Because they follow the actions of their role models so closely, children adopt the personality and attitude of their role models. Children learn to like or dislike certain things by mimicking the personality and attitude of the people they admire.
One reason why children keep changing their answers to “what would you like to be when you grow up” is that they are influenced by individuals in a certain field.
Children view the social relationships (family or public) mainly in the light of the importance these relationships hold in the life of their role models. Their expression of their feelings is many times a reflection of their role model’s outlook.
According to a study, around 56% of teenagers identified with the role models. Out of these, those having personal or direct contact with their role models had higher self-esteem and were better at academics compared to those who didn’t. As such, children who have positive role models, have more self-confidence and are more optimistic about their future. They learn to handle themselves well in social settings and positively interact with those around them.
Of course, children who have their parents as positive role models have a well-rounded outlook towards life. They find it easier to deal with the highs and lows of life because they have seen their parents do it before. They find a sense of stability and security knowing that they will overcome failures just like their parents before them. Besides, it becomes easier for parents to discipline and guide children. So it is no wonder why children who have parents as their role models have fewer behavioral issues.
1. This article is mainly about______.
| A．the importance of role models to children |
| B．how to be a good role model for children |
| C．the relation between role models and children |
| D．how to change children’s personality and attitude |
| A．studying | B．accepting |
| C．changing | D．imitating |
| A．there is a decrease in children’s self-esteem |
| B．there are fewer children better at academics |
| C．children may have a strong desire to succeed |
| D．children may feel more optimistic about their future |
| A．children’s behavioral issues are serious |
| B．people should learn the latest studies on role models |
| C．parents should set a good example for children |
| D．teaching children strategies for security is important |
Some students will have planned their year out for months, but, for others, slipped grades may force a gap year（间隔年）, either to retake exams or to apply to different universities. Others might just need time to think. Thankfully, for U.K. students, taking a gap year remains a good option and it can be one of the most productive and fulfilling years of their life.
Whether you’ve planned and budgeted for a year abroad, or have made a last-minute decision to delay your first year, the options are endless. Traveling, volunteering and so on are all there for the talking. With so many things on offer, it’s important to remember that 12 months won’t be enough time to do all of them, so decide early and work towards making whatever you want to do a reality.
Researching a gap year is exciting, and often the place to start is at home. Family and friends can be a great source of inspiration. Your school or college might be fully equipped to advise you on what to do when further education is on hold. Don’t underestimate（低估）the power of the Internet, either. Typing a “gap year” into a search engine might seem too obvious, but planning to travel around the world for months on your own is not appropriate.
To stay at home or go abroad is likely to be the first question you consider, but in this era of budget flights, doing both is practicable. A European inter-rail ticket（火车票）can be as little as £ 159. For those loving traveling, they must be on the special watchfulness for tricks in the process. Agencies can organize your year abroad for you, and often, it is more effective to make the bookings through the agencies. But flights and other forms of transport within Asia and America are much cheaper when bought in the countries rather than bought in advance.
1. According to Paragraph 2, why do some students have to take a gap year?
| A．Because they are faced with financial problems. |
| B．Because they dislike what they are learning . |
| C．Because they haven’t got satisfying grades. |
| D．Because they intend to hang out for a year. |
| A．taken in | B．put off |
| C．given up | D．turned out |
| A．Few students can afford to go abroad. |
| B．Traveling around Europe costs nothing. |
| C．It’s better to go to Asia and south America. |
| D．Travellers should make sure they aren’t cheated. |
| A．supportive | B．negative |
| C．defensive | D．sensitive |
In her new book, “The Smartest Kids in the World,” Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist, tells the story of Tom, a high-school student from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, who decides to spend his senior year in Warsaw, Poland. Poland is a surprising educational success story: in the past decade, the country raised students’ test scores from significantly below average to well above it. Polish kids have now outscored(超过……分数) American kids in math and science, even though Poland spends, on average, less than half as much per student as the United States does. One of the most striking differences between the high school Tom attended in Gettysburg and the one he ends up at in Warsaw is that the latter has no football team, or, for that matter, teams of any kind.
