1 . When dealing with children, we find that the carrot is much more powerful than the stick. Children focus on tasks up to 30% more when teachers praise them for good behavior rather than punish them for being troublemaking. If they want to improve students’ behavior in classrooms, the teachers should praise more and punish less.
Unfortunately, previous research has shown that teachers tend to punish students for problem behavior more than they praise them for appropriate behavior, which can have an opposite effect and worsen students' behavior.
Researchers attended 151 classes in 19 elementary schools across Missouri, Tennessee and Utah. During a three-year period they observed 2,536 students from kindergarten to sixth grade.
The idea that praise can result in greater focus than punishment is not surprising.
When kids receive praise, it activates certain feel-good chemicals in the brain. These chemicals can improve the functioning in the parts of the brain that are responsible for things like focus, attention, planning and problem-solving.
Punishment has the opposite effect. When severe criticism or punishment is used, it can activate the part of the brain responsible for fear. When fear responses are activated, the chemicals can actually cloud the parts of the brain that are needed for focus.
Researchers in the past have given a specific ratio of praise to criticism that leads to the greatest focus in classrooms, but what we found out was that there is no particular ratio. The higher the praise is, the better the results are.
This study suggests that praise is an important tool for teachers and can help motivate students to work harder, especially children who are troublemaking in class or struggle academically. Using praise over criticism or punishment would have benefits outside of the classroom as well.
Instead of punishment, constructive criticism can be used, but it should be balanced with praise in order to create a safe environment where kids are motivated to focus, learn and grow.
1. What does the underlined word “stick” mean in Paragraph 1?| A．A long thin branch from a tree. | B．A piece of wood used for walking. |
| C．The wrong idea or misunderstanding. | D．Physical punishment or severe criticism. |
| A．Elementary students. | B．Kindergarten students. |
| C．Middle school students. | D．College students. |
| A．Punishment can benefit the troublemaking students. |
| B．Praise can result in better focus and attention greatly. |
| C．Praise may contribute to the students' impractical pride. |
| D．Punishment can force the students to concentrate better. |
| A．Criticism is completely harmful to the children. |
| B．It is impossible to know whether criticism is good. |
| C．Used correctly, proper criticism is recommended. |
| D．Criticism can be only used outside the classrooms. |
2 . A lot of your childhood was probably spent in an ordinary classroom with old desks and chairs. That's because you went to an average school. So whether you loved your school or wished you went to one of the following now, you'll never think of schooling the same way again.
Train Platforms as School Rooms
Now, most children have to take a bus or train to school. However, they don't usually stop on the platform and learn maths. In Orissa, India, in order to try to lower the chances of children quitting school, one woman decided that she would bring the school to the kids and it certainly worked!
Floating School
Each year in summer, the rivers in Bangladesh flood. And kids are left without a way to school. However, one clever town decided to have lessons on 100 boats instead as well as health care centre and homes. With the internet access, computers and a library it's a pretty high tech school!
Elf School
In Iceland there are a lot of stories about elves. According to the school there are different types of elves that have a variety of uses. The school generally trains people in the practice of elves in the hope they can somehow help the government. The Icelandic police have been known to ask for an elf's help when meeting trouble.
Real Life Clown School
The Ringling Brothers set up a number of courses and schools around the United States to teach the students the art of clowning around. Imagine wearing a bright red nose while kids are laughing around you for a balloon animal.
1. Who was Train Platform School built for?| A．The students willing to learn the art of clowning |
| B．The students who cannot pay their high education. |
| C．The children who cannot catch the train to school. |
| D．The young children who are forced to quit school. |
| A．Elf School. | B．The Floating School. |
| C．Real Life Clown School. | D．The Train Platform School. |
| A．The students can have classes on trains. | B．The school trains people to help society. |
| C．The students use computers and a library. | D．The students learn to entertain children. |
1﹒陈述现象；
2﹒说明出现此现象的原因；
3﹒你个人的看法。
注意：
1﹒词数100左右；
2﹒行文连贯，语篇完整。
参考词汇：外卖店，外卖餐馆 take-out restaurant
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4 . “Girls are weak, and boys are strong. This is what is being subconsciously communicated to hundreds of millions of young boys and girls all over the world, just like it was with me,” said American actor Justin Baldoni. As a boy, all he wanted was to be accepted by other people. That acceptance meant he had to pretend to be strong when he was weak, confident when he felt insecure, and tough when he was actually hurting.
Is that a healthy lifestyle? A member of the CPPCC Standing Committee might say “yes”. In his proposal, he spoke of a need to “prevent the feminization of male youths”. In response to his call, China’s Ministry of Education has recently demanded that schools should hire more physical education teachers and improve teaching methods to cultivate masculinity in students.
