When Paul was a boy growing up in Utah, he happened to live near a copper smelter (炼铜厂), and the chemicals that poured out had made a wasteland out of what used to be a beautiful forest. One day a young visitor looked at this wasteland and called it an awful area. Paul knocked him down. From then on, something happened inside him.

Years later Paul was back in the area, and he went to the smelter office. He asked if they had any plans or if they would let him try to bring the trees back. The answer from that big industry was “No”.

Paul then went to college to study the science of plants. Unfortunately, his teachers said there weren’t any birds or squirrels to spread the seeds. It would be a waste of his life to try to do it. Everyone knew that, he was told. Even if he was knowledgeable as he had expected, he wouldn’t get his idea accepted.

Paul later got married but his dream would not die. And then one night he did what he could with what he had. As Samuel Johnson wrote, “It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote. Attainable good is often ignored by minds busied in wide ranges.” Under the cover of darkness, he went secretly into the wasteland and started planting.

And every week, he made his secret journey into the wasteland and planted trees and grass. For fifteen years he did this against the plain common sense. Slowly rabbits appeared. Later, as there was legal pressure to clean up the environment, the company actually hired Paul to do what he was already doing.

Now the place is fourteen thousand acres of trees and grass and bushes, and Paul has received almost every environmental award Utah has. It took him until his hair turned white, but he managed to keep that impossible vow (誓言)  he made to himself as a child.

21.  When Paul was a boy, _______.

A. he had decided never to leave his hometown

B. the economy of Utah depended wholly on the copper smelter

C. he hit a young visitor because of his comments on the wasteland

D. he stopped the copper smelter polluting the area

22.  Paul went to college to study the science of plants, because _______.

A. he wanted to find out the best way to save the area himself

B. he was interested in planting trees since he was young

C. he wanted to get more knowledgeable people to help him

D. he thought his knowledge would make his advice more convincing

23.  What does the underlined phrase “the plain common sense” probably mean?

A. It was impossible for trees to grow on the wasteland.

B. His normal work and life would be greatly affected.

C. No one would like to join him in the efforts.

D. He had to keep everything he did secret.

24.  The company hired Paul to plant trees and grass because_______.

A. they realized the importance of environmental protection

B. what Paul was doing moved them

C. Paul persuaded them to help him

D. they had legal pressure

Music died here last spring, or rather, it was killed by members of the school committee who ignored the importance of music and drama as part of the high-school curriculum (课程).

The committee decided that teaching students how to take a standardized test is more important than a curriculum in which students can explore their interests in the arts as well as academics. Because the school system is running out of funding, it needs to make sure that students pass the test or even more money will be lost. If students fail the state standardized test，it is not the fault of drama and music classes—they are failing because the “academic” classes are not sufficient (充足的).

It is painful to think of how many students will be discouraged from singing, acting, and playing instruments because school programs are no longer offered. Many families cannot afford private music lessons, and many potential musicians and artists may not find their calling if they are not exposed to it in school. The fact that the school committee thinks the arts are not worth the investment will certainly make some students believe the arts are not worth their time or support and the cycle will continue.

Teaching for a test does not shape students into complete, well-rounded people. It blocks the natural sense to create and express feelings through art—there is more to life than the analytical thinking that math and English provide. What happens after a test? Sure, a student might graduate, but they will have limited knowledge—certainly not a good preparation for the real world.

25. Music and drama are not included in the high school curriculum mainly because ________.
A. the school committee pays no attention to them
B. the school is afraid of losing financial support
C. the students are not interested in both of them
D. the state standardized test is more important

26. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The sufficiency of the classes determines students’ performance in the mastery test.
B. Quite a few students are discouraged from learning music and art in today’s school         system.
C. Students can be musicians and artists only if they can afford private music lessons.
D. The school committee completely influences students’attitude towards the arts.

27. We can learn that music and art can ________.
A. motivate students in creativity and expression
B. make students round-shaped people in future
C. provide students with analytical thinking
D. prevent students graduation from high school

28. The best title of the passage can be ________.
A. Who killed music and drama?
B. Can curriculum go without music?
C. Why is music so important?
D. How to prepare for the real world?

    For more than 40 years, scientists have sought to learn how well human beings can adapt to long periods in space. The International Space Station continues to provide valuable knowledge about spaceflight. But an earlier space station, Skylab, helped make the current space project possible.

    Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield sang aboard the International Space Station on May 12, 2013. His music video has become extremely popular. The astronaut played his own version of David Bowie’s song Space Oddity. He performed while floating weightlessly, with images of planet earth and space appearing in the window behind him.

    Chris Hadfield recently returned home after nearly five months on the space station. For him, the long flight produced a hit video on YouTube and no major physical problems. But 40 years ago, scientists did not know how humans would react to long-term spaceflight. To find out, NASA, the American space agency, launched Skylab in May, 1973. Over nearly a year, three teams of astronauts visited Skylab for stays of between 28 to 84 days. They learned how people react to extended periods in space.

