Educators in China have long struggled with the problem of overworked schoolchildren. Attempts to do away with some test oriented teaching often face resistance from parents, who worry that their offspring could lose out in the race to get into a good university. Some officials are taking a new approach. In the south-western province of Yunnan, they have not only revised the PE( Physical Education) test in the zhongkao, an examination for entrance to senior secondary school. They have also given it the same grades in the exam as all-important subjects like maths and Chinese. Eight provinces have joined Yunnan too.
These reforms are in response to demands by the central government for a more well-rounded approach to education. In 2017 primary and secondary schools were ordered to hire only specialists to teach PE and art. In October they were directed to organize daily gym classes, and now to include PE and art in the zhongkao. The government says it wants to foster a “lifelong habit of exercise” .
The government worries about how many youngsters are in poor shape. In 2017 officials in Guangzhou found that only 2.6% of local children were in “excellent” health. Half of pupils surveyed there had myopia(近视). Today one in five Chinese children is overweight, up from just one in 20 in 1995. The state news agency, Xinhua, summed it up with a headline: “Why good times produce weak children”.
But parents do not want their children to be distracted from their books. They are used to pupils getting full marks in PE with hardly any effort, partly because examiners have tended to grade generously to avoid “unfairly” punishing hard-working students, says Mr Zhu. Schools often cancel PE and art classes in favour of other subjects. This will change with the new reforms. But parents are already complaining that PE will be just one more source of stress. Mr Zhu sighs over the use of exam pressure to get people’s attention. Still, he hopes it is a giant leap towards greater fitness.
1. Which of the following words can replace the underlined word in paragraph 1?| A．removed | B．promoted | C．guiding | D．excessive |
| A．In order to meet the demands of government for cultivating all-rounded students. |
| B．To make students not fall behind in being admitted to a good university. |
| C．Because PE and art are more important for students compared to other subjects. |
| D．Because a healthy body is essential to students’ growth. |
| A．Parents do not think the reform will have a big impact on their children. |
| B．The change of examination is an inappropriate way to improve students’ fitness. |
| C．The scores of PE will be higher than art in the future examinations. |
| D．As is often the case, teachers give higher PE grades to hard-working students. |
| A．Good times produce weak children. | B．A new trend in “zhongkao”. |
| C．Health is the most important for children. | D．Fewer exams, less stress. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Children often visit museums. Then do field trips (实地考察旅行) help students with learning?
Teachers might not see the value of art-related museum field trips.
Greene’s team also examined how going to a live theater performance can affect students.
| A．This is true for students of all ages. |
| B．This is where Jay Greene comes in. |
| C．Great importance is attached to field trips. |
| D．This study involved (涉及) two groups of students. |
| E．Some museums are looking for ways to provide new programs for schools. |
| F．Greene’s team wanted to learn how a trip to an art museum affects a student. |
| G．Though the number is relatively small, the results of the study are convincing (令人信服的). |
【推荐2】It has been nearly two years since the Covid-19 pandemic changed the ways schools were run. Different schools handled this new risk of sickness differently, with most closing down and shifting completely towards virtual learning (虚拟学习). However, University School took on the task of allowing students to participate in in-person learning. Despite students physically attending school, most students felt that last year was a difficult time and had an unpleasant experience. Many students considered more limited lunches and prolonged eighty-five minute classes as reasons for their negative experience.
However, the opinions of virtual learners tended to be more diverse. As Oliver Thomas said,“I liked last year because it was relatively easy, being able to wake up later, and eating when I wanted was nice.”However, overall this opinion was not common among students. Conner Piero shared a different opinion, saying“Online school was very isolating for me.” This opinion seems to be common when it comes to online school, as many students expressed this same feeling disconnected when learning from home.
This year, however, is much different. US canceled some of its stricter guidelines. With normal length classes and a normal lunch, students are feeling much better, which seems to be very common throughout the US community as many students expressed how they like that there is much more freedom than last year. According to a US news survey, 38 students preferred this year, and 12 preferred last year. The minority that preferred last year argued that because school was easier they felt that last year was more relaxing and less stressful.
