中考英语最新任务型阅读牛津版

中考英语最新任务型阅读牛津版

最新中考任务型阅读 任务型阅读 1 In many parts of the world, there are four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. In the U.S., there are only three: football, basketball and baseball. That's not completely true, but almost. In every season, Americans have a ball. If you want to know what season it is, just look at what people are playing. For many Americans, sports do not just occupy the sidelines. They take center court. Besides "the big three" sports, Americans play a variety of other sports. In warm weather, people enjoy water sports. Lovers of surfing, sailing and scuba diving flock to the ocean. Swimmers and water skiers also revel in the wet stuff. Fishermen try their luck in ponds, lakes and rivers. In winter sportsmen delight in freezing fun. From the first snowfall, skiers hit the slopes. Frozen ponds and ice rinks become playgrounds for skating and hockey. People play indoor sports whatever the weather. Racquetball, weightlifting and bowling are year-round activities. For many people in the U.S., sports are not just for fun. They're almost a religion. Thousands of sports fans buy expensive tickets to watch their favorite teams and athletes play in person. Other fans watch the games at home, glued to their TV sets. The most devoted sports buffs never miss a game. Many a wife becomes a "sports widow" during her husband's favorite season. America's devotion to athletics has created a new class of wealthy people: professional athletes. Sports stars often receive million-dollar salaries. Some even make big money appearing in advertisements for soft drinks, shoes and even toiletries. (1) in America “the big three” sports a variety of other sports sports are a (9) football basketball （2） outdoor sports (6) sports (7) weightlifting (8) in warm weather in cold weather water sports (3) sailing scuba diving (4) water skiing skiing (5) hockey sports fans watch games in (10) watch TV at home 任务型阅读 2 Never go into a supermarket hungry! This is a good piece of advice. If you go shopping for food before lunchtime, you’ll probably buy more than you plan to. Unfortunately, however, just this advice isn’t enough for consumers these days. Modern shoppers need an education in how and how not to buy things at the store. First, you check the weekly newspaper ads. Find out the items that are on sale and decide if you really need these things. In other words, don’t buy anything just because it’s cheaper than usual! “New and Improved!” or “All Natural” on the front of a package influence you. Instead, read the list of ingredients (contents) on the back. Third, compare prices: that is, you should examine the prices of both different brands and different sizes of the same brand. Another suggestion for consumers is to buy ordinary items instead of famous brands. Ordinary items in supermarkets come in plain packages. These products are cheaper because producers don’t spend much money on packing or advertising. The quality, however, is usually as good as the quality of well-known name brands. In the same way, in buying clothes, you can often find high quality and low prices in brands that are not famous. Shopping in discount clothing stores can help you save a lot of money. Although these stores aren’t very attractive, and they usually do not have individual dressing rooms, not only are the prices low, but you can often find the same famous brands that you find in high-priced department stores. Wise consumers read magazine ads and watch TV commercials, but they do this with one advantage: knowledge of the psychology behind the ads. In other words, well-informed consumers watch for information and check for misinformation. They ask themselves questions: Is the advertiser hiding something in small print at the bottom of the page? Is there any real information in the commercial, or is the advertiser simply showing an attractive image? With the answers to these questions, consumers can make a wise choice. main topic:suggestions for _____(1)___ suggestio ns Never go into a supermarket when you ___(2)__hungry! need an education in how and how not to buy things at the store buy ordinary items instead of famous _(3)_. read ads with _(4)___of the psychology behind the ads. _(5)_ for the suggestio ns It is _(6)_ to buy more than you plan to. consumers can make a wise __(7)_ the prices of __(8)_items are relatively low because producers spend__(9)_money on packaging ads sometimes don’t tell the __(10)_ 任务型阅读 3 Trees should only be pruned when there is a good and clear reason for doing so and , the number of such reasons is small . Pruning involves the cutting away of overgrown and unwanted branches, and the inexperienced gardener can be encouraged by the thought that more damage results from doing it unnecessarily than from leaving the tree to grow in its own way. First, pruning may be done to make sure that trees have desired shape or size. The object may be to get a tree of the right height, and at the same time to help the growth of small side branches, which will thicken its appearance or give it a special shape. Secondly, pruning may be done to make the tree healthier. You may cut out diseased or dead wood, or branches that are rubbing against each other and thus cause wounds. The health of a tree may be encouraged by removing branches that are blocking up the center and so preventing the free movement of air. One result of pruning is that an open wound is left on the tree and this provides an easy entry for disease, but it is a wound that will heal. Often there is a