Directions: Read the passage carefully. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.
How Colleges Can Measure Up in Teaching “Critical Thinking”
After becoming president of Purdue University in 2013, Mitch Daniels asked the teaching staff to prove that their students have actually achieved one of higher education’s most important goals: critical thinking skills. 1. Mr. Daniels needed to justify the high cost of attending Purdue to its students and their families. After all, the percentage of Americans who say a college degree is “very important” has fallen dramatically in the last 5-6 years.
Purdue now has a pilot test to assess students’ critical thinking skills. 2. However, they need not worry so much. The results of a recent experiment showed that professors could use standard grading scale to measure how well students did in three key areas: critical thinking, written communication and language literacy.
3. The organizers of the experiment concluded that far fewer students were achieving at high levels on critical thinking than they were doing for written communication or language literacy. And that conclusion is based only on students nearing graduation.
American universities, despite their global reputation for excellence in teaching, have only begun to demonstrate what they can produce in real-world learning. Knowledge-based degrees are still important, but employers are demanding advanced thinking skills from college graduates. 4.
A. If the intellectual worth of a college degree can be accurately measured, more people will seek higher education―and come out better thinkers.
B. Two years before, a nationwide study of college graduates had shown that more than a third had made no significant gains in such mental abilities during their school years.
C. Despite the success of the experiment, the actual results are frustrating, and mostly confirm earlier studies.
D. Many can’t reason clearly or perform competently in analyzing complex, non-technical problems.
E. Yet like many college teachers in the U.S., the professors remain doubtful that their work as educators can be measured by a “learning outcome” such as a graduate’s ability to investigate and reason.
F. It is important to identify the common goals of general higher education and translate them into the design of the learning outcomes assessment.
Imagine how you’d feel if you had to get more than 9,000 tons of junk out to the sidewalk. That’s how much trash is floating around in space. In fact, there’s about 4 million pounds flying over our heads in low-Earth orbit. Daan, a Dutch artist, and his team at Space Waste Lab have come up with a creative plan that could clear up space junk in a spectacular fashion.
①Most space waste comes from dead satellites and rockets. Functioning satellites are the backbone of the information systems that keep our world running smoothly. But all the satellites eventually become obsolete within just a few decades. When they die out, there’s the problem of them drifting in outer space, collecting in what scientists call the “graveyard orbit.”
Maybe you’re thinking, “Why should I care about garbage 12,500 miles above me?” Well, all that fun stuff that satellites help beam down to us—mobile games, Instagram, cat videos—could be shut down by space waste. Lots of old junk floating around up there, plus new satellites added each year, means more and more high-speed collisions (碰撞). And when chunks of junk crash into one another, they break apart into millions of pieces, quickly building up speed and turning into fast-moving objects, which are dangerous to operational satellites as well as astronauts working on the International Space Station.
②Space waste is a problem that’s escalated so much, some scientists say that by 2050 we’ll be forced to stop launching new spacecraft altogether, including new satellites. Think about that for a minute. When the last satellites finally become disused, GPS, cell phones, and the Internet will no longer function.
③So we have to find a way to deal with this space garbage, and Daan pictures a sort of trash pickup, which involves groups of small spacecraft casting large nets into orbit that would collect space debris (碎片) and send it back toward Earth at top speed. Here’s the best part—while reentering Earth’s atmosphere, the pieces of junk would burn up all at once, creating a light show similar to hundreds of shooting stars falling in the night sky. A spectacle indeed!
To get ready for such an amazing effort, Space Waste Lab has been traveling to major cities across Europe and enlightening the public on the problem of the junk in space. ④But Daan doesn’t just talk about ways to relieve the problem—he’s created something a little grander than that. In October 2018, his team launched Space Waste Lab Performance, an outdoor art exhibition that shows the location of each piece of space trash using large lasers that make each debris look a bit like a star wandering slowly and silently over the sky, allowing viewers to wave and say, “Hallo, space trash!”
1.The word “obsolete” (paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to “______”.
A.accessible B.profitable
C.floating D.outdated
2.According to the passage, which sentence best replaces the question mark in the diagram?
A.Working satellites can be damaged and astronauts can be hurt.
B.Satellites can help people track the weather and find new locations.
C.There is more junk floating in space each year as new satellites are added.
D.The Space Waste Lab Performance can show people where satellites are located.
3.Which of the following best supports the idea that space waste should be dealt with very soon？
A.Sentences ① B.Sentence ②
C.Sentence ③ D.Sentence ④
4.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A.Space Junk Harms Digital Systems
B.Artists’ Proposal to Save Space
C.A New Glimpse into Outer Space
D.Test of Waste Collection Nets
Read the information taken from the pain reliever bottles and answer the questions.
