Few people doubt the value of developing students' thinking skills. A focus on critical thinking is common in education. In the Australian Curriculum, critical thinking and creative thinking are known as “general capabilities”. The US has a similar focus through their “common core".
Many approaches to developing critical thinking are based on Philosophy for Children. One strategy that has a large impact on students' ability to analyse and evaluate arguments is argument mapping, in which a student's reasoning can be visually displayed by capturing the inferential pathway from assumption to conclusion. This type of argument-based intellectual engagement can show high outcomes in terms of the quality of thinking in any classroom. Research also shows deliberate attention to the practice of reasoning in the context of our everyday lives can be significantly improved through targeted teaching.
Teachers at one high school in Australia, who have much training in critical thinking teaching methods, developed a task that asked students to determine Australia's greatest sports person. Students needed to construct their own criteria for greatness. To do so, they had to analyze the Australian sporting context, create possible evaluative standards, explain and justify why some standards would be more acceptable than others and apply these to their candidates. They then needed to argue their case with their classmates to develop criteria that were solid, defensible, widely applicable and produced a choice that seized significant and relevant aspects of Australian sport.
Researchers looking at the gains made in a single term of teaching critical thinking with argument mapping said the critical thinking gains measured are close to those that could be expected to result from three years of undergraduate education. Students who are taught to think well also do better on subject-based exams and standardized tests than those who do not.
In terms of developing 21st century skills, which includes setting up students for lifelong learning, teaching critical thinking should be core business.
1.Which of the following can explain the underlined word “capturing" in Paragraph 2?
A.Describing. B.Attracting. C.Designing. D.Blocking.
2.What’s the purpose of Paragraph 3?
A.To construct the criteria for being great.
B.To acknowledge the teachers' outcomes.
C.To present how to teach critical thinking.
D.To emphasize the importance of reasoning.
3.What is the author's attitude toward teaching critical thinking?
A.Objective. B.Supportive. C.Doubtful. D.Cautious.
4.What does this text imply?
A.Teaching methods should vary among schools.
B.Research on education deserves more attention.
C.Critical thinking should be valued in education.
D.Concepts of critical thinking aren't well received.
Telling someone they are not hired is never an easy job, but all hiring managers will face this difficult situation many times in their careers. While everyone fears denial on some level, it is important to understand that not everyone will fit in every job. Further, there are times when the applicant quality will be so great, a decision to reject an applicant may not reflect on that applicant's abilities but the overall quality of the field.
There are a number of methods that can be used to get the message across that a person is not hired. In many cases, especially for those who were never called for an interview, a simple form letter may be sufficient. In other cases, where someone may have been called for an interview, a phone call or letter could be chosen to deliver the message that they were not hired. In cases where there may be an ongoing relationship with the person not hired, it may be best to break the news in person, though this has the obvious potential of being more uncomfortable. Above all, it is best to always be honest with those who didn't get the job. Lying is never acceptable.
Generally, it is not a good idea to tell someone specific reasons why they are not hired for a job. This can only lead to resentment（怨恨）and regret. However, there may be specific times when this could be a good idea. For example, if an applicant is promising and the hiring manager believes another position will be opening up that suits the applicant's skills, this could be a way to let that person know they may soon have another opportunity.
In all cases, even if you feel someone has cheated to obtain an interview, never behave in a way which shows you are superior to them. This is unprofessional and reflects very poorly not only on the hiring manager, but the organization as a whole.
1.Why are some applicants refused according to Paragraph 1?
A.They are interested in other fields.
B.They don't qualify for the position.
C.They are afraid of making decisions.
D.They lack the courage to face failures.
2.How may a not-interviewed applicant be informed of the rejection?
A.By receiving a formal phone call.
B.By getting a simple form letter.
C.By checking a message online.
D.By attending a personal meeting.
3.In what case will applicants be told exactly why they are not hired?
A.They regret applying for the job.
B.They demand specific explanations.
C.They may be capable of another post.
D.They have submitted false information.
4.What can be inferred about the position of hiring managers?
A.It calls for professional skills.
B.It attracts the applicants most.
C.It doesn't allow for any mistake.
D.It requires honesty and ambition.
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens makes up a folk art center, gallery space, and a nonprofit organization showcasing the works of mosaicist（镶嵌设计师）Isaiah Zagar.
Zagar devoted himself to beautifying the South Street neighborhood in the late 1960s, when he moved to the area with his wife Julia. The couple helped the area by purchasing and repairing some old buildings, often adding colorful mosaics on both their private and public walls. The first such project was Julia's still-busy folk art store, the Eyes Gallery at 402 South Street.
Zagar started working on the Magic Gardens in 1994 in the deserted parking lot near his studio. He spent the next fourteen years sculpting multi-layered walls and decorating the 3, 000 square foot space. The installation（装置艺术），primarily consisting of found objects and contributions from the community, finally covers half a city block with countless patterns and colors. It shows Zagar's many artistic influences, as well as the events and experiences of his life.
In 2002，the owner of the once-unused parking lot decided to sell the land in response to rising South Street property values. Unwilling to witness the destruction of Zagar's neighborhood art environment, the community rushed to support the artist. His creation, newly titled Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, turned into a nonprofit organization with the intention of preserving and promoting Zagar's works at the site of the Magic Gardens and throughout the South Street region.
