LONDON, Feb. 18，2014（Xinhua News agency）—Britain will send experts to East China's Shanghai to learn from the city's experience in maths teaching in an attempt to raise the teaching standards.
British Education Minister Elizabeth Truss is to lead a delegation of experts on a fact-finding mission to Shanghai's schools next week to see how children there have become the best in the world at maths, to get a first-hand look at maths classes and teaching methods there, and particularly to investigate why the performance of almost all children in Shanghai is high, regardless of gender or income.
Britain was last year placed 50th out of 148 countries and regions in the World Economic Forum's competitiveness ranking in quality of maths and science education. Two years ago, Shanghai topped the 2012 international PISA tables for maths, while England was ranked in 26th place. The top five were all in Southeast Asia, with 15-year-olds in Shanghai judged to be three years ahead of their peers in maths.
The education department said: "England's performance in maths has lagged behind while other countries have improved and overtaken us, including Poland and Germany." Actually, it is the latest step in the government's drive to raise standards in maths, looking at what has made schools in the far East the most successful in the world in teaching the subject.
"Shanghai is the top-performing part of the world for maths—their children are streets ahead. Shanghai and Singapore have teaching practices and a positive mind that make the difference. They have a belief that diligence makes up for lack of ability," Truss said. "Our new curriculum has borrowed from theirs because we know it works—early learning of key arithmetic, and a focus on times tables and long division（长除法）, for instance."
She was determined to change the situation as performance in maths is weakening the country's skills base and threatening the productivity and growth. The government is emphasizing maths because of the importance of good grades in the subject to young people competing for good jobs in a global labor market and to the economy more generally.
An education and skills survey released by the Confederation of British Industry last year showed that 30 percent of employers reported dissatisfaction with the standard of school and college leavers' numeracy. More than two-thirds of employers said they wanted both maths and science promoted more in schools.Why does the British government send a delegation of experts to Shanghai?
| A．To see how children from rich families have become the best at maths. |
| B．To investigate why the performance of almost all children in China is high. |
| C．To get a first-hand look at science classes and teaching methods there. |
| D．To raise the teaching standards in maths in Britain. |
Which of the following statements is true according to the two international competition results?
| A．British students performed better in 2013 than in 2012. |
| B．British students did better than the students from Poland in 2013. |
| C．The students from Singapore did better than the students from Germany. |
| D．The students from Germany did better than the students from Poland. |
What has made schools in Shanghai the most successful in teaching maths in the eye of Truss?
| A．Curriculum and teaching methods. |
| B．Teaching practices and a positive mind. |
| C．Early learning of key arithmetic and times tables. |
| D．A focus on times tables and long division. |
How will students’ poor performance in maths affect the country?
| A．By threatening the country's competitiveness of economy. |
| B．By weakening the country's political system. |
| C．By losing international competitions in education. |
| D．By failing to find jobs in a global labor market. |
What can we infer from the news?
| A．The students in Britain don’t work hard at Maths. |
| B．The students in shanghai are the smartest in the world. |
| C．The education of science in Britain is no better than that of maths. |
| D．Most British citizens are dissatisfied with teachers’ work. |
Who Owns the Moon?
Within the next ten years, the U. S., China, Israel, and a crowd of private companies plan to set up camp on the moon. So if and when they plant a flag, does that give them property rights?
A NASA working group hosted a discussion this week to ask: Who owns the moon? The answer, of course, is no use. The Outer Space Treaty, the international signed by more than 100 countries, states that the moon and other celestial bodies (天体) are the province of all mankind. No doubt that would annoy all of the people throughout the ages, like monks from the Middle Ages, who have tried to claim the moon was theirs.
But ownership is different from property rights. People who rent apartments, for example, don’t own where they live, but they still hold rights. So with all of the upcoming missions (派遣团) to visit the moon and beyond, space industry thought leaders are seriously asking themselves how to deal with a potential land rush.
“ This is a very relevant discussion right now. We’ve got this wave of new lunar missions from around the world,” said William Marshall, a scientist in the small-spacecraft office at NASA, but who spoke this week at an event hosted by NASA’s Co Lab, a collaborative(协力完成的) public-private working group. He was speaking from his personal interest and not on behalf of the agency.
