A new study done by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) shows that it doesn't make much of a difference that parents reward their children with cash for their better marks.
Many parents have offered cash to their children in the hope that it would improve marks and possibly raise their children's interest in achieving higher marks.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto (UT) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to learn more about the potential for financial encouragement as motivation for improved marks, involved first and second year students receiving financial aid in 2008-2009 at the University of Toronto Scarborough.
The top students participating in the study who said they were "very concerned" about having enough money to complete their degrees were to receive $100 for getting a grade of 70 per cent for each one-semester course, plus $20 for every percentage point beyond that.It was imaginable that a student could earn as much as $700 for achieving 100 percent in a course.
Harvey Weingarten, president and CEO of HEQCO said, "In its efforts to help disadvantaged students by exploring the idea of paying them to attend school, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is asking the same question many other districts are asking about how to improve student participation and performance.Our study and others to date indicate that this practice has little effect if any in those situations where it has been tested."
The authors of the study suggest that ineffective study habits may be a barrier to academic achievement and that the real problem may be more a lack of academic preparation than a lack of effort or motivation.They note that the availability of peer (同伴) advising does not appear to have helped greatly.They conclude that other potential avenues to improving performance, or other approaches of teaching, are needed at the high school and postsecondary levels.If a student gets a grade of 85% in a course, he will get _____.
A.$100 | B.$300 | C.$400 | D.$700 |
The underlined words "this practice" in Paragraph 5 refer to _____.
A.improving student participation |
B.seeking help from different districts |
C.paying disadvantaged students to attend school |
D.testing student performance in the same district |
The real problem with student participation and performance is most probably a lack of____.
A.academic preparation | B.effort or motivation |
C.teaching methods | D.peer advising |
What is mainly discussed in the passage?
A.Many parents have offered cash to their children. |
B.Many first and second year students receive financial aid. |
C.Ineffective study habits lead to poor academic achievement. |
D.Rewarding students with cash for good grades has little effect |
As civilization proceeds in the direction of technology, it passes the point of supplying all the basic essentials of life-food, shelter, clothes and warmth. Then we are faced with a choice between using technology to provide and fulfill needs which have now been regarded as unnecessary or, on the other hand, using technology to reduce the number of hours of work which a man must do in order to earn a given standard of living. In other words, we either raise our standard of living above that necessary for comfort and happiness or we leave it at this level and work shorter hours.
I shall take it for granted that mankind has, by that time, chosen the latter alternative. Men will be working shorter and shorter hours in their paid employment. It follows that the housewife will also expect to be able to have more leisure in her life without lowering her standard of living. It also follows that human domestic servants will have completely ceased to exist. Yet the great majority of the housewives will wish to be relieved completely from the routine operations of the home such as scrubbing the floors or the bath of the cooker, or washing the clothes or washing up, or dusting or sweeping, or making beds.
By far the most logical step to relieve the housewife of routine is to provide a robot which can be trained to the requirements of a particular home and can be programmed to carry out half a dozen or more standard operations, when switched by the housewife. As civilization develops in the direction of technology, ________.
A.the basic essentials of life must be supplied |
B.it is important to supply the basic essentials of life |
C.it is no longer so important as it was in the past to supply all the basic essentials of life |
D.it is not necessary to supply the basic essentials of life |
According to the author, we are faced with________.
A.the choice of providing and fulfilling our needs |
B.the choice of using technology |
C.the choice of earning a standard of living |
D.a choice between using technology to provide and fulfill needs to reduce the number of working hours |
What alternative will mankind have chosen in future?
A.To leave our standard of living at this level and work shorter hours. |
B.To raise our standard of living. |
C.To fulfill needs which have been regarded as unnecessary. |
D.To lower our standard of living and work shorter hours. |
Now most housewives wish to________.
A.stop doing their housework |
B.do more housework to improve their life |
C.get rid of the heavy burden of their housework |
D.do only simple and light housework |
It can be inferred that robots will be invented ______.
A.to take the place of housewives |
B.to help manage a family |
C.to do the routine of housework instead of human |
D.to provide the daily necessities for man |
A California family drives a car that could help protect the environment.
When Jon and Sandy go to the store or to their daughters’ soccer games, they drive in high-tech style. They drive a $1 million, fuel-cell-powered car. It may be the world’s most expensive car and one of the most environmentally friendly cars.
The FCX is the first fuel-cell-powered car to be used by a family
anywhere in the world. The FCX uses hydrogen and oxygen for fuel.
