【一】Singapore

　　1 Singapore is an independent city-state in southeastern Asia， consisting of one major island -the Singapore island-and more than 50 small islands， located off the southern tip of Malay. The city of Singapore， the capital of the country， is at the southeastern end of the Singapore Island; it is one of the most important port cities and commercial centers of Southeast Asia. The total area of the republic is 640 sq.km.

　　2 Low-lying Singapore Island has no outstanding relief(轮廓鲜明的) features. A central area of hills rises to the maximum height of 176m. The country has a wet tropical climate， with an average annual temperature of 27.20°C. The average annual rainfall is 2.413 mm， the wettest months are November through January.

　　3 Singapore is governed under a constitution of 1959. A president， elected to a four-year term， is head of state， and a prime minister is head of government. The president used to be selected by Parliament， but by 1991 constitutional amendment (修正案)， the president is now elected directly by the people. The Parliament is the law-making body with its 81 members popularly elected.

　　4 In the late 1980s the country had some 290 primary schools with 278，300 pupils and 160 secondary schools with 200，200 students. The main institution of higher education are the National University of Singapore， several technical colleges， and a teachers college.

　　5 Singapore has one of the highest standards of living of any country in Asia. In the late 1980s the gross domestic product was estimated at $23.7 billion， or $8，870 per person. The fishing industry is centered on the port of During， on southwestern Singapore Island. Industry has grown rapidly since the 1960s， and Singapore now produces a diversity(多样化的) of goods， including chemicals， electronic items， clothing， and processed foods， etc. Shipbuilding and petroleum refining are also important.

　　1. Paragraph 2____

　　2. Paragraph 3____

　　3. Paragraph 4____

　　4. Paragraph 5____

　　A Education

　　B Land and climate

　　C State system

　　D Natural resources

　　E EconomyＷww.KaＯ8.CC

　　F Population

　　5. Singapore is a small state in the southeast of Asia_____.

　　6. According to the constitution of Singapore， the president of the state is selected____.

　　7. Compared with people in other Asian countries， the Singapore____.

　　8. Though small， Singapore has an industry of its own and can ____.

　　A live a better life

　　B made up of more than 50 islands

　　C have more farmland

　　D not by the Parliament， but by the people

　　E produce goods of various kinds

　　F have a big population

　　答案： BCAEB DAE  

【二】Schools and Education

　　Life in the twentieth century demands preparation. Today， all individuals in a country must have adequate schooling to prepare them for

　　their work as well as for their responsibilities as citizens. With this in mind， national leaders everywhere are placing more emphasis on the education of the young. In the United States， government officials， parents， and teachers are working hard to give their children - tomorrow s decision makers - the best preparation available.

　　There is no national school policy in the United States. Each of the fifty states makes its own rules and regulations for its school， but there are many similarities among the fifty school systems. Public schools in all states are supported by taxes paid by the citizens of the individual state. In most states the children are required to attend school until they reach the age of sixteen

　　When they BECome six years old， children begin elementary school. After six years in elementary school， they go into junior high school and remain there for three years. The last three years of their public school education are spent in senior high school， from which they graduate at the age of eighteen.

　　A great number of high school graduates continue their education in one of the many colleges or universities in the country. After four years， they receive a bachelor s degree. Some continue studying for a master s degree and perhaps a doctor s degree.

　　练习：

　　A. Family education in the United States

　　B. Primary and secondary schooling

　　C. The importance of education

　　D. The similar school system throughout the US

　　1. Paragraph 1 _________

　　2. Paragraph 2 _________

　　3. Paragraph 3 _________

　　A. go on to study in colleges or universities

　　B. emphasized today

　　C. the taxes paid by the citizens of each state

　　D. to go abroad to do further study

　　E. attend school

　　4. Education is being _________

　　5. In most states children， before they are 16， must _________.

　　6. Public schools are financed by _________.

　　7. After one finishes secondary school， he may or may not _________.

　　答案：CDBBECA