1 . Among the constant adjustive education standards and requirements, it’s important to ask a question: exactly what do we want in a high school graduate?
Some people think the goal is to enter college and earn a bachelor’s degree. Others find that interpretation too narrow, preferring that young people leave school with the skills to move into living-wage jobs. But one thing many people can embrace is that high school graduates are skilled in basic math and English.
A proposed law, House Bill 1308,could ruin that goal. Students must do the following things to get a diploma: earn 24 credits of coursework; complete a High School and Beyond Plan matching those courses; meet one requirement of a series of “graduation pathways”. The problem is that these pathways don’t work for all kids.
In large part, that’s because they guide students toward college standards. Last year, after surveying nearly 1,000 students, researchers discovered that 18% of students said they were “not good” at math, and 33% said they were poor test-takers. For them, the current pathways are a barrier because of their emphasis on these skills.
The new pathway is instead focused on performance. It would allow kids to create a presentation—say an exhibit or report — demonstrating mastery of two core subjects, but not necessarily math or English. When the bill came up for discussion, over 350 people showed their support, because it’s possible that through the performance pathway, a student could create a project emphasizing mastery in “fine arts” and “health and fitness”. Rep. Sharon favors the proposal. In a hearing, she spoke of her granddaughter, who wrote and self-published a novel while still in school, to illustrate the kind of project is workable. While Tafona Ervin worries that the lack of emphasis on math and English could lead students to graduate without solid skills.
If the purpose of education is to ensure that young people are prepared to pursue a fulfilling life, finishing school uncertain of one’s abilities in math and English weakens education’s goal.
1. Why is the question mentioned in the first paragraph?A.To make an argument. | B.To introduce the topic. |
C.To raise an education problem. | D.To clarify a concept. |
A.One. | B.Two. | C.Three. | D.Four. |
A.By making comparisons. | B.By offering statistics. |
C.By providing suggestions. | D.By doing experiments. |
A.Workable. | B.Effective. | C.Awful. | D.Reasonable. |
2 . California will be the first state to ban the sale and manufacture of new fur products.
California’s fur law was one of several bills designed to prevent cruelty to animals. “California is a leader when it comes to animal protection and today that leadership includes banning the sale of fur, ” said Governor Newsom in a news report. “
Many retailers are also ending fur sales. In mid-October, Macy’s (American’s department store) announced it will stop fur from all its stores by the end of 2020. The stores will also close all fur vaults and salons. Other fashion brands such as Prada, Gucci, Michael Kors and Burberry have taken similar steps in recent years.
A.But we are doing more than that. |
B.California is taking the lead in protecting animals. |
C.Similar laws have been carried out globally already. |
D.And that in turn will leave many people unemployed. |
E.Two other California cities had already banned fur sales. |
F.Not surprisingly, the ban is welcomed by animal rights activists. |
G.The ban applies to clothing, shoes, handbags and other things that contain fur. |
3 . Good afternoon, and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today, I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws.
The first one is about drinking. Now, you may not buy alcohol in this country if you are under 18 years of age, nor may your friends buy it for you .
Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don’t make unnecessary noise, particularly at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet.
Thirdly, crossing the road. Be careful. The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossings and do not take any changes when crossing the road.
My next point is about litter. It is an offence to drop litter in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put in your pocket and take it home, or put in a litter bin.
Finally, as regards smoking, it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age.
I’d like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance, you should contact your local police station, who will be pleased to help you.
Now, are there any questions?
1. The main purpose of this speech would be to ________.A.inform people of the punishment for breaking laws |
B.declare (宣布) the laws of different kinds. |
C.give advice to travelers to the country |
D.prepare people for international travel |
A.Three. | B.Four. | C.Six. | D.Five. |
A.get in touch with | B.keep in touch with | C.join | D.look |
A.A lawyer (律师). | B.A policeman. |
C.A teacher. | D.A lawmaker (立法者). |
Rules help us live together in a community. At my local park, there is a sign that reads, “Keep off the grass.” Because our community has a need for a nice green space
5 . Are there any controversial blood sports in your country? In the UK, there’s fox hunting. Officially, it’s illegal but it’s still going on.
The goal of most fox hunts is simple: to track, catch up and, sometimes, kill a fox. A hunt begins when the hounds (猎犬) are “cast”. This is when the dogs are released and start searching in bushes for foxes. When the hounds pick up the smell, they track the fox. If they see it, the chase (追赶) is on and the dogs run after it. The hunt continues until either the fox escapes or is caught and then usually killed by the hounds.
Many people are against fox hunting. Animal rights activists argue that foxes suffer a cruel (残忍的) and violent death. They also say that fox hunting is an activity in which people seem to gain pleasure from cruelty. Others dislike it for being a mostly upper-class sport. Among them was Oscar Wilde, who once described it in 1893 as, “the unspeakable in full chase of the uneatable”.
Supporters of fox hunting say it’s a tradition that’s part of England’s cultural heritage. They also say it plays an important role in country life, and that many jobs depend on fox hunting. Finally, they point out that it’s an important form of pest control that protects the livelihood of farmers, and that the foxes are killed quickly and that it’s much less cruel than using traps or poisons.