That American high schools waste more time and money on sports than on math is an old complaint. This is not a matter of how any given student who plays sports does in school, but of the culture and its priorities. This December, when the latest Program for International Student Assessment(PISA) results are announced, it’s safe to predict that American high-school students will once again display their limited skills in math and reading, outscored not just by students in Poland but also by students in places like South Korea, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Singapore, and Japan. Meanwhile, they will have played some very exciting football games, which will have been breathlessly written up in their hometown papers.
Why does this situation continue? Well, for one thing, kids like it. And for another, according to Ripley, parents seem to like the arrangement, too. She describes a tour she took of a school in Washington D.C., which costs thirty thousand dollars a year. The tour leader—a mother with three children in the school—was asked about the school’s flaws(瑕疵). When she said that the math program was weak, none of the parents taking the tour reacted. When she said that the football program was weak, the parents suddenly became concerned. “Really?” one of them asked worriedly, “What do you mean?”
One of the ironies(讽刺) of the situation is that sports reveal what is possible. American kids’ performance on the field shows just how well they can do when expectations are high. It’s too bad that their test scores show the same thing.
1. According to Paragraph 2, we know that _______.| A．too much importance is placed on sports in America |
| B．little time is spent on sports in Japanese schools |
| C．American high schools complain about sports time |
| D．PISA plays a very important role in America |
| A．American students’ academic performance worries their parents a lot |
| B．high expectations push up American students’ academic performance |
| C．low expectations result in American students’ poor PISA performance |
| D．lacking practice contributes to American students’ average performance |
| A．draw public attention to a weakness in American school tradition |
| B．call on American schools to learn from the Polish model |
| C．compare Polish schools with those in America |
| D．explain what is wrong with American schools and provide solutions |
4 . In America, parents tend to encourage their children to develop their potential (潜能) to the fullest extent. Fathers and mothers frequently teach their children both ambition and the confidence necessary to work toward their goals. American parents are always active in concentrating on what their kids can do, not what they can’t. As a result, millions of American boys and girls grow up hoping to become actors and athletes, diplomats and doctors. Many of them even want to become president.
American parents often encourage their children to become involved in extra activities of all types at school, such as student government, sports and music. They believe that only through taking part in these activities can their children become mature young adults.
As we all know, school work is important. But parents should realize that the social skills their children learn from natural conversations with each other are as important as schoolwork and the skills they will need in the future work. What’s more important in their work is that their children should have a sound knowledge of physics or the ability to communicate effectively.
As a rule, Chinese parents don’t educate their children about the same kind of ambition and confidence as Americans do, nor do they encourage the same level of participation in extra activities. Children are typically advised to study hard and pass exams. They have to spend a lot of time in doing much schoolwork every day. It is a great waste of time to do so.
Now more and more Chinese parents have recognized that they should pay attention to developing the potential of their children. I hope that leaders in Chinese educational circles should take some measures to develop the potential of their children. I am very confident about it.
1. From the passage, we know the American parents pay much more attention to .| A．the social skills than Chinese parents |
| B．their children’s studying hard and well |
| C．what their children want but they can’t |
| D．extra activities than schoolwork |
| A．know more than American parents to educate their children |
| B．owning ambition and confidence is necessary and important |
| C．pay much more attention to their children’s fine future |
| D．don’t encourage their children to participate in extra activities |
| A．American children are brave and adventurous |
| B．American children are more active in their studies |
| C．Chinese children have the ability to communicate effectively |
| D．something should be done to develop the potential of the children in China |
| A．Neutral. | B．Indifferent. |
| C．Positive. | D．Negative. |
5 . There are many reasons for people to study abroad. One is that you can have the chance to make yourself know about the culture of the place. Although we humans belong only to the same one species, we are divided into several races.
Once you are studying in a foreign country, you will slowly learn to speak the language of the place.
Studying abroad will also give you the chance to experience a totally different curriculum (课程).
