Thinking is something you choose to do as a fish chooses to live in water. To be human is to think. But thinking may come naturally without your knowing how you do it. Thinking about drinking is the key to critical（判断性的）thinking. When you think critically, you take control of your thinking processes（过程）. Otherwise, you might be controlled by the ideas of others. Indeed, critical thinking is at the heart of education.
The word “critical” here has a special meaning. It does not mean taking one view against another view, as when someone criticizes another person for doing something wrong. The nature of critical thinking is thinking beyond the easily seen-beyond the pictures on TV, the untrue reports in the newspapers, and the faulty reasoning.
Critical thinking is an attitude as much as an activity. If you are curious about life and desire to dig deeper into it, you are a critical thinker. If you find pleasure in deep thinking about different ideas, characters, and facts, you are a critical thinker.
Activities of the mind and higher-order reasoning are processes of deep and careful consideration. They take time, and do not go hand in hand with the fast speed in today’s world: fast foods, instant coffee, and self-developing film. If you are among the people who believe that speed is a measure of intelligence（智力）, you may learn something new from a story about Albert Einstein. The first time Banesh Hoffman, a scientist, was to discuss his work with Albert Einstein. Hoffman was too nervous to speak. But Einstein immediately put Hoffman at ease by saying, “Please go slowly. I don’t understand things quickly.”
1.Critical thinking is important to us because if we do not think critically, _______.
A．it will be hard for us to think naturally and fast.
B．we might be controlled by other people’s ideas.
C．we will follow the ideas of others naturally.
D．we might be footed by other people’s ideas.
2.If you are a critical thinker, you will ________.
A．think deeply about different ideas B．trust the reports in the newspapers
C．take one view against another view D．criticize other people for their mistakes
3.In the last paragraph, “something new” suggests that ________.
A．the smarter you are, the faster you do things
B．the faster you do things, the smarter you become
C．speed can improve intelligence
D．intelligence is not decided by speed
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A．Thinking and Critical Thinking. B．Understanding Critical Thinking.
C．Thinking Is Natural and Human. D．Thinking Fast Means Intelligence.
The following conversation is between Susan Russell-Robinson from the US Geological （地质学的）Survey and Barbara Reynolds from USA Today .
Q: Why , after 600 years of no activity , did Mount Pinatubo in Philippines erupt（喷发）in 1991 ?
A: Volcanoes （火山）each have their own eruption styles . This volcano probably has a rule which makes it erupt in the order of every 500 to 1000 years , but a volcano in Hawaii seems to erupt every year , and some of the Alaskan volcanoes might erupt every 10 or 20 years .
Q: So nothing caused it ?
A: There’s nothing out of the ordinary . If you were to take an ordinary calendar year , 50 to 75 or 80 volcanoes erupt around the world every year . There are 20 to 30 volcanoes every month that show signs of unrest . That might be a full-blown eruption or a whole host of activities like that .
Q: What is “the ring of fire” ?
A: If you look at where active volcanoes are placed around the world , there are somewhere between 500 and 600 of them . There is what appears to be almost a necklace that goes around the Pacific Ocean . It makes a ring where 60% of the world’s volcanoes lie .
Q: Why such a concentration（集中）there ?
A: That’s based on a theory that the oceans and the continents are like separate pieces . When continents and when that happens it seems to produce magma（熔岩）at depth and then you have volcanoes in the same ring .
1.What kind of writing do you think this passage is ?
A．A text taken from a geography book .
B．An interview published in the press .
C．A conversation carried out in a film .
D．An oral test recorded as an example .
2.Which of the following statements can correctly explain why we have so many volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean ?
A．The movement of the surface of the earth makes it possible.
B．The Pacific Ocean produces magma and presses it everywhere.
C．The oceans and the continents are separated from each other.
D．The earth’s surface around the Pacific is thinner than any other part.
3.Barbara Reynolds’ main purpose here is .
A．to show how dangerous volcanoes are to the world
B．to learn what signs a volcano gives us before its eruption
C．to warn the world of the existence of “the ring of fire”
D．to introduce some general idea of volcanoes to the public
4.Which of the following can be considered as the best conclusion of the conversation?
A．There are so many volcanoes in the world and we are always in danger.
B．Volcanoes have erupted more frequently than ever before.
C．Volcanoes are waiting to be better known.
D．Something must be done to protect the people near the ring of fire.
Dog Translation Products Coming to U. S.
A Japanese toy maker declares that they have developed a gadget that translates dog barks into human language and plans to begin selling the gadget——under the name of Bowlingual——in U. S. pet stores and gift shops this summer.
Tokyo-based Takara Co. Ltd. says about 300, 000 of the dog translator gadgets have been sold since it was on sale in Japan late last year. It is forecasting far bigger sales once an English language translation for dogs comes to America in August. The United States is home to about 67 million dogs, more than six times the number in Japan.
"We know that the Americans love their dogs so much, so we don't think they will mind spending $ 120 on this product," the Takara marketing manager said during an interview at a recent pet products conference in Atlanta.
Regarded as one of the coolest inventions of 2002 by Time magazine, Bowlingual is made up of a 3 - inch long wireless microphone that is fastened to a dog collar and sends out sounds to a small console (控制台) that is connected to a database (数据库). The console divides each bark into six emotional types——happiness, sadness, disappointment, anger, threat and desire——and shows common phrases, such as "You're ticking me off," that fit the dog's emotional state.
Takara says it has spent millions of dollars developing the gadget in cooperation with famous sound experts and animal behaviorists.
One thing that does appear certain is that the markets for animal translation products will likely remain a dog's world since Takara has no plans to develop a similar gadget for cats. "They are too unpredictable (反复无常) , " the marketing manager said.