But in 2005 everything changed. The Hunting Act came into force, and this effectively banned fox hunting. But it wasn’t easy passing the law. Thousands of people gathered outside the House of Parliament in protest. Now, it is officially illegal, but hunts still take place and more than 1804 hunt groups are still in existence. So, it seems that this England’s tradition just refuses to die.
1. What does the underlined word “controversial” in paragraph 1 mean?A.Large in quantity. | B.Divided in opinion. |
C.Diverse in form. | D.Similar in nature. |
A.It could bring a large number of jobs for farmers. |
B.It was a blood sport where foxes were killed cruelly. |
C.It could give people greater pleasure than expected. |
D.It was a meaningless activity the upper class preferred. |
A.The purpose in passing the law about fox hunting. |
B.The difficulty in carrying out the ban on fox hunting. |
C.The change of people’s attitudes towards fox hunting. |
D.The importance of keeping the tradition of fox hunting. |
6 . Bringing goods into the UK
You are allowed to bring some goods for personal use without paying tax or duty.
Arrivals from EU countries
You can bring goods from EU countries without being charged tax or duty if they are:
● transported by yourself; ● a gift or for personal use; ● bought with tax and duty included.
You can bring alcohol and tobacco from EU countries without restriction but an inquiry(调查) might be required depending on the amount of your goods.
Arrivals from outside the EU
You will be free of duty or tax on certain amounts of goods brought from outside the EU, as long as they are for your own use. Any goods that are beyond your allowance should be declared.
Alcohol & tobacco allowance:
Type of goods | Cigarettes | Cigars | Tobacco | Beer | Wine(not sparkling wine) | Spirits | Alcoholic drinks |
Amount | 200 | 50 | 250 grams | 16 litres | 4 litres | 1 litre | 2 litres |
Allowance for other goods:
The maximum value of other goods you can bring is £390. Any single item that is worth more than the allowance will be charged duty or tax on its full value.
The rate of duty or tax on items above the allowance is:
● 2.5% for goods worth up to £630;
● decided by the type of goods worth above £630 — check by calling the VAT, Customs.
Banned and restricted goods
Goods banned include:
● illegal drugs; ● offensive weapons; ● endangered animal and plant species;
● meat and dairy(乳制的) products from most non-EU countries.
Food and plant products restricted include:
● products containing pests and diseases; ● products grown outside the EU;
● products not for your own use.
1. Which of the following products from outside the EU has the largest duty-free allowance?A.Beer. |
B.Wine (not sparkling wine). |
C.Spirits. |
D.Alcoholic drinks. |
A.£ 2.75 | B.£ 12.5 | C.£ 110 | D.£ 130 |
A.A set of Russian dolls. |
B.A bottle of French wine. |
C.A brick of Japanese cheese. |
D.A package of Spanish cigarettes. |
7 . Good afternoon, and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today, I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws.
The first one is about drinking. Now, you may not buy alcohol (酒) in this country if you are under 18 years of age, nor may your friends buy it for you.
Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don’t make unnecessary noise, particularly at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet.
Thirdly, crossing the road. Be careful! The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossings (人行横道) and do not take any chances when crossing the road.
My next point is about litter (throwing away waste material in a public place). It is an offence (违法行为) to drop litter in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put it in your pocket and take it home, or put it in a litter bin.
Finally, as regards something, it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco (烟草) if you are under 16 years of age.
I’d like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance, you should contact your local police station, who will be pleased to help you.
Now, are there any questions?
1. How many laws are there discussed in the speech?A.Three. | B.Four. | C.Five. | D.Six. |
A.get along with | B.join | C.report | D.get in touch with |
A.in this country, if you are under 18 years of age, you may not buy alcohol, but your friend can buy it for you |
B.you may not buy cigarettes or tobacco unless you are above 16 years of age |
C.because the traffic moves on the left side of the road, you must use pedestrian crossings, when crossing the road |
D.you can’t make noise except at night |
A.A policeman. | B.A worker at a hotel. | C.A lawyer. | D.An air hostess (空姐). |
LEGAL NOTICE If you purchased Hill's Prescription Diet or Science Diet Canned Dog Food Between September 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019, Your Rights May Be Affected by a Class Action Settlement. | |
WHAT IS THIS LAWSUIT ABOUT? The lawsuit claims that Hill's Prescription Diet(HPD) and Science Diet(SD) canned dog food products had high levels of Vitamin D. The lawsuit states that purchasers of these products lost money by purchasing dog food products that were not manufactured as represented and/or paid for services as a result of injuries to their dogs. The Court will hold a hearing on July 27, 2021, at 10:00 a. m. by Zoom Video, which may be moved to a different location, time or date. The Zoom Video link will be posted on www.PetFoodSettlement.com. WHO IS INCLUDED? You are included in the Settlement if you purchased HPD and/or SD canned dog food products in the U. S. between September 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019. | WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE? Consumer Food Purchase: If you purchased HPD and/or SD canned dog food products between September 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019, you could get a full refund with Proof of Purchase or up to 。20 total without Proof of Purchase. You must submit a valid Claim Form by July 2, 2021. Dog Injury: If your dog suffered injuries consistent with the consumption of excess Vitamin D as a result of your dog eating HPD and/or SD canned dog food products, you could receive money. You must submit a valid Claim Form with proper documentation by July 2, 2021. You can find more details on how to submit a claim by visiting www.PetFoodSettlement.com or calling 1-833-537-1191. |
