Contrary to many people believe, highly intelligent children are not necessarily certain to achieve academic success. In fact, so-called gifted students may fail to do well because they are unusually smart. Ensuring that a gifted child reaches his or her potential requires an understanding of what can go wrong and how to satisfy the unusual learning requirements of extremely bright young people.
One common problem gifted kids face is that they, and those around them, place too much importance on being smart. Such an emphasis can encourage a belief that bright people do not have to work hard to do well. Although smart kids may not need to work hard in the lower grades, whe
n the work is easy, they may struggle and perform poorly when the work gets harder because they do not make the effort to learn. If the academic achievement of highly intelligent children remains below average for an extended period, many teachers will fail to recognize their potential. As a result, such students may not get the e
ncouragement they need, further depressing their desire to learn. They may fall far behind in their schoolwork and even develop behavior problems.
IQ is just one element among many in the recipe for success—Children develop well or struggle in school for a host of reasons apart from IQ. These include motivation and persistence, social competence, and the support of family, educators and friends.
Because highly gifted children solve the most varied thought problems faster and more thoroughly than those with more average talents do, they need additional intellectual stimulation while they wait for the rest of the kids to learn the basics. Two central approaches are used to satisfy the educational needs of such children: acceleration and enrichment. Acceleration means studying material that is part of the standard subjects for older students. Enrichment involves learning information that falls outside the usual subjects.
A child might skip one or more grades as a way of accelerating in school. But being with older children for the entire school day—and perhaps for grade-based extracurricular activities such as sports—can make a child feel inferior in every filed outside of academics. One very bright fourth-grader who had skipped two grades remained far ahead of his classmates i
ntellectually, but as his classmates reached adolescence, his social and other shortcomings became painfully apparent. While acceleration is not an option, or not a good one, enrichment can be. After all, school is not a race but an adventure in learning. As such, the goal is not finishing first but absorbing as much knowledge as possible in the time assigned. Thus, providing opportunities for a child to study topics outside the regular subjects can be at least as valuable as pushing him or her through the required material faster.What is the basic reason for the low academic achievement of highly intelligent children?
| A．Teachers’ failure to recognize their potential. |
| B．Too much emphasis on being intelligent. |
| C．Studying topics outside the regular subjects. |
| D．Lack of encouragement from teachers. |
According to the passage, which of the following belongs to enrichment activities for talented children?
| A．Skipping one of more grades and studying together with older children. |
| B．Learning the same material in the standard subjects for older students. |
C．Learning information that is not included in the regula r subjects. |
| D．Learning how to read with fluency even in their pre-school days. |
Which of the following statements do you think is true about the writer?
| A．He is in favor of enrichment rather than acceleration. |
| B．He is in favor of acceleration rather than enrichment. |
C．He speaks highly of both enrichment and  acceleration. |
| D．He thinks neither enrichment nor acceleration is a good choice. |
In this article, the writer wants to ______.
| A．point out the weaknesses of acceleration for gifted children |
| B．compare acceleration with enrichment for gifted children |
| C．stress the importance of enrichment for gifted children |
| D．discuss how to bring out gifted children’s potential |
Exhausted and unhappy, you still have to squeeze a smile to your friends, or teachers. That’s just life, you may think. But new research suggests that putting on a fake smile can worsen people’s mood and even lower work efficiency.
Lead researcher Brent Scott with other researchers studied a group of bus drivers for two weeks. They tried to find out what happened when the drivers were involved in “surface acting” or fake smiling, and the opposite, “deep acting” which means people put on real smiles by recalling pleasant memories or thinking about their current situation more positively.
The results showed that on days when drivers were forced to smile, they felt depressed and didn’t want to work. On days when they smiled due to positive thoughts, their mood improved a lot as well as their work efficiency.
The research goes against the popular belief among companies that employees should be cheerful to customers at all times. They include employees of shops, banks, call center workers and others who have face-to-face contact with members of the public. “Smiling for the sake of(为了) smiling can lead to emotional exhaustion and coldness, and that’s bad for the organization,” Scott told the Daily Mail.
The study also showed that women were harmed more by fake smiling than men. Their mood and work performance both worsened more. But they were helped more by deep acting — their mood became better and they worked more efficiently.
However, while deep acting seemed to improve mood in the short term, Scott says it’s not a long-term solution for unhappiness.
