Thinking is something you choose to do as a fish chooses to live in water. To be human is to think. But thinking may come naturally without your knowing how you do it. Thinking about thinking is the key to critical(批判性的) thinking. When you think critically, you take control of your thinking processes(过程). Otherwise, you might be controlled by the ideas of others. Indeed, critical thinking is at the heart of education.
The word “critical” here has a special meaning. It does not mean taking one view against another view, as when someone criticizes another person for doing something wrong. The nature of critical thinking is thinking beyond the easily seen--beyond the pictures on TV, the untrue reports in the newspapers, and the faulty reasoning.
Critical thinking is an attitude as much as an activity. If you are interested in life and want to dig deeper into it, you are a critical thinker. If you find pleasure in deep thinking about different ideas, characters, and facts, you are a critical thinker.
Activities of the mind and higher-order reasoning(推理)are processes of deep and careful consideration. They take time, and do not go hand in hand with the fast speed in today’s world: fast foods, instant coffee, and self-developing film. If you are among the people who believe that speed is a measure(尺度)of intelligence(智慧), you may learn something new from a story about Albert Einstein. The first time Banesh Hoffman, a scientist, was to discuss his work with Albert Einstein. Hoffman was too nervous to speak. But Einstein immediately made Hoffman feel comfortable by saying, “Please go slowly. I don’t understand things quickly.” Critical thinking is important to us because if we do not think critically, _______.
A.it will be hard for us to think naturally and fast |
B.we might be controlled by other people’s ideas |
C.we will follow the ideas of others naturally |
D.we might be fooled by other people’s ideas |
If you are a critical thinker, you will ________.
A.take one view against another view |
B.trust the reports in the newspapers |
C.think deeply about different ideas |
D.criticize other people for their mistakes |
In the last paragraph, “something new” suggests that ________.
A.speed can improve intelligence |
B.intelligence is not decided by speed |
C.the smarter you are, the faster you do things |
D.the faster you do things, the smarter you become |
Mrs.Brown lives in a small town in Australia.There is a big farm near the town.
On Saturday morning,she goes to her small shop.She opens the window of the shop and looks at the farm.It's very beautiful.There are many cows,horses and small animals on the farm.Suddenly she sees a kangaroo with her baby.It's interesting to see them!The mother kangaroo is wearing an old jacket.They stand there and look hungry.Mrs.Brown gives some bread to them.The kangaroos get it.Then they become happy and jump away.Suddenly a wallet drops on the floor from the jacket pocket.She picks it up,and finds﹩300 and a photo in it.That is a man's photo with his name"John"on it."John?I have a brother.His name is also John,"Mrs.Brown says."Is this man my lost brother?"she thinks.
She takes the wallet with her and begins to look for the man.She asks many people in the town,and then she comes to the farm and asks the farmer.Hey!It is John,her lost brother.They are very happy to see each other.
56.What animals can Mrs.Brown see on the farm that morning?
A. |
Cows,horses and small animals. |
B. |
Cows,horses,small animals and a kangaroo with a baby. |
C. |
Cows,horses and a kangaroo with her baby. |
D. |
Cows,horses,small animals and a kangaroo. |
57.Why does Mrs.Brown give some bread to kangaroos?
A. |
Because she likes kangaroos very much. |
B. |
Because the mother kangaroo is wearing an old jacket. |
C. |
Because the mother kangaroo with her baby looks hungry. |
D. |
Because she wants to find John. |
58.What does Mrs.Brown find after the kangaroos jump away?
A. |
A wallet. |
B. |
A photo. |
C. |
﹩300. |
D. |
A jacket. |
59.How does Mrs.Brown find her lost brother,John?
A. |
By the wallet. |
B. |
By the kangaroo. |
C. |
By the jacket. |
D. |
By the photo with his name. |
60.Where does Mrs.Brown find her lost brother?
A. |
In a shop. |
B. |
On a farm. |
C. |
In a town. |
D. |
In Australia. |
Pack up and Fly away
Hainan Island Hainan Island is a wonderful place of sun,sand and sea.It is in the south of China.It's famous for its underwater beauty.Tianyahaijiao is also very famous.It attracts lots of tourists around the world every year. |
Thailand Thailand is in the heart of Southeast Asia.Its capital Bangkok has some of Thailand's greatest buildings,like the Grand Palace (大皇宫).Chiang Mai (清迈) is a big city in Thailand.There are many historic temples (庙) there,such as the Wat Phra Singh temple.The temple has a history of over 500 years. |
Australia This country is a land of beauty and diversity (多样性).It is famous for Sydney Opera and Ayers Rock (艾尔斯岩).Ayers Rock is 3,600 meters long and 348 meters high.What's more,children can also see many animals here like koalas,kangaroos and sheep. |
South Korea's Jeju Island (韩国济州岛) As a volcanic (火山) island,Jeju once was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders (奇迹) of Nature.Not only that,Jeju attracts children with its Teddy Bear Museum.There,people show historical events with teddy bears. |
51.The information above can't be from .
A. |
a magazine |
B. |
a story book |
C. |
a newspaper |
D. |
a tour guidebook |
52.Hainan Island is .
A. |
in the Indian Ocean |
B. |
in Europe |
C. |
in the south of China |
D. |
in Africa |
53.If you like historic temples,you can go to .
