阅读理解
Passage One
It has never been easy to be a teenager , and it is particularly difficult today. The world expects us to be grown up but rarely treats us like adults; we are part of a society in which drugs are readily available but extremely dangerous; our education consists of examinations and more examinations… Is it any wonder we struggle at times?
One of the biggest problems is that parents demand mature and intelligent behavior from us ,yet usually think of us as still being children .We help do a range of housework and care for sickly grandparents, but cannot watch adult movies on television. We are expected to show an interest in current affairs and get a part-time job to begin to support ourselves, but are not even allowed a say in where we go for the family holiday---never mind being allowed to holiday with our friends！
Outside the home , we have to make sure our dissatisfaction does not lead us to rebellion and to the dealers who are just waiting to sell us various drugs .Older generations had to come to terms with alcohol and cigarettes; that was easy, by comparison. We go to a club, to dance, then are faced with temptations(诱惑), peer pressures and our own desire to fit in with the crowd .There is always someone there with a designer drink ,a designer smile and the latest designer drug to tempt us . Being a teenager has never been harder.
Of course , it has never been so hard in school either .We have so many examinations that it is difficult to keep track: SATs, GCSEs … and the practice tests that accompany them. Homework is never ending. No teacher seems aware of how much work the others are setting , and, anyway, they would not care ,because they are all under orders to improve results or their own careers will suffer.
单选题
What is Paragraph 1 mainly about?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析]根据文章第一段“It has never been easy to be a teenager，and it is particularly difficult today． The world expects us to be grown up but rarely土reats us like adults； we are part of a society in which drugs are readily available but extremely dang；rous； our education consists of examinations and more examinations．．． Is it any wonder we struggle at times?”可知，作为一名青少年从来都不简单，尤其在今天更是困难。世界期待我们长大成人却很少像成年人一样对待我们；我们是社会的一部分，在这里毒品唾手可得却极其危险；我们的教育包括考试和更多的考试……难怪我们时不时就在奋斗挣扎?由此可知，这些都是青少年面对的问题。所以，答案是D。
单选题
Parents will most probably say no to their children if they want to _______.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析]根据文章第二段最后一句“We are expectedto show aninterestin current affairs and get a Part—timejob to begin to support oufselves， but are not even allowed a say in where we go for the family holiday—never mind being allowed to holiday with our friends!”可知，他们期待我们对新闻时事表现出兴趣并找一份兼职工作开始养活自己，但甚至不允许我们在家庭度假地点发表意见——别提允许我们和朋友一起去度假了!所以，答案是B。
单选题
What does the author mean by saying “Being a teenager has never been harder” in Paragraph 3?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析]根据文章第三段后三句“We go to a club，to dance，then are faced with temptations(诱惑)，peer pressures and our own desire to fit in with the crowd． There is always someone there with a designer drink， a designer smile and the latest designer drug to tempt us． Being a teenager has never been harder．”可知， 我们去俱乐部， 去跳舞，然后面对诱惑、同辈压力和自己去适应大众的愿望。总会有人喝着时髦饮料，带着微笑和迷幻毒品来吸引我们。作为一个青少年真是越来越困难了。所以，答案是B。
单选题
As is used in Paragraph 4 , “the others ” refers to ______.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析]根据文章最后一段最后一句“Noteacher seems aware of how much work the others are setting．．．”可知，似乎没有老师意识到其他老师布置多少作业。所以，答案是A。
单选题
Why do teachers give their students a huge lot of homework and examinations?
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析]根据文章最后——段最后——句“．．． because they are all under orderstoimprove results or their own careers will suffer．”可知，似乎没有老师意识到其他老师布置多少作业，而且总之，他们也不会在乎，因为他们都是奉命提高学生的成绩，否则他们自己的职业生涯将会受挫。所以，答案是C。