Asia tops the OECD solving skills test
QUESTION: Can you quickly learn to set a thermostat（温度调节器）?
Don’t look down upon such a task. It shows your ability to solve problems in creative ways, said the OECD（经合组织）. The OECD recently gave a problem-solving test to 85,000 students. They were all 15 years old, and from 44 countries.
The test give each student four to eight everyday problems to solve. For example, they had to set a thermostat, and find the quickest way to a place. Students from Singapore and South Korea did the best job, said the OECD. They were quick learners, curious（好奇的）and able to solve problems that they were not familiar with. Students from Japan and China were also among the top-performing groups. They did a better job than those from countries like the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and France.
Problem-solving skills are important, said the OECD. “Today’s 15-year-olds with poor problem-solving will become tomorrow’s adults struggling（努力）to find or keep a good job,” said Andreas, acting director of Education and Skills at the OECD. ”The world economy（经济）no longer pays you for what you know. Google knows everything .The world economy pays you for what you can do with what you know,” he said. The students from _______ performed best in the test.
| A．the US and Canada | B．the UK and the US |
| C．South Korea and Singapore | D．Australia and Canada |
Why does the OECD test the students?
| A．They want to make more money. |
| B．They want the students to help them solve the problems. |
| C．They want to help the students to solve the problems in creative ways. |
| D．They think the US students are the best at the test. |
What does the underlined word “top-performing” mean in the test?
| A．do familiar things in the test |
| B．perform the best in the test |
| C．do something carefully |
| D．develop their ability |
Why are problem-solving skills important?
| A．Because the world economy will pay you for what you know. |
| B．Because Google knows everything. |
| C．Because poor problem-solving skills will become tomorrow’s ability. |
| D．Because problem-solving skills will help you keep a good job in the future. |
When kids at Archisha Singh’s school in Loudoun County have a birthday, no parents buy them birthday cakes.
Some schools are worried that children might become fat or eat unhealthy food, so they have banned(禁止) cupcakes altogether.
What do kids do? Birthday kids can donate a book. The headmaster of their school will then read it to their class. The headmaster also hands out birthday certificates(证书), special pencils, and makes sure the kids’ names are read out in the school’s morning news.
Parents can send stickers(贴纸), pencils and other things to students. None of the things can be food. If a child donates jump ropes or other sports equipment, that child may get his or her name on a certificate. It will then be displayed at school.
Archisha really misses cupcakes, especially those her mother used to make for her kindergarten class, but her school’s way is fun, too. “I like both ways,” she said.
The headmaster says it’s important that the school should be not only teaching, but offering healthy choices to kids. “There is a better life without cupcakes. If you eat a cupcake, then it’s gone in two seconds, but a book lasts a lifetime. The sports equipment lasts, and the kids can use it day after day.”Some schools have banned cupcakes because ________.
| A．they don’t like them |
| B．they are not delicious |
| C．they are unhealthy food |
| D．they are too expensive |
What do birthday kids do?
| A．They can borrow a book. |
| B．They get birthday certificates. |
| C．They get special pens. |
| D．They eat birthday cakes. |
Which can not be sent to students?
| A．Stickers. | B．Sweets. | C．Pencils. | D．Books. |
The headmaster thinks the school should ________.
| A．offer healthy choices to kids |
| B．offer a better life to kids |
| C．teach students how to be healthy |
| D．give kids sports equipment |
Mr. Johnson worked in a hospital. Three years ago, when he was sixty-eight, he retired. But a lot of people come to ask him to look them over. He’s very busy in the daytime and he wants to have a good rest at night.
Half a year ago a young man moved in the room upstairs. At first he was quiet. The old man was satisfied with him. But now he has several friends. They often came to see him in the evening. They talked loudly, sang and danced. Mr Johnson was unhappy, but he didn’t say anything.
It was the young man’s birthday yesterday. All his friends came at seven in the evening. They drank too much and made a lot of noise. The old man couldn’t fall asleep the whole night. This morning, as soon as he got up, he went upstairs and began to knock at the door. The young man opened for him and asked him to come in.