race between the healing and the disease as to whether the tree will live or die, so that there is a period when the tree is at risk. It should be the aim of every gardener to reduce that risk of death as far as possible. It is important to make the area, which has been pruned, smooth and clean, for healing will be slowed down by roughness. You should allow the cut surface to dry for a few hours and then paint it with one of the materials available from garden shops produced especially for this purpose. Pruning is usually done in winter, for then you can see the shape of the tree clearly without interference from the leaves and also it is very unlikely that the cuts you make will bleed. If this does happen, it is, of course, impossible to paint them properly. Pruning trees A good gardener prunes a tree when (-1)_______. First, make the trees in (5) _______ shape or size. (2)_______ for pruning trees. Second, make the trees (6) _______. One (3) _______ of pruning trees. An open wound (7) _______ easy (8) _______for disease. Make the wound (9) _______ and clean. Reduce the (4) _______ of the death of a tree. Paint the wound (10) _______ it dries. 任务型阅读 4 A new life on the university campus I am a freshman of the English Department at Pujiang University. Life at the university is so exciting and challenging. There are two campuses for our university: one is for freshmen and sophomores and the other is for juniors, seniors and graduate students. My campus is located on the outskirts of the city, which is a new one, very peaceful and free from the hustle and bustle of a metropolis. It is free from all sorts of distractions and diversions that most city dwellers find it hard to escape or ignore. We have a three-day orientation programme about campus life for entering students, including a campus tour in which we can visit libraries, classroom buildings, language labs, the multimedia resource center, computer support services, the student club, and the sports stadium. We freshmen have access to all these resources and technical facilities on a regular basis. They are open to all students. As a matter of fact, we’re encouraged to make the most of the libraries and technical support services on the campus. We all live on campus, as the school rules say that no freshmen should live off campus during the weekdays, unless the university authorities give permission. We prefer to eat in school cafeterias because there is a variety of foods on the menu, which changes every day. Besides, the food service is much better than that of most secondary schools. For one thing, our campus cafeterias are under the management of a professional food service company with an annually-renewable contract. Being an English major, we have to speak English with our fellow students and English teachers most of the time. We are expected to speak English with all our English teachers whatever courses they teach. We’re also encouraged to speak English in the dorm area as much as possible. We are not quite used to this “ English only” environment, though. Anyway, we’re all trying very hard. It always takes us time to adjust to a new environment. We are given English lectures and talks which cover a variety of topics. We are encouraged to attend the free discussion session following each lecture or presentation. Most of the lectures are given by native-speakers, so at the beginning I have much difficulty in figuring out much of what they say. But I know they are very good for students majoring in English. I like my life in the university and I experience a lot. I will try my best to make my life colourful. Fill in each blank with a suitable word: Our campus A three-day orientation programme Some school rules English majors We have two campuses. My campus is (1) l on the outskirts of the city. It is a new one and very p and free from the hustle and bustle of a metropolis. The programme about campus life for (3)e students which includes visiting the (4)m resource center, computer support services, and so on. The freshmen have (5)a to all these resources and technical (6) on a regular basis. We’re encouraged to use libraries and technical services on the campus. The school rules say that no (7) should live off campus during the weekdays, unless the university authorities give (8) . We eat in the campus cafeterias. We are not quite used to this “English only” (9) . It always takes us time to (10) to a new environment. 任务型阅读 5 Asian American have become the fast-growing U.S minority in two decades. As their children began moving up through the nation’s schools, they became a main stream of a new class of academic achievers. Their achievements are reflected in the nation’s best universities, where mathematics, science, and engineering departments have taken on a decidedly Asian character. Their preference for mathematics and science is partly explained by the fact that Asian-American students who began their education abroad arrived in the U.S. with a solid foundation in mathematics but little or no knowledge of English. They are also influenced by the promise of a good job after college. Asians feel there will be less unfair treatment in areas like mathematics and science because they will be judged more objectively. And the return on the investment in education is more immediate in something like engineering then with an arts degree. Most Asian-American students owe their success to the influence of their parents who are determined to make full use of what the American educational system has to offer. An effective