I’ve been giving lots of thought recently to the teaching of the science subject at schools. I’m wondering whether spending more time learning how we “do” science –– the scientific method –– is more valuable than simply making children memorize scientific “facts”.
After all, science isn’t a collection of facts about the world. That’s just called “knowledge”. Rather, science is a process of thinking and making sense of the world, which will then lead to new knowledge. We’ve often heard it said that we should be teaching children not what to think but how to think. However, schools now spend so much of the science subject loading up children’s brains with “knowledge”.
Surely, everyone needs a basic scientific understanding. We all need to know some science: facts about the world to help us make informed decisions about important issues that face us all in our everyday lives, from the risks of smoking to the benefits of exercising or why recycling our waste is good for the planet.
Yet what seems to be missing today is an understanding of the way we gain this scientific understanding of the world. Nowadays, social media has played a significant role in spreading information. However, many people use it as a medium for spreading disinformation or harmful opinions. But social media has only enlarged the societal problem that has been with us.
On top of this, our attention spans(时长)are naturally getting shorter, and we don’t take the time to question our views, or ask whether the information we are getting is reliable. This is where thinking scientifically can help. Adopting some of the ways that good science is practiced can help us to critically assess what we believe, question our own views before we attack views we don’t like, and so on.
This is exactly why we should be teaching more of scientific methods in schools. This remarkable way of seeing, thinking and knowing, is one of humankind’s great riches and the birthright of everyone. And, most wonderfully, it only grows in quality and value the more widely it is shared.
1. What is the author concerned about according to Paragraph 1?A.The teaching topics of the science subject. | B.Students’ interest in the science subject. |
C.The teaching content of the science subject. | D.The lack of emphasis on science in schools. |
A.The application of science in daily lives. | B.The understanding of science in daily lives. |
C.The method of knowing scientific facts. | D.Some scientific phenomena in daily lives. |
A.The spread of false information. | B.The misunderstanding of science. |
C.The popularity of social media. | D.The negative impact of social media. |
A.Improved attention in class. | B.Growing interest in science. |
C.The deeper understanding of science. | D.The ability to think critically. |
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【推荐1】How to stay focused in class
Look at the teacher. Your teacher is not just standing up there talking — they’re trying to give you an acceptable education. Show the teacher that he or she has your full attention, by looking him or her in the eye.
Take notes. By taking notes, you’ll be able to “get into” the lesson.
Join in class discussions. This is a wonderful way to become a more focused, successful student. When a teacher asks a question, offer to answer it.
Ask a question.
A.Do your best. |
B.Don’t sit with friends. |
C.Don’t try to finish your homework in class. |
D.This person should have your full attention at all times in class. |
E.Write down key points as your teacher speaks. |
F.If you don’t understand something, never be afraid to ask. |
G.When he or she asks for an opinion, share your own. |
【推荐2】All routes to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degrees run through calculus (微积分) classes. Each year, thousands of college students take introductory calculus. But only a small number ultimately complete a STEM degree, and research about why students abandon such degrees suggests that traditional calculus courses are one of the reasons. With scientific understanding and innovation increasingly central to solving 21st-century problems, this loss of talent is something society can ill afford.
Math departments alone are unlikely to solve this dilemma. Several of the promising calculus reforms were spearheaded by professors outside of math departments. STEM faculty are prioritizing cooperation across disciplines to transform math classes to cultivate a diverse generation of STEM researchers and professionals.
This is not uncharted territory. In 2013, life sciences faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles, developed a two-course sequence that covers classic calculus topics, but also emphasizes their application in a biological context. Creating this course, Mathematics for Life Scientists, wasn’t easy. The life sciences faculty involved, none of whom had a joint appointment with the math department, said they turned to designing the course themselves after math faculty rejected their request for cooperation.
In Ohio, Wright State University’s Engineering departments also revised math offerings. Rather than changing the content of the calculus course, they focused on preparing students for calculus by emphasizing “engineering motivation for math.” The approach enhanced opportunities for students with weaker math backgrounds to succeed in engineering and doubled the average graduation rate of engineering students without reducing the average grade of graduates. Math learning is fundamental to all STEM fields, but the opposite also appears to be true.
