可推知普通话的技能会在全球经济中给美国学生优势, 故选B。

7. Which of the following statements might Marty Abbott agree with?

A. Mandarin should be taught in classrooms throughout the US.

B. The US government's policy has helped popularize Mandarin in the US.

C. Many Americans learn Mandarin because they worry about their national security.

D. Those competent at Chinese will be the most competitive in the US in the future.

【解析】B

【解析】根据倒数第二段中"She said the US government has designated Mandarin as a 'critical needs' language and provides professional development programs for teachers. "可知, 美国政府为了推广普通话, 做了很多工作, 故选B。

8. What is the main idea of the article?

A. The rising popularity of Mandarin among American students.

B. The influence of China's growing power on American education.

C. The benefits of learning Mandarin for American students.

D. How Confucius Institutes in the US help promote Mandarin.

【解析】A

【解析】纵观全文, 本文主要论述了有越来越多的美国学生开始学习普通话, 文章中虽然涉及美国学生学习普通话的益处, 但只是文章中的一个片段, 故选A。

Ⅱ. 完形填空

　　Jenna had graduated from her middle school and was lucky enough to be admitted to Westwood College. She was ready for new 　1　 at the college and filled with confidence. 　2　, she didn't expect it that college life was quite　3　. In the first week, Jenna went to tryouts for cheerleaders. She was competing against very talented girls, and she knew it would be 　4　 for her to be selected. Two hours later, the 　5　 read a list of the girls for a second tryout. Her heart 　6　 as the list ended without her name. Feeling 　7　, she walked back to her dormitory carrying her schoolbag full of homework.

　　Arriving at the dormitory, she started with 　8　. She had always been a good math student, but now she was 　9　. She moved on to English and history, and was 　10　 to find that she didn't have any trouble with those subjects. Feeling better, she decided not to 　11　 math for the time being.

　　The next day Jenna went to see Mrs Biden about being on the school 　12　. Mrs Biden wasn't as enthusiastic as Jenna. "I'm sorry, 　13　 we have enough 　14　 for the newspaper already. Come back next year and we'll talk then. " Jenna smiled 　15　 and left. "Why is college so different? " she sighed.

　　Later in math class, Jenna devoted herself to figuring out the problems that had given her so much 　16　. By the end of the class, she understood how to get them right. As she gathered her books, Jenna decided she'd 　17　 to try to fit in with her new school. She wasn't sure if she'd 　18　, but she knew she had to try. College was just as her mom had said, "You will feel like a small fish in a big pond 　19　 a big fish in a small pond. The challenge is to become the 　20　 fish you can be. "

1. A. decisions　 　B. challenges C. problems D. exercises

【解析】B

【解析】根据上文的"lucky enough to be admitted to Westwood College"及"new"可推知, 新的大学生活对主人公来说有许多挑战, 故选B。

2. A. However B. Therefore

C. Besides D. Otherwise

【解析】A

【解析】根据语境可知, 上下文表示逻辑上的转折关系, 故选A。however"然而"。

3. A. normal B. necessary

C. different D. desperate

【解析】C

【解析】根据下文的"'Why is college so different? ' she sighed"可知, 大学生活与主人公想象的样子很不一样。