measure of parental attention is homework. Asian parents spend more time with their children than American parents do, and it helps. Many researchers also believe there is something in Asian culture that results in success, such as ideals that stress family values and emphasize education. Both explanations for academic success worry Asian American because of fears that they feed a typical racial image. Many can remember when Chinese, Japanese and Filipino immigrants were the victims of social isolation. Indeed, it was not until 1952 that laws were passed giving all Asian immigrants the right to citizenship. Problem Asian Americans became a main _____1___ of a new class of academic achievers. They do better in ____2_______, _____3_____ and engineering. Reasons 1. Asians Americans have a solid ________4_______ in basic mathematics. 2. They are likely to find a good job and they think they will get ____5_____treatment if doing well in these areas. 3. They are __6__by their parents who take full __7___of American education system. 4. It is also believed that their success is due to Asian ____8______ Worry Asian Americans fear that they would be _____9____again from American society. History Asian immigrants had no right to citizenship until _____10___ 任务型阅读 6 A gift for the future In the next several decades, it is believed that the world’s population will increase to about nine billion people. This should set alarm bells ringing because the bare fact is that, in order for everyone to survive, serious changes need to be made in global development. This development needs to be different from past development, which polluted the environment and wasted natural resources. One possible solution to this problem now being discussed is sustainable development. Sustainable development is long-term planning which focus on the environment and preserving natural resources. It is all about creating better health care, education, housing and improved standards of living for everyone. This is a simple idea, but one which is hard to put into practice. However, it is something that we must do because without sustainable development, our future and the lives of our children and our grandchildren will be in danger. Nearly everything we do in our modern lives requires the use of Earth’s natural resources. These natural resources provide the energy to do many important things: to have a shower, to boil water, to power electrical equipment and to turn oil into petrol. The list is almost endless. To do all these things we mostly depend on fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil to produce energy. Fossil fuels are found underground and are non-renewable sources of energy, which means that they can not be renewed in a short period of time. We are currently consuming fossil fuels at a much higher rate than they are being produced. If this continues, some people believe that oilfields and coal seams will run out in the foreseeable future. On top of this, burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide, which is like poison to the environment. Carbon dioxide contributes to air, water and soil pollution and causes global warming and acid rain. This is why many people are pushing for the use of alternative energy sources. Fill in each blank with a suitable word: A gift for the future→ _______1______ development The importance of ______2_______ development →_____3________ →_______4______ ______5_______ of energy →______6_______ fuels →______7_______of them →Features _____8_______ ______9______ to the environment →_____10_______ energy 任务型阅读 7 An Event of Imagination The year is 2094. It has been announced that a comet is heading towards the Earth. Most of it will miss our planet, but two pieces will probably hit the southern half of the Earth. On 17 July, a piece four kilometers wide enters the Earth's atmosphere with a massive explosion. About half of the piece is destroyed, but the remaining part hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of sound. The sea boils and a huge hole is made in the seabed. Huge waves are created and spread outwards from the hole. The wall of water, a kilometer high, rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour. Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned. Before the waves reach South America, the second piece of the comet lands in Argentina. Earthquakes and volcanoes are set off in the Andes Mountains. The shock waves move north into California and all around the Pacific Ocean. The cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tokyo are completely destroyed by earthquakes. Millions of people in the southern half of the earth are already dead, but the north won't escape for long. Because of the explosions, the sun is hidden by clouds of dust, and temperature around the world falls to almost zero. Crops are ruined. The sun won't be seen again for many years. Wars break out as countries fight for food. A year later, no more than 10 million remain alive. Could it really happen? In fact, it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth. The dinosaurs (恐龙) were on the Earth for over 160 million years. Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared. Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a piece of object in space. The dinosaurs couldn't live through the cold climate that followed and they died out. Will we meet the same end? 