There has been much discussion recently about reducing the weight of English in China's high-stake tests such as the national college entrance examination. It is argued by some applauding the recent change to reduce the importance of English in tests so that it will lead students to focus more on learning Chinese. The TV program Writing in Chinese has exposed the problem that students and the general public cannot write in Chinese as they used to do.
Some blame the design of the curriculum for giving English an equal or greater amount of emphasis, which might have contributed to the failure in teaching Chinese. But this is probably not a fair accusation since children in English speaking countries cannot spell either.
I doubt that studying English in itself hurts the study of Chinese. In fact, high achievers in English or another foreign language are more likely to be high achievers in Chinese. It has been proved many times in recent Chinese history that those capable of using a foreign language are also masters in their mother tongue. Qian Zhongshu, Lu Xun and Lin Yutang are just a few examples.
Another trend of thought for curriculum reform is related to the perception of "worth". It is true that English is one of the subjects that students do spend too much time on, with pitiful results. This makes some doubt if it is worth giving it priority. But this is not a sound argument either as students still need to study things that matter more to their future in spite of challenges learning English presents to them.
Improvements in Chinese language education should not be achieved by sacrificing another important subject. There should be a robust(健康的) foreign language education program, as a foreign language improves a student's future job prospects. Bashing(抨击) English education as a waste of time or using it as a goat for failures in Chinese education are both harmful tendencies.
To be constructive, we ought to start a dialogue on ways to make improvements in learning outcomes so that students' time learning English is spent more effectively. There are a few things that could improve English education, such as assessment design,learner motivation and teaching style,
I am sure there are many other areas where changes can greatly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of English learning. The public discourse at present is a little oversimplified. People are arguing for or against English having less weight in major tests, when the dialogue should be taken a step further, to the improvement of learning or teaching methods that may benefit the teaching of other subjects as well, Chinese included.In paragraph 3 Qian Zhongshu, Lu Xun and Lin Yutang are mentioned to _____.
A.show respect for their capabilities of learning languages |
B.prove English and Chinese are not contradictory |
C.confirm the importance of learning English in China |
D.tell the readers English Education is to blame |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is right?
A.The TV program Writing in Chinese is very popular at present. |
B.Good results of learning English are not worth so much time. |
C.Some are in favor of attaching less importance to English in exams. |
D.Sacrificing English can improve Chinese language education. |
In the writer’s opinion, what should be done to solve the argument?
A.Increasing time spent in learning Chinese. |
B.Increasing time spent in learning English. |
C.Reducing the weight of English in examinations. |
D.Improving the learning outcomes effectively. |
Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?
A.English education is still important in China. |
B.Chinese education is more important in China. |
C.English contributes to the failure in teaching Chinese |
D.Ways to make improvements in learning Chinese. |
London, April 28---The Man Group, a British hedge fund, is betting that investors will want to read more than the latest how-to- get –rich-quick business book.
In a five-year deal worth roughly $3.6 million announced last week, Man has agreed to sponsor(主办)the Booker Prize for Fiction, which will be renamed the Man Booker Prize. Since creating the award in 1969, Booker P.L.G., a British food group, in June 2000, executives began considering attracting outside sponsors. Man will be the first of these. Bill Grimsey, the chief of the Big Food Group, saw little business sense in a link between a food supplier and a literary prize, explained Dotti Irving, a spokeswoman for the Booker Prize foundation.
Such dissimilarities (差异) have not reduced Man’s enthusiasm for the prize which is expected to be open for the first time to American authors. David Browne, a spokesman for Man, said most of the firm’s investors are high-net-worth individuals who appreciate literature. “The people who buy hedge funds,” Mr. Browne said, “also read.”
Under the new agreement, authors will get more money. The winner of the annual prize, to be awarded in October, will receive $73,000 , up from $30,000 the Australian writer Peter Carey won last year for his novel “True History of the Kelley Gang.”
The six short-listed authors will each receive $3,600, up from $1,500. Having a hedge fund as a backer apparently has its perks.(福利).The article is mainly about ____.
A.the disagreement between two groups | B.the Booker Prize Foundation |
C.the Big Food Group | D.The new development of Booker Prize |
This article is most probably seen in a(n) ____.
