The American newspaper has been around for about three hundred years. In 1721, the printer James Franklin, Benjamin’s older brother, started the New England Courant, and that was what we might recognize today as a real newspaper. He filled his paper with stories of adventure, articles on art, on famous people, and on all sorts of political subjects.
Three centuries after the appearance of Franklin’s Courant, few believe that newspapers in their present printed from will remain alive for long. Newspaper companies are losing advertisers(廣告商)，readers, market value, and in some cases, their sense of purpose at a speed that would not have been imaginable just several years ago. The chief editor(主編) of the Times said recently, “At places where they gather, editors ask one another, ‘How are you?’, as if they have just come out of the hospital or a lost law case.” An article about the newspaper appeared on the website of the Guandian, under the headline “NOT DEAD YET.”
Perhaps not, but the rise of the Internet, which has made the daily newspaper look slow and out of step with the world, has brought about a real sense of death. Some American newspapers have lost 42% of their market value in the past three years. The New York Times Company has seen its stock(股票) drop by 54% since the end of 2004, with much of the loss coming in the past year. A manager at Deutsche Bank suggested that stock-holders sell off their Times stock. The Washington Post Company has prevented the trouble only by changing part of its business to education; its testing and test-preparation service now brings in at least half the company’s income.
【小題1】What can we learn about the New England Courant?
| A．It is mainly about the stock market. |
| B．It marks the beginning of the American newspaper. |
| C．It remains a successful newspaper in America. |
| D．It carries articles by political leaders. |
| A．They often accept readers’ suggestions. |
| B．They care a lot about each other’s health. |
| C．They stop doing business with advertisers. |
| D．They face great difficulties in their business. |
| A．The Washington Post. |
| B．The Guardian. |
| C．The New York Times. |
| D．New England Courant. |
| A．Satisfied. |
| B．Hopeful. |
| C．Worried. |
| D．Surprised. |
期末1卷素質教育評估卷系列答案科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
(衡陽市八中2008屆高三模擬試題B篇)
Skipping classes, particularly big lectures where an absence is likely to go undetected, is a tradition among college undergraduates.
These days, however, some professors say they’re seeing more absenteeism, as students make the most of new technologies as learning aids.
Americ Azevedo taught an “ Introduction to Computers ” at the University of California, Berkeley, US last semester. By visiting the course’s website, the 200 enrolled students could download audio recordings or watch digital videos of the lectures, as well as read the instructor’s detailed lecture notes.
But there was one big problem: So many of the undergraduates relied on the technology that at times only 20 or so actually showed up for class.
Doug Suda, 19, a student in Azevedo’s class last semester, said he skipped about three-quarter of the lectures. It’s largely because he was busy with an off-campus job and was taking the course to fulfill a business major requirement.
At the end of the term, Suda prepared hurriedly for the final exam by watching videos of about 15 lectures over three days.
“ If I hadn’t that… I would probably fail the class,” said Suda, who instead received a B-plus.
Despite the concerns about absenteeism, schools are increasingly experimenting with ways to let students watch or listen to lectures on their computers or digital music players, like ipods. Last month, Harvard Medical School began “ Podcasting ”lectures. Students can download them into digital musical players, and study while they, say, go for a walk.
As many academics accept the electronic innovation, others are pushing back. To encourage attendance, they are applying low-tech tactics, like giving more surprising quizzes or cutting back their online offerings.
Lee Chanian, a UCLA economics professor, says “ too much technology leads to passive learning environment and encourage more absenteeism”. He now puts fewer lecture materials online, and provides extensive notes only for the most complicated topics.
60.The word “ absenteeism ” in the 2nd paragraph most probably means .
A. attending classes B. having classes
C. giving classes D. skipping classes
61.At times only 20 or so undergraduates showed up for Americ Azevedo’s class because .
A. so many undergraduates relied on digital learning aids
B. so many undergraduates have off-campus jobs.
C. his lectures were boring D. the exam was easy to pass
62.According to the passage, to encourage attendance, some academics are applying the following lower-tech tactics EXCEPT .
A. giving more surprise quizzes
B. putting fewer lecture materials online
C. providing extensive notes only for the most complicated topics
D. cutting off their online offerings
63.What could be the best title for this passage?
A. Lectures fight digital learning aids to up class numbers
B. Lectures apply digital learning aids to up class numbers
C. Lectures fight lower-tech tactics to up class numbers
D. Schools are encouraging more absenteeism
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
Erik Weihenmayer was born with an eye disorder. As a child his eyesight became worse and then, at the age of 13, he lost his sight completely. However, he did not lose his determination to lead a full and active life.
Erik became an adventurer. He took up parachuting, wrestling and scuba diving. He competed in long-distance biking, marathons and skiing. His favorite sport, though, is mountaineering.
As a young man, Erik started to climb mountains. He reached the summit of Mount McKinley in 1995 and then climbed the dangerous 1000-metre rock wall of EI Capitan. Two years later, while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya with his girlfriend, they stopped for a time at 13,000 feet above sea level－in order to get married. In 1999, he climbed Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South Americ a. And then, on May 25, 2001, at the age of 33, Erik successfully completed the greatest mountaineering challenge of all. He climbed Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
Erik invented his own method for climbing mountains. He carries two long poles: one to lean on and the other to test the way ahead of him. The climber in front of him wears a bell to guide him. Erik is a good team member. He does his share of the job, such as setting up tents and building snow walls.
Although he could not enjoy the view, Erik felt the excitement of being on the summit of Everest. He hopes that his success will change how people think about the blind. “When people think about a blind person or blindness, now they will think about a person standing on top of the world.”
1．When was Erik born?
A．In 1968. B．In 1995. C．In 1967. D．In 1969.
2．What was unusual about his wedding?
A．He got married on the summit of Mount McKinley.
B．He got married when climbing Mount Everest.
C．.His wedding was held after he prepared a lot.
D．His wedding was held at 13,000 feet above sea level.
3．What is Erik’s special method for climbing a mountain?
A．He takes his girlfriend with him.
B．He does his share of the jobs.
C．He uses two long poles to help himself.
D．He keeps a good team around him.
4．Which of the following shows the right order of what happened?
a．He topped Mount McKinley.
b．He became blind.
c．He challenged Mount Everest.
d．He reached the peak of Kilimanjaro.
e. He climbed the rock wall of EI Capitan.
A．b, e, d, c, a B．b, a, e, d, c C．a, b, e, d, c D．b, d, a, c, d
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