there does not seem to be an impact on poorer communities. The commission found there was no significant change in the application rate to the key universities, such as Oxford or Cambridge. The decline （下降）in England has not been mirrored in other parts of the UK where fees have not been raised, and the drop can only partly be explained by falling numbers of young people in the population. Students from Scotland attending Scottish universities do not pay fees, while the Welsh Assembly says it will pay fees above ￡3,465 for Welsh students attending UK institutions.
The average tuition fee at English universities this year is ￡ 8,385, rising to ￡ 8,507 next year. UK and EU students have access to govemment-backed loans to pay the fees. And the survey of 1,000 pupils aged 15-18, carried out this April, found that the majority expected to go on to higher education as people continue to understand that university remains a good long term investment in their future.
A spokeswoman at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which is responsible for universities, said:“Students shouldn’t be forced to put off going to university for financial reasons. Most students will not have to pay in advance, and no one will have to start paying back their student loan until they start to earn at least ￡ 2l,000 per year.”
1.From the first paragraph, we know that __________________ .
A. it’s a trend that English students are dropping out of school
B. the rising tuition fees have a great effect on English students
C. the lost English students will find their way back
D. many English students are missing the final examinations
2.Why is there still a drop of applicants though fees have not been raised?
A. Because the students live in poor communities.
B. Because Welsh students will pay fees above￡3,465.
C. Because education is free for Scottish students.
D. Because there are less young students in the area.
3.What’s the students’ attitude to universities in the survey?
A. Most of them are willing to go to university.
B. They feel universities takes up too much time.
C. They will stop applying for university places this autumn.
D. They are anxious to go to a key university.
4.The spokeswoman in the last paragraph advises students to ______________
A. put off going to university
B. reduce the anxiety about the rising fees
C. pay for the fees in advance
D. pay back their loan soon after graduation
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The increase in tuition fees has led to a “clear drop” in the number of English students applying for university places this autumn. There are 15,000 “missing” applicants（申请人） this academic year, according to the Independent Commission on Fees. Chairman Will Hutton said: “We’re asking our young men and women to have more debt than any other country in the world — it’s higher than the average debt in the US. It’s not clear whether those lost students this year will return next year, or if it’s a storm warming of a worrying trend.”
But the commission’s report says there does not seem to be an impact on poorer communities. The commission found there was no significant change in the application rate to the key universities, such as Oxford or Cambridge. The decline（下降） in England has not been mirrored（再现） in other parts of the UK where fees have not been raised, and the drop can only partly be explained by falling numbers of young people in the population. Students from Scotland attending Scottish universities do not pay fees, while the Welsh Assembly says it will pay fees above ￡3,465 for Welsh students attending UK institutions.
The average tuition fee at English universities this year is ￡ 8,385, rising to ￡ 8,507 next year. UK and EU students have access to government-backed loans to pay the fees. And the survey of 1,000 pupils aged 15-18, carried out this April, found that the majority expected to go on to higher education as people continue to understand that university remains a good long term investment（投资） in their future.
A spokeswoman at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which is responsible for universities, said: “Students shouldn’t be forced to put off going to university for financial reasons. Most students will not have to pay in advance, and no one will have to start paying back their student loan until they start to earn at least ￡ 2l,000 per year.”
1.From the first paragraph, we know that .
A. the rising tuition fees have a great effect on English students
B. many English students are missing the final examinations
C. the lost English students will find their way back
D. it’s a trend that English students are dropping out of school
2. Why is there still a drop of applicants though fees have not been raised?
A. Because the students live in poor communities.
B. Because education is free for Scottish students.
C. Because there are less young students in the area.
D. Because Welsh students will pay fees above￡3,465.
3.What’s the students’ attitude to universities in the survey?
A. They will stop applying for university places this autumn.
B. They feel universities takes up too much time.
C. They are anxious to go to a key university.
D. Most of them are willing to go to university.
4.The spokeswoman in the last paragraph advises students to .
A. put off going to university
B. pay for the fees in advance
C. reduce the anxiety about the rising fees
D. pay back their loan soon aller graduation
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Many students stay up late into the night, some of whom during the boring lecture.
