【推荐1】You see them in the halls, going toward their classes in a hurry. Their faces are pale with tiredness; their bodies are bent under the weight of a dozen textbooks. They are the ones struggling to hold back a yawn during class. They are the chosen few. They are the Advanced Placement(AP,大学预修课程)students.

The truth is, honors students are no longer a select few. Over half of university-bound students take AP classes, and of these, most take at least two. The AP system drills it into us that our college success depends on taking as many advanced courses as possible, but is it really worth it? “On average, I spend three to four hours each day on homework,” says one senior who is taking five AP classes. “With the number I’m taking, I really doubt whether I will be confidently going into each test.”

With increasing pressure to attend AP courses, not only for college credits but also for the weighted GPA(平均成绩), it is no wonder that students often find their grades suffering and their stress increasing. In reality, AP courses have become mere rewards, adding little to a competitive college application.

One of the major disadvantages in the AP system is that every class is fitted into a standardized test. The result is that comprehensive learning is sacrificed for test preparation, with teachers spending the most time on topics likely to appear on the AP exam.

And that a student receives a high grade on the AP test does not mean he or she will receive the college credit. Many universities now don’t consider an AP class in high school to be the same as an actual undergraduate college-level class, which is usually a three-hour, lecture-based course with varying degrees of homework.

1. What can we learn about AP students?

A．They are exhausted from AP classes.

B．They are the select few top students.

C．They take two AP classes at most each term.

D．They will gain confidence by taking more AP classes.

2. What does the AP system bring about?

A．More focus on stress relief.	B．Less comprehensive learning.
C．Great chances of college admission.	D．Decline of academic competitiveness.

3. What is the author’s attitude to students’ attending AP courses?

A．Positive.

B．Objective.

C．Negative.

D．Supportive.

【推荐2】The bell rang. Jada sighed, slowly moved from the lockers where she had been leaning, and headed down the hall to her chemistry class. Honors Chemistry! Jada couldn't believe that her mom was making her take the class because Jada's counselor had said that she had real talent in science.

Jada had to admit that she liked science and that last year's class was a breeze, but come on, Honors Chemistry? She wouldn’t know anyone in the class，and they probably wouldn't know anyone like her.

The good thing about being late is that it shortened the period a bit. The bad thing is that it made her seem like she was making a grand entrance. To make matters worse, the only two seats left in class were at the lab table at the very front of the room.

Jada held her breath and walked in. Everyone's eyes were on her. She just knew it. They were staring at her coal black hair (freshly dyed), her black lipstick, her black fingernail polish, and her thrift-store black leather jacket. All she saw were polo shirts and khaki pants.

This can’t get any worse, Jada thought. But at least she didn't get shouted at by the teacher. He was too busy talking to a new kid, a HUGE new kid, who had to weigh at least 250 pounds. A football player, probably. She hated football players. They thought they were so great. That group of jocks that hung out by the cafeteria always made fun of her.

The new kid made his way over to her table with his head down. He had to squeeze into the seat, and his legs wouldn't fit under the lab table. He shot Jada a glance and turned red.

Mr. Martin, the teacher, began class with this announcement: "Okay, everyone. I know most of you know each other from last year's Honors Physical Science class." Jada sighed loudly."But just take a minute and introduce yourself to the person sitting at your table. You'll be partners. You'll be working closely together all year."

Jada rolled her eyes and stared straight ahead. Then she heard a surprisingly soft voice from next to her. "Hi, I'm Robert. I'm new here."...

1. What can you learn about Jada from the first two paragraphs?

A．She found she didn't like science as she thought.

B．She was angry that her mother made her go to school.

C．She wasn't willing to take the Honors Chemistry class.

D．She thought this year's chemistry class would be a breeze,

2. The writer described Jada's appearance in paragraph 4 in order to_______.

A．reveal how different she was from her classmates

B．explain why she was late for school that morning

C．imply that she felt sorry for making a grand entrance

D．give readers a general impression of science students

3. In paragraph 5, the phrase "that group of jocks" refers to _______.

A．the new kid	B．football players
C．Jada's teacher	D．Jada's classmates

4. What can we learn about the new kid according to the passage2?

A．He was shy.	B．He was rude.
C．He liked sports.	D．He looked sad.

【推荐3】Non-Credit Courses

The Pre-College Program offers non-credit courses. Students will experience college-level courses given by some of our college’s leading experts and will receive written feedback (反馈) on their work at the end of the course. Pre-College students will also receive a grade of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory and a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the program.

All non-credit courses meet from 9:00 a. m.-11:30 a. m. daily and may have additional requirements in the afternoons or evenings.

COURSE: Case Studies in Neuroscience

·June 11— July 2

·Leah Roesch

Using student-centered, active-learning methods and real-world examples, this course is designed to provide a fuller understanding of how the human brain works.

COURSE: Psychology of Creativity

·June 15—June 28

·Marshall Duke

Why are certain people so creative? Is it genetic (遗传的), or a result of childhood experience? Are they different from everyone else? This popular psychology course highlights the different theories of creativity.

COURSE: Creative Storytelling

·June 21 — July 3

·Edith Freni

This college-level course in creative storytelling functions as an introduction to a variety of storytelling techniques that appear in different forms of creative writing, such as short fiction and playwriting.

