[单项选择]Time for another global-competitiveness alert. In the Third International Mathematics and Science Study--which last year tested a half-million students in 41 countries- American eighth graders 21 below the world average in math. And that’s not even 22 part. Consider this as you try to 23 which countries will dominate the technology markets of the 21st century: the top 10 percent of America’s math students scored about the same as the average kid in the global 24 , Singapore. It isn’t exactly a news flash these days 25 Americans score behind the curve on international tests. But educators say this study is 26 because it monitored variables both inside and outside the classroom. Laziness- the factor often 27 for Americans’ poor performance--is not the culprit here. American students 28 spend more time in class than pupils in Japan and Germany. 29 , they get more homework and watch the same amount of TV. The problem, educators say, is not the kids but a curriculum t
A. recorded
B. gained
C. climbed
D. scored

[单项选择]Time for another global-competitiveness alert. In the Third International Mathematics and Science Study--which last year tested a half-million students in 41 countries- American eighth graders 21 below the world average in math. And that’s not even 22 part. Consider this as you try to 23 which countries will dominate the technology markets of the 21st century: the top 10 percent of America’s math students scored about the same as the average kid in the global 24 , Singapore. It isn’t exactly a news flash these days 25 Americans score behind the curve on international tests. But educators say this study is 26 because it monitored variables both inside and outside the classroom. Laziness- the factor often 27 for Americans’ poor performance--is not the culprit here. American students 28 spend more time in class than pupils in Japan and Germany. 29 , they get more homework and watch the same amount of TV. The problem, educators say, is not the kids but a curriculum t
A. the least
B. the worst
C. the less
D. the worse

[单项选择]Jack: How time flies! Another Friday again Susan: Oh, yes. I haven’t realized that. Jack: Do you have any plans for this Saturday afternoon Susan: ______ Why Jack: I’m wondering if you’d like to go to a movie with me. Susan: I’m afraid we’ll have to change the date.
A. I am free for the whole day.
B. I don’t have any plans.
C. I have a prior engagement at three.
D. I’m not quite sure for the moment.

[单项选择]At one time or another we have all stopped to think about the weather. Some days the weather is good. Some days the weather is bad. Still, there are days when the weather seems to change from hour to hour. A day that starts out fine might not stay that way. Sometimes a day that seems bad turns out better than you thought it would. There are ways of understanding the weather. One way is to study the clouds.
No two clouds are ever alike. But it is still possible to group clouds and to give them names. We can recognize the different kinds of clouds and watch them for signs of changing weather.
As a rote, the higher the clouds, the better the weather. And the lower the clouds, the worse the weather is likely to be. To predict the weather, there are three things about clouds you should look for: movement, color, and change.
Clouds can tell you if storm is on the way. For example, small feathery cirrus clouds (卷云) can become thick and move lower. This means rain is on the way.
A. learn about the change of weather
B. group them and give them names
C. tell the differences in clouds
D. find the likeness of clouds