C
chemistrynerd![]() |
US High School Teacher |
As a science teacher, I also want to incorporate literacy(读写能力) and reading into science. I thought it would be cool to have something called “Article Fridays” (or monthly, and maybe a more creative name) where students read articles and summarize them on different chemistry topics that they find interesting. I’d have a couple students each time share what they found, and they’d all hand them in. I work on a block schedule(模块教学计划) so I’m not sure exactly how this would work. Does anyone have creative ideas on how to get kids thinking of science that’s in the ‘real world’? I’d probably do this with my Honors or AP classes.
![]() |
Caesar753 |
I like the idea, but not for just Honors/AP. I think that all students can work on improving their literacy. Besides, this is a good way to connect your content to current events. You’ll need to find high-interest articles that grab their attention and keep it. I’m not sure that I would devote an entire block to this activity because it might get boring even with high-interest articles.
![]() |
Myrisophilist![]() |
|
I’m really into literacy and science as well, so PM me about it anytime!
Do your students have Internet access in the classroom? If so, that opens up a world of resources. I put a ton of resources seeds on my website that relate to each class I teach. The New York Times Learning Blog has so many ideas on incorporating news into every subject. I highly recommend spending some time going through their resources. Here are a few I’ve bookmarked:
12 Ways to Learn Vocabulary with The New York Times
Great Ways to Teach Any Day’s Times
Teaching TopicsChemistrynerd is worried that ________.
A.his students show no interest in his class |
B.his students pay no attention to reading or writing |
C.what his students learn is too difficult to understand |
D.what his students need is not only science knowledge |
What can Caesar753 most possibly be?
A.A college student | B.A college principal |
C.A high school teacher | D.A high school student |
According to Myrisophilist, the underlined letters “PM” means ________.
A.Private Message | B.Pardon Me |
C.Password Maybe | D.Afternoon |
Myrisophilist’s teaching ways couldn’t be useful without ________.
A.newspapers | B.the Internet |
C.block schedules | D.other teachers’ help |
D
While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had an experience which occurred merely two feet away from me.
Trying to locate my friend among the passengers coming through the jet way, I noticed a man walking toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.
First he kissed his three children one by one and said, “It’s nice to see you. I missed you so much!” Then he hugged his wife, “I’ve saved the best for last!” giving her the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. They stared at each other’s eyes, smiling at one another, while holding both hands. For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds(新婚夫妇), but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn’t possibly be.
Full of admiration, I asked, “Wow! How long have you two been married?” “Being together for fourteen years total, married twelve of those.” He replied, without breaking his gaze from his lovely wife’s face. “Well, then, how long have you been away?” I asked. “Two whole days!” “Two days?” I was astonished. By the intensity (热烈) of the greeting, I had assumed he’d been gone for at least several weeks --- if not months. I knew my expression betrayed me, so I turned away my eyes and said quietly, “I hope my marriage is still that passionate after so long!”
The man suddenly stopped smiling and looked me straight in the eye. With forcefulness he told me something that left me a different person. “Don’t hope, friend…decide!” Then he smiled again, shook my hand and said, “God bless!”
With that, he and his family turned and walked away together.
I was still watching that man and his special family walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me and asked, “What are you looking at?” Without hesitation, and with a curious sense of certainty, I replied, “My future!”
74. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The man replied to the author, with his eyes still fixed on his wife’s face.
B. After being away for several weeks, the man missed his family very much.
C. It was fourteen years since the couple had got married.
D. Their three kids reminded the author of newlyweds.
75. By saying “my expression betrayed me” (in Paragraph 4), the author means that _________.
A. he failed to express his ideas to the man
B. the man sensed his real feelings from his expression
C. he didn’t believe in his expression any more
D. his expression was not faithful to him
76. From the passage, we can infer that __________.
A. the experience may be easily forgotten by the author
B. the author will live a passionate life from now on
C. the author will be away from his family and hug them passionately upon his return
D. Americans prefer to save the best for last
C
"Reduce, reuse and recycle, this familiar environmentalist slogan tells us how to reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfills and waterways.
The concept is being used to deal with one possibly dangerous form of waste –--- electronic junk (电子垃圾), such as old computers, cell-phones, and televisions. But this process for managing e-waste may be used in an unscrupulous(不择手段的) way more often than not used, a recent report suggests.
“A lot of these materials are being sent to developing nations under the excuse of reuse –--- to bridge the digital divide,” said Richard Gutierrez, a policy researcher.
One of the problems is that no one proves whether these old machines work before they hit the seaways. Because of this, the report says, e-waste is a growing problem in Lagos, Nigeria, and elsewhere in the developing world. Much of the waste ends up being thrown away along rivers and roads. Often it’s picked apart by poor people, who may face dangerous exposure to poisonous chemicals in the equipment.
