As children face their final month of revision before the exam season starts, many parents are looking for the words to motivate their offspring．But could they be mistakenly praising the value of ability over effort, asks Matthew Syed．
Take a glance at these expressions of encouragement:
"You learned that so quickly, you're so smart!"
"Look at that drawing．Are you -the next Picasso or what?"
They appear as the kind of confidence-boosting statements that should be given to children or, indeed, anyone else．Such phrases are used in homes and classrooms every day, particularly with exams approaching．
Intelligence-based praise leads the receiver towards the fixed thought —it suggests to them that intelligence is of primary importance rather than the effort through which intelligence can be transformed．
Let's take a quick second look into the science of expertise, and ask a question．Where does excellence come from? For a long time, it was thought the answer to this depended, to a large degree, on genetic inheritance．Or, to put it another way, it is all about talent．
It turns out that this is mistaken．Dozens of studies have found that top performers—whether in maths, mi sic or whatever—learn no faster than those who reach lower levels of achievement—hour after hour, they improve at almost the same rates．
The difference is simply that high achievers practice for more hours．Further research has shown that when students seem to possess a particular gift, it is often because they have been given extra tuition at home by their parents．
This is not to deny that some kids start out better than others—it is merely to suggest that the starting point we have in life is not particularly relevant．
Why? Because, over time, with the right, kind of practice, we change so dramatically．It is not just the body that changes, but the brain．The question of talent versus effort would not matter terribly much if it as merely theoretical．But it is so much more than that．It influences the way we think, feel, and the way we engage with our world．What is the best title of this passage?
| A．The Words That Could Encourage Your Child |
| B．Intelligence Says All |
| C．High and Low Achievers |
| D．Start Early, Learn More |
Which statement is intelligence-based praise?
| A．"You're so brilliant - you passed that exam without really studying!" |
| B．"With more efforts, you can achieve more!" |
| C．" You combine study with entertainment so well!" |
| D．"You study so hard even when you are so good at it!" |
The writer thinks the answer to the question of talent versus effort is _____．
| A．simple | B．complicated | C．obvious | D．mysterious |
Why do some people have higher achievements?
| A．Because they are born with great talent. |
| B．Because they start better than others. |
| C．Because they spend more of their spare time practicing what they have learnt. |
| D．Because they improve themselves at almost the same rates. |
In Germany, English expressions are used in conversations and increasingly in written form. Advertisements are often expressed completely in English. When I go to the gym, there are “aerobic-classes (增氧健身法课程)”. We “warm up”. We go “jogging.” In business, we attend a “meeting” and we have “good connections.”
Other nations, like France, have taken action to protect their language from the influence of “Americanization”. In Germany, however, there is concern that those rules could be connected with Hitler’s Third Reich (帝国), when the language had to be pure. If the government curbed the use of English words now, this could be considered by some as a return to that terrible past.
Some German citizens are now trying to stop the use of English vocabulary in German. However, I think generally it is not a big deal to use some common English expressions as they often describe things more directly. But we should know that it is important to use English correctly. All too often, bad English is spoken or even written instead of good German. The proper use of the German language would be the better choice. However, there are some fields that require the use of English words, for example, in the high-tech communication and the Internet fields, there is no alternative to English. Also, I think sometimes I have to speak English when I introduce some scenic places to tourists.
I think you have to find a balance and decide when it is better to use good German in place of bad English or when the use of correct English words is more suitable. Languages have always changed naturally, and I disagree with a restriction by law. Some nice expressions borrowed from other languages can make a conversation more vivid.By giving many examples in the first paragraph, the writer shows that _____.
| A．most Germans have no difficulty in understanding English |
| B．English is more and more widely used in Germany |
| C．it is more convenient to use English in some situations |
| D．English has completely replaced German in Germany |
From the passage, we can learn that when Hitler was in power, ______ in Germany.
| A．all languages except English could be used |
| B．only some foreign languages could be used |
| C．only the upper class could speak English |
| D．only the German language could be used |
What job does the writer probably do?
| A．A travel guide. | B．A lawyer. |
| C．A computer engineer. | D．A teacher. |
What is the writer’s attitude towards the use of English in Germany?
| A．There should be a law to protect the dominance of German. |
| B．It is foolish for Germans to worry about their native language. |
| C．Germans should be encouraged to speak more English. |
| D．Proper use of English can make conversations more colorful. |
As digital technology increasingly controls the lives of young people, scientists have begun to wonder: Is the Internet good or bad for kids?
