侨光中学2024年春季高二年第2次阶段考英语试卷
（本试卷共10页; 试卷总分150分，考试时间120分钟）
温馨提示：请将所有答案填涂到答题卡上，交卷时上交答题卡。
第I卷 （共85分）
第一部分 听力 (共两节, 满分30分)
第一节(共 5小题:每小题 1.5 分, 满分 7.5 分)
听下面 5 段对话。每段对话后有一个小题, 从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项中选出最佳选项, 并标在试卷的相应位置。听完每段对话后, 你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。
1. What is the probable relationship between the speakers
A. Reporter and actor. B. Manager and secretary. C. Teacher and student.
2. What does the woman look forward to
A. Meeting her aunt. B. Finishing her work. C. Traveling with the man.
3. What subject is the man taking
A. Biology. B. Chemistry. C. Physics.
4. Who will be absent from the dinner
A. Vicky. B. Amy. C. Mom.
5. What kinds of bananas does the woman want
A. The green ones. B. The pure yellow ones. C. The ones with brown spots.
第二节(共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分)
听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
6. What was the weather like in the country
A. It snowed a lot. B. It rained nearly every day. C. There was a lot of sunshine.
7. What did Sue think of the people in the country
A. They were tall. B. They were friendly. C. They were strange.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
8. What’s the girl’s trouble
A. She can’t find a suitable job.
B. She wants to go to college but her parents don’t agree.
C. She can’t decide whether to go to university or get a job.
9. What might the girl do in the end
A. Go to university. B. Look for a job. C. Study at home and depend on her parents.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
10. What is the woman interested in seeing
A. An exhibition of paintings. B. A Broadway play. C. An opera.
11. When did New York get its nickname
A. In the early 18th century. B. In the early 20th century. C. In the late 19th century.
12. How does the woman describe New York
A. Fascinating. B. Huge. C. Popular.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
13. When does the woman usually watch TV
A. After midnight. B. After she has dinner. C. When she is bored.
14. Why was the man unhappy
A. The food was terrible. B. He lost his meal tickets. C. The TV program was boring.
15. How many dollars are the meal tickets worth
A. Over fifty dollars. B. Over fifteen dollars. C. More than forty dollars.
16. Why did the man feel even worse
A. He didn’t sleep well.
B. He wasted so much time.
C. The woman had the same problem.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
17. How many languages does Saint Mary’s school teach now
A. 4. B. 3. C. 5.
18. Which of the following isn’t mentioned about the program
A. China offers books.
B. China sends some teachers.
C. China partly pays teachers in the school.
19. How many American schools and universities join the program
A. More than 15. B. About 40. C. Over 50.
20. What can we infer in the talk in the United States
A. Fewer people study Chinese.
B. It is short of various teachers.
C. More and more people learn Chinese.
第二部分 阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）
第一节（共11小题；每小题2.5分，满分27.5分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将选项涂黑。
A
Good tool design is important in the prevention of overuse injuries. Well-designed tools and equipment will require less force to operate them and prevent awkward (别扭的) hand positions. They will allow the worker to keep the elbows (肘) next to the body to prevent damage to the shoulder and arm.
Overuse injuries can therefore be prevented or reduced if the employer provides, and workers use:
●power tools rather than having to use muscle power.
●tools with specially designed handles that allow the wrist to keep straight (See figure 1). This means that hands and wrists are kept in the same position as they would be if they were hanging relaxed at a person’s side.
●tools with handles that can be held comfortably by the whole hand. This means having a selection of sizes—remember that tools that provide a comfortable firm hold for a person with a very large hand may be awkward for someone with a very small hand. This is a particularly important consideration for women who may use tools originally designed for men.
●tools that do not press fingers (or flesh) between the handles, and whose handles do not have sharp edges or a small surface area.