To be sure, the United States aims to send astronauts back to the moon by as early as 2015, in a mission that would include a long-term settlement. China and Israel, among others, are also working on lunar projects. And for the first time, several private groups are building spacecraft to land on the moon in an attempt to win millions of dollars in the Google Lunar X Prize. Some participants say that they plan to gain some property rights in the mission.In the passage the writer seems to be worrying that ________.
| A．the US will live on the moon forever |
| B．the moon will not be able to hold all mankind |
| C．the potential land rush will become more and more frequent |
| D．no one can answer the question “ Who owns the moon?” |
“ The Google Lunar X Prize” aims to ________.
| A．encourage private groups to land on the moon |
| B．help NASA host a discussion about land rush on the moon |
| C．help some developing countries to complete their lunar projects |
| D．reward some countries or private groups which haven’t stepped on the moon |
The underlined word “ that” in the first paragraph refers to ________.
| A．the Outer Space Treaty |
| B．if and when they plant a flag |
| C．the NASA working group |
| D．monks from the Middle Ages |
What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
| A．The U. S. astronauts will live on the moon for longer time. |
| B．Many countries and private groups plan to go to the moon. |
| C．Why some private groups wish to land on the moon. |
| D．It is easy to gain some property rights on the moon. |
We can infer from the passage that ________.
| A．it’s a waste of time to work on the lunar project |
| B．“ The Outer Space Treaty” forbids private groups to land on the moon |
| C．all mankind has the right to land on the moon |
| D．whenever you come to the moon, you’ll get some property rights on it |
There are some very good things about open education. This way of teaching allows the students to grow as people, and to develop their own interests in many subjects. Open education allows students to be responsible for their own education, as they are responsible for what they do in life. Some students do badly in traditional classrooms. The open classroom may allow them to enjoy learning. Some students will be happier in an open education school. They will not have to worry about grades or rules. For students who worry about these things a lot, it is a good idea to be in an open classroom．
But many students will not do well in an open classroom. For some students, there are too few rules．These students will do little in school. They will not make good use of open education．Because open education is so different from traditional education, these students may have a problem of getting used to making so many choices．For many students it is important to have some rules in the classroom．They worry about the rules even when there are no rules．Even a few rules will help this kind of students．The last point about open education is that some traditional teachers do not like it. Many teachers do not believe in open education．Teachers who want to have an open classroom may have many problems at their school．
You now know what open education is. Some of its good points and bad points have been explained．You may have your own opinion about open education．The writer thinks that open education is a good idea, but only in theory．In actual fact, it may not work very well in a real class or school. The writer believes that most students, but of course not all students want some structure in their classes．They want and need to have rules．In some cases, they must be made to study some subjects．Many students are pleased to find subjects they have to study interesting. They would not study those subjects if they did not have to．According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the reason why some students like open education?
| A．The open classroom may allow them to enjoy learning． |
| B．Open education allows students to be responsible for their own future. |
| C．Open education allows the students to develop their own interests. |
| D．Open education has fewer rules. |
From the passage we can learn that___________.
| A．the writer believes that all students don’t want some structure in their classes |
| B．the writer believes that all students want some structure in their classes |
| C．nearly all teachers like open education |
| D．only the students that worry about rules or grades a lot like to be in an open classroom |
Some students will do little in an open classroom because __________．
| A．there are too few rules |
| B．they hate activities |
| C．open education is similar to traditional education |
| D．they worry about the rules |
Which is NOT mentioned according to the passage given?
| A．Some advantages about open education. |
| B．Some disadvantages about open education. |
| C．Some students’ feelings in an open education school. |
| D．The writer’s opinion about open education is the same as all the students’. |
Which of the following can best summarize the passage?
| A．Many students like open education． |
| B．Open education is better than traditional education． |
| C．Open education is a really complicated (复杂的) idea. |
| D．Open education is a good idea in practice． |
Riding School:
You can start horse - riding at any age．Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9:00 a．m．and 8: 30 p．m．（3: 30 p.m．on Saturdays）．There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country．You will need a riding hat．
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m．
Phone: （412） 396 -6754 Fax: （412） 396 -6752 ．
Sailing Club:
Our Young Sailor’s Course leads to the Stage I Sailing qualification．You’ll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid．Have fun with other course members, afterwards in the clubroom．There are 10 weekly two - hour lessons （ Tuesdays 6 p.m．-- 8 p.m．）．
Opening Hours: Tuesdays: 6:00 p.m．--8:00 p.m．
Phone: （412） 396 -6644 Fax: （412） 396 -6644
Diving Centre:
Our experienced instructors offer one - month courses in deep - sea diving for beginners．There are two evening lessons a week, in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely．You only need swimming costume and towel． Reduced rates for couples．
Opening Hours: Monday and Friday: 6: 30 p.m．--8:30 p.m．
Phone: （412） 396 -6312 Fax: （412） 396 -6706
Medical Center:
The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems．Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores．
Opening Hours: 24 hour from Monday to Sunday
Phone: （412） 396 -6649 Fax:（412）396 -6648
Watersports Club:
We use a two - kilometer length of river for speedboat racing, and water - skiing, a beginners course consists of ten 20 - minute lessons． You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4: 00 p.m., with lessons all through the day．
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m．
Phone:（412）396 -6899 Fax:（412）396 -6890If you want to swim and enjoy activities which are fast and a bit dangerous, you should join _．
| A．Watersports Club | B．Medical Centre |
| C．Sailing Club | D．Riding School |
If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings, you may fax．
| A．(412）396 - 6648 | B．(412）396 - 6706 |
| C．(412）396 - 6752 | D．(412）396 - 6876 |
If you are planning to explore the ocean depths, you should attend your lessons at _______．
| A．24 hour from Monday to Sunday |
| B．Monday through Friday : 7:00 a.m．-10:00 p.m． |
| C．Tuesdays: 6:00 p.m．- 8:00 p.m． |
| D．Monday and Friday: 6: 30 p.m．- 8: 30 p.m． |
You want to do an activity one evening a week and get a certificate in the end, you can go to ___．
| A．Watersports Club． | B．Diving Center |
| C．Sailing Club | D．Riding School |
Which is NOT the convenience that the Medical Center provides?
