QUESTIONS like the one my taxi driver asked me are always jarring, but I can understand why he could not see me as American. He had a narrow but widely shared sense of the past - a history that has viewed American as European in ancestry. "Race," Toni Morrison explained, has functioned as a "metaphor" necessary to the "construction of Americanness": in the creation of our national identity, "American" has been defined as "white."1
But America has been racially diverse since our very beginning on the Virginia shore, and this reality is increasingly becoming visible and ubiquitous. Currently, one-third of the American people do not trace their origins to Europe; in California, minorities are fast becoming a majority. They already predominate in major cities across the country - New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. ……
说明：考试将原文的Japan换成China，这样文章听起来像是一位美籍华裔的经历，使得录音内容与考生更亲切。
Questions 11 lo 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.
11. What was the theme of the conference the speaker was to attend?
A) The role of immigrants in the construction of American society.
B) The importance of offering diverse courses in European history.
{C) The need for greater cultural diversity in the school curriculum.}
D) The historic landing of Europeans on the Virginia shore.
12. Why did the taxi driver asked the speaker how long he has been in the US?
A) He was wondering if the speaker was used to living in America.
B) He was trying to show friendliness to the speaker.
C) He wanted to keep their conversation going.
{D) He believed the speaker was a foreigner. }
13. What message does the speaker wish to convey?
{A) The US population doesn’t consist of white European descendants only. }
B) Asian tourists can speak English as well as native speakers of the language.
C) Colored people are not welcome in the United States.
D) Americans are in need of education in their history.
Passage Two
Laws have been written to govern the use of the American National Flag and to ensure proper respect for the flag. Custom has also governed the common practice in regard to its use. All the armed services have precise regulations on how to display the national flag. This may vary somewhat from the general rules. The national flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Do not raise the flag while it is folded. Unfold the flag first, and then hoist it quickly to the top of the flagpole. Lower it slowly and with dignity. Place no objects on or over the flag. Do not use the flag as part of a costume or athletic uniform. Do not print it upon cushions, handkerchiefs, paper napkins or boxes. A federal law provides that a trademark cannot be registered if it comprises the flag, coat of arms, or badges of the United States. When the flag is used in unveiling a statue or monument, it should not serve as a covering of the object to be unveiled.
If it is displayed on such occasions, do not allow the flag to fail to the ground, but let it be carried high up in the air to form a feature of the ceremony. Take every precaution to prevent the flag from becoming soiled. It should not be allowed to touch the ground or floor, nor to brush against objects.
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Laws have been written to govern the use of the flag and to insure a proper respect for the Stars and strips. Custom has decreed certain other observances in regard to its use.
All the services have precise regulations regarding the display of the National Flag, which may vary somewhat form the general rules below. Respect your flag and render it the courtesies to which it is entitled by observing the following rules:
The National flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Do not raise the flag while it is furled. Unfurl, then hoist quickly to the top of the staff. Lower it slowly and with dignity. Place no objects on or over the flag. A speaker's table is sometimes covered with the flag. This practice should be avoided.
When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faced the audience, with other flags at his left.
The flag should never be displayed with the union down except as a signal of dire distress.
Do not use the flag as a portion of a costume or athletic uniform. Do not embroider it upon cushions or handkerchiefs nor print it on paper napkins or boxes.
A federal law provides that a trademark cannot be registered which consists of, or comprises among other things, "the flag, coat-of-arms or other insignia of the United States, or any simulation thereof".
When the flag is used in unveiling a statue or monument, it should not serve as a covering of the object to be unveiled. If it is displayed on such occasions, do not allow the flag to fall to the ground, but let it be carried aloft to form a feature of the ceremony.
Take every precaution to prevent the flag from becoming soiled. It should not be allowed to touch the ground or floor, nor to brush against objects.
The flag should not be dipped to any person or thing, with one exception: Navy vessels, upon receiving a salute of this type from a vessel registered by a nation formally recognized by the United State, must return the compliment. ………
Questions 14 lo 17 are based on the passage you have just heard.
14. How do Americans ensure proper respect for the National Flag?
{A) By making laws. }
B) By enforcing discipline.
C) By educating the public.
D) By holding ceremonies.
15. What is the regulation regarding the raising of the American National Flag?
A) It should be raised by soldiers.
{B) It should be raised quickly by hand. }
C) It should be raised only by Americans.
D) It should be raised by mechanical means.
16. How should the American National Flag be displayed at an unveiling ceremony?
A) It should be attached to the statue.
B) It should be hung from the top of the monument.
C) It should be spread over the object to be unveiled.
{D) It should be carried high up in the air.}
17. What do we learn about the use of the American National Flag?
A) There has been a lot of controversy over the use of flag.
B) The best athletes can wear uniforms with the design of the flag.
{C) There are precise regulations and customs to be followed. }
D) Americans can print the flag on their cushions or handkerchiefs.
Passage Three
In some large American city schools, as many as 20~40% of the students are absent each day. There are two major reasons for such absences: one is sickness, and the other is truancy, that is, staying away from school without permission. Since school officials can’t do much about illness, they are concentrating on reducing the number of truants. One of the most promising schemes has been tried in Florida. The pupils there with good attendance have been given free hamburgers, toys and T-shirts. Classes are told that if they show improved rates of attendance, they can win additional gifts. At the same time, teachers are being encouraged to inspire their students to come to school regularly. When those teachers are successful, they are also rewarded. “We’ve been punishing truants for years, but that hasn’t brought them back to school.’’ One school principal said, “Now we are trying the positive approach. Not only do you learn by showing up every day, but you earn.” In San Francisco, the board of education has had a somewhat similar idea. Schools that show a decrease in deliberate destruction of property can receive the amount of money that would’ve been spent on repairs and replacements. For example, 12,000 dollars had been set aside for a school’s property damages every year. Since repair expenses of damaged property required only 4,000 dollars, the remaining 8,000 dollars was turned over to the student activities fund. “Our democracy operates on hope and encouragement,” said the school board member. “Why not provide some positive goals for students and teachers to aim at?”
Questions 18 lo 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
18. Which reason for students’ absences is discussed in great detail?
A) Punishment by teachers.
B) Poor academic performance.
{C) Truancy.}
D) Illness.
19. Who will benefit from the scheme being tried in Florida?
A) The Board of Education.
B) Principals of city schools.
C)
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