A.best-selling book | B.magazine | C.newspaper | D.advertisement |
What can be inferred from the article?
A.Bill Grimsey decided to open the prize for American authors |
B.“How-to-get-rich-quick” business was written by Peter Carey. |
C.Under the agreement, the Booker Prize will be sponsored only by Man. |
D.If you win the prize, you will get $73,000 next October |
Who is the spokesman for Man?
A.David Browne | B.Peter Carey | C.Bill Grimsey | D.Dotti Irving |
When the TV viewer turns on his set, what sort of programs does he have to choose from? You might think there would be more programs devoted to entertainment than to anything else, but that’s not the case. In most countries, fewer than 20% of broadcasting hours are devoted to entertainment. U.S. figures are high----34.8% , and the unloving Canadians are even higher with 44%. Except Canada and Italy, all countries give more broadcasting time to education than to either information (news , documentaries and so on) or entertainment programs. Of course, few educational broadcasts take place during peak viewing times. In Japan though , more than 60%of broadcasting time is taken up with education of one kind of anther----just another example of the businesslike Japanese philosophy. In the U.K., the figure is 56.4% . the Italians have fewer educational programs than anyone else. They don’t go in for entertainment either. Only about ten percent of viewing time is devoted to dramas and serials, quiz shows, music, sports etc. You will find more news information programs on Italian TV than anything else. That’s understandable in a country experiencing social and political changes. Italians rely on TV to tell them what’s going on---and events are happening almost too fast to follow. The percentage of time the U.S. devoted to news and documentary programs is much smaller. After education, most TV time is given to entertainment. Many of these programs are shown around the world.Based on this passage, the greatest percentage of TV broadcasting hours to educational is in __.
A.Japan | B.Italy | C.Canada | D.the United States |
More news information programs are broadcast on Italian TV than anywhere else because the Italians ___.
A.are interested in what is happening in the world. |
B.Like to follow the changes that are going on in their social life |
C.Prefer to learn news information on TV rather than in newspapers |
D.Expect TV to tell them the latest news about what is going on in their country |
So far as the broadcasting hours devoted to entertainment , which of the following is true?
A.The Japanese figure is the highest in the world. |
B.The U.S. figure is smaller than the U. K. figure |
C.The U.K. figure is second to the Japanese figure |
D.The Canadian figure is higher than that of any other country. |
In the United States, ____.
A.TV programs are shown for world audience to watch |
B.Most of TV broadcasting hours are give to entertainment |
C.Educational programs are shown during peak viewing times |
D.TV broadcasting hours devoted to education are more than those devoted to entertainment |
A number of times Rosemary edged closer to Gordon , meaning to take his arm, but he edged away from her. She thought that she had offended him deeply, and that he was disappointed because she had pushed him away. She would have apologized if he had given her half a chance. But as a matter of fact, he was scarcely thinking of this any longer. It was the money business that was troubling him now. And the fact was that he would soon have to confess it. What nonsense it made of all he had said! Presently she stopped him, and swung him round to face her. “Gordon, why won’t you speak to me?” she said. “Are you still angry with me for what happened just now?”
“No, I was never angry with you. You’re not to blame. Something else has been worrying me all the way along, I’ve only eight pence left. I had just enough money for today when we started out, but that dinner bill upset everything. Can you lend me some money?’
Rosemary was amazed. “What does it matter if you’ve only eight pence left? How can you let yourself be worried by a thing like that? As though I objected to lending you money, aren’t I always telling you that I want to pay for myself when we go out together?’
“Yes, and you know how I hate you paying.”
“Oh, how silly you are.” She said. “Do you think there’s anything to be ashamed of in having no money?”
Gordon’s face went bright pink. “Of course there is ! It’s the only thing in the world there is to be ashamed of. I can’t be a complete human being—I don’t feel a human being –unless I’ve got money in my pocket.”What gave Rosemary the idea that she had hurt Gordon’s feelings deeply?
A.He didn’t say he was sorry. |
B.He pushed her away when she tried to take his arm. |
C.He didn’t say he was sorry. |
D.He wouldn’t let her touch him. |
Rosemary made him look at her because ______.
