1 . University educators largely think highly of the wonders of teaching through technology, but skeptics question whether something is lost when professors and lectures rely too heavily on electronic media or when interaction with students takes place remotely — in cyberspace rather than the real space of the classroom. Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht, the Professor of Literature at Stanford University, is one such skeptic. “I think this enthusiastic and sometimes childish and blind pushing toward the more technology the better, the more websites the better teacher, and so forth, is very dangerous — is, indeed, suicidal,” he indicates.
However, Gumbrecht warns that there are few, if any, studies either supporting or rejecting the hypothesis that traditional ways of teaching are superior to teaching via the Internet. He says that he could point only to his “intuition that real classroom presence should be maintained,” and emphasizes the need for educators to examine critically where technology serves a useful pedagogical (教学法的) function and where it does not.
Yet, Gumbrecht allows that, for courses in which knowledge transmission is the sole purpose, electronic media probably can do the job well enough. Indeed, given the 20th century’s knowledge explosion and the increasing costs of higher education, using technology as opposed to real-life teachers for the transmission of information is probably inevitable, he admits. In any case, knowledge transmission should not be the core function of the university, he maintains, noting that universities should be places where people confront open questions, places for “intellectual complexity” and “riskful thinking”.
“We are not about finding or transmitting solutions; we are not about recipes; we are not about making intellectual life easy. Confrontation with complexity is what expands your mind. It is something like intellectual gymnastics. And this is what makes you a suitable member of the society.”
Moreover, discussions in the physical presence of others can lead to the intellectual innovation. “There’s a qualitative change, and you don’t know how it happens. Discussions in the physical presence have the capacity of being the catalyst (催化剂) for such intellectual breakthroughs. The possibility of in-classroom teaching — of letting something happen which cannot happen if you teach by the transmission of information — is a strength.”
1. Which of the following is the best title to this passage?| A．Cyberspace Interaction |
| B．The Core Function of the University |
| C．Information Transmission Cannot Help You Survive |
| D．Electronic Teaching Arouses Uncertainty |
| A．Professors should be keen on teaching technique innovation. |
| B．Technologies applied to classrooms strengthen creative thinking. |
| C．Traditional pedagogical function has its place in classroom. |
| D．The core function of the university is to focus on knowledge transmitting. |
| A．transmitting knowledge is the only purpose of the course |
| B．there’s too much knowledge to put across to the students |
| C．the cost of college education increases greatly |
| D．open questions without possible answers are encouraged |
| A．lead to greatly improved intellectual abilities |
| B．lead to easier and stronger transmission of information |
| C．produce certain energy for intellectual breakthroughs |
| D．produce qualitative change in teacher-students relationships |
2 . According to a survey published by the American Institutes for Research last year, a total of 57 colleges were operating some form of CBE programs and about 85 percent of all the higher education officials said they were either designing a CBE program at their school or were considering doing so.
Students in a CBE program choose a central field of study, just as they would at a traditional college or university. Yet instead of attending a series of classes led by professors or teaching assistants at schools, the students study online and direct themselves.
CBE programs require students to show their understanding of a given set of sills Students must prove their mastery of skills that relate to their field of choice by taking related exams. Once they have met all the requirements of their study programs, the students will get their degrees.
CBE programs have made use of many new technologies, especially internet and online media. This helps reduce barriers for nontraditional and other students by bringing higher education to them. And programs that permit students to work at their own speed may save students' money by reducing the time it takes for them to earn a degree.
But some educators have concerns about the value of the education that CBE programs offer. Johann Neem at Western Washington University argues that the purpose of higher education is not simply to help students master certain skills. It should teach students how to think critically (批判性地) understand the subjects they are studying more deeply and see how they are connected to other subjects. Only that way can they put the knowledge to better use.
He said, “You need to explore, think .. get shaken, have a conversation and struggle. And those things take time.”
Instead of supporting CBE, he adds, policy makers and educators should look for ways to improve access and reduce costs for traditional higher education.