21. Which of the following describes a well-designed tool
A. It’s kept close to the body. B. It fully uses muscle power.
C. It makes users feel relaxed. D. It’s operated with less force.
22. What is Figure I used to show
A. The effective use of the tool. B. The way of operating the tool.
C. The proper design of the handle. D. The purpose of bending the wrist.
23. In choosing tools for women, ______ of the handle is the most important.
A. the size B. the edge C. the shape D. the position
B
I have always been proud of my handwriting, a skill I was taught in grade school. The teacher was teaching us the Palmer Penmanship Method, drilling into us the importance of forming big flowing lines when we wrote g’s and s’s as well as beautiful f’s that in my mind were like fairy tale princesses wearing fancy hats while extending their right foot. We were strictly prohibited from using block letters on our homework, as they lack the beauty.
Now it becomes apparent that young people no longer learn cursive(草书). They type everything, mostly on their phones. Beautiful handwriting is a thing of the past. This has become a source of great sadness among traditionalists.
But recently something happened that shook my faith in cursive. To my complete disbelief, not one but two of my close friends complained about the handwriting on my postcards. They were grateful for the beautiful postcards I regularly sent, but they said they honestly couldn’t read a thing I had written. One friend went so far as to ask if I could use block letters next time so that she could understand what I was writing.
Initially, I was angry. I had made the effort to cover an entire postcard with what I viewed as not just handwriting but calligraphy. But then I showed an English friend a postcard I’d just written, and he said that the only thing that was readily understandable was the letters “U. S. A.” The rest of it, he politely suggested, looked like “chicken scrawl”.
Looking at the postcard dispassionately, I unwillingly admit that he has a point. All the m’s and n’s run together, and the 1’s look like l’s. The a’s are indistinguishable from the q’s. So, from now on, I’m taking their advice and using block letters to communicate.
In fact, I just now sent an old friend a postcard. But this time, I simply wrote—in big block letters:
DEAR ALICE:
HI.
JOE.
I hope she gets the message.
24. What do we know about the Palmer Penmanship Method
A. It is characterized by big flowing lines.
B. It is rarely appreciated by traditionalists.
C. It was not allowed in students’ homework.
D. It is viewed as a trend in handwriting styles.
25 What weakened the writer’s belief in cursive
A. The popularity of block letters in recent times.
B. The younger generation’s disinterest in cursive.
C. His friends’ failure to comprehend his postcards.
D. His English friend’s suggestion on postcard design.
26. Why did the writer switch to block letters for communication
A. To deliver his message clearly. B. To improve his handwriting skills.
C. To win praise from his friends. D. To show his passion for calligraphy.
27. What is the text mainly about
A. The wide use of cursive. B. The sad decline of cursive.
C. The value of preserving cursive. D. The technique of writing in cursive.
C
It’s commonly acknowledged that our lives are ruled by algorithms (算法), but have we really collectively understood how they have transformed our culture and personality
In Filterworld: How algorithms flattened culture, Kyle Chayka argues convincingly that the rise of algorithm-driven feeds, used everywhere online from Instagram to Spotify, has led to a more uniform culture. Our tastes and desires increasingly don’t belong to us, but to algorithms that are designed to keep people engaged at all costs. If the collection of our tastes truly shapes our entire personality, then this loss is more psychologically damaging than it first appears. Aimlessly scrolling (滚屏) through Netflix or TikTok may seem harmless, but over days, months or years, we lose touch with what we like and enjoy.
Taste-making algorithms are inescapable. Chayka shows this by working through all corners of life: what we wear(TikTok), where we eat(Google Maps), music we listen to(Spotify), even who we date or marry(Tinder). This universe of algorithm-driven decisions has society-wide implications: “It extends to influence our physical spaces, our cities, and the routes we move through…flattening them in turn.” No one gets out of the Filterworld untouched.
If you’re lucky enough not to need any sort of algorithm-based system for your work, then you have the option to step back from algorithms for a while. But if your friend suggests a film recommended on X/Twitter or you feel the need to buy those shoes suddenly everyone has started wearing after social media advertisements, what are you to do It all feels fruitless.
This Filterworld may be inescapable, but there is hope. You can start by engaging more with the media you do choose to consume. This could mean reading up about a film you watched or paying artists you like directly. Even the thoughtful act of recommending an album (专辑) to a friend is more rewarding than a random TikTok feed. As Chayka says, resistance to algorithms “requires an act of willpower, a choice to move through the world in a different way.”
