Question

In a society such as the United States or Canada, which has many national, religious and cultural differences, people highly value individualism--the differences among people. Teachers place a lot of importance on the qualities that make each student special. The educational systems in these countries show these values. Students do not memorize all possible basic knowledge. Instead, they work individually and find answers by themselves. There is often discussion in the classroom. At an early age, students learn to form their own ideas and opinions.

In most Asian societies, by contrast, the people have the same language, history and culture. Perhaps for this reason, the educational system in much of the orient reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism. Children in China, Japan and Korea often work together and help one another on assignments.

There are advantages and disadvantages of both systems of education. For example, one advantage of the system in Japan is that students there learn much more about math, physics, biology and chemistry than American students by the end of high school. They also study more hours each day and more days each year than North Americans do. The system is difficult, but it prepares students for a society that values discipline and self-control. There is, however, a disadvantage. Memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools, yet many students say that after an exam, they forget much of the information that they have memorized.

The advantage of the educational system in North America, on the other hand, is that students learn to think for themselves. The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas. There is, however, a disadvantage. When students graduate from school, they haven’t memorized as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have.

1. The reason why American teachers attach much importance to individualism is that

_________.

A. they are required to do so

B. their students do not memorize information

C. the United States is a country of many cultures

D. their students work individually

2. Which of the following statements applies to Asian methods of education?

A. Each child in a classroom draws a different picture.

B. students have to find information themselves.

C. Students are prepared for a society that values discipline.

D. Teachers serve as a guide in discussion.

3. Which is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The system of education in the West is more creative than that in the East.

B. Japanese students learn much more about science than American students.

C. Canadian students are more individual than Korean students.

D. Students in North America are not so friendly as those in Asia.

4. From the facts, we can infer that ______ .

A. Asian students are more likely to do better in teamwork than American students

B. Chinese students are more hard-working in their studies than Mexican students

C. the Western educational system is much better than the Eastern educational system

D. the Eastern educational system is as difficult as the Western educational system

5. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Advantages and Disadvantages of Educational System.

B. The Value of Individualism.

C. Educational System-an Obvious Difference between the East and the West.

D. Memorization-an Important Learning Method.

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.D

4.A

5.C

【解析】

试题分析:本文讨论的是东西方教育系统的不同之处。在西方人们强调高度尊重个人和人与人之间的差异。教师极其重视每个学生的不同特性，而在东方，由于相同的语言、历史和文化，其教育系统强调集体主义和团结协合精神，上课时教师讲，学生听，讨论并不多。文章最后谈到了两种教育系的优缺点。

1.C事实细节题。根据短文第一段In a society such as the United States or Canada, which has many national, religious and cultural differences, 可知这是因为美国是一个有着不同文化夹杂的国家，故选C。

2.C事实细节题。根据 Perhaps for this reason, the educational system in much of the orient reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism.可知在东方，社会更注重的是集体、遵守规矩的理念，故选C。

3.D推理判断题。根据最后一段中“The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas. ”这个体系为培养他们的社会价值观的创造性做了准备，可知西方教学体系更注重培养学生的创造力，因此A正确；根据倒数第二段中“For example, one advantage of the system in Japan is that students there learn much more about math, physics, biology and chemistry than American students by the end of high school”可知日本学生在高中后一时期比美国学生学习更多的自然科学。因此B正确；同A项一样，加拿大属于西方教学体制，西方教学体系更注重培养学生的创造力，因此比韩国学生的创造力更强一些，故C正确；D项中友不友好在文中并未体现，因此D错误，故选D。

4.A推理判断题。阅读前两段Children in China, Japan and Korea often work together and help one another on assignments以及 The advantage of the educational system in North America, on the other hand, is that students learn to think for themselves. 可知，在西方教育体制下的孩子更倾向于自己独立思考，遵循自己的意见，而东方教育体质之下上课时教师讲，学生听，讨论并不多，孩子们更倾向于团队合作，故选A。

5.

考点：考查历史文化类短文阅读