III. Reading ComprehensionSection ADirections: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.Why girls do better at school than boys?For centuries, boys were top of the class. But these days, that’s no longer the case.A new study by the OECD, a club of mostly __51__ countries in Europe and North America, examined how 15-year-old boys and girls performed at reading, mathematics and science. Boys still get somewhat better __52__ at maths and physics, and in other science courses the genders are roughly __53__. But when it comes to the students who really struggle and suffer at school, the difference is __54__: boys are 50% more likely than girls to fall short of basic standards in all three areas.__55__, why are girls performing better at school than their male classmates?First, girls read more than boys. Reading proficiency (熟练) is the basis upon which all other learning is built. When boys don’t do well in reading, their __56__ in other school subjects suffers too.Second, girls spend much more time on their homework and out-of-class learning. __57__, girls spend five and a half hours per week doing homework while boys spend a little less than four and a half hours. Researchers suggest that doing homework __58__ by teachers is linked to better accomplishment in maths, reading and science. Boys, it appears, spend more of their free time in the __59__ world; they are 17% more likely to play cooperative online games than girls every day. They also use the internet more.Third, peer __60__ plays a role. A lot of boys decide early on that they are just too cool for school. They adopt a so-called concept of masculinity(男子气概) that includes a disregard for __61__, which means they’re more likely to be rude and noisy in class. Teachers mark them down for this. In anonymous(匿名的) tests, boys perform better. In fact, the gender gap in reading __62__ by a third when teachers don’t know the gender of the pupil they are marking.So what can be done to close this gap? Getting boys to do more homework and cut down on screen-time would help. And offering boys a __63__ to read non-fiction would help too: they’re keener on comics and newspapers. But most of all, abandoning gender stereotypes(旧模式) would __64__ all students. Thus, boys in all countries with the best schools read much better than girls. As we know, girls in Shanghai, Singapore and Seoulare good at mathematics, and they __65__ boys from anywhere else in the world.51. A. backward B. wealthy C. regular D. miserable52. A. scores B. directions C. guidance D. evaluation53. A. practical B. reliable C. relevant D. equal54. A. stable B. vague C. obvious D. logical55. A. However B. Therefore C. Similarly D. Instead56. A. behaviour B. comment C. preparation D. performance57. A. In brief B. On average C. On the contrary D. In addition58. A. researched B. designed C. assigned D. approved59. A. virtual B. realistic C. future D. artificial60. A. relationship B. contact C. responsibility D. pressure61. A. experts B. authorities C. adults D. peers62. A. develops B. widens C. narrows D. forms63. A. chance B. task C. favour D. resource64. A. influence B. harm C. satisfy D. benefit65. A. advance B. overtake C. overcome D. challengeSection ADirections: For each blank in the following passages there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.New Tech Network, a new education organization, strives to ensure all students have the skills, knowledge, and attributes they need to thrive in post-secondary education, career and civic life.New Tech Network cooperates with district leaders, administrators, and teachers who share a common purpose: to provide an education in which students acquire knowledge and develop skills vital to __51__ in the post-secondary path of their choosing. The New Tech design is simply a blueprint, __52__ a set of core beliefs, tools, and strategies to help each school fulfill its purpose. New Tech design principles provide for an __53__ approach centered on project-based learning, a culture that enables students and teachers, and the use of technology in the classroom. Through extensive professional development, personalized coaching, and access to Echo, New Tech Network, a learning __54__ system, enables principals, teachers, and students to develop relevant and meaningful learning communities.TEACHING THAT ENGAGESA K-12 PathwayThrough project-based learning, internships（见习期）, dual enrollment, and other experiences in New Tech schools, students are well __55__ post-secondary pursuits.