Businessmen also pay workers a little money to get back materials such as gold and copper. This low-tech recovery process could expose workers and the local environment to many dangerous materials used to build electronics. According to Gutierrez, this shadow economy exists because the excuse of recycling and reusing electronics gives businessmen “a green passport” to ship waste around the globe. “Developing nations must take upon some of the responsibility themselves,” Gutierrez said. But, he added, “A greater portion of this responsibility should fall on the exporting state.”
China, for example, has become a dumping(倾倒,堆放) place for large amounts of e-waste. The nation is beginning to take action to stop the flow of dangerous materials across its borders. The Chinese government, after many years of denial(否认), is finally beginning to take the lead.
70.What does the fourth paragraph mainly discuss?
A. Old computers and TVs still work before they are sent abroad.
B. Poor people break up e-waste to collect some valuable materials.
C. A lot of e-waste is dumped in developing countries.
D. The problem of e-waste is growing in developing countries.
71.From what Gutierrez said we can learn that ________.
A. exporting countries should mainly be responsible for this problem.
B. neither rich nor poor countries should be blamed for this problem
C. developing countries should be responsible for this problem
D. poor countries should be blamed for this problem
72.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that _______.
A. China has hidden a large amount of e-waste in many secret places
B. China has greatly changed the idea about the problem of e-waste
C. China has prevented poisonous materials from entering China for a long time
D. China is falling behind other countries in dealing with e-waste
73.The passage mainly tells us that _______.
A. developing countries are facing serious environmental problems
B. e-waste is a growing problem in developed countries
C. e-waste is sent to developing countries under the excuse of reuse
D. developing countries are making full use of e-waste
B
British science-fiction writer Sir Arthur Charles Clarke has been buried in his adopted country of Sri Lanka.
Music from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey was played at the funeral and members of the family cried as his coffin was lowered.
"Here lies Arthur Charles Clarke. He never grew up and did not stop growing, his gravestone in Colombo is to read, in accordance with the author' s wishes.
Sir Arthur died from heart failure and breathing problems at the age of 90.
A nationwide one-minute silence was ordered by the Sri Lankan government to coincide with the ceremony.
Sir Arthur' s brother, Fred Clarke, attended the funeral along with members of the Ekanayake family, with whom the writer had lived in recent years.
Fred Clarke said his elder brother had always loved the warm climate and the friendly people of Sir Lanka.
"He said he had managed to escape 40 British winters and had no regrets," Mr. Clarke told AFP news agency.
Tamara Ekanayake, who grew up at Sir Arthur' s home in Colombo, paid tribute to him, "We feel so proud that you left your mark on us. Your footprint will never fade (褪去).”
Before the funeral, yellow roses were thrown on to Sir Arthur' s body as a final gesture of respect as it lay on a white bed beneath curved elephant tusks.
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 1917-19 March 2008) was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for the novel 2001: A Spare Odyssey, which led to the film of the same name.
Clarke served in the Royal Air Force as a radar instructor and technician from 1941-1946, proposed satellite communication systems in 1945 which won him a nomination ( 提名) in 1994 for a Nobel Prize, and 1999 for literature, and became the chairman of the British Interplanetary Society from 1947-1950 and again in 1953.
Clarke moved to Sri Lanka in 1956 largely to pursue his interest in scuba diving, and lived there until his death.
66.What do you think the underlined phrase "paid tribute to' in paragraph 9 means?
A. Paid money to. B. Paid attention to.
C. Spoke highly of D. Expressed one' s thanks to.
67. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Charles Clarke suffered from breathing problems.
B. Charles Clarke made the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
C. Charles Clarke had served in the Royal Air Force for about 5 years.
D. Charles Clarke won a nomination for a Nobel Prize in 1994.
68.Where do you think the passage is most probably from?
A. A science fiction. B. A fashion magazine.
C. A news website. D. A students' textbook.
69. Which of the following is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To introduce Charles Clarke' s interest.
B. To inform readers about the danger of heart failure.
C. To introduce the books by Charles Clarke.
D. To inform readers of Charles Clarke' s funeral.
第三部分:阅读理解(满分40分,共20小题,每小题2分)
A
Britain almost more than any other country in the world must seriously face the problem of building upwards, that is to say, of accommodating a considerable proportion of its population in high-rise blocks of flats. It is said that an Englishman objects to this type of existence, but if this is so, he differs from most inhabitants of the world today.
