In her new book, “The Smartest Kids in the World,” Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist, tells the story of Tom, a high-school student from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, who decides to spend his senior year in Warsaw, Poland. Poland is a surprising educational success story: in the past decade, the country raised students' test scores from significantly below average to well above it. Polish kids have now outscored(超过……分数) American kids in math and science, even though Poland spends, on average, less than half as much per student as the United States does. One of the most striking differences between the high school Tom attended in Gettysburg and the one he ends up at in Warsaw is that the latter has no football team, or, for that matter, teams of any kind.
That American high schools waste more time and money on sports than on math is an old complaint. This is not a matter of how any given student who plays sports does in school, but of the culture and its priorities. This December, when the latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) results are announced, it's safe to predict that American high-school students will once again display their limited skills in math and reading, outscored not just by students in Poland but also by students in places like South Korea, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Singapore, and Japan. Meanwhile, they will have played some very exciting football games, which will have been breathlessly written up in their hometown papers.
Why does this situation continue? Well, for one thing, kids like it. And for another, according to Ripley, parents seem to like the arrangement, too. She describes a tour she took of a school in Washington D.C., which costs thirty thousand dollars a year. The tour leader—a mother with three children in the school—was asked about the school's flaws(瑕疵). When she said that the math program was weak, none of the parents taking the tour reacted. When she said that the football program was weak, the parents suddenly became concerned. “Really?” one of them asked worriedly, “What do you mean?”
One of the ironies(讽刺) of the situation is that sports reveal what is possible. American kids' performance on the field shows just how well they can do when expectations are high. It's too bad that their test scores show the same thing.
Jack threw the papers on my desk. “Next time you want to change anything, ask me first,” he said. I had changed a long sentence and corrected its grammar — something I thought I was paid to do.
Several days later, he made me angry again. I went to his office, prepared to lose my job if need be, but not before I let the man know how I felt. “What?” he said nervously. Suddenly I knew what I had to do. “Jack, the way you've been treating me is wrong. And it's wrong for me to allow it to continue,” I said. “I want to make you a promise. I will be a friend.” The next day I brought some cakes to Jack's office. Every time I saw Jack in the hall, I smiled at him. After all, that's what friends do.
One year after our talk, I was told that I had breast cancer (乳腺癌). When I was in hospital, my friends tried to find the right words to say, but no one could. The last day of my hospital stay, the door opened and Jack walked over to my bed. “Tulips (郁金香),” he placed some bulbs (球茎) beside me and said, “If you plant them when you get home, you'll be there to see them when they come up.” Tears filled my eyes. In a moment when I prayed for just the right words, a man with few words said the right thing. After all, that's what friends do. Now, I have seen those tulips push through the soil every spring for over ten years.
In America, when the eighth graders leave the middle school, they are often worried about moving to the high school．It is a hard time for them, but it can be an exciting one as well．To make it easier, students need to get familiar with their school.
Even though they've done this already in the middle school, it's still important to find where their classrooms are．Most schools take students to the high school for a visit at the end of their eighth grade year．And, most schools also have a freshman (新生) speech for parents and students before the first year begins．Sometimes the main office will give away a map of the school．This can help students and parents to find different places in the school.
One way to know your high school more and make new friends is to join a club or play a sport．Schools often offer chances to join different clubs and sports．Fall activities begin in August before the first day of school．If you are not interested in sports, there are clubs for any interest, such as drama, dance, chess, photography, community service, etc．These clubs allow students from different grades．By joining an activity, students can find new friendships, not to mention improving their chances in future college applications(申请)．The school office will have a list of activities offered at the school and information on how to join them.
What's more, to have a great start to a high school year, students can write down some of their worries, and ask for help from teachers and school workers.
— Yeah. I'll tell you later.
— Oh, yes. How often I have regretted_______ his advice!
I'll never forget the first day at school. It has left a deep1 on me.
The primary school that I attended was not far from my home. As soon as I rushed into the classroom, the bell 2 . A young beautiful woman came in, but she was 3 , with no smile on her face. "You are not permitted to 4 me in the course of class unless..." She was speaking when I heard a 5 "Lily, Lily" from outside the door.My grandmother was standing there with a pair of socks in her hand. I didn't realize I was bare feet 6 then. I wanted to 7 them. But I dared not do that. I shook my hand, 8 "Don't wait here any longer. Leave quickly." As I did so, I still 9 my eyes on my teacher. I really didn't want her to take 10 of me, but she did. She went out to get the socks. When she gave them to me, she looked at me for a while. My face suddenly turned 11 and my heart beat faster. I began to put the socks on. Unfortunately I was so nervous that my 12 hands couldn't get them 13 my feet easily. Just then I heard my name called. I 14from my seat quickly. "Can you count the numbers from one to one hundred?" the teacher asked. I nodded. Much15 her surprise, I did very 16 . Finally she said, "You did a good job. Be seated, please. Work hard at your lesson." I looked up at her to find a(n) 17 on her face. I felt 18 at last.
The first day at school has stayed in my 19 as something 20 but sweet.
You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessarily so. however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here is how：
Plan your time carefully. When planning your work, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list. you should make a schedule of your time. First your time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide a good, regular time for studying. A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you realize what is happening to your time.
Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study area. Keep this space, which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room, free of eeverything but study materials. No games, radios, or television. When you sit down to study, concentrate on the subject.
Make good use of your time in class. Listening carefully in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says.
Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes, review the important points that your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material. If you do these things regularly, the material will become more meaningful, and you'll remember it longer.
Develop a good attitude towards tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won't end if you don't pass a test,so don, t be over worried.
