For nearly thirty years I did parent programs in all of the fifty states, and regardless of the community, there was always a shortage of fathers attending, usually by a 10:1 (mothersfathers) ratio. Maybe they were all tending to business, and they obviously didn't think school was any of their business.
The world is now flat. How's that for a sea change? As Thomas Friedman described it in his book The World Is Flat twenty-five years ago, the power structure of the world consisted of highs and lows. The countries with the power and knowledge were at the top of the mountains and the rest were down in the valleys. A handful of countries (the United States, Britain, Germany, and Japan) ruled the world's economy because they monopolize (垄断)the information and power.
Then came the Internet. Suddenly the countries down in the valleys were connected to the information network and the work flow. These included India, Eastern Europe, South Korea, Brazil, and China. Don't believe it? Walk into a supermarket and pick up any ten toys, checking each for where it was made, My last count: China, ten out of ten. The world's workforce became “flattened”. No more disconnected valleys.
Since 2000, U.S. manufacturing has lost six million jobs, one-third of its workforce, most of them males. For the first time in history, women hold the majority of jobs in the U.S.
The only people who don't understand the sea change in business are the fathers and sons still clinging to the image of the male who doesn't need to play school—just play ball. It's been thirty years since that idea had any wings, but too many males are still trying to make it fly. Once the only thing that mattered for men was what they could get out of the ground with their hands. Now it's what they can get out of their heads that counts. And without classroom success, today's male faces an impossible challenge from both intelligent women on the home front and foreigners willing to do the same job for less while sitting in an office in Bangalore or Singapore.
1. Based on Friedman's description, why is the world becoming flat?| A．US which is the most powerful country controls the information. |
| B．Knowledge is shared globally with the development of the Internet. |
| C．Goods made in China and other countries are increasingly popular. |
| D．The mountains and valleys are flooded by the sea water these days. |
| A．be positively involved in boys' schooling for academic success |
| B．focus mainly on the physical development of their boys |
| C．spend more time playing with their boys to get their belief fly |
| D．do more housework because the mothers are more intelligent |
| A．A news story. | B．A book review. |
| C．An educational book. | D．An economic report. |
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My dad is a kind, gentle man, and a man of few words. Throughout my life, he offered advice only rarely. But the words were always appropriate to the situation I was facing.
As a teen when I struggled with making sense of the world around me, he said, “All things are relative.” He taught me the right view of the world. When I was offered the opportunity to be a manager of an organization as an undergraduate student, I asked him for advice because he was a senior manager of a large company. His advice was simple, “Only when you become the manager can you have a vision for how you can make the organization better; management isn’t about power and it’s about leadership.” I learned what I needed was not only to be responsible for my team but also to have leading ability.
My dad is 86 now, living on his own and enjoying his life. Although we live quite far away from each other, we talk daily on the phone, and he shares the joys of my young family. As I tell him how we’re heading off cycling or on a trip or out to play tennis, now his typical response is “Do it while you can.” This is very important. We can’t be sure of the future. My father’s advice is like the ancient dictum (格言) of “carpe diem” －seize the day and enjoy it to the fullest.
My dad rarely “lectured me”. He trusted me, and helped me when I needed help. His patience and wisdom have been true gifts in my life. As I doubt my ability and my motivation, I recall his most recent gift of wisdom. “Do it while you can”. It’s enough to “just get me started”.
1. Why did the author’s dad tell him “All things are relative.”? (no more than 10 words)2. What qualities should a manager have according to the author? (no more than 5 words)
3. What is the purpose of the author’s father talking with him on the phone every day? (no more than 10 words)
4. How do you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph? (no more than 10 words)
5. What do you think about the ancient dictum of “carpe diem”? Give reasons in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
【推荐2】If the kids don’t fall, they don’t learn to get up. I still remember the day in high school that my mom forgot to pick me up from school. I’m the oldest of four children, and no doubt she’d had a long day with the other kids and it’d slipped her mind. After waiting at school for an hour, I walked the three miles home, and when I got to my house, I shut our front door with anger, stormed into the kitchen and screamed in my mom’s face that she’d forgotten me.
