Volunteer tutors come from all walks of life—married, single, with or without children. Big Brothers and Big Sisters are not replacement parents or social workers. They are tutors: someone to trust, to have fun with, to talk and go to when needed.

A Big Sister and Little Sister will generally spend between one and four hours together three or four times each month for at least twelve months. They enjoy simple activities such as a picnic at a park, cooking, playing sport or going to a football match. These activities improve the friendship and help the young person develop positive self-respect, confidence and life direction.

Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations exist throughout the world. It is the largest and most well-known provider of tutor services internationally and has been operating for 25 years.

Emily and Sarah have been matched since March 2008.Emily is a 10-year-old girl who has experienced some difficulties being accepted by her schoolmates at school. ‘I was pretty sure there was something wrong with me.’

Emily’s mum came across Big Brothers Big Sisters and thought it would be of benefit to Emily by ‘providing different feedback(反馈)about herself other than just relying on schoolmates to measure her self-worth.’

Sarah wanted to get involved in a volunteer program.’ I googled it and found out how to be a part of it. I thought it would be fun for me to get involved in making time to do something because sometimes it’s all work and no play.’

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been of great benefit and enjoyment to both Emily and Sarah. They love and look forward to their time together and the partnership has certainly helped Emily be more comfortable in being the wonderful, happy and unique girl she is!

66.What is the aim of Big Brothers Big Sisters?

A. To offer students public services.

B. To help students improve their grades.

C. To organize sport activities for young people.

D. To provide partnership and fun for young people.

67.A volunteer is usually expected to work within a year for at least 　　　.

A.24 hours    B.36 hours       C.48 hours       D.72 hours

68.According to Emily’s mother, this program may provide Emily with 　　　.

A. advice from her teachers                B. a new way to assess herself

C. a new way to judge her schoolmates       D. more comments from her schoolmates

69.Why did Sarah want to get involved in the program?

A. She used to be a volunteer.               B. She needed a part-time job.

C. She felt a bit bored with her life.           D. She wanted to get a challenging job.

70.According to the passage, ‘vulnerable young people’ are probably those who are 　　　.

A. popular at school                       B. rather weak physically

C. easily hurt emotionally                  D. confident in themselves

PART FOUR: WRITING (45 points)

Section A (10 points)

Directions: Read the following passage. Complete the diagram / Fill in the numbered blanks by using the information for the passage.

Write NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS for each answer

The United Nations estimates that world food production will have to increase by 70% by 2050. A world population growing in number and wealth will require one billion tons more grain each year, and two hundred million tons more meat.

The Food and Agriculture Organization says those gains will have to happen largely on existing land. However, according to a new report which provides the first "global assessment of the state of the planet's land resources”, large parts of all continents are experiencing damage. One-fourth of all land is described as "highly degraded(退化) ".  The greatest threats are losses of soil quality, biodiversity and water resources. Therefore, production rates have been slowing in many areas. Though new agricultural methods and technology are used to increase food production in many countries, yet they have also harmed the land and water. Thus, it calls for greater use of ways that can expand production while avoiding damage to ecosystems.

One such practice might be the use of "fertilizer trees." These are fast-growing trees and shrubs(矮树丛) whose leaves and roots help make soil richer.

Oluyede Ajayi, the leader author of the study, said "Basically these are trees that can fix nitrogen(氮) from the atmosphere and change them into nitrates(硝酸盐) for fertilizer, for organic fertilizer, for the soil."

The farmers who planted fertilizer trees reported double the corn production of other farmers. In Zambia, the fertilized fields provided up to 114 additional days of food. Farmers say they need less rainwater if they use fertilizer trees. The trees reduce water runoff and soil erosion.

A recent study found that about 400,000 farmers in southern Africa are using them. The farmers themselves designed and managed part of the testing in the field, and spread the word of their successes.

Fertilizer trees can be used to increase food production

Problems ● World population growth   71     the increase of world food production

● Large parts of global land    72    by losses of soil quality and water resources, slowing production rates

● New agricultural technology is    73    to land and water

74     Growing fertilizer trees to expand food production without    75    .

76 of fertilizer trees ● Having leaves and roots    77    soil

●    78    into nitrates for the soil

●    79    and loss of soil

Good result Farmers using fertilizer trees can produce    80    as much corn as other farmers.