1. What problem is mentioned in paragraph 1?A.Increasing STEM dropout rate. |
B.The reform of calculus courses. |
C.Shrinking admission to STEM majors. |
D.The shaken belief in the role of calculus. |
A.challenged | B.evaluated | C.cancelled | D.initiated |
A.STEM departments made calculus content easier to improve students’ grades. |
B.Math departments sought cooperation with STEM counterparts to urge reforms. |
C.Placing calculus learning in specific STEM contexts is a workable approach. |
D.Removing calculus is the key to increasing graduation rate of STEM students. |
A.The STEM fields may be the foundation of other science subjects. |
B.The STEM fields may be central to making math learning effective. |
C.Math learning may set barrier for science study in the STEM fields. |
D.Math learning may make way for science study in the STEM fields. |
【推荐3】iPads vs Textbooks
What if you could have your whole backpack at the touch of your fingertips? In the first month of the Apple iPads release, 25million were sold! People all over the world use iPads for all sorts of different things, but one of their finest qualities is the ability to be a textbook.
To begin with, iPads are less expensive. Textbooks become outdated and schools have to buy new books, but with an iPad schools can update them for free.
Third, schools should get rid of their textbooks and get iPads because they have more capabilities. Some might think all of the apps are distracting, but the apps actually make iPads more efficient.
Lastly, iPads are a better choice for schools instead of textbooks because these devices allow students to access their learning anywhere at any time.
In conclusion, schools should get rid of their clumsy textbooks and switch to iPads. iPads have allowed this generation to have their entire backpack in the palm of their hands.
A.Second, iPads cost less and are more popular. |
B.These tablets are perfect for busy students. |
C.Therefore, they can use the saved money for other programs. |
D.Moreover, in high school, textbooks have an average of 4.8 pounds each. |
E.iPads have already replaced textbooks in over 600 American counties. |
F.Schools have every reason to do away with their school books and switch to iPads. |
G.iPads absorb the need to buy calculators, dictionaries, and other items that are found within the device. |
【推荐1】Do you have a suit or dress in the closet that you haven’t worn for years but are reluctant to get rid of? Maybe you say, “I can’t throw that away because I paid good money for it?”. If you recognize this in yourself, then you are suffering from commitment to the sunk cost fallacy (谬论). It occurs when we feel that we have invested too much to quit. This psychological trap causes us to stick with a plan even if it no longer serves us and the costs clearly outweigh the benefits.
Arkes and Blumer conducted a survey showing that people are influenced by sunk cost fallacy in their decisions. Participants imagined spending $100 on a ski trip to Michigan and $50 on Wisconsin, realizing later they were for the same weekend. They were told Wisconsin would be more enjoyable. When asked which trip to take, 54% chose Michigan despite the reasonable choice being Wisconsin, because they had made a greater initial investment.
Sunk cost fallacy takes place when we let emotions cloud our decisions. Once we’ve invested in a choice, we feel guilt or regret if we don’t follow through. We fail to realize that past costs won’t be recovered. Instead, we base decisions on past costs, ignoring present and future costs and benefits. This may be due to loss aversion (厌恶), where losses feel worse than gains. We avoid losses, making choices based on avoiding the “loss” of our past investment instead of considering the benefits gained if we don’t continue our commitment.
No one can deny the fact that we benefit a lot from perseverance. So our society loves to emphasize perseverance. Never give up! Don’t waste. But only you know the right path for you. Sometimes walking away is the hardest choice of all. You might realize a path you’re on is no longer the right one or never was. That’s a painful realization.
1. What phenomenon does the author describe at the beginning of the text?A.People benefit from sticking with a plan. | B.People’s consumption view has changed. |
C.People refuse to give up the past commitment. | D.People’s clothes are becoming more expensive. |
A.To save more of the loss. | B.To appear more reasonable. |
C.To make a greater investment. | D.To enjoy more of themselves. |
A.When we don’t follow through our choices. |
B.When we don’t continue our commitment. |
C.When we stop feeling guilty and regretful. |
D.When we make decisions based on past costs emotionally. |
A.Favorable. | B.Objective. | C.Doubtful. | D.Unclear. |
【推荐2】You must have read "The Tortoise and the Hare(《龟兔赛跑》)" when you were younger. So which animal are you? The tortoise or the hare? Do you rush around trying to do things as quickly as possible? Or do you deal your work at a slow , but steady(稳定的)pace? Whether you approach life like the tortoise or the hare can make a difference in the results you'll see.