“Did you hear me beat the ceiling(天花板) last night, young man?” asked Mr Johnson.
“It doesn’t matter, sir,” said the young man, “ I don’t mind it. It was very noisy in my room, too.”Mr Johnson is a ________.
| A．teacher | B．policeman | C．doctor | D．gatekeeper |
A lot of people come to ask Mr Johnson to look them over because ________.
| A．he’s kind to them | B．he’s very polite |
| C．they don’t pay him for it | D．his medical skill is good |
Mr Johnson was ________ last night.
| A．angry | B．happy | C．sad | D．strange |
Which of the following is true?
| A．The young man thought Mr Johnson came to say sorry to him. |
| B．Mr Johnson wanted to drink with the young man. |
| C．Mr Johnson hoped the young man to move in another house. |
| D．The young man was afraid to meet Mr Johnson. |
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Where is the hotel?
| A．In Minzu. |
| B．In Beijing. |
| C．Near a restaurant. |
| D．Between the railway station and the airport. |
The hotel is the nearest to ________.
| A．Tian’anmen Square |
| B．Beijing Railway Station |
| C．Xidan Business Center |
| D．Beijing International Airport |
Why is it a best home for visitors?
| A．It is near a shopping center. |
| B．It is not so expensive. |
| C．It is easy to go out from. |
| D．All the above. |
根据短文内容，选择正确答案
Boys and girls, here I will tell you something about my first trip to the USA.
When I get to Kennedy Airport, I begin my visit to the USA. First, I go to Roy Senior high School. I’m happy on the first night in America because I live with a kind family, the Edwards. It’s a big family. They are very friendly to me. They help me do many things. When I want to write to my friends, they buy stamps for me; when I lose my camera, they help me buy a new one.
After some days, I go to another school in New Haven. I live in the Palumbos’ house. There are three people in the family. I’m surprised that the parents are from two countries.
It is a nice trip and I’m happy to be with the two families. They will be my friends for ever(永远).Where does the writer live for the first night?
| A．In Roy Senior High School. |
| B．In the Edwards’ house. |
| C．In another school in New Haven. |
| D．In the Palumbos’ house. |
文中划线单词 “stamps”的中文意思是 “_________”。
| A．书籍 | B．邮箱 | C．邮票 | D．杂志 |
How many school does the writer go to?
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
Why is the writer surprised when he gets to the Palumbos’ house?
| A．Because there are only three people in the family. |
| B．Because the family are not very helpful to him. |
| C．Because the parents of the family are from two countries. |
| D．Because the family is too big. |
What’s the best title(标题) of the passage?
| A．American schools |
| B．American families |
| C．My first trip to America |
| D．My best friend in America |
根据短文内容，选择正确答案
In our city, there is a big zoo. There are a lot of different animals in it. There are some scary(吓人的) tigers and lions. They like eating meat and they eat much meat every day.
There are also two big elephants and a baby(幼崽) one. Children like to ride one of them. The elephants are very kind and friendly. They eat much grass and bananas.
In the zoo, we can see different kinds of bears(熊): brown bears, black bears and white bears. They are all shy and clumsy(笨拙的). They stand on their back legs and lift their front legs to ask for food They like cakes very much.
Do you like pandas? There’s only one in the zoo. Her name is Lingling. She is very cute. She likes eating bamboos a lot. She is kind of shy, She’s very interesting and lovely.__What do tigers and lions like eating?
__They like eating ________.
| A．fruit | B．meat | C．vegetables | D．rice |
__How many elephants are there in the zoo?
__There are ________.
| A．one | B．two | C．three | D．four |
__What color are the bears in the zoo?
__They are ________.
| A．black | B．brown | C．white | D．A, B and C |
Bears stand on their ________ legs and lift their ________ legs to ask for food.
| A．front; back | B．back; back | C．front; front | D．back; front |
Which one of the following is NOT right?
| A．Children like to ride the elephants in the zoo. |
| B．The elephants are very friendly to people. |
| C．The bears always ask for food with their back legs. |
| D．Elephants like bananas very much. |