The classic model of education — a burst at the start and company training — is breaking down. One reason is the need for new and constantly updated skill. Manufacturing increasingly calls for brain work rather than manual labor.
Pushing people into ever-higher levels of formal education at the start of their lives is not the way to handle the problem. Just 16% of Americans think that a four-year college degree prepares students very well for a good job. Although a vocational education promises that vital first hire, those with specialized training tend to withdraw from the labor force earlier than those with general education perhaps because they are less adaptable.
At the same time on-the-job training is shrinking. In America and Britain it has fallen by roughly half in the past two decades. Self-employment is spreading, leaving more people to take responsibility for their own skills. Taking time out later in life to pursue a formal qualification is an option, but it costs money and most colleges are meant for youngsters.
The market is innovating to enable workers to learn and earn in new ways. Providers from General Assembly to Pluralsight are building businesses on the promise of improving careers. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have turned away from lectures on Plato or black holes in favor of courses that make their students more employable. At Udacity and Coursera self-improvers pay for cheap, short programs. By offering degrees online, universities are making it easier for professionals to polish their skills. A single master’s program from Georgia Tech could expand the annual output of computer-science master’s degrees in America by close to 10%.
Lifelong learning starts at school. As a rule, education should not be narrowly vocational. The curriculum needs to teach children how to study and think. A focus on “metacognition” (元认知) will make them better at picking up skills later in life.
1.Which is the reason why traditional education is failing?
A.It bursts educators’ bubble in the beginning. B.Companies can’t afford training fees.
C.Old skills can’t meet the present needs. D.It fails to develop one’s brain.
2.What can we infer from the text?
A.The more knowledgeable one is, the more likely he is to be employed.
B.Most Americans are poor at their studies in the college.
C.More than 80% of Americans have to be self-employed now.
D.Returning to college after working is not considered worthwhile.
3.What does the underlined word “innovating” in Paragraph 4 mean?
A.Reforming its system. B.Declining little by little.
C.Booming all at once. D.Wasting time and energy.
4.How do colleges adapt to the present education model?
A.They open online courses. B.They provide easier access to updated skills.
C.They pay for cheap short programs. D.They lower the standard for master’s degree.
Robert Irwin is a typical teenage boy, who enjoys mountain biking and photography. He also lives in a large zoo.
Robert, the son of the late “Crocodile Hunter” star Steve Irwin, is now taking center stage in “Crikey! It’s the Irwins, ” a new series on Animal Planet.
“We’ve worked on quite a few different TV projects, but this is actually the first time my whole family has come back to Animal Planet together, so it’s pretty unusual, ”says Robert.
Premiering(首映)at 8 p.m. on Sunday, “Crikey! ” follows the Irwins as they run the 100-acre Australia Zoo, founded by Steve Irwin’s parents. Steve owned and ran the zoo before he died in 2006.
“We’ve always grown up in front of a camera. Bindi, my sister, and I were both filmed for some of the original ‘Crocodile Hunter’ documentaries, ”says Robert.
“I’m very lucky in the way that I’ve had so much of my life captured on camera, so as the memories you have of Dad start to fade, you can always look back at the old footage and relive those special moments, ” he says.
“Crikey! It’s the Irwins” has some footage of Steve. The most exciting part of the premiere involves Robert leading the “ Croc Show" at the zoo’s “ Crocoseum, ”a 5,500-seat stadium Steve built to give crocodile performances and educate visitors about crocodile behavior.
Of course, running a zoo doesn’t leave much time for school, so Robert participates in Distance Education, a program similar to homeschooling. “School can be difficult for me to fit in, ” he says. “But I've actually got a classroom that’s set up at Australia Zoo and a teacher that travels with us wherever we go, so I can fit in all of my studies. ”
Robert continues, “I’m learning as much as I can about all of the animals and all of the work at Australia Zoo. I feel really honored to be following in Dad’s footsteps. I love continuing that work. ”
1.Why is the new series special to Robert?
A.It is being filmed in a large zoo. B.It includes his whole family.
C.It is the first documentary he has made. D.It allows him to work with his dad.
2.What does Robert think of being captured on camera?
A.It encourages him to work hard. B.It helps increase his popularity.
C.It encourages him to care about animals. D.It helps strengthen his ties to his dad.
3.How does Robert keep up with his schooling?
A.He is taking some online courses. B.He is homeschooled by his mom.
C.He goes to school whenever he has time. D.He asks some teachers to teach him at home.
4.What’s Robert’s dream job in the future?
A.Feeding animals. B.Becoming a crocodile expert.
C.Running Australia Zoo. D.Becoming a wildlife photographer.
Elaine's Etiquette (礼节) Classes
Teddy Bear Tea Party
This tea party is great for preschool boys and girls! Children can bring their favorite teddy bear, doll or action figure to attend the party! With songs and role-play, children will learn their first steps to proper manners!
Course Description
·Pre-schoolers
·Al-hour presentation
·$10 per student
·Includes dessert, fruit and lemonade
Etiquette Advantage Course
We’re excited to announce our new youth course, “The Etiquette Advantage”! Children will learn how to exhibit polite behavior at home or in public. The course will discuss dining tips, communication through technology and person to person, and more!
Course Description
·lst-5th graders
·2.5-hour course
·$50 per student
Polished Presence Series
As children start junior high school, they will need to have the tools to show up in the world with a polished presence and the ability to behave properly in a variety of social and professional situations Our so-year-long program will help them access the key to success.
Course Description
·6th-12th graders
·September 20, 2020-May 16, 2021
·Meets once each month on Sundays
·2.5-hour session from 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
·S400 per student; Early bird gets a 20% discount by August 15th.
Timeless Manners Class
Our class will teach young people not only everyday manners but also basic etiquette and tips that will make them appear more professional while attending a job interview. They will learn how to use the power of politeness to present the best of who they are in different situations.
Course Description
·College graduates
·l-hour workshop
·$40 per student
1.What do we know about Teddy Bear Tea Party?
A.It is designed for 1st-5th graders. B.It is a hands-on learning process.
C.It lasts about two hours each time. D.It needs kids to take food and drink.
2.How much should a child pay if he or she applies for Polished Presence Series on August 7th?
A.$80. B.$200.
C.$320. D.$400.
3.Which of the following classes is most suitable for job seekers?
A.Teddy Bear Tea Party. B.Etiquette Advantage Course.
C.Polished Presence Series. D.Timeless Manners Class.
Directions: Write and English composition in 120-150 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
假设你是学生会主席王海，你发现许多学生倒掉午餐到学校的小卖部去买零食，于是在同学中作了调查。请给校长写封信，信的内容包括分析产生此现象的原因，并就此现象提出具体的建议。
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Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.
1.在宇宙中有许多肉眼看不到的星星（visible）
2.直到期末考试临近，迈克才意识到他的复习时间不够了。（Not until…）
3.只有当你了解了在不同情形下色彩联想的差异性，你才会避免冒犯别人或使自己难看。（Only）
4.作为一名教育工作者，你应该牢记在日常教学中要注重学生的身心发展。（emphasis）
Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of a lift operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?
Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian clothes. People have become conditioned to expect higher quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform is likely to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a hairdresser, or a waiter to lose professional identity than to step out of uniform?
Uniforms also have many practical good points. They are often more comfortable and more lasing than civilian clothes.
Primary fact among the argument against uniforms is their lack of variety and the loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they are likely to think, speak, and act similarly on the job at least.
Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.