The response has been widely debated online, with many people saying that it reinforces gender stereotypes. The state broadcaster CCTV wrote on its Weibo account, “Education is not simply about cultivating men and women. It’s more important to develop a willingness to take responsibility.” You might be wondering now: What is masculinity, and why is this so controversial?
Well, by itself, “masculinity” refers to the qualities traditionally considered to be typical of men. While there is not really a single “correct” set of qualities, the term is often associated with strength, courage, assertiveness, and emotional control. Sometimes, however, these seemingly admirable qualities can be extended in unrealistic ways. But boys are also human. Blindly asking them to control their feelings “like a man” can only increase their stress when they grow up.
As an educator who has spent years teaching in China, I agree that attaching more importance to physical education would definitely benefit students. Sports provide opportunities for physical fitness. More importantly, they can help develop lifelong skills, such as leadership and communication skills. However, putting the emphasis on masculinity is far from a sound reason for which to do so.
It is unnecessary for all boys to build up their muscles, but it is essential that they all learn how to be strong inside. It is also fine for boys to cry and to show their weakness. Schools should work on equipping students with the skills and values they will need to be successful in life, not reinforcing stereotypes of masculinity borrowed from a bygone age.
1. The underlined expression “masculinity” in Paragraph 2 most probably means “________”| A．manly qualities | B．potential abilities |
| C．self-centredness | D．steady strength |
| A．It is necessary to prevent the feminization of male youths. |
| B．Physical education should be paid more attention to. |
| C．We should teach students according to their individual qualities. |
| D．Importance should be attached to developing students’ sense of responsibility. |
| A．Masculinity is out of date. |
| B．Masculinity is overstated. |
| C．Masculinity shows physical strength. |
| D．Masculinity only focuses on physical fitness. |
| A．We should do everything we can to guarantee students’ health. |
| B．Schools should differentiate between boys and girls while educating them. |
| C．It is important to prepare students with necessary skills and right values. |
| D．It is time to weaken stereotypes of masculinity. |
5 . Several days ago Spanish fashion brand Zara sparked a fierce debate after releasing its latest campaign featuring a Chinese model with freckles (雀斑). Actually, there are some different beauty standards between the East and the West.
In East Asia, freckles might be considered a “destructive weakness” for celebrities, especially actors or singers. Although normal people don’t care that much, subconsciously they might prefer a “clean” face. Generally speaking, freckles are more likely to appear if people are out in the sun frequently, and most East Asian women avoid the sun as best they can.
Having freckles, instead, is a trademark for unconventional beauty in the Western world, and some call freckles “angel kisses”. For most westerners, having freckles is no longer just something you have to live with; instead, it is something to be desired. After all, not everyone is lucky enough to have freckles.
When it comes to eye shapes, it seems Western and Chinese beauty standards don’t see eye-to-eye. Many Chinese think girls with big eyes are the most beautiful. If their eyes have a double-fold eyelid, that is considered perfect. However, most foreigners seem to prefer Chinese girls with slanted (斜的) and narrow eyes and eyebrows. Chinese known model Lyv Yan is often considered the country’s most beautiful by foreigners, while quite a few Chinese people think her appearance doesn’t fit with traditional beauty standards.
Young, girly feature or hot and mature feature? Zhao Liying from China, Aragaki Yui from Japan and Lim Yoon-A from South Korea enjoy high popularity in Asia, as they boast bright faces with warm smiles, which win them lots of male fans. The three young celebrities represent Asia’s beauty standards: women with cute, girly features. Most women in Asia try their best to stay young accordingly. Unlike Chinese girls, Western girls think a more mature look shows independence and uniqueness. The superhero Wonder Woman is an ideal type for most.
As ties continue to grow between China and the West, it is unavoidable that these beauty standards develop. But one thing’s for sure-no matter how you look, you are who you are, and that should be satisfaction enough.
1. What do most western people think of having freckles?| A．It is something unbearable. | B．It is a destructive weakness. |
| C．It is something to wish for. | D．It is a symbol of traditional beauty. |
| A．Have the same opinion. | B．Recognize their strengths. |
| C．Misunderstand each other. | D．Argue against one another. |
| A．They think this beauty standard is better. | B．They want to look independent and unique. |
| C．They hope to have high popularity in Asia. | D．They admire Wonder Woman very much. |
| A．What Zara’s beauty standard is. | B．Why Chinese people don’t like freckles. |
| C．What causes the different beauty standards. | D．How easterners and westerners think of beauty. |
6 . Over a hundred years after it sank near Antarctica, the ship of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton has been found using underwater robots.