COURSE: Sports Economics

·July 19 — August 1

·Christina DePasquale

In this course we will analyze many interesting aspects of the sports industry: sports leagues, ticket pricing, salary negotiations, discrimination, and NCAA policies to name a few.

1. Who is the text intended for?

A．The general public.	B．College freshmen.
C．Educational experts.	D．High school students.

2. Which course can you take if you are free only in June?

A．Sports Economics.	B．Creative Storytelling.
C．Psychology of Creativity.	D．Case Studies in Neuroscience.

3. Whose course should you choose if you are interested in creative writing?

A．Leah Roesch’s.	B．Edith Freni’s.
C．Marshall Duke’s.	D．Christina DePasquale’s.

【推荐1】Dear Yang,

In the face of Covid-19,we had to make the challenging decision of whether to go ahead with Open House 2020.How could we effectively reconnect with a locked-down city at a time when discussions around openness are more important than ever?

Against these difficulties, we chose not to postpone Open House 2020.Instead, we invested in completely reinventing how we approach our programme.Through a mix of original films, new books, activity packs, walking and cycling tours, podcasts, talks, and a host of online and outdoor events, the year that threatened(威胁）the existence of Open House became one of our most varied and accessible ever.

None of this would have been possible without our Open House Friends,who have reached out to give a monthly donation to support the charity after Covid-19 stopped almost all of our income.

But we still need your support.

If you value our work and want to see Open House continue beyond the pandemic(疫情），please consider becoming an Open House Friend from just £l.25 per week.We've made some fantastic gifts to say thank you to everyone who signs up.

£1.25 a week －Open House Silver Key badge(徽章） －Limited edition print by David Knight －A discount on all our ticketed events －Free Friends events throughout the year Click here to donate £1.25 a week

£2.50 a week － Open House Silver Key badge －Limited edition print by David Knight －A discount on all our ticketed events － Free Friends events throughout the year －A copy of this year's Open House Book, The Alternative Guide to the London Boroughs, edited by Owen Hatherley Click here to donate £2.50 a week

£6.25 a week －Open House Silver Key badge －Limited edition print by David Knight － A discount on all our ticketed events －Free Friends events throughout the year －A copy of this year's Open House Book, The Alternative Guide to the London Boroughs, edited by Owen Hatherley －Special Open House events on Open House weekends including Friends-only visiting hours Click here to donate £6.25 a week

Thank you -together we can ensure that London is truly an Open City.

The Open House Team

1. What do we know about Open House 2020?

A．Open House 2020 had to be canceled because of the lock-down of the city.

B．Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, all the activities were held online this year.

C．Open House 2020 turned out a great success thanks to people's donations.

D．Despite the financial difficulties, this year's events were held as usual.

2. Which of the following is NOT a reward for one who donates £1.25 a week?

A．Open House Silver Key badge.

B．Limited edition print by David Knight.

C．Free Friends events throughout the year.

D．Special Open House events on Open House weekends.

3. What is the purpose of this email?

A．To appeal to readers to make donations to Open House.

B．To explain the procedure of donation to Open House.

C．To encourage readers to sign up for Open House 2020.

D．To provide readers with various gifts for Open House 2020.

【推荐2】E-Learning-An Alternative Learning Opportunity

Day School Program

Secondary students across Toronto District School Board (TDSB) are invited to take one or two e-Learning courses on their day school timetable. Students will remain on the roll at their day school. The on-line classroom provides an innovative relevant and interactive learning environment. The courses and on-line classroom are provided by the Ministry of Education.

These on-line courses:

Are taught by TDSB secondary school teachers.

Are part of the TDSB student’s timetable.

Appear on the student’s report upon completion.

Benefits of e-Learning

Include:

Access to courses that may not be available at his or her TDSB school.

Using technology to provide students with current information.

Assistance to solve timetable conflicts.

Is e-Learning for You？

Students who are successful in on-line course are usually:

Able to plan, organize time and complete assignments and activities.

Capable of working independently in a responsible and honest manner.

Able to regularly use a computer or mobile device with Internet access.

Students need to spend at least as much time with their on-line course work as they would in a face-to-face classroom course.

1. E-Learning courses are different from other TDSB courses in that             .

A．they are given by best TDSB teachers

B．they are not on the day school timetable

C．they are not included on students’ reports

D．they are an addition to TDSB courses

2. What do students need to do before completing e-Learning courses?

A．To learn information technology on-line.

B．To do their assignments independently.

C．To update their mobile devices regularly.

D．To talk face to face with their teachers.

3. What can be inferred about the online course from the advertisement?

A．The on-line course is free of charge.

B．Students will use electronic devices in the on-line course.

C．Little communication with teachers is needed in the on-line course.

D．When timetable conflicts, priority should be given to the on-line course.

【推荐3】
1. What you have just read is a _______.

A．note

B．report

C．schedule

D．poster

2. What is going to take place on 2 February, 2013?

A．A big event to welcome a Chinese new year.

B．A social gathering to raise money for wildlife.

C．A party for close friends to meet and have fun.

D．A meeting of Kwun Tong High School students.

3. How much do you have to pay in total if four of you go together?

A．$20.

B．$40.

C．$60.

D．$80.

4. Which of the following statements is true?

A．Tickets are sold in Kwun Tong High School.

B．It’s unnecessary to take soft drinks with you.

C．Free digital cameras are provided for everybody.

D．Festival food will be served without extra charge.