请根据以上文章，完成下列表格： Reasons Results One piece hits the South Atlantic at 200 times 1 2 the speed of sound. The sea boils and a huge hole is made in the seabed. A tsunami(海啸) hits southern Africa, 3 cities on the African coast, and 4 millions of people. A 5 6 happens when the four-kilometer-wide piece of comet enters the Earth's 7 . The sun is hidden by clouds of dust and the temperature falls to almost zero, 8 crops. Wars break out for food and only 10 million people remain. The human beings are 9 the danger of 10 out. 任务型阅读 8 A smart card is a card that is carried with either a microprocessor and a memory chip or only a memory chip that is not programmable. The microprocessor card can add. delete, and deal with the information on the card, while a memory-chip card can only do one thing. Smart cards, unlike magnetic stripe cards, can do many different things and hold a lot of information. In this way, they do not need to get information from a faraway place when they are used. Today, there are several kinds of smart cards, all of which are very popular in the market: IC (Integrated Circuit) Microprocessor Cards Microprocessor Cards (chip cards) offer a larger memory and better security than the traditional magnetic stripe cards do. Chip cards can also hold data. These cards are used for many things. Thus, chips have been the main platform for cards that hold a secure digital identity. Some examples of these cards are: Cards that hold money. Cards that provide safe access to a network. Cards that allow setting stop boxes on televisions to remain safe from privacy. Optical Memory Cards Optical memory cards look like cards with a piece of CD on the top. Optical memory cards can store up to 4MB of data. But once written, the data can not be changed or removed. Thus, this type of card is good for keeping records, such as medical files, driving records or travel histories. Today, these have no processors in them (although this is coming in the near future). While the cards are almost as cheap as chip cards, the card readers are expensive. Title: (1)_______________cards Types (3)________________ Disadvantages Similarities IC Chip Cards A larger memory & Better (4)___________ Hold data Not mentioned Optical (2)___________ cards Store much data Good for (5)_________ Drivers and (6)_______ to keep records (7)_______ not much (8)________ data No processors Expensive card (9)___________ Popularity Large (10) ____ Low cost of cards 任务型阅读 9 Since the beginning of human evolution, men have migrated（迁移）across continents in search of food, shelter, safety, and comfortable weather. People still move for these reasons, but new reasons for human migration are arising, such as job relocation(重新安置) and overpopulation. Three million migrants are moving from poor countries to wealthier ones each year, and increasingly, their destination is a neighboring country in developing parts of the world. People are moving within the developing world for the same reasons as they migrate to wealthier nations. People from poor countries are going to less poor countries, fleeing wars and conflicts. They are also responding to population pressures because some countries are densely populated, and they often have high population growth. Those people need to go somewhere else. There are three main reasons why people move. The basic categories and percentages are as follows, according to the Current Population Surveys (CPS): Family-related reasons account for 26.3%, including changes in marital（婚姻的） status, establishing a household and other family reasons; work-related reasons 16.2%, including job transfer, retirement, and other job-related reasons; housing-related reasons 51.6%, including new and better houses, better neighborhood, cheaper housing and other housing reasons; the remaining 5.9% of other reasons are attending college, the change of climate and health reasons. Americans have been migrating south and west for decades in search of better job opportunities and warmer climates. They have also been moving to places a little far from cities, in search of bigger yards and houses, lower crime rates and better schools. In 1950, nearly a fifth of the population lived in the nation’s 20 largest cities. In 2006, it was about one in ten. That’s why many American people say, “Big Cities Shrink as People Move South, West.” Between March 2005 and March 2007, 73.4 million Americans moved. Fifty-six percent of these moves were within the same country. Twenty percent were between counties but in the same state. Nineteen percent were moves to a different state. Some families even went abroad. Title: People on the 1 Throughout human 2 , people have migrated across continents. Lead-in An 3 number of people from poor countries are moving to 74 countries, especially neighboring ones. According to the CPS, the 6 of people move to other places for reasons 7 to housing._5 for people’s migration Americans have long been moving south and west, looking 8 a better job chance, a warmer 9 and a bigger yard, etc. Conclusion Now every year more and more people move to other places, which seems to have become a global 10 . 