In 1914, Ernest Shackleton and his 27 members left England in a wooden sailing ship called the Endurance. Shackleton hoped to become the first to cross Antarctica. But in 1915, the Endurance became trapped in the thick ice over the Weddell Sea. The ice broke the Endurance and later sank it. Then the ship’s captain kept accurate records of the ship’s position, and the ship’s photographer even took pictures of it as it went down. But the ship, deep in the icy waters near Antarctica, had never been found.
On Wednesday, a search team called “Endurance 22” announced it had located the ship. The Endurance was found 3 kilometers below the ocean’s surface, about 6 kilometers south of its last known position. According to the Endurance 22 team’s report, the name can be clearly read on the back of the ship, and its wheel looks ready to be turned.
Though the ship is made of wood, it has survived with little damage. Scientists say that the small organisms(微生物) that normally break down wooden objects underwater don’t live in the cold waters around Antarctica.
The team ran the project from an ice-breaking ship. To locate the Endurance, the team used two underwater robots called Sabertooths. The robots could travel by themselves under the ice and go where the ship could not. For the last two weeks, the Sabertooth robots have been searching the sea floor in a 390-square kilometer area.
The robots were looking for anything above the sea floor. Last Saturday, the ship was found. Once the ship was located, the Sabertooths used high-quality cameras to record the Endurance in detail. Antarctica’s waters are protected by an international agreement, which means the ship can’t be disturbed. So the Endurance 22 team plans to create a digital 3D model of the wreck(失事) site. This will allow scientists to study the ship in detail without disturbing it.
1. Why did the Endurance 22 team know the ship5s possible position?| A．They had first-class robots. | B．The captain kept a good record. |
| C．Polar explorers recalled the details. | D．The icy waters of the ship have changed. |
| A．It is in excellent shape. | B．It is trapped in hard ice. |
| C．It is in poor condition. | D．It has gone beyond recognition. |
| A．Luck. | B．Patience. | C．Weather. | D．Technology. |
| A．“Endurance 22” Announced a Great Discovery |
| B．A Polar Explorers’ Ship Found After Over 100 Years |
| C．Untold Finding of Antarctic Explorer Ernest Shackleton |
| D．New Results of the Sabertooth Robots’ Underwater Search |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
After a plane crashed in South China on March 21st, rescued workers managed to find two black boxes. The black boxes may provide the key to understand why the plane crashed. When black boxes are recovered in well condition, investigators (调查员) can analyze and produce a report on their content for about three months, but it can take much longer when they are damaged, said Li Xiaojin, a professor from the Civil Aviation University of China. One of the black box from the crashed Flight MU5735 was found on March 23rd. The second black box is recovered on March 27th. The black boxes are not black. Therefore, they are painted bright orange to aid in their recovery after accidents. They are usually placed in the tail of a plane, which they are more likely to survive a crash. It can work for 30 days without any electricity.
8 . In its early history, Chicago had floods frequently, especially in the spring, making the streets so muddy that people, horses, and carts got stuck. An old joke that was popular at the time went something like this: A man is stuck up to his waist in a muddy Chicago street. Asked if he needs help, he replies, “No, thanks. I’ve got a good horse under me.”
The city planner decided to build an underground drainage(排水) system, but there simply wasn’t enough difference between the height of the ground level and the water level. The only two options were to lower the Chicago River or raise the city.
An engineer named Ellis Chesbrough convinced me the city that it had no choice but to build the pipes above ground and then cover them with dirt. This raised the level of the city’s streets by as much as 12 feet.
This of course created a new problem: dirt practically buried the first floors of every building in Chicago. Building owners were faced with a choice: either change the first floors of their buildings into basements, and the second stories into main floors, or hoist the entire buildings to meet the new street level. Small wood-frame buildings could be lifted fairly easily. But what about large, heavy structures like Tremont Hotel, which was a six-story brick building?
That’s where George Pullman came in. He had developed some house-moving skills successfully. To lift a big structure like the Tremont Hotel, Pullman would place thousands of jackscrews(螺旋千斤顶) beneath the building’s foundation. One man was assigned to operate each section of roughly 10 jackscrews. At Pullman’s signal each man turned his jackscrew the same amount at the same time, thereby raising the building slowly and evenly. Astonishingly the Tremont Hotel stay open during the entire operation, and many of its guests didn’t even notice anything was happening. Some people like to say that every problem has a solution. But in Chicago’s early history, every engineering solution seemed to create a new problem. Now that Chicago’s waste water was draining efficiently into the Chicago River, the city’s next step was to clean the polluted river.
