中山市2012年高中英语读写能力竞赛

高三竞赛试题

第一部分 阅读 (共两节，满分70分)

第一节 阅读理解（共30小题；每小题2分，满分60分）

阅读下列六篇短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Passage 1

The Chinese American Citizens Alliance has announced that Lakeridge High School junior Vivian Chen has won first place in its 2012 national essay contest and Chen’s essay earned her a $1,000 scholarship. .

Each year on the first Saturday in March, thousands of high school students across the nation participate in the Alliance’s national essay contest, which is intended to cultivate creative thinking and self-expression and encourage an awareness of current local and world events.

―You don’t know what the topic is in advance. It’s a timed essay,‖ said Chen. ―When I arrived at the test location I was given a packet and had to write the essay in two hours. I was a little nervous.‖

Helen Ying, a spokeswoman for CACA, said what the students are going to write is a highly kept secret until it is presented the day of the competition. Students handwrite their essays into bound books, which are collected at the end of the two-hour period for judging. Each of the organization’s 18 regions selects its top winners; from these top entries, the national winner is selected.

This year’s essay topic was the following:

―Electronic media such as Facebook, Twitter and texting have now become mainstream ways of meeting friends and connecting with peers. Discuss whether you use Facebook, or text or Twitter extensively, or know other people your age who do so on a regular basis.

―In addition, share your thoughts on how these technological innovations have affected your relationship with members of the older generation, particularly with more traditional and conservative Chinese/Asian-American parents.

―Expand your thoughts by commenting on what effects these media have on parental supervision and guidance, and your relationship with others your own age.‖

―I felt really comfortable about writing about the topic.‖ said Chen. She explained that she regularly uses social media to communicate with her grandparents in China. ―I wasn’t expecting to win, so it was just a fun exercise for me. I was really surprised that I won.‖

1. About the national essay contest, which of the following statements is NOT true ________?

A. It is organized by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance

B. It is held on the first Saturday in March every year

C. Its purpose is to develop Chinese students’ writing skills and creative thinking

D. It encourages students to pay more attention to the current affairs

2. What does the underlined part ―impromptu‖ in Paragrph 3 probably means?