Later that night, my dad told me I no longer had a ride to school the next day. I figured my mom would still take me, but when the morning came, she refused. It was midterm, and as a straight A student ready to start college applications, being late wasn’t an option (选择). In my mind, missing these tests would have been the end of my academic career. I begged my mom. I told her she was ruining my future and everything I’d worked for. But she just held her ground, and that day, I walked to school. And I missed my tests.
My mom didn’t save me from failure. She let me suffer from it. She let me figure it out. She let me learn. Now, as a mom myself, I’ve realized that I want my kids to experience failure because failure is how we grow, learn and think outside of ourselves. It’s how we self -educate to learn what’s right and respectable, and what’s not. It’s how we become responsible and enthusiastic. Falling down makes us better because we learn how to get up.
1. Why did the author get angry that day?| A．She was tired. | B．She failed in a test. |
| C．She was late for school. | D．She had to walk home by herself. |
| A．insisted on her idea. | B．said yes to me. |
| C．stayed in the place. | D．gave in to me. |
| A．Meaningful. | B．Terrible. |
| C．Embarrassing. | D．Colorful. |
| A．My Way of Growing | B．My Love for Mother |
| C．The Meaning of Failure | D．Failure in My Life |
【推荐3】My father Ed Kobbeman built his own house after he married my mother, so it wasn’t too surprising when he proudly showed me his latest creation—the outhouse (户外厕所). The traditional sun and moon were cut out of the front door. There was a fancy (精致的) seat inside. It was, indeed, a fine outhouse. Dad said he wanted to use his creation in the outhouse races, where teams must pull or push their homemade outhouse to compete. To be in this event, Dad found some old wheels in his storage area.
On the day of the race, Dad’s nephews and great-niece arrived. The four made up the outhouse racing team, along with one great-niece weighing a hundred pounds, chosen to ride on the seat inside.
In the sun of that hot day in June, the teams lined up. The starting shot rang out. The red-shirted Kobbeman team led the way and turned to make their way back to the start/ finish line.
Just then, disaster happened. The hard rubber on the wheels started peeling off (剥落). The nephews hung on for the last few meters, barely winning the first race by great strength of will and brute force (蛮力) as they lifted that outhouse off the ground across the start/finish line. But there was no hope for the second round. I stood there, ready to cry.
Ten minutes later I realized Dad was nowhere to be seen. How could he just leave like that? Soon the announcer was telling the participants (参赛者) to get ready. Just then Dad turned up with new wheels. We changed the wheels and won the next four races.
On the way home, I asked my dad, “Where did you go? And where did you get those new wheels?”
My father took a deep breath. “Well,” he said, “I ran two blocks to the car, unlocked it, drove home, ran into the house, got the key to the storage, ran out there, unlocked the garage, pulled my new lawnmower (割草机) out on the grass, took some tools, pulled off the wheels and threw them in the car.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. “Dad, why did you do that in this heat? You had a heart attack ten years ago. What if you couldn’t come back on time?”
He smiled, “Well, I just couldn’t let the boys down. They worked so hard. There was a problem, and it just needed to be fixed. That’s all.”
1. Why did the author’s father build the outhouse?| A．He wanted to take part in the outhouse races. | B．He hoped to show off his artistic creativity. |
| C．He aimed to train his nephews and great-niece. | D．He decided to make his family locally famous. |
| A．The Kobbeman team pushed the outhouse to the start line. |
| B．The Kobbeman team felt too weak to take part in the second round. |
| C．The outhouse’s wheels started to fall apart near the end of the first round. |
| D．The outhouse’s wheels couldn’t turn with a few meters left in the first round. |
| A．Bored. | B．Ashamed. | C．Sad. | D．Worried. |
| A．An interesting story of my father | B．What I learned in the outhouse races |
| C．An amazingly funny race in June | D．What we should do in a disaster |
【推荐1】Starting the first year of senior high school can seem like a difficult situation, but in fact it is so easy to deal with. Senior high school is a lot of fun if you know what to do.
