Clearing the air in class saw significant boosts to reading and math achievement of students, according to a New York University study, even though the outdoor pollution didn’t prove to be a problem. The findings suggest improving air quality may also help disadvantaged students who often live in more polluted areas and attend class in older buildings.
Michael Gilraine, study author at New York University, analyzed both the air quality and the math and reading test scores at the 18 schools. In schools that received the new air filters, students improved by 0.18 of a standard deviation(标准偏差) in reading and 0.2 of a standard deviation in math, compared to students’ performance in the schools that did not receive air filters. To put that in perspective, those gains are about equal to the learning benefits from reducing class sizes or providing intensive tutoring. Students sustained those math and reading gains the next year, particularly if they attended the same school or another that had installed new filters in the following year. “In fact, given the large test-score increases they generate, installing air filters actually outperforms other education reforms such as class-size reduction on a cost-benefit basis,” Gilraine said.
Prior studies have found that better air quality can lead to fewer teacher and student absences, particularly for those with chronic asthma (慢性哮喘) or other respiratory illnesses. While schools with the new air filters installed did have lower student absenteeism, attendance alone didn’t seem to be driving the gains in math and reading achievement. Rather, he said, “you can get a lot just from being able to think clearly while you take a test. And then you also might be learning a bit better because you’re thinking clearer in class from day to day”.
Separate studies have found rising average temperatures likewise can increase indoor air pollution and reduce student achievement, particularly if students take tests on hot days.
“We’ve had a decade or more of research into the effects of lead. There’s been much less research on the effects of air quality We’re still in early days.” added Gilraine.
1.What did the study find?
A.Outdoor pollution does harm to students’ health.
B.Clean air promotes the students’ study achievement.
C.Air quality puts New York University at a disadvantage.
D.Polluted areas and old buildings have air problems.
2.How did the researcher conduct his study?
A.By making analysis and comparison.
B.By giving examples and listing basic data.
C.By telling stories and doing experiments.
D.By demonstrating the causes and effects.
3.According to Gilraine, what makes the students gain achievement?
A.Fewer teacher and student absences.
B.Rising temperatures in class.
C.Clearer thinking in better air quality.
D.Taking a math and reading test everyday.
4.What can we infer about the Gilraine’s research?
A.It will focus on the research of lead. B.It gets off with a good start.
C.It gets lots of support from schools. D.It still has a long way to go.
There have been thousands of marine species that have become extinct. Currently there are thousands of fish that are endangered and in great need of protection. The following are some.
The Arcadian Redfish are found in warm waters, such as the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. These fish mature at a late age (5 to 6 years) and have low reproductive rates. However, they can live to be 50 years old, which is relatively remarkable. Young redfish are marked with patches of black and green color. They don’t develop their red color until after they move to the ocean bottom. Now the Arcadian Redfish is endangered due to overfishing. These fish started to decrease in population in the early 1900s because of their increased popularity in the food industry.
The Bluefin tuna is one animal that is high on the endangered species list. This fish has been named one of the wonders of the ocean, because they can grow to be 12 feet long and weigh over 1, 500 pounds! Why are these fish disappearing at alarming rates? Because they are being captured for food, with over 75% consumed in Japanese restaurants often by making a popular sushi.
The European Eel is found in the Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea. They have a unique metamorphosis process and they change their forms over a longtime period. According to IUCNRedList.org, the European Eel is one of the threatened species that are not only endangered, but critically endangered.
The whale shark is one of many endangered sharks out there. According to one source, sharks are revered as our last “living” dinosaurs. They are known as the largest fish with the potential to grow over 60 feet long and weigh over 70,000 pounds. The whale shark also has the potential to live to be over 100 years old.
1.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.The Last “Living” Dinosaurs B.The Endangered Ocean Fish
C.The Most Popular Sea Fish D.The Extinct Marine Species
2.What can we learn about The Arcadian Redfish?
A.They are found in the Arctic Ocean.
B.They are born to be red.
C.Their survival rate is relatively low.
D.They are slow-growing, long-lived fish.
3.What makes the Bluefin tuna one of the wonders of the deep-sea?
A.Huge size. B.Strange color.
C.Sharp sight. D.High intelligence.
4.What does the underlined word “metamorphosis” mean?
A.Reduction in population. B.Limitation in sight.
C.Change in form. D.Increase in weight.
Many kids start humming tunes like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” as their first songs, but Nygel Witherspoon was an exception. He preferred Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D Minor.
So when Nygel Witherspoon began to hum the very difficult concerto(协奏曲), his family guessed that he should have music lessons. He was, however, just 3 years old.
