C

British parents encourage their children to play musical instruments as part of a family tradition and not to raise their social status as Americans do, research says.

Dr. Aaron Reeves of the University of Oxford found that UK parents did not see musical achievement by their children as character building or useful in getting university places or jobs. Instead, it was usually only those parents who played instruments that encouraged their children to follow suit.

This contrasted with research carried out by other academics in America, he said. “Middle-class parents in the US appear to associate cultural practice with other benefits, such as developing specific characteristics and paving the way for educational success. Middle-class families are often marked by a pattern of 'concerted cultivation’，where parents organize music-centred activities for their children, often in addition to school-based musical practice.” Researchers had owed this to “parental anxiety over the declining fortunes of educated Americans. These parents have become increasingly worried about providing their children with skills and abilities enabling them to stand out from their competitors in the job market.”
By contrast, for British respondents, no such connection was made between what is considered as an overbearing parenting style and future educational or career possibilities. The parents interviewed here did not connect music with usefulness but rather they focused on the value of music as a family tradition and, to a lesser extent, as something valuable in its own right.

One Scottish parent, a chemist by profession, said during the interviews, “We’ve got two learning musical instruments. If we think it’s maybe worthwhile we try and encourage them, but we wouldn’t force them.” A housewife said, “My son’s just turned five and I want him to do the guitar because his uncle does it, but it’s up to him.”

In some UK families, said Dr. Reeves, music was even “believed to be an obstacle to educational success, or at least secondary to it.”

28. What do British parents think of music learning?

A. Useful for job application. B. Helpful for character building.

C. Beneficial to further education. D. Worthwhile as a family tradition.

29. What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. Cultural practice. B. Educational success.

C. Concerted cultivation. D. School-based musical practice.

30. What can be inferred from the text?

A. The future of American kids is not promising.

B. American parents hardly link music with success.

C. Music learning is a personal choice for British kids.

D. British parents show little concern about education.

31. What is the text mainly about?

A. Reasons for British music preference.

B. British parenting style in music education.

C. Americans' attitude towards music learning.

D. Differences between British and American parents.
D

There is an unforgettable beauty to the Karoo, a vast semi-desert, that seems empty save for the stars overhead and sheep eating grass below. Economic opportunities here are few.
But the Karoo's clear skies also draw some of the world’s best scientists. A radio telescope project called the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is under construction, with the latest group of 64 giant antennae (天线）due to be completed late next year. When finished, it will be the biggest radio telescope in the world and should allow scientists to peer into the origins of the universe.

Still, some sheep farmers are complaining. Because of the sensitivity of the telescope, the surrounding area must be kept free from radio interference (干扰）caused by everything from mobile phones to microwave ovens and some car engines. The SKA is buying up more farms than originally expected to ensure radio silence over an area of some 130,000 hectares. There will be no mobile phone signals allowed, except in the few towns in the area. Save the Karoo, an advocacy group, isn’t convinced by the bright future of groundbreaking astronomical discoveries. Its members fear the restrictions will make the Karoo “a cut-off and backward region”，and warn that people serving farms near the SKA site could face financial ruin. “I don’t care about a black hole sitting somewhere out in space,” says Eric Torr, an organiser with the group. “It does not put food on the table.”

Sky-high expectations in this down-at-heel area are also a problem. An SKA official complains that the locals expect the telescope to solve all their problems. Some jobs have been created, but few locals have the skills to find out the secrets of distant galaxies. Until recently the high school in Carnarvon, a nearby town, didn’t even have a maths and science teacher. The SKA organisation hired one, and is also offering scholarship to college students. Perhaps if the next generation’s horizons are raised, they will be able to take advantage of the radio telescopes in their own backyard.

32. The project SKA is aimed at________.

A. exploring the universe B. creating jobs for locals

C. protecting the sheep D. saving the Karoo

33. What most disturbs the locals’ life?

A. The shrinking of their farmlands. B. Restrictions of radio signals.

C. The construction of the project. D. Noises of car engines.

34. What can be inferred from Eric’s words?

A. The project makes no sense to Eric. B. Eric faces financial difficulty.

C. The black hole is nowhere to be found. D. Food should be put on the table.
35. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A. Telescope in the Backyard B. Expectations of the Locals

C. Biggest Radio Telescope D. Great Astronomical Discovery
第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

Each one of us has different natural and acquired abilities. Some learn new languages quickly, and some are more social than others. 36 Obviously, people interpret what you’re saying in different ways, based on the way they think.

37 While looking to convince others, we rely on our own thinking tools and strengths. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to persuade your boss to adopt a new idea. But when you need to persuade your colleague, switch chairs with your listener and ask yourself what his or her strength is. Sure, you take into account what’s important to them.

38 Try to fit someone you work with into the different thinking categories一Individual thinking or Group thinking. To quickly identify if someone thinks better individually or in a group, I ask one simple question: Did you prefer studying by yourself or in a group in high school? You，ll find out most people will answer within a blink of an eye.

