Cell Phones: Hang Up or Keep Talking?

Millions of people are using cell phones today. In many places it is actually considered __1__ (usual) not to use one. They find that the phones are more than a means of __2__ (communicate)---having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and __3__(connect).

The __4__ (explode) around the world in mobile phone use make some health professional worried. Some doctors are __5__ (concern) that in the future many people may suffer health problems from the use of mobile phones. In England, there has been a serious debate about this issue. Mobile phone companies are worried about the negative 46(public) of such ideas. They say that there is no __7__ (prove) that mobile phones are bad for your health.

On the other hand, signs of change in the issues of the brain and head can be __8__ (detect) with modern scanning equipment. What is it that makes mobile phones __9__ (potential) harmful? The answer is radiation.

As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it's best to use mobile phones less often. Use your regular phone if you want to talk for a long time. Use your mobile phone only when you really need it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. In the future, mobile phones may have a __10__ (warn) label that says they are bad for your health. So for now, it's wise not to use your mobile phone too often.

Testing: Is it the only way to Evaluate Students?

About ten percent of __1__ (spend)on primary and secondary education in the United States comes from the federal government. For ten years now, federal law has tied this cost to student __2__ (perform). States have been required to show progress through __3__ (year) testing.

States saying testing tells only part of the story about efforts by school and students to improve. So the Obama administration has eased the limits on states in __4__ (measure) performance.

The western state of Colorado for example, has a new __5__ (assess) method. The idea is to show __6__ (academy) growth, not just achievement on tests. It combines test scores, family income levels, school size, the ethnicity of the student and many other factors.

Josh Smith is principal of a middle school in a network of public charter schools __7__ (call). West Denver Prep Charter schools are publicly funded but not operated the same as __8__ (tradition) public schools. Mr. Smith says he likes to show his students this graph so they can see their school’s progress. On average, students enter sixth grade at West Denver Prep __9__ (perform) below grade level. __10__ (strange) enough, most are outperforming other students across the state three years later.

Immigration and Problems

Hundreds of thousands of people supporting immigration rights in the US filled streets all over America in early 2006. Many held signs and American flags and asked to be __1__ as citizens rather than criminals. Senator John McCain held the opinion that the country should open a __2__to citizenship to immigrants(移民) who were already in the country illegally, while other politicians__3__ for stricter measures---including rounding up undocumented immigrants and sending them back to their home countries.

Canadian officials say that immigration applications continue to rise. Some want to keep the doors __4__. They need the labor. About 400,000 immigrants were allowed into the country in 2005, according to the Canadian Government statistics. __5__ all this growth means that cities need to adapt. New comers don’t always make a smooth transition into jobs for which they are skilled. So industries are using mentoring(辅导)programs to help new __6__ find proper jobs.

With the large numbers of undocumented African immigrants arriving in the Canary Islands, the Spanish Government has decided to get __7__. There will be no more mass amnesties(特赦)for the illegal immigrants, and anyone coming to Spain without __8__ will be sent back.

France's new immigration and integration law gives the government new powers to encourage high-skilled migration. It takes __9__ in 2007. The new law authorizes the government to help these identified employers find immigrant workers with needed skills or qualifications. The selected foreign employees will be granted"skills and talents"visas(签证). But some people show the concern that it’ll cause brain drain in 40 countries.

A. immigrants  B. However

C developing    D.path

E. open              F. tough

G. effect             H. Therefore

I developed       J. permission

K. treated           L.called

Michael Jackson—the Ups and Downs

Michael Jackson, the seventh of nine children, started his musical career with his brothers in 1964. __1__ Michael quickly became the centre of attention.

During the following years the band released hit after hit and became the most successful town group. In 1975 the Jackson Five decided to leave Motown for more money at CBS records.

Young Michael began his solo（独唱）career while he was still with the group. His big breakthrough came in 1982 with the arrival of his biggest selling album, Thriller. The album had seven hit singles and became famous for its video clip.

__2__ In 1984 he set his hair on fire for a commercial in Los Angeles. He was injured and carried out on a stretcher（担架）. This and many other strange stories about Jackson brought him the nickname Wacko Jack(怪人杰克). Nevertheless the sales of his records went up.

Black and White was the biggest hit of the 1991 album Dangerous. During the promotion of his album he invited US talk master Oprah Winfrey to Neverland（梦幻岛）. There he gave the world insights into his private life. __3__ And he also admitted that he had undergone plastic surgery.

In 1993 the King of Pop was accused of harassing （骚扰） children, but a settlement with the 13-year olds parents saved him from prison. __4__ But unluckily, the couple separated a year and a half later.

By the mid 1990s, Jackson's popularity had started to fall. History was a collection of greatest hits plus a few new recordings. The pop star appeared at the Brit Awards to perform his number one single Earth Song, together with a group of children.

A second marriage with Nurse Deborah Rowe produced a son Michael and a daughter Paris.

__5__ It took almost 6 years to finish the album Invincible. But when it was released in 2001,it was only in the charts(排行榜) for six weeks.

In March 2009 Jackson surprised the pop world by announcing were that he would go on stage one last time. A series of ten concerts, definitely his last ones, were planned for July 2009 in the 02Arena in London. But on June 25, 2009, less than a month before he was scheduled to begin a series of comeback concerts, paramedics were called to Michael Jackson's rented home in Holby Hills near Los Angeles where they found him unconscious and not responding. They were unable to revive the “King of Pop,"and Jackson was pronounced dead at the L.A Medical Center.

A. They called themselves the Jackson Five.

B The following year Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley.

C. He said that he was lonely.

D. Michael Jackson was not only a great singer, he also did crazy things.

E. Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson were two peas in one odd pod.

F. Jackson's downturn continued into the new millennium.