I offer to pay you $200 in one year if you give me $190 today. Good deal or bad deal? It’s the kind of math problem you might encounter in real life,
A survey in 2022 funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found that 61 percent of parents of students said math education should be “relevant to the real world”
Harvard has a personal finance course in the
In most high schools, personal finance classes are light on math, and math classes are
There is a
In conclusion, the integration of math and personal finance in education is not just an academic pursuit, but a
A.similar to | B.as opposed to | C.compared with | D.coupled with |
A.lifting | B.lowering | C.forgetting | D.struggling |
A.awful | B.forced | C.perfect | D.temporary |
A.apply to | B.pass down | C.identify with | D.kick off |
A.for | B.but | C.and | D.so |
A.breathing | B.rolling | C.quoting | D.introducing |
A.politics | B.economics | C.mathematics | D.physics |
A.Traditionally | B.Constantly | C.Frequently | D.Thankfully |
A.restore | B.recover | C.reconsider | D.retell |
A.lacking | B.sufficient | C.absent | D.present |
A.depressing | B.amazing | C.challenging | D.motivating |
A.combination | B.separation | C.application | D.publication |
A.regional | B.local | C.national | D.individual |
A.learn | B.increase | C.examine | D.manage |
A.practical | B.regrettable | C.miserable | D.relaxing |
2 . ChatGPT, the new artificial-intelligence technology created by Open AI, has many worrying about the future of education. The two largest public school districts, New York and Los Angeles, have banned the chatbot from their devices and networks, concerned that students may use it to cheat on assignments. Though ChatGPT’s capabilities are limited, it will likely continue to disrupt education as the technology advances.
But educators needn’t fear this change. Such technologies are transformative, but they threaten only the information-centric type of education that is failing to help students succeed. What young people need today is educational models that help them take ownership of their studies. They need instruction that equips them with real-life skills and prepares them for an economy in which rote, mechanical tasks will be increasingly performed by machines. AI may be a useful invention that hastens much-needed educational reform.
Practicing skills to enhance one’s facility with reasoning, analysis and argumentation — rather than memorizing basic information — should be central to learning. These are skills young people will need in future careers and, most important, that AI can’t replicate. Our experience with AI is perhaps best understood when compared with previous disruptions in education. When printed books, for example, began to emerge in the mid-1400s with the advent of the movable type, one can imagine university professors feared that students wouldn’t need to come to class because they could simply buy the book.
Yet in practice, printing had the opposite effect: The number of universities exploded along with the total number of books. The new technology disrupted the mechanical aspect of education, but in doing so it allowed educators to refocus on higher-level skills — the strategic elements rather than the tactical. The same followed the introduction of calculators and spreadsheets, which freed up time that would have been spent memorizing rote algorithms for mathematical problems.
This change didn’t make the underlying skills unnecessary; it merely transformed what could be done with them. The effect of such technology as ChatGPT will likely be similar. The AI will serve as an information-gathering and mechanical-organizing tool, but it won’t eliminate the fundamental need for critical thinking. These skills will persist and only increase in value. Therefore, schools must remember that the value created by education isn’t a head full of facts but a person with the skill to use these facts with the tools available to magnify his effect in the world. AI is best seen as another of these tools, which, when used strategically, can unleash student learning and performance in ways not yet seen.
1. What does this change refer to in Paragraph 2?A.Some public school districts have banned from their devices and networks. |
B.The information-centric type of education is failing to help students succeed. |
C.Artificial-intelligence technology keeps making new progress nowadays. |
D.The development of AI is making a difference to the traditional education. |
A.the new technology disrupts education in our previous experience |
B.the movable type printing negatively impacts our university teaching |
C.such technology helps shift our attention to students’ higher-level skills |
D.AI frees us from memorizing rote algorithms for mathematical problems |
A.instruct students in obtaining as many facts as possible |
B.adopt teaching strategies to enhance students’ performance |
C.equip students with necessary skills with the help of AI |
D.teach students to magnify the effect of tools in the world |
A.AI can save education from itself. | B.ChatGPT disrupts educational reform. |
C.AI raises worries about school education. | D.ChatGPT transforms education at all levels. |
3 . Attachment Parenting is not Indulgent (纵容) Parenting. Attachment parents do not “spoil” their children. Spoiling is done when a child is given everything that they want regardless of what they need and what is practical. Indulgent parents give toys for tantrums (发脾气), ice cream for breakfast. Attachment parents don’t give their children everything they want, they give their children everything that they need. Attachment parents believe that love and comfort are free and necessary. Not sweets or toys.
Attachment Parenting is not “afraid of tears” parenting. Our kids cry and have tantrums sometimes, of course. But they do this because their emotions are so strong that they need to get them out. They simply expect us to listen to them. We pick up our babies when they cry, and we respond to the tears of our older children because we believe firmly that comfort is free, love is free, and that when a child is in need of comfort and love, it is our job to provide these things.