“He was calm, with an ability to focus.” recalled David Holmes, Witherspoon’s cello(大提琴) teacher from age 3 to l6.
Witherspoon is a familiar name in his hometown. He has inherited his talent from both sides of his family, including his aunt, the late jazz vocalist Shirley Witherspoon.
The 17-year-old doesn’t see himself as competitive. “I think it’s more important for students to have a supportive environment than a competitive one;” he said. “It’s great to have a support system, where you can be yourself and improve right along with others doing the same thing.”
Witherspoon’s love of music blossomed as he attended viola(中提琴) lessons with older siblings. Their teacher, David France, noticed that the little boy was a sponge(海绵).
“He’d absorb everything they did.” France said. Witherspoon was given a box violin, but he wanted to play “the big one”— the cello. He loved its size and tone. That’s when he was matched with his teacher Holmes.
Witherspoon’s drive is inspired by the connection music provides. He recalled that he and his siblings performed as a chambertrio(室内乐三重奏) at their grandmother’s nursing home. The positive reaction from residents gave him motivation.
“It’s so important, whether it’s hip-hop or classical,” he said. “Music is the universal language. It connects all of us.”
1.How was Witherspoon different from other kids when he was 3?
A.He began to teach himself music.
B.He was able to hum very difficult tunes
C.He had already made up his mind to learn violin
D.He could already play the songs he’d heard.
2.What does Witherspoon think is important for music learners?
A.Practicing hard.
B.Being very competitive.
C.Being in a supportive environment.
D.Having a good teacher from an early age.
3.What is France’s impression of Witherspoon?
A.He is a fast learner. B.He is a creative player.
C.He works very hard. D.He is open-minded.
4.What is the main purpose of the last two Paragraphs?
A.To compare Witherspoon’s performance with his siblings.
B.To show that motivation plays a big role in music studies.
C.To stress that music connects people.
D.To show how studying music helped Witherspoon overcome difficulties.
PHUKET is Thailand’s largest island and currently one of its famous tourist destinations. The following are some special sights for you.
Phuket Aquarium
Phuket Aquarium is a modest, government-run attraction but it’s not a bad place to spend an afternoon on the cheap. It provides different exhibitions and you (and even your kids) can learn a lot about Southeast Asian freshwater and saltwater creatures there. It opens daily from 8: 30 am to 4: 30 pm.
Phuket Thaihua Museum
It houses a photo exhibition and video media which tell the history of the Chinese people in Phuket and displays on mining, local clothes, Sino-Portuguese architecture, local foods and traditions and culture of Phuket. The Museum opens every day, between 9: 00 am and 5: 00 pm.
Phuket Zoo
It’s set in tropical gardens shaded by big trees. The zoo has a large number of workers who can speak several languages. They are happy to answer everyone’s “why” questions. If you get hungry on the tour, there are different foods for you, but you must pay for them. It’s open daily from 8: 30 am to 6: 00 pm.
Pung Chang Cave
It is a destination for tourists who love adventure since rafts are required to travel through it. It takes around one hour and a half to tour this cave, which is about 600 meters long. To take this trip, you have to reach the cave between 10: 00 am and 2: 00 pm.
1.What gives Phuket Aquarium an advantage over other sights?
A.Target visitors. B.Budget entrance fees.
C.Big size. D.Long opening time.
2.Which place sets a limit on visitors’ arriving time?
A.Phuket Aquarium. B.Phuket Thaihua Museum.
C.Phuket Zoo. D.Pung Chang Cave.
3.What is the passage mainly about?
A.Reasons for study in Phuket.
B.Tips to save money in Phuket.
C.Introduction of tourist attractions in Phuket.
D.Dos and don’ts while traveling in Phuket.
假定你是李华，你的英国朋友 Tom 来信询问有关传染性肺炎（infectious pneumonia）的情况。请你给Tom 回信，内容包括：
1. 肺炎简况；
2. 应对措施；
3. 有信心战胜疫情。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Tom,
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours Sincerely,
Li Hua
阅读下面句子，在空白处填入1 个适当单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
1.Anyone who _____ a crime must be punished no matter what his position is.
2.Though he has made great progress, yet he thinks he isn’t _____ (了不起的).
3.Susan works hard and I think she _____ to be well paid.
4.Tom studies better than most of his classmates, so we can say that his work is above the _____.
5.Golf has gained _____ among the wealthy in my country.
6.You should look at the problem at different _____(角度).
7.There was a fierce _____ (碰撞) and one of the trucks came off the road.
8.You should learn to face any _____ (挫折) and failure.
9.Their relation is too _____ (复杂)to explain.
10.Every manager must _____ and encourage his employee.
