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. |
【浙江省宁波市2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解
Dear Boarding Students，
At this time of school year，we can feel some students begin to experience excitement as the summer
vacation comes. But some others still don't want to start packing. I once again ask for your attention as we
will have summer camps for the new students. There is much work to be done in packing and cleaning-up，especially during exam week.
Each student will get a task list and each task has a deadline（期限）．The dorm（寝室）teachers will work with each student each night to make sure you are getting the tasks done on time. It would be helpful if your parents encourage you to do a little packing and cleaning from now on. It means you can take the posters off the wall，pack up winter clothes，return all borrowed books to the library，etc. Spending twenty minutes a day on your tasks will make the last week of the term very easy，and you can spend more time on the important preparation for exams. If you plan to travel home，I'd like to remind you to take some of your belongings with you.
The coming weekend is a“closed weekend”．During that time no one is allowed to leave school. After packing we need to prepare the dorms for moving out，and store（储藏）students' large belongings.
The last exam is on Thursday and all students leave after their exam. The dorm will remain open until 5 p. m. on Friday for those students that could not get a ride or flight. Please let us know if you need transportation to the airport.
Thank you again for all your attention during the last，busy month of school. As always，you，welcome to call or email me with any questions.
Peter Margio
Director of Campus Life
453-757-2630
pmargioC baylinschool. comThis email is from Director of Campus Life to .
| A．dorm teachers |
| B．boarding students |
| C．parents and students· |
| D．parents of boarding students |
Which of the following is the best for the blank（空白处）in Paragraph 2?
| A．It's better to break the huge task into smaller parts. |
| B．It's better to take the posters off the wall. |
| C．It's better to invite parents to pack up winter clothes． |
| D．It's better to return all borrowed books to the library. |
The underlined word“belongings”in Paragraph 2 means“ ”in Chinese.
| A．体育器材 | B．生活手册 | C．随身物品 | D．交通工具 |
Boarding students should_______ according to the passage.
| A．remember to store their small backpacks |
| B．go shopping with their parents |
| C．leave school during the “closed weekend” |
| D．all leave after their exam on Thursday |
【浙江省宁波市2015年中考英语试题】阅读下列材料，然后从A,B,C,D四个选项中选出能回答所提问题或完成所给句子的最佳选项。
The flight was tiring,but here I am at last,in Sydney!look!Here we are at last!The Sydney Opera House!It looks like shells!It’s wonderful and amazing!And I’m taking the plane to New Zealand on Tuesday.I’ll post again from there.
Paris is beautiful!We went on a great city tour.We also took a boat ride on the River Seine.And it’s nicer to just sit at a street cafe and watch the world go by.But to tell you a secret.Frank’s disappointed because no one can understand his French!
We’re staying at a farm in Utah.There is nearly nothing!It’s too quiet.Every morning,we get up really early,and we ride the horses.Then it’s breakfast and more riding—not my idea of fun!So,today I walked to a little town near the farm where they actually have Internet!Next week,we’re shopping in New York.I can’t wait!Where is Jessy writing from?
| A．Sydney. | B．New Zealand. | C．Paris. | D．Utah. |
What did Donna and Frank do during their travelling?
| A．They visited museums. |
| B．They took a boat ride． |
| C．They sat at a street park. |
| D．They watched movies in the cinema. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to Anna's Moments（朋友圈）？
| A．It is too noisy around the farm. |
| B．Her idea of fun is horse riding. |
| C．She is going to London next week． |
| D．She cannot use Internet at the farm. |
【天津市2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解
In northern Scotland there is a long, deep lake called Loch Ness. More than 200 meters deep, it is the largest lake in the UK. People say a big monster（怪兽）lives in its dark, cold waters. It weighs more than 1,000 kilos and is at least ten meters long. Some people say it has a head like a horse. Others say it looks like a snake. Many people travel to Loch Ness to look for this strange monster, but only a few people have seen it. At least, they say they have seen it.
The Loch Ness Monster is a famous legend（传说）. The first story about a monster in Loch Ness was told over 500 years ago, but the legend of the monster spread widely only in the twenties century. In 1933, a husband and wife reported that they saw a big monster in Loch Ness. Several people have taken photos, but at least one of them was a hoax（骗局）. During the 1960s, a team was formed to look for the monster. They took many photos and made movies, but they were never able to find a monster.
