文章大意:本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了优秀老师Jackson用不同寻常的方式激励学生的故事。Jackson的父亲教导她要尽力而为,因为运动天赋出众她曾想成为体育播音员,后来通过参与一个名为“为美国而教”的项目,她开始了教师职业的道路。作为一名体育爱好者,Jackson善于和学生建立联系,关心他们,通过各种奖励激励他们学习。她还创办了课后俱乐部,帮助学生发展自己的才能,促进体育活动。
Teachers Used an Unusual Method to Motivate Students
—Sitting with Them at Lunch
How do brilliant teachers get that way? The question of how they developed has as many answers as there are inspired instructors. One example is an original and magnetic woman, Jackson, who has become one of the best ever at taking disadvantaged students to a new level.
Jackson was born in Altoona. Her father was a construction worker. When she was in the eighth grade, her father died just before Christmas. Her principal, Mrs. Brown, said not to worry about schoolwork for a while. That upset her. Her father would not have wanted her to do anything but her best. He always said, “Don’t let your first failure be the reason for your next.”
Jackson was an accomplished shooting guard in basketball and a star sprinter on the track team, running a quarter mile in 57 seconds. She thought she might become a sports broadcaster. She gave no thought to teaching until a friend took her to an orientation (迎新会) for a program called Teach for America, which placed novice instructors in schools full of low-income children. Jackson liked the idea of giving back, as well as the chance to have some of her student loans forgiven.
She is a big sports person, and that is how she connects with lots of kids. She couldn’t motivate children until she knew what was bothering or pleasing them. “Students learn from people who love them,” she said. “They will be motivated and inspired to learn if they know deep down that you care about them.” In class she gave basketball tickets to students who were doing their work. At weekly drawings they could win sticky notes, pencils or other small prizes.
She helped create after-school clubs. A tall student said to her, “ I’m a baller. I heard you playing ball.” There was a basketball league in Paterson but the school didn’t have a team. Jackson started one with support from local business executives. The student, Essence Carson, went to Rutgers University, was a first-round draft (运动员选拔制) selection for the WNBA’s New York Liberty and now plays for the Connecticut Sun.
24. Why did Mrs. Brown’s words upset Jackson?
A.Her father just passed away. | B.She was taught to do her best. |
C.Her first failure led to another one. | D.She was concerned about her grades. |
25. What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?
A.The process in which Jackson turned teacher. |
B.The dream job Jackson desired. |
C.The student loans Jackson owed. |
D.The athletics Jackson did well in. |
26. Why did Jackson give small prizes to her students in class?
A.To connect with them. | B.To please or bother them. |
C.To encourage them to learn. | D.To show her anxiety to them. |
27. What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.Jackson founded a school team in Paterson alone. |
B.Jackson played in the basketball league in Paterson. |
C.Jackson selected Essence to play for WNBA’s New York Liberty. |
D.Jackson should take some credit for Essence’s professional career. |