Some will say that you should avoid being like the hare. After all. he was overconfident and finally lost the race. You may also have heard teachers say from time to time that "haste makes waste”. But what does that mean? Most people think it meant that the faster you do something, the more likely it is that you'll make mistakes. Many teaches want you to approach your schoolwork thoughtfully and carefully.
But does haste always make waste? Not necessarily ! Some people are able to work quickly while also maintaining(保持)a high level of quality in all that they do. Recent research, however, is making the idea of haste making waste seem more believable
Researchers found that the brain changes into a special mode(模式)when forced to make rapid decisions. Overall, there appears to be a trade-off between speed and correctness. As the brain makes decisions more quickly, those decisions are usually built on less information, which often leads to a greater likelihood of mistakes.
When you approach things like the tortoise. you methodically and steadily work towards your goal. You might not arrive there first, but then again you might! In any case, you're likely to make fewer mistakes and you might just enjoy the journey more than the bare.
Goals are great to work towards, but often the achievements aren't what we remember. In the end, the most meaningful and important parts of our lives are the journeys we went on , not the destination we reached. So be the hare when you have to, but always remember that the slow and steady journey is what you’ll remember and treasure the most.
1. Why does the author mention the story in the first paragraph?A.To introduce the topic. | B.To show its popularity. |
C.To suggest its importance. | D.To advise readers to read it. |
A.To ask them not to waste their time. |
B.To tell them it is OK to make mistakes. |
C.To ask them to avoid making silly mistakes. |
D.To tell them they should check their schoolwork. |
A.How the brain collects the information it needs. |
B.When the decision made by the brain is correct. |
C.Why the quickly-made decision is often unwise. |
D.What the relationship between lime and results is. |
A.Finishing the race is often a victory for everyone. |
B.Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. |
C.The journey to every destination starts with a small step. |
D.A destination is important because it guides us on the journey. |
【推荐3】A comment from Zadie Smith caught my attention this week. Asked whether she had ever considered recording an album, the novelist responded, “I have a dream of having a Café Carlyle residency in New York in my 80s.” Here she is at the height of her success dreaming of a career Plan B just like the rest of us!
Weird Plan Bs fascinate me because for years I had one of my own. Despite being perfectly happy in my chosen profession, I had long harboured the fantasy of becoming a photographer and I took a lockdown leap and applied to art school to acquire some actual skills.
Has it brought me fame and riches? Not as yet. Like many people who dream of having a go at something different, I was focusing on creative fulfilment rather than my future finances. By the time I graduated in 2022, my dream of running a portrait photography business was looking a lot less practicable—in part thanks to AI head-shot generators.
If only I had had a little more Fobo, also known as the fear of becoming out-of-date. This workplace trend is an updated version of Fomo—the fear of missing out, which now feels like a poignant (辛酸的) throwback to more optimistic times. 22% of workers are worried that technology will put them out of a job. And who can blame them?
There is another reason that nurturing an alterative career might be risky. Research indicates that having a back-up plan can work against you. Having a Plan B as a safety net can cause people to make less effort at their day job and — unhelpfully — run a greater risk of losing it.
So, do I regret pursuing my Plan B? Not at all — hopefully I’ve got a few years before robot photographers take over the world, and I currently spend a day a week on photography. My only sorrow is something unexpected. For so many years. I had the fantasy of trying something new. My “someday” ambition sustained me through dull and boring days. But now I’m actually spending some of my week doing it, which has caused empty space in my life. It made me realize that having an alternative career to dream about is in itself sustaining and comforting. You might never do it, and that might not even matter. So, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and start working on my Plan C...
1. Why did Zadie Smith want to have a Cafe Carlyle residency?A.She was not satisfied with her writing career. |
B.She was eager to take up a second career. |
C.She was depressed by recording an album. |
D.She was unable to reach the height of success. |
A.She was a skilled photographer who graduated from an art school. |
B.She gave up her chosen occupation because of lockdown. |
C.She gained a sense of creative satisfaction instead of income. |
D.She ran a photography business with the assistance of AI. |
A.To explain why workers are eager to do plan |
B.To introduce one of the disadvantages to do plan B. |
C.To advocate the society’s acceptance of plan B. |
D.To display the future of trend of the workforce. |
A.She will be replaced by robot photographer in the future. |
B.She can’t spare time to do photography professionally. |
C.She hates the dull and boring days in doing photography. |
D.She lost something new to excite some enthusiasm for life. |