任务型阅读 10 A new set of brain images shows why : Reading the Roman alphabets and Chinese characters uses different parts of the brain. The results also suggest that Chinese schoolchildren have reading problems in a different part of the brain used in reading alphabet-based languages. This shows that the learning disorder dyslexia ( inability to read properly) is not the same in very culture and does not have a universal biological cause. Scientists described the results as “ very important and revolutionary”. While dyslexia has certain common roots, they said, they now have some proof that this kind of functional problem works differently according to the different demands that Western and Eastern languages place on the brain. Dyslexia is a common developmental disorder in which people of normal intelligence have difficulty learning to read, spell and master other language skills. The results suggest that treating dyslexia around the world probably will require different treatments. “Reading is complex,” said Guinevere Eden, Georgetown University professor. “ This shows we need to be more open-minded about diverse treatment approaches.” Its origins are complex. There appears to be a genetic aspect to the illness. It also may result from brain injury before birth that changes visual and hearing pathways in the brain. Earlier brain scans show that English-reading dyslexics don’t function properly in a left part of the brain associated with the awareness of 44 sounds from the English alphabet. However, according to the new study, reading Chinese uses some different parts of the brain located in the left-front of the brain. It is associated with symbol interpretation. Unlike alphabet letters, Chinese characters represent entire thoughts and physical objects. Dyslexia Definition a learning(1)______ in which people of average IQ find it (2)_____to learn to read and acquire other language skills Origins Genetic causes or brain (3)______ before birth, which affects (4) and hearing abilities Finding of the earlier study (5)_____reading dyslexics don’t function properly in a left part of the brain Discovery of the new study Reading Chinese uses the(6) _____part of the brain Conclusion Reading Roman alphabets and reading Chinese characters place different(7)____on the brain. Dyslexia is not the same in every(8) _____and does not have the same(9)_____roots. (10)_______ Dyslexia needs to be treated in different ways 任务型阅读 11 For centuries people dreamed of going into space. This dream began to seem possible when high-flying rockets were built in the early 1900s. In 1903 a Russian teacher named Konstantin Tsiolkovsky figured out how to use rockets for space travel. His plan was the first one in rocket science to use correct scientific calculation. About 30 years later, a U.S. scientist named Robert Goddard built the first rockets that could reach high altitudes. During World War II, German scientists built large rockets that could travel very far and carry dangerous explosives. After the war, scientists from Germany went to the United States and the Soviet Union to help those countries build space rockets. These two countries were soon racing to get to space first. Each of these countries wanted to prove that it was stronger and more advanced than the other one. Both countries also had powerful bombs. People in the United States were worried when the Soviets were first to launch a space satellite, which was called Sputnik. The Soviets were also first to send a person into space. Yury Gagarin orbited the earth in the Vostok I spaceship in 1961. The US government set a goal for its space program to be the first country to put a person on the Moon. The U.S. space program built a series of Apollo spaceship. These vehicles were powered by huge Saturn 5 rockets. In 1969 Apollo II took three men to the moon successfully. Nell Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon. The Soviets may have lost the race to fly people to the Moon, but they built the first space station in 1971. The United States also built a space station. The space stations allowed people to live and work in space. Then the Soviet Union and the United States cooperated to hook two spaceships together in space. This action ended the "space race". Today a much larger space station, built by several countries together, orbits Earth. Another new way to go to space is by space shuttle. A space shuttle, first made in the United States in 1981, looks like an airplane. Astronauts who fly spaceships have used shuttles to help put satellites into space. History of space travel Time Events Information concerned Early 1900s High-flying rockets were built. It made the ancient dream of going to space possible to come (1) 1903 Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (2) a way to use rockets for space travel. He planned to put correct scientific calculation to use in rocket science. Around (3) Robert Goddard built new rock- ets. The rockets could fly very(4) in the sky. During and after World War II German scientists built large rockets that could travel very far and carry dangerous explosives. Germany was ahead of all the other countries in building space rockets and later it even offered(5) to the Soviet Union and the United States The Soviet Union and the United States competed to get to space first. The Soviet Union became the(6) of the race when it launched the first satellite and sent the first astronaut into space. 1969 The United States (7) in putting a person on the moon. In one way, it (8) the Soviet Union by becoming the first country to fly people to the moon. 1970s The Soviets built the first space station and was soon followed by Americans. And they finally ended the "space race" by (9) Astronauts can live and work in space stations. 1980s-- Space shuttles are used as new vehicles for space (10) . Shuttles are also used to help put satellites into space. 