How quickly can you count from one to ten? Do you use ten different words to do it? Can you do it in English, or do you have to use your first languages? Do you count on your fingers? Many people think tikat numbers and math are the same all over the world* But scientists have discovered that it is not true.
People in different parts of the world use different ways to count on their fingers. In theUnited States, people begin counting with their first fingers, which they extend or stick out.They then extend the rest of their fingers and finally the thumb(拇指) to count to five. Then they repeat this with the other hand to get to ten. In China, people count by using different finger positions. In this way, a Chinese person can easily count to ten on only one hand.
Besides ways of finger counting, scientists have found that cultures and languages are also different when it comes to numbers. Some languages have only a few words for numbers, and others have no words for numbers. A group of scientists studied aboriginal(土著的) people in Australia. These people don't have hand movements to stand for numbers. They don't even have words for numbers. However, they are still able to understand different ideas about numbers.
In a similar study, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology discovered that people of the Piranha tribe(部落) in northwestern Brazil don't have words for numbers such as "one" or 6'three". They are not able to say 66five trees" or "ten trees" but can say "some trees," "more trees," or 66many trees." Professor Edward Gibson said that most people believe that everyone knows how to count, t6but here is a group tbat does not count. They could learn, but it isn't not useful in their culture, so they've never picked it up."
Although ali[ humans are able to understand quantities(数量:) ,not alllanguages have numbers and not all people use counting. Number words in a certain language are a result of people needing numbers in their daily lives. Now we know that people have different ideas about numbers and math, too.
1.The writer begins with the four questions in order to .
A. make a survey B. interest readers
C. tell a story D. solve math problems
2.What do we learn from the difference in finger counting between the U.S. and China?
A .People from China count much faster than people from the U.S..
B. People from China need two hands to count from one to ten.
C. People of different cultures may use different ways of finger counting.
D. People of different cultures use the same way of finger counting.
3.Which of following is TRUE about aboriginal Australians?
A. They have only a few words for numbers.
B. They have hand movements to stand for numbers.
C. They can only count to five on their fingers.
D. They can understand different ideas about numbers.
4.The study of the Piranha tribe shows that .
A. people all over the world know how to count
B. people of the tribe have words for number
C. some groups of people are not smart enough to count
D. counting is not usefulin the culture of the tribe
5.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. People from different cultures have different ideas about numbers and math.
B. Chinese people can count more easily on their fingers than Americans.
C In some aboriginal culture, people don't even know how to count.
D. Some languages don't bave number words because people don't need numbers.
Spending more than two hours a night doing homework leads to better results in English,math and science, according to a major study (by Pam Sammons, England) which has tracked(跟踪) the progress of3,000 children over the past 15 years.
Spending any time doing homework showed advantages, but the influence was greater for the students who put in two to three hours a night, according to the study published by the Department for Education in England.
The scientists who did the research say their study empbasizes(强调) what students actually do rather than how much work the school has set.
Pam Sammons, a professor of education at Oxford University, said that time spent on homework showed the influence of the school-if children were expected to do homework and if they enjoy their subjects. "That's one of the reasons Indian and Chinese children do better.They put more time in it." he added.
It's also reported that students who enjoyed school got better results. "Schools could make sure children had a better experience by improving the school environment, making school work interesting and making children feel supported by teachers." Sammons said.
It is suggested that children aged 5 t0 7 should be set one-hour homework a week, half an hour a night for 7 t0 11-year-olds. Secondary schools were encouraged to set up two hours a night for 14 t0 16-year-olds.
"Head teachers should make their own homework policy(政策)," the government says.
1. Where can we probably read this passage?
A. In a poster. B. In a magazine.
C. In a storybook D. In an advertisement.
2.According to the first paragraph, spending doing homework leads to better results in lessons.
A. half an hour B. an hour
C. over two hours D. less than two hours
3. Which of the following sentences is TRUE according Io the passage?
A. What students actually do is as important as how much work schools set.
B. If children enjoy their subjects, they will do much homework
C. Indian and Chinese children spend more time doing homework
D. Children aged 14-16 should spend an hour a night on homework
4.The underlined word "set" means .
A. writing music for words
B. giving some work for somebody to do
C. putting something in a place
D. making something happen
5.From the passage, we can know that .