“It’s impossible to answer that question because the Internet is so many things,” says psychologist Patricia Greenfield. “It’s networked computer games and news about politics and instant messaging and e-mails to your grandmother. It can be both an educational resource and a hiding place for kidnappers.”
Adults have many reasons to worry about kids’ Internet use. In chat rooms, for instance, it is easy to lie and kids can get trapped in dangerous situations. In searching for and visiting websites, kids can come across words and pictures that they may not be prepared for. To help prevent that situation, in 2000, the US Congress passed the Children’s Internet Protection Act, which requires schools to block offensive and obscene（淫秽的）websites.
Researches have pointed out how confusing the Internet can be for children, even when they think they know how it works. To find out how much kids know about the technology, Zheng Yan, an educational professor in New York, interviews over 300 students in grades four to eight. Most of the youngest students think the Internet is simply an icon (图标) on the screen. It often isn’t until 10 that kids realize that the Internet is a network of millions of computers. It takes another 2 or 3 years for them to understand that a stranger can see what they’ve posted.
Understanding the technology helps kids understand how dangerous the web can be. It’s not simply enough to block harmful websites or to limit the number of hours kids spend online. Learning about the Internet can also give young people the power to use it in beneficial ways.By saying “the Internet is so many things”, Patricia Greenfield means that ______.
| A．computer technology is hard for people to master |
| B．computers have more disadvantages than expected |
| C．computers have more advantages than expected |
| D．computers bring advantages as well as disadvantages |
According to the Children’s Internet Protection Act passed in 2000, ______.
| A．children are not allowed to go online at schools |
| B．schools must watch students’ behavior all the time |
| C．children must be prevented from having access to unhealthy websites |
| D．it is against the law to search for unhealthy information online |
In the mind of very young children, the Internet is ______.
| A．harmful | B．simple |
| C．a complicated network | D．a news source |
What might be talked about in the following paragraph?
| A．How to protect children against the danger of the Internet. |
| B．How to use the Internet for beneficial purposes. |
| C．What the public think of the Children’s Internet Protection Act |
| D．How the Children’s Internet Protection Act was passed. |
Being the youngest child has advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, babies are spoiled and often get away with behavior that other family members can’t. On the other hand, many youngest children feel that they never quite measure up to their more experienced and successful siblings (兄弟姐妹). To borrow a phrase from a famous comedian, they get no respect.
Some parents look on their youngest child as their last chance to do everything right, so the youngest may feel great performance pressure, similar to a firstborn. Other parents will never allow their last child to be unhappy, ever. In most families, however, the parents have more experience and are more likely to give them more freedom on such issues as developmental milestones, toilet training, dating, and so on. They are more confident that things will work out for the best, and their relationship with their lastborn is less intense than that with the older children.
Having some distance in their relationship with their parents can give the lastborn freedom to explore new ideas and new places, but if it is too great, the youngest children may feel disconnected, as though they don’t belong to the family.
Since lastborns are seldom the strongest or most capable during childhood, they often carve out a place for themselves by being clever and charming. Within the family, they know how to get along well with their siblings. They may become peacekeepers, but they’re also able to cause much trouble when it serves their purposes. Playing the “baby card” also allows them to avoid punishment for wrongdoing, for example, breaking a sibling’s toy.
Only with such a full understanding can you, as a parent, help your “baby” develop into a fully grown-up person.
What may dissatisfy the youngest child in the family?
| A．Being given too much pressure by the parents. |
| B．Being looked down upon by the other family members. |
| C．Not getting along well with their siblings. |
| D．Feeling that they fail to do as well as their siblings. |
In most families, the youngest child _______.
| A．is expected to realize their parents’ unfinished dreams |
| B．lives a life of less pressure from their parents |
| C．is often ignored and forgotten by their parents |
| D．doesn’t like to get close to his / her parents |
Which of the following characteristics may NOT appear in the lastborn during their childhood?
Strong-minded. B. Attractive. C. Sociable. D. Troublesome.By talking about the characteristics of the youngest child, this passage ______.
| A．gives parents some help in bringing up the youngest child |
| B．reminds parents to give the youngest child extra care |
| C．shows it is hard for the youngest child to succeed |
| D．calls on parents to treat the youngest child fairly |
Have you come across much western children’s literature?
Most English speaking children grow up with the same delightful set of fictional (小说的) characters. The Winnie the Pooh stories involve a strange selections of animals such as a kangaroo, a pig, a donkey, a tiger, an owl and a bear, who live together in a wood, leading fairy ordinary lives. Far more exciting and dangerous events take place in The Wind in the Willows, the story of the foolish Mr. Toad and all his adventures.
