Educators across the US are calling for major changes to the admission process in higher education. The National Center for Educational Statistics reported that U.S. colleges and universities received more than 9 million applications between 2013 and 2014. The schools admitted more than 5 million students in that time.
But a new report says that the problem is not about the number of students that are being admitted, but rather how students are selected. The Harvard School of Graduate Education, along with 80 other schools and organizations, released the report in January 2016, called “Turing the Tide---Making Caring Common”. The report argues that the process schools use to choose students causes major problems.
David Hawkins, the Executive Director for Educational Policy, says that most colleges and universities require many things from students when they apply. Schools usually ask for an essay describing a student’s interests or why they want to study at that school. The schools also ask for letters from teachers or other responsible adults describing why a student is a good candidate. But, Hawkins says, the area that schools are most concerned with a student’s high school grades and standardized test results.
The report suggests that paying attention to academic success over other qualities works well for some students but hurts others. In addition, academic success is not the most important quality a student should have. More attention should be paid to showing whether or not a student wants to do good in the world. The report also suggests that schools should ask for evidence that students care about other people. Moving attention away from academic ability will make process less about competition, the report says. Students will feel less stress about meeting higher and higher expectation.
But the report does have its critics. Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director, said that every few years, someone makes the same argument for change. He said that no real change has happened yet and that even many of the schools that agree with the report still make no changes. “Many of the institutions that have supported the findings in the report are the very institutions that have the most competitive admission processes in the country," Schaeffer said.
1.What is the problem of the admission process according to the report?
A.The schools ask social responsibilities from the applying students
B.The schools attach importance to students’ academic records
C.The number of students getting admitted is too small
D.Admission officers only consider personal qualities
2.Which of the following do colleges ask of applicants except ?
A.Their reasons to attend the school.
B.A description of their interests.
C.Recommendation letters from adults
D.Evidence that students care about others
3.What does the author’s attitude to the report of the admission process?.
A.Supportive. B.Doubtful C.Neutral D.Negative
4.The critic, Bob Schaeffer, thinks that .
A.some schools don't do what they believe is right
B.the largest schools are expected to make changes first
C.not enough schools currently agree with the report
D.history has proved that all changes are good
Soon, students will be receiving their latest report cards, even though many already know their grades. Thousands of schools nationwide have adopted what’s called “open grade books’’, online portals that allow both parents and kids to get up-to-the-minute progress reports.
Recently, I’ve noticed this whole system stresses out my 11-year-old daughter, Audrey. “It seems that if my grades do decrease, I’m worried on what my parents are going to say,’’ Audrey said. Hearing her say this breaks my heart. I wonder: Do other parents and kids feel this way? I put a call out to my network and found Carrie Du Bois.
“I thought it was a mistake,’’ says Du Bois.
About three years ago, Du Bois called the leader of the Sequoia Union High School District in San Mateo County to find out why she was receiving a daily email of her son’s grades. The leader told her the portal was working as it should.
Du Bois called every mental health professional she knew and they all told her the same thing: The supply of constant data on academic progress can overemphasize the importance of grades. Her district has since changed systems and no longer sends out daily grade updates. However, hundreds of other schools in the Bay Area still do.
A spokeswoman for the Santa Clara Unified School District said the feedback they’ve received from parents is overwhelmingly positive. Other parents have also told me the portals give them insights into their kids’ lives and open up conversations beyond “how was your day.”
Most of the portals offer parents the option of turning off daily notifications. Mental health care professionals advise that a healthier and more accurate measure of progress is checking grades once a week or even once a month. It’s what I have decided to do.
1.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.The Education System Has Gone Wrong
B.Parents Are Worrying about Their Kids
C.A Good Way to Motivate the Kids to Work Hard
D.Open Grade Books Are Stressing Kids Out
2.What do we know about the “open grade books”?
A.They allow parents to get their kids’ daily grades reports.
B.Neither parents nor kids like them because they create anxiety.
C.Most kids make progress in school due to them.
D.All parents have to receive daily grade updates online.
3.Why does Du Bois’ district no longer use the system of sending out daily grades?
A.Because Du Bois doesn’t like it.
B.Because of Du Bois’ effort against it.
C.Because Du Bois knew many mental health care professionals.