__56__, New Tech Network has worked with public school districts to redesign high schools. More recently, however, New Tech Network is partnering with several school districts to __57__ New Tech middle schools and elementary schools. In some districts, this provides students with a K-12 pathway. In elementary and middle schools, the design principles are the same—teaching that engages, culture that empowers, and technology that enables. As the elementary and middle schools mature, New Network will measure success on student__58__.Learning __59__The years spent in a New Tech school allow students to gain the academic and deeper learning skills necessary for success in any post-secondary option. New Tech students learn disciplinary knowledge and skills to conduct inquiry and solve real-world problems. Throughout a project, they cooperate with peers, facilitators, and experts in the field. Students __60__ their learning through effective oral and written communication for authentic audiences.Ownership of their learning experience and engagement in relevant and challenging taskshelps students develop a sense of agency, a skill essential to success in __61__, career, and civic duty.Project-Based LearningProject-based learning is at the heart of New Tech Network’s instructional approach. Students cooperate on projects, ranging in __62__ from two to eight weeks, which require critical thinking and communication. Projects often occur in integrated subject area courses, where Entry Events, the Need-to-Know (NTK) process, and skill building workshops support student-centred learning. During projects, students often engage withsubject matter experts who provide feedback on real-world products. Through project-based learning, students not only master __63__ content, but also successfully apply content when solving authentic problems.__64__ -Based InternshipsNew Tech students also engage in experiences designed to prepare them for success in the contemporary workplace. By cooperating with others on projects, students acquire a level of responsibility similar to a __65__ work environment. Students engage with field experts and community stakeholders(利益相关者) during projects, and final products are presented to authentic audiences. Additionally, two-thirds of New Tech high schools offer such practical activities, with nearly half of all seniors participating.51. A. success B. rescue C. survival D. reform52.A. owing to B. getting rid of C. depending on D. accompanied by53.A. intermediate B. intelligent C. instructional D. informative54.A. innovation B. requirement C. management D. negotiation55.A. related to B. prepared for C. classified by D. compared with56.A. Accidentally B. Accordingly C. Absolutely D. Historically57.A. evaluate B. observe C. connect D. create58.A. teaching B. learning C. engaging D. developing59.A. Problems B. Outcomes C. Strategies D. Discipline60.A. demonstrate B. promote C. highlight D. motivate61.A. elementary schoolsB. middle schools C. high schools D. college62.A. length B. courses C. topics D. targets63.A. advanced B. academic C. complex D. adequate64.A. Network B. Workshop C. Community D. College65.A. permanent B. professional C. popular D. familiarSection ADirections: For each blank in the following passages there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.Many of us have found ourselves trying to explain to friends and colleagues, ―No, busine ss travel isn’t as fun and fascinating as it seems.‖Finally, there could be ___51___ to back this up. Researchers at the University of Surrey, in Britain, and Linnaeus University, in Sweden, have published a new study highlighting what they call ―a ___52___ side of hypermobility(常飞行)‖.The study, which combines existing research on the ___53___ of frequent travel, finds three types of consequence: physiological, psychological and emotional, and social.The physiologicalones are the most obvious. Jet lag is the suffering travellers know best, although they may not ___54___ some of its more terrible potential effects, like speeding ageing or increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Then there’s the danger of deep-vein thrombosis(深静脉血栓), ___55___ to germs and radiation. And finally, of course, business travellers tend to get less exercise and eat less healthily than people who stay in place.The psychological and emotional damage of business travel is more abstract, but just as real. Frequent flyers e xperience ―travel disorientation‖ from ___56___ places and time zones so often. They also ___57___ mounting stress, given that ―time spent travelling will rarely be balancedthrough a reduced workload, and that there may be anxieties ___58___ with work continuing to pile up while being away‖. ___59___ the absence from family and friends, ―hypermobility is frequently a/an ___60___ experience,‖ the authors write. The accumulated impact can be astonishing and great.Finally, there are the ___61___ effects. Marriages