While talking with students about this year, a main theme that can be seen from both opinions is that the sense of community seems to be much more prominent (突出的). Although many think that this year is more challenging, most students feel that–socially speaking, school is much more normal.
1. Why most students felt that last year was difficult unpleasant ?| A．Because the Covid-19 pandemic broke out last year. |
| B．Because different schools handled this new risk of sickness differently. |
| C．Because students had more limited lunches and longer classes. |
| D．Because schools requested students to participate in in-person learning. |
| A．Puzzling | B．Separating | C．Frightening | D．Satisfying |
| A．US canceled its stricter guidelines. |
| B．More students preferred last year to this year. |
| C．There is no difference between last year and this year. |
| D．Most American students value social relationships. |
| A．compare the last two years at American university schools |
| B．describe American students’ complaint about COVID-19 |
| C．help students how to participate in in-person learning |
| D．tell the readers American university students’ lifestyle |
【推荐3】Choose where to study abroad
If you’re thinking of studying abroad, then the main decisions to be made are where you’d like to go and the particular university you want to study at. Luckily, there are thousands of fantastic countries, cities and towns to choose from. So, whatever you’re looking for, you won’t be short of choice.
Where do you want to travel?
What do you want to study?
Knowing what subject you would like to study can be really helpful. There are lots of choices when it comes to subjects and degrees.
Studying abroad is a great chance to master a new language. However, immersing yourself in a new environment with no native language skills can be frightening. Consider choosing a destination where you can already speak some, if not all, of the local dialect. You will be able to interact with people more easily, and carrying out daily tasks will be simpler.
What are the costs?
Figuring out your budget can help you cut down your study abroad choices.
| A．Thinking about the countries or cities you’ve always dreamt of visiting is one of the best ways to shortlist destinations. |
| B．You should consider whether the destination works within your economic strength. |
| C．How do you master a new language? |
| D．It is still wise to look at the career opportunities in different countries. |
| E．What language do you speak? |
| F．Thinking about the following factors can help you work out where is best for you. |
| G．Studying can be challenging, so focus on picking something you are interested in or want to pursue as a career. |
【推荐1】A spoonful of pickles (腌菜) can sometimes make a meal taste better. Recently, a new type of pickle is being discussed: “digital pickled vegetables”. It refers to the videos people watch while eating that make their food more appetizing.
The topic received more than 16 million clicks on Sina Weibo and about 100,000 people participated in the discussion. Instead of being accompanied by friends and family during a meal, many young people in China are kept company by TV shows or short videos. Many believe that their food is tastier with the “digital pickles”.
Can this habit affect your diet? According to a research paper published in 2019, you may eat more unconsciously. The international research team asked 62 volunteers to follow different eating patterns on four different days. The patterns included eating while looking at the mobile phone, reading magazines and without distraction. After analyzing their diets, the team discovered that eating with a distraction increased caloric intake by about 15 percent.
To explore the reason, the team also invited two groups of people: one group ate while listening to an audio clip about another person eating and the other listened to a clip that helped them imagine themselves eating. The results showed that the second group ate less since they were more focused on their meals. When eating with the “digital pickles”, our attention can be distracted, which leads to eating more than expected.
This works not only for eating meals but other demanding tasks as well. A research project led by the University of Sussex, UK, pointed out that activities which require lots of attention trick many participants into overeating. The team invited 120 participants to do various tasks while providing them with drinks and snacks. “Our study suggests that if you’re eating or drinking while your attention is distracted by a highly engaging task, you’re less likely to be able to tell how full you feel” one of the authors Martin Yeomans explained.
