Many Americans are turning to Japan, they think, a country of high academic achievement and economic success, for possible answers. However, the answers provided by Japanese preschools are not the ones Americans expected to find. In most Japanese preschools, surprisingly little emphasis is put on academic instruction. In one survey, 300 Japanese and 210 American preschool teachers, child development specialists, and parents were asked about various aspects of early childhood education. Only 2 percent of the Japanese respondents (答问卷者) listed “to give children a good start academically” as one of their top three reasons for a society to have preschools. In contrast, over half the American respondents chose this as one of their top three choices. To prepare children for successful careers in first grade and beyond, Japanese preschools do not teach reading, writing, and mathematics, but rather skills such as determination, concentration, and the ability to work as a member of a group. The huge majority of young Japanese children are taught to read at home by their parents.
Like in America, there is diversity (多样性) in Japanese early childhood education. Some Japanese kindergartens have specific aims, such as early musical training or potential development. In large cities, some kindergartens are attached to universities that have elementary and secondary schools. Some Japanese parents believe that if their young children attend a university-based program, it will increase the children’s chances of eventually being admitted to top-rated（一流的） schools and universities. Several more progressive programs have introduced free play as a way out for the heavy intellectualizing (智能化) in some Japanese kindergartens.We learn from the first paragraph that many Americans believe .
| A．Japanese parents are more involved in preschool education than American parents |
| B．Japan’s economic success is a result of its scientific achievements |
| C．Japanese preschool education emphasizes academic instruction |
| D．Japan’s higher education is superior to theirs |
In Japan’s preschool education, the focus is on .
| A．preparing children academically | B．developing children’s artistic interests |
| C．developing children’s potential | D．shaping children’s character |
Why do some Japanese parents send their children to university-based kindergartens?
| A．They can do better in their future studies. |
| B．They can make more group experience grow there. |
| C．They can be self-centered when they grow up. |
| D．They can have better chances of getting a first-rate education. |
Free play has been introduced in some Japanese kindergartens in order to .
| A．broaden children’s knowledge | B．train children’s creativity |
| C．lighten children’s study load | D．enrich children’s experience |
People who enjoy a dream-filled sleep are better at recalling information and making links between facts when waking. But recharging with a shallow (小睡) offers no such mental improvement, the research suggests. The results of the study added to the growing body of evidence that Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is very important to the brain’s ability to form strong memories.
An average night's rest includes four or five spells of REM sleep, but these bursts tend to be lengthier towards the end of the night. This means adults getting less than the recommended seven to eight hours a night -- and therefore inadequate REM sleep -- may be damaging their mind's ability to memorize: Although REM sleep is not classified as a type of deep sleep, it is only reached after the brain has passed through deep sleep stages.
In the recent study, participants were shown groups of three words and asked to find another word that can be associated with all three words. They were tested once in the morning and then given the same task again in the afternoon. In between, some were allowed a nap with REM sleep, some a nap without REM sleep, while the others had a quiet rest period. The quiet rest and non-REM sleep groups didn't improve, but the REM sleep group improved on their morning performance by an average of almost 40 per cent. Dr Sara Mednick, a sleep researcher at the University of California who led the study, believes the formation of connections between previously unassociated information in the brain occurs during REM sleep.
It is believed that sleep acts as a sort of mental filing system, enabling the brain to sort relevant information from useless information. This process may take place as memories are removed hem one art of the brain to others.
| Title |
REM Sleep |
| The result of the study |
Rapid Eye Movement sleep is of great importance to the brain's ability to |
| The of the study |
◆ associated with all three words. ◆The same task was given to participants ◆ The quiet rest and non-REM sleep groups showed no ◆ The REM sleep group almost 40 per cent. |
| Dr Sara Mednick's |
Connections between previous unassociated information in the brain are |
| Conclusion |
Sleep acts as a sort of mental filing system, enabling the brain to abandon useless information and keep the information. |
请认真阅读下列短文，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1个单词。请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。
Stress Management—Learn to Relax With Self Hypnosis
Self hypnosis(自我催眠法)is one of the best known and most effective techniques for relieving stress and anxiety. It’s easy to learn and you can do it anywhere. This is a simple exercise that you can do at any time of the day. All you need is 10 minutes to yourself.
The first few times you practice the following technique, it’s a good idea to make sure that you’re relatively calm to begin with. After you’ve practiced several times, you’ll be able to achieve the same deep relaxation, even if you are feeling stressed or tense.
Get into a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down. Then simply close your eyes taking a few moments to unwind(放松).