| A．Good equipment． |
| B．Well trained staff members． |
| C．Various less expensive medicines． |
| D．Nursery for newly - born babies． |
“In only six days I lost seven pounds of weight.”
“Two full inches in the first three days！”
These are the kinds of statements used in magazine，newspaper，radio and television ads，promising new shapes and new looks to those who buy the medicine or the device. The promoters of products say they can shape the legs，slim the face，smooth wrinkles，or in some other way to add to beauty or desirability.
Often such products are nothing more than moneymaking things for their promoters. The results they produce are questionable，and some are dangerous to health.
To understand how these products can be legally promoted to the public，it is necessary to understand something of the laws covering their regulation. If the product is a drug，FDA(Food and Drug Administration)can require proof under the Food，Drug，and Cosmetic Act that is safe and effective before it is put on the market. But if the product is a device，FDA has no authority to require premarketing proof of safety or effectiveness. If a product already on the market is a danger to health，FDA can request the producer or distributor to remove it from the market voluntarily， or it can take legal action，including seizure(查封)of the product.
One notable case a few years ago involved an electrical device called the Relaxacisor，which had been sold for reducing the waistline (腰围). The Relaxacisor produced electrical shocks to the body through contact pads. FDA took legal action against the distributor to stop the sale of the device on the grounds that it was dangerous to health and life.
Obviously，most of the devices on the market have never been the subject of court proceedings(法律诉讼)，and new devices appear continually. Before buying，it is up to the consumer to judge the safety or effectiveness of such items.It can be inferred that the ads mentioned in the text are________.
| A．objective | B．costly | C．unreliable | D．illegal |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A．The court is in charge of removing dangerous products.
B．New products are more likely to be questionable.
C．The production of a device must be approved by FDA.
D．The promoters usually just care about profits.FDA can ask for the proof of safety and effectiveness of a product________.
| A．if it is a drug |
| B．if it is a device |
| C．if its consumers make complaints |
| D．if its distributors challenge FDA's authority |
The Relaxacisor is mentioned as________.
| A．a product which was designed to produce electricity |
| B．a product whose distributor was involved in a legal case |
| C．a successful advertisement of a beauty product |
| D．an example of a quality beauty product |
The author intends to________.
| A．make consumers aware of the promoters' false promises |
| B．show the weakness of the law on product safety |
| C．give advice on how to keep young and beautiful |
| D．introduce the organization of FDA |
I came to study in the United States a year ago .Yet I did not know the real American society until I was injured in a car accident because after the accident I had to see a doctor and go to court.
After the accident, my roommate called a doctor for me. I was very grateful and determined to repay him one day. But the next day, he asked me to pay him $200 for what he had done. I was astonished. He had good reason to charge me, he said. And if I wanted to collect money from the person who was responsible for my injury, I’d have to have a good lawyer. And only a good doctor can help me get a good lawyer .Now that he had helped me find a good doctor, it was only fair that I should pay him.
But every day I went to see the doctor, I had to wait about 50 minutes. He would see two or three patients at the same time, and often stop treating one so as to see another. Yet he charged me $115 each time .The final examination report consisted of ten lines, and it cost me $215.
My lawyer was all smiles the first time we met. But after that he avoided seeing me at all. He knew very well the other party was responsible for the accident, yet he hardly did anything. He simply waited to collect his money. He was so irresponsible that I decided to dismiss him. And he made me pay him $770.
Now I had to act as my own lawyer. Due to my inexperience, I told the insurance company the date I was leaving America. Knowing that, they played for time…and I left without getting a cent.The author’s roommate offered to help him because________.
| A．he felt sorry for the author |
| B．he thought it was a chance to make some money |
| C．he knew the doctor was a very good one |
| D．he wanted the author to have a good lawyer |
The word “charge” in the third paragraph means_________ .
| A．ask as a price | B．accuse |
| C．be responsible | D．claim |
Both the doctor and the lawyer in this passage are very__________.
| A．friendly | B．busy | C．professional | D．selfish |
What conclusion can you draw from the story?
| A．Going to court is something very common in America. |
| B．One must be very careful while driving a car. |
| C．There are more bad sides in America than good sides. |
| D．Money is more important than other things in the US. |