1. What is the main topic of the talk?
A.Different educational systems around the world. |
B.The disadvantages of much homework. |
C.Children’s mental health. |
A.2nd grade. | B.3rd grade. | C.4th grade. |
A.Canada. | B.Finland. | C.The US. |
A.The school should give children no homework. |
B.The school should improve kids’ performance. |
C.The school should work with parents. |
2 . As young children went back to school across Sweden last month, many of their teachers were putting a new emphasis on printed books, quiet reading time and handwriting practice and devoting less time to tablets, independent online research and keyboarding skills.
The return to more traditional ways of learning is a response to experts’ doubt on the country’s over-digitalized approach to education, which has even introduced tablets into kindergartens. They are worried that it has already led to a decline in basic skills.
The rapid adoption of digital learning tools has also drawn concern from a United Nations’ education agency. In a report published last month, the agency issued an urgent call for appropriate use of technology in education. The report urges countries to speed up Internet connections at schools, but at the same time warns that technology in education should be used in a way so that it never replaces in-person, teacher-led instruction and supports the shared objective of quality education for all.
However, online instruction is a hotly debated subject across Europe and other parts of the West. Germany has been famously slow in moving information of all kinds online, including education. Many students can complete their schooling without any kind of required digital instruction, such as coding. Most parents worry their children may not be able to compete in the job market with technologically better-trained young people from other countries. “If we don’t manage to make education digital, then we will no longer be a competitive country in 20 years,” said Sascha Lobo, one of the parents interviewed last year.
However, not all teachers are convinced that Sweden’s back-to-basics push is in the best interest for students. “Technology is just one part of a really complex network of factors in education,” said Catarina Branelius, a third grade teacher in the Swedish capital, Stockholm. “I use tablets in math, but I don’t use tablets for writing text. Students under age 10 need time and practice and exercise in handwriting… before you introduce them to write on a tablet.”
1. What did Sweden stress before this new school year?A.Printed books. | B.Handwriting practice. | C.Quiet reading time. | D.Independent online research. |
A.Textbook-centered. | B.Balanced. | C.Over-digitalized. | D.Traditional. |
A.Students in Germany do not heavily rely on computers. | B.The German government is pushing for online instruction. |
C.German parents are happy with their children’s education. | D.Teachers in Germany are ready to make education digital. |
A.Favorable. | B.Unclear. | C.Doubtful. | D.Unconcerned. |
3 . Waking up at the crack of dawn and going for a run might feel awful when you start trying to make it a habit. Weaving a significant new activity such as this into your regular routine obviously takes determination and time.
One popular idea suggests that it takes 21 days to solidify a habit. People tend to feel extra motivated to start a new habit or kick an old one.
Everyone has a unique habit-building timeline.
The researchers also suggested that habit formation depends on the effort that a person puts into practicing an activity and on the presence of environmental cues that would remind them to carry out the behavior.
A.The type of activity is also a factor. |
B.The strategies of activity impact the way. |
C.People want to form a habit of exercising regularly. |
D.But how much time is really needed to make that habit stick? |
E.It might sound easily reachable to make a resolution on New Year’s Day. |
F.By comparison, it took half a year for people to develop an exercise habit. |
G.However long it is for any individual, repetition is the key to making it work. |
4 . “What do you mean by this phrase? It’s incorrect and adds nothing to the sentence. Omit (省略).” Professor Jones’s critical feedback on my paper hurt me when I first read it. I scanned his comments for a “Good job!” or “I love this idea,” but they were nowhere to be found.
Everyone likes warmth and encouragement, but purely positive affirmations (肯定) don’t communicate what can be improved. Research conducted on Character Lab Research Network finds that direct, useful feedback requiring students to revise their own work is more effective. For Professor Jones, this looked like a note at the end of another paper: “I’m sure things will improve as the term and year wear on.” However, feedback that does the work for a student—correcting a misspelled word, rewriting a sentence—can signal a teacher’s low expectations.
When kids see comments that suggest what needs to be changed, they come to realize they can do things on their own and become more independent learners. As a bonus, this kind of feedback lets students know that their teacher believes in them.
As for me, I was benedictory for Professor Jones’s pointed criticism which let me know that he took me seriously. He was expecting me to do better, and the detailed comments scrawled (潦草地写) on every page gave me the tools to improve. Teachers can add affirmations to their feedback as long as it’s not the only thing they’re doing.
Don’t confuse warmth with promoting a growth mindset. Being nice isn’t the same as showing someone you believe they can improve. So give detailed feedback that sets young people up to take charge of their own learning. For example, instead of rewriting a sentence, say: “This is a run-on sentence. Try reading it out loud and add punctuation in places where you naturally take a breath.” Ask worth-exploring questions that inspire students to think about their approach, then let them revise on their own. When it comes to writing, the easiest path isn’t always the best one.
