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 (错误的推理).
Critical thinking is an attitude as much as an activity. If you are curious about life and desire 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 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 of intelligence, you may learn something new from a story about Albert Einstein. The first time Banish Hoffman, a scientist, was to discuss his work with Albert Einstein, Hoffman was too nervous to speak. But Einstein immediately put Hoffman at ease 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 will follow the ideas of others naturally |
| C．we might be controlled by other people's ideas |
| D．we might be fooled by other people's ideas |
If you are a critical thinker, you will________.
| A．criticize other people for their mistakes | B．trust the reports in the newspapers |
| C．take one view against another view | D．think deeply about different ideas |
In the last paragraph, "something new" suggests that________.
| A．the smarter you are, the faster you do things |
| B．intelligence is not decided by speed |
| C．speed can improve intelligence |
| D．the faster you do things, the smarter you become |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Understanding Critical Thinking | B．Thinking and Critical Thinking |
| C．Thinking Natural and Human | D．Thinking Fast Means Intelligence |
American cities are similar to other cities around the world: In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture, American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.
After World War II, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts（转移）to and from the city reflect the changing values of American
society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents(居民) became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs(郊区).
Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.
This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for
sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.
Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright, new future. Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure: many dying cities are alive again.What does the author think of cities all over the world?
| A．They are alive | B．They are hopeless |
| C．They are similar | D．They are different |
Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War II?
| A．Because older American cities were dying |
| B．Because they were richer and needed more space |
| C．Because cities contained the worst parts of society |
| D．Because they could hardly afford to live in the city |
According to the 4th paragraph, a great many poor people in American cities.
| A．are faced with housing problems | B．are forced to move to the suburbs |
| C．want to sell their buildings | D．need more money for daily expenses |
We can conclude from the text that.
| A．American cities are changing for the worse |
| B．people have different views on American cities |
| C．many people are now moving from American cities |
| D．the population is decreasing in older American cities |
Why play games? Because they are fun, and a 1ot more besides. Following the rules…planning your next move...acting as a team member…these are all “game” ideas that you will come across throughout your life.
Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are entertaining and fun. But perhaps more importantly, they translate life into exciting dramas that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating (合作) .
Many children’s games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them
for work they will do as grown-ups. For instance, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which sharpens the hand-eye coordination（协调）needed in hunting.
Many sports encourage national or local pride. The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competition. People who watch the event wave flags, knowing that a gold medal is a win for an entire country, not just the athlete who earned it. For countries experiencing natural disasters or war, an Olympic win can mean so much.
Sports are also an event that unites people. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. People on all continents play it—some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian soccer player, has discovered a way to spread hope through soccer. He created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a promising future.
Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills wil
l help you in other aspects of your life.Through playing hide-and-seek, children are expected to learn to ________.
| A．obey the basic rules | B．be a team leader |
| C．act as a grown-up | D．predict possible danger |
The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means that games can________.
| A．describe life in an exciting way |
| B．make learning life skills more interesting |
| C．turn real-life experiences into a play |
| D．change people’s views of sporting events |
Iribarne’s goal of form
ing the foundation is to _______.
| A．bring fun to poor kids |
| B．provide soccer balls for children |
| C．give poor kids a chance for a better life |
| D．appeal to soccer players to help poor kids |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Sports increase a country’s competitiveness. |
| B．Sports can get all athletes together. |
| C．People are advised to play games for fun. |
| D．Games benefit people all their lives. |
The Mother Goose Stories, so well known to children all over the word, are co
mmonly said to have been written by a little old woman for her grandchildren. According to some people, she lived in Boston, and her real name was Elizabeth Vergoose. Her son-in-law, a printer named Thomas Fleet, was supposed to have published the famous stories and poems for small children in 1719. However, no copy of this book has ever been found, and most sc
holars doubt the truth of this story—and doubt, moreover, that Mother Goose was ever a real person. They point out that the name is a direct translation of the French “Mere I’ Oye.” In 1697 the Frenchman Charles Perrault published the first book in which this name was used. The collection contains eight tales, including “Sleeping Beauty,”“Cinderella,” and “Puss in Boots.” But Perrault did not originate these stories; they were already quite popular in his day, and he only collected them.