1. How are CBE programs different from traditional college education?| A．They require students to choose their subjects. |
| B．They offer shorter curricula and are less expensive. |
| C．They heavily rely on the information technologies. |
| D．They allow students to take easier examinations. |
| A．Free access to traditional education should be provided. |
| B．Higher education just focuses on critical thinking skills. |
| C．Students should spend longer time completing the degree courses. |
| D．College students should be challenged to explore around their subjects. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Disapproving. |
| C．Sympathetic. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．To press policy-makers to provide more affordable education. |
| B．To show the disadvantages of the traditional college education. |
| C．To introduce a new controversial trend in the higher education. |
| D．To encourage educators to improve the quality of CBE programs. |
3 . More than ever before, students all over the world are turning to online learning to further their education.
Practice Good Time Management. Time management is possibly one of the most important and valuable skills for online learners.
Remove Distractions. This might be a hard step to conquer. From social media to kids playing in the next room, you’re bound to face countless amounts of distractions. The best advice is to try your best to lessen all the distractions and stay focused! Of course, distractions are unique to each individual and may also depend on circumstances.
Build Your Network. Many online courses are developed around the concept of cooperation with professors and educators who encourage students to work together to achieve their end goals. This is why it is important to build as many relationships as possible not only with your peers but with professors too.
Create A Dedicated Study Space.
| A．This tip is actually a whole lot simpler than people think. |
| B．You need regular access to a computer to take online classes. |
| C．Engage in as many discussions and group sessions as possible. |
| D．Ultimately, you will need to find what exactly works best for you. |
| E．The better you manage your time, the easier it will be to achieve your goals. |
| F．Make sure that your space is well lit with the right supplies necessary for your study. |
| G．Despite its huge benefits like added flexibility, this route can be overwhelming for people. |
4 . As the novel coronavirus epidemic continues, one school after another has organized online classes. The most common form is live streaming, in which all participants, teacher and students alike, sit in front of a computer camera and see each other by the platform.
Many teachers and students simply wear casual clothing for the class, and jokes show about each other’s appearance. After all, most of the time it is the teacher appearing on screen, and the students, even if called on by the teacher, will only show their faces.
Yet Shijiazhuang No.1 Middle School in Hebei province recently caused heated discussion by requiring teachers to wear formal suits and students to wear uniforms while attending online classes.
By Saturday morning, the related topic has become one of the hottest topics on Sina Weibo, with 180 million views.
“The practice can improve students’ sense of formality in the online classes and make them more attentive,” said Yao Haibo, a head teacher of the school in a video clip. “It can also give students a sense of honor and make them remember their identities as students.”
However, in the comment sections, some micro bloggers claiming to be students disagreed.
“Not useful. Whether one works hard or not is not decided by a uniform,” was the most highly voted comment, with 31,000 “likes”.
“Maybe a good move, but unnecessary,” was another highly voted comment.
Whatever the argument is, the problem might be solved in the not-so-distant future. According to official data, the number of newly confirmed diagnosed cases was 397 on Saturday.
The students and teachers might, hopefully, see each other in classrooms soon.
1. Which statement about passage is wrong?| A．teachers and students can see each other via the platform |
| B．teachers mostly appear on screen while students not |
| C．teachers have classes online as the novel coronavirus epidemic continues |
| D．online classes are popular in schools |
| A．it can make students remember their identities as students |
| B．it can protect students from the novel coronaviruses |
| C．jokes emerge about teachers and students’ appearance |
| D．it can improve students’ sense of formality |
| A．stop | B．disappear | C．continue | D．be forbidden |
| A．Supportive. | B．Optimistic. | C．Objective. | D．Negative. |
5 . Online education has grown fast over the past ten years. The explosion of technology has made teaching outside the traditional classroom possible for teachers and has provided learners with easy access to course materials. Its attractiveness, benefits, and challenges are addressed.
In April, 2005, I was approached by a student who was interested in our doctoral program. However, the first question out of her mouth was, “Do you offer any online courses?” Later that day, as I was reading the conference program guide trying for interesting presentations, I noticed many workshops on web-based learning and online education. I later attended two of those workshops and met several professors from different universities who had either taught online courses for quite some time or who were discovering the best practice for teaching online. These experiences helped me realize at least to some extent the degree of growth in online education.
