Many of us wish we would have longer weekend, but for about 18,000 students in Colorado, that wish is coming true. A school district outside Denver has decided to shorten its week to four days—from Tuesday to Friday, and the first school year on this new timetable just started, CBS Denver reports. It began on Tuesday, August 14, because the day students get off is everyone’s least favorite: Monday.
Although this may sound like a dream come true, it means students will have to sit through longer school days to work more for the hours they’ve lost, according to The Denver Post. So the timetable seems more crowded than ever.
The decision wasn’t made just to give students more days off, though, it had practical purpose. The district says that it will save $ 1 million by not having buses on Mondays and spending less on things like electricity and water. That means a lot to the school. However, there are different voice. Parents may pick up some the cost of this change, though, since many will now need to stay home with their kids. If they go to work, they have to find people to take care of their children.
This isn’t the first district in the state to introduce a four—day week, 55 % of the state’s schools do this, but most of them are in the countryside, according to The Denver Post. Several schools in Oklahoma made some move earlier this year, and some of them told CBS News Reports that more teachers wanted to teach there after the change. Most of these teachers have a lot of teaching experience. About 560 districts in timetable influence students’ ferformance.
1. What happens to the students in Colorado?| A．They have shorter summer holidays. |
| B．They go to school every day. |
| C．They have classes only on Monday. |
| D．They have longer weekend. |
| A．go for | B．pay for | C．look for | D．stand for |
| A．They would like to work here with four-day week. |
| B．They’ll be given more money than those in other states. |
| C．Students are much more money creative in class in this place. |
| D．Students behave better because of longer weekends. |
| A．Students need to study harder to make up for the time. |
| B．Parents may spend more time and money on their children. |
| C．People in Colorado speak with one voice when facing the decision. |
| D．It’s not clear whether the new timetable is good for students or not. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Boys and girls, we have some interesting and fun things for you this term. Have a good time.
English Club For the seventh-grade students Time: Tuesday afternoon and Friday evening Place: Room 301 Tele: 77459312 | Math Exam For the ninth-grade students Time: on Monday, March 20th Place: Room 306 PS: Top 10 will get a surprise |
A Talk For all students Time: 14: 30－16: 30, April 25th Place: in the school hall Topic: How to Learn English Well | Singing Competition For the eighth-grade students Time: on Thursday, May 23rd Place: in the music room Tele: 58172352 |
1. Where will Tom, a ninth-grade student, probably be at 3: 00 p.m. on April 25th?
| A．In Room 301. | B．In Room 306. | C．In the school hall. | D．In the music room. |
| A．Once a week. | B．Twice a week. | C．Three times a week. | D．Four times a week. |
| A．4. | B．10. | C．20. | D．306. |
| A．In a school. | B．In a shop. | C．In a hospital. | D．In a restaurant. |
| Introduction The English Festival is organized (组织) by the Happy English Club. The main purpose of this festival is to create a good English learning environment for students. The English Festival will take place from September 8th to November 8th. During these months, a lot of activities will be held. Warmly welcome to join us! |
| Activities Singing Competition—For Grades 7&8 Drawing Party—For Grades 8&9 Cosplay (角色扮演) —For Grades 7＆9 Speech Contest—For English Teachers |
| More Purposes * Help more students who like English and want to learn English well. * Make students learn English in a relaxing way. *Develop students' abilities of communicating with others. |
| Things you can do during the English Festival * Play some English songs on the school radio. * Try to talk with your teachers or classmates in English. In this way, you will practice your spoken English. *On weekends, prepare some useful things for your activities. Chance is always for the prepared mind. * Watch some English films and share them with your friends. |
| More information Tel.: 8498-0123 Email: Englishfestival@163.com |
| A．two months | B．three months | C．four months |
| A．Cosplay and Speech Contest |
| B．Drawing Party and Cosplay |
| C．Singing Competition and Drawing Party |
| A．learn to sing some popular songs |
| B．play some English songs on the school radio |
| C．prepare something useful for activities on weekdays |
| A．creating a good English learning environment |
| B．making students learn Chinese in a relaxing way |
| C．developing students' abilities of making pen pals |
Today we had a discussion about “If you have only one day left”. All the students were very excited to take part in it.
Although the class had different ideas，we all knew it important to cherish（珍惜）our life.
| A. They wanted to show love to their parents. B. We learned a lot from the discussion. C. At last，the teacher summed up our discussions. D. It seemed that different people had different opinions. E. They needed a rest. F. They said they should do something meaningful to the world. |
【推荐1】An elderly carpenter (木匠) was ready to retire (退休). He told his boss that he planned to leave the building business and live a more relaxing life with his wife, enjoying his big family. He would miss the pay check each week, but he needed to retire. He believed they could get by (勉强过活) even on a small amount of money.