Car makers have been working to develop vehicles that are better for the environment. They are developing cars that use fuel other than gasoline.
what is fuel cell technology?
Fuel cell technology works by changing the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water. This process produces electricity, and water vapor which comes out of the exhaust pipe. Most cars release dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide(一氧化碳) and carbon dioxide. Many scientists say these gases are major contributors to global warming.
“The FCX is driven just like any other vehicle on the road, but
without the gases which pollute the environment, ” scientists say.
Fuel cell technology has been around since the 1800s, but scientists have yet been to perfect it. They say it may take years before the technology is ready for widespread use.
Creating environmentally friendly cars
Another earth-friendly car is already on the market.
Hybrid cars use both gasoline and an electric motor. They are becoming more popular with customers because they cut pollution and improve fuel efficiency. Which of the following about the FCX is NOT true?
A.It may be the most expensive car in the world. |
B.It is one of the most environmentally friendly cars. |
C.It releases dangerous gases to pollute the air. |
D.It uses hydrogen and oxygen for fuel other than gasoline. |
According to the passage, what is the major cause for global warming?
A.Gases from FCX. |
B.Water vapor from cars. |
C.Hydrogen and oxygen. |
D.Gases from cars. |
From the passage, we know that fuel cell technology _______.
A.works by water |
B.has a history for over two hundred years |
C.works by electricity |
D.has been widely used since the 1800s |
We can infer from the passage that _______ .
A.future cars will be environmentally friendly |
B.there will be no gasoline for cars |
C.people can’t afford to buy cars in the future |
D.global warming has been stopped |
Hybrid cars are popular because _______ .
A.they are the fuel-cell-powered cars |
B.they are energy-saving and cut pollution |
C.they are perfect cars in the world |
D.they produce gases to pollute the environment |
I can’t remember a winter being as cold as this in Pennsylvania, but I’m sure there were colder days.
Even though the daylight hours are growing longer minute by minute, it’s easy to find an excuse not to go out unless you absolutely must, but then again I often have to push myself to accomplish things.
People I speak to have been in all kinds of nasty moods. They say they’re “under the weather,” not feeling good about this time of year.
As I stood outside with my two dogs yesterday, it was so cold that my nose and face felt frozen and my ears were stinging. Of course, that doesn’t matter to Ricky and Lucy. They have a routine they must go through to find just the fighting spot no matter how cold or hot it is. So I wait.
But this time it was different. As cold as it was, I suddenly was excited thinking about how wonderful this extreme cold really was.
Then the sun broke through the clouds and memories of summer’s extremely hot days flashed through my mind. I could remember standing in the heat of the afternoon, with sweat pouring down my brow and the hot, burning sun against my face. I reminded myself then and there that in the cold of the winter I would wish I had this heat.
I was grateful for the extremes. Without the extremes in my life, I would never appreciate the days when things were just right. Without the extremes, life would be boring.
It’s being pushed to one of the extremes that makes us appreciate the middle more. Health challenges remind us that we need to pay more attention to how we live. Financial extremes remind us that when things go smoothly it’s also time to save for raining days.
I’ve come to the conclusion that all too often I find a reason not to be happy with where I am at that moment. Whether it’s hot or cold, good health or bad, in the money or out of it, I always want it to be different.
I’m tired of being “Under the Weather!” What is the author’s attitude towards the extremes in life?
A.Grateful. |
B.Critical. |
C.Sensitive. |
D.Unconcerned. |
That day the writer waited in the terrible cold because ______.
A.his dogs wanted to hunt |
B.his dogs had a routine |
C.he wanted to be different |
D.he wanted to face the cold bravely |
The underlined word “nasty” in the third paragraph can be replaced by ______.
A.unpleasant |
B.violent |
C.favorable |
D.unusual |
At last the author drew a conclusion that ______.
A.happiness cannot be gained by complaints |
B.his present situation really disappointed him |
C.things will be different whatever the situation is |
D.happiness will fail to come to you if you can find a reason |
What is the best title for this passage?
A.Follow the Routine |
B.Two Extremes in Life |
C.Weather Information |
D.Changes should be Expected |
Environment Awareness Week
Regal Convention Center, Halls 1-4
24-30 March 2011 10:00 am- 9:00 pm
Free admission for all!