You will probably discover many others after you have tried these.
A. There are other methods that might help you with your studying.
B. Don't forget to set aside enough time for entertainment.
C. Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teacher says.
D. No one can become a top student unless he or she works hard.
E. Maybe you are an average student.
F. Make full use of class time to take notes of what the teacher says in class.
G. This will help you understand the next class.
There is an English saying:“.” Until recently, few people took the saying seriously. Now, however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body. .
Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films while doctors checked their hearts, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercise. . If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial.
Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group that tolerated(忍耐) the pain for the longest time was the group which listened to a funny program. .
. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter.
A. Laughter can make one's life longer.
B. As a result of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics in which they help to improve their patients' condition by encouraging them to laugh.
C. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemicals in the brain which reduce both stress and pain.
D. It increases blood pressure, the heart beating and breathing; it also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach and even the feet.
E. Although laughter helps cure the disease, doctors still can not put this theory into clinic practice.
F. Laughter is the best medicine.
G. They have found that laughter really can improve people's health
Snow falls in the Earth's extreme North and South throughout the year. However, the heaviest snowfalls have been reported in the mountains of other areas during winter. Snow is even known to fall near the Equator (赤道), but only on the highest mountains.
Snow contains much less water than rain, but much of the water the world uses comes from snow. In the western United States, mountain snow provides up to seventy-five percent of all surface water supplies.
Snowfall helps to protect plants and some wild animals from winter weather. Fresh snow is made largely of air trapped among the snow crystals (晶体). Because the air has trouble moving, the movement of heat is limited. The surface of the snow takes in, or absorbs, sound waves. As snow grows older or if there have been strong winds, it can become hard and flat. Then, the snow's surface will help to send back sound waves.
It is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people. Many people die in traffic accidents on roads covered with snow and ice or from being seriously stuck in the winter storm. .
People may not be able to avoid living in areas where it snows often. However, they can avoid becoming victims of snowstorms. People should stop driving and stay at home until the storm has passed. People living in these areas should carry emergency supplies in their vehicle.
A. These include food, emergency medical supplies, and extra clothing to stay warm and dry.
B. Snow also influences the movement of sound waves.
C. Melting snow provides water for rivers, electric power stations and agricultural crops.
D. Mountain snowfall is heavier than that in the South and the North Poles.
E. In many places, streets were blocked; houses fell down and supplies were short.
F. Others die from heart attacks caused by too much physical activity out in the cold.
G. Snow may be beautiful, but it can be deadly.
Michael' s birthday was coming soon, so he asked his dad for a bicycle so that he wouldn't have to walk to school anymore. Michael got a book instead but he did not complain ( 抱怨 ).
One bright and sunny day while Michael was walking past a bookstore on his way to school, he saw a big boy on a bike . The bike was too small for the boy.
The boy was a student in Michael' s school . Michael recognized him. The boy's name was William. His leg seemed to have broken. Michael picked up William' s bike which was not damaged and rode to the nearby hospital to get help. Michael rode William' s bike to school so he would not be late for class.
After school , Michael quickly rode the bicycle to William' s house with a book for him. But he had to put some medicine on his leg and stay in bed for some time.
To Michael' s surprise, William was getting a new bike for his birthday in two months so he let Michael have his old bike . Michael was overjoyed（喜出望外).
. Michael visited William every day until Williams 's leg was better.
A. Luckily, William was not seriously hurt.
B. Michael found it interesting and couldn't help laughing.
C. From then on, Michael and William became good friends
D. William gave his new bike to Michael to show his thanks.
E. However, Michael' s dad had lost his job and did not have much money.
F. As the boy was turning around a corner , the bike crashed into a tree.
G. A few minutes later, an ambulance (救护车)came and took William to the hospital .
Kids' health: four steps for fighting stress
Everybody gets stressed from time to time. some ways of dealing with stress— like screaming or hitting someone— don't solve much. But other ways, like talking to someone you trust, can lead you to solving your problem or at least feeling better.
Try taking these four steps the next time you are stressed:
(1.)Get support. When you need help, reach out to the people who care about you. Talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent or other relatives. they might have had similar problems, such as dealing with a test, or the death of a beloved pet.
(2.)Don't take it out on yourself. Sometimes when kids are stressed and upset they take it out on themselves. Oh , dear, that's not a good idea. Remember that there are always people to help you. Don't take it out on yourself.
(3.)Try to solve the problem. After you are calm and you have support from adults and friends, it's time to get down to business. even if you can't solve it all, you can solve a piece of it.
(4.)Be positive. Most stress is temporary（暂时的）. Remember stress does go away, especially when you figure out the problem and start working on solving it.
These steps aren't magic, but they do work.. and if you can stay positive as you make your way through a tough time, you'll help yourself feel better even faster.
A. Ask for a helping hand to get you through the tough situation.
B. Notice your friends' feelings and find a way to help them.
C. Different people feel stress in different ways.
D. Ah, it feels so good when the stress is gone.
E. You need to figure out what the problem is.
F. And don't forget about your friends.
G. Then, find a way to calm down.
Mary is a warm-hearted girl .
Rescue workers built shelters for survivors .
Our teacher always dictionaries.
Tom asks .
and we have become good friends.
She will tell us about her choice .
要点：1）简单介绍自己（如：哪国人，爱好等）
2）决定参加该俱乐部的原因（交朋友，提高英语水平）；
3）希望成为其中一员。
注意：1）词数100左右
2）可适当增加细节，是行文连贯；开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear John,
I'm glad to read the post on the Internet that you welcome students who like English.……
Yours,
Li Hua