Medicine A
Drug Facts Active ingredient Purpose (in each tablet) Pain reliever/ 325 mg…………..…………fever reducer |
Uses provides temporary relief of ■ headache ■ pain and fever of colds ■ toothache ■ muscle pain ■ minor pain of arthritis |
Warnings Reye’s syndrome: Children and teenagers who have or are recovering from chicken pox or flu-like symptoms should not use this product. When using this product, if changes in behavior with nausea and vomiting occur, consult a doctor because these symptoms could be an early sign of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious illness. |
Alcohol warning: If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take aspirin or other pain relievers/fever reducers. Aspirin may cause stomach bleeding. |
Ask a doctor before use if you have ■asthma ■stomach problems that persist or recur ■ulcers ■ bleeding problems Stop use and ask a doctor if ■ pain worsens or lasts more than 10 days ■ fever worsens or lasts more than 3 days ■ new symptoms occur ■ redness or swelling is presents ■ ringing in the ears or loss of hearing occurs |
Directions ■ adults: 1 to 2 tablets with water. Dosage may be repeated every 4 hours, not to exceed 12 tablets in 24 hours. ■ children under 12: consult a doctor. |
Medicine B
Drug Facts ------------------------------------------------ Active ingredient Purpose (in each gelcap) Pain reliever/ 500mg…………………..…fever reducer |
Uses ■ temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to headache, muscular aches, backache, the common cold, toothache, minor pain of arthritis ■ temporarily reduces fever |
Warnings Alcohol warning: If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take This product or other pain relievers/fever reducers. This product may cause liver damage. |
Overdose warning: Taking more than the recommend dose (overdose) may cause liver damage. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away. Quick medical attention is critical for adults as well as for children even if you do not notice any signs or symptoms. |
Directions ■ do not take more than directed (see overdose warning) ■ adults and children 12 years and over: take 2 gelcaps every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Do not take more than 8 gelcaps in 24 hours. ■ children under 12 years: do not use this adult Extra Strength product in children under 12 years of age; this will provide more than the recommended dose (overdose) of acetaminophen and may cause liver damage. |
1.Which medicine may hurt liver according to the instructions?
A.Medicine A. B.Medicine B.
C.Both medicines. D.Neither medicine.
2.These two medicines are most suitable for _____.
A.a child who has a common cold B.an adult who has trouble falling asleep
C.a teenager who slightly hurt his wrist D.an old man who has stomach bleeding
3.Which of the following can be found in the instructions?
A.Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). B.Ingredients of the medicine.
C.Facts about the origin of the medicine. D.Names of the doctors to consult.
Leftover again? Hurray
Here’s the deal: You’re as hungry as a horse and you want a delicious meal from a fine restaurant, but you’re a little low on funds.
So what do you do? If you happen to live in Europe, the answer is as easy as pie: You pull out your smartphone or tablet, and tap Too Good To Go, Europe’s most popular app. Approximately 23,000 restaurants and food sellers post their leftover offerings on the app for half their usual cost.
Why all this incredible generosity? Unbelievably, one-third of the world’s food is thrown away, and nearly one billion people don’t have enough to eat. Besides, burning wasted food releases harmful carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change. That’s why environment-minded companies around the world are creating apps for phones, tablets, and other smart devices that connect uneaten food with people who want or need it.
After a long day at work, Anne, a 34-year-old student, pulls out her smartphone and chooses a noodle dish—pasta with mushrooms. Then she heads to a restaurant on the banks of the Spree River, where the owner packs her dinner and also offers her a scoop of free ice cream, which is a reward for bringing her own container.
Indeed, there are many programs serving the same mission around the world. In America, people are using an app called Food for All. One hour before a restaurant closes, its staff can post leftover meals to the app for up to 80 percent off menu prices. The app also allows customers to donate leftover meals to others.
In the Netherlands, 77,000 people have downloaded an app called NoFoodWasted. This program allows grocery store workers to share products that are approaching their expiration dates with customers who might need them.
Some countries are taking their commitment to reducing food waste a step further. France and the Czech Republic, for example, have laws that prohibit restaurants and grocery stores from throwing away food. Instead, workers are required to donate that food to charity.
So think about if there might be a better use for your uneaten vegetables. The planet will thank you.
1.What is this passage mainly about?
A.Restaurants can post leftover meals on the app Food for All.
B.Apps are designed connecting leftover food with people in need.
C.Stores share food approaching their expiration dates with customers.
D.It’s popular for people to claim food that might otherwise be thrown away.
2.What is the result when lots of food is thrown out and later burned up?
A.Carbon dioxide is given off, worsening the problem of climate change.
B.Some countries have laws making restaurants donate the food they make.
C.Governments have made many apps that let people find cheap meals.
D.Nearly one billion people on the planet do not get enough food to eat.
3.What can you infer from the passage?
A.Anne packed a tasty pasta and mushroom dish to give away to charity.
B.The restaurant Anne visits sells its leftover food at a discount each day.
C.The 80-percent-off deal offered on app is not available during lunch hours.
D.Laws have been passed to prevent restaurants from throwing out leftover food.
4.This passage would be most useful for a student research project on _____.