There is no real fact that a monster lives in Loch Ness, but there is also no fact that one doesn’t live. One thing is true about Loch Ness: there are a lot of tourists there.In northern _______ there is a long, deep lake called Loch Ness.
| A．Scotland | B．HongKong |
| C．Rome | D．Paris |
What do people say about the monster in Loch Ness?
| A．It weighs about 100 kilos. | B．It is one meter long. |
| C．It has a tail like a horse. | D．It looks like a snake. |
When was the first story about the monster told?
| A．200 years ago. | B．Over 500 years ago. |
| C．In 1933. | D．In 1960. |
Why was a team formed during the 1960s?
| A．To kill the monster. | B．To look for the monster. |
| C．To catch the monster. | D．To sell the monster. |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．People that saw a monster. | B．A trip to Loch Ness. |
| C．A legend about a monster. | D．A team that took photos. |
【内蒙古呼和浩特市2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解:
As we know, all living things have to eat food. For a man, a tiger, a fish, a bird, or even a worm, food is necessary. Generally speaking, all living things are sure to die without food. In every part of the world, many different kinds of animals share living places and live in communities (群落) together. They are connected in a food chain (链).
Within a food chain, some living things are producers and some are consumers (消费者). Plants are producers because they use sunlight, soil and other things to make their own food. Animals are consumers because they have to eat other animals or plants.
There are four different kinds of consumers in the animal kingdom. A carnivore is an animal that only eats other animals. An herbivore is an animal that only eats plants. An omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and animals. A scavenger is an animal that eats dead animals.
Look at the picture. It is an example of a food chain. The food chain shows the order that animals eat each other in a community. In the picture, you can see what animal or plant is food for another animal. See? A leaf is food for a grasshopper, which then becomes food for a hungry mouse. The mouse is food for a snake. The snake is eaten by an eagle. In this way, all of these animals are connected.
根据上文内容判断正 ( T ) 误( F )The main idea of the passage is “Four kinds of consumers”.
The underlined word “scavenger” means in Chinese “腐生动物”.
The food for a mouse according to the picture is a grasshopper.
All kinds of animals share their living places with others.
There are some living things which don’t need to eat food.
【内蒙古呼和浩特市2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解:
Close your eyes for a minute and imagine what life would be like if you couldn’t see. Imagine having to read this page, not with your eyes but with your fingers. How do you feel, then?
With medical knowledge and skills today, two-thirds of the world’s 42 million blind people should not have to suffer. Unluckily, rich countries have this knowledge, but developing countries do not.
ORBIS is an international charitable (慈善的) organization. Its goal is to help fight blindness all over the world. Inside a DC-8 airplane, there is a teaching hospital with television room and classroom. Doctors are taught the latest technology of helping the blind get sight again here. ORBIS is always trying to keep a closer relation among countries.
ORBIS helps those developing countries by providing sight-saving training. It has taught over 35,000 doctors and nurses. They continue to treat thousands of blind people every year. They have traveled around the earth 3 times, visited 76 countries and treated over 20,000 blind people. They need your help to continue their work and free people from blindness.
For just $ 38, you can help one person see; for $ 380 10 people can see; $ 1,300 helps train a doctor new skills; and for $ 13,000 you can provide a training program for a group of doctors who can make thousands of blind people see again. Your love can help them open their eyes to the world. How many blind people should not have to suffer with medical knowledge and skills today?
| A．14 million. | B．42 million. | C．28 million. | D．200 million. |
A lot of blind people in the world have to suffer because _____.
| A．ORBIS didn’t do its best to offer help |
| B．there is no good medical knowledge and skills |
| C．some countries can’t afford medical knowledge and skills |
| D．developing countries don’t pay much attention to the blind |
According to this passage, ORBIS helps fight blindness by doing the following EXCEPT _____.
| A．writing this kind of articles to ask for help |
| B．providing sight-saving training |
| C．treating thousands of blind people every year |
| D．trying to keep a close relation among countries |
The last paragraph is mainly about _____.
| A．how much a training program for a group of doctors costs |
| B．why ORBIS needs your help to continue their work |
| C．who can make thousands of blind people see again |
| D．what you can do to help blind people open their eyes |
The writer writes this passage in order to ______.
| A．introduce an international charitable organization |
| B．ask people to give the blind a hand |
| C．tell how you feel if you lose your eyes for a minute |
| D．explain why ORBIS helps fight blindness |