Stay organised.
Being organised was important in junior high school. Since senior high school is a bit more difficult, you need to be more organised.
Don’t compare yourself with others.
Some of your classmates may always want to compare their scores with yours.
Not doing well during a stressful (有压力的) time of the year is normal (正常的). Maybe you don’t do so well at the start of the school year. That’s fine! As long as you know that you’re trying your best to do well in school, you will do well in the future!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
You may not want to ask for help when so much stress is placed on, but remember that you are still just a freshman (新生).
| A．Learn from these experiences if they happen. |
| B．One test grade does not decide your whole future. |
| C．Always have a planner to tell you what you should do. |
| D．Stay organised and prepared, and you will be less worried. |
| E．There are two reasons why you shouldn’t be one of these people. |
| F．You’re really young and still don’t know how the whole school works. |
| G．The following advice will help you live an enjoyable senior high school life. |
【推荐2】Recently, an unhappy event has happened in a kindergarten in Chongqing. Most primary schools suggest that parents should come along with their children to school and guard the school gates from 7:40 to 8:00 in the morning. Opinions on this problem are different from person to person.
Sun Zhenyao, 13, Jiangbei
Safety comes first. I don’t think it’s a big problem for parents. They just have to stay at the school gate for a little longer. Also, it’s very crowded around school gates in the morning. Traffic accidents can happen. Depending only on school guards is not enough. If parents can help, there will be fewer accidents.
Li Minyi, 14, Yubei
On weekdays, guarding schools and keeping students safe should be the schools’ responsibility – not the parents’. Also, the time during which they have to stand guard is usually about 7:40 to 8:00 am, the morning rush hour. Some parents might get caught in a traffic jam and be late for their work. I don’t think this task should fall on the parents.
Sun Run, 14, Beibei
This request is not just about children’s safety, but also supporting the school. It is a good way to improve relations between parents and schools. Secondly, parents can set a good example for their kids by working selflessly for their society.
Huang Xi, 15, Jiulongpo
Most of these parents are office workers. They have their own things to do. They hurry to go to work every morning. To meet this new request, some may have to ask for time off. This will affect their work performance.
1. The students who agree with the suggestion are_______.| A．Li Minyi, Sun Run |
| B．Huang Xi, Sun Zhenyao |
| C．Huang Xi, Li Minyi |
| D．Sun Zhenyao, Sun Run |
| A．Guarding schools and keeping students safe should be the schools’ job. |
| B．It is a good example for kids to have a sense of responsibility. |
| C．Some parents can ask for time off to guard the school gates. |
| D．There are not enough school guards in the primary schools. |
| A．a newspaper interview |
| B．a police report |
| C．a short story |
| D．a textbook passage |
【推荐3】Exam taking is a tiring process.
Motivate
First you should motivate yourself.
Memorize
Take Notes
If you have the materials, try to summarize them by listing down what you know in key points.
Remember that reviewing allows you to recount the lessons and process them more systematically. Give yourself enough time in studying, and beat the nervousness.
| A．Reviewing is useless if your heart is not into it. |
| B．It will help you find test-taking techniques. |
| C．Preparing for it is even more challenging |
| D．After motivating yourself, check how reliable your memory is. |
| E．You might find it more comfortable studying in the library than at your own home. |
| F．When you know you have studied well, you wouldn’t have to worry about taking the test. |
| G．It not only tests your skill in memory recall, but also judges how well you have been studying. |
【推荐1】Everywhere I look outside my home I see people busy on their high-tech devices, while driving, walking, shopping, even sitting in toilets. When connected electronically, they are away from physical reality.
People have been influenced to become technology addicted. One survey reported that “addicted” was the word most commonly used by people to describe their relationship to iPad and similar devices. One study found that people had a harder time resisting the allure of social media than they did for sleep, cigarettes and alcohol.
The main goal of technology companies is to get people to spend more money and time on their products, not to actually improve our quality of life. They have successfully created a cultural disease. Consumers willingly give up their freedom, money and time to catch up on the latest information, to keep pace with their peers or to appear modern.
