Generations of children who sat through endless lessons of “chalk and talk” in front of a bossy teacher can take some relief. But the “chalk and talk” method helped them achieve better exam results. Modern classroom techniques may make school days a good deal happier, but contentment(满足) is not the road to success in examinations, according to university researchers.
Their three-year study, monitoring the progress of 2000 teenagers, tried to measure the influence of the “boredom factor” in 17 selected schools in the north of England. The researchers also found that the old-fashioned approach(方法) of teachers ordering pupils about is still alive and producing results. Their conclusions were welcomed yesterday by educationists who were worried by the shift to less formal lessons.
The pupils in the latest study were asked to award teachers marks to measure how frequently they followed or ignored today's fashion for “child-centred” education. A five-point scale was given to spot the teachers who always told them what they should know and what to write down. “It was significant and not anything you would get by chance or accident. Certainly, when you compare the pupil's interest and attitude to school, there is a quite definite and highly significant difference,” one of the researchers said. But the rankings were turned upside down when the team of four researchers looked at how the children did in examination. The sort of methods now frowned upon(不赞同) actually improve the final grades.
The researchers said,“There is nothing wrong with old-fashioned, didactic(说教性的) teaching in the fight place, even if it isn't the flavor at the moment.” However, he insisted the best teachers had always mixed the two techniques to match the needs of pupils, although certain examinations forced some to concentrate more on dictation and learning by rote(死记硬背).University researchers have discovered that _______.
A.modern teaching methods provide students with entertainment |
B.students taught by modern techniques are happy and successful |
C.traditional teaching methods help students score higher |
D.students like old teaching better than modern teaching at school |
We can infer from Paragraph 3 that _______.
A.child-centred education promotes friendship among children |
B.the research findings are not significant enough for a conclusion |
C.those who show greater interest in school did better in exams |
D.those who don't show much interest in school may turn out to score higher in tests |
The researchers suggest that _______.
A.more old methods be used in teaching |
B.students be taught how to score high in exams |
C.dictation be used as one of the best teaching methods |
D.old and new methods be used together |
The best title for this text would be _______.
A.The Examinationbased Teaching |
B.Rote Learning Was the Winner |
C.The Problem of Child-centred Education |
D.The Problem of the Traditional Method |
阅读下列短文:从每题所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选项中,选出最佳选项,将正确的选项涂在答题卡上。
A
The Boy Made It!
One Sunday, Nicholas, a teenager, went skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine. In the early afternoon, when he was planning to go home, a fierce snowstorm swept into the area. Unable to see far, he accidentally turned off the path. Before he knew it, Nicholas was lost, all alone! He didn’t have food, water, a phone, or other supplies. He was getting colder by the minute.
Nicholas had no idea where he was. He tried not to panic. He thought about all the survival shows he had watched on TV. It was time to put the tips he had learned to use.
He decided to stop skiing. There was a better chance of someone finding him if he stayed put. The first thing he did was to find shelter form the freezing wind and snow. If he didn’t, his body temperature would get very low, which could quickly kill him.
Using his skis, Nicholas built a snow cave. He gathered a huge mass of snow and dug out a hole in the middle. Then he piled branches on top of himself, like a blanket, to stay as warm as he could.
By that evening, Nicholas was really hungry. He ate snow and drank water from a nearby stream so that his body wouldn’t lose too much water. Not knowing how much longer he could last, Nicholas did the only thing he could- he huddled(蜷缩) in his cave and slept.
The next day, Nicholas went out to look for help, but he couldn’t find anyone. He followed his tracks and returned to the snow cave, because without shelter, he could die that night. On Tuesday, Nicholas went out to find help. He had walked for about a mile when a volunteer searcher found him. After two days stuck in the snow, Nicholas was saved.
Nicholas might not have survived this snowstorm had it not been for TV. He had often watched Grylls’ survival show. Man vs. Wild. That’s where he learned the tips that saved his life, In each episode(一期节目)of Man vs. Wild, Grylls is abandoned in a wild area and has to find his way out.
When Grylls heard about Nicholas’ amazing deeds, he was super impressed that Nicholas had made it since he knew better than anyone how hard Nicholas had to work to stay alive.What happened to Nicholas one Sunday afternoon?
A.He got lost. | B.He broke his skis. |
C.He hurt his eyes | D.He caught a cold |
How did Nicholas keep himself warm?
A.He found a shelter. | B.He lighted some branches. |
C.He kept on skiing. | D.He built a snow cave. |
On Tuesday, Nicholas _____.
A.returned to his shelter safely |
B.was saved by a searcher |
C.got stuck in the snow |
D.staved where he was |
Nicholas left Grylls a very deep impression because he _____.
