For most Americans, a clean glass of water is just a matter of turning on a faucet（水龙头）. But for many of the world’s poorest, it’s hard to get.
On Wednesday, the United Nations(UN) marked World Water Day by trying to cut the number of people without good drinking water—one billion human beings worldwide—in half. In the next ten years, the UN will work with governments around the world to reduce the shortage.
Without clean water nearby, many people use water _______________________. In India, many people bathe and wash their clothes in rivers that are polluted by human waste.
According to the UN, not having enough clean water and sanitation causes more than three million deaths a year. “The links between water and human heath are powerful,” said Dr Lee Jong Wook, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO). “We cannot live without clean water.”
In fact, the International Federation of the Red Cross said that quick reaction after last year’s Asian tsunami(海啸) had stopped disease. The agency provided clean water to nearly 500,000 people in Indonesia after the tsunami.
World Water Day was first celebrated in 1993. Since then, it is celebrated each year on March 22.
1. How did the UN mark World Water Day on Wednesday? ( within 16 words)
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2. Which sentence in the passage can be replaced by this one?
The quality of the water is closely connected with human health.
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3. What did the International Federation of the Red Cross do after the tsunami? Why?
(within 16 words)
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4. Fill in the blank in the 3rd paragraph with proper words or phrases. (within 8 words)
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5. Translate the underlined sentence in the 1st paragraph into Chinese.
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1. By trying to cut the number of people without good drink water in half.
2. The links between water and human health are powerful.
3. It provided clean water to the people in Indonesia to stop disease from spreading.
4. that/which is harmful to their health; that /which is bad for their health; that/which isn’t fit to drink.
5. 对大多数美国人来讲，只需打开水龙头，就可以拥有一杯干净的水。
In a society, such as the United States or Canada, which has many national, religious and cultural differences, people highly value individualism--the difference among people. Teachers place a lot of importance on the qualities that make each student special. The educational systems in these countries show these values. Students don't memorize information. Instead, they work individually and find answers themselves. There is often discussion in the classroom. At an early age, students learn to form their own ideas and opinions.
In most Asian societies, by contrast, people have the same language, history, and culture. Perhaps for this reason, the educational system in much of Asia reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism. Children in China, Japan, and Korea often work together and help one another in assignments. In the classroom, the teaching methods are often very formal. The teacher lectures, and the students listen. There is not much discussion. Instead, the students recite rules of information that they have memorized.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these systems of education. For example, one advantage to the system in Japan is that there much more math and science than American students learn by the end of high school. They also study more hours each day and more days each year than North Americans do. The system is difficult, but it prepares students for a society that values discipline and self-control. There is, however, a disadvantage. Memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools, yet many students say that after an exam, they forget much of the information that they have memorized.
The advantage of the educational system in North American, on the other hand, is that students learn to think for themselves. The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas. There is, however, a disadvantage. When students graduate from high school, they haven’t memorized as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have.
Title： 76 of Educational System between North America and Asia
| Students in the US and 77 | Students in China, Japan and Korea | |
| What do they 78 | Individualism | 79 goals and purposes |
| Different 80 of study | Working individually | Listening to the teachers |
| Forming their own ideas and opinions | Reciting rules and memorizing information | |
| A lot of discussion in the classroom | Not much discussion | |
| 81 | Learning to think for themselves | Learning much more math and science |
| Studying more hours each day and more days each year | ||
| Good for a society that values 82 | Good for a society valuing 83 and self-control | |
| Disadvantages | Students haven’t memorized many basic rules and facts before 84___ | Information is 85 easily. |
Directions: Read the following passage. Complete the diagram by using the information from the passage. Write NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS for each answer.
American public education has changed in recent years. One change is that increasing numbers of American parents and teachers are starting independent public schools called charter schools.
In 1991, there were no charter schools in the Unite States. Today, more than 2300 charter schools operate in 34 states and the District of Columbia. 575. 000 students attend these schools. The students are from 5 years of age through 18 or older.
A charter school is created by groups of parents, teachers and community members. It is similar in some ways to a traditional public school. It receives tax money to operate a number of students. The charter school must prove to local or state governments that its students are learning. These governments provide the school with the agreement, or charter that permits it to operate.
Unlike a traditional public school, however, the charter school does not have to obey most laws governing public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell it what to teach.
Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach those goals. Class sizes are usually smaller than in many traditional public schools. Many students and parents say teachers in charter schools can be more creative.
However, state education agencies, local education-governing committees and unions often oppose charter schools. They say these schools may receive money badly needed by traditional public schools. Experts say some charter schools are doing well while others are struggling.
Congress provided 200 million dollars for establishing charter schools in the 2006 federal budget. But, often the schools say they lack enough money for programs. Many also lack needed space, District officials say they have provided 14 former school buildings for charter education. Yet charter school supporters say officials should try harder to find more space.
Title: 71.
| 72 ________ | Independent public school | ||
| Similarities between charter schools and traditional schools | ●73 ________ to operate U number of students ●Having to prove the students are learning ●Getting 74 ________ to operate from government | ||
| 75 __________ between charter schools and traditional schools | ●Not having to obey most laws for public schools ●Being free to decide the 76 ________ ●Being free to choose the goals and decide 77 ________ them ●There usually being 78 ________ students in charter schools’classes ●Having teachers who are more creative | ||
| Charter school's problems | Opinions from education departments | These schools receiving money badly needed by 79 ________ Not all doing well | |
| Opinions from charter schools | Lacking enough money Lacking 80．_________ | ||