任务型阅读 12 Robot revolution The day that a robot wakes you up, cleans your room and walks your dog might still be a few decades off. But increasingly, engineers are saying that robots are going to make the leap from the factory floor to your family room. Companies like Sony and General Electric are working on designs for small robots. Products like the Roomba, a robot that can clean floors, are flying off the shelves. On the cover of a recent issue of Scientific American magazine, Bill Gates predicted the “Dawn of the Age of Robots”. What’s behind this new era (时代)? It’s partly a matter of technology. Devices that can recognize and respond to a human voice have been developed. There are now a few different ways for robots to move around. They can walk, crawl or ride on wheels. They are being made smaller and smaller. They are also becoming more and more energy efficient. A bigger part of the story is on the demand side. From the day Robert Adler invented the television remote control in the 1950s, people around the world have tirelessly searched for ways to get lazier. Also take into consideration the increasing wealth of rich people, the time appears ripe to introduce robots to ease our daily lives. To be sure, robots that walk on two legs and talk like people are still too complex for our present engineering abilities. Today’s robot revolution is to make them for everyday use. Robots will do basic housework such as cleaning or gardening, or just help you have more fun on the basketball court. What makes a robot different from an ordinary cleaning machine is not the presence of computer chips (芯片). Nowadays even your microwave has a computer chip. It is the ability to sense and make changes to the environment in real time. For example, a floor-cleaning robot should be able to sense your scared cat and move out of the way. Today’s computing ability is, for the first time, able to make machines that could “think”, at least in certain limited ways. Robot Revolution What today’s robot can do What (5) ____________ robot may do ＊talk like people＊recognize and (1) ____________ to your voice ＊sense and make some changes to the (6) ____________ ＊work in the (2) ____________ ＊(7) ____________ your dog ＊(8) ____________ your floor＊move around, like walking or (3) ____________ on wheels ＊(9) ____________ you up ＊think in some limited (4) ____________ ＊(10) ____________ you on the basketball court 任务型阅读 13 Third-generation mobile phones, known as 3G, are the next big step for the telecom industry. Data speed in 3G networks is much quicker than that in present technology. This means users can have high-speed Internet access and enjoy video and CD-quality music on their phones. “Mobile data is not a dream; it’s not an option but a requirement,” said Len Lauer, head of a US communications company, Sprint PCS, at a 3G conference in Bangkok earlier this month. With 3G, you can forget about text messages telling you yesterday’s news; a 3G phone can receive video news programs, updated four times a day. Internet access will also be much quicker, making it easier to surf the Web on your phone than on your computer at home. Face-to-face video calls Don’t worry about getting lost. 3G phones offer map services so you can find a new restaurant just by pressing a few keys on your handset. However, the most impressive part of 3G technology is video calling. With live two-way video communication, you can have face-to-face talks with friends and family on your mobile phone. Many European countries have already launched the service. In May 2000 the US Government issued five license to run 3G wireless services, while the first 3G phones arrived in Italy in March this year. International telecom companies can’t wait to sell 3G in China, the world’s largest mobile telecommunications market. But they will have to be patient. At the moment, China is busy testing its 3G-based technologies, networks and services. This will be followed by a trial period before the phones can finally hit the shops. “We need to create a pool of 3G customers before the large-scale commercial launch of the service,” said Fan Yunjun, marketing manager for Beijing Mobile. “We expect that the 3G licenses will be issued late next year.” Third-generation mobile phones (3G mobile phones) (1) ______________ a. Data speed: (2) ______________ than present technology b. Video and (3) _____ music c. Video news programs: (4) ________ four times a day d. Internet access: quicker and (5) __________ Impressive functions a. Offer (6) __________ services, helping you find your way b. Provide two-way video (7) ____________ 3G phones in China a. China is busy (8) ________ its 3G-based technologies, networks and services. b. 3G phones should go through a (9) _______ period before being put into market. c. 3G phones are expected to be seen (10) _______ next year. 任务型阅读 14 D. R. Gaul Middle School is in Union, Maine, a blueberry-farming town where the summer fair finds kids competing in pig scrambles and pie-eating contests. Gaul, with about 170 seventh- and eighth-graders, has its own history of lower level academic achievement. One likely reason: Education beyond the basic requirements hasn’t always been a top priority for families who’ve worked the same land for generations. Here, few adults have college degrees, and outsiders (teachers included) are often kept at a respectful distance. Since 2002, Gaul’s students have been divided into four classes, each of them taught almost every subject by two teachers. The goal: To find common threads across disciplines to help students create a big picture that gives fresh meaning and context to their classwork -- and sparks motivation for learning. Working within state guidelines, each team makes its individual schedules and lesson