When my daughter was in the fifth grade, she came home from school almost every night with three or more hours of homework. It was my duty to help her get it done. One night she worked until midnight doing her homework.
I felt annoyed, but I didn’t want the teacher to think I was lazy. So I never complained. I wasn’t sure, but it seemed to me that five hours of homework was a bit too much for a fifth grade student.
Later, I found out that parents and educators have discussed about homework for more than a century. Parents who like more homework want to give their children every advantage to succeed in today’s world. Some educators see homework as a way to help students perform better in tests.
Other parents dislike the recent trend toward more homework. They don’t want to stay up until midnight helping their children. They would prefer to spend their time going to the park or reading some really good books with their children. Added to the opposition(反对)are those who say that homework increases the gap(差距)between the rich and the poor. That’s because middle class families do better when it comes to helping their children with their homework.
So, who is right? Is homework an enemy or a help? According to experts, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
小题1:The author thought that her daughter’s homework _________.| A．was too difficult | | B．was too much to finish | | C．was done more carefully than other students’ | | D．could be done as long as she helped her daughter |
小题2:The author never complained to the teacher because _________.| A．she was too angry to talk with the teacher. | | B．she did not like complaining. | | C．she was afraid of being thought lazy by the teacher. | | D．her daughter would be annoyed if she complained. |
小题3:In the last paragraph, experts __________.| A．think middle school students should do lots of homework. | | B．haven’t come up with any idea to solve this problem. | | C．think homework should be given, but not too much. | | D．support the idea that homework is good for students. |
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小题1:B
小题2:C
小题3:C |
试题分析：本文讲述的是在教育中广泛存在的争议：家庭作业的多与少的话题。
小题1:B 细节题。根据第二段2,3行I wasn’t sure, but it seemed to me that five hours of homework was a bit too much for a fifth grade student.说明作者认为女儿的作业太多了，故B正确。
小题2:C 细节题。根据第二段第一行I felt annoyed, but I didn’t want the teacher to think I was lazy可知我不想被老师认为懒惰，所以我没有抱怨。故C正确。
小题3:C 推理题。根据文章最后一段So, who is right? Is homework an enemy or a help? According to experts, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.可知作者认为作业处于中间位置最好，既不要太多，也不要太少。故C正确。
点评：本文讲述的是在教育中广泛存在的争议：家庭作业的多与少的话题。文章基本上是考查细节题，对此类题型考生可以首先从问题中找到关键词，然后以此为线索，运用略读及查阅的技巧在文中迅速寻找这一细节，找到后再把这一部分内容仔细阅读一遍，仔细比较所给选项与文中细节的细微区别，在准确理解细节的前提下，最后确定最佳答案。 |
核心考点
试题【When my daughter was in the fifth grade, she came home from school almost every 】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
In my long years of teaching, I often ask my students to read the texts until they can recite them, and I tell them that recitation is an important part of their homework. However, some of my students are tired of doing so, thinking that it is both hard and useless. They argue that it takes a long time to recite a text from memory and text itself never appears in a test paper.
In my opinion, it naturally takes time to recite a text, but it is worth doing so. When you are able to recite a text, you are sure to be familiar with the words and expressions. When you need them in reading or writing or doing exercises, they will come to your mind quickly, and so you will give quick response to all kinds of language situation. How can we say that it is useless?
Besides, many students complain that they soon forget what they were once able to recite. This is true, but you don’t need to worry. While you are reading and forgetting the texts, your language level is being raised. Sure you don’t remember your Chinese texts that you once read in the primary school, but now you are able to read novels and newspaper. So, recitation of the texts will help you improve your language ability.
小题1:The writer often asks his students to recite the texts, __________.| A．But they don’t like to do so | | B．And they are eager to do so. | | C．But they wrote a letter to the Department of the Education reporting the thing. | | D．But they do more exercises instead of reciting the texts. |
小题2:What do the students think about the teacher’s advice?_______| A．The English teacher tries his best to help them with English | | B．The English teacher is very kind to them. | | C．The English teacher asks them to do something useless. | | D．The English teacher should let them study on their own. |
小题3:According to the text, which of the following is correct_________.| A．The teacher thinks the students are too naughty to learn english well. | | B．The students think they spend a lot of time in reciting the texts and get nothing. | | C．The students say that they often forget the words. | | D．The students take no interest in English. |
小题4:When the students are against his suggestion, the writer_______.| A．often criticizes them | | B．patiently explains to them why they should recite the texts | | C．wants to give up his idea | | D．is afraid that he is criticized by the headmaster. |
小题5:Why does the writer suggest that the students recite the text?_____.| A．Reciting the texts can improve the ability of applying English. | | B．Reciting the texts is the bestway of learning English. | | C．The students should remember all the texts that the teacher has taught them. | | D．Reciting the texts can greatly improve the classroom teaching |
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About half American teenagers do not get enough sleep on school nights.They get an average of sixty to ninety minutes less than experts say they need.
