【真题演练】
College and university graduations in the United States are arriving earlier and earlier each year as the average length of school year gets shorter. The school year has fallen by nearly six weeks, from 191 days in 1964 to 156 days in 1994, according to the National Association of Scholars. 1 most American kindergarten, elementary（初等的）and high school students are 2 to spend 180 days a year in their schools. The length of the average class period also has 3 , from more than 57 minutes to less that 54, the Association reports.―The 4 has to that students are simply 5 less, ”said the director of the Association.“If you count the actual 6 of contact hours, you\'ll find they are 7 four years in college getting an education that would have taken about 8 years in 1964．”
The universities argue（认为）that they are simply teaching more 9 ．“The traditional idea that learning 10 in the classroom and through reading and writing 11 based on seat time is out of date, ”said a spokesman for the American Council on Education. 12 than attending lectures, students now chat with their professors on their computers or use other types of 13 technology, allowing for a shorter school year, he said.“It is very (adj)14 that, in many schools, they are going to spend less time 15 than they used to.”
1．A．By comparison B．In particular C．Strangely enough D．As a result
2．A．intended B．required C．requested D．inquired
3．A．fallen B．declined C．oppressed D．lowered
4．A．reason B．cause C．conclusion D．condition
5．A．playing B．learning C．working D．paying
6．A．number B．times C．need D．arrangement
7．A．spending B．given C．living D．asked
8．A．five B．two C．three D．six
9．A．quickly B．thoroughly C．wisely D．efficiently
10．A．came B．took place C．started D．appeared
11．A．questions B．books C．assignments D．texts
12．A．Rather B．More C．Less D．Easier
13．A．knowledge B．information C．message D．intelligence
14．A．possibly(adv) B．probably(adv) C．lovely D．likely
15．A．at home B．in the laboratory C．in the classroom D．on computer
【真题详解】
1．A [分析] 这是一个固定短语。意思是“比较起来, 较之”。
2．B [分析] 短语require sb. to do sth. 意思是“命令、要求某人做某事”, 这短语经常用被动语态, 而短语request sb. to do sth. 是“请求某人做某事”。
3．A [分析] 这句话的意思是“平均课时的长度减少了。”fall为不及物动词, 而lower为及物动词, 应该用被动式。
4．C [分析] 此处意思是结论。
5．B [分析] 根据上文得知由于课时缩短, 所以得出结论：学生学得少。
6．A [分析] 根据句意, 此处为数量。
7．A [分析] 表示“度过„„时间”, 应该选择spend。
8．C [分析] 根据上下文意思得知, 在1964年, 课时和学期同1994年比较, 前者要长, 通过对比应该选C。
9．D [分析] 根据文章大意, 这种教学很有效果。
10．B [分析] 这里take place的意思是“进行”之意。而C答案应该用被动式。
11．C [分析] 此处意思是“作业”。
12．A [分析] rather than是固定短语。
13．B [分析] 此处意思是“学生们不用上课, 可以通过电脑或者使用别的信息知识与教授交谈。
14．D [分析] 此处根据语法结构要求, 须用形容词, 而句意要求考生应用此选项。
15．C [分析] 通过文章大意, 应该选此答案。
