Many young people in the United States never finish high school. Exactly how many drop out is another issue. Recent studies of  __1__ rate have had conflicting results.

For one thing, schools define and measure their dropout rates __2__. Some researchers say about 15 to 20 percent of public school students do not  __3__ their education on time. __4__  many other experts and policymakers believe that for the past 20 years, the dropout rate has been around 30 percent. For Latino and black students, the  __5__  are even larger. Researchers say almost half of them  __6__  school. At the same time, almost half of the states let students leave school  __7__  the age of 18 without informing their parents.

Finding a good job  __8__  a high school education is becoming more and more difficult. A Northeastern University  __9__  in 2002 found that almost half of all dropouts aged 16 to 24 did not have a job. The  __10__  of a high school education can also  __11__ other problems. It is estimated that two－thirds of prisoners in the United States dropped out of high school.

Recent studies have  __12__  that the majority of students who drop out do it because they are failing. Many are  __13__ with their classes or feel disconnected from their school and teachers. Some students feel that educators place low  __14__  on them.

During the past 20 years, there have been efforts to  __15__  graduation rate through education reforms. Some communities are working on dropout  __16__ programs. These include some alternative high schools to meet special  __17__.

Experts think “early warning systems” can help __18__ young schoolchildren at the risk of dropping out of high school. They say schools also need to get  __19__ more involved, especially if their children are  __20__  school often.

1. A. research    B. finishing    C. dropout  D. completing

2. A. personally  B. individually  C. differently  D. similarly

3. A. complete   B. reach       C. practise  D. operate

4. A. And       B. Besides      C. Instead  D. But

5. A. people     B. students  C. dropouts  D. numbers

6. A. approach  B. leave  C. stay  D. enter

7. A. after     B. until  C. before  D. when

8. A. without        B. together with

C. out of         D. off

9. A. project  B. design  C. sketch  D. study

10. A. importance     B. lack

C. need          D. requirement

11. A. lead to  B. result  C. conclude  D. include

12. A. noticed  B. watched  C. shown  D. inspected

13. A. bored  B. interested  C. indifferent  D. unconcerned 

14. A. outlook  B. prediction  C. remark  D. expectations

15. A. decrease  B. reduce  C. increase  D. unite

16. A. prevention      B. conservation

C. permission      D. admittance

17. A. needs  B. ways  C. advantages  D. means

18. A. receive  B. accept  C. get  D. identify

19. A. mates  B. teachers  C. parents  D. neighbours

20. A. missing  B. staying  C. leaving  D. studying

For many years, women could only be seen on the seat behind the men operating the two－wheeled motorcycle. Now more and more women are taking the front seat. More than twenty million people in the United States ride motorcycles.

Since 1998 the number of female bikers has risen sharply. Lady Sport Riders began in 1999 in Washington. The women formed the organization to share their love of motorcycle riding. But later it wanted to be more than just an organization for women togather and ride motorcycles, so it started to organize events that help national health organizations and women's shelters. It also permits women to share a strong sisterhood, and gives financial awards to poor students. Like other motorcycle clubs, the members of Lady Sport Riders also help their community. 

Different from male riders, female riders ride for more than fun. This sport gives women a sense of freedom and control. Female riders have helped change motorcycle culture. More than five years ago manufacturers began making equipment especially for women. Some bikes now have smaller, softer seats and controls that are easier to reach. Modern clothes for riding now look good and still provide protection. In the past, women rode motorcycles that travelled at a moderate speed. Now theirs are as powerful as the ones men ride. Safety is very important when riding because the risk of injury is high. So the women wear protective clothing and equipment at all times, especially for the head.

Lady Sport Riders believes women have earned their place in the sport of motorcycle riding. When speaking of male motorcyclists, the members of the club say, “They Made the Game. We Came to Play！”

1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A. Motorcycle riding used to be considered a male sport.

B. The number of female motorcyclists is now larger than that of male riders.

C. Female motorcyclists are more skilled at riding than male riders.

D. More and more women have an adventurous spirit.

2. In the beginning, Lady Sport Riders was organized to ________.

A. allow women to take up motorcycling

B. offer help to national health organizations

C. share their great interest in the sport of motorcycling

D. supply financial help to poor students

3. What do men motorcyclists mainly expect to get from motorcycling?

A. Strength and power.

B. A sense of freedom.

C. Money and fame.

D. Pleasure from this sport.

4. Compared with the past, the present equipment makes riding more ________ for women.

A. difficult  B. pleasant

C. risky  D. expensive

5. What is the purpose of the passage?

A. To talk about the development of motorcycle riding.

B. To talk about the characteristics of the sport of motorcycling.

C. To introduce a female motorcycle club to readers.

D. To talk about the role women have played in the sport of motorcycling.

About 97% of the world's water is salty and is found in our oceans and seas. But, as we can't drink seawater, how can it be important?