I see people trapped in a pathological(病态的) relationship with time-sucking technology, where they serve technology more than technology serves them. I call this technology servitude. I am referring to a loss of personal freedom and independence because of uncontrolled consumption of many kinds of devices that eat up time and money.
What is a healthy use of technology devices? That is the vital question. Who is really in charge of my life? That is what people need to ask themselves if we are to have any chance of breaking up false beliefs about their use of technology. When we can live happily without using so much technology for a day or a week, then we can regain control and personal freedom, become the master of technology and discover what there is to enjoy in life free of technology. Mae West is famous for proclaiming the wisdom that “too much of a good thing is wonderful.” But it’s time to discover that it does not work for technology.
Richard Fernandez, an executive coach at Google acknowledged that “we can be swept away by our technologies.” To break the grand digital connection people must consider how life long ago could be fantastic without today’s overused technology.
1. The underlined word “allure” in Paragraph 2 probably means ______.| A．advantage | B．attraction |
| C．adaption | D．attempt |
| A．attract people to buy their products | B．provide the latest information |
| C．improve people’s quality of life | D．deal with cultural diseases |
| A．consider too much technology wonderful |
| B．have realized the harm of high-tech devices |
| C．can regain freedom without high-tech devices |
| D．may enjoy life better without overusing technology |
【推荐2】An earthquake happens when two plates rub together. The earth plates travel in different directions and at a different speed. If one plate is slowly forced underneath the other，pressure(压力)builds up until the plates break apart. This process(过程)causes the ground to move. It is an earth-quake. In other words，earthquakes are the shaking of the earth’s surface caused by the earth’s rocky outer layer as a result of the energy stored within the earth. The strain within the rocks is suddenly released(释放).
The damage an earthquake causes depends on where it is and when it is happening. If an unpopulated region is struck, there will be low loss of life or property(财产). If it hits a large city，there may be many injuries and much destruction. Many of the areas at risk are largely populated now. Major earthquakes hitting those areas today could produce terrible damage.
Actually, there are several million small earthquakes every year. Large earthquakes, such as the 1964 Alaska earthquake that measured 9.2 on the Richter scale, caused millions of dollars in damage. In the last 500 years, millions of people have been killed by earthquakes around the world-including over 240,000 in the 1976 Tangshan earthquake in China.
A60-second or less earthquake can cause devastation that continues for years after the first tremor. In 1972, a series of severe earthquakes struck Managua, Nicaragua. Fifteen years later, the city still looked the way it had a week after the earthquake hit, because the country did not have the necessary money to rebuild it.
The shaking of the earth is sometimes not the greatest disaster. It is in the ensuing fires and floods that often the greatest damage occurs. In the 1906 earthquake, it was the fires caused after it that did the majority of the damage. An earthquake can also destroy dams high above a city or valleys, causing floods to sweep down and sweep away everything in their path.
1. Which of the following is the main idea of the first paragraph?| A．An earthquake comes from the inside of the earth. |
| B．The earth has great energy in storage. |
| C．How the earth plates move. |
| D．How an earthquake happens. |
| A．Causing too much heat and great damage. |
| B．Causing many injuries and much destruction. |
| C．Happening as a result of another event. |
| D．Happening suddenly and unexpectedly. |
| A．an earthquake doesn’t last long | B．the damage can last long |
| C．people in Managua suffered too much | D．Nicaragua is still a poor country |
【推荐3】The importance of reading literature often seems lost on many Chinese people. Even experts in education think that the first goal of education is to encourage a love of learning. There is therefore the possibility of something wrong with the way students are taught here.
Why should they read literature? Do stories have value compared with the reading and learning of facts? Studies show clearly that the most powerful ways of learning are by experience, action and doing experiments and taking risks. Yet there are so many important things to learn that cannot be learned in these ways: feelings, problem solving, danger and relationships, for example. Research into this has shown how deep reading is a valuable experience different to a learning of words or facts. Keen( 热心的) readers of -literature show a better understanding of others. Their abilities to make good decisions are raised. Young children who enjoy a parent reading stories to them show greater awareness（意识) when they reach school age.