28. What is Kyle Chayka’s opinion on algorithms
A. They improve our tastes. B. They make our culture more alike.
C. They help to identify our personality. D. They contribute to psychological problems.
29. What does the underlined part in paragraph 3 refer to
A. The society with advanced technology.
B. The world without social media platforms.
C. The network of algorithm-driven decisions.
D. The community free from algorithmic influence.
30. Which of the following is a way to resist the impact of algorithms
A. Limiting the use of social media platforms.
B. Getting more involved with the selected media.
C. Making choices based on friends’ suggestions.
D. Disconnecting from social media advertisements.
31. What is the best title for the text
A. The Rise of Digital Platforms B. The Secret of Algorithms
C. Social Media: Cultural Messenger D. Algorithms: Cultural Takeover
第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余选项。
We are masters of distraction especially when we feel an uncomfortable emotion surfacing. And our society makes it easier than ever. 32 . Those range from videos on TikTok to online shopping.
But does distraction really help deal with emotions Or does it merely worsen the problem 33 . In some ways it can help, and oftentimes distraction avoids the root of the problem.
In the loud world in which we live nowadays, avoiding an emotion is easier than processing it. During the sequencing of an emotion, distraction occurs when we first notice it. The emotion in question causes physiological changes and often causes action. 34 . It isn’t always a bad thing. There’s pretty good evidence that distraction can help down regulate the anxiety around a negative emotion.
35 . There are longer mood states that last days or months, although most emotions only last a few minutes before they pass. That’s why, if you’re seeking long-term solutions, learning to process emotions is the only way. When you slow down and make space for your emotions, you can start to process them.
Jacobs Hendel, a psychotherapist, uses a process, which involves connecting your feet to the floor, deep belly breathing, slowing down and then identifying where different emotions are felt in the body. 36 ——once anxiety goes down, you can identify the other emotions that are coming up in your body. If the same emotions keep coming up and causing you stress, learning to sit with them and work through them. Facing your emotions may help you see that they aren’t as scary as you thought.
A. Grabbing your phone isn’t necessarily bad
B. According to experts, the answer is a mixed bag
C. And feeling them in the body is a good place to start
D. We feel like emotions are going to get bigger when we focus on them
E. For example, if you’re sad, you draw back; if you’re angry, you approach
F. Once a negative emotion arises, we may reach for various digital distractions
G. However, distraction isn’t a true fix either, because it only works in the short term
第三部分 完形填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白
的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I’d gone snowboarding with excitement in France with my little brother. That day, fresh snow had been falling, and we were in a good 37 . We stopped near the top of an off-path section that went through 38 . I let my brother disappear into the trees ahead, 39 I would soon catch up.
I began to 40 speed when I was suddenly thrown off balance. Just as I was regaining control, I ran into the trunk (树干) of a large tree. It was like 41 a solid wall. The pain was more than I could stand. I knew immediately that my 42 was broken and quickly realized the situation could get very 43 . Nobody would be coming past. There was no phone signal. It was snowing and cold. If I waited, I would 44 be rescued eventually. But the chance of 45 to death before that happened was too high for me.
I tried to stand but fell down and almost 46 out with pain. I managed to get the board off from my feet and moved it under my stomach so I was lying on it. I used the board to slowly drag and 47 my body down the tree-lined slope (斜坡).
It took about two hours 48 a skier found me and I got help. The mountain rescue team came, with my brother arriving 49 afterwards. I couldn’t feel my hands or my toes from the cold, but I was 50 to know I was safe. I had broken one of my backbones, so I had an operation. The constant pain was huge, but it wasn’t as bad as seeing the pain and worry I put my family 51 .
The recovery road was tough, but I was lucky.