My responsibilities for the term included gaining more understanding of online education. Consequently, I made several attempts to enrich my knowledge of distance learning and online teaching. I consulted with my colleagues who were teaching online courses. This helped me recognize the importance of getting materials prepared even before the start of a term. I also learned that online courses may consume more time than regular classroom teaching. And I attended several workshops regarding online education and established a network with those who were involved in online programs at other universities. I will consider these people as my consultants as I begin to design my own online course. Also, I conducted a brief survey with 15 students and two faculty members who had taken or taught an online course before to understand their experience. Eventually I completed a literature review which gave me the foundation and the background of understanding the need for online education.
1. What benefits the development of online education?| A．Teachers’ good teaching ability. | B．Lack of traditional classrooms. |
| C．Learners’ access to free courses. | D．The rapid advance of technology. |
| A．To show students’ love for the doctoral program. |
| B．To persuade learners of traditional education. |
| C．To explain the growing trend of online education. |
| D．To predict the future of the teaching career. |
| A．The appetite for knowledge. | B．The professional responsibilities. |
| C．The requirement of research. | D．The colleagues’ encouragement. |
| A．Carefree. | B．Doubtful. | C．Supportive. | D．Unwilling. |
6 . Online education is one of the many advances that technology has brought to us.
The main advantage of online learning is that it offers an alternative to traditional classes.
The disadvantage of online learning is that it ignores the communication between students and the teacher and their classmates. Besides, its role in some areas is also limited.
Only by making full use of its strengths and avoiding its weaknesses can we achieve the biggest benefit.
| A．The difference lies in the learning experience. |
| B．In recent years, there is a big growth in online learning. |
| C．Some skills like nursing work must be learned face to face. |
| D．It means we no longer have to be physically present in the classroom. |
| E．Combining online education with traditional education is the best choice. |
| F．The traditional education will be replaced by online learning in the future. |
| G．It’s good for students with busy schedules and for those who are working at the same time. |
7 . A PROFESSOR at Loyola University New Orleans taught his first online class from his courtyard, wearing a bathrobe (浴袍). The trouble caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn various responses at colleges struggling to continue teaching. This is widely being referred to as “online higher education.” There are even predictions that it will lead to a permanent departure from real campuses to virtual classrooms. However, all indications suggest that it probably won’t.
Real online education lets students move at their own pace. Additionally, developing a real online course can consume as much as a year. “That is not what is happening right now,” said Vijay Govindarajan, a professor at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. “What is happening now is we had eight days to put everything we do in class onto Zoom.”
What students are mistaking now for online education — long class meetings in videoconference rooms, professors in their bathrobes, DIY teaching tools — appears to be making them less open to it. In a survey of 14,000 college students in early April, 67 percent said they didn’t find online classes as effective as in-person ones. Among high school seniors, fewer than one in ten thought they would consider online college classes.
These opinions suggest that there is little likelihood that students will completely abandon their real-world campuses for cyberspace. Students who want classes best provided face to face, such as those in the performing arts or those which require lab work, will most likely continue to take them that way.
There will be some important lasting influences, though. Students are experiencing a flexible type of learning they may not like as undergraduates. The trend may not transform higher education, but it is likely to promote the combination of technology into it.
“Let’s take advantage of this moment to start a larger conversation about the whole design of higher education,” said Dr. Govindarajan. “We had better not lose this opportunity.”
1. According to the article, those who study ______ will be more likely to take online classes in college.| A．musical drama | B．applied physics |
| C．chemical engineering | D．computer science |
| A．get rid of the real-world campuses |
| B．lower the cost of developing big courses |
| C．use digital technologies to satisfy students’learning needs |
| D．provide more students with access to courses of high quality |
| A．it is easy for most university professors to teach online |
| B．Dr. Govindarajan was positive about the outlook for online education |
| C．online classes worked better among high schoolers than among undergraduates |
| D．a flexible type of learning is more suitable for those who study while working full-time |
8 . Nowadays, online learning turns out to be more and more practiced. It represents an easy and comfortable method for achieving knowledge in almost every field.