In the past, blocks of flats have been associated with the lower income groups, and many of them lacked the obvious provisions, such as central heating, constant hot water supply, electrically operated lifts, and so on. Some even didn’t have facilities for disposal of dust and rubbish or storage places for baby carriages on the ground floor. Many lacked playgrounds for children on the top of their buildings, and drying grounds for washing. It is likely that the dispute regarding flats versus (对抗) individual houses will continue to rage on for a long time as far as Britain is concerned. And it is unfortunate that there should be hot feelings on both sides whenever this subject is raised. Those who oppose the building of flats base their cases primarily on the assumption (设想) that everyone prefers an individual home and garden and on the high cost per unit of accommodation. They, however, ignore the higher cost of providing full services to a scattered community and the cost in both money and time commuting to work for the suburban resident.
61. It can be inferred from the passage that ____.
A. unlike most people in other countries, English people dislike living in flats
B. people in most countries of the world today like living in the suburbs
C. people in Britain are eager to move into high-rise blocks of flats
D. modern flats in Britain fail to provide the necessary facilities for living
62. What can we learn about the blocks of flats built in the past from the passage?
A. They were conveniently located.
B. The people who lived there were not rich.
C. They were usually not large enough for big families to live in.
D. The children who lived in them could play on the top of the buildings.
63. Some people don’t like living in flats because ____.
A. they must pay much money
B. they prefer to live in a house with a garden
C. there is no central heating and constant hot water supply
D. the disposal of rubbish is a problem for people living in flats
64. Some people don’t like living in suburban houses because ____.
A. the houses are not large enough
B. people who live in the suburbs must pay much money for the service work
C. people who live in the suburbs have to spend a lot of money and time traveling to work every day
D. it can be difficult for them to do some shopping and to get along well with their neighbors
65. This passage is mainly about __________.
A. living in high-rise blocks of flats
B. living in the suburbs
C. the difference in living in a flat in Britain and living in a flat in other countries
D. the attitude of British people towards living in flats
C
There is a place where Christmas lives all year long. It is called Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The family-owned business calls itself the world’s largest Christmas store. The late Wally Bronner started the business in 1945.
Wayne Bronner, Wally’s son, is president and CEO of what is now a multi-million dollar corporation. He learned the business from an early age. Some of his best memories are traveling to other countries with his father to find new products for the store.
Bronner’s sells more than fifty thousand holiday products from seventy nations. Half of the products cost less than ten dollars. Wayne Bronner says demand for small objects to hang on Christmas trees has expanded over the years. People spend more time, effort and money into decorating their homes with these ornaments(装饰品), lights and religious scenes. Bronner’s is famous for its nativity scenes which show the birth of Jesus Christ.
Michigan has the nation’s highest unemployment rate. Bronner’s has been affected by the financial crisis, too. But not in reduced sales.
Wayne Bronner said, “Even though people are spending less, we’re having more people visit here. And as a result we’ve actually had a sales increase.” Bronner’s success is also linked to community co-operation and investment. Frankenmuth is a town of five thousand people in eastern Michigan’s farm country. The town was settled by Bavarian Germans in the 1800s. It has kept its traditions alive in buildings and restaurants.
Bavarian cultural themes and Bronner’s huge store bring three million visitors a year. The town is the most popular place for tourists in the state. Bronner’s business is aimed at a single day of the year. But that is not too different from other businesses.
“About half of our business is done in the last quarter of the year, in the last three months. And actually when you compare that with most retailers(零售商), that follows the same pattern.” Wayne Bronner says the family’s long-term planning and willingness to reinvest profits has grown the company into what it is today. Still, it does not hurt to build a business on a holiday which is celebrated worldwide. Currently, about only two percent of sales are overseas. But Wayne Bronner sees room for growth, especially through the Internet.
51. Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland is probably ______.
A. a private business B. a state-run business
C. the world’s largest store D. a nationalized corporation
52. Bronner’s mainly sells ______.
A. festival ornaments made by themselves
B. holiday products imported from foreign countries
C. festival ornaments during the summer and winter holidays
D. holiday products to tourists from foreign countries
53. We can learn from the passage that ________.
A. most of Bronner’s products are expensive
B. people are spending less money on small objects
C. Frankenmuth is a modern town popular with tourists
D. Wally Bronner, founder of Bronner’s, has passed away
54. In what way has the financial crisis affected Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland?
A. Many of its staff have lost their jobs.
B. Only two percent of sales are overseas.
C. The corporation has had an increased sale.
D. People are spending less in Bronner’s.
55. Bronner’s success lies in the following EXCEPT ________.
A. aiming its business at a single day of the year
B. community co-operation and investment
C. the family’s long-term planning
D. the willingness to reinvest profits