plans, incorporating non-textbook literature, hands-on lab work and field trips. If students are covering the Civil War in social studies, they’re reading The Red Badge of Courage or some other period literature in English class. In science, they study the viruses and bacteria that caused many deaths in the war. Team teaching isn’t unusual. About 77 percent of middle schools now employ some form of it, says John Lounsbury, consulting editor for the National Middle School Association. But most schools use four- or five-person teams, which Gaul tried before considering two-person teams more effective. Gaul supports the team concept by “looping” classes(跟班) so that the same two teachers stick with the same teens through seventh and eighth grades. Combining teams and looping creates an extremely strong bond between teacher and student. It also, says teacher Beth Ahlholm, “allows us to build an excellent relationship with parents.” Ahlholm and teammate Madelon Kelly are fully aware how many glazed looks they see in the classroom, but they know 72 percent of their eighth-graders met Maine’s reading standard last year -- double the statewide average. Only 31 percent met the math standard, still better than the state average (21 percent). Their students also beat the state average in writing and science. And in 2006, Gaul was one of 47 schools in the state to see testing gains of at least 20 percent in four of the previous five years, coinciding roughly with team teaching’s arrival. A Classroom With Context Being a farming town, it (1)_______ little in education before. (2)_______ education is considered less important.Problems of the school The community is relatively (3)_______ rather than open to the outsiders. The division of classes is made and students are well (4)_______. Individual schedules and lesson plans are (5)_______ by each team.Ways of solving the problems A strong (6)_______ between teacher and student is established through combining teams and looping. 72 percent of the eighth-graders (8)_______ Maine’s reading standard (9)_______ percent higher than the state average in maths the school beating the state average in writing and science Signs of (7)_______ four of the previous five years (10)_______ at least 20 percent test gains 任务型阅读 15 In February 2006, headlines confirmed “Low-Fat Diet Does Not Cut Health Risks.” Data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study concluded that a low-fat diet did not reduce the risk of breast cancer. Some women said, “Why bother? There’s nothing I can do.” That concerns me. In 30 years of research, I’ve seen what a difference lifestyle changes can make. The problem with the WHI study was that most of the women didn’t change their diets very much. But those who achieved the greatest reduction in fat intake did have a decreased risk. Now comes another study, and more confusion. In July, findings from the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) study were released. Some 1,500 women, previously treated for early-stage breast cancer, were asked to cut fat from 15% to 20% of their calories and to eat more fruits and vegetables. But they reported eating more fruit at the beginning of the study than at the end. And on average their fat intake rose, from 28.5% of calories to 28.9%. However, women who consumed less than 23.8% of calories from fat did have a lower risk of breast cancer than those who got more than 33.4%. Other studies have also found that diet can have a great effect on cancer risk. In Yale Health (YH) study, breast cancer survivors who lowered their fat intake to 20% (about 33 grams a day) cut their hidden risk by 24% after five years, compared with those who ate 51 grams of fat a day. An NIH-AARP study concluded, “Dietary fat intake was directly associated with the risk of above-50-aged breast cancer.” The researchers found a direct link between a high fat intake among above-50-aged women and breast cancer. In the Harvard Nurses’ Health (HNH) study, mostly under-50-aged women who ate more of animal fat had a higher risk of breast cancer. Bottom line: When you stick to a low-fat, healthy diet, you will not only feel better; you really can lower your risk of cancer. 任务型阅读 16 Minoru Yamasaki was a well-known American architect (建筑师). He was born in 1912 in Seattle, Washington. His parents came from Japan. Minoru went to college to study architecture. Every summer he worked in a fish factory to help pay for college. Often he worked from four o'clock in the morning until midnight. He slept in a room with 100 other men. Later in life, Yamasaki remembered these times and was always good to his workers. Yamasaki sometimes dreamed about his work. Once he woke up at three o’clock in the morning. He remembered a building that was in his dream. He got up and started to draw. Yamasaki used a new design for the buildings. These buildings are now the Century Plaza Hotel, and Tower in Los Angeles, California. Yamasaki was different from other architects. His buildings give people a feeling of peace and happiness. Many of his designs have pools of water, flowers, and windows on the roof to let in light. He always designed buildings to please people. He wanted to give them a place away from the busy ways of modern life. Yamasaki worked for several companies. But his success began when he started his own company. In 1956, he won the Architect’s First Honor Award for his design of an airport in St. Louis, Missouri. He won two more awards over the next five years. In 1962, he designed the World Trade Center in New York. It is