suffer from the time apart, as does children’s behaviour. What is more, relationships tend to become more ___62___, as the partner who stays at home is forced to take on more ___63___ duties. There’s a gender inequality here, since most business travellers are men. Friendships also suffer, as business travellers often ―sacrifice local collective activities and instead ___64___ their immediate families when returning from trips‖.Of course, these impacts are moderated by the fact that they fall disproportionately on a small part of the population that is already doing rather well. The ―mobile elite(精英)‖ tend to have higher incomes and ___65___ to better health care than the population at large.So these may be problems of the 1% (or the 3%, or the 5%). But they’re real enough regardless. By all means feel jealous of acquaintances' Instagram photos of exotic meals and faraway attractions. But harbour a small amount of concern as well.51. A. travel B. proof C. damage D. consequence52. A. brighter B. wiser C. darker D. lazier53. A. effects B. benefits C. limits D. costs54. A. impose B. foresee C. declare D. memorize55. A. connection B. adaptation C. exposure D. familiarity56. A. changing B. leaving C. taking D. pursuing57. A. handle B. relieve C. suffer D. lay58. A. infected B. associated C. greeted D. packed59. A. Due to B. According to C. Regardless of D. In case of60. A. surprising B. relaxing C. fulfilling D. isolating61. A. cultural B. conscious C. social D. negative62. A. unequal B. invisible C. pleasant D. permanent63. A. personal B. related C. professional D. domestic64. A. prioritize B. mobilize C. seek D. support65. A. devotion B. objection C. response D. accessSection ADirections: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.At 1:30 p.m. on March 31, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. stepped from a crowd of onlookers and tried to kill Ronald Reagan, the president of the United States. Although he failed, he did cause injury to the president. The crime was committed in clear view of many people. 51 , at the end of his trial, Hinckley was found not 52 by reason of insanity (精神失常). Instead of prison, Hinckley was sent to a mental hospital, where he remains.The judgment in Hinckley’s case did more than annoy a few people. It53 a nationwide debate about whether people accused of a crime can claim they were insane when they did it. If they were capable of 54 and then committing a crime, how could they later claim to have been insane? One starting point is to identify what insane means in a U.S. court of law.Very young children cannot be 55 if they do not know right from wrong, because they cannot be held morally responsible for their actions. For most people, moral responsibility comes with age and maturity. Psychologists, however, say that there are some adults who cannot recognize right from wrong. Since these adults cannot tell the 56 , they should not be held morally responsible for their actions. In a U.S. court of law, an adult like this may be considered insane. Hinckley was judged insane because 57 determined that his mind was not functioning like a(n) 58 adult’s so he had no idea what he was doing. Instead of spending the rest of his life in prison, Hinckley would be committed to a mental hospital, where he could be treated for his illness.People who are against the use of an insanity defense say that criminals like Hinckley do know what they are doing. 59 of the insanity defense say that everyone who commits a serious crime like Hinckley’s could be said to be mentally ill. Otherwise, the person would not commit the crime 60 . There are many people who struggle with severe mental illness who do not commit crimes. The illnesses should not be used as a(n) 61 for violent behavior.People who 62 the insanity defense believe that mental illnesses are not always treatable.Psychologists have been able to detect patterns of behavior. These mental detectives have 63 evidence that a person can be insane but seem normal. Hinckley and others with 64 conditions suffer from delusions (错觉). Even though people with delusions may seem normal, the world does not appear to them as it does to other people. Therefore, experts say, such people cannot be held to the rules of behavior other people are held to. Their punishments should be 65 .51. A. Therefore B. However C. Otherwise D. Moreover52. A. hurt B. healthy C. safe D. guilty53. A. kicked off B. cleared up C. let out D. put away54. A. confessing B. starting C. planning D. discovering55. A. sentenced B. punished C. annoyed D. defended56. A. insanity B. truth C. responsibility D. difference57. A. judges B. psychologists C. experts D. detectives58. A. mature B. independent C. normal