A.did the right things in the dangerous situation |
B.watched Grylls’ TV program regularly |
C.created some tips for survival |
D.was very hard-working |
A rapidly advancing contemporary science that is highly dependent on new tools is Earth system science. Earth system science involves observation and measurements on the Earth at all scales from the largest to the smallest. The huge amounts of data that are gathered come from many different locations and require special techniques for handling data. Important new tools that facilitate Earth system science include satellite remote sensing, small deep-sea submarines, and geographic information systems.
More than any other way of gathering evidence, satellite observations continually remind us that each part of the Earth interacts with and is dependent on all other parts.
Earth system science was born from the realization of that interdependence. Satellite remote sensing makes possible observations at large scales, and in many cases, measurements of factors that could not otherwise be measured. For example, the ozone hole over Antarctica--the decrease in the concentration of ozone high in the atmosphere--is measured by remote sensing, as are changes in deserts, forests, and farmlands around the world. Such measurements can be used in many areas of specialization besides Earth system science. Archaeology, for example, has benefited from satellite observations that reveal the traces of ancient trade routes across the Arabian Desert.
New tools for exploring previously inaccessible areas of the Earth have also added greatly to our knowledge of the Earth system. Small deep-sea submarines allow scientists to travel to the depths of the ocean. There they have discovered new species and ecosystems thriving near deep-sea vents that emit heat, sasses, and mineral-rich water.
Just as important as new methods of measurement and exploration are new ways to store and analyze data about the Earth system. Computer-based software programs known as geographic information systems, or GIS, allow a large number of data points to be stored along with their locations. These can be used to produce maps and to compare different sets of information gathered at different times. For example, satellite remote sensing images of a forest can be converted to represent stages in the forest's growth. Two such images, made at different times can be overlaid and compared, and the changes that have taken place can be represented in a new image.The word "facilitate" in Paragraph I is closest in meaning to ________.
A.enable | B.require | C.organize | D.examine |
The author of the passage mentions that satellite observations are especially effective in ________.
A.conducting scientific studies of life on the ocean floor |
B.predicting future climate changes |
C.providing data to determine Earth's age |
D.demonstrating interactions among all of Earth's parts |
According to the passage, satellite observations of the Arabian Desert allow archaeologists to know ________.
A.indications of ancient routes |
B.evidence of former lakes |
C.traces of early farms |
D.remains of ancient forests |
What is the main idea of the passage?
A.special techniques are needed to classify the huge amounts of data about Earth. |
B.New tools provide information about Earth that was once impossible to obtain. |
C.Advances in Earth system science have resolved many environmental problems. |
D.Satellite remote sensing can show changes between two images taken years apart. |
SELF-REFLECTION OF TEACHING PRACTICES READING, WRITING,TALKING
School: |
Date: |
Grade(s) presently teaching: |
Please do not sign your name. Mark the responses that most nearly reflect your teaching practices. This is one way to reflect your practices and how much you got out of it.
Keep one copy and give one to your tutor(s0.
HOW OFTEN:
0=never 1=rarely 2="sometimes" (1-2x/ week)
3=moderately(3x/week) 4=often(4x/week) 5=daily
DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATENESS:I provide opportunities for students to use literacy for their own purposes using previous knowledge, developmentally appropriate strategies and world experiences |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
EVIRONMENT: I use flexible grouping, e.g. pairs, small groups of different levels, small needs-based groups, and working alone. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
KNOWLEDGE CONSTRUCTION: I provide opportunities for students to interpret literary and informational texts before, during and after reading or listening by talking, writing, enacting, drawing, etc. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING: I assess students’ use of literacy strategies using this information to measure student progress and refocus my own teaching. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
DEMONSTRATION OF STRATEGIES: I read aloud to students and write in front of them, using literary and informational texts. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
READING STRATEGIES: I instruct students to read strategically, e.g. to reflect, predict, decode, question, connect, retell, summarize, map, etc. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
WRITING STRATEGIES: I provide opportunities for students to work through the writing processes alone and with others, e.g. thinking about purposes and audiences, prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
SELF-SELECTION: I provide time for the self-selection of books for independent reading in the classroom, and for book sharing. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
DEVELOPING MEANING: I provide clear targets to students to develop higher levels of learning, e.g. What does it mean? Why do I need to know it? How will I use it? |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
EXTENTION OF LEARNING: I provide opportunities and activities for students to learn more about topics of their choice through problem-based learning assignments, etc. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
BUILDING SUCCESS: I structure lessons/activities that provide opportunities for all students to experience success. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
According to the passage, who most probably mark the responses in the form?
A.Professional tutors. | B.Language teachers. |
C.Personal physician. | D.Psychological therapist. |
According to the passage, which frequency degree would you choose if you carry out the practice in the form not at all often?