1. How did the author initially feel about Professor Jones’s feedback?A.Happy and motivated. | B.Upset and disappointed. |
C.Indifferent and unconcerned. | D.Confident and encouraged. |
A.It should be brief and to the point. | B.It should be warm and encouraging. |
C.It should be written at the end of the paper. | D.It should be up to students to fix their own work. |
A.Responsible. | B.Generous. | C.Regretful. | D.Grateful. |
A.Give students general praise. | B.Rewrite sentences for students. |
C.Provide students critical support. | D.Show students corrected assignments. |
Distance learning is a form of education in
However, distance learning has become a (n)
6 . I often hear kids say, “I’m not a math person” or “I’m just not good at math.” These statements reflect what’s called a “fixed mindset”, which is often associated with a sense of discouragement, powerlessness and inability to improve one’s situation. A fixed mindset is extremely common in math classrooms, but with the help of teachers, students can adopt a “growth mindset”.
This means believing in their potential to acquire the skills and knowledge. In strong, productive teacher-student relationships, teachers nurture (培养) growth mindsets. And there are some key steps in building these relationships, starting with giving instruction that meets the skill levels of individual students. Besides, it’s important to give students social and emotional support, so they could develop social awareness self-management, decision-making and relationship skills.
How could teachers do these among class prep and grading duties? I believe in applying educational technologies. With the right tools, teachers can skillfully manage to individualize instruction and meet social-emotional needs.
Razzaq, a math teacher at Doherty High School, has students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, and some were still learning English alongside math. The school once placed a student in her class, who hadn’t been in formal school since third grade. Students have different levels and social-emotional needs that demand attention from teachers. Sometimes they’re not aware or communicative of the areas in which they need help. Razzaq gives tests with the help of some educational platforms, which generate reports that summarize individual weak points. Then Razzaq could give instructions suiting their academic situations, making productive use of class time. She also uses technologies that provide insights into social-emotional experiences such as attentiveness and time management. The data enables her to initiate conversations that make a difference in students’ education.
More importantly, we need to examine our approach to education. Are we creating an environment where children can develop healthily? How are we satisfying the needs of our future generations? Only by knowing our vision can we decide the technology to complete the picture.
1. Which of the following problems do students often have about learning math according to the text?A.Personal interest. | B.Low confidence. |
C.Poor self-control. | D.Poor learning ability. |
A.By giving an example. | B.By conducting research. |
C.By analyzing statistical data. | D.By making some comparisons. |
A.They encourage students to communicate. |
B.They provide suggestions on math teaching. |
C.They correct the mistakes students make in tests. |
D.They give information about students’ learning situation . |
A.A technician. | B.A psychologist. |
C.An educationist. | D.A mathematician. |
7 . Sleep is essential for our physical and mental health, but many people may experience sleep disturbances. Lying awake for hours before falling asleep is a common problem. Despite getting enough sleep, they may still feel worn out.
Although counting sheep is a common technique to aid sleep, some experts suggest engaging in mindless activities like folding laundry instead.
Eating habits can also affect sleep. Consuming certain foods and drinks before bedtime can improve the amount of REM sleep, which helps with memory consolidation and learning.
Snoring, while generally harmless, can be a sign of sleep apnoea, which can lead to serious health conditions such as strokes, irregular heartbeats, and high blood pressure.
Naps or power naps taken during the day can help us be more alert and focused. So, taking small breaks during the day to rest and recharge can boost productivity and energy levels.
In conclusion, improving sleep quality requires adopting healthy habits and dispelling harmful sleep-related myths and so on.Only by doing so can we prioritize our sleep and enhance our overall wellbeing.
A.Medical advice should be sought if this persists. |
B.Many sleep-related myths can be harmful to our health |
C.To improve sleep quality, it’s important to adopt healthy habits. |
D.People of all ages report better sleep quality after listening to music. |
E.Listening to music can reduce your stress and inspire positive feelings. |
F.So people having trouble falling asleep always wonder how they can sleep well. |
G.Walking is also recommended as a relaxing activity that may improve sleep quality. |
8 . Since young children went back to school across Sweden recently, many of their teachers have been putting a new emphasis on printed books, quiet reading time and handwriting practice, and devoting less time to tablets, independent online research and keyboarding skills.
The return to more traditional ways of learning is a response to politicians and experts questioning whether Sweden’s hyper-digitalized approach to education, including the introduction of tablets in nursery schools, had led to a decline in basic skills.
Sweden’s minister for schools, Lotta Edholm was one of the biggest critics of the all-out embrace of technology. “Sweden’s students need more textbooks,” Edholm said in March. “Physical books are important for student learning.” The minister announced in August that the government wanted to change the decision by the national agency for education to make digital devices compulsory in preschools. It plans to go further and to completely end digital learning for children under age six, the ministry has told the Associated Press.
Although Sweden’s students score above the European average for reading ability, an international assessment of fourth-grade reading levels, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), highlighted a decline among Sweden’s children between 2016 and 2021.
In comparison, Singapore — which topped the rankings — improved its PIRLS reading scores from 576 to 587 during the same period, and England’s average reading achievement score fell only slightly, from 559 in 2016 to 558 in 2021. An overuse of screens during school lessons may cause youngsters to fall behind in core subjects, education experts say. “There’s clear scientific evidence that digital tools impair rather than enhance student learning,” Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, a highly respected medical school focused on research, said in a statement in August on the country’s national digitalization strategy in education.