A. |
Hainan Island |
B. |
Thailand |
C. |
Australia |
D. |
South Korea's Jeju Island |
54.People in South Korea's Jeju Island show historical events with .
A. |
teddy bears |
B. |
toy cars |
C. |
heroes |
D. |
pictures |
55.Australia is known for .
A. |
the Grand Palace and the Wat Phra Singh temple. |
B. |
Sydney Opera and Ayers Rock. |
C. |
Tianyahaijiao and the underwater beauty. |
D. |
Teddy Bear Museum and a volcanic island. |
What was living in the ISS like?
Living in space is common to astronauts.But what if it is a task of nearly a year?
US astronaut Scott Kelly was in the International Space Station(ISS) for 340days.It is the longest time a US astronaut has spent in space at a time.Kelly's stay is part of the Twins(双胞胎)Study.When Scott Kelly spent nearly a year in the ISS,his twin brother Mark Kelly lived on Earth.They gave scientists more ways to study human space flight.
Usually living in the ISS for such a long time is boring.Was it the same for Kelly?Let's take a look.
Good morning,everyone!
It's time to enjoy a surprise.But for Kelly,it was one of the 16sunrises he saw each day in the ISS,Isn't that cool?
Work comes first.
During his stay,Kelly and his partners did about 400science experiment.One of them was about planting vegetables.And they did it!Growing vegetables will be helpful for longer space journeys.
Moving with microgravity(微重力).
As we all know,space is a place with microgravity,which influences bodies.So Kelly did exercise more than 700hours in the ISS.That is about two hours of exercise a day.Microgravity also makes some easy things difficult.Kelly often slept in a sleeping bag,or his arms would float(飘浮)in front of him all the time.
Boring?Why not do something for fun?
Kelly loved taking photos from space and sharing them with the world online.Even President Obama is his fan.Under one of his photos,Obama wrote,"Hey,loving the photos.Do you ever look out of the window and freak out(吓坏了)?""I don't freak out about anything,Mr.President.Except getting question from you."Kelly replied.
63.How long did Kelly stay in the ISS?
64.Why did scientists start the Twins Study?
65.What did Kelly have to do because of microgravity?
66.Did President Obama enjoy Kelly's photos?
67.What was Kelly's life in the ISS like?Why?(Give one example.)
These days so many things are going digital(数字化),and books are too.People can buy e﹣books or cheap books online.This means that some bookstores have a hard time staying open. (38)
Bookstore sales in the US went 2.5percent from 2014to 2015.They have found success by trying new things,such as holding events,adding a coffee shop and food and creating a fun experience for book lovers.
"That's what small bookstores have to offer,"Nicole Sullivan,owner of Denver's BookBar,said."a more personalized(个性化的)experience and a sense of community."(39) The Shakespeare and
Company Bookstore in New York is adding the Espresso Book Machine,which can print any book you want in five minutes at the store.This special machine is great for people looking for books which are hard to find.
And sometimes,if you can't beat them,it's okay to join them.(40)
Second Story Books in Washington DC is one of them.It sells books on Amazon and makes more money.
While bookstores still face difficulties,it seems there are ways for them to succeed.(41) You are sure to enjoy a really special experience.
A.And these good ideas work. B.Many have already closed down. C.So why not pay a visit to a bookstore next time? D.This isn't a new problem,but things are finally turning around E.Many bookstores also sell books online. F.Also bookstores are trying to bring in new shoppers in cool ways. |
At my primary school,I was one of the smartest kids there.I never studied,but always got perfect scores.I was also a prodigyin in music according to myself.I could sing better than almost everyone else in my school.I was pretty sure that once I got to sixth grade,everyone would be surprised by me.
But actually,they weren't.
When I arrived at my new class,I couldn't wait to show everyone what I could do.However,there was always someone else who could do them better.My grades began to suffer.More talented(有天资的)gifts often sang solo(独唱).I believed I wasn't smart.I believed I wasn't talented.I believed I was a failure.
Over the next two years,I had to work very hard.Every prize for the singing competition was given to me for hard work and effort.Grades were still very low but improving little by little.I worked really hard.However,I was never the best at everything.
I haven't realized until recently that I really don't have to be the best at everything.I was too hard on myself.In fact,when I did badly in a test,my classmates never laughed at me.
No one is perfect.There will probably always be someone better than me at something.Anyway,there are about seven billion people in this world.I will never be the number once at everything,and that's really okay.
33.What does"a prodigy"probably mean in English?
A. |
A smart kid. |
B. |
A crazy fan. |
C. |
A common child |
D. |
A lazy girl |
34.When the writer was at new class.
A. |
she lost her interest in music |
B. |
she had difficulty in learning |
C. |
she surprised everyone in solo |
D. |
she got separated from friends |
35.What happened to the writer during the next two years?
A. |
She won many prizes without any effort. |
B. |
She found the best way to become perfect. |
C. |
She gave up trying because of the low scores. |
D. |
She failed to be perfect though she worked hard. |
36.What has the writer realized recently?
A. |
There is no success without effort. |
B. |
Being talented is the key to success. |
C. |
Don't expect too much of yourself. |
D. |
It's not necessary to care about the result. |
37.Which would be the best title for this passage?
A. |
When I wasn't perfect |
B. |
My past life as a young girl |
C. |
Hard work doesn't work |
D. |
What to do when you're not perfect. |