Academic learning is usually in the spotlight at school, but teaching elementary-age students “soft” skills like self-control and how to get along with others might help to keep at-risk kids out of criminal trouble in the future.
Once a program called Fast Track was started in the early 1990s for more than 7,600 children of 55 schools in America. They were identified by their teachers and parents to be at high risk for developing aggressive behavioral problems. The students were randomly divided into two groups; half took part in the intervention, which included a teacher-led curriculum, parent training groups, academic tutoring and lessons in self-control and social skills. The program, which lasted from first grade through 10th grade, reduced delinquency(少年犯罪), arrests and use of health and mental health services as the students aged through adolescence and young adulthood.
In another latest study, by looking at the data from nearly 900 students in previous findings, researchers found that about a third of the influence on future crime outcomes was due to the social and self-regulation skills the students learned from ages 6 to 11.
The academic skills, or hard skills like learning of physics, which were taught as part of Fast Track, turned out to have less of an influence on crime and delinquency rates than did the soft skills, which are associated with emotional(情绪的) intelligence. Soft skills might include teaching kids to work cooperatively in a group or teaching them how to think about the long-term consequences when they make a decision.
Researchers drew the conclusion that these soft skills should be emphasized even more in our education system and in our system of socializing children. Parents should do all they can to promote these skills with their children as should education policymakers. To the extent we can improve those skills, we can improve outcomes in delinquency.
1.Fast Track was intended for children who .
A.were randomly chosen from their schools
B.had some problems with academic learning
C.often went against their teachers and parents’ wishes
D.were considered to have criminal trouble in the future
2.What can be learned about "the intervention" in Paragraph 2?
A.It included all the students.
B.It focused on social skills.
C.It improved health services.
D.It had positive outcomes.
3.Compared with soft skills, hard skills .
A.almost have no influence on students
B.are more affected by students’ emotion
C.are mainly related to academic learning
D.offer children greater self-control abilities
4.Which is the best title for the passage?
A.Soft Social Skills Matter
B.Fast Track Helps Children
C.How to Prevent Delinquency
D.What to DO for Education
A UK college has started teaching students the Danish concept of hygge — said to make homes nicer and people happier. But what exactly is it?
Sitting by the fire on a cold night, while petting a dog — probably surrounded by candles. That’ s certainly “hygge”. Eating home-made cakes. Watching TV under a warm quilt. Tea served in a china set. Family get-togethers at Christmas. They’re all hygge too.
The Danish word, pronounced “hoo-ga”, is usually translated into English as “cosiness(舒适)”. But it’s much more than that — it is an entire attitude to life that makes Denmark one of the world’s happiest countries.
Morley College, in central London, is teaching students how to achieve hygge as part of its Danish language course. “We have long, cold winters in Denmark,” says lecturer Susanne Nilsson. “That influences things. Hygge doesn’t have to be a winter-only thing, but it isn’t that fine for much of the year.”
With up to 17 hours of darkness per day in winter, and average temperatures staying around 0℃, people spend more time indoors as a result, says Nilsson, meaning there’s greater focus on home entertaining.
The idea is to feel as at-home as possible, forgetting life’s worries. “Hygge works best when there’s not too large an empty space around the person or people,” Nilsson adds.
The recent growth in Scandinavian-themed restaurants, cafes and bars in the UK is helping to export hygge, Nilsson says. Most customers won’t have heard of the term, but they might get a sense of it.
Similarly, in the US, the wallpaper and fabric firm Hygge & West aims to channel the concept through its cheery designs, as does a Los Angeles bakery, called Hygge, which sells traditional Danish cakes and treats.
Hygge is a deep-rooted tradition in Danes’ life. Helen Russell, author of The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World ’ s Happiest Country, says, “Hygge is so important for those who live Danishly that the other day, I saw a camper car parked by the roadside with lit candles in the windows.”
1.Which can be used to explain the concept of hygge?