A.she wanted to ask him a question | B.she wanted to see his face |
C.she was angry with him | D.he had been rude |
Gordon felt that if he asked rosemary to lend him some money _____.
A.he would lose some of his self-respect | B.she would refuse to |
C.he would have to confess his loss | D.she would be angry |
It is clear that Gordon had not intended to _____.
A.tell her he had a little money left | B.accept any money from her |
C.blame her for making him angry | D.have such an expensive dinner |
Friedrich Dobl, a Yugoslav working in Germany, was fed up with traffic jams. At long weekends and holiday times when he wanted to get him quickly he always found himself behind hundreds of other cars moving slowly along the notorious foreign workers’ route through Germany and Austria.
How easy it all was for police and emergency services. A siren, a flashing light? And like magic everyone was out the way. Going home from work one night he passed a garage. And there in front of him was the answer to his problems. An old ambulance(救护车) was for sale. The red cross had been removed. But not the flashing light, and the siren. He tried the light. It flashed magnificently. He tried the siren. That too sounded impressive. He bought the ambulance and opened up for himself a dream world of motoring. It began early in the morning, all his luggage in the back of the ambulance and motorway in Germany looking reasonably clear. Soon, as always, a long line of traffic appeared ahead. He switched on the flashing light and set off the siren. Cars swiftly slowed and pulled off the fast lane. Other cars stopped and drivers waved him ahead to an open road all his own. In record time he crossed the border into Austria. The big bluff was working. Police even waved him through the confusion caused by an accident.
But then the Yugoslav made his big mistake. Until then he had only stopped for petrol. Now he was driving past a real accident, lights flashing , to late realize that it was not another traffic jam as he assumed. They stopped him, and after hearing the story of his ride across two countries fined him 12. 5 pounds.At long weekends and holidays Friedrich Dobl used to ____.
A.drive home in Germany |
B.get caught in terrible traffic jams |
C.meet other foreign workers |
D.get to the place where he worked by a special quick route |
Why did he decide to buy the ambulance?
A.because he had always wanted one |
B.because he wanted to resell it at a higher price |
C.because he liked the siren and the flashing light |
D.because he knew that other traffic would get clear of the way for an ambulance. |
The red cross had been removed ____.
A.but he soon put up a new one |
B.because the vehicle did not look like an ambulance any more |
C.so he asked the garage to paint another one on |
D.but the siren and the flashing light still worked |
Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A.How to Drive quickly | B.How to Avoid accidents |
C.A quick Way Home? By An Ambulance | D.A Safe way Home? Non-Stop |
Sherwood Forest Farm Park
Lamb Pens Farm
Edwinstowe, Mansfield
Tel: 01623 823558
www. Sherwoodforestfarmpark. Co. uk
Lovely traditional breeds of farm animals, horses, wallabies, fallow deer, water buffalo and Kune pigs are waiting to greet everyone. Play areas, pets’ corner, bird garden, a tearoom and a gift shop make this the ideal venue for the whole family.
Open daily 3rd April ---17th October 10. 30 am---5. 15 pm.
Just off A6075 between Edwinstowe and Mansfield Woodhouse
Admission: Adult: £5.00, Child: £ 3.50
Under 3 FREE
(All children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult)
Family Ticket 2 Adult +2 Children £ 15.00
Season Tickets Adult £18.00 Child £12.00
Visit as many as you like during the season
Excellent reductions for pre-booked groups/schoolWhen you are in the park, you can not ____.
A.watch fallow deer, horses, buffalos and pigs |
B.hear birds’ singing |
C.buy all kinds of presents for your friends |
D.see amusing movies you like |
Which of the following statements is true according to the ad?
A.If a tourist wants to learn something about the park, he can go on the internet. |
B.If you have season tickets, you can visit the park at any time. |
C.You’ll be able to enter the park before 10.00 |
D.A child under 6 must not enter the park. |
A family of four----father, mother and two children who are seven and two, will visit the park, how much will they pay?
A.£15.00 | B.£13.50 | C.£8.50 | D.£17.00 |
If you want to go there with your classmates and book the tickets ahead of time, _____.
A.you will get free tickets | B.you will be charged much less |
C.two tickets will be free | D.the ticket price is as usual |