The best schools do seem to provide a limited (有限的) chance to enjoy literature, usually about the Chinese classic stories but there is not enough "free" time for students. There are enough reading materials (材料). Chinese book shops are full of story books, and most of them are of good quality (质量) in terms of content,plot (情节) and language. Was there not a Chinese author who received a Nobel Prize for literature recently? There are moves in Chinese education to promote (提升) decision making and shared values. The value of literature is helpful to these as well as to the future of China.
1. What does the author think of the way students are educated in China?| A．He is proud of it. |
| B．He is interested in it. |
| C．He doesn't quite accept it. |
| D．He is confident about it. |
| A．By experience. |
| B．By taking risks. |
| C．By reading deeply. |
| D．By doing experiments. |
| A．Reading literature helps develop good values. |
| B．Chinese students like reading stories as they get older. |
| C．Stories in Chinese bookstores are generally of poor quality. |
| D．Chinese students have no chance to read enough materials. |
| A．Literature is a kind of art. |
| B．Reading literature should be valued. |
| C．Good reading materials are in great need. |
| D．Something is wrong with Chinese education. |
【推荐1】CUYAHOGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Bay Village Branch, 502 Cahoon Road, 440-871-6392.
The Egyptian Pyramids, 7 pm Sept. 17. Join us as Don King, a long-time student of Egyptology, discusses the pyramids and presents the possible theories of the construction, design and mysteries surrounding these ancient wonders. Join us as local villager, Tom Bell, discusses his book “My Dad Is a Freak: a Memoir”, 7 pm Sept. 27.
Fairview Park Branch, 21255 Lorain Road, 440-333-4700 or cuyahogalibrary. org.
Dress for Success, 7 pm Sept. 17. First impressions count. Some job recruiters (招聘人员) use appearance to determine self-esteem, respect, confidence and organizational skills. Learn how to dress to emphasize your strengths and improve your employ ability. Registration (注册) required.
Music Study Groups, 1:15-2:45 pm Wednesdays, Sept. 19-Nov. 28. Explore current con- cert music performed by The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall through informal lectures and listening. Classes are designed for both new and experienced music lovers and are led by Dr Rose Breckenridge.
Practical Herbs, 7 pm Oct. 3. Famous doctor Sarah Hurt will talk about growing, drying and storing herbs (药草) and how to use them. Registration required.
North Olmsted Branch, 27403 Lorain Road. 440-777-6211 or cuyahogalibrary. org.
Job Club, 1:30-3 pm Tuesdays. Join Jim Hansen for helpful tips on job search strategies (策略) and interviewing. Anyone who is job hunting or looking to change careers is welcome.
Olmsted Falls Library, 7850 Main St., Olmsted Falls. 440-235-1150 or cuyahogalibrary. org.
Family Story-time, 7-7:30 pm Wednesdays, through Nov. 27. Join us for rhymes, songs, finger-plays and a story or two. For children ages birth through age 8 with their caregivers.
Huntington Practice SAT Test, 10 am to 1 pm Sept. 15 and 4-5 pm Sept. 26. Get ready for college by taking a practice SAT exam. Discuss strategies to improve your score, and get tips on preparing for the real exam. Registration required.