One reason for this is biology.Experts say teens are biologically programmed to go to sleep later and wake up later than other age groups.Yet many schools start classes as early as seven in the morning.As a result，many students go to class feeling like sixteenyearold Danny.He is an active teen— except in the morning.“Getting up in the morning is pretty terrible.I’m just very out of it and tired.Through the first and second period I can hardly stay awake,” he said.
Michael Breus is a psychologist.Teens，he says，need to sleep eight to nine hours or even nine to ten hours a night.He says sleepy teens can experience a form of depression(消沉) that could have big influence on their general well being.It can affect not just their ability in the classroom but also on the sports field and on the road.So what can schools do about sleepy students？The psychologist says one thing they can do is to start classes later in the morning.Studies show that students can improve by a full letter grade in their first and second period classes.
Eric Peterson is the head of St.George’s School in the northeastern state of Rhode Island.He wanted to see if a thirtyminute delay(推迟)would make a difference.It did.He says visits to the health center by tired students decreased by half.Late arrivals to the first period fell by a third.And students reported that they were less sleepy during the day.Eric Peterson knows that changing start times is easier at a small school like his.But he is hopeful that other schools will find a way.
小题1:What’s the best title for the passage?| A．Later classes，fewer sleepy teens | | B．Early birds have good food | | C．Early to bed and early to rise | | D．Fewer classes，more happiness |
小题2:The underlined word“this”in the second paragraph refers to________.| A．teenagers’ staying up | | B．teenagers’ getting up late | | C．teenagers’ not getting enough sleep | | D．teenagers’ not studying seriously |
小题3:Michael Breus thinks that________.| A．teens should get up early | | B．teens need enough sleep to be lively | | C．depression is common in teens | | D．the first period class should be cut off |
小题4:The last paragraph tells us________.| A．Eric Peterson visits the health center every day | | B．it’s not easy for Eric Peterson to change start times | | C．students in St.George’s School can get up later than before | | D．students in St.George’s School aren’t late for school any more |
小题5:What can we infer from the passage?| A．Danny is a lazy boy and always late for school. | | B．Teens should go to bed early and get up early, too. | | C．The psychologist has no idea how to solve the problem. | | D．Enough sleep makes a healthy and active student. |
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Among the four skills in learning English ,which of these is the “Odd-Man-Out”?The answer is speaking. The other three you can do alone on your own. But you can"t really speak alone! Speaking to yourself can be “dangerous” because men in white coats may come and take you away!
Where can you find people to speak English? And how can you practise speaking when you are alone?At school if you pay to go to a language school ,you should use the chance to speak .If your teacher asks you to speak in pairs or groups with other students ,try to say as much as possible. Don"t worry about your mistakes. Just speak!
Conversation Clubs Many cities around the world have conversation clubs where people can exchange one language for another .Look in your local newspaper to find a conversation club near you .They are usually free although some may charge a small entrance fee.
Shopping Even if you don"t want to buy anything ,you can ask questions about products that interest you in a shop.“How much does this cost?” “Can I pay by cheque?” Often you can start a real conversation—and it costs you nothing!
Cafe and Bars There are often American, Britain, Irish and Australian bars in many large cities .If you can find one, you"ll probably meet many people speaking English as a first or second language.
Language is all around you Everywhere you go, you find language .Shop names, street names ,advertisements ,notices ,and car numbers....When you walk down the street ,practise reading the words and numbers that you see .Say them to yourself .It"s not exactly a conversation ,but it will help you to “think” in English .But don"t speak too loud!
Songs and Video Repeat the words of an English-language song singing with the music until it becomes automatic. It"s good practice for your memory and for the mouth muscles that you need for English.
Above all ,speak as much as possible! Make as many mistakes as possible! When you know that you have made a mistake, you know that you have made progress!
小题1:What does “Odd-Man-Out” probably mean according to the passage?| A．Someone or something appearing different from others. | | B．Someone or something standing out of the group. | | C．Someone or something arranged in pairs. | | D．Someone or something easily mistaken for another. |
小题2:What might happen if you speak to yourself loudly in public?| A．The police will take you away and punish you. | | B．The doctors will force you to stay in hospital. | | C．You will have to pay to escape being punished. | | D．You will be forbidden to be member of the club. |
小题3:Why does the writer say “Make as many mistakes as possible”?Because _______.| A．everyone will make mistakes in learning English | | B．everyone will meet people speaking English with some mistakes | | C．making mistakes is a must in making progress in learning English | | D．making mistakes can make one realize the importance of speaking |
小题4:According to the passage,which way is not likely to be accepted by English beginners?| A．Recite poems loudly along the riverside. | | B．Listen to some English pop songs and video. | | C．Find an Englishman to speak English with. | | D．Take to the TV showing programmes at home. |
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Children find meanings in their old family tales．
When Stephen Guyer’s three children were growing up, he told them stories about how his grandfather, a banker, 1 all in the 1930s, but did not lose sight of what he valued most. In one of the darkest times 2 his strong-minded grandfather was nearly 3 , he loaded his family into the car and 4 them to see family members in Canada with a 5 , “there are more important things in life than money”.