The boss was sorry to see his good worker leave and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but soon afterwards he was found to be absent-minded. He used shoddy materials to build the house. How disappointing it was to end his career in this way!
When the carpenter finished all his work, the boss came to inspect (检查) the new house as usual. But after that, he handed the front-door key to the carpenter, saying. “This is your house, my gift to you.”
What a shock! What a shame! If he had known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the worst house he had ever built in his life.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or put up a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you ever build. Even if you live it for only one more day, that day deserves (值得) to be lived comfortably.
Life is a do-it-yourself project. Your life today is the result of your attitudes (态度) and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.
1. According to the article, the carpenter _________.| A．was too old to build a fine house | B．had a large family to raise |
| C．was not in need of money | D．was not welcome |
| A．Beautiful. | B．Best. | C．Bad. | D．Good. |
| A．excited | B．delighted | C．worried | D．surprised |
| A．We should try our best to do things well. | B．We should build a good house to live in. |
| C．We always like doing something. | D．We enjoy building the house. |
| A．We should build a house wisely. |
| B．Building a house is like building a life. |
| C．We should pursue (追求) a comfortable life. |
| D．We should have the right attitude towards life. |
On a June afternoon in 1752, the sky began to get dark over the city. As the storm broke, most people surely hurried inside, but not Benjamin Franklin. He decided it was the perfect time to fly a kite. Franklin had been waiting for a chance like this. He wanted to show the connection between lightning(闪电) and electricity, and to do so, he needed a storm.
He walked into field, and flew a kite with a piece of rope tied to it. A key was tied to the rope. The lightning hit the kite, and electricity passed through the rope to the key. Franklin then touched the key with his finger and got an electric shock(电击). This, he said, proved(证明) the electrical nature of lightning.
For many years, schools have taught the story of Franklin’s experiment. Millions of schoolchildren have been amazed by his courage and his scientific spirit of looking for the truth. However, new research suggests that the story may be fiction instead of fact. Although Franklin’s experiment took place, more than one scientist has questioned what really happened. It’s true that he did the experiment with the rope and the key. But scientists all agree that if Franklin had actually touched the key, he would certainly have died from the electric shock.
Scientists often question accepted ideas because they want to find out the facts. Some have even questioned the story about the apple that fell on Newton’s head. Many reports suggest that although the falling apple certainly provided ideas, there is nothing to show that the apple actually hit him on the head.
In fact, fiction is often more interesting than the truth. People have been more encouraged by Franklin’s spirit than by the facts themselves. But in science, facts should be tested by experiments and research, and we should not always believe everything we read or hear even if it is a great story.
1. Franklin did the experiment in order to prove ________.| A．he was an excellent scientist |
| B．flying a kite in the storm was safe |
| C．he was not afraid of lightning |
| D．lightning was a form of electricity |
| A．not true |
| B．quite different |
| C．not safe |
| D．quite necessary |
| A．flew a kite |
| B．touched the key |
| C．was present |
| D．discovered electricity |
| A．Franklin’s spirit is encouraging |
| B．fiction is more interesting than the truth |
| C．Franklin’s experiment is not real |
| D．we shouldn’t always believe accepted ideas |
【推荐3】Some people think that just letter grades or scores can not be a good way to encourage students to work hard. Nowadays, students’ grades are showed in many different ways in schools. For example, some schools are pleased to give students some comments (评语) in a card to describe the skills a student needs to work on.
These schools give out their reasons. The grades can’t stand for how many skills that a student has learned. What’s more, it stops the parents from comparing their children with others. In fact, they think that the bad grades just mean you are having a hard time with study. Compared with the letter grades or exact numbers, a teacher’s comments usually give more information. Besides, it can protect students’ privacy and avoid hurting children’s hearts.
80% of students feel happy as they know the news, because they don’t need to be compared with others. More importantly, they won’t feel upset if their grades are not good. Many parents also feel that the letter grades or number grades are out of date.
In fact, the grade or ranking of an exam can’t show that a student is a good one or a bad one.Rather than focus on grades, students should pay close attention to the teacher’s comments.They will guide students in a right way to improve themselves.