“There have been some suggestions that if you do this over a long period that you start to feel inauthentic(不真实的),” Scott said. “You may be trying to cultivate positive emotions, but at the end of the day you may not feel like yourself anymore.”Brent Scott and others’ experiments on bus drivers suggest that ______.
| A．depression among bus drivers is common |
| B．thinking in a positive way helps with work efficiency |
| C．bus drivers with pleasant memories tend to be less efficient |
| D．the bus drivers’ work efficiency is determined by their mood |
According to the article, which of the following statements about “fake smiling” is TRUE?
| A．It is good for the business but bad for the employees. |
| B．It doesn’t work on people who are emotionally expressive. |
| C．It is a widely accepted cultural practice in the US. |
| D．It causes more harm to women than men. |
We can conclude from the article that the researchers think that ______.
| A．people should be true to their feelings |
| B．smiling helps to put people in a good mood and become more efficient |
| C．it is unnecessary to cultivate positive emotions |
| D．deep acting can improve mood in the long run |
The article is mainly about ______.
| A．the importance of smiling during face-to-face contact |
| B．a new study on fake smiling and its influence on people |
| C．suggestions on improving work efficiency |
| D．how to cheer up when you are exhausted |
In many sports, physical contact(身体接触) is part of the game. But when athletes hit their heads, the hit can cause concussions(脑震荡).
Concussions have long been a concern for professional athletes, but they’ve become more common among young players too. Between 2001 and 2009, the number of kids under 19 visiting doctors for concussions each year increased by 62 percent.
Engineers are developing new helmets(头盔), and new rules are limiting physical contact in some sports. But are these efforts enough to protect kids’ brains?
Concussions can happen during many types of activities. But sports like football and soccer are especially risky. When you run or jump, your body is moving at an increased speed. A sudden hit causes you to move faster in a different direction.
“It’s like when you’re in a bus and it makes a sudden stop,” says Dr. Kevin Crutchfield, an expert at a sports concussion center in Baltimore, Maryland. “You hit the inside of the bus.”
This hit damages the brain. It affects the way the brain functions. So some sports require athletes to wear helmets. Helmets help reduce the force of a hit. The hard outer shell spreads the force of larger area. Inside a helmet, a plastic or air-filled lining also helps soften the blow.
Steve Rowson is an engineer at Virginia Tech. In his lab, he tests how helmets hold up against different types of hits. No helmet can prevent concussions completely, says Rowson. But he’s found that when wearing a newer football helmet, the player’s head doesn’t gain speed as much after a hit. That lowers the risk of concussions.
Many youth sports teams have set limits on physical contact to reduce the risk of concussions. In soccer, most concussions happen as a result of headers—shots or passes made with the head. That’s why many people think kids shouldn’t head the ball until high school.
These efforts should help, says Crutchfield. But the best way to prevent long-term brain injuries, he says, is to stop playing immediately if you suffer concussion. “Protect yourself today so you can play again tomorrow.”Concussions among young players ______.
| A．are rare before 2001 |
| B．seem extremely worrying |
| C．cause kids to lose interest in sports |
| D．are mostly caused by wearing no helmets |
The author mentions the sudden stop of the bus to _____.
| A．stress it’s dangerous to ride buses |
| B．show human brains are easily damaged |
| C．give a better explanation of concussions |
| D．remind people to wear helmets while playing sports |
What does Steve Rowson think of the newer football helmets?
| A．They vary a lot in size. |
| B．They work better than the old ones. |
| C．They slow down the player’s running speed. |
| D．They allow the players to move their heads more freely. |
Dr. Crutchfield suggests that after receiving a concussion, young players should__.
| A．never head the ball |
| B．avoid dangerous sports |
| C．play other kinds of sports |
| D．stop playing the sport for a while |
There are plenty of beauty schools throughout the country that can help you to start a career in cosmetology(美容业). Nowadays, young people may not be able to afford a four-year college. Students can look forward to attending a beauty school program which will only take a few months to complete and start their career right away to earn money.
There can be many benefits of going to beauty school. The expense is much less than attending a four-year university. Besides, attending beauty school is mostly a hands-on(动手的) experience which appeals to many people. Some students don’t like sitting all day listening to lectures and then having to study at night. What’s more, most beauty school programs keep up with the changing trends and fashion. So you will always be working on different hair types which can be fun and will give you a lot of experience throughout the years of your career.
If you are worried about finding a job after graduation, many beauty schools will offer assistance for immediate job placement and give you peace of mind that you will not be stranded looking for a job. Most colleges and universities are not equipped to do that because of the large number of graduates each year.
Cosmetologists will also make a good salary. The average salary will depend on your location, but you may earn a salary around $3,000 — $3,500 a month. This is not including tips which could be $600 or more a month.
Not only can young people go to cosmetology school, but people of all ages can start this career. As you can see, there are many benefits of beauty schools that can be the perfect opportunity for anyone to become a great cosmetologist.How many advantages of going to beauty school are mentioned in Paragraph 2?
