What’s the most enjoyable school activity among American students? The answer is the school dance. Most American high schools have two dances during the year, one in winter and the other in spring. The students like the school dance because it is a good chance for them to meet new friends and learn from each other. At the dance, most schools make some strict rules to help create a healthy and enjoyable evening for all students. Only the students under 21 years are allowed in most schools. Some schools will even give the students a safety check before they come into the dance area. Some schools ask their students to keep a standing position (姿势) when they are dancing. That means the students can’t lean. You’d better not break the rules and enjoy yourself at the dance.
1. What’s the most enjoyable school activity in America?2. Most American schools have dances all year long, don’t they?
3. Why do most schools make some strict rules?
4. What will some schools do before the students come into the dance area?
5. Do you like school dance? Why?
相似题推荐
Music is not just for fun, it can also help us feel better when we’re in pain. A study showed that listening to favorite songs can make the pain less. The most helpful songs were the sad ones that talk about mixed feelings and powerful experiences.
In the study, 63 young adults were asked to bring their two favorite songs. The researchers also gave them seven calm songs to choose from. These 63 adults had to look at a screen for 7 minutes while listening to their favorite songs, one of the calm songs, or a mix of their favorite songs and the calm song they picked. For another 7 minutes, they just sat in silence. During this time, the researchers stuck a hot object to the young adults’ left arms—similar to the pain of a boiling hot teacup on your skin.
After talking about the songs and rating (评估) their pain, the researchers found that people felt less pain when they listened to their favorite songs compared to when they heard the calm song or nothing at all. And people who listened to sad songs felt less pain than those who listened to happy songs.
This study tells us that music, especially the songs we love, can be a good way to deal with pain. It also suggests that sad songs may work better than happy songs at making pain less.
The study’s results are important for hospitals and doctors. They could use music to help patients feel better, especially before or after surgeries (外科手术). But scientists need to do more research to understand exactly how music helps with pain. They could study different kinds of music to see what works best. They could also look at whether music helps with different types of pain, like headaches or sore muscles (肌肉). If music really works to make people feel better, it could be a simple and safe way to help patients without medicine.
1. What did the study find about music and pain?2. What kind of songs worked best at making pain less in the study?
3. Why did the researchers stick a hot object to the adults’ arms?
4. 从文中找出与They could look at different types of music to find out which kind helps the most with pain.意思相同或相近的句子。
5. Ask ONE question about the last paragraph with How, What, Why...?
【推荐2】People are always interested in music, and technology has changed the way we experience music.
American inventor Thomas Edison invented the first phonograph. It could make a copy of music and play records. Many of the first records were made of glass, but later people started making vinyl（塑胶）records.
Radio technology took off in the 1920s, and a large number of American families bought radios at that time. On the radio, there was also news, sports, comedy and more with music. （A）Some people think that the rise of popular music began from the 1950s.
In 1958, the tape appeared. It was the first technology to use tape to record sound for home use. Then in turn, there were much smaller cassettes（盒式磁带）in the late 1960s and the 1970s. The tape had been for tens of years with music and joy for people.
Then in 1980 the CDs were well prepared. To people’s surprise, CDs could fix small mistakes. （B）They got popular during the 1980s and had been loved for tens of years.
Nearly 40 years ago, MTV was born. Soon musicians used music videos to show their newest songs. It also influenced television because TV shows accepted the style of popular music videos.
Today, most people like to search for music online. They can listen, but they can’t have every song in their phones. If they want to own some of them, they need to pay.
What’s the next step in the development of music? Nobody knows, but the way we experience music will keep changing.
1. 根据短文内容填空，每空一词。There are
2. Translate the underlined sentence（A）into Chinese.
3. What does the underlined word（B）“They” refer to（指的是）?
4. 从文中找出与“They can listen to songs for free, unless they want to have some of them in their phones”句子意思相同或相近的句子。
5. What’s the main idea of the passage? （不超过10个词，2分）
Country-western music is very old. It came from the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. It’s a mixture（混合物）of music from all of these places.