A. state B. shape C. passion D. mood
A. fields B. forests C. suburbs D. plants
A. figuring B. advising C. wondering D. screaming
A. take up B. make up C. pick up D. end up
A. hitting B. encountering C. surrounding D. attracting
A. head B. arm C. neck D. back
A. slight B. mild C. severe D. typical
A. permanently B. precisely C. possibly D. exactly
A. starving B. bleeding C. choking D. freezing
A. gave B. blacked C. cried D. blew
A. push B. slide C. lift D. bend
A. after B. since C. as D. before
A. immediately B. shortly C. suddenly D. instantly
A. relieved B. shocked C. frightened D. refreshed
A. off B. forward C. through D. away
第II卷 （共65分）
第四部分 英语知识运用 （共两节，满分25分）
第一节 语法填空(共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分)
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Tai Hang, a modern-looking neighborhood in Hong Kong, is home to the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, a folk art form that 52 (perform) during the Mid-Autumn Festival for over 100 years. 53 started as a way to rid this fishing village of bad luck has become a cultural treasure.
The dragon is about 70 meters long and weighs more than 200 pounds, with its body
54 (wrap) with pearl grass. More than 70,000 incense sticks(香柱) are lit and strung along the dragon’s back and head to make the “fire” of the fire dragon. At the festival, hundreds of people work 55 turn to parade the burning dragon through the streets of Tai Hang. The 56 (strong) man among the group has 57 honor of supporting the 30-kilogram head. Dozens of performers 58 (move) the dragon smoothly up and down through the air attract rounds of cheers and 59 (applaud) from surrounding crowds.
The inheritors of the dragon dance have set up workshops to demonstrate various aspects of the traditional art from the making techniques to 60 (base) dance skills. In June, 2022, the Hong Kong Tai Hang Fire Dragon Museum was opened 61 (inspire) more people to learn more about this traditional dance culture.
第二节 单词拼写（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）
请根据首字母或汉语提示填入单词的正确形式，每空仅填一词。
62. Both approaches to the problem are s and one-sided, or, in a word, unscientific.
pleted projects must be (提交，呈递) by 10 March.
64. When she first heard the news, she was amazed with (不信，怀疑) .
65. He fell, s his head on the edge of the table.
66. Police have stressed that this is the most (精确的，准确的) description of the killer to date.
67. All of us got a though the boat was crowded.
68. When she got bored, she (漫步，闲逛) aimlessly around the streets.
69. Animals in the zoo have lost the c to catch food for themselves.
70. Laughter is one of the most infectious expressions of .(情感)
71. Take yourself out of your comfort z for a week, discover new personal qualities, and learn new skills.
第五部分 （共两节，满分40分）
第一节 应用文写作 （满分15分）
假定你是李华，在一所国际学校就读，最近你校图书馆决定缩短中午开放时间，你认为这种做法存在问题。请给图书馆写一封邮件，内容包括：
1.反馈问题；
2.提出建议。
注意：
1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Library Staff,
My name is Li Hua, and I am a student in Class 1, Senior 3. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
第二节 读后续写（满分25分）
阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。
As a language arts teacher, I think it my duty to teach my kids how to use our tools of words well. Use your tool right—this is what I always tell them. But I never expected to learn that lesson from them.
I clearly remembered it was my 40th birthday. On that day, my sixth-grade students were seated in a large circle, each holding a different tool in their hand—a hammer, a flashlight, a screwdriver, etc. The students discussed how words are like tools—they have the ability to build or to destroy, and they discovered how the right tool used at the right time for the right job can bring about great results. They freely shared personal stories of how they had experienced someone’s words used as a tool, to wound or to heal.
I watched and listened with a sense of satisfaction—the students were engaged, attentive, and enjoying the lesson. They got it! It was one of those times when I sat back and enjoyed the magic of being a teacher—to have the opportunity to watch young people discover a greater truth about life about each other, and about themselves. There was no better gift than that.
As we neared the end of that school day, one of my students, Laura, had an unexpected outburst of defiance(违抗) in class. Busy scribbling (涂画) in her exercise book, she refused to work with her group. I was aware from reading Laura’s file that she had struggled with defiant behavior in previous years, but we had developed a good relationship and she was always a respectful, thoughtful, and positive contributor to our class. Her behavior caught me off guard. “I'm disappointed in you!" With a sharp tone, I asked her to excuse herself and told her I would visit with her in our next-door meeting room after school. She refused to leave and sat silently, staring at me angrily from the back of the room.