A. drop off B. drop in
C. get away D. drop out
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The students in America usually begin high school at the age of 13 or 14. Some leave at the age of 16. But most finish the 4-year high school study. They do not get their first full-time work or begin college studies until they are 17 or 18 years old.
The high school day is about 7 hours long. Part of the day is made into classes of about 50 minutes long. The students have lunch in the middle of the day. American students study English, history, math, science, art and languages. Some also learn job skills. They can learn how to use a computer or how to mend a car. Other students may learn by working in an office, a hospital or other places one day a week.
Jean Wilton Anderson is 16 years old. She lives with her parents and two younger brothers in Bethesda, Maryland, near Washington D.C. Jean studies at Walt Whitman High School. There are about 1,500 students at the school. Most of them will go up to colleges.
Jean wakes up early every morning. She begins school at about 7:30. This is her third year of high school. Every day she takes classes to learn English, world history, physics and trigonometry（三角学）. She also has a class about different religions（宗教）.And she plays the violin in music class. School ends at about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Yet, Jean stays 2 or more hours longer every day for sports. Jean arrives home at about 5 o’clock in the afternoon. She eats dinner. Then she starts her homework. Students in America have their way of talking. They use the word “like” all the time. Jean and her girlfriends wear blue jeans and shirts or sweaters every day. The boys at her school also wear blue jeans. But they like to wear blue jeans that are several sizes too large for them.
Like students of her age in most parts of the country, Jean begins to drive a car. She does not have her car. She must use the family’s car. Most of the students in high school have their own cars. Many of them drive their cars to school every day.
1. Which of the following is not true to the high school?
A. The school day usually lasts for 7 hours.
B. The students only have 6 subjects to learn.
C. Each class will last for 50 minutes.
D. The students can learn some skills out of the school.
2. Jean Wilton Anderson __________________.
A. has a four-people family B. lives in the city of Washington
C. has studied in the high school for 3 years D. drives her own car at the age of 16
3. Which of the following is not true?
A. Students in high schools use the word “like” very often
B. The boy students wear blue jeans as the girls.
C. Many high school students go to school in their own cars.
D. Boy students wear jeans of larger size because they grow fast
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In the USA the high school graduation ceremony is of great 1. (important). 12th grade students, or seniors, who are about 17 or 18 years old, look forward to 2. (attend) this event.
The graduation ceremony itself takes place at the end of May or beginning of June, which usually 3. (include) music awards, and a guest speaker. After the speech, students walk to the front of the room to receive their diplomas from the headmaster. Students start preparing for graduation a long time 4. it happens. They order rings designed 5. (special) for their class.
Another tradition is to have their photographs 6. (take). These photographs are used 7. the class yearbook, which is a printed book about all the students in the school. Students have special cards called announcements printed to send to friends and relatives to tell them about their graduation. The cards often include 8. invitation to the ceremony. If you receive it, you should send a present 9. money to the graduate. A few weeks before the ceremony, the students are measured the cap that they will wear at the ceremony. After the ceremony, 10. (family) usually have graduation parties for friends and relatives. It’s a day and a night that high school seniors remember for a long time.
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The winter vacation during the senior year of high school can be a stressful time for students. 1. They may also be feeling sad that time with family and friends having a relaxation. Here are some wise ways to spend the last winter vacation of high school.
Start practicing responsibilities. After you enter college, you have to do a lot of things on your own. 2. Although some may just want to spend winter break sleeping and relaxing, it's the right time for you to begin taking on some household tasks. You should start doing laundry and more things on your own. In this way, you can learn to become responsible.
For students who haven’t decided on a major, the last winter vacation of high school can be an opportunity to explore their interests. Students are often told they'll have time to decide on a major once they get to college. However, the last winter break might be the freest time they'll have for a while. 3.
Besides a major, you also need to decide on a school. This is a great time to go on more campus visits. 4. Take another visit to ensure you're making the right choice. Sometimes, seeing the school in different seasons can help you decide if it is truly where you belong.
5. Some students agree they should take advantage of time at home with family and friends while they still can. But most students don't realize how important family is until they've moved away. As you get more into college life, you will probably not be returning home as often, so take this opportunity. Enjoy your friends and family, as it will all change once you enter college.