Attachment Parenting is not Clingy Parenting. I do not cling (抓紧) to my children. In fact, I’m pretty free-range. As soon as they can move, they usually move away from me. Sure, I carry them and hug them and chase them and kiss them and rock them and sleep with them. But this is not me following them everywhere and pulling them back to me. This is me being a home base.
Attachment Parenting is not Helicopter Parenting. I don’t hover. I supervise (监督). I follow, I teach, I demonstrate, I explain. I don’t slap (拍,打) curious hands away. I show how to do things safely. I let my child do what he wishes to do, first with help and then with supervision and finally with trust. I don’t insist that my 23-month-old hold my hand when we walk on the sidewalk because I know that I can recall him with my voice because he trusts me to allow him to explore and he trusts me to explain when something is dangerous and to help him satisfy his curiosities safely.
Most of the negative things that I hear about “Attachment Parents” are completely off-base and describe something that is entirely unlike Attachment-Parenting. Attachment Parenting is child-centered and focuses on the needs of the child. Attachment Parents simply believe that children are taught, not trained.
1. According to the author, what should parents do when their kids cry?A.Reward them with toys. | B.Try to stop them crying. |
C.Provide comfort and love to them. | D.Hold them tight in their arms. |
A.The author’s providing of a home base. |
B.The author’s readiness to play games with their kids. |
C.The author’s being curious about watching the games they play. |
D.The author’s willingness to give their kids freedom of movement. |
A.Encouraging your child’s curiosity. | B.Always standing by to protect your child. |
C.Helping your child to do the right thing. | D.Showing your child how things are done. |
A.A certain type of parenting | B.Parent-child relationships. |
C.How to bring out love in children. | D.How to build children’s self-confidence. |
A place where young people can shine
Kindergarten Without Walls is a unique concept different from the traditional model of education.
The kindergarten is funded by its founder Tang Haoduo,who aims to create a supportive and caring community for children in the neighborhood. And the volunteers come from different walks of life.
Zhu, an art practice researcher, notes that the starting point of this Kindergarten is humble and down-to-earth. “Tang is an ordinary person
5 . The term home schooling means educating children at home or in places other than a normal setting such as a public or private school. These days, homeschooling in America is
Teaching methods at homeschooling
Why do parents choose homeschooling? Some believe that children in public schools experience too much “peer pressure”, or social pressure from friends. They say it may have a
What then is the future of education? Although children often learn well at home, weak regulations in most states mean that officials rarely challenge or
A.disappearing | B.reducing | C.contributing | D.rising |
A.vary | B.last | C.exist | D.work |
A.imitate | B.alter | C.promote | D.neglect |
A.instructions | B.path | C.technique | D.standard |
A.positive | B.practical | C.negative | D.remarkable |
A.economically | B.religiously | C.psychologically | D.physically |
A.effects | B.suggestions | C.reasons | D.pressures |
A.As a result | B.On the whole | C.By the way | D.In addition |
A.encourage | B.interrupt | C.contact | D.monitor |
A.appreciation | B.opposition | C.expectation | D.debate |
A.assessed | B.chosen | C.compared | D.classified |
A.satisfied with | B.involved in | C.skilled at | D.ashamed of |
A.worried about | B.isolated from | C.connected with | D.ignorant of |
A.creating | B.grasping | C.awaiting | D.losing |
A.acceptable | B.informative | C.one-sided | D.practical |
How to Enhance Children’s Attention Span
In a world of increased multitasking and smart devices that constantly compete for our attention, it has become harder to keep children on task during studying or house hold activities. Part of this is environmental, put part of it is also a lack of training that is taking place. Being attentive is a skill, rarely an innate talent, and must be cultivated in children for them to succeed.
Eliminating environmental distractions’ can be a smart way to, improve a child’s attention. It’s important to remember that many things in a child’s environment can draw a child’s attention span away from the task or lesson at hand, including surrounding noises, visual messes and internal distractions. Providing an environment that is as free of distractions as possible can dramatically Improve a child’s attention because it means there are fewer things around for the child’s attention span to be divided between. This is also why it’s a good idea to do studying in an area which is not usually used for other activities, such as in the sitting room.
Not being prepared for a lesson also serves as a distraction because it needs a five or ten minutes to gather the necessary materials. Help keep your child organized and make sure all necessary study materials are close at hand before it’s time to start a lesson to avoid a wild goose chase that will break up your child’s attention before the lesson has even begun.
Several scientific studies have linked a child’s decreased attention span to increased time in front of screened devices such as tablets and television, so parents should make efforts to limit over-stimulation caused by these devices to leisure time and keep them away from studying activities. This isn’t to say that children should avoid the use of smart devices, televisions, or video games indefinitely. After all, these outlets provide much-needed relaxation to children and can even help to improve their hand-eye coordination. I strongly suggest that parents should make sure that screen-time is a privilege (特权) , not a right. That is to say, use screen-time as a reward.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7 . Recent years have seen a small increase in unemployment rates due to slowing of the economy. The fact that many college graduates are finding it difficult to land a job has sparked online discussions on the cost of education and the returns on it, with many agreeing with the notion that “education is useless”.