1. The author mentions the joke to show ________.| A．horses were fairly useful in Chicago |
| B．Chicago’s streets were extremely muddy |
| C．Chicago was very dangerous in the spring |
| D．the Chicago people were particularly humorous |
| A．get rid of the street dirt | B．lower the Chicago River |
| C．fight against heavy floods | D．build the pipes above ground |
| A．change | B．lift | C．repair | D．decorate |
| A．popular life styles and their influences |
| B．environmental disasters and their causes |
| C．engineering problems and their solutions |
| D．successful businessmen and their achievements |
9 . Cyberspace (网络空间) is constantly developing and presenting new opportunities, as the desire of businesses to quickly adopt new technologies, such as using the Internet to open new channels and adopting cloud services, provides vast opportunity. But, it also brings unexpected risks and unintended consequences that can have a potentially negative effect.
Hardly a day goes by without news of a new cyber threat. Unfortunately, businesses tend to misjudge how much risk they face from cyber crimes and how quickly this risk can develop. For them, the commercial, reputational and financial risks that go with cyberspace presence are real and growing every day.
So all businesses need to do now is establish cyber security within their organization, right?
Establishing cyber security alone is not enough. Nowadays, it is not very difficult for attackers to break security and stop the overall business system. Preventive measures are not enough to stop them. With the advancement of technology, hackers (黑客) have been changing and developing. So business risk management should include risk resilience (复原力) so that businesses can respond to any damaging cyberspace activity. Cyber resilience helps businesses successfully recover to their pre-attack business processes and business operations.
Building cyber resilience is not easy. A key finding of an authentic cyber-resilience report is that no organization can respond effectively on its own to the threats from cyberspace. Organisations must work together to share intelligence and resources. In this way the quality, usability and authenticity of intelligence will be greatly improved.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To make the development of cyberspace known. |
| B．To show the great contributions from business. |
| C．To make the technologies adopted by businesses attractive. |
| D．To make the topic appealing. |
| A．lacking in awareness of cyber safety | B．financially abundant |
| C．managed successfully | D．developed in judgment |
| A．it can prevent attacks | B．threats are always transforming |
| C．cyber security doesn’t work now | D．it keeps all the hackers off the internet |
| A．Effective resilience can be built by an organization alone. |
| B．Joint efforts are required in the formation of true resilience. |
| C．A great amount of difficulty prevented building resilience. |
| D．The cyberspace threat is nothing when cooperation is used. |
10 . Depending on the topic, people’s opinions can change from moment to moment or last a lifetime. The factors that make one opinion long-lasting and another short-lived, however are not always clear.
Past studies have shown that opinions based on hard facts and data can remain constant over time, but new research published in the journal Psychological Science finds that opinions based on feelings and emotions can also stand the test of time.
As part of their study the researchers asked more than 1000 people to what degree they believed opinions based on feelings or emotional reactions were more stable over time than those based on thinking and reasoned analysis. Only 15% expressed any belief that opinions based on emotion would be more stable over time
To test the role that emotion plays in forming long-lasting opinions, the researchers conducted seven independent studies involving more than 20,000 participants in various real-world situations.
The first survey, which was conducted the day after Christmas, measured feelings about recently received gifts. The participants were given a list of adjectives(形容词) to describe their opinions toward their gifts. Adjectives like “worthwhile” were associated with a practical reaction to the gift, while words like “delightful” were more strongly associated with an emotional reaction. One month later, the participants completed a follow-up survey to test the endurance(持久性) of their opinions. The results showed that the stronger the positive emotional reaction, the more likely that opinion remained fixed one month later.
In the final test, participants read one of two messages about an imaginary sea animal. One message contained broad-ranging facts about the animal (low-emotion condition). The other message was about a swimmer’s underwater interaction with the animal (high-emotion condition). The participants in the high-emotion condition showed significantly less change in their opinions across time.
“Emotionality is a predictor(预测因子) of long-lasting opinions which is unrecognized,” said Andrew Luttrell, a researcher at Ball State University. “These findings are important for understanding why some opinions are so difficult to change as well as how to create opinions that stick.”
1. What did the survey of 1000 people show?| A．Creating long-lasting opinions was a long process. |
| B．Opinions based on hard facts could stand the test of time. |
| C．Only a small percentage of people identified the essential part of emotion. |
| D．Only a small percentage of people dared to express their opinions. |
| A．Riding a safe car. | B．Watching an exciting football match. |
| C．Reading a valuable book. | D．Listening to a boring speech. |
| A．The findings have been concluded from emotional facts |
| B．The long last opinions are predicable |
| C．The findings have something to do with creative opinions |
| D．They help understand the endurance of opinions |
| A．Emotion varies based on different facts. | B．Emotion can help clarify the opinions. |
| C．Opinions can last when based on emotion. | D．Opinions once formed are hard to change. |