注意:
1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“This was NOT optional,” I firmly told her, sounding unpleasantly bitter. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
But the meeting room rang with her response “You’re using your tool against me!”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
侨光中学2024年春季高二年第2次阶段考英语答案
听力（共两节，满分30分）
1-5 CAABC 6-10 CBCAA 11-15 BACBA 16-20 BABCC
阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）
A篇：21-23 DCA B篇：24-27 ACAB
C篇：28-31 BCBD 七选五：32-36 FBEGC
完形填空（满分15分）
37-51 DBACA DCCDB BDBAC
语法填空(满分15分)
has been performed 53. What 54. wrapped 55. in 56. strongest
the 58. moving 59. applause 60. basic 61. to inspire
单词拼写（满分10分）
62. subjective 63. submitted 64. disbelief 65. striking 66. accurate
67. aboard 68. wandered 69. capability 70. emotion 71. zone
应用文写作 （满分15分）
Dear Library Staff,
My name is Li Hua, and I am a student in Class 1, Senior 3. I am writing to express my concerns about the recent decision to shorten the library's opening hours during the noon period. Many students rely on this time to study, complete assignments, or simply enjoy reading. This change significantly limits our access to these valuable resources, which could potentially affect our academic performance and well-being.
I understand that there may be reasons behind this decision, such as staffing or budget constraints. However, I kindly suggest considering alternative solutions. For instance, could volunteer students or part-time staff help keep the library open during these hours Or, could we implement a sign-in system to demonstrate the demand and ensure responsible use of the space
Thank you for considering my feedback. I believe that by working together, we can find a solution that benefits all parties involved.
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
读后续写
One possible version:
“This was NOT optional,” I firmly told her, sounding unpleasantly bitter. She put down her exercise book angrily and stormed out, slamming the the door heavily behind. Then a sudden silence descended in the whole class. After the class was dismissed, I hurried to the meeting room. Seeing Laura’s angry face,I questioned “Do you know how disturbing your defiance was to the whole class and disappointed me a lot ” “ You shall not ignore your teammates, or you will learn nothing from it.” I roared, hoping to have a sincere apology.
But the meeting room rang with her response “You’re using your tool against me!” It thundered in my ears. A girl was wounded by my tool of words. My mind raced for solutions. “Sorry, Laura. I haven’t used my tool right.” I softly said, gently putting my hand on her shoulder to reassure her of my sincerity. Her defiance slowly melted away and she handed me what she busied herself with—a birthday card. This precious gift served as a constant reminder of learning to use my tool right.
续写注意点
1.注意情节的推断。特别是第一段。第一段推断的难点在于,setting的变化。由第二段的meeting room可以推断出，第一段的setting 会从classroom转到meeting room; in class转到after class。根据文中“With a sharp tone, I asked her to excuse herself and told her I would visit with her in our next-door meeting room after school.”，可知老师应该下课后进入meeting room, Laura应该是上课时先去meeting room。
2.注意情感的分析。注意情感的协同，para.2 提到了But; rang with her response; 可知，para.1双方都很生气。para.2才都恢复。
3.细节的推断。一向和我关系好的Laura怎么在乱涂乱画，拒绝和他人合作。结合文中“I clearly remembered it was my 40th birthday. ”句子，为什么记忆这么清楚。可以推断，Laura在给我画birthday card。
4.主题的推断。文中“Use your tool right—this is what I always tell them. But I never expected to learn that lesson from them”和“They freely shared personal stories of how they had experienced someone’s words used as a tool, to wound or to heal.”可以知主题是正确使用语言。
听力原文：
W: I’d like everyone to hand in the movie report about the Oscar-winning film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse next Monday.
M: Are you going to grade it or is this just for practice
W: I’ll grade it for sure.
W: I can’t wait to see my aunt next week! She’s always traveling for work, so she hasn’t had time to visit us. With her crazy schedule, I’m not sure how long she’ll stay, though.