1.This passage mainly tells us that Bowlingual ___________.
A. was invented in Japan B. has developed quickly
C. will be sold in America D. sells well for its price
2.The underlined word "they" in the last paragraph refers to ___________.
A. markets B. products C. plans D. cats
3.When was this passage most probably published?
A. In the winter of 2002. B. In the spring of 2003.
C. In the summer of 2002. D. In the autumn of 2003.
4.From the passage, we can see that Takara Co. Ltd. is ___________ the sale of its new product.
A. proud of B. satisfied with
C. confident of D. worried about
International Studies (BA)
Key features
● Recognizes the “global community”（国际社会）
● Has close connections with practical research
● Much of the teaching is done in small discussion groups
About the course
The course gives you chances to know great power polities between nation states. It will provide more space to study particular issues such as relationship among countries in the European Union, third world debt, local and international disagreement, and the work of such international bodies as the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, and the World Bank.
The course puts theories into the working of the international system with close attention to particular countries. You will also have a better knowledge of methods of solving the international problems.
Related（相关的）courses
BA (Hons) Community Management
BA (Hons) Public Policy and Management
Employment possibilities
International organizations
International business
Earth Science (BSc)
Key features
● Based on key courses and the latest research findings
● Pays much attention to practical skills
● Offers chances for fieldwork（实地考察）
About the course
The demand for natural resources is becoming an increasingly serious problem for the future of mankind. Graduates in Earth Science will play an important role in meeting this demand, and in knowing the meaning of using the natural resources.
The course covers geography and geology. You will carry out fieldwork in the UK and possibly overseas, and a research in an area of interest to you in the final year.
Related courses
BSc (Hons) Geograhpy
BSc (Hons) Geology
Employment possibilities
Mineral, oil, water or other related engineering industries
1.International Studies is a course in ________.
A．international polities B．international business
C．international systems D．international bodies
2.After taking the course of International Studies, the students will _______.
A．become practical and open-minded
B．have a greater ability to discuss theories
C．know how to settle international problems
D．have good jobs in any international organizations
3.Earth Science, as described in the second text, ________.
A．is attractive because of the chances for fieldwork
B．pays more attention to practical skills than theories
C．is built on important courses and the results of recent studies
D．encourages students to play a role in using natural resources
4.It can be inferred that the above two texts are written for the students who _______.
A．enjoy research work B．plan to choose courses
C．study in the UK D．are interested in overseas fieldwork
A study of a university in Shanghai had found that many of the students there are using a quote（引语）from the Italian poet Dante as a kind of motto. The study of Fudan University, one of China’s top universities, of 489 students, found that 82 had chosen Dante’s “Follow your own path and don’t worry about what others say” as their motto, out of 278 people who said they had a motto. This was followed by “Believe yourself” and “Self-improvement without stop.”
Students also expressed a common hope for greater understanding and care and said they were always ready to give a hand to those in need.
Some researchers think that mottoes can play an important part in children’s growth and they say that a good motto can help children develop a better character.
1.The study shows _________.
A．which university should have mottoes
B．what poems are popular
C．how many students like the motto “Believe yourself.”
D．the majority of the students like to choose their favorite mottoes
2.Of the students asked, _______ students have mottoes.
A．about 78% B．about 57% C．about 16% D．about 8%
3.The motto “Self-improvement without stop” shares the similar meaning with ______.
A．going on to improve rapidly
B．growing by oneself continuously
C．making oneself better and perfect continuously
D．becoming better without having a break
4.The best title for the passage should be _______.
A．Mottoes and Character Developing B．Students and Poet
C．Mottoes and Learning D．Understanding Care
What an exciting day it was for Jennifer and Valerie! They 26 friends since Grade Three and had 27 many of their high school experiences. Now they were driving together to their final high school event. Today was 28 day at Laman High School. 29 they were close friends, they were different in many ways. Jennifer was a fairly 30 student while Valerie did just enough to get by and was mainly 31 in a good social life.
"Isn't it 32 that we're all finished?" said Valerie. "I'm really looking forward to having a 33 time this summer."
" 34 be nice," Jennifer replied. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to work most of the summer to help pay for my college expenses. "
Jennifer's parents had only a small 35 and she had made up her mind to have a career in which he could 36 all the things her 37 could not.
Valerie, 38 , came firm a fairly wealthy family. She had little desire to work hard for 39 she had always taken for granted.
"I really don't want to go to college for a while," she 40 . "My uncle 41 a restaurant in the Bahamas and he has 42 me to spend a year there 43 a waitress. That should give me plenty of 44 for the beach. "
"It seems 45 will really be going different ways now," thought Jennifer.
1.A.has been B. were C. had been D. would be
2.A.learned B. obtained C. remembered D. shared
3.A.exam B. sports C. graduatioD. working
4.A.If B. Because C. Although D. When
5.A.diligent B. polite C. active D. favorite
6.A.specialized B. relievedC. envied D. interested
7.A.certain B. great C. unfortunate D. annoying
8.A.nice B. high C. bad D. happy
9.A.Can B. Shall C. Must D. Need
10.A.income B. problem C. family D. difference
11.A .afford B. give C. support D. send
12.A .teachers B. parents C. friends D. relatives
13.A.in fact B. in a way C. as a result D.on the contrary
14.A.what B. whom C. that D. these
15.A.admitted B. complain C. proposed D. screamed
16.A.opens B. runs C. works D. makes
17.A.helped B. assured C. invited D. promised
18.A.on B. do C. like D. as
19.A.peace B. work C. energy D. time
20.A.I B. we C. she D. they