In West America, cowboys（牛仔）had to take care of the cattle（牛） alone for several months with no one to talk with. They had to watch them all day and all night because the cattle were nervous and sometimes ran away. Sometimes a cowboy’s work was full of danger. When he was alone with the cattle in the open field, he drank strong coffee to stay awake at night and also sang songs to calm them. He sang about the stars and the moon, about his family and his friends. The cattle listened to the cowboy and went to sleep. They didn’t run away if he sang beautiful, peaceful songs. Sometimes they played the guitar when they sang. Later they also used violins.
In South America, many people came from England. Other people came from France and Canada. They enjoyed their own kind of music. When they visited their friends and families on holidays like Christmas, they usually sang and played country music.
American country-western music describes life. It talks about love, jobs, home and money. People in many parts of the world like western country music because everyone knows something about these ideas. Also, many fans of this music wear western clothes and dance together to country music. Many bands all over the world now perform country music.
1. What is country-western music?2. Why did the cowboys sing when they took care of the cattle alone?
3. What musical instruments do people use to play country-western music?
4. When did people sing or play country music in South America?
5. What are people’s attitude（态度） to country-western music?
Classrooms in the US are different from those in China. This offers us a chance to learn about their educational style.
In China, most students have fixed classrooms. Teachers take turns teaching in different classrooms. All students learn the same things in this way. But students are not given much choice. No matter whether you like a subject or not, you have to learn it.
In the US, students often change classrooms based on different subjects. Besides compulsory (必修的) classes like English and math, teens can choose to learn about what they are interested in. For example, some kids may choose to study music or advanced math (高等数学).
Classroom arrangements (布置) also make a difference. Chinese classrooms are arranged in a traditional way, with rows of desks and chairs facing a blackboard. Teachers usually stand on a platform when teaching.
However, in US classrooms, seating arrangements are flexible (灵活的) depending on different class activities. For example, if students need to have a group discussion, two or three of them will move their desks to sit face to face. Students in drama or music classes also have different seating arrangements that make it easier for them to perform. Sometimes, teachers even sit with their students.
It’s hard to say which way is “better”, or if there even is a perfect way to arrange classrooms. You just have to find the one that works for you.
| *Most students in China have fixed classrooms and they aren’t able to *Desks and chairs are set in | *Students in US change classrooms and are offered choices of courses. *Seating is arranged differently according to |
【推荐2】Yang Bingjun has taught in Xiaozhai Pimary School for more than twenty years. He is widely considered as the founder (创建者) of this small school in Dongdi, one of the poorest towns of Guizhou Province.
The man worked as a teacher shortly after he graduated (毕业) from middle school in 1995. “After graduation, I decided to work outside for half a year before continuing schooling, as my family was poor,” Yang said. He then went to Guangdong Province. One day when he found a child playing the piano in the big city, he decided to do something for the kids in his hometown. According to Yang, almost 90 percent of the people there couldn’t read a letter at that time, and most of the children were busy with farm work.
He went back and set up a “school” in 1996 together with a man. They used an old house from a family as a classroom and made desks and chairs themselves. “After school, I had to visit families from door to door, trying to persuade (说服) parents to send their children to us,” said Yang.
He has always encouraged his students to study hard so that they can walk out of the deep mountains. Yang will continue to stay in the village as long as he is needed. “I hope the children can live a life different from mine in the future,” he said.
Complete the chart according to the passage with only one word for each blank.
| How long Yang Bingjun has taught in Xiaozhai Primary School | For |
| His | He decided to work outside for six |
| He decided to do something for the kids in his | |
| His hope | He hopes the children can live a life which is not the |
【推荐3】Nearly all American students in colleges and universities pay for their education. There are many expenses. First of all, there is tuition (学费). At some schools, the tuition is very high, ten thousand dollars a year or more. At other schools, it may only be a few hundred dollars a year. At some community (社区) colleges, tuition is free. There are other expenses as well. Many students leave their homes to go to schools in other cities. They may live in dormitories or apartments (flats), and they must pay for it. Finally, students must buy textbooks for their courses. Some families start saving money for their children's education when the children are small. Many students work to save money for tuition. They can also get loans (贷款) from the government. They pay the money back to the government when they finish their education.
