About ten percent of spending on primary and secondary education in the United States comes from the federal government{#blank#}1{#/blank#} States have been required to show progress through yearly testing.

    But states say testing tells only part of the story about efforts by schools and students to improve. So the Obama administration has eased the limits in states in measuring performance.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} This new measurement tool is called the Colorado Growth Model. The ideas is to show academic growth, not just achievement on tests. It combines test scores, family income levels, school size, the ethnicity of the student and many other factors.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The graph shows a school's average score on standardized tests as well as its academic growth.

    On average, students enter sixth grade at WEST Denver Prep performing below grade level{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The new assessment(评价) method shows that, each year, the average West Denver Prep student learns more math than ninety-four percent of all the students in Colorado{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Josh Smith says perhaps the most important thing they should learn is to believe in themselves.

A. The results from schools across the state are shown online on a graph.

B. Reading and writing scores also show growth.

C. For ten years now, federal law has tied this spending to student performance.

D. Therefore, the government feels it a great pressure.

E. But three years later, most are outperforming other students across the state.

F. However, the limits don't work at all.

G. The western state of Colorado, for example, has a new assessment method.

    The first time I played basketball, I was 8 years old. I played in my community where I grew up, and there were never referees（裁判）. I didn't know the rules. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} I always wanted to stay after the game and continue to play basketball.

    I grew up in a single-parent home with no father around, no brothers or sisters. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Sports gave me an opportunity to forget all that I had gone through during my childhood.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} One was the trust of the guys who were playing. It was passing the ball to friends and seeing their joy after making a basket. The other was competition, which is different from opposition. When I was in fifth grade, I wanted to be in the NBA.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    When I was 14, my coach would tell others that I was the best kid he had ever seen, and that I had NBA potential（潜力）. From then on, I got bigger and bigger. I loved the game more and more. I had the greatest time of my life playing basketball in high school.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} There are no shortcuts（捷径）. My teammates and I come from different walks of life and in different shapes and sizes, but we all put in the time. We do that for the joy of being out on the basketball court. And we've achieved a lot in the field.

A. It's a natural habit.

B. But I knew I loved it.

C. We always had difficulty paying our bills.

D. I thought, I guess I'm doing the right thing.

E. You have to dream something to make it a reality.

F. I fell in love with basketball mainly for two reasons.

G. In basketball, you get back what you give to the game.

    As a senior year student, you may have so many pressures coming from so many directions that you can't figure out what to do first.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    When you have many things to do and a lot of demands on your time, you can lose sight of what's important. One of the best ways to see the big picture - what you want out of life - is to lay out your goals.

    Pressure Points and How to Deal With Them

    Confused or overwhelmed - talk to someone you trust.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. They may help you find solutions to your problems and worries.

    Being too hard on yourself - ease up, take a break and do something you enjoy. Daydream, read a book, go out with friends — anything that helps you relax.

    Problems, problems, problems — recognize your limits. It's too stressful to try to deal with all your problems at once.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Goal-Setting Tips

    It's important to remember that goals belong to you — not to your parents, your teachers, or your friends. After you've set your goals, identify the skills you have to achieve those goals.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Try the library, your guidance adviser and teachers, and other people who could help you.

    Goals exist to serve you. If your goal is something you no longer want, change it. Identify the barriers to getting your goals.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Don't get depressed by a big, long-term goal — see what steps you can take to achieve it and set those steps down as short-term, "do-able" goals.

A. Too much to do

B. Balancing goals in life

C. Consider ways to overcome them

D. Discuss your concerns with a friend, parent or teacher

E. Choose what's most urgent and set aside the rest until later

F. As long as you know what skill is important and what isn't

G. If you're not sure what skills you'll need, do some research

    Nowadays, there is a trend that more and more people spend their holidays in foreign countries. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} So read our travel tips that are simple and practical, and you can always enjoy your travels.

    On a business card, write down the emergency contact's information and place it in your wallet. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Give your emergency contact a copy of your travel plan, a passport data page, and the visa information. Give each piece of your luggage a unique look: tie a bright handkerchief to a handle or purchase a colored luggage tag. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you don't speak the local language, carry a matchbox, or a brochure with the name and address of your destination. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    To avoid being a target of crime, don't wear eye catching clothing: dress conservatively (保守地), and don't wear or carry obvious signs of wealth (gold watches, expensive jewelry and etc.) and don't carry more cash than necessary. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    To make sure of a safe journey and avoid some unnecessary trouble when traveling in foreign countries, you could never be too careful.

Why Do We Find It Hard to Say "No"?

    As we all know, saying "no" to others is not easy at all. But sometimes we have to learn to say "no". {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Below are common reasons why people find it hard to say "no":

    ●{#blank#}2{#/blank#} You are a kind soul at heart. You don't want to turn the person away and you want to help when possible, even if it may eat into your time.

    ● Afraid of being rude. I was brought up under the idea that saying "no", especially to people who are older, is rude. This thinking is common in Asian culture, where face saving is important. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    ● Wanting to be agreeable. You don't want to alienate (疏远) yourself from the group because you're not in agreement. So you agree to others' requests.

    ● Fear of conflict (冲突) {#blank#}4{#/blank#} This might lead to an ugly confrontation (面对). Even if there isn't, there might be disagreement which might lead to bad effects in the future.

    ●{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Perhaps you are worried saying "no" means closing doors. For example, one of my friends' wives was asked to work in another department in her company. Since she liked her team, she didn't want to go. However, she didn't want to say "no" as she felt it would affect her promotion (晋升) chances in the future.

A. Wanting to help others.

B. Fear of losing chances.

C. Wanting to keep a good relationship.

D. I slowly realized I needed to learn to say "no".

E. You are afraid the person might be angry if you refuse him / her.

F. It means not making others look bad or lose face.

G. To learn to say "no", we have to first understand what's stopping us from it.

    Life is filled with regrets (遗憾). Anyone around you will have no difficulty in telling his regrets. As we get older, we look back and wish that we had made better choice. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Make better plans

    If you start to do something, you need to make a plan before doing it. The earlier, the better.

    You will know what comes first and what comes last. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If changes happen, you can have more time to deal with them.

    Live a more active life

    You can go around more often. More outdoor activities can keep you relaxed and active. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} "Thank you" can bring a smile to someone's face. Learn to say "sorry" and don't be angry with others.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    A friend may make your life and he or she can break your life as well. So you have to think twice when you choose a friend. Good friends will always give you better ideas. When you get into trouble ask others for help. That little help may get you good results.

    Never fear failure

    Everybody fails. Even the greatest person fails before he or she achieves success. We should not fear failure, because failure is not the end of the road. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Life is good. We don't have to live in our past, but we do hope that we can plan better, live better, and work better when we have the chance to do so.

A. Ask others for help.

B. Find the right friend.

C. You also need to be kind.

D. What can we do to avoid future regrets?

E. Regrets play an important part in our daily life.

F. We must take failure as a chance to learn and improve ourselves.

G. You'll also know what you should do and what you shouldn't do.