1. There are many activities for you to choose on Sept. 17 EXCEPT ________.| A．listening to a speech which is about music |
| B．discussing about ancient Egyptian pyramids |
| C．attending a program about how to prepare for exams |
| D．learning about how to leave a good first impression on others |
| A．440-871-6392 | B．440-333-4700 |
| C．440-777-6211 | D．440-235-1150 |
| A．Bay Village Branch | B．Fairview Park Branch |
| C．North Olmsted Branch | D．Olmsted Falls Library |
| A．Bay Village Branch and Fairview Park Branch |
| B．North Olmsted Branch and Olmsted Falls Library |
| C．Fairview Park Branch and Olmsted Falls Library |
| D．Fairview Park Branch and North Olmsted Branch |
| A．you can study music for more than one month in Fairview Park Branch |
| B．you can get the information about the four branches on the Internet |
| C．you can choose to take part in all the mentioned events in the afternoon |
| D．both Don King and Jim Hansen are college professors |
【推荐2】From the tropical paradise of United States' Miami to South China's innovative(创新的)city Shenzhen, The Lonely Planet released a list of top 10 cities which are worth visiting in 2019. It covers a mix of well-known and less-known destinations. Those places include second place Shenzhen, China； Novi Sad, Serbia in third place; Miami, Florida in fourth place, and Kathmandu, Nepal munding out the top five. Let's have a brief look at some of these attractive places.
Copenhagen, Denmark
With its modern design, 15 Michelin-starred restaurants and highly bike-friendly culture, it is not surprising that Denmark's capital has topped Lonely Plane’s top 10 cities list.
Copenhagen's street food scene is developing fast in Refshaleoen, a former industrial area with a food and craft market, Reffen.
Novi Sad, Serbia
While Novi Sad is not as noted as the capital of Belgrade, it's much more fashionable. It's home to the country's annual EXIT! Festival, which is held each July at the 18th century-era Petrovaradin Fortress.
The festival contributes to a vibrant music and arts scene and a youthful atmosphere. Next year, 2019*8 European Youth Capital will be held in Novi Sad. It may be a practice run for 2021, when the city will observe the important title of European Capital of Culture.
Kathmandu, Nepal
Three years after it was struck by a destructive earthquake, Kathmandu is welcoming visitors to a city which is much quieter, by design.
"With cars banned from the historic center and motor horns banned across the Kathmandu Valley, it's much quieter than it used to be in the past. Hall figures out.
It will also host the South Asian Games in 2019.
1. In which city can you enjoy highly bike-friendly culture?| A．Shenzhen, China | B．Kathmandu, Nepal |
| C．Novi Sad, Serbia | D．Copenhagen, Denmark |
| A．experience a quieter life style |
| B．visit the food and craft market, Reffen |
| C．try delicious food in Michelin-starred restaurants |
| D．enjoy a vibrant music and arts scene and a youthful atmosphere |
| A．A science report. | B．A book review. |
| C．A magazine. | D．A realistic novel. |
【推荐3】Most of us maybe consider snakes to be cold, single beings, as uncaring to others of their kind as they are to us. But those ideas are wrong — especially when it comes to garter snakes (袜带蛇), a new study says.
These creatures, which appear from the cold plains of Canada to the forests of Costa Rica, have their own preferences about which snakes they hang out with — in other words, they have “friends”.
“All animals — even snakes — need to connect with others,” says Morgan Skinner, the study leader at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada. To look into this theory, Skinner thought up a new experiment to find out the personalities and sociability of eastern garter snakes.
The results showed that “like us, they seek out friendship, and they’re particular about whom they make friends with,” says Skinner.
The idea that snakes have close social networks may be surprising, but such relationships are increasingly being found throughout the animal kingdom, from flamingos to bats to elephants. A recent study of bats showed, for example, that bats and humans both have friendships.
Scientists are likely better at discovering friendships among animals now than, say, 30 years ago, partly because many societies are more accepting of such an idea, and because researchers have far better tools for gathering information.
Analyzing social networks in wildlife, such as snakes, “has taken huge jumps in the last few decades,” says study co-author Noam Miller, Skinner’s advisor.
1. What is the purpose of the experiment on garter snakes?| A．To prove Skinner’s theory is true. |
| B．To surprise Wilfrid Laurier University. |
| C．To do better research into the habitat of snakes. |
| D．To study the friendship between animals and humans. |
| A．live on their own | B．stay in cold areas |
| C．seek out friendship | D．keep off the forests |
| A．Health. | B．Entertainment. | C．Education. | D．Science. |
| A．Friendship Is Valuable | B．Wildlife Has Friends Too |
| C．Snakes Are Cold-blooded | D．Animals Protect Each Other |