1. Which one of the following can best show the structure of this passage? ( 1 = Paragraph 1)A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Giving letter grades. | B．Giving exact numbers on paper. |
| C．Giving ranking numbers in class. | D．Giving some comments in a card. |
| A．whether a student has learned the skills |
| B．whether a student is a good person or not |
| C．whether a student has difficulty in learning |
| D．whether a student is different from others |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．安全 | B．真相 | C．权威 | D．隐私 |
【推荐1】There was a pilot(飞行员) and four people in a small plane. Suddenly there was something wrong with the machine while it was flying in the air. The plane began to fall down. The pilot told the people there were only four parachutes(降落伞). They all became worried and started to make excuses.
“I must go,” said the pilot, taking one of the parachutes and jumped out. The first person stood up, “I’m a doctor,” he said. “I help people live longer and I save lives.” He took a parachute and jumped out.
The next person said, “I must have a parachute. I am a very clever person. I have to attend an important match. I know I will win the game because I’ll be the cleverest person there.” He picked up a pack and jumped out.
Two men were left — an old businessman and a young mountains climber. At this time the plane was going down fast. The businessman said, “Young man, I am old but you are still young. You take the last parachute.” The young mountain climber smiled. “Don’t worry,” he said. “We can both jump out because there are still two parachutes. Just now the clever man jumped out with my backpack.”
1. All the people became worried because __________.| A．there were not enough parachutes | B．they saw the pilot jump out first |
| C．they couldn’t find the parachutes | D．they couldn’t jump out from the plane |
| A．a parachute | B．nothing |
| C．the backpack of the climber’s | D．two parachutes |
| A．the pilot | B．the mountain climber |
| C．the doctor | D．the businessman |
Peter： What? Show me the receipt.
Salesman： Here it is.
Peter：Look. The price on this shirt is $17. But the receipt says $27.
Salesman： You are right. The receipt is wrong.
Peter： And what is the $5.57 for?
Salesman： That’s for tax（税）.
1. The $5.57 is for the ___________.
| A．tax | B．bags | C．jacket | D．shirt |
| A．On June 17. | B．At noon. |
| C．On June 25. | D．In the morning |
Mr. Clark worked long hours, making sure I did my work. My grades rose. In fact, the scores of our whole class rose. One day, he took our class to see The Phantom of the Opera, and it was the first time some kids had ever been out of Harlem. Before the show, he treated us to dinner at a restaurant and taught us not to talk with our mouths full. We did not want to let him down.
Mr. Clark was selected as Disney’s 2000 Teacher of the Year. He said he would draw three names out of a hat, those students would go with him to Los Angles to get the award. But when the time came to draw names, Mr. Clark said, “You’re all going.”
On graduation day, there were a lot of tears. We didn’t want his class to end. In 2001, he moved to Atlanta, but he always kept in touch. He started giving lectures about education, and wrote a bestselling book based on his classroom rules, The Essential 55. In 2003, Mr. Clark took some of us on a trip to South Africa to send school supplies and visit orphanages (孤儿院). It was the most amazing experience of my life. It’s now my dream one day to start a group of women’s clubs, helping people from all backgrounds.
1. Without Mr. Clark, the writer _________.
| A．might have been put into prison |
| B．might not have won the prize |
| C．might have joined a women’s club |
| D．might not have moved to Atlanta |
| A．a show | B．a speech |
| C．a classroom rule | D．a book |
| A．None | B．One |
| C．Fifty-five | D．Three |
| A．Mr. Clark went to South Africa because he liked traveling |
| B．Mr. Clark helped to set up a group of women’s clubs |
| C．a good teacher has a good influence on his or her students |
| D．a good teacher can raise his or her students’ score |
| A．He speaks highly of Mr. Clark. |
| B．He looks down upon Mr. Clark. |
| C．He doesn’t show his attitude towards Mr. Clark. |
| D．He takes a neutral (中立的) attitude towards Mr. Clark. |
【推荐1】It's 5: 00 in the morning when the alarm rings in my ears.I roll out of bed and walk blindly through the dark into the bathroom.I turn on the light and put on my glasses.The house is still as I walk downstairs while my husband and three kids sleep peacefully.Usually I go for a long but today I choose my favorite exercise DVD.Sweat(汗水)pours down my face and into my eyes.My heart races as I face my body to finish each movement.As I near the end of the exercise.I feel extremely tired.but a smile is on my face.It's not a smile because the DVD is over, but a smile of success from pushing my body to its extreme limit(最大极限).