In 1729 there appeared an English translation of Perrault’s collection,Robert Samber’s Histories or Tales of Past times, Told by MotherGoose(London,1729), which introduced “Sleeping Beauty”, “Little Red-hood”, “Puss in Boots”,”Cinderella” and other Perrault’s tales to English-speaking audiences. These were fairy tales(童话)。 John Newbery published a book of English rhymes，Mother Goose’s Melody, or Sonnets for the Cradle( London, undated,1765), which switched the focus from fairy tale to nursery rhymes, and in English this was until recently the primary meaning for Mother Goose.A book of poems for children entitled Mother Goose’s Melody was published in England in1781, and the name “Mother Goose” has been associated with children’s poetry ever since.What is supposed to have happened in 1719?
| A．Elizabeth Vergoose wrote the first Mother Goose Stories. |
B．The Mo ther Goose Stories were translated into French. |
| C．Thomas Fleet published the Mother Goose Stories. |
| D．Charles Perrault published the first Mother Goose Stories. |
Most scholars consider Mother Goose to be _________.
| A．a real person | B．a translation from French |
| C．a collection by Elizabeth Vergoose | D．a book written by a little old woman |
When Perrault published the first book in 1679, _______.
| A．no story of the book had been known to people |
| B．some stories of the book were already well known |
| C．few people were interested in the stories of the book |
| D．stories like “Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella” became popular |
The name used in the first book published in 1679 is supposed to have been _______.
| A．Mother Goose | B．Charles Perrault | C．Elizabeth Vergoose | D．Mere I’ Oye |
When people talk about Mother Goo
se, they refer to,___________
| A．a printer of Boston | B．a kind of animal |
| C． children’s poetry | D．the French “Mere L’oye |
Send us your old jeans and other denim (牛仔布)!
What Are We Going to Do with All This Denim?
All the denim will be donated to COTTON FROM BLUE TO GREEN.®. This denim drive is a call-to-action to donate denim and give it "new life" by changing it into UltraTouchtm Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation (纤维隔热材料), which is used to help build houses in places that have been damaged by hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. Your jeans will help set a record, keep clothes out of landfills (垃圾场), and build houses for families to live in! UltraTouchtm is made of 85% recycled fibers and is an environmentally safe, natural cotton fiber insolation(隔离).
It's a Fact
It takes about 500 pairs of jeans to recycle enough denim to insulate one average-size U.S. house. So send us lots!
Here's How You Can Get Involved!
1. Get a par
ent's permission and select as many denim clothes as you like. (Any denim clothing is OK.)
2. The denim must be used.
3. The denim can be any brand.
4. The denim can be of any color or size but must have been worn by a human (no doll clothes!).
5. Please print out this form and include it with each package!
6. Send as many jeans or denim items as you wish to:
NG Kids P.O. Box 98001 Washington, D.C. 20090-8001
Jeans must be received by June 30, 2009! The activity organizer asks you to send denim clothes to ________.
| A．turn them into new clothes for sale | B．prevent them from being thrown away |
| C．provide clothes for the homeless | D．collect old clothes for being reused |
The denim clothes that you intend to send_______.
A. can be of any shape or color B. can be either new or second-hand
C. must be a certain brand D. Can be worn by dollsWe can infer that UltraTouchtm may be the name of_________.
| A．a brand of jeans | B．a building material | C．an organization | D．a kind of cloth |
This activity is probably ________
| A．a charity(慈善) act | B．a school's homework |
| C．an environmental act | D．a building company' s task |
Banks are not ordinarily prepared to pay out all accounts(账，账户); they rely on depositors (储户) not to deman
d payment all at the same time. If depositors should come to fear that a bank is not safe, that it cannot pay off all its depositors, then that fear might cause all the depositors to appear on the same day. If they did, the bank could not pay all accounts. However, if they did not all appear at once, then there would always be enough money to pay those who wanted their money when they wanted it. M
rs. Elsie Vaught has told us of a terrifying bank run that she experienced. One day in December of 1925 several banks failed to
open i
n a city where Mrs. Vaught lived. The other banks expected a run the next day, and so the officers of the bank in which Mrs Vaught worked as a teller had enough money on hand to pay off their depositors. The officers simply told the tellers to pay on demand. The next morning a crowd gathered in the bank and on the sidewalk outside. The length of the line made many think that the bank could not possibly pay off everyone. People began to push and then to fight for places near the tellers’ windows. The power of the panic atm
osphere was such that two tellers, though they knew that the bank was quite all right and could pay all depositors, drew their own money from the bank. Mrs Vaught says that she had difficulty keeping herself from doing the same.A bank run happens when _______.
| A．too many depositors try to draw out their money at one time | |
| B．a bank is closed for one or more days |
C．there is enough money to pay all its depositors at one time |
| D．tellers of a bank take their own money from the bank |
The tellers in Mrs. Vaught’s bank were told to ________.
| A．explain why they could not pay out all accounts |
| B．pay out accounts as requested |
| C．make the depositors believe that the bank was stand |
| D．pay out money as slowly as possible |
According to the passage, the actions of the depositors of Mrs. Vaught’s bank were affectedmainly by the _______.
| A．ease with which they could get their money |
B．confidence  that Mrs. Vaught showed |
| C．confidence shown by other depositors of the bank |
| D．failure of several other banks to open |