Now take a long slow deep breath, hold it as long as you comfortably can, then slowly release the breath allowing your whole body to relax with the air breathed out. Repeat this more than twice and notice how you relax even further with each breath.
Now, imagine our standing at the top of a set of 20 steps and each step will take you further into a deep state of relaxation. Then, as you count backwards from 20 to 1, imagine that you are moving down to the next step. With each number, notice that you are going deeper, becoming even more relaxed , feeling calm and at ease.
This is the most important step! Take some time to enjoy this relaxed state. Some people find that by this time their breathing has become slower and their body may feel either very heavy or every light or it may even feel like it’s tingling. It’s different for everyone so just pay attention to any changes and allow yourself to enjoy that state of deep relaxation.
Then when you are ready to awaken, count up from one to five, with each number just instruct yourself to become more alert, more awake, feeling more refreshed. When you reach five, open your eyes and remember to give your arms and legs a little shake to reorient(适应)yourself.
While you’re experiencing the benefits, you’ll find that you become more and more relaxed each time you go through the exercise. To get the most of this technique it’s recommended that you practice at least once each day for 21 days. Then use it as often as you like and whenever you’re feeling stressed or anxious.
Learn to Relax With Self Hypnosis
| If you want to |
||
| Before practicing |
While practising |
After practising |
| Make sure you are calm first. |
●Get into a comfortable position, sitting or lying down, and then close your eyes to relax ●Breathe slowly but ●Imagine ●Take some time to focus |
|
| The |
Visiting a new place can be a scary experience for a lot of people because it could include speaking in a language that most people are not comfortable with ---- English. So how can you keep away form this kind of situation? Learn how to speak English fluently. Here are 4 English speaking tips you must know to become a more confident English speaker.
1. Listen first.
One of the best English speaking tips is to listen carefully to understandable English EVERY DAY. Most people turn to textbooks to study English grammar rules, but you cannot learn the correct English pronunciation of the words merely by reading them. You do not need to learn grammar in detail because this can prevent you from speaking English fluently.
Instead, listen to how native English speakers pronounce and observe their mouth movements. Also watch English shows and movies to build on your English accent and improve your vocabulary.
2. Practice makes perfect.
Studies show that you’ll probably spend three months of practice every day in order to have strong mouth muscles. Read aloud in English for 15 to 20 minutes a day in front of the mirror, which helps in accent reduction and improves your English communication skills.
Also, practice with your friends and family. Talking with a good English speaker can help improvise (即兴发挥) your usage of words and formation of sentences.
3. Think in English.
One of the most effective English speaking tips is to think in English. What most English learners do in the early stages of learning is that they think of what they have to say in their native language, translate and then say it in English. This can be mentally tiring.
If your goal is to speak English fluently, you need to learn “thinking” in English. Make up the sentences in English as you think about them before saying them. With practice, you will be able to respond automatically in English.
4. Be more confident.
All these English speaking tips will be in vain if you are not that confident in your English speaking skills. It is quite natural to commit errors when learning a new language.
Try to relax if you’re speaking in English. When you speak at a normal speed, you’ll discover that you will be able to pronounce the words correctly and people will understand you. Most of the time, the person you are talking to is not even aware of your errors.
In a word, learning English does not happen overnight. It takes a lot of time, effort and practice. Don’t get too frustrated and never give up. Follow these English speaking tips and practice daily. Soon, you would learn to speak English fluently as if it is your own language.
English speaking tips you must know
| Introduction |
It’s many people’s dream to |
| Tips |
Listen first. v Seeking help from textbooks won’t enable you to learn the v Listen to how native English speakers pronounce and observe how their mouths v Watch English shows and movies to improve your English accent and |
| Practice makes perfect. v Practice three months to v Regular reading v Practice with your friends and family. |
|
| Think in English. v Thinking in your native language makes you v Thinking in English will reward you with automatic |
|
| Be more confident. v Committing errors is a necessary part of language learning. v Try to relax to speak at a normal speed and make yourself |
|
| Learning English does not happen overnight. |
How to Release Creativity
According to most dictionaries. creativity is the ability to create. However, creativity is more than what is defined by the dictionary. It is an idea, a process, a thought。or a state of mind. One cannot learn to be creative because creativity is natural and unique to each individual. People should know that creativity doesn’t equal success. It equals the act of expressing. So. if at first the goal that is aimed for is not achieved, there is no need for worry or frustration.
Creativity can, however, be released by discovery. Some people need encouragement to help
release their creativity. There are quite a few ways to release it.