D. capable59. A. Opponents B. Onlookers C. Victims D. Researchers60. A. on the contrary B. by this means C. in the first place D. at the same time61. A. example B. excuse C. defense D. idea62. A. study B. refuse C. transform D. support63. A. destroyed B. compared C. examined D. gathered64. A. realistic B. ordinary C. similar D. treatable65. A. severe B. negotiable C. acceptable D. legalSection ADirections: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.Are we too slow to praise and quick to blame? It seems we are.Praise is like sunlight to the human spirit; we cannot flower and grow without it. And yet, we are somehow 51 to give our fellows the warm sunshine of praise. To make matters worse, most of us are only too ready to apply to others the cold wind of 52 .It’s strange how chary(吝啬的) we are about praising. Perhaps it’s because few of us know how to accept compliments gracefully. 53 , we are embarrassed and shrug off(不予理睬) the words we are really so glad to hear. Because of this 54 reaction, direct compliments are surprisingly difficult to give. That is why some of the most valued pats on the back are those which come to us 55 , in a letter or passed on by a friend. When one thinks of the speed with which spiteful(恶意的) remarks are conveyed, it seems a pity that there isn’t more effort to pass 56 comments.It’s especially rewarding to give praise in areas where effort generally goes unnoticed or 57 . An artist gets complimented for a glorious picture, a cook for a perfect meal. But do you ever tell your 58manager how pleased you are when the shirts are done just right?Praise is particularly appreciated by those doing 59 jobs: gas-station attendants, waitresses －even housewives. Do you ever go into a house and say, ―What a tidy room‖? Hardly anybody does. Shakespeare said, ―Our praises are our wages.‖ Since so often praise is the only 60 a housewife receives, surely she of all people should get her measure.Teachers agree about the value of praise. One teacher writes that instead of drowning students’ compositions in critical red ink, the teacher will get far more 61 results by finding one or two things which have been done better than last time, and commenting 62 on them. ―I believe that a student knows when he has handed in something above his usual standard,‖ writes the teacher, ―and that he waits hungrily for a brief comment in the margin(空白处) to show him that the teacher is aware of it, too.‖To give praise 63 the giver nothing but a moment's thought and a moment’s effort. It is such a small 64 . And yet consider the results it may produce. ―I can live for two months on a good compliment,‖ said Mark Twain. So, let’s be 65 to the small excellences around us —and comment on them. We will not only bring joy into other people’s lives, but also, very often, add happiness into our own.51. A. guilty B. impatient C. fortunate D. reluctant52. A. charity B. criticism C. chemical D. command53. A. Instead B. Therefore C. Moreover D. Otherwise54. A. extreme B. immediate C. defensive D. positive55. A. naturally B. indirectly C. similarly D. closely56. A. pleasing B. unfair C. interesting D. objective57. A. unchanged B. unmatched C. unmentioned D. unemployed58. A. hotel B. personnel C. sales D. laundry59. A. ideal B. routine C. demanding D. steady60. A. wage B. chance C. input D. support61. A. inevitable B. constructive C. disappointing D. concrete62. A. frequently B. occasionally C. critically D. favorably63. A. highlights B. provides C. costs D. signals64. A. achievement B. challenge C. investment D. substitute65. A. certain B. alert C. resistant D. superiorSection ATwo friends have an argument that breaks up their friendship forever, even though neither one can remember how the whole thing got started. Such sad events happen over and over in high schools across the country. 51 , according to an official report on youth violence, ―in our country today, the greatest threat to the lives of children and adolescents is not disease or starvation or abandonment, but the terrible reality of violence‖. Given that this is the case, why aren’t students taught to manage 52 the way they are taught to solve math problemsor stay physically fit?First of all, students need to realize that conflict is 53 . A report indicates that most violent inc idents between students begin with a relatively minor 54 . For example, a fight could start over the fact that one student eats a peanut butter sandwich each lunchtime. 