Stories like a person with a doctorate’s degree from Zhejiang University is delivering food, and overseas-returned graduates are selling hot-pot ingredients have caused many to question the value of education. Moreover, the fact that about 36,000 fewer candidates have applied to take the postgraduate exam in 2024, the first decline in numbers in years, has also fueled the “education is useless theory.
Is education truly worthless? This question has resurfaced due to several factors.
The wide spread of higher education has significantly increased the number of college graduates, reducing the value of college degrees. As the job market becomes over-crowded with graduates, the scarcity of high-level talents has become apparent, particularly in fields such as the humanities. For example, more than 900 institutions in China offer English major, making it the most common degree program, yet there’s a shortage of top talents who are proficient in English and have a good knowledge about the differences in Chinese and foreign approach to fields such as international relations and journalism.
The declining returns on the investment in education have given rise to the “education is useless” theory. Given the challenging job market, many believe college education does not guarantee any sort of employment, let alone a suitable job. And with various economic opportunities available, the notion that one can become financially successful even without formal education is becoming increasingly acceptable.
In light of these developments, combined efforts need to be made to change the situation. For instance, universities must take measures to integrate education, research and industry, while enhancing cooperation with enterprises through tailored talent training programs. Additionally, the authorities need to pay greater attention to vocational education, an important part of China’s educational system. Students, parents and society, on their part, should abandon their bias against vocational training, because it integrates education with career prospects throughout the learning process, offering targeted, technical and practical training which allows students to master their skills which can get them well-paying jobs in the future.
Developing a correct view of employment and career choice is key to abandoning the notion of “education being useless”. People, especially students, must understand the current employment landscape, their positioning, and strengths and weaknesses. While realizing that a college degree is no longer a ticket to employment, college students should leverage education resources to enrich their professional knowledge and competitiveness. And youths should approach vocational education with an open mind in order to make the most of what the job market has to offer.
Education is not synonymous with earning money, nor does a college degree guarantee financial success. The value of education is knowledge, which we need to make informed decisions not only in our professional life but also in our social and other fields of life.
1. What are the main reasons for the recent rise in the belief that ”education is useless”?A.Economic slowdown and job scarcity. |
B.Sad stories about educated individuals. |
C.Decline in postgraduate exam applicants. |
D.Emphasis on practical skills over qualifications. |
A.By focusing solely on academic research. |
B.By integrating education, research, and industry. |
C.By ignoring cooperation with enterprises. |
D.By eliminating vocational education courses. |
A.limit | B.abandon | C.balance | D.maximize |
A.Negative and pessimistic | B.Positive and supportive |
C.Balanced and objective | D.Unclear and ambiguous |
In ancient times the most important examinations were spoken, not written. In the schools of ancient Greece and Rome, testing usually consisted of saying poetry aloud or
In the European universities of the Middle Ages, students working for advanced degrees had to discuss questions in their field of study with people who had made a special study of the subject.
Generally,
One type of test is sometimes called as “objective” test.
9 . Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance (pocket money). The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly.
At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget.
Paying children to do extra work around the house, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works.
Allowances give children a chance to experience the things they can do with money.
Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice: you have to cut costs and plan for the future.
Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing.
That may not seem like a lot. But over time it adds up.
A.Many banks offer services to help children and teenagers learn about personal finance. |
B.They can share it in the form of gifts or giving to a good cause. |
C.It is a good virtue for children to form a habit to learn how to save money. |
D.The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs from family to family. |
E.Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance. |
F.Parents are supposed to tell their children how they should spend their pocket money wisely but the refused to do so. |
10 . Is a Science-Based Education the Way to Go?
In this present age when we are heavily dependent on science and technology, a science-based education system naturally becomes prevalent to equip the young with knowledge of the
Certainly, it equips us with the knowledge of
Additionally, the scientific method highlights the importance of
Despite its
Moreover, science may have great emphasis on progress that may come at a great
In conclusion, a science-based education coupled with adequate exposure to ethics, values and the humanities would
A.mechanics | B.inventions | C.truths | D.objectives |
A.significance | B.evolution | C.composition | D.prospect |
A.subjected | B.reduced | C.entitled | D.tailored |
A.Nevertheless | B.Moreover | C.Instead | D.Therefore |
A.doubt | B.suspicion | C.inquiry | D.consultation |
A.framed | B.explained | C.assessed | D.justified |
A.dependence | B.burst | C.consciousness | D.function |
A.objectivity | B.illustration | C.curiosity | D.inquiry |
A.deny | B.challenge | C.dismiss | D.highlight |
A.margins | B.expenses | C.initiatives | D.virtues |
A.worry | B.care | C.reveal | D.enclose |
A.draw a parallel | B.make ends meet | C.strike a balance | D.make a comparison |
A.cost | B.advantage | C.discount | D.angle |
A.underline | B.prioritize | C.further | D.neglect |
A.assist | B.furnish | C.occupy | D.engage |