Short Passages (2005/12)

Passage One

　　I had flown from San Francisco to Virginia to attend a conference on multiculturalism. Hundreds of educators form across the country were meeting to discuss the need for greater cultural diversity in the school curriculum. I took the need for great cultural diversity in the school curriculum. I took a taxi to my hotel. On the way, my driver and I chatted about the weather and the tourists. The driver was a white man in his forties. “How long have you been in this country?” he asked. “All my life!” I replied, “I was born in the United States.” With a strong southern accent, he remarked, “I was wondering because your English is excellent.” Then I explained as I had many times before. “My grandfather came here from China in the 1880s. My family has been here in America for over a hundred years. He glanced at me in the mirror. Somehow, I didn’t look American to him. My appearance looked foreign. Questions like the one my taxi driver asked make me feel uncomfortable. But I can understand why he could not see me as an American. He had a narrow but widely shared sense of the past: a history that has viewed Americans as descendants of Europeans. Race has functioned as something necessary to the construction of American character and quality in the creation of our national identity—American has been defined as white. But America has been racially diverse since our very beginning on the Virginian shore, where the first group of Englishmen and Africans arrived in the 17th century. And this reality is increasingly becoming visible everywhere.

Q11. What was the theme of the conference the speaker was to attend?

A) The role of immigrants in the construction of American society

B) The importance of offering diverse courses in European history

C) The need for greater cultural diversity in the school curriculum

D) The historic landing of Europeans on the Virginia shore

Q12. Why did the taxi driver ask the speaker how long he had been in the U.S.?

A) He was wondering if the speaker was used to living in America

B) He was trying to show friendliness to the speaker

C) He wanted to keep their conversation going

D) He believed the speaker was a foreigner

Q13. What message does the speaker wish to convey?

A) The US population doesn’t consist of white European descendants only

B) Asian tourists can speak English as well as native speakers of the language

C) Colored people are not welcome in the United States

D) Americans are in need of education in their history

Passage Two

　　Laws have been written to govern the use of the American National Flag, and to ensure proper respect for the flag. Custom has also governed the common practice in regard to its use. All the armed services have precise regulations on how to display the national flag. This may vary somewhat from the general rules. The national flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Do not raise the flag while it is folded. Unfold the flag first, and then hoist it quickly to the top of the flagpole. Lower it slowly and with dignity. Place no objects on or over the flag. Do not use the flag as part of a costume or athletic uniform. Do not print it upon cushions, handkerchiefs, paper napkins or boxes. A federal law provides that a trademark cannot be registered if it comprises the flag, coat of arms or badges of the United States. When the flag is used in unveiling a statue or monument, it shouldn't serve as a covering of the object to be unveiled. If it is displayed on such occasions, do not allow the flag to fall to the ground, but let it be carried high up in the air to form a feature of the ceremony. Take every precaution to prevent the flag from becoming soiled. It should not be allowed to touch the ground or floor, nor to brush against objects.

Q14. How do Americans ensure proper respect for the national flag?

A) By making laws

B) By enforcing discipline

C) By educating the public

D) By holding ceremonies

Q15. What is the regulation regarding the raising of the American national flag?

A) It should be raised by soldiers

B) It should be raised quickly by hand

C) It should be raised only by Americans

D) It should be raised by mechanical means

Q16. How should the American national flag be displayed at an unveiling ceremony?

A) It should be attached to the status

B) It should be hung from the top of the monument

C) It should be spread over the object to be unveiled

D) It should be carried high up in the air

Q17. What do we learn about the use of the American national flag?

A) There has been a lot of controversy over the use of flag

B) The best athletes can wear uniforms with the design of the flag

C) There are precise regulations and customs to be followed

D) Americans can print the flag on their cushions or handkerchiefs

Passage Three

　　In some large American city schools, as many as 20-40% of the students are absent each day. There are two major reasons for such absences: one is sickness, and the other is truancy, i.e., staying away from school without permission. Since school officials can’t do much about illness, they are concentrating on reducing the number of truants. One of the most promising schemes has been tried in Florida. The pupils there with good attendance have been given free hamburgers, toys and T-shirts. Classes are told if they show improved rates of attendance, they can win additional gifts. At the same time, teachers are being encouraged to inspire their students to come to school regularly. When those teachers are successful, they are also rewarded. “We’ve been punishing truants for years, but that hasn’t brought them back to school,” one school principal said. “Now we are trying the positive approach. Not only do you learn by showing up every day, but you earn.” In San Francisco, the Board of Education has had a somewhat similar idea. Schools that show a decrease in deliberate destruction of property can receive the amount of money that would have been spent on repairs and replacements. For example, 12,000 dollars had been set aside for a school’s property damages every year. Since repair expenses of damaged property required only 4,000 dollars, the remaining 8,000 dollars was turned over to the Student Activities’ Fund. “Our democracy operates on hope and encouragement,” said a school board member. “Why not provide some positive goals for students and teachers to aim at?”

Q18. Which reason for students’ absences is discussed in great detail?

A) Punishment by teachers

B) Poor academic performance

C) Truancy

D) Illness

Q19. Who will benefit from the scheme being tried in Florida?

A) The Board of Education

B) Principals of city schools

C) Students with good academic records

D) Students with good attendance records

Q20. What measure has been taken in San Francisco to reduce destruction of school property?

A) Punishing students who damage school property

B) Rewarding schools that have decreased the destruction

C) Promoting teachers who can prevent the destruction

D) Cutting the budget for repairs and replacements

规律：____________  ____________  ____________

Compound Dictation (2005/6)

Certain phrases one commonly hears among Americans capture their devotion to individualism: “Do you own thing.” ”I did it my way.” ”You’ll have to decided that for yourself.” “You made your bed, now (S1)__________ in it.” “if you don’t look out for yourself, no one else will.” “Look out for number one.”

Closely (S2) __________  with the value they place on indi8vidualism is the importance Americans (S3) __________  to privacy. Americans assume that people need some time to themselves or some time alone to think about things or recover their (S4) __________  psychological energy. Americans have great (S5) __________  understanding foreigners who always want to be with another person who dislike being alone.

If the parents can (S6) __________  it, each child will have his or her own bedroom. Having one’s own bedroom, even as an (S7) __________ fixes in a person the notion that (S8) ____________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ She will have her clothes, her toys, her books and so on. These things will be hers and no one else’s.

Americans assumer that (S9) ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________. Doctors, lawyers, psychologists, and others have rules governing confidentiality that are intended to prevent information about their clients’ personal situations form becoming known to others.

American’s attitude about privacy can be hard for foreigners to understand. (10) ___________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________. When those boundaries are crossed, an American’s body will visibly stiffen and his manner will become cool and aloof.

规律：____________  ____________  ____________

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