A. Enjoy quality time at home.
B. Don't visit a campus just once.
C. Spend more time with your friends.
D. Ask your parents what major you can study.
E. So find out what you really like to learn in college.
F. And you'll be independent and responsible for yourself.
G. They may be dealing with pressure to choose a school.
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Alabama
Students in Alabama take the Alabama High School Graduation Exam, which consists of multiple-choice questions. In the classroom, Alabama high school students must prove specific skills in English and take certain math classes.
Among the 2013 U.S. News Best High Schools in Alabama, two were awarded gold medals, 16 received silver medals and 72 were considered bronze medal schools. One of the gold medal schools, Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School, lies about 90 miles south of Birmingham in the state capital of Montgomery, within the Montgomery County School District.
Alaska
To graduate, Alaska high school students must get at least 21 credits, including a half credit in Alaska history. Alaska judges students from the third grade through senior grades. Students first take the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Examination at the tenth grade. It includes math, reading and writing skills.
10 schools were awarded silver medals and 21 received bronze medals among the U.S. News Best High Schools in 2013. While Alaska's capital is Juneau, several of the state's Best High Schools are in or near Anchorage, in the Anchorage School District.
Delaware
Delaware students have a high GPA（平均绩点）and 10 hours of community service. If they hand in their FAFSA（自愿联邦奖学金）by a certain date, they may get the Inspire Scholarship, which helps pay for tuition at Delaware State University. Before they go to college, however, students must pass the Delaware Student Testing Program Exams.
Among the Delaware schools in the 2013 U.S. News Best High Schools, there are three silver medal schools and four bronze medal schools. The top school in the state is Delmar Senior High School. It is part of the Delmar School District and is about 50 miles from Delaware's capital, Dover.
1.What's the passage mainly about?
A．The introduction to the Best High Schools in three states.
B．The different examinations in several high schools.
C．Scholarships in the Best High Schools in three states.
D．The things students should do before going to college.
2.It can be inferred from the text that______.
A．students with a high GPA can get the Inspire Scholarship
B．reading and writing skills are included in the tests in all the schools
C．Alabama has the most best high schools of the three states
D．at least 21 credits are needed to graduate from all the schools
3.Which of the following in TRUE according to the passage?
A．The High School Graduation Exams are multiple-choice questions.
B．Both the gold medal schools in Alabama are in its capital.
C．There were 21 silver medal schools in Alaska in all.
D．Delmar Senior High school is the best in Delaware.
4.Alaska's graduation exam is different from the others' in the aspect that______.
A．it includes all the subjects the students learn
B．it includes its own state history as well
C．it includes math, reading and writing skills
D．it includes 10 hours of community service
5.The Inspire Scholarship is a prize______.
A．that any student in gold medal schools can apply for
B．that is given to the top students in gold medal schools
C．that helps to pay for tuition at Delaware State University
D．that is very difficult to get for students in silver medal schools
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1. Moving from high school into college can be especially difficult because of the freedom students experience in college along with a new set of expectations.
In high school, students usually live at home, and their parents take care of all their physical needs such as food and housing. 2. Parents are also there to offer help and make sure that the students' homework is done. During the school day, students rarely have free time. They go directly from one class to another. Teachers are always around to tell the students what to do. 3. So students can often complete their homework and reading in a short time.
4. They may be responsible for shopping, paying bills, and laundry. They also may have to cook their own meals. Their parents are not around to help with homework or even to check if it has been done. Contrary to students in high school, students in college may have a lot of free time between classes, but must discipline themselves to use this time productively for homework and other assignments. 5.
A．High school students have to bury themselves in piles of papers.
B．Finally, the work itself is not so challenging.
C．By contrast, in college, students often live away from home in dorms or apartments.
D．In college, students may apply to a bank loan and others will try to find parttime jobs.
E．Each new level of education brings new challenges and demands to students.
F．Most importantly, college requires a higher level of thinking and a lot more work than high school.
G．Students do not usually have to shop for their food, take time to pay bills, or even do their own laundry.
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Thousands of young college students have ___ the job, because it provides a high salary, a long paid vocation every year and many other attractive benefits.
| A．applied for | B．turned down |
| C．threw away | D．complained of |
tion began in 1972 at the Baker House dormitory and has been observe