1. What do “digital pickles” refer to?| A．A new type of vegetables. |
| B．Electronic products popular online. |
| C．Videos people watch while eating. |
| D．Digital games suitable for families. |
| A．They are more focused on their meals. |
| B．They are distracted by “digital pickles”. |
| C．The food tastes better with “digital pickles”. |
| D．The “digital pickles” make them feel hungrier. |
| A．It explores the reason why people prefer “digital pickles” while having meals. |
| B．Eating while hearing another person eating can keep one more focused on his meal. |
| C．Eating while imaging oneself eating can keep one more focused on his meal. |
| D．When eating without the “digital pickles”, we are bound to eat less. |
| A．To give another case that causes overeating. |
| B．To describe the effects of “digital pickles”. |
| C．To explain how to judge you are full. |
| D．To present how to avoid being distracted. |
【推荐2】For the last six years, speed walking has now become part of my daily routine. I am always keen to do it regularly without a break. Even though I am neither a physician nor a specialist in medical science, I am fully aware that exercise, especially speed walking, helps maintain health and lowers the chance of falling ill.
I urge everybody to speed walk on a daily basis, with one day off a week, or at least to do it three times a week. I managed to burn around 17 kg of fat after taking up speed walking. This should also be accompanied with a change in diet. We need to reduce how much we eat and avoid junk food, sweets and carbonate drinks. Reducing the amount of food we eat in the evening by around 80 per cent and increasing how much water we drink are also good practice. Overeating should also be avoided.
I usually walk at a speed of 1 km per 8.5 minutes. It will initially make me tired. However, over time it will become a habit and an addiction.
This type of exercise will help you sleep and give you an appetite. It will make you physically fit and help burn fat and calories. Speed walking makes you healthy and everyone can find time to walk. The problem is that some people do not plan their days and do not, therefore, find time. We can gain health and social benefits from speed walking. It will help change our lifestyles, fight diabetes(糖尿病), and other illnesses.
Arguments such as “I am too old and obese to walk” do not hold water. People of any age who speed walk will see the benefits within a couple of months. Walking outdoors is ideal and it is best done in the company of friends.
1. Which sentence is TRUE according to the passage?| A．Speed walking helps patients recover from illness. |
| B．The author thinks everybody should speed walk every day. |
| C．The author suggests reducing the amount of food we eat by around 80 per cent. |
| D．The author walks at a speed of more than 100 metres per minute. |
| A．speed walking possibly leads to an eating disorder |
| B．many people are too busy to have a fast walk every day |
| C．more calories and fat will result in some serious illness |
| D．speed walking can effectively cure kinds of diseases |
| A．Make sense. | B．Work out. | C．Have a drink. | D．Build up. |
Kurzweil gets computers to recognize voices. An example of this is Ramona, the virtual hostess of Kurzweil’s website, created by the computer, who is able to understand what you say. Visitors to the website can have their own conversations with her. Ramona also dances and sings.
Kurzweil uses this technology to help people with physical problems. One of his ideas is a “seeing machine”. This will be “like a friend that could describe what is going on around,” he explains. Blind people will use a sensor（传感器）which will probably be built into a pair of sunglasses. This machine will describe to the person everything it sees.
Another idea, which is likely to help deaf people, is the “listening machine”. This invention will recognize millions of words and understand any speaker. The listening machine will also be able to translate what it hears into other languages, so even people without hearing problems are likely to be interested in using it.
But it is not just about helping people with physical problems. Looking further into future, Kurzweil sees a time when we will be able to store what we hear, see and think in a computer. This technology probably won’t be ready for at least 50 years, but when it arrives, it means our minds will be able to live forever.
1. Ray Kurzweil is .
| A．a famous medical scientist |
| B．a computer research scientist |
| C．a patient with Parkinson’s |
| D．an inventor of computer chips |
| A．She can talk with her visitors. |
| B．She can treat brain diseases. |
| C．She can help deaf people listen. |
| D．She can teach people to sing. |
| A．It can help to treat their eyes. |
| B．It can translate into other languages. |
| C．It can help them to see the future. |
| D．It can describe to them what it sees. |
| A．虚拟的 | B．友好的 | C．漂亮的 | D．忙碌的 |
| A．The Seeing Machines |
| B．The Listening Machines |
| C．The Intelligent Machines |
| D．The Translating Machines |