Some people enjoy shopping,smoking or even chocolate.But I need exercise to get through each day.Some shake heads when they see me run through the town.Others get hurt when I refuse to try just one bite of their grandmother's chocolate cake.They raise their eyebrows, surprised by my “No, thank you.”or by my choice to have salad.Over the years,I have learned it's Okay to just say no.I shouldn't feel sorry for refusing food that I don't want to eat.
So what drives me to roll out of bed at 5:00 am? What gives me the reason to just say no to ice cream?Commitment, a commitment to change my life with a way that reduces daily anxiety. Increases self-confidence and energy and above all improves my body shape.This is the point where a smile appears on my face as I look at myself in the mirror or try on my favorite pair of jeans that now fit just right.It's through commitment and sweat that I can make a difference within myself inside and out.
1. There is a smile, on the author's face in the morning because she_________.| A．sees her family sleeping peacefully | B．feels a sense of success |
| C．enjoys the interesting DVD | D．finishes her favorite exercise |
| A．she treats others impolitely |
| B．she likes to make others surprised |
| C．others don't understand what she does |
| D．others try to help her by offering her food |
| A．A strong will. | B．A good choice. |
| C．A healthy diet. | D．A good habit |
| A．She usually acts in a strange way. |
| B．She enjoys looking different from others. |
| C．She doesn't get along well with others. |
| D．She wants to develop a good body shape. |
| A．Early to Bed.Early to Rise. |
| B．What leads to Success. |
| C．The Way to Keep Fit. |
| D．Never Care about Others Opinions. |
【推荐2】A number of amazing plants grow in the nature world, including bamboo. Many people prefer to call it a tree because of its shape and size. In fact, it is a kind of grass.
Like other kinds of grass, a bamboo plant may be cut very low to the ground, but it will grow back very quickly. A Japanese scientist recorded one bamboo plant which grew almost 1.5 metres in 24 hours! Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe. There are more than 1, 000 kinds of bamboo which grow around the world on both mountains and plains（平原）.
Not all bamboo looks the same. Some are very thin. They may only grow to be a few centimeters wide while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters across. This plant also comes in a variety of colors, from gold to black to green.
Bamboo has been used to make many things, such day-to-day items as hats and kitchen tools. Because it is strong, bamboo can also be used to build buildings.
Many Asian countries have been using bamboo for hundreds of years. They often use bamboo for building and supporting new buildings while they are being built. The cables（缆绳）which hold up the hanging bridge across the Min River in Sichuan, China are made of bamboo. The bridge has been in use for more than 1, 000 years, and it is still holding strong.
As we know, pandas feed on the plant of bamboo. But not all of them fill their appetite（胃口）, only about 20 kinds of them can be their fine food.
1. There are over ________ kinds of bamboo around the world.| A．1000 | B．20 | C．30 | D．24 |
| A．China | B．Sichuan | C．Europe | D．Japan |
| A．holiday | B．everyday | C．someday | D．weekday |
| A．Bamboo is a kind of grass. | B．Bamboo grows only in China. |
| C．Bamboo is useless in daily life | D．Bamboo grows slowly |
| A．Pandas | B．Bamboo | C．Grass | D．Plant |
【推荐3】It was a cold day in December in New York City. A little boy about 10 years old was standing in front of a shoe store on Broadway. He was looking through the windows, barefooted(赤脚的) and shivering with cold. A lady walked to the boy and said, “My little boy, what are you looking at?” “I am asking God to give me a pair of shoes,” the boy said.
The lady took him by the hand and went into the store. She asked the clerk to get a pair of socks for the boy. Then she asked if he could give her some water and a towel. The clerk quickly brought the things to her. She washed the boy’s little feet and dried them with the towel. By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks. The lady put on the socks for the boy, and then bought him a pair of shoes. She said, “My little boy, do you feel more comfortable now?” As she turned to go, the boy caught her by the hand and looked up in her face. With tears in his eyes, he asked, “Are you God’s wife?” “No, I’m a mother,” said the woman.
1. Where did the story happen ?| A．In New York | B．In London | C．In Moscow | D．In Tokyo |
| A．害怕的 | B．颤抖的 | C．饥饿的 | D．口渴的 |
| A．Because he wanted a pair of shoes. | B．Because it was fun to do so. |
| C．Because he was interested in the window. | D．Because he was looking for God. |
| A．Some hot water and a towel. | B．A pair of socks and some hot water. |
| C．A pair of socks and shoes. | D．A pair of trousers. |
| A．She was God’s wife. | B．She was a kind woman. |
| C．She was the boy’s mother. | D．She was a clerk in the store. |