A.It means success. B.It is a way to relax.
C.It requires a large room. D.It is a candle-involved moment.
2.What makes the Danish have more home life according to the text?
A.The country’s climate. B.The country’s culture.
C.The country’s economy. D.The country’s education.
3.What do we learn about hygge in the UK and the US?
A.It is ignored by the two countries’ people. B.It is quite different from that in Denmark.
C.It is a new trend in the two countries. D.It is related to several traditions.
4.What is the main purpose of the text?
A.To explain the history of hygge. B.To discuss a UK college course.
C.To encourage people to live Danishly. D.To introduce a traditional Danish lifestyle.
He runs from explosions, drives over waterfalls and jumps from tall buildings. That might sound like Superman, but stuntman(特技演员) Vince Deadrick Jr. is very much human.
As a stuntman in movies and television shows, Deadrick admits he’s no stranger to getting hurt. He has suffered broken bones, bled, gotten knocked out and nearly fallen to death, but he considers himself lucky to be alive after some of the stunts he has performed.
Deadrick has been a stunt coordinator(协调员) for the Nickelodeon channel for 12 years. He has worked with famous actors, directors and producers, and he has travelled all over the world. But that doesn’t mean his work is easy.
It took him years of hard work to get where he is today. Deadrick’s father, Vince Deadrick Sr., was also a stuntman, but his family connection didn’t give Deadrick a free pass into the movie business. He learned from his dad how to set up cardboard boxes and fall mats for high falls, and he started training on his own once he decided to follow in his father's footsteps.
As a stunt coordinator, Deadrick takes danger seriously. When he hires a new stunt performer, he looks for a professional(专业人士).
“You’re only as good as the people you hire,” he says. A stuntman needs to know his own abilities and limitations so he won’t shy away from doing his best but also won’t be such a daredevil(铤而走险的人) that he could hurt himself or others.
When the actors and stuntmen are going to do something dangerous, they need to know they’re trusting the right person. With over 40 years in the business, Deadrick is an expert at making stunts both realistic and safe.
Though he has a large amount of responsibility, Deadrick loves his job.
“I’m in a position where I have to make decisions on risk factors, keeping the actors and stuntmen safe while still making it look impressive. I love my business, and I love the excitement.”
1.It can be inferred from paragraph 2 that Deadrick is_____.
A.careless B.unfortunate
C.optimistic D.generous
2.What do we know about Deadrick’s path to success?
A.He learned his stunt skills from a stuntman.
B.He made it with hard work and great effort.
C.His dad offered him great encouragement.
D.His dad led him into the movie business.
3.When hiring stuntmen,Deadrick___.
A.is very careful B.prefers the fearless ones
C.likes those with no limitations D.puts experience above all else
4.What does Deadrick think of his job?
A.Hard and boring. B.Easy and attractive.
C.Skilled but relaxing. D.Challenging but exciting.
2019 Oscars Academy Award Nominees (提名) for Best Picture
Black Panther
Type: Adventure
Running Time: 134 min.
Release Date: February 16, 2018
Current rank: ★★★★
Director: Ryan Coogler
Actors: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan
With his father having died in Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa is the new ruler of the advanced kingdom of Wakanda. As the king, whenever a challenger for the crown announces his intentions, he must give up his powers and take them on in a physical challenge.
The Favorite
Type: Drama
Running Time: 120 min.
Release Date: November 30, 2018
Current rank: ★★★
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Actors: Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz
In the early 18th century, with England and France at war, a fragile Queen Anne occupies the throne as her close friend Lady Sarah Churchill governs the country in her stead, while tending to Anne’s ill health and changeable temper.
Green Book
Type: Drama
Running Time: 130 min.
Release Date: November 21, 2018
Current rank: ★★★★★
Director: Peter Farrelly
Actors: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali
Tony Lip, an uneducated Italian-American who’s known for using his fists to get his way, is hired to drive world-class, famous pianist Don Shirley on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South. They must rely on the “Negro Motorist Green Book” to guide them to the few settlements that were then safe for blacks.