Section B (10 points)

Directions: Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage and required words limit. Write your answers on your answer sheet.

Marti Sementelli has been a baseball player since preschool, throwing plastic balls and swinging a tiny wood bat from the time she was 3 years old. She was a solid player at every youth level, and sometimes a star. In 2007, Nike even featured the young Californian in a TV commercial.

Despite her experience, Sementelli, now 16, had a hard time finding a high school that would allow her to try out for the boys’ baseball team.

Two parochial schools (教会学校) near her family’s home in North Hollywood said no, and several public schools were lukewarm (冷淡的) to the idea. Finally, she found Burbank High School, where she’s now a sophomore and a member of the JV baseball team.

Sementelli’s story is not unique. Across the country, girls devoted to baseball--and with as many seasons of youth ball under their belts as their male teammates--are finding it isn’t easy to stay in the sport when they reach high school.

Biology does play a role in the situation: Boys, especially older ones, often have an edge over girls in size and strength, allowing them to throw harder and swing with greater force. But girls say that the toughest battles are not about capabilities, but against the traditional attitude that baseball is for boys.

“Most people just are incapable of seeing beyond what’s easy,” says Jennifer Ring, the author of Stolen Bases: Why American Girls Don’t Play Baseball, and a professor at the University of Nevada-Reno. “It is much neater if we say boys play baseball and girls play other sports.”

In at least one state, Massachusetts, girls are barred from trying out for boys’ baseball in high schools that also offer softball. Nebraska dropped its ban last year, and in January, Indiana removed its ban after being sued (控告) by the parents of Logan Young, a 15-year-old aspiring catcher and freshman at Bloomington South High School.

81. When did Sementelli begin to play baseball? (no more than 6 words)

82. Where did Sementelli stay in a baseball team? (no more than 6 words)

83. What does the author think about girls’ capabilities in baseball? (no more than 10 words)

84. In which states are girls allowed to play baseball? (no more than 4 words)

______________________________________________________________________________

Section C(25 points)

Directions: Write an English composition according to the instructions given below in Chinese.

假定你是某高三年级2班的学习委员，经常看到有同学抄袭作业，针对这种现象，你将在下周的班会上组织全班同学讨论这一现象，并以 “My opinion on copying others’ homework” 为主题作中心发言，请事先用英语写好一篇发言稿。

注意：1.发言稿须包括以下内容要点：

A. 抄袭的主要原因。

B. 抄袭的危害及解决办法。

C. 简要表明自己的态度。

2. 词数：不少于120字。

Answer Sheet

1-15 CBABB     CBABB   CBBCA

16. head   17. Italy  18. four/4 goals    19. 2-1/ two to one   20. good shots

21-35 BDDAB  DBDAC  ACBBD

36-47 ADDDA  CCBAC  BB

48-55 who/that, a, and, less, of, But, Another, It

56-70 DBCBA CACBC DBBCC

71. requires/ will require      72 are threatened        73 harmful     74. Solution

75. damaging ecosystems /damage to ecosystem         76. Advantages  77. enrich

78. Changing nitrogen        79. Reducing water runoff        80. twice

81. When she was three.

82. In Burbank high school.

83. They are not as strong and powerful as boys.

84. Nebraska and Indiana.

May I have your attention, please?

My topic today is about copying others’ homework.

As we know, some students copy others’ homework. On one hand, we students have to do masses of homework both at home and at school . Sometimes we do have some problems, too hard to work out. On the other hand, lazy and uninterested in their lesson, some students copy others’ homework not only to finish the assignments but also to please their teachers.

In a word, copying others’ homework is a bad habit. For one thing, it’s against the school rules. Being students, we should be honest and work hard. If we have difficulties, we can turn to teachers and classmates for help. For another, copying others’ homework too often, we will lose the ability that can help us to think.

Personally, it’s for our own sake to study. We should try our best to gain knowledge. Let’s take action to prevent such bad behavior from spreading.

Thank you for your attention.

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