出自:人文英语2
二、阅读理解：根据文章内容，完成选择题。（共50分）
The first year of school in America, known as kindergarten, usually begins between the ages of five and six. Among rich countries such a late start is very strange. President Obama believes it is an economic and social problem; his education secretary goes as far as to say that it is "morally wrong”. This statement has some support, as it is clear from research into vocabulary that youngsters from poor families enter kindergarten well behind those from rich families—a disadvantage that usually lasts a lifetime. Children from households on welfare knew 525 words by the age of three, while the children of professionals had mastered 1,116.
Pre-school can help close this gap. So in a speech last month, Mr. Obama called for a partnership between the federal government and the states to expand it to every American child. It later became known that "every" meant those who come from families with incomes of up to 200% above the poverty line—equal to an income of $47,000 for a family of four.
Some critics say that sending children to school at the age of four does not work. The evidence suggests otherwise. For example, on March 20thnew results were announced from a study of 9 to 11 year olds in New Jersey. This report found that disadvantaged children who had attended pre-school had better literacy (读写能力), language, maths and science skills. And two years of pre-kindergarten were better than one.
Some studies also follow the effects of early learning over lifetimes, such as its effect on crime rates and other factors that may eventually burden society. Critics have singled out a government scheme called Head Start, created in 1965, which provides poor households with a range of services including school-based early education.
操作提示：通过题目后的下拉选项框选择正确答案。
1. Kindergarten in rich countries other than America usually begins at the age of 回答
A. four
B. seven
C. six
2. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?回答
A. Poor pre-school kids have a larger vocabulary than rich kids.
B. President Obama believes that early education can solve all economic and social problems.
C. Rich pre-school kids have a richer vocabulary than poor kids.
3. Which of the following about the New Jersey study is TRUE?回答
A. There is no evidence to support the New Jersey study.
B. Two years of pre-kindergarten were better than one.
C. Sending children to school at the age of four is not going to help.
4. The phrase "single out" in the last paragraph means 回答
.
A. choose
B. think about
C. count
5. Which of the following is an appropriate title for this passage?回答
A. Secondary Education
B. Pre-school Education
C. Poor Kids. Education
What Do you Say in A Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a letter of introduction sent along with a résumé or curriculum vitae (CV). How do you write a successful cover letter? Bear these points in mind, and you.ll always make a great impression.
Keep your cover letter brief and to the point. Writing more than one page is usually unnecessary. If it is sent in an email, writing three short paragraphs is quite sufficient.
Explain why you are sending a résumé. Don.t make the reader guess what you are asking for.
Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization – a flyer posted in your department, a web site, a family friend who works at the organization, etc.
Convince the reader to look at your résumé. The cover letter will be seen first. Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.
Call attention to your background – education, leadership, experience – that is relevant to the position you are seeking.
Provide any information specifically requested in the job advertisement that might not be covered in your résumé, such as availability date, or references.
操作提示：正确选T，错误选F。
1. A cover letter is a letter of introduction sent along with a résumé.回答
2. The cover letter is usually more than one page.回答
3. There is no need to explain why you are sending a résumé.回答
4. The cover letter must be very well written.回答
5. Education background is irrelevant to the position you are seeking.回答
It can be really frustrating (使人沮丧的) for an overweight person to go to a gym and work out with a positive attitude. All one has to do is walk by almost any nice gym and notice all the healthy, sweating, “skinny” members. Sometimes they stare at those of us who are, well, zaftig. It is easy to see the judgment behind their eyes. Who wants to put up with that?
Many people are self-conscious of their bodies and feel isolated when joining workout classes of while exercising, especially if they are larger than most of the others in the group. Now the fitness industry is finally paying attention. Popular gyms are catering (迎合) to overweight and weight conscious customers by dedicating areas where the “skinny” people are not allowed.
There are even gyms or programs that require members to be at least 50 pounds overweight to participate.
Trainers recommend functional fitness as a practical goal, rather than six-pack abs(六块腹肌). (79)They often use text messages to stay in touch with customers.
Often at these specialized gyms, the trainers are overweight themselves, or working on their own weight goals, and this can help those people with anxiety caused by poor body image. The equipment has been designed for use by larger people. Wider seats, more cushioning, no mirrors, and tinted (有色的) windows for privacy, are all important changes.
(80)Hopefully these types of gyms will successfully grow in numbers in the future. The idea is a very simple and potentially popular one. If it helps those of us who are bigger exercise more and improve our fitness level, it.s a step in the right direction.
操作提示：通过题目后的下拉选项框选择正确答案。
1. The word zaftig in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to 回答
.
A. fat B. healthy C. friendly
2. We can infer from the first two paragraphs that 回答
.
A. most large gym chains really don.t want members to show up frequently
B. overweight people are often frustrated and pushed away by traditional gym industry
C. regular gyms don.t accept overweight people to participate in their programs
3. What is the training goal in the gyms catering to overweight members?回答
A. To achieve functional fitness.
B. To build six-pack abs.
C. To look like a fitness model.
4. As for the gyms catering to overweight members, which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?回答
A. The machines are designed for larger people.
B. Tinted windows are used to ensure extra privacy.
C. There are large mirrors on the walls.
5. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?回答
A. Improving Women.s Self-confidence through Exercises.
B. The traditional Gym Industry Is Losing Its Customers.
C. Specialized Gyms Designed for Overweight People.