Then how to communicate better after identifying individual or group thinking? 39 Individual thinkers need some time by themselves to digest a new idea. Therefore, try sending them suggestions by e-mail or introduce a new idea and then giving them some time to think about it. Group thinkers will react much better when talking about a new idea. 40 When group thinkers ask to talk about something, they’re actually asking you to brainstorm with them to help find a solution using conversation.

A. Choose your presentation strategy.

B. You can find out which category you belong to.

C. It is a challenge to convince people around you.

D. So give them opportunities to voice their thoughts.

E. But how about understanding how they actually think?

F. Most people are more productive when working alone.

G. These strengths determine how we think and make decisions.
第三部分语言知识运用（共两节，满分45分）

第一节（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

I had a quick thirty-minute stopover in Detroit before heading home to Toronto. After 41 up the passage, I realized that my gate was on the opposite end of the airport. Luckily, I got there with five minutes to 42 and stood waiting to be called.

I was tired and had an emergency 43 scheduled after I was home. But then came the 44 , “It seems we have overbooked the flight. Would anyone volunteer to stay for the 45 departure?” There were 100-plus people and not a 46 person responded.

The next flight was in four hours. I 47 and saw businessmen needing to get home for work, moms to see their kids, kids to see their friends, and more 48 , I  saw people that needed to be helped. Even though I 49 to be home just as much as anyone, something inside me said that I should volunteer and offer some 50 to this group of strangers. The gate attendant had said that the flight couldn’t board 51 someone volunteered.

I picked up my bag, 52 the desk and said to the gate attendant, “I volunteer!” A 53 smile spread over her face.

As she was 54 my ticket, I got my meeting rescheduled. All the 55 boarding their flight, I was happy that I had been able to 56 .

When boarding the plane, I was surprised to discover that I was 57 to be seated in first class. How 58 I was for everything that had happened. I gave with the intention to serve others, with no thought of 59 , and that kindness was 60 to me with an upgrade to first class!

41. A. setting B. wandering C. driving D. rushing

42. A. take B. spare C. last D. waste

43. A. meeting B. call C. treatment D. case

44. A. apology B. commercial C. announcement D. reply

45. A. later B. direct C. earlier D. first

46. A. normal B. single C. particular D. nice

47. A. set off B. ran out C. stood by D. looked around
48. A. seriously B. willingly C. importantly D. accurately

49. A. agreed B. demanded C. wanted D. refused

50. A. kindness B. money C. sympathy D. comfort

51. A. once B. because C. although D. until

52. A. left B. approached C. cleared D. tapped

53. A. ready B. forced C. relieved D. shy

54. A. checking B. holding C. booking D. processing

55. A. kids B. passengers C. volunteers D. parents

56. A. help B. speak C. rest D. leave

57. A. permitted B. required C. arranged D. advised

58. A. anxious B. grateful C. responsible D. suitable

59. A. praise B. loss C. fame D. reward

60. A. returned B. delivered C. introduced D. shown
第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The 17th-century philosopher-statesman Francis Bacon declared that nothing had changed the world more deeply than three great 61 (invention): gunpowder, printing and the compass. 62 what Bacon didn’t know was that all the three had already been invented and successfully employed by Chinese people.

And 63 was not until over 300 years later that one young man in Cambridge gave these people the credit they 64 (true) deserved. The man is Joseph Needham, or Dr. Li Yuese, which is a household name among the well-educated in China. In 1943，he 65 (send) by the British government to help save China’s universities from the occupying Japanese forces. Then Needham began his lifelong research, 66 ended up creating the greatest work—Science and Civilization in China. The twenty-four-volume masterpiece on China is known as a most important book 67 (tell) the west what Chinese have contributed to the world.

Needham is considered the first bridge builder 68 China and the rest of the world in a book 69 (title) Bomb, Book & Compass~Joseph Needham and the Great Secrets of China. It was written by Simon，who tried his best 70 (bring) the human side of the great man to the world，and let the world know better what Needham was as a human being.
第四部分写作（共两节，满分35分）

第一节短文改错（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中 共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及--个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（A),并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（\)划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

One day, I happened to watch a program about traditional villages on TV. Out of interesting, I made a trip to a nearby village with my parents. The moment I was arrived, I thought I entered a dream world. We were warmly welcomed or treated to the local cuisine. Groups of villager sang and danced happy to the folk music which was played with wooden drums and pipes. We watched our performances in admiration. While we were chatting with elderly, they expressed their great concern about passing on the songs in future generations. The precious experience has teach me the importance of preserve traditional culture.

第二节书面表达（满分25分）

假定你是新华中学的学生李华,你校将于今年2月接待一批来华研修旅行的美国学生， 请根据以下提示，给领队Mr. Smith写封电子邮件，告知其相关安排。

时 间：2月13 -15日；

活动内容：1.游览长城、参观丝绸之路展；

2.学习中国传统文化课程；

3.体验中国年俗。

注意：

1.词数100左右；

2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

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