Every part of our seas and oceans contains an amazing number of animals and fish that live at different ocean depths. Most of the different species of animals and fish depend on simple plants for their food. These simple plants called algae (海藻) drift near the surface of the ocean and use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into food and oxygen. In fact, algae produce over half of the oxygen people breathe. How important seawater is!

Each plant or animal in our seas and oceans is an important link in a food chain. The algae are eaten in large amounts by microscopic animals, which are in turn consumed by larger animals. These food chains are delicately balanced.

The bad news about the food chains in the oceans is that they are under threat because of man. People once thought that the oceans were so big that it didn't matter if we dumped rubbish into them or caught huge quantities of fish and whales for food. But we now know this is not true and fish stocks in the oceans have started to drop.

Thankfully, the world is taking steps to protect the future of our oceans by introducing international agreements to protect marine habitats. Most countries have introduced fishing restrictions to protect fish stocks in the oceans and new techniques are being pioneered to cope with pollution. Finally, the importance of protecting oceans is being made known to more people. This is just the beginning of a long process to protect the oceans for our future. We depend on the oceans for fish which are an important part of the human diet. How important seawater is!

6. Which of the following is the proper order of the food chain?

A. small animals→algae→microscopic animals→large animals→man.

B. algae→microscopic animals→large animals→larger animals→man.

C. small animals→algae→large animals→microscopic animals→man.

D. microscopic animals→algae→large animals→larger animals→man.

7. People used to think that the rubbish thrown into the sea ________.

A. wouldn't harm the fish in the sea

B. would change the balance of the food chain

C. would be broken down in the sea

D. wouldn't do much harm to the sea

8. From the passage, we learn that ________. 

A. most fish and sea animals live at the surface of the seas

B. it is very difficult to break the balance of a food chain

C. excessive fishing has caused the decrease in fish stock

D. it won't be long before the problems concerning oceans will be solved

9. Which of the following is NOT a way being used to protect oceans?

A. The use of international agreements.   

B. Forbidding fishing to protect fish stocks.

C. The use of new techniques.          

D. Raising people's awareness of the need to protect oceans.

10. What would be the BEST title of the passage?

A. The importance of seawater.

B. Life in the oceans.

C. How to protect food chains.

D. How to deal with seawater pollution.

下面短文中有10处语言错误。请在有错误的地方增加、删除或修改某个单词。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写上该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写上修改后的词。

注意：每处错误及其修改均仅限一词。

　　During the summer holidays this year, I thought I should do anything meaningful instead of staying at home, so I have got a job at a KFC fast food restaurant, worked as a cleaner.I worked seven hours a day for three weeks.

The job was hard and bored and seemed endless, which made me so tired that I nearly gave it in half way, but I stuck to it with determinations.Every day I started off for work early in the morning and got home lately in the evening.Finally I finished the job before the new term begins.

Now, I understand that labor means.I think it is really successful experience.

—Can you help me?

—Sure, what's the problem?

—__1__

—Well, how about San Francisco? We went there last year and had a great time.

—__2__

—Well, there is Golden Gate Bridge of course, and Golden Gate Park. It's a really big park. You can go for long walks or take a rest in the Japanese Tea Garden. It's beautiful there.

—__3__

—There is also a place called Fisherman's Wharf. That's really popular with tourists. There are lots of shops, cafes and restaurants. And from there you can go on a boat trip to Alcatraz. You know, it's a small but very beautiful island.

—__4__

—No, you can't stay on the island; there aren't any hotels. You can only go for the day. I think I've still got a book about San Francisco. I can lend it to you.

—__5__

A. What can you do there?

B. Oh, great! What a great place to stay in!

C. What an idea! What is the best time to go there?

D. I can't decide where to go for the holiday—any ideas?

E. Thanks a lot. San Francisco, here I come! 

F. Hmm, that sounds good.

G. How can I go there?

1. ________　2. ________　3. ________　4. ________

5. ________