very famous. In 1993, a bomb exploded (炸弹爆炸) in the World Trade Center. But the buildings did not fall down because they had a good design. Yamasaki had strong opinions about his buildings. They had to be built his way. He refused to change the design of his buildings, even if he lost a job. Minoru Yamasaki died in 1986. He designed more than 300 buildings. People will enjoy the design and beauty of his buildings for a very long time. The title A 1 American architect Be born In 2 in Seattle, Washington Studied 3 in college Worked in a fish factory to 4 for college In college 5 a room with 100 other men and often stayed up very late until midnight Made people feel 6 and happy Had 7 opinions about his buildings His design of buildings The World Trade Center didn’t fall down after a bomb explosion Was not the 8 as other architects Didn’t begin his successful career 9 he started his own company Successful career Won 10 Awards for his famous design before 1962 and designed over 300 buildings in his life Date of death Died in 1986 任务型阅读 17 There are some very good things about open education. This way of teaching allows the students to develop their interests in many subjects. Open education asks students to be responsible for their own education. The open classroom may help them to enjoy learning. Some students will be happier in an open education school. They will not have to worry about grades or rules. But many students may not do well in an open classroom. For some students, if there are too few rules, they will do little in school. They will not make good use of open education. Because open education is so different from traditional education, these students may have a problem of getting used to making so many choices. For many students it is important to have some rules in the classroom. A few rules will help them. The last point about open education is that some traditional teachers do not like it. Many teachers do not believe in open education. You now know what open education is. Some of its good points and bad points have been explained. You may have your own opinion about open education. The writer thinks that open education is only a good idea. It may not work very well in a real class or school. The writer believes that most students, but of course not all students, want and need to have some rules. They must be made to study some subjects. Many students are pleased to find subjects that they have to study interesting. They would not study those subjects if they did not have to. Open Education Definition （概念） Open education is a way of teaching which allows students to learn what they are 1 in without many rules. Advantages Open education makes students realize they are learning for 2 _, not for others. In open classrooms, many students don’t need to be 3 about grades or rules. Some students find 4 happiness in open classrooms than in traditional classrooms. 5 Many students cannot prove themselves as 6 in open classrooms as in traditional classrooms. There are so many 7 for students to make that they can’t use open education properly. Some teachers are not in support of such way of teaching. The writer’s 8 about open education Open education is just a good idea, but in a real class or school it is 9 so good. Some students would not study some subjects 10 they have to. 任务型阅读 1 1.Sports 2.baseball 3.surfing 4.swimming 5.skating 6.indoor 7.racquetball 8.bowling 9.religion 10.person. 任务型阅读 2 1.consumers/customers 2.feel/are 3. brands. 4. knowledge 5. reasons 6. probable 7. choice 8. relatively 9. less 10. truth 任务型阅读 3 1. necessary 2.Reasons 3.result 4. risk 5.desired 6. healthier 7. providing 8. entry 9. smooth 10. afte 任务型阅读 4 1. located 2. peaceful 3. entering 4. multimedia 5. access 6. facilities 7. freshmen 8. permission 9. environment 10. adjust 任务型阅读 5 1. stream 2. mathematics 3. science 4. foundation 5. fair 6. influenced 7. advantage 8. culture 9. separated 10. 1952 任务型阅读 6 1. Sustainable 2. sustainable 3. Reason 4. Definition 5. Sources 6. Fossil 7. Kinds 8. nonrenewable 9. poisonous 10. Renewable 任务型阅读 7 1. faster 2. than 3. destroying 4. drowning 5. massive 6. explosion 7. atmosphere 8. mining 9. facing 10. dying 任务型阅读 8 1．Smart 2. Memory 3. Advantages 4.security 5. doctors 6. travelers 7. cost 8. Unchangeable 9. readers 10.memory 任务型阅读 9 1. move, 2. history, 3. increasing, 4. richer/wealthier, 5. Reasons, 6.majority, 7.related/linked, 8.for, 9.climate, 10. tendency/phenomenon/trend 任务型阅读 10 1.disorder/problem 2.difficult/hard 3.injury/damage 4. visual 5. English/Alphabet 6. left-front 7.demands/requirements 8.culture 9.biological 10.Solution 任务型阅读 11 1. true 2. discovered/found 3. 1933 4. high 5. help 6. winner 7. succeeded 8. beat/defeated 9. cooperation/cooperating 10. travel 任务型阅读 12 1. respond 2. factory 3. riding 4. ways 5. future’s /tomorrow’s 6. environment 7. walk 8. clean 9. wake 10. accompany 任务型阅读 13 1. Advantages 2. quicker 3. CD-quality 4. updated 5. easier 6. map 7. communication 8. testing 9. trial 10. late 任务型阅读 14 1. achieved 2. Further 3. closed 4. motivated 5. adopted / conducted 6. tie / connection 7. success 8. reaching 9. 10 / ten 10. witnessing 任务型阅读 15 1.risk 2.low-fat 3.Lifestyle 4.reducing/cutting/decreasing 5.consuming 6.lower 7.hidden 8.related/linked 9.below/under 10.healthy 任务型阅读 16 1. well-known/ famous/ great 2. 1912 3. architecture 4. pay 5. shared 6. peaceful 7. strong 8. same 9. until 10. three/ 3 任务型阅读 17 1. interested 2. themselves 3. worried 4. more 5.Disadvantages 6.good 7. choices 8.opinion(s)/ idea(s) 9.not 10.unless