A. Students should become interested in their results.
B. Students should do bomework as mucb as possible.
C. Parents should encourage their children to do homework
D. Teachers should make their children feel supported.
A mother wanted to encourage her son to play the piano. She bought tickets to the concert of a great pianist. When they arrived at the theater, the mother found a friend. Sbe stopped to talk to ber friend and her son ran off.
At eight o'clock’the lights began to dim(变暗),and the concert was set to start. The mother began to look for the boy. Then, she saw her 6-year-old son on stage. He was on the piano bench playing Twinkle, Twinkle little star.
The mother was very shocked. Before she could get her son back, the famous pianist himself was on the stage and quickly moved to the piano.
"Don't stop. Keep playing," he said kindly to the boy. The great pianist reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass(低部) of the song. Soon, his right arm reached around the other side and played a beautiful piece of music. Together, the two impressed people with their beautiful music.
In all of our lives, we receive helping hands- some we notice, some we don't. We also have Iots of chances to give helping hands- sometimes we want people to know, sometimes we don't. Little of what we all achieve comes without other's help. What we receive we should give back
1. The mother took her son to the piano concert because .
A. her friend sent them two tickets
B. the pianist invited them there
C. she wanted to develop his interest in piano
D. her son liked the pianist very much
2.What was the little boy doing when his mother saw him?
A. He was listening to concert in his seat.
B. He was talking to his friend.
C. He was on the piano bench playing a piece of music.
D. He was learning from the famous pianist.
3. When the mother found her son playing on stage, she felt .
A. happy B. encouraged
C. interested D. surprised
4. What did the pianist ask the boy to do ?
A. To go back to his mother.
B. To keep playing the piano.
C. To play the bass part of the song.
D. To watch him play instead.
5.What does the story tell us?
A. It is good to give a helping hand to others.
B. Great people always like to help others.
C. It is important to give a child a lesson on stage.
D. A mother should take good care of her child.
补全对话从每题A.B.C.D四个选项中,选出一个最佳答案完成对话。 (5分)
A: Hi, Sandy, what are you going to do this weekend?
B: I'm going to see a movie.
A: Sure. What kind of movies do you like?
B:Comedies.
A: Have you ever seen the movie Despicable Me?
B: No,I haven't. _______
A: Yeah,I saw it yesterday.
B:
A:I think it is the best movie I have ever seen.
B: __ 。
A: About two and a half hours.
B: Is the price of the ticket high?
A: No. ___ _
B: I'm going to see the movie this weekend. Thank you!
A: You're welcome.
1.
A. Can you give me some advice?
B.Can Ihelp you?
C. What can I do for you?
D.What should I do?
2.
A.I have seen it before.
B.And Ibate it a lot.
C.I don't think so.
D.But I heard it is great.
3.
A.Do you like it?
B.Is it interesting?
C. What do you think ofit?
D. Why do you like it?
4.
A. How far is it?
B.How long does it last?
C. How did you go
D.How much is it?
5.
A.It costs 20 yuan.
B.It takes two hours.
C. It's pretty interesting.
D.It's cheap for me.
Andy was a single father, raising a 5-year-old boy alone. He was often worried that his son up without a motber to care for him. In the morning he went away on business, leaving the child alone. He was worried about the child all the way, not if he had eaten. But his child always told him not to worry. Andy alwayswent home .after finishing his work When he got home one day, the child was deep asleep. He was tired out. When he went to bed himself, he was to find an overturned(打翻的)bowl of noodles under the quilt. He his sleeping son angrily, "Why are you so naughty(淘气的),making the quilt ? Who will wash it?" It was the first time tbat he had hit his boy after his wife's death.“I haven't," the child explained tears in his eyes, "This is your supper, Daddy." In order
to let his father eat supper when be got home, the child cooked two bowls of one for himself, for his father. He was afraid that his father's noodles would get ,so he placed them under the quilt to keep them warm.
1.A. grew B.picked C.taken D.put
2.A.thinking B.knowing C.waiting D.standing
3.A.angrily B.happily C.quickly D.possibly
4.A. worried B.excited C.patient D.surprised
5.A.got up B.gave up C.came up D. woke up
6.A. dirty B.clean C.broken D.old
7.A.with B.through C.across D.in
8.A.rice B.milk C.noodles D.dumplings
9.A.other B.the other C.another D.others
10.A.hot B.cool C.nice D.more
-How long have you ?
-For about 5 months..
A. borrowed the book B.bought the bike
C. joined the ping-pong club D.had the car