did better in reading and mathematics tests. They were more than two times as likely to be attending college or to have completed college. In addition, the children who received early education were older on average, when their first child was born.
The study offers more evidence that learning during the first months and years of life is important for all later development.
The researchers of the Abecedarian Project believe their study shows a need for lawmakers to spend money on public early education. They believe these kinds of programs could reduce the number of children who do not complete school and are unemployed. 46. The Abecedarian Project has lasted______.
A. almost one year B. about five years C. more than 20 years D. no more than 15 years
47. Those who had been in the child-care center_______ compared with those who hadn’t.
A. have their children at later ages B. have no parenting or social skills C. are poorer at reading and mathematics D. get more help from other people
48. What don’t we know about the Abecedarian Project after reading the text?
A. How important early education is for poor children. B. What the children learned at the child-care center.
C. How many children are involved in the Abecedarian Project. D. Whether lawmakers will spend money on public early education. 49. The study if Abecedarian project shows that early education____.
A. leads to a lower birthrate B. costs a lot of money
C. is not important for later development D. can improve the life of poor children
C
Never-say-die Attitude
In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However, bridge building experts throughtout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea．It just could not be done. It was not practical．It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time
and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington，an up-and-coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tregic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with certain account of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
“We told them so.”
“Crazy men and their crazy dreams.” “It’s foolish to chase wild visions.”
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scraped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap, Washington was never discouraged and still had burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task．As he lay on his bed in his hospital room，with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the top of the trees outside for just a moment. It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife’s arm with that finger, indicating to her he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute of one’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 years patiently decoded the message of her husband and told the engineers what to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best example of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.
50. Why did the bridge building experts think that Washington’s idea could not be done? A. because the poor technology at that time
B. because it was not practical and on one had done it before C. because they didn’t believe in John Roebeling D. because they didn’t accept new ideas.
51. What happed on the Rebellings when the project started only a few months? A. Washington died and Roebeling handicapped B. Roebeling died and Washington handicapped C. The Roebelings died D. the bridge collapsed
52.What does the underlined word “scraped” in paragraph nine means?
A. continued B. given up C. insisted on D. disappeared 53. Which of the followings are the right orders?
a. John Roebeling had an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island.
b. John Roebeling died in an accident
c. John Roebeling convinced his son to build the bridge with him
d. people laughed at the Roebelings for they couldn’t continue their project e. the bridge stands in all its glory
f. Washington.moved his finger with the help of his wife to make the project be under way again A. a b c d f e B. b a d c f e C. a d c b f e D. a c b d f e 54. What made the Roebelings’ success?
A. Their never-say-die attitude and the support of their family B. Their devotion to building bridge C. Their bravery and persistence D. Their high skill in profession
D
Repression
Today, as I was relaxing at the beach, I couldn't help but eavesdrop（窃听，偷听） on a conversation four high school kids were having on the beach blanket next to me. Their conversation was about making a positive difference in the world. And it went something like this…
\power,\
\– to speak up and stand up for what I believe. But what I say and do doesn't even get noticed. I just keep answering to ‘the man’ and then I get slapped back（山谷回声） in place by him when I step out of line.\\
I smiled because I knew exactly how they felt. When I was their age, I was certain I was being repressed and couldn't possibly make a difference in this world. And I actually almost got expelled from（驱逐，开除） school once because I openly expressed how repressed I felt in the middle of the principals’ office. I Have A Dream
Suddenly, one of the kids noticed me eavesdropping and smiling. He sat up, looked at me and said, \Do you disagree?\
Rather than arguing with them, I took an old receipt（收据） out of my wallet, ripped（撕，扯） it into four pieces, and wrote a different word on each piece. Then I crumbled the pieces into little paper balls and handed a different piece to each one of them.
\single word I had handed each of them and appeared confused. \your word inspired you to make a difference in this world, then hold onto it. If not, give it back to me so I can recycle the paper.\
I scooted（快走） over, sat down on the sand next to their beach blanket and laid out the four words that the students had returned to me so that the words combined to form the simple sentence, \\\
\to memorize his speech in school a few years ago.\
\
\have to do with us and our situation?\
\asked students to memorize those words, because they have inspired millions of repressed people to dream of a better world and take action to make their dreams come true. Do you see where I'm going with this?\\who hadn't spoken a word until now. \some dude said thirty years ago. Our world is different now. And it's more screwed up than any us can even begin to imagine, and there's little you or I can do about it. We're too small, we're nobody.\