The 6 took on a new meaning recently when Mr. Guyer downsized to 7 house from a more expensive and comfortable one. He was 8 that his children, a daughter, 15, and twins, 22, would be upset．To his surprise, they weren’t. 9 , their reaction echoed (共鸣) their great-grandfather’s．What they 10 was how warm the people were in the house and how 11 of their heart was accessible.
Many parents are finding that family stories have surprising power to help children
12 hard times. Storytelling experts say the phenomenon reflects a growing 13 in telling tales, evidenced by a rise in storytelling events and festivals.
A university 14 of 65 families with children aged from 14 to 16 found kids’ ability to 15 parents’ stories was linked to a lower rate of anger and anxiety.
The 16 is telling the stories in a way children can 17 . We’re not talking here about the kind of story that 18 , “ When I was a kid, I walked to school every day uphill both ways, barefoot in the snow.” Instead, we should choose a story suited to the child’s 19 , and make eye contact (接触) to create “a personal experience”. We don’t have to tell children 20 they should take from the story and what the moral is.
| 小题1: | | A．missed | B．lost | C．forgot | D．ignored |
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| 小题2: | | A．when | B．while | C．how | D．why |
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| 小题3: | | A．friendless | B．worthless | C．penniless | D．homeless |
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| 小题4: | | A．fetched | B．allowed | C．expected | D．took |
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| 小题5: | | A．hope | B．promise | C．suggestion | D．belief |
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| 小题6: | | A．tale | B．agreement | C．arrangement | D．report |
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| 小题7: | | A．large | B．small | C．new | D．grand |
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| 小题8: | | A．surprised | B．annoyed | C．disappointed | D．worried |
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| 小题9: | | A．Therefore | B．Besides | C．Instead | D．Otherwise |
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| 小题10: | | A．talked about | B．cared about | C．wrote about | D．heard about |
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| 小题11: | | A．much | B．many | C．little | D．few |
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| 小题12: | | A．beyond | B．over | C．behind | D．through |
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| 小题13: | | A．argument | B．skill | C．interest | D．anxiety |
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| 小题14: | | A．study | B．design | C．committee | D．staff |
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| 小题15: | | A．provide | B．retell | C．support | D．refuse |
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| 小题16: | | A．trouble | B．gift | C．fact | D．trick |
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| 小题17: | | A．perform | B．write | C．bear | D．question |
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| 小题18: | | A．means | B．ends | C．begins | D．proves |
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| 小题19: | | A．needs | B．activities | C．judgments | D．habits |
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| 小题20: | | A．that | B．what | C．which | D．whom |
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Cheektowage Central Middle School can be a lot of fun. It has game nights and student dances, after-school activities, and sports teams. However, students at the school must earn the right to join in the fun. If they don’t do their homework, participate in class, and behave at all times, they’re banned(禁止) from participating in after-school activities.
Students and parents say the threat of being excluded(排除在外) appears to be working. Kenny T. of Reno, Nev., says it taught him that actions have consequences: “I learned that I need to be balanced in both my work and athletics to be rewarded for working hard.” Parent Sondra LaMacchia told The New York Times that her 14-year-old daughter is learning responsibility at Cheektowaga Central. The teen used to perform poorly in her studies, but then she was banned from a school dance. The message got through loud and clear. “It’s nobody’s fault but hers,” LaMacchia said.
Although exclusion may help teach responsibility, some psychologists say it can also be threatening, especially for students who often cause, or may cause, trouble in school. They might become more aggressive and antisocial, which is exactly what schools like Cheektowaga Central want to prevent.
Should schools exclude students from activities to get them to behave? I believe teens need school activities and that inclusion can be the answer. For some troubled students, activities can be their motivation to stay in school. “Activities such as sports may be the only thing keeping certain students in school,” says Duace Wood, a teacher at Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam, N.Y. Getting involved in after-class activities keeps troublesome students in class. Even if they don’t do as well as their classmates, they are still learning. The more time they spend at school, the less time they have to even think about starting trouble. Teams also provide support and role models, and they help build the confidence that students need to succeed. If students who don’t behave are banned from activities, they might give up on school altogether.
小题1:Paragraph 2 is developed by _______.| A．analyzing causes | B．giving examples | | C．examining differences | D．following the time order |
小题2:Parent Sondra LaMacchia supports the policy of exclusion because _______.| A．it provides role models | | B．her daughter is aggressive | | C．her daughter hates taking exercise | | D． it helps teach responsibility |
小题3:In Paragraph 3 and 4, the author mainly talks about________.| A．students who are good at sports | | B．students who often cause trouble | | C．teens who do well in their studies | | D．teens who always behave themselves |
小题4:What is the author’s attitude towards the school’s policy of exclusion?| A． Negative | B．Sympathetic | C．Satisfied | D．Supportive |
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