    Gerald Carr commanded Skylab 4. He spoke at a NASA event marking the 40th anniversary of Skylab’s launch. He said that the loss of the body’s muscle mass was a main concern. Astronauts on Skylab used exercise equipment to stay strong. The astronauts spent their workdays carrying out experiments, including biomedical (生物医学的) research.

    Marshall Porterfield is the director of NASA’s Space Life and Physical Sciences Division. He says the Skylab astronauts’ understanding of their own ability to deal with long-term spaceflight continues to help current astronauts. NASA says the next step for life away from Earth is a year-long space station mission, set for 2015.

29. Why was Chris Hadfield’s song so special?

   A. It was performed in space.       

   B. It was created by an astronaut.

   C. It was a very familiar song.         

   D. It was first sung by a famous singer.

30. Which of the following best describes the physical condition of Chris Hadfield after his return?

   A. Worse.              B. Better.           C. Normal.          D. Weaker.

31. For what purpose did NASA launch Skylab?

A. To research on whether human beings could stay in space.

   B. To gather up information on setting up a space station.

   C. To study the changes in the body when staying long in space.

   D. To find out the possibility of doing experiments in space.

32. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

   A. Skylab is still in use to explore the space.

   B. The research results on Skylab are still valuable.

   C. Skylab is more advanced than the International Space Station.

   D. The Skylab astronauts made great contributions to biomedical research.

Suppose you are thinking about attending college in the United States, but perhaps you might not be ready for a university with a four-year program. About 88,000 international students have found solution. They are attending U.S. community colleges. Such colleges are sometimes called junior colleges. They offer two years of education above the secondary or high school level.

    Community college students can choose from subjects like medical assistance, computer science or law. At the end of their study program, they receive a document of completion, called a certificate. Some students work toward an associate degree in traditional academic subjects like science or history. After getting it, the students can move on to a four-year college or university. They may have only two years of study left before they receive a bachelor’s degree.

    Many educational experts agree that saving money is the major reason to consider a community college. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) says that a public two-year college costs 3,000 dollar a year on average. That is true if the student lives in the same state as the school. A student at a four-year public college may pay 8,500 dollars a year for classes and user fees. That does not include books and other materials.

    Some international students may need more preparation in English before entering a community college in the United States. For example, Istrif Montgomery came to the U.S. from Kosovo in 2006. First, he worked to improve his English at Montgomery College for a year. Then for the next two years, he attended classes in basic subjects in a community college.

    The international students at two-year colleges need to find a place to live. Most community colleges do not provide student housing on their grounds. But Mr Montgomery had a home nearby. He was able to ride the bicycle, and he was able to walk if he wanted. In fact, most community college students live within five to ten miles off the college.

33. What’s the biggest advantage of a community college?

   A. The classes are free of charge.

   B. The students can save much time.

   C. The students can save a lot of money.

   D. It is convenient for students to live in the college.

34. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

   A. Mr Montgomery usually goes to school on foot.

   B. Most students in community colleges don’t live far away.

C. 8,500 dollars covers all the cost of a four-year public college.

   D. International students often attend a community college directly.

35. What’s the main purpose of the passage?

   A. To encourage students to study abroad.

   B. To tell the international students how to save money.

   C. To tell us it’s a good choice to study in public colleges.

   D. To give some information about community colleges.

    36    The answer is that the government needs money for many things, for example to pay its army, to build public facilities and to buy goods from abroad, and only the people of the country can supply the money.

        37     That is, a person pays according to the amount of his income. Whether he is a merchant, a doctor, a lawyer, a shopkeeper, a miner, or anything else, he must pay tax if his income is more than a certain amount. This is called a “direct” tax, because it is paid in money direct to the government.

    Another tax is paid on goods such as watches, jewelry, tobacco, wine, etc. When they are brought into a country, such a tax is paid as part of the price of these goods if they are later sold in shops.     38   

    People usually complain about having to pay taxes, but they forget that the money is spent on things that they and their families need. We need policemen to catch thieves, and they must be paid what they earn; children need education and there must be schools and teachers; we want our streets to be kept clean, and the wages of men who do this kind of work have to be paid.     39      And we cannot have an army without paying for it.

        40     We have no real cause to complain when we are asked to pay taxes for the good of ourselves and for our fellow citizens.

A. Why must we pay taxes?

B. Why do people often complain?

C. Taxes, therefore, cannot be avoided.

D. Taxes, however, should be cancelled.

E. One of the most important taxes is income tax.

F. We call it “indirect” tax, because it is paid indirectly through the shopkeeper.

G. Above all, the country must always be ready to defend itself against attacking enemies.