Studying abroad is also a memory that can be valued for a lifetime.
| A．This is an opportunity to make friends from other races. |
| B．Studying abroad also offers an opportunity to travel. |
| C．Different countries have different cultures. |
| D．A college course in the UK, for example, is not similar to the one we have here. |
| E．Learning the native language of the place can also greatly help you to go around. |
| F．English is spoken as a third language in many countries. |
| G．There are Africans, Europeans, Asians and etc. |
The answer in two words: parental
Today’s parents help their kids with almost everything. These are parents who are
University researchers analyzed three decades of data relating to parent participation in children’s academics. Their conclusions
Parents who manage a child’s social life interfere with the
These kids have anxieties and fears of all sorts and don’t want to leave their
| A．counted on | B．resulted in | C．touched on | D．taken in |
| A．associated | B．linked | C．compared | D．matched |
| A．parents | B．adolescents | C．psychologists | D．youths |
| A．assistance | B．protection | C．involvement | D．preference |
| A．differences | B．similarities | C．choices | D．relations |
| A．slightly | B．passively | C．highly | D．fairly |
| A．in case of | B．in spite of | C．in view of | D．in fear of |
| A．equal | B．safe | C．long | D．short |
| A．fault | B．turn | C．job | D．attitude |
| A．when | B．how | C．why | D．what |
| A．confused | B．disappointed | C．amazed | D．satisfied |
| A．however | B．still | C．yet | D．thus |
| A．unreasonable | B．changeable | C．understandable | D．avoidable |
| A．confirmed | B．convinced | C．realized | D．reflected |
| A．decides | B．lowers | C．helps | D．stimulates |
| A．appearance | B．performance | C．establishment | D．development |
| A．value | B．devote | C．fill | D．save |
| A．communication | B．conflicts | C．cooperation | D．competitions |
| A．home | B．school | C．career | D．profession |
| A．start | B．ignore | C．consider | D．stop |
Berninger and her colleagues conducted a study that looked at the ability of students to complete various writing tasks---both on a computer and by hand. The study, published in 2009, found that when writing with a pen and paper, participants wrote longer essays and more complete senten3ces and had a faster word production rate.
In a more recent study, Berninger looked at what role spelling plays in a student’s writing skills and found that how well children spell is tied to how well they can write. “Spelling makes some of the thinking parts of the brain active, which helps us access our vocabulary, word meanings and concepts. It is allowing our written language to connect with ideas. Berninger said.
Spelling helps students translate ideas into words in their mind first and then to transcribe (转换) “those words in the mind written symbols on paper or keyboard and screen,” the study said. Seeing the words in the “minds eye” helps children not only to turn their ideas into words, says Berninger, but also to spot spelling mistakes when they write the words down and to correct them over time.
“In our computer age, some people believe that we don’t have to teach spelling because we have spell checks,” she said. “But until a child has a functional spelling ability of about a fifth grade level, they won’t have the knowledge to choose the correct spelling among the options given by the computer.”
1. What makes writing by hand a thing of the past?
| A．The absence of blackboard in classroom. |
| B．The use of new technologies in teaching. |
| C．The lack of practice in handwriting. |
| D．The popular use of smart phones. |
| A．Spelling improves one’s memory of words. |
| B．Spelling ability is closely related to writing ability. |
| C．Spelling benefits the translation from words into ideas. |
| D．Spelling slows down finding exact words to express ideas. |
| A．Window. | B．Soul. | C．Picture. | D．Imagination. |
| A．Computers can help people with their choice of words. |
| B．Spell checks can take the place of spelling teaching. |
| C．Handwriting still has a place in today’s classrooms. |
| D．Functional spelling ability develops fast in the fifth grade. |
In our grandparents’ time, it was unthinkable. In our parents’ time, it was unusual and nobody spoke openly about counseling. These days, more and more schools are asking for this service and it is considered a necessity for most. Why is it? What has changed in the last fifty years to have made counseling at schools so important?
“One reason is that we expect schools to do more to protect their pupils than we did in the past,” says school counselor, Mike Hudson. “Also, our society doesn’t work as well as it should. Many parents are either under pressure of work or face the economic problems of unemployment, while children are under more and more pressure to do well at school. Many pupils feel they are pushed to their limits by their parents and teachers.”
Most school children face some kind of relationship problem at some stage with family members, teachers or other pupils, so it helps to have somebody to talk to.
From the pupil’s point of view, it is easier to talk to a counselor in confidence rather than a family member or teacher. This solution is less embarrassing to pupils, who are not forced to face the person that they had problems with in the first place. They can calmly talk things through without arguments.
School counselors advise not only students but also their teachers and parents, and offer other services as well, such as deciding learning disabilities or assisting parents and guardians to make the correct decisions about their children’ s education.