M: Sounds fun! I’m sure you’ll have enough time to catch up.
M: I can’t believe there’s another biology test! There are so many unfamiliar terms!
W: At least you aren’t taking chemistry like me. So many things to remember!
M: Well, I hear physics class is even harder.
W: I love it when all the family get back together. What’s for dinner
M: I’m not sure yet, Mom, Dad and Vicky will be there, but Amy can’t make it. She has a meeting.
W: When you go to the market, please get only the ripe bananas. They will have brown spots on the outside. Don’t buy any green ones. I can’t make banana bread from those!
M: What if they’re just yellow
W: The yellow ones aren’t sweet enough yet.
M: Morning, Sue. Did you enjoy your holiday in the country
W: Yes, thanks. We had a great time. And some friends went with us.
M: Where did you stay In a hotel
W: No. We camped in the mountains, near Snowdon. We cooked all our meals over an open fire.
M: Sounds wonderful. Was the weather good
W: The sun shone nearly every day and it didn’t rain at all.
M: Did you like the people there
W: Yes, they were great. We met some farmers and had tea in their houses.
M: When did you get back Last night
W: No. This morning. You’ll think we were mad. We got up at 4:30, left at 5 and arrived here at 9. I’m so tired. What about you Did you have a good weekend
M: Yes, but I didn’t do much. I stayed at home. The weather was terrible.
W: I can’t decide whether to go to university or get a job. What do you think
M: Well, if I were you, I would go on studying.
W: But I don’t even know what to study.
M: I advise you to major in economics.
W: That’s what my parents want me to do.
M: You should take their advice. They know what’s best for you. The more you learn, the better job you’ll get.
W: But my friends will have jobs and have a lot of fun while I spend all my time doing reading and writing.
M: But if you go to university, you will still have time for fun.
W: What you say makes sense.I’ll think it over. Thank you for the advice.
M: Are you ready for the trip to the museum in the Big Apple I can hardly wait.
W: The Big Apple What are you talking about
M: The Big Apple is the nickname for New York City. You are going to New York with us, aren’t you
W: Yes, I am, and I’m especially looking forward to seeing the Museum of Modern Art. There is a special show of 20th century American painters there. But, tell me, where did the nickname come from
M: The jazz musicians of the 1920s are responsible for the name. When they played a concert in a city, they called the city an apple. Of course, New York was the biggest city in the country and the best place for a jazz concert. So, the musicians called it the Big Apple.
W: Amazing! New York is such a fascinating place and it even has an interesting nickname, one that it has had for over 80 years.
W: What a great day, don’t you think
M: I guess so. I didn’t notice. I feel terrible because I watched television until after midnight last night.
W: After midnight! Did you watch so late because you were bored I usually watch TV only if I have nothing better to do.
M: Bored No, I was unhappy because I left my meal tickets in the dining room. There’s more than fifty-dollars-worth meal tickets lost.
W: So did watching TV make you better
M: Well, I felt bit better while I was watching. You know it took my mind off my troubles. But after I turned the TV off, I just felt even worse of myself for wasting so much time.
W: I’ve had that feeling before.
W: Some schools in the United States and other countries offer Chinese language classes with the government support from China. Saint Mary’s School is a private college preparatory school in Medford, Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest. Saint Mary teaches Spanish, German and Latin. It added Mandarin in two thousand five. Two years ago, it became the first school in the country to join the Confucius classroom program.
The program pays about half the costs of a teacher sent to a school in the United States. China’s Education Ministry also provides books and other materials.
Saint Mary’s principal, Frank Phillips, says knowing Chinese will help students in a world where China is quickly gaining economic power. The Confucius classroom program is in about forty countries, including more than fifty American schools and universities.
A recent report said more schools in the United States are teaching Chinese, although the numbers are still low. But it said foreign language teaching in public elementary and middle schools dropped sharply in recent years. Fewer schools teach French, German, Russian or Japanese. There are language teacher shortages, but some schools say a law that only measures progress in math and reading has hurt language teaching.