D.Because the supply of constant data on academic progress hurt kids.
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.Most parents will turn off daily notifications.
B.No parents agree with the mental health care professionals.
C.The author will pay less attention to Audrey’s daily grades.
D.The author doesn’t care about her daughter’s accomplishments.
With Christmas just around the corner, cities across the United States are transforming into enchanting winter wonderlands in preparation for season. If you are looking to add some holiday spirit to your next vacation, these destinations are a great option!
Branson, MO
Known as one of the most family-friendly vacation destinations in the country, Branson, MO also comes to life around the holidays. Boasting some of the most fun and memorable holiday celebrations, this Ozarks hub is filled with Christmas activities the whole family can enjoy. Most of the popular shows have Christmas-themed evenings beginning in November, so don’t miss out on Dolly Parton’s Stampede Branson, the Haygoods, Andy Williams Christmas Extravaganza, or the Christmas on the Trail Chuckwagon Dinner Show!
Nashville, TN
Music City is also a fantastic destination for a Christmas celebration. Nashville, TN is home to so many different ways to celebrate the holidays. If you are looking for a way to see the city on your vacation, embark upon the Nashville Christmas Lights Tour where you can see the city in its holiday splendor. As well as sightseeing tours, guests can visit classic Nashville attractions for a unique holiday adventure. See all of the memorabilia at the Country Music Hall of Fame. You can create unforgettable memories while experiencing the cheer of the holidays in this southern city.
Orlando, FL
For snowbirds, the cold winter months mean travel to warmer destinations. Christmas time is no different, and Orlando, FL is filled with things to entertain and help you celebrate even during the holiday season. Those who want to take in the best theme park experiences will not be disappointed as Disney World, Universal, and SeaWorld, are all open during the holidays. There are also plenty of outdoor activities still available.
1.What does the author intend to do by writing this passage?
A.Tell the readers the way people in USA celebrate Christmas.
B.Introduce some cheerful cities to celebrate Christmas holiday.
C.Organize activities to celebrate Christmas.
D.Show how the people in US cities value the Christmas holiday.
2.Which is a better place for a family to spend Christmas holiday？
A.Branson, MO B.Nashville, TN
C.Orlando, FL D.Disney World
3.What special may you do if you go to Orlando, FL?
A.Have a city sightseeing on vacation. B.Watch Christmas-themed evenings.
C.Visit interesting theme parks. D.Know more about country music.
假定你是李华，你的美国朋友Mike最近来信说对中国非常感兴趣，请你给他回一封电子邮件，邀请他来中国旅游并介绍来中国旅游的优势。内容包括：
1.悠久的历史和博大精深的文化；
2.众多的名城和名胜古迹；
3.可口的美食和便利的交通，如高铁和共享单车。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
参考词汇：博大精深的 broad and profound
Dear Mike,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
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。
My brother Donald didn’t do well in math. When the day of the exam comes, Donald sat next to Brian, which was always good at math. Donald careful copied Brian’s answers. At end of the exam, the teacher collected the papers and graded it. Then she decided to give a prize to the student who got the high grade. But it was a bit of difficult for her to make a decision, because Donald and Brian got the same grade. The teacher thought about that and made on her mind to give the prize to Brian. Donald said it was unfair. “That’s true,” the teacher said. “Therefore, Brian’s answer to Question 18 was ‘I don’t know’. Your was ‘Neither do I’.”
1.2.3.4.5.
6.7.8.9.10.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
In some countries in western Europe, life has become difficult for many villages, and some 1.(disappear). There are a number of 2.(reason) for this. Firstly, young people from villages usually want to live somewhere 3.(lively) and they often move to the towns and do not return. Secondly, as there are often very few jobs in the countryside, people would like to move to the cities to find work, leaving their villages 4.(abandon). Sometimes villages remain 5. people from the cities have bought a “second home” in the village, 6. they come and stay at weekends. As 7. result, the price of homes goes up and people from the area can not afford 8.(buy) a house there. Another problem is that 9. is becoming more and more difficult for farmers to make money from their farms. So they sell their land and find another job.
All these things mean that many villages in western Europe are fighting to survive. We can only hope that they will remain. The countryside would be a sadder and uglier place 10. them.