One way to release creativity would be to look for what can inspire you. Looking at the world and admiring the differences in people and places help. Creativity can be drawn from their beauty. A person can touch, taste, smell, hear, and see hundreds of different objects. Aromas from foods, textures of blankets, and sight of unusual objects can all give inspiration.
Many people are too concerned with how things should look. The focus should be on how it actually looks in the raw, to the human eye. Colors and shapes can be distorted(扭曲)by the mere fact that people want others to see it for what it is. It’s more difficult for someone to let go of all that and just let their creativity flow, unblocked.
Another way to get the creativity flowing is to research what other artists have done or are currently doing. Their cultures and biographies alone can be an inspiration. Examining their works can help some appreciate artistic expression. New techniques can even be drawn from their works.
Some people are even inspired by everyday events, like reading the newspaper or watching the news. Some can take other people’s situations and describe how it makes them feel. That is a way to release creativity. Controversial issues, such as War or abortion, can inspire writings like poems. They can be used to express death, loss, or tragedy. General topics such as religion or politics can branch off into many directions, sending creativity into overdrive.
Creativity is not about reaching a goal or being a perfectionist. It’s about being, feeling, and taking all that is inside and letting it out in one way or another. Creativity is not always expressed by paintings, drawings, or writings. One’s action is the main form to express creativity. Romance, for example, is a form of creativity. Love and emotion are inspired by one person for another. Taking something inside and then putting it back out into the world as another thing is the key of creativity. Knowing and loving someone so much that there is a need to express it is a very natural form of creativity.
Another form of expressing creativity is talking. Some people are more blessed in this area than in more obvious ones。such as painting or drawing. They Paint a “word picture”. Speeches can be centered around new ideas and thoughts. It can contain an of one’s being and transform it into either simple or complicated words.
Inspiration is vital to creativity. Even if it’s only a slight feeling or thought that inspires. Creativity can be released each time attempts are made to use the body as all outlet. Remember that creativity is not an art form, but that it forms art.
How to Release Creativity
| Outlines |
Details |
| The writer’s understanding of creativity |
●Creativity is more than just a ●It is an idea, a process, a thought, or a state of mind. ●It is natural and unique to each individual. ●It equals |
| Ways to |
●We Can look for what Can inspire US through five ●We shouldn’t be too concerned with the ●We can get creativity flowing by ●We can draw inspiration from both everyday events and |
| Forms of expressing creativity |
Creativity Can be expressed by ●paintings, drawings or ●actions used ●speeches containing new ideas and thoughts. |
| Conclusion |
●Inspiration is of great ●Art is an expressive form of creativity. |
When I opened my e-mail the other day, a pretty woman named Rachel appeared on my computer screen. She greeted me by name and started talking enthusiastically. Every now and then she stopped to smile at me or blow a kiss. She was reading to me an e-mail from my brother, and a lot of it was about his getting the phone company to give him a high="speed" Internet connection. It was pretty cool.
Rachel was there thanks to a new technology called Facemail. Facemail lets you send an e-mail that gets read to the receiver by an attractive male or female form or by a clown. The software, which is free, can be downloaded at www. Facemail.com.
Facemail faces are lifelike, and they copy emotions based on the ones that you put in your text. For example, type in X, and Rachel blows a kiss.
Life FX, the company that develops the Facemail is sure there are broad business uses. The reason e-business is not popular, the company says, is that buying over the Internet lacks the human touch. But what if you went to the Nike website and Michael Jordan greeted you by name, waited on you and personally closed the sale? And the company is talking with Whirlpool about using the technology in a computer screen on a fridge. Then if Mom can’t be home when the kids get back from school, she can leave a note with voice and image telling them what there is to eat.
Facemail could get hot fast. Personally, I’m a fan. But Facemail should be used with words in an e-mail and add angry emotions when you’ve got a psycho-mail.
Title: A New Technology on Facemail
| My findings |
The other day, when I opened my e-mail, I was greeted by a pretty woman on my computer with great She kept reading to me an e-mail from my brother about a high-speed Internet connection. She stopped to smile at me |
| With the help of a male or female or a clown, Facemail can get your e-mail Facemail’s |
|
| Life FX is sure to have broad business uses. You can be greeted and waited on by Michael Jordan politely. Buying through e-business is not popular for lack The |
|
| My personal |
Facemail is fantastic and fun, but it has some disadvantages; Firstly, it should be used with words in an e-mail. Secondly, it might make you |
| Conclusion |
Facemail could get hot fast. |
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