Talking animals is also the main characters in The Jungle Book and the Just So Stories. In the latter we find lots of imaginative explanations as to why the world is like what it is.
Far more laughter comes from Roald Dahi’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Whillie Wonka is the perfect adult in the eyes of children with all his clever ideas and endless supply of sweets. Also much loved is Bilbo Baggins, the funny little rabbit, who ends up having adventures with wolves and dragons. Of course, the stories go on in the much more serious The Lord of the Rings, better read a few years later. A new star in the world of magic and children’s fiction is Harry Potter, the schoolboy who learns spells rather than maths. Adventures books remain popular, too. Although well over a century old now, Treasure Island is still an enthralling story with young Jim Hawkins dealing with secret maps and pirates. Such books make childhood a time of wonder and imagination.Which of these is NOT mentioned as a character in The Winnie the Pooh stories?
| A． | B． | C． | D． |
In which book would you expect to find the chapter “How the tiger got his stripes?”
| A．The Wind in the Willows. |
| B．Just So Stories. |
| C．Treasure Island. |
| D．The Lord of the Rings. |
Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Treasure Island was written a long time ago. |
| B．Roald Dahi’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a light-hearted book. |
| C．The Lord of the Rings was published earlier than Harry Potter. |
| D．Jim Hawkins wrote Treasure Island. |
The underlined word “enthralling” in paragraph 4 means___________.
| A．disappointing | B．modern | C．interesting | D．frightening |
“Long time no see” is a very interesting sentence. When I first read this sentence from an American friend’s email, I laughed. I thought it was a perfect example of Chinglish.
Obviously, it is a word-by-word literal translation of the Chinese greetings with a ruled English grammar and structure! Later on, my friend told me that it is a standard American greeting. I was too thrilled to believe her. Her words could not convince me at all. So I did a research on google.com. To my surprise, there are over 60 thousand web pages containing “Long time no see.” This sentence has been widely used in emails, letters, newspapers, movies, books, or any other possible places. Though it is sort of informal, it is part of the language that Americans use daily. Ironically, if you type this phrase in Microsoft Word, the software will tell you that the grammar needs to be corrected.
Nobody knows the origin of this Chinglish sentence. Some people believe that it came from Charlie Chan’s movies. In the 1930s, Hollywood moviemakers successfully created a world wide famous Chinese detective named “Charlie Chan” on wide screens. Detective Chan likes to teach Americans some Chinese wisdom by quoting Confucius. “Long time no see” was his trademark. Soon after Charlie Chan, “Long time no see” became a popular phrase in the real world with thanks to the popularity of these movies.
Some scholars refer to America as a huge pot of stew. All kinds of culture are mixed in the stew together, and they change the color and taste of each other. American Chinese, though a minority ethnic(少数民族的成员) group in the United States, is also contributing some changes to the stew! Language is usually the first thing to be influenced in the mixed stew.
You can have some other examples besides adoptions from Chinese, such as pizza from Italian, sushi from Japanese, and déjà vu from French etc. There is a long list! Americans do not just simply borrow something from others. They will modify it and make it their own, so you would not be surprised to find a tofu and peanut butter hamburger in a restaurant, or to buy a bottle of iced Chinese green tea with honey in a grocery store. Since Americans appreciate Chinese culture more and more nowadays, I believe more Chinese words will become American English in the future. In this way the American stew keeps adding richness and flavor.The writer himself felt surprised at ______.
| A．the Chinglish expression “Long time no see” |
| B．“Long time no see” used as standard American English |
| C．so many literal translation of the expressions used in America |
| D．finding out Americans use the expression every day |
The word “stew” in the 4th paragraph probably means ______.
| A．mixture literature | B．Confucius’ words |
| C．a kind of cooked dish | D．American changing cultures |
According to the passage, it can be inferred that ______.
| A．detectives translate the phrase “Long time no see” |
| B．Hollywood made “Long time no see” popular |
| C．the huge pot of stew greatly affects all kinds of languages |
| D．cultures can be changed in the huge pot of stew |
The main idea of the passage is that ______.
| A．some Chinese expressions are introduced into English |
| B．you’ll not be surprised at a tofu in a restaurant in America |
| C．some American expressions can be used in China |
| D．American English keep being enriched from different cultures |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is not true?
| A．Informal language sometimes doesn’t go with grammar and structure. |
| B．Languages are always ruled by grammar and structure. |
| C．Long time no see” has been used in at least four media mentioned in the passage. |
| D．There are four languages mentioned to be adopted in the American stew. |