American teenager Thomas Cheatham had planned to study Latin during his sophomore year at Hebron High School in Texas. But when he learned that the school district was going to offer a Mandarin class, he quickly changed his mind. "I thought it (Mandarin) would be more beneficial than Latin," said Cheatham, who is now in his second year of studying the language. He speaks Mandarin to order food at Chinese restaurants and can read Face book posts from his Chinese-speaking friends. While it'a difficult language to master, the high school junior, who plans to study computer engineering, thinks it will be a valuable thing in his career. "Chinese is a good language to know, especially with China becoming a growing power," he said. Many experts agree that proficiency in a language spoken by a billion people worldwide will give American students an edge in the global economy. "People are looking at China as our next economic competitor, and interest in Mandarin is growing,'' said Marty Abbott, executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of  Foreign Languages. ''We're seeing it in all parts of the country." The number of students studying Mandarin in public schools nationwide in grades 7 through 12 grew from 20,000 in 2004-2005 to 60,000 three years later, according to the council's most recent survey. Abbott estimates that as many as 100,000 students are now studying Mandarin, in public and private schools, throughout the nation. She said the US government has considered Mandarin to be an "important needs" language and provides professional development programs for teachers. "Our government wants to increase our language ability for national security and economic competitiveness," Abbott said. At the same time, the Chinese government is spreading knowledge of the Chinese language and culture through Confucius Institutes established in many states. The Confucius Institute at the University of Texas in Dallas, founded in 2007, opens Confucius Classrooms at 11 local public and private schools where more... Why does Mandarin become so popular in America? A) Because Mandarin is more interesting than Latin. B) Because there are many good teachers in the Confucius Institutes. C) Because Mandarin is very helpful in the global economy. D) Because the Chinese government has tried his best.
C
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Dewey is the true story of an abandoned kitten  who went on to live an extraordinary life, inspiring a  struggling single mother , transforming a sleepy library and the local people of Lowa farm town, and eventually getting hold of the hearts of animal lovers around the world. Vicki Myron was a single mom ,who , after surviving the loss of her family farm and an alcoholic husband ,went back to school and became a librarian .As the director of the Spencer Public Library, her biggest challenge was to raise the spirits of the residents of a remote town affected deeply by the farm crisis of the 1980s .Her solution came when Vicki found a tiny kitten almost frozen to death in the library's night drop box.Recognizing the extraordinary strength and uniqueness of this kitten , Vivki received approval from the library board to adopt him as Spencer's resident cat.From that moment on, her life ---and the town of Spencer--- would change forever. Dewey, as the townspeople named the kitten, grew into a friendly cat whose funny behavior kept people laughing and whose sixth sense about those in need created hundreds of deep and loving friendships.As his fame grew, people drove hundreds of miles to meet Dewey, and he even became a subject of a hit documentary in Japan !Through it all, Dewey remained a loyal companion , a beacon of hope not just for Vicki Myron, but for the entire town of Spencer as it slowly pulled itself up from the worst financial crisis in its long history. When Dewey died in 2006 at the age of 19, his _ appeared in over 250 newspapers , including the New York Times and USA Today , and was announced on the national television evening news. Which of the following descriptions of Vicki Myron is  _  true? A) She worked as a librarian in the Spencer Public Library. B) Her husband was addicted to drinking. C) She kept Dewey, an abandoned cat at home. D) It was she that found Dewey in the library's night drop box.
C
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For some kids, old photos and baby pictures are embarrassing. For others, they are _  . But for thousands of children living in orphanages   worldwide, these records of the past simply don't exist. Either the kids' parents weren't around to snap photos, or the pictures have been lost.  Whatever the reason is, the Memory Project is giving orphans a lasting document of their youth. Over the last two years, the Memory Project has provided hand-painted portraits to more than 4,000 children living in orphanages in poor countries. Ben Schumaker, 24, got the idea when he was visiting an orphanage in Guatemala in Central America.   But he's not creating the _   alone. Students in hundreds of high school art classes across the U.S. paint them using photos sent from the orphanages. Schumaker believes that the artists benefit from the project as much as the orphans do."There are two purposes of the Memory Project," he said.   "One is to offer a special gift to the child abroad. The other is to help open the eyes of the student who is painting."Staring into the eyes of another person, Schumaker believes, it creates a real connection.  This connection raises awareness in U.S. schools about the needs of the world's poor children."It's about planting a seed," he said. Schumaker is also working on Books of Hope, a project in which students of all ages put together homemade books for children in Uganda and India. He hopes that one day children in Uganda and India. He hopes that one day children in Uganda and India  will send books to the U.S. "It's important to me to have it be a two-way exchange," Schmnaker says. Old photos and baby pictures are clearly unavailable to   _   . A) the kids in rich families B) the kids in common families C) the kids in expanded families D) the kids without parents
D
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For many people, the story of cottages -- small vacation homes away from the city -- is a deeply personal one. For some families, cottages have been the scene of reunions, vacations and family adventures for generations. In North America, "cottaging " really began during the 19th century. At that time, crowds of people were moving from family farms to cities. Naturally, these people often felt a _ for the natural beauty of the countryside. Frequently located near lakes, in the mountains of woods, cottages provided a perfect solution. Traditionally small and rustic  ,many cottages were once simple log  homes without bathrooms, water or electricity. While in most cases that is no longer true, people still go to cottages in large numbers to escape the city and to enjoy "cottage life." Despite the peaceful setting, there is always plenty to do at a cottage. If you enjoy outdoor activities, try hunting, boating or hiking. Many cottages are located near a lake, so you have opportunities to go swimming, boating or sunbathing around. Enjoy a picnic with your family, or build a campfire to roast hot dogs. On rainy days, curl up  on a comfortable chair inside and read, or enjoy board games   with your friends and relatives. Want to get out and explore? Take a tour of the lake in a motorboat, or visit one of the many small villages located nearby. Many families rent cottages instead of owning them, but for those who do, there's always work to be done. Wood must be chopped for the stove. Leaves need to be gathered and gardens taken care of. Since many cottages are old buildings, there's usually something that needs to be fixed or painted. The story of cottages is one of families, traditions and memories. Are you ready to try cottaging with your family? Which of the following words can best describe the author's attitude towards"cottaging"? A) Critical. B) Doubtful. C) Positive. D) Bored.

C
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