www.PetFoodSettlement.com 1-833-537-1191 |
1. When will the hearing be held according to the notice?
A.July 27, 2021. | B.July 2, 2021. |
C.May 31, 2019. | D.Sept. 1, 2018. |
A.One provided some proof of purchasing related products. |
B.One purchased HPD canned dog food on Sept. 11, 2018. |
C.One submitted a valid claim application form on July 3, 2021. |
D.One purchased some SD canned dog food products, costing $20. |
A.1. | B.2. |
C.3. | D.4. |
9 . Almost every community has some form of rules and some way of enforcing them. So why do we have rules, and what makes people follow them?
Studies have suggested that the reason we don’t like rule-breaking is because fairness is programmed into our brains. Scientists have found that the brain reacts in a particular way when we feel we are being treated unfairly. A fair situation makes us feel comfortable and even happy, but unfairness causes our brains to respond with negative feelings. The study found that this so happened when subjects saw others being treated unfairly. They concluded that fairness is one of basic human needs.
Arriving at a feeling of fairness means considering different, often conflicting, points of view. Regardless of the disagreement, people almost always need to compromise. But it can be difficult to arrive at a compromise when there are conflicting interests. This is why communities have rules that everyone must follow.
Social controls are an important factor in setting and following rules. They influence the way we behave, and can be internal (内在的) or external. Internal controls come from within and are based on our values and fears. Most of us don’t steal, for example, because we believe that theft is unfair and wrong. We don’t want to disappoint our family and friends, either. In other words, our internal controls keep us from behaving in ways that cause conflict.
External controls include rewards and punishments. Rewards, such as job promotions and praise, are designed to encourage people to behave and act in the interest of the whole community.
Punishments, such as public embarrassment, fines, and even imprisonment can prevent people from acting against the community’s best interests.
People need their communities to function smoothly. If there were no rules, most people would probably still behave positively. However, there would always be a minority who would not. This is why a society without rules is unlikely to exist.
1. What does the underlined word ‘‘this’’ in paragraph 2 refer to?A.A program in human brains. | B.A comfortable situation. |
C.The response with bad feelings. | D.The requirement off fairness. |
A.To punish illegal activities. | B.To prevent disagreement. |
C.To promote fairness. | D.To meet various demands. |
A.Take exams honestly because cheating is shameful |
B.Park in the right place so as not to get a parking ticket. |
C.Pay the electricity bill on time in order not to get a late fee. |
D.Cooperate with your classmates to win a prize for your class. |
A.Living by the rules | B.Following rules with punishments |
C.Reaching a compromise | D.Calling for fairness |
10 . Moving to Orange County
If you're thinking of moving to Orange County, with its wealth of sandy beaches, wineries and tourist attractions then there’re several things that you’ll need to know.
Visas for the US
The US has a number of options, and if you are relocating due to work commitments or family ties, you’ll be alongside the majority of applicants.
A green card holder, for instance, can apply for an immigration visa for a spouse(配偶)or (unmarried) child. A US employer can apply on behalf of a non-national person, and there are five preference categories for companies sponsoring immigration visas, the majority of which require exceptional skills, master’s training or experience of a particular profession. If you are being sponsored by an employer, your spouse and any child under the age of 21 can apply for immigration visas alongside you.
Temporary worker visas, on the other hand, are typically easier, but still not necessarily easy, to obtain and allow for limited stays.
Finding accommodation
The three largest cities in the county are Anaheim, an industrial center, Santa Ana,10 miles from the coast with a perfect safety record, and Irvine, an wealthy planned city with a number of highly regarded schools. If you’re looking for a metropolitan lifestyle, expect to pay an average of 1,600 USD in rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, rising to 2,900 USD a month for a family-size, three-bedroom apartment; an approximate 600 USD premium(溢价)on similar apartments outside of the city center.
If you would like to settle outside of a city, there are a number of suburbs in Orange County with plenty to offer young professionals and families. Perhaps one of the most renowned is Newport Beach, noted as one of the cleanest beaches in the county and famous for its many restaurants and fantastic schools. If you’re looking for an inland town, Aliso Viejo is an excellent option. This compact(紧凑的)town is easy to navigate and is ideal for young families.
1. If you want to get a US immigration visa, you must meet one of the requirements that ________.A.you should have an unmarried child |
B.your employer should be a non-national person |
C.your spouse should be a lawful permanent resident |
D.you should be qualified for five immigrant visa preference categories |
A.a settler’s sponsor | B.a settler’s professional level |
C.a settler’s company location | D.a settler’s needs and the type of lifestyle |