The Magic Gardens is now a permanent art institution that is open to visitors throughout the year. Trained guides are available to lead tours of the Magic Gardens and Zagar's surrounding public wall paintings. In addition, it offers monthly mosaic workshops led by Zagar himself, and regularly hosts concerts, dance performances, and other public events.
1.How did Zagar help the South Street neighborhood?
A.He moved to the area with his family.
B.He worked to improve its surroundings.
C.He opened a folk art store with his wife.
D.He managed to buy all the old buildings.
2.What does Paragraph 3 intend to tell us?
A.Great achievements of Zagar.
B.Special skills of installing art.
C.Location of the Magic Gardens
D.Early history of the Magic Gardens.
3.What do the local residents think of Zagar's works?
A.They harm environment.
B.They can bring in profits.
C.They should be removed.
D.They are precious treasures.
4.What can tourists do in Philadelphia's Magic Gardens?
A.Paint the walls on the spot.
B.Put on music performances.
C.Enjoy some Zagar's works.
D.Attend some dance courses.
Known for its complicated, seemingly wavelike sandstone walls and the rays of sunlight that shine into them, Arizona's Antelope Canyon（羚羊峡谷）is an everlasting attraction for tourists. It's a slot canyon, meaning it formed from water carving it out over millions of years. It sits about 3, 700 feet above sea level and takes its name from the antelope that once lived in it.
The canyon forms part of Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park in the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation limits visits to either the Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon to two hours and requires all visitors to be led by authorized guides. If you're planning a trip and need help deciding which area to visit, keep these recommendations in mind.
•When: Tours are available twice a day during the week year-round, though exact times vary by season；tours are not available on weekends or major holidays.
•Cost: Tour companies 5 fees vary, but tickets, including entrance to the park, generally start at around $ 60 for 90-minute tours of Upper Antelope Canyon. Tours of Lower Antelope Canyon tend to be around an hour and generally cost around $ 40 per adult and $ 20 for children.
• Must-know tip: Most of Arizona does not follow daylight saving time, though the Navajo Nation, where Antelope Canyon is located, does. Check with your tour operator to confirm the precise time of your tour.
Antelope Canyon hosts tons of visitors and, in order to protect the canyon walls from damage, no bags of any kind are permitted in either the Upper or Lower section. Also keep in mind that while most tour companies welcome small children, not all of them will.
1.What makes Antelope Canyon attractive?
A.Its remarkable height.
B.The origin of its name.
C.Its unique natural feature.
D.he process of its formation.
2.How much may a couple pay for a one-hour tour in Lower Antelope Canyon?
A.$60. B.$80. C.$ 100. D.$120.
3.What must be kept in mind about the Antelope Canyon tour?
A.The age limit for kids.
B.The definite tour time.
C.Carrying a small backpack.
D.Booking tickets in tour agencies.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
I could smell the turkey cooking, even in the attic where I was hiding out. I heard a laugh, too, and a bang from something being dropped. Our house was noisier since my new stepsister and step-mother moved in — Jen and Mom.
I called her Mom, but the word felt uncomfortable, like a pair of shoes that pinched (夹脚). I didn’t remember my own mother; she had died in an accident when I was a baby. It had always been just Dad and me. We were a team. Now, so much had changed, and sometimes I wished I had the magic to change it back.
I heard Dad’s footsteps upstairs. “Do you want to take Jen skating?” he asked.
“I guess.” I sighed, thinking about how Dad and I usually spent Thanksgiving Day building a big snowman. But this year, Dad was too busy helping Mom cook the turkey.
“Thanks,” Dad said and put his arm around my shoulders. “We’ll make that snowman later,” he promised.
“Yeah,” I agreed, not too sure we’d have time.
Mom handed us some homemade cookies with smiling faces as we grabbed our skates. I had to admit, Mom came up with good ideas sometimes. Even though I liked that, I still couldn’t help but feel as if she were changing everything.
“No, thanks. I’m not hungry,” I said, although I was, a little.
“Ready?” I asked Jen. She nodded, and we headed out the front door.
The snow crunched under our boots as we walked down the street. The silence was awkward. “Did you go skating a lot last year?” I asked, blurting out the first thing that came to my mind.
Jen shook her head and looked at me. Finally she said, “On Thanksgiving, Mom and I always went to visit some friends on a farm. I especially loved seeing their big turkeys.”
Until then, I’d never even thought about how Jen must be feeling. She not only had a new stepfather and stepbrother; she had a new town and home, too. Jen and her mom used to live near a lake, and she’d had to move up north with us. She’d had more changes than me.
注意：1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
Suddenly, I didn’t feel quite so sorry for myself.
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Paragraph 2:
We were so busy making it that we didn’t hear our parents come outside.
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假定你是李华，得知你校外籍教师Peter计划在暑假回国，他想送给母亲可以代表中国文化特色的礼物，请给他写一封邮件，向他推荐礼物。内容包括：
1. 推荐礼物；
2. 推荐原因；
3. 表达祝愿。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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