Save the environment, save our future
Our environment needs help. With the participation of more than 50 organization, Environment Awareness Week is the biggest public education event dedicated to environmental protection and conversation. Don't miss it! Come and know more about:
The Threats to Earth(Hall 1)
What is global warming? How serious is pollution? Learn about different environmental problems from our university students. Protect our environment!
The Search for Renewable Energy(Hall 2)
Can we get electricity from mind, solar energy, waves, rivers and underground heat? Get the answers from Solar Ace, Teflou, TouchWind Resources and other participants.
The Quest for Freshwater (Hall 3)
Is the shortage of freshwater worsening? What are Singapore's solutions for treating wastewater? Hear from Flow Technologies, HydroMax Solutions and other participants.
The 3 Rs to Save Earth(Hall 4)
How can we REDUCE,REUSE and RECYCLE to cut down household wastes? Find out from the Global Gaia work, Green Earth Foundation and other participants.
For more information, please call Mr. Philip Koh at 6553 1188, send an email to Mrs Daisy Soh at daisy-soh@ief.org or visit the event's web site at http://www.ief.org/eaw. |
The main aim of Environment Awareness Week is to _____.
A.educate the public on protecting the environment |
B.discuss global warming and other environmental problems |
C.explain ways for producing freshwater to save the environment |
D.learn about renewable energy sources that protect the environment |
The organizer of the event is _____.
A.Global Gaia Network |
B.Clean Energy Agency |
C.Green Earth Foundation |
D.International Environment Fund |
If you are interested in renewable energy sources, you should go to _____.
A.Hall 1 |
B.Hall 2 |
C.Hall 3 |
D.Hall 4 |
The “3 Rs”stand for_____.
A.Read, Realize and Remember |
B.Reduce, Reuse and Recycle |
C.Green Earth Foundation |
D.Global Gaia Network |
Which of the following statements is NOT true of the event?
A.It will last a week and the halls will be open 11 hours a day. |
B.You can send an email to Mrs. Daisy Soh for more information. |
C.Each hall charges the same amount of money as the other. |
D.Lectures in Hall 1 will be given by university students. |
LONDON (Reuters) — Quiet please — Britain’ s Queen Elizabeth is preparing to have her swans counted. Buckingham Palace has announced that the annual Swan Upping, a tradition dating back to the 12th century which involves a census of the swan population on the River Thames, will be conducted by the Queen’ s official Swan Marker from July 20—24.
“With the assistance of the Queen’s Swan Warden, Professor Christopher Perrins of the University of Oxford, the swans and young cygnets (小天鹅) are also assessed for any signs of injury or disease,” Buckingham Palace said in announcing the count.
The process involves the Swan Marker, David Barber, rowing up the Thames for five days with the Swan Warden in traditional skiffs while wearing special scarlet uniforms and counting, weighing and measuring swans and cygnets.
It may seem eccentric, but it is very important to the Queen, According to custom, Britain’ s sovereign owns all unmarked, mute swans in open water, but the Queen now exercises the right only on stretches of the Thames and its nearby tributaries.
In medieval times, the Swan Marker would not only travel up the river counting the swans, but would catch as many as possible as they were soughtafter for banquets and feasts.
This year, the Swan Marker and the Swan Warden are particularly keen to discover how much damage is being caused to swans and cygnets by attacks from dogs and from discarded fishing tackle (渔具).
It is also an important year because Queen Elizabeth has decided to join her team of Swan Uppers for part of the census. She will follow them up the river and visit a local school project on the whole subject of swans, cygnets and the Thames.
“Education and conservation are essential to the role of Swan Upping and the involvement of school children is always a rewarding experience,” Buckingham Palace said. In medieval times,________.
A.swans were better protected than now |
B.a lot of swans were killed by dogs |
C.swans were a delicious dish on royal banquets |
D.common people could catch the swans |
We can infer from the passage that the process of counting the swans ________.
A.remains almost unchanged in the past years |
B.involves a lot of royal members |
C.sometimes lasts longer than before |
D.is always guarded by special soldiers |
This year, the Swan Marker and the Swan Warden mainly want to find out________.
A.the exact number of swans and cygnets |
B.how a local school project is going on |
C.how much damage the swans and cygnets suffer |
D.how education and conservation are carried out along the Thames |
Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?
A. Britain’ s Queen is concerned about swans.
B. Britain’ s Queen orders a count of swans.
C. An old tradition in Buckingham Palace.
D. Queen Elizabeth will count swans herself.
5.The underlined word “tributaries” can be best replaced by ________. A. districts
B. banks
C. trees
D. branches