55the sandwich can lead to insults, which in turn can lead to violence. The problem isn’t in thesandwich, but in the way students deal with the conflict.Once students recognize that conflict is unavoidable, they can 56 the golden rule of conflict resolution: stay calm. Once the student feels calmer, he should choose words that will calm the other person down as well. Rude wordsand accusation only add fuel to the emotional fire. On the other hand, 57 words spoken at a normal sound level can put out the fire before it explodes out of control.After both sides have calmed down, they can use another key 58 for conflict resolution: listening. Listening allows the two sides to understand each other. One person should describe his or her side, and the other person should listen without interrupting. Afterward, the listener can ask non-threatening questions to make the speaker’s position clear. Then the two people should change 59 .60 , students need to consider what they are hearing. This doesn’t mean trying to figure out what’s wrong with the other person. It means understanding what the real issue is and what both sides are trying to 61 . For example, a shouting match over a peanut butter sandwich might happen because one person thinks the other person is unwilling to try new things. Students need to ask themselves questions such as these: How did this start? What do I really want? What am I afraid of? As the issue becomes 62 , the conflict often simply becomes smaller. Even if it doesn’t, 63 thought helps both sides figure out a bettersolution.After students started a conflict resolution, there has been an increase in student 64 . Learning to resolve conflicts can help students 65 friends,teachers, parents, bosses and coworkers. In that way, conflict resolution is a basic life skill that should be taught in schools across the country.51.A. As a result B. In fact C. By contrast D. On the contrary52.A. conflict B. lives C. relationships D. affairs53. A. violent B. global C. unresolved D. unavoidable54.A. remark B. assumption C. insult D. resolution55.A. Preferencefor B. Particularity aboutC. Complaint overD. Laughter over56.A. interpret B. practice C. assess D. bend57.A. soft B. tough C. critical D. clear58.A. measure B. strategy C. assessment D. application59.A. responses B. attitudes C. roles D. intentions60.A. Contrarily B. Relatively C. Consequently D. Finally61.A. accomplish B. ignore C. foresee D. seek62.A. wider B. clearer C. more complex D. more critical63.A. unselfish B. initial C. inspiring D. careful64.A. cooperation B. argument C. gratitude D. support65.A. admire B. select C. deal with D. back upIII. Reading ComprehensionSection ADirections:For each blank in the following passages there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.While residents of wealthy nations tend to have greater life satisfaction, new research shows that those living in poorer nations report having greater meaning in life.These findings, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological science, suggest that meaning in life may be higher in poorer nations __51__ greater religiosity(笃信宗教). As countries become richer, religion becomes less __52__ to people’s lives and they lose a sense of meaning in life.―Thus far, the wealth of nations has been almost always __53__ longevity, health, happiness or life satisfaction,‖ explains psychological scientist Shigehiro Oishi of the University of Virginia. ―Given that meaning in life is an important aspect o f overall well-being, we wanted to look more carefully at differential __54__, correlates(相关物), and predictors for meaning in life.‖Oishi and colleague Ed Diener of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign __55__ life satisfaction, meaning, and well-being by examining data from the 2007 Gallup World Poll, a __56__ survey of over 140,000 participants from 132 countries. __57__ answering a basic life satisfaction question, participants were asked: ―Do you feel your life has an important __58__ ormeaning?‖ and ―Is religion an important part of your daily life?‖The data revealed some unexpected __59__:―Among Americans, those who are high in life satisfaction are also high in meaning in life,‖ says Oishi. ―But when we looked at the societal level of analysis, we found a completely __60__ pattern of the association between meaning in life and life satisfaction.‖When looking across many countries, Oishi and Diener found that people in wealthier nations were more educated, had fewer children, and expressed more individualistic attitudes compared to those in poorer countries –all factors that were associated with higher life satisfaction but a __61__ lower sense of meaning in life.