1. Which students pay for their education?___________________________________________________________________
2. How much is the higher tuition?
___________________________________________________________________
3. Are there any free tuition colleges?
___________________________________________________________________
4. Why do many students live in dormitories or apartments?
___________________________________________________________________
5. What must students buy finally?
___________________________________________________________________
【推荐1】In many Western schools, sports day is a big event. Children take part in competitive sports and try to break school records and take the first place.
Sports days, or sports meets, are usually held in the warmer seasons. They are also called field days. Primary school sports days are fun. They usually have activities such as the egg and spoon race and the sack race. In middle and high schools, sports days include many of the common track and field events(田径项目).
Students’ parents and other relatives also come to the school on sports days. They watch children play. Many schools in the West have “mothers and fathers” races for parents to take part in!
But some parents put too much pressure (压力) on their children. Some schools don’t have “mothers and fathers” races any more because there is much fighting and cheating.
根据短文内容回答下列问题。
1. What do children try to do when they take part in sports meets?
They try to break school records and
2. When are sports days usually held in the school?
Sports days are usually held
3. What are primary school sports days like?
They are
4. Who would come to the school to watch children play on sports days?
Students’
5. Why don’t some schools have “mothers and fathers” races any more?
Because there is much
【推荐2】In junior high schools in America, kids study English, writing, math, science, biology, music and art.
At 12 o’clock, the students have lunch at school. They have meat, vegetables, fruit, bread and a drink, but they like hot dogs and hamburgers best. American kids like sugar(糖), and after the meal they can have a small piece of cake.
Students sleep(睡觉) for a short time after lunch. They begin classes at 1:30 in the afternoon. They go to school on weekdays and have classes for six hours every day and then return home.
Parents let their kids play or watch TV until dinner at 6:00 p.m. After dinner, they do their homework. Sometimes kids and their parents have a family activity after dinner.
1. Do American children study English at school?2. Where do American kids usually have lunch?
3. What time do the American kids usually have dinner in the evening?
4. Do you like the school life of American students? Why or why not?
In classroom, your teachers will talk about topics that you are studying. The information they provide will be important for you to know when you take tests. So you must be able to take good written notes from what your teachers say.
Here are the three stages(阶段) of taking notes and what you should do during each stage.
1. Before Class
Review your notes you have taken before you come to class. This will be good for remembering what was covered. Get you ready to understand new information your teacher will provide.
2. During Class
Keep your attention on what your teacher is saying and “the signal words” that tell you what your teacher is going to say and it is important to write in your notes. Examples of signal words are “The most important point…” and “Remember that…”. Be sure to include in your notes information that your teacher repeats or writes on the blackboard. Write quickly so that you can include all the important information in your notes. Do this by writing abbreviations such as med for medicine, using symbols such as % for percent, and writing short sentences.
3. After Class
Rewrite your notes to make them more complete and accurate(准确的) by changing abbreviations into whole words, symbols into words, and shortened sentences into longer sentences. Use them to answer your questions. If necessary, ask your teacher for help.
| Taking notes | ||
| The information that is provided by the teachers about studying topics is useful for your tests, so it is | ||
| Stages | Review the notes you have taken to | |
| During Class | Be sure to Write them down | |
| After Class | Make your notes more complete and accurate to Ask for your | |
Many American schools are closed during the summer. Most children in the United States have a summer holiday for almost three months. This traditional school schedule was designed long ago when many Americans lived on farms. Children were needed at home during the summer to help their families with harvesting crops and feeding animals. Schools later continued the tradition, mostly because it was difficult to hold classes in the hot summer weather.
American schools began to do an experiment by changing this system in the early 1900s. One idea was for children to attend school all year round. But the idea didn't become popular until about twenty-five years ago. Studies done at the time showed that American students were not performing as well as students in other countries.
Students who attend year-round schools in the United States do not go to class every day. They spend the same number of days in class as other students do. But the time is organized differently. For example, some students attend school five days a week for nine weeks. Then they have three weeks off before going back to school for another nine weeks. In summer, they have a five-week holiday.
Supporters of year round schooling say it improves students’ learning. They say students in the traditional system often forget what they have learnt after a long summer holiday. They think that schools can offer special classes during short holidays for students who need extra help. They also think that it saves money, because the school buildings are used throughout the year.