A.application of technology to help solve the problem of leftover food
B.laws to help promote the safe transportation and sale of food products
C.restaurants using high-tech solutions to reduce packaging waste
D.methods to design apps that connect restaurants with customers
Fall down as you come onstage. That’s an odd trick. Not recommended. But it saved the pianist Feltsman when he was a teenager back in Moscow. The experienced cellist Rostropovich tripped him purposely to ______ him of pre-performance panic. Mr. Feltsman said, “All my fright was gone. I already fell. What else could happen?”
Today, music schools are addressing the problem of ______ in classes that deal with performance techniques and career preparation. There are a variety of strategies that musicians can learn to fight stage fright and its symptoms: icy fingers, shaky limbs, racing heart, ______ mind.
Teachers and psychologists offer wide-ranging ______, from basics like learning pieces inside out, to mental discipline, ______ visualizing a performance and taking steps to relax. Don’t deny that you’re tense, they urge; some excitement is ______, even necessary for dynamic playing. And play in public often, simply for the experience.
Psychotherapist Diane Nichols suggests some strategies for the moments before ______, “Take two deep abdominal(腹部) breaths, open up your shoulders, then smile,” she says. “And not one of these ‘please don’t kill me’ smiles. Then choose three friendly faces in the ______, people you would communicate with and make music to, and make eye contact with them. “She doesn’t want performers to think of the audience as a judge.
Extreme demands by conductors or parents are often ______ stage fright, says Dorothy Delay, a well-known violin teacher. She tells other teachers to demand only what their students are able to achieve. .
When Lynn Harrell was 20, he became the principal cellist of the Cleverland Orchestra, and he suffered extreme stage fright. “There were times when I got so nervous I was sure the audience could see my chest responding to the heartbeat, which was just total ______. I came to a point where I thought, ‘If I have to go through this to play music, I think I’ m going to look for another job.’” Recovery, he said, involved developing humbleness—recognizing that whatever his talent, he was likely to make mistakes, and that an ______ concert was not a disaster.
It is not only ______ artists who suffer, of course. The legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz’s nerves were famous. The great singer Franco Corelli is another example. “We had to push him on stage,” his partners recalled.
______, success can make things worse. “In the beginning of your career, when you’re scared to death, nobody knows who you are, and they don’t have any ______,” Singer June Anderson said. “There’s less to lose. Later on, when you’re known, people are coming to see you, and they have certain expectations. You have a lot to ______. ” He added, “I never stop being nervous until I’ve sung my last note.”
1.A.assure B.cure C.remind D.rob
2.A.anxiety B.adolescence C.principle D.psychology
3.A.absent B.blank C.keen D.narrow
4.A.advice B.choices C.services D.education
5.A.instead of B.along with C.such as D.with regard to
6.A.definite B.neutral C.natural D.precious
7.A.ceremony B.performance C.lecture D.rehearsal
8.A.audience B.orchestra C.staff D.choir
9.A.at the face of B.at the root of C.in favour of D.in contrast with
10.A.craze B.fault C.failure D.panic
11.A.unusual B.imperfect C.invalid D.unpopular
12.A.talented B.unknown C.young D.experienced
13.A.Actually B.Certainly C.Luckily D.Similarly
14.A.appreciation B.contribution C.expectation D.satisfaction
15.A.learn B.offer C.say D.lose
Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
Surprise! A New Penguin
A team of scientists in New Zealand recently came across the remains of a previously unknown species of penguin—by mistake. The discovery of the Waitaha penguin species, which has been extinct for 500 years, is exciting news for the scientific community 1. it gives new insight into how past extinction events can help shape the present environment.
The researchers uncovered the Waitaha penguin remains while studying New Zealand’s rare yellow-eyed penguin. The team wanted to investigate the effects 2. humans have had on the now endangered species. They studied centuries-old bones from 3. they thought were yellow-eyed penguins and compared them with the bones of modern yellow-eyed penguins. Surprisingly, some of the bones were older than 4. (expect). Even more shockingly, the DNA in the bones indicated that they did not belong to yellow-eyed penguins. The scientists concluded that these very old bones 5. have belonged to a previously unknown species, which they named the Waitaha penguin.
By studying the bones, scientists further concluded that the Waitaha penguin was once native 6. New Zealand. But after the settlement of humans on the island country, its population 7. (wipe) out.
Based on the ages of the bones of both penguin species, the team discovered a gap in time between the disappearance of the Waitaha and the arrival of the yellow-eyed penguin. The time gap indicates that the extinction of the Waitaha penguin created the opportunity for the yellow-eyed penguin population 8. (migrate) to New Zealand.
9. yellow-eyed penguins thrived （兴盛） in New Zealand for many years, that species now also faces extinction. The yellow-eyed penguin today is considered one of the world’s 10. (rare) species of penguin, with an estimated population of 7,000 that is now the focus of an extensive conservation effort in New Zealand.