“We believe the focus should return to acquiring knowledge through printed textbooks and teacher expertise, rather than acquiring knowledge primarily from freely available digital sources that have not been checked for accuracy.” the school added.
1. Why do Swedish schools return to paper books?A.To cater to parents’ increasing needs. |
B.To help with children’s independent learning. |
C.To overcome children’s addiction to digital tools. |
D.To avoid possible decline in children’s basic skills. |
A.Total acceptance. | B.Creative use. |
C.Rapid development. | D.Serious addiction. |
A.Teachers should acquire more knowledge. |
B.Knowledge from digital tools may not be reliable. |
C.Digital tools smooth out learning barriers for children. |
D.The accessibility to digital sources should be improved. |
A.Swedish Children’s Return to Paper | B.Problems with Children’s Education |
C.Popularity of Digitalization in Sweden | D.Enhancement of Teaching Strategies in Sweden |
9 . In this present age, we are heavily dependent on science and technology. Involving courses such as physics, chemistry and biology, a science-based education system can not only equip the young with knowledge of the rules of the world but also develop their scientific curiosity and problem-solving skills. With the benefits and objective attitude formed when learning, the young have more opportunities to be employed in cutting-edge research projects and big companies. So as for Arts or Science, they prefer the latter.
However, we still rely much on the Arts to understand the world. Literature courses can help students to learn about different cultures by exposing them to various aspects of life and excite their imagination required by out-of-box ideas. Studying politics increases the awareness of global world. History can enrich them intellectually and socially, providing a deeper understanding of the world and their place within it. Also, Arts can develop emotional skills and moral values.
A science-based education concentrating only on the latest scientific developments and breakthroughs, may overlook the study of moral values as well as significant historical affairs. For instance, countless possibilities can be realised through cloning, but science does not reveal the moral dilemmas (两难境地) of its indulgent development. It is essential for students to assess the far-reaching influence of science on the world and realise that it must ultimately be pursued reasonably and controllably.
In conclusion, a science-based education certainly has its limitations. Nevertheless, a science-based education combined with enough exposure to values and the humanities would provide students with a deeper insight into the world.
1. Why is a science-based education system popular among the young according to the text?A.It has diverse courses. |
B.It provides more challenges. |
C.It favors their dreams of being a scientist. |
D.It contributes to more career opportunities. |
A.By collecting data. |
B.By giving professional reports. |
C.By sharing personal experiences. |
D.By listing the values of different courses. |
A.Uncontrolled. | B.Normal. | C.Difficult. | D.Sustainable. |
A.To highlight the difficulty of science courses. |
B.To offer guidance on how to learn all subjects well. |
C.To recommend Science & Arts combined education. |
D.To stress the importance of the science-based education. |
10 . What’s your favorite book? Think of all the books you have ever read. Now imagine if you had not read any of them, how would your life be different?
Out of 7.8 billion people in the world today, 12% are illiterate (文盲的). This means that 1 in 5 adults are incapable of writing their own name, let alone reading a line out of a book. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights expressly states under its 26th article the right to a free education “at least in the elementary and fundamental stages”, marginalized (边缘化的) populations are often denied this basic right.
September 8 is International Literacy Day, established by UNESCO in 1966 to raise awareness on the issue by giving rise to support worldwide. In 1965, the World Conference of Ministers of Education (WCME) met in Tehran, Iran to discuss future plans which would involve the eradication (消除) of illiteracy. As a way to honor the opening of this meeting,the conference decided that September 8 would be announced as International Literacy Day.
This year’s theme for the day is “Literacy And Sustainable Societies”. But what exactly does that mean? Literacy has been associated with the reduction of poverty as it offers skills for gaining knowledge, values, and attitudes for expanding societies in a sustainable way. At the same time, the promotion of literacy boosts agriculture, health, and vocational skills, leading societies to become more efficient and environmentally literate.
So how can you raise awareness and promote literacy on this day? Host a reading competition at your school or simply exchange books with friends. You could create a book club or even start a writing competition. Be an active global citizen by commitment to raising awareness so that we can eradicate illiteracy.
1. What can we learn from the text?A.7.8 billion people in the world are illiterate. |
B.One’s life would be different without reading. |
C.1/5 adults are capable of writing their own name. |
D.Marginalized populations can also receive free education. |
A.To raise money for the WCME. |
B.To offer free education to all people. |
C.To make people recognize the illiteracy issue. |
D.To discuss future plans involving the end of illiteracy. |
A.Literacy can make for poverty increase. |
B.Literacy will thoroughly eradicate poverty. |
C.Literacy may directly lead to sustainable societies. |
D.Literacy has close connection with sustainable societies. |
A.Do your part to help the eradication of illiteracy. |
B.It is everyone’s duty to be an active global citizen. |
C.Hosting a reading competition is the only way to improve literacy. |
D.Only depending on UNESCO can not eradicate illiteracy. |