Although many people still consider traditional classes as the best way to attain knowledge, online learning proves to be a useful option. Students have the chance to study in their own time. It is a great way to study many fields and to improve the level of self-motivation.
What else? Easy access to all resources of a traditional course helps students learn wherever they are.
In conclusion, online learning should be seen as a complement(补充) to and extension of classical forms of learning.
| A．Online learning reaches more and more people. |
| B．Online learning is a great alternative to traditional classes. |
| C．However, only in a small group can a student develop properly. |
| D．Besides, they are able to attend different courses on the Internet. |
| E．Even the best online course can't fully replace face-to-face contact. |
| F．Online learning is effective as students can make full use of their time. |
| G．But online learning is also effective for those who can't focus their attention. |
As we advance into the third quarter of 2020, educators are watching ahead and wondering whether there is a possibility of reopening education campuses and in-person teaching anytime soon. The ongoing pandemic(流行病) has changed several aspects of human life, including education and potential online education trends. It has urged global experimentation with remote teaching, and most students accept the change from in-person to online learning. One of the newest trends in the education industry is microlearning. Microlearning provides information about school subjects to students in an exciting manner by dividing the course material into small, manageable parts for a suitable learning experience. It is suitable for people who are unable to provide attention to a matter for more than an hour.
As online education is entering the mainstream, students are looking for more straightforward and easier strategies to acquire knowledge, and this is where microlearning enters the scene. It allows learners to grasp bite- sized information quickly and effectively.
A great example of microlearning is the language learning application Duolingo which allows users to learn a piece of any language in small, frequent lessons. Over the next year, as far as online education trends go, we can expect to witness an increase in such educational applications and microlearning.
Online education is taking over traditional classroom-based education by providing students with a personalized learning experience that removes location, time, or device limits.
Traditional classroom lectures might not be useful for everyone, as each individual has a different pace of understanding and interest. Therefore, it is crucial to provide learners with a choice that encourages the most effective learning process. Personalized learning is one of the online education trends that will dominate the coming year.
The concept of traditional education has changed dramatically since the beginning and mass acceptance of online education. The world is busy in remote teaching experimentation, and the online education trends may impact learning in the future.
1. What influence does the pandemic have on students?2. How does microlearning give information to students?
3. Please paraphrase the underlined sentence in your own words.
4. Please briefly present your opinion about online learning. (About 40 words.)
10 . Often, high school students don’t have a wide selection of courses from which they may choose. However, many online high schools offer a course list that includes almost everything from basics like math and science to extras like computer programming and instrument lessons. Many online high schools also offer students the chance to take advanced classes that may not be as readily available in some traditional schools.
An online high school student doesn’t have to get up very early in the morning and rush out to school. Instead, he can get a reasonable amount of sleep and start his day on his preferred schedule. While online schools do have attendance requirements, an online school can be more flexible (灵活的). And, the online high school students don’t have to worry about what to wear or what their classmates will say about how they look that day.
An online high school student needn’t be worried about a class that is moving too quickly or too slowly for him. Likewise, he may be able to take advantage of course offerings that suit his own learning style. For example, some online high schools offer coursework that meets the needs of visual (视觉的) or auditory (听觉的) learners in addition to those who can learn from traditional schools.
Since online high school students don’t need to spend time waiting for class to start and traveling to and from school, they may have more time to follow their hobbies. For example, if a student is training in dancing, he may have more time to practice. If another student is learning a musical instrument, he may have more time for that as well. Even part-time work and socializing may fit better into the life of a student taking advantage of the flexibility offered by an online school.
1. What’s the difference between traditional high school and online high school?| A．Range of classes to learn. | B．Tradition of teaching. |
| C．Ways of selecting courses. | D．Chances of learning basics. |
| A．Start his day early. | B．Attend class according to rules. |
| C．Mind his appearance. | D．Have a tight schedule based on interest. |
| A．By offering courses of different styles. |
| B．By listing the experiment results for remembering. |
| C．By slowing down the teaching pace. |
| D．By reducing the time of coursework. |
| A．Traditional Schools or Online Schools | B．Strengths of Traditional Schools |
| C．Importance of Online Schools | D．Flexibility of Online Schools |