People who oppose year-round schooling say the research has not showed that it can improve students’ learning. Families report problems in organizing activities and travel when their children in different schools have different holidays. Some parents want their children to have a long summer away from the pressures of school. People who start summer camps for children don’t agree with the idea. So do businessmen that employ teenagers in summer.
American Year—Round Schools | |
| The history of year-round schools | Students had a three-month summer holiday to help their families with harvesting crops and feeding animals, because many Americans were Schools later continued the tradition Year-round schools began in the early 1900s, but it didn't Students who attend year-round schools spend the same number of days in class. But the time is organized differently. |
| The reasons for supporting year-round schools | It improves students’ learning, because students can easily forget what they have learnt after a long summer holiday. It saves money by using the school buildings throughout the year. |
| The reasons year-round schools | It's hard for families to organize activities and travel. Parents want their children to stay away from the pressures of school. Both summer camp organizers and businessmen oppose the idea for their own |
Once kids hit the teenage years, parenting becomes more difficult than ever. Establishing (建立) effective house rules is one of the best ways to educate teenagers. House rules must respect teenagers’ needs to be independent and make sure they do proper behaviors.
How can effective house rules be established?
First of all, get your teenager to take part in making the rules, which can help keep them following them. Ask their opinion about what kinds of things they think are important when creating the rules and try to include some of their ideas.
When creating the list of rules, don’t list every single rule imaginable. Instead, try to limit it to the ten most important rules. I’ve seen some parents come up with several pages of rules which turn out to be more like a rule book rather than a list. Remember, it is important to make the list easy to remember and to be a basic guide.
Then, it is important that you write out the list of rules and hang them in a prominent (显眼的) location. Keeping the rules on the refrigerator or displayed somewhere everyone can see them is a good reminder. Revise the rules whenever there’s a need, not very frequently though.
Give a clear explanation of the consequences (后果) when a rule gets broken. But ensure (保证) that none of your consequences are equal to abusive (辱骂的) parenting. For example, take off the rule that says—“if you don’t get home by 11 at night, make arrangements to stay elsewhere until morning”. Let helping with small household chores like cleaning up their own rooms serve as consequences for disobeying rules.
Following these tips on establishing effective house rules accompanied by constant positive reinforcement (执行) will help improve your teenager’s behavior. Hope you can direct your teenager to become a responsible and independent person with the help of house rules!
Title | Establishing house rules for | |
Requirements for house rules. | They must respect teenagers’ needs to be independent and ensure that teenagers behave | |
| Trying to make the rules | Ask their opinions. Include their ideas. | |
| Keeping the house rules simple. | Limit the list to the most important rules. | |
| Writing out the list of rules and hanging them somewhere visible. | Make the rules revised | |
| Don’t abuse children if they | ||
Conclusion. | Your teenagers’ behavior will be | |
Do you know how to cook, clean and grow plants? If not, you will soon. These have become part of Chinese education. According to the new standard (标准) for labor education (劳动教育), students in primary and middle school will have at least one class a week to try and experience different kinds of labor and learn different life skills and even job skills.
The main reason for adding labor education is that teenagers in our country do too little housework. According to a survey, teenagers in China only spend 0.2 hour a day on chores, compared to 1.2 hours in the US.
According to the new standard, middle school students need to learn the following skills. The skills are about everyday chores, productive (生产的) labor and volunteer services.
| •Tidy their rooms and classrooms. •Pick clothes for travel and pack a bag. •Make a healthy daily eating plan. •Cook three or four dishes. •Fix some things like TVs or lights. |
| •Take part in activities such as planting and fishing •Take part in one or two programs like paper making or car making. |
| •Do one or two kinds of volunteer work like helping in old people’s home. |
Through labor education, students will learn the spirit of working hard and being independent. The standard also asks families to take part in the education to help students have a better future life.
1. According to the new standard, how often do middle school students have a labor class?2. Why do we add labor education for teenagers?
3. How much more time do American teenagers spend doing chores a day than Chinese teenagers ?
4. According to the new standard, what can students learn the skills about everyday chores? (One example is OK.)
5. What spirit will students learn through labor education?
6. What do you think is the best skill for you? Why?