A Star is Born
Type: Musical
Running Time: 135 min.
Release Date: October 5, 2018
Current rank: ★★★★
Direct: Bradley Cooper
Actors: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga
When country music star Jackson Maine stops at a bar for a drink after a concert, he’s both entertained and attracted by young nightclub singer Ally. He discovers that she writes songs as well as being a talented singer, but hasn’t had a break because of her looks.
1.Which film is the least popular among audience?
A.Black Panther. B.The Favorite.
C.Green Book. D.A Star is Born.
2.The film about the rights of black people belongs to .
A.adventure B.musical
C.drama D.comedy
3.Who works as a director and actor?
A.Ryan Coogler. B.Yorgos Lanthimos.
C.Peter Farrelly. D.Bradley Cooper.
请阅读下面文字及图表，并按照要求用英语写一篇150词左右的文章。
（写作内容）
1. 用约30个单词概述上述信息的主要内容；
2. 结合上述信息，简要分析导致交通问题的主要原因;
3. 根据你的分析，从社会规范(rules and regulations)和个人行为两方面谈谈你得到的启示(不少于两点)。
（写作要求）
1. 写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句；
2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称；
3. 不必写标题。
（评分标准）
内容完整，语言规范，语篇连贯，词数适当。
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
请认真阅读下面短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意：每个空格只填一个单词。
The expression,“ everybody’s doing it,” is very much at the center of the concept of peer pressure. It is a strong influence of a group, especially of children, on members of that group to behave as everybody else does. It can be positive or negative. Most people experience it in some way during their lives.
People are social creatures by nature, and so it is hardly surprising that part of their self-respect comes from the approval of others. This instinct (天性) is why the approval of peers, or the fear of disapproval, is such a powerful force in many people’s lives. It is the same instinct that drives people to dress one way at home and another way at work, or to answer “fine” when a stranger asks“ how are you?” even if it is not necessarily true. There is a practical aspect to this: it helps society to function efficiently, and encourages a general level of self-discipline that simplifies day-to-day interaction.
For certain individuals, seeking social acceptance is so important that it becomes like an addiction; in order to satisfy the desire, they may go so far as to abandon their sense of right and wrong. Teens and young adults may feel forced to use drugs, or join gangs that encourage criminal behavior. Mature adults may sometimes feel pressured to cover up illegal activity at the company where they work, or end up in debt because they are unable to hold back the desire to buy a house or car that they can’t afford in an effort to“ keep up with the Joneses”.
However, peer pressure is not always negative. A student whose friends are good at academics may be urged to study harder and get good grades. Players on a sports team may feel driven to play harder in order to help the team win. This type of influence can also get a friend off drugs, or to help an adult take up a good habit or drop a bad one. Study groups and class projects are examples of positive peer groups that encourage people to better themselves.
Schools try to teach kids about the dangers of negative peer pressure. They teach kids to stand up and be themselves, and encourage them to politely decline to do things that they believe are wrong. Similarly, it can be helpful to encourage children to greet the beneficial influence of positive peer groups.
What is Peer Pressure
Concept of peer pressure | Peer pressure refer to the strong1.that you must do thing the way other people of your ager do. |
It works in nearly everyone of us, and 2.us in one way or another, good or bad. | |
A3.function of peer pressure to society | Being social creature, people expect the approval from their fellow members |
People around will affect how one lives4.. | |
Peer pressure helps society function efficiently. | |
Influences of peer pressure on 5. | The desire to be socially accepted by one’s peers is like a drug. |
Negative influences include lack of 6.sense, criminal offences and over—consumption. | |
Positive influences are good grades , team 7.,and the building–up of good 8..ect. | |
To avoid the danger of negative peer pressure, kids should learn to be 9.when necessary, and say 10.to anything that is wrong or illegal. |