‖The data suggest that religiosity may play an important role: Residents of wealthier nations, where religiosity is lower, reported __62__ meaning in life and had higher suicide rates than poorer countries.According to the researchers, religion may provide meaning to life to the extent that it __63__ people to overcome personal difficulty and cope with the struggles of working to survive in poor economic conditions:Oishi and Diener hope to reproduce these findings using more comprehensive meas ures of meaning and religiosity, and are interested in __64__ countries over time to track whether economic __65__ gives rise to less religiosity and less meaning in life.51. A. by means of B. as a result of C. for the sake of D. with regard to52. A. central B. ideal C. formal D. superior53. A. related with B. combined with C. associated with D. represented with54. A. models B. styles C. designs D. patterns55. A. investigated B. diagnosed C. explored D. exploited56. A. nationwide B. thorough C. complete D. large-scale57. A. Except for B. Instead of C. Rather than D. In addition to58. A. opportunity B. temptation C. purpose D. definition59. A. trends B. practices C. outlooks D. currents60. A. precious B. similar C. relevant D. different61. A. exactly B. significantly C. adequately D. partially62. A. better B. less C. more D. fewer63. A. allows B. requests C. reminds D. helps64. A. following B. chasing C. pursuing D. predicting65. A. priority B. profit C. prosperity D. potentialSection ADirections: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.New research offers fresh insight on when to launch a product or service, and shows that being first to market isn’t always a competitive advantage.In 2004, David Cohen had an idea for a social network for mobile phones that would connect users in the real world. His company, called iContact, launched a beta version ( 测试版 ), and seemed ready to tap the muchpublicized mobile software market. Cohen, then 36, had already founded a successful software company. __51__, after 18 months, he was unable to get phone carriersto distribute his software, and he closed the company.Bets on mobile applications didn’t begin to __52__ until Apple’s iPhone app stor eopened the market in 2008.Conventional __53__ says being first to market creates a competitive advantage. Reality is more complicated. Market opportunities are __54__ opening and closing, and a hit idea at one point could be a failure a year earlier or a yawning ― me too ‖ business a year later. It’s tough---likely __55__ ---to identify the best moment to enter a market, but common sense dictates new entrepreneurs ( 创业人) can improve their odds ( 机会) if they __56__ how much they bearto gain or lose by waiting.New academic research suggests one way entrepreneurs can __57__whether they should enter a market first or wait on the sidelines. The decision depends on how hostile ( 不利的) the learning environment is; __58__, how much entrepreneurs can learn by observing other players before they __59__, compared to what they learn from participating after they enter, according toMoren Levesque, an entrepreneurship researcher at the University of Waterloo. Levesque, along with professors Maria Minniti of Southern Methodist University and Dean Shepherd of Indiana University, used a mathematical __60__ to weigh the risks and benefits of entering the market early. Their research is among the first to explore ― how different learning environments may influence the ent ry behavior of entrepreneurs.‖The key tothe academics’ findings on timing is this: In a hostile learning environment, entrepreneurs gain relatively __61__ benefit by watching others. For example, if the relevant knowledge is __62__intellectual property, studying the market before entering wouldn’t yield much advantage. In these situations, the trade-off ( 权衡利弊) __63__ entering early. But in less hostile learning environments, where entrepreneurs gain valuable information __64__to increase their success just by watching other companies, companies benefit from waiting and learning lessons from earlier players. IContact’s successors, for example, may have learned from watching the company’s trouble in getting mobile networks to distribute their software, a b arrier that was __65__ by the iPhone’s app store.51.A. Otherwise B. Moreover C.However D. Therefore52.A. pay in B. pay back C. pay for D. pay off53.A. custom B. wisdom C. habit D. experience54.A. completely B. confusingly C. constantly D. increasingly55.A. impossible B. possible C. potential D. manageable56.A. imagine B. interpret C. weigh D. measure57. A. value B. evaluate C. ensure D. convince58.A. after all B. as a result C.in other words D.in addition59.A. launch B. campaign C. strike D. function60. A. version B. pattern C. example D. model61.A. few B. many C. little D. much62.A. provided B. protected C. shared D. improved63.A. favors B. dislikes C. opposes D. concerns64.A. unlikely B. likely C. unbelievable D. questionable65.A. lowered B. created C. resolved D. removed。