Counselors can help students with problems ranging from the most serious, like a death in the family, to what an adult would consider really trivial, like an argument with a friend.
In a society that is becoming more and more stressful, this service is providing children with a supportive way to express their fear and worries.
1. Why is school counseling becoming important?
| A．Pupils are not well protected in school. |
| B．Parents can’t help their children in learning. |
| C．Parents and pupils are under too much pressure. |
| D．The relationship between parents and schools is worse. |
| A．bear high pressure themselves |
| B．are the guarantee of school success |
| C．have more responsibilities than teachers |
| D．are more likely to be accepted when pupils have problems |
| A．unimportant | B．puzzling |
| C．difficult | D．urgent |
| A．The development of school counseling. |
| B．The reasons for school counseling’s popularity. |
| C．The advantages and disadvantages of school counseling. |
| D．The comparison of the past and present school counseling. |
The moment we hear of homeschooling, we think the child will have no opportunities to interact with peers. However, in my friend’s opinion, we forget that when attending a regular school, the child is not into socializing all the while. The child is
The child might be meeting and studying along with many peers; however, how many kids interact with all the kids in a class? But in homeschooling system, as my friend mentioned, the kid has all the time and can plan his day accordingly. During the day the child studies just like other school-going kids but with no burden of homework and project work, the child has so much free time in the evening as to effectively interact and play with peers. The quality time the child spends in education is really impressive.
Homeschooled kids have the opportunity to socialize more often as they have a lot of time in their hands. They can also make socializing a regular habit. Just as my friend said, her child goes to a neighboring park almost every day and has a set of friends who go there daily. Other children get back home to finish off homework and project work whereas her child who is already through with studies gets the opportunity to spend time with family members.
When I heard this, I really felt how lucky the child was. Definitely the child had a better opportunity to socialize when compares with my kids. However, I might not consider homeschooling for my kid, as I am so used to the traditional schooling system and feel regular schooling the safest bet.
1. What is the author’s attitude towards his friend’s idea of homeschooling?
| A．Surprised. | B．Interested. |
| C．Negative. | D．Confident. |
| A．explain what homeschooling is. |
| B．express his views on homeschooling. |
| C．share his ways of teaching his children. |
| D．promote homeschooling |
| A．free | B．restricted |
| C．devoted | D．accustomed |
| A．They can be better at socializing. |
| B．They can be more popular. |
| C．They will become braver. |
| D．They can study better. |
| A．By following the order of importance. |
| B．By following the order of time |
| C．By presenting facts. |
| D．By making comparison. |
10 . When it comes to President Obama, most of his personal business is already known by the public. Personal information about his children, Malia and Sasha, however, has been kept a little more under wraps.
The New York Times recently released a list of rules that Michelle Obama has mentioned over the years that Malia and Sasha must follow during their time in the White House, as well as in general. See how the first family educates their children:
The girls must write reports about what they’ve seen on their trips, even if it’s not required by their school.
Malia may use her cell phone only on the weekend, and she and her sister cannot watch television or use a computer for anything but homework during the week.
Malia and Sasha have to play two sports: one they choose and one selected by their mother.
Malia must learn to do laundry (洗衣服) before she leaves for college.
The girls have to eat their vegetables, and if they say they are not hungry, they cannot ask for cookies or chips later.
While these might be shocking to some, Michelle said, “They’re not little princesses. It’s just basic rules, boundaries, and expectations that we would have normally.”
Michelle also mentions another set of rules ：
The girls must do their chores (家务), though the White House has a large staff. Malia and Sasha have chores of their own.
They must play a team sport, because it’s about learning how to play on a team, how to lose and how to win gracefully.
…
It sounds like Michelle and Barack want the best for their kids and to make them as well rounded as possible. What are your thoughts on the Obama family rules?
1. What’s the passage mainly about?| A．The first family rules. |
| B．The first family daily life. |
| C．How to be good parents. |
| D．How to be good children. |
| A．Attractive. | B．Secret. |
| C．Calm | D．Public. |
| A．Emails. | B．Reports. |
| C．Homework. | D．Photos. |
| A．To learn to do laundry. |
| B．To play two sports. |
| C．To use cell phone freely. |
| D．To eat their vegetables. |