A.0 | B.1 | C.2 | D.3 |
Mr. Kent bears EXTENTION OF LEARNING idea in mind, he quite often tends to _______.
A.always set groups to encourage students to work out something by putting heads together |
B.prepare grade-level materials for teaching |
C.develop students reading skills during pre- while-and- post-reading stage |
D.provide students with extra learning materials to further their study |
Mrs. Grace likes to share her version of tasks outcome in class, which could be labeled _____.
A.ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING | B.KNOWLEDGE CONSTRUCTION |
C.DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIES | D.SELF-SELECTION |
Iceland, an island just south of the Arctic Circle, has fairly mild winters, thanks to warm ocean currents. Time your vacation here during the winter months to take advantage of off-season deals.
Off-season means good deals on flights, hotels and tours. You may also find that the locals are a bit friendlier and more welcoming when tourists aren’t arriving in crowds.
In the winter months, there are less than seven hours of daylight; thus, chances are good you’ll catch sight of the northern lights. Sunsets are also beautiful at this time, making for some great photo opportunities.
In Iceland, winter is the perfect time to hike glaciers, go ice climbing, explore caves made out of hardened lava(岩浆) and much more. One of the most popular activities is off-roading(越野比赛) in a specially-equipped “super jeep”.
Before booking your trip, be sure to check for volcano alerts. There are about 130 volcanoes on or around Iceland. Thirty-five of them are active. In 2010, a volcano named Eyjaallajokull exploded, sending clouds of ash up to four kilometers into the atmosphere. The ash drifted toward the UK and Europe. Because the ask could damage aircraft engines, airlines operating in the region were forced to cancel flights for six days. As a result, thousands of people were stuck in airports.
Recently, another volcano named Bardarbunga has become active, erupting ash into the air. Such events, if large enough, could prevent your trip from going ahead. So check the latest volcano news prior to making your reservations. According to this article, why are you more likely to see the northern lights in the winter?
A.They move from rural areas to cities. |
B.The weather is more stable at that time. |
C.They’re a special feature of many festivals. |
D.The sky is dark for longer periods then. |
According to the article, how do visitors to Iceland have fun in the winter?
A.They learn how to ski down the mountains. |
B.They photograph famous historic sites.. |
C.They explore the countryside in well made vehicles.. |
D.They spend a week at one of the seaside resorts. |
What is true about the volcanoes of Iceland?
A.The majority of them are quiet. |
B.Their age hasn’t been determined. |
C.All but one of them are extinct. |
D.Citizens aren’t affected by them. |
What does this article explain?.
A.Some of Iceland’s urban cultural attractions. |
B.A way t reduce the cost of a trip to Iceland. |
C.Reasons for visiting Iceland in June and July. |
D.The average price for a short tour of Iceland. |
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for family, health, and life in general. However, Black Friday has turned it into a business.
Traditionally, the true value of Thanksgiving lies at home not the shopping centers. However, Black Friday has nowadays allowed society to ignore this as individuals long for something that they do not need or even truly want. Shopping on Black Friday becomes a sign of a shift into a culture that values material wealth over spending time with loved ones. People are willing to force their way through the crowds in their desperate search for marked-down sweaters and necklaces.
In recent years, Thanksgiving has become a pre-Black Friday holiday for many families. They are devoted to mapping out shopping routes and making organized schedules for which stores to hit first. By drawing individuals out to shopping centers with “matchless savings”, businesses encourage this behavior of ignoring Thanksgiving. Many families take their home-cooked meals while camping out at the door of shopping centers. With each new year, Thanksgiving is becoming victim to over commercialization—switching from a meaningful time of thanks and family to a day dedicated to products and profit.
Black Friday has shown that with current common standards, people cannot even set aside a single day to appreciate what they already have without immediately buying more. Families have lost sight of what is truly important in life, and have found reasons in debating between a low cost HD television and an appreciation for what they already have. Remember that Thanksgiving should be a day in which people are grateful for all that they have.What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 2 probably refer to?
A.The sign of a shift . | B.The material wealth. |
C.The shopping crowd. | D.The true value of Thanksgiving. |
In recent years, what will many families do when thanksgiving comes?
A.They’ll make full preparations for the Black Friday shopping. |
B.They’ll choose a big store for their first visit. |
C.They’ll visit some newly-opened shopping centers. |
D.They’ll go camping at the gate of shopping center for a good deal. |
In the last paragraph the author mainly intends to tell us that we should _________.
A.set aside a single day to buy more |
B.stay with our families as long as we can |
C.try to spend less to get low cost products |
D.appreciate what we’ve possessed with our families |
The author is __________ about the present ways people celebrate Thanksgiving.
A.puzzled | B.worried |
C.supportive | D.unconcerned |