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
The underlined word “stranded” in Paragraph 3 can be replaced by ______.
| A．focused on | B．given up |
| C．stuck in | D．turned to |
What can be learnt from the passage?
| A．A cosmetologist gets paid at least $3,600 a month. |
| B．Beauty schools are not popular with young people. |
| C．Graduates can easily be offered jobs by universities. |
| D．It isn’t suitable for the old to start a career in cosmetology. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
| A．The development of cosmetology |
| B．How to become a cosmetologist |
| C．The benefits of beauty schools |
| D．Going to college or beauty school |
Time spent in a bookshop can be most enjoyable, whether you are book-lover or only there to buy a book as a present. You may even have entered the shop just to find a shelter from a sudden shower. Whatever the reason is, you can soon be totally unaware of your surroundings. You soon become attracted in some books or others, and usually it is only much later that you realize you have spent too much time there and must dash off to keep some forgotten appointments.
This opportunity to escape the realities of everyday life is the main attraction of a bookshop.
A music shop is very much like a bookshop. You can wander round such a place to your heart’s content. If it is a good shop, no assistant will approach you with the greeting “Can I help you?” You needn’t buy anything you don’t want. In a bookshop an assistant should remain in the back ground until you have finished reading. Then, and only then, are his services necessary.
Once a medical student had to read a text book which was far too expensive for him to buy. He couldn’t obtain it from the library and the only copy he could find was in a certain bookshop. Every afternoon, therefore, he would go along to the shop and read a little of the book at a time. One day, however, he was disappointed to find the book missing from its usual place. He was about to leave, when he noticed the owner of the shop beckoning to him. Expecting to be told off, he went towards him. To his surprise, the owner pointed to the book which was tucked away in a corner. “I put it there in case anyone was tempted to buy it!” he said, and left the delighted student to continue his reading.According to the passage, the main attraction of a bookshop is ______ .
| A．the chance to get free from the reality |
| B．learning something from the books |
| C．a shelter from a sudden shower |
| D．the surrounding of books |
The writer thinks that the assistant in a bookshop should ______.
| A．greet customers pleasantly and warmly |
| B．not disturb the customers when they read |
| C．help the readers to find what they want |
| D．not stay in the background all the time |
The purpose of writing the third paragraph is to_______.
| A．tell us a story about a bookshop |
| B．teach us to read in shops without buying books |
| C．support the main idea of the passage |
| D．teach us to help people whenever we can |
Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They find out that the new baby is going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sings to his sister in Mommy’s tummy.
The pregnancy (怀孕) progresses normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. Then the labor pains come. Every five minutes ... every minute. But Complications arise during delivery. Hours of labor. Would a C-section （剖腹产）be required? Finally, Michael’s little sister is born. But she is in serious condition. With siren （鸣笛）howling in the night, the ambulance rushes the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The days inch by. The little girl gets worse. The pediatric specialist tells the parents, “There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst.” Karen and her husband contact a local cemetery about a burial plot. They have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby — now they plan a funeral. （葬礼）
Michael, keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister, “I want to sing to her,” he says, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. However, Karen makes up her mind. She will take Michael whether they like it or not.
If he doesn’t see his sister now, he may never see her alive. She dresses him in an oversized scrub suit and marches him into ICU. He looks like a walking laundry basket, but the head nurse recognizes him as a child and bellows, “Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed.” The mother rises up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glares steel-eyed into the head nurse’s face, her lips a firm line. “He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!” Karen leads Michael to his sister’s bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. And he begins to sing. In the pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sings:
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray ... ”Instantly the baby girl responds. The pulse rate becomes calm and steady.
Keep on singing, Michael. “You never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away...” The ragged, strained breathing becomes as smooth as a kitten’s purr.
Keep on singing, Michael. “The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms...” Michael’s little sister relaxes as rest, healing rest, seems to sweep over her.
Keep on singing, Michael. Tears conquer the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glows. “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
Funeral plans are scrapped. The next day — the very next day — the little girl is well enough to go home!
The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God’s love!
Never give up on the people you love. Love is so incredibly powerful.Why was Michael’s sister in serious condition when she was born? Because _____.
| A．Karen worked actively in the church. |
| B．Karen was seriously ill during her pregnancy. |
| C．There was something wrong with the delivery. |
| D．The girl was born disabled. |
What does “sibling” in the first paragraph mean?
| A．stepmother | B．sister or brother |
| C．neighbor | D．friend |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Michael doesn’t love his younger sister because she will share his mother’s love. |
| B．After delivering the baby, Karen was seriously ill. |
| C．Seeing the younger sister in danger, Michael didn’t care and still sang happily. |
| D．The head nurse was at last moved by Michael’s song and his love for the sister. |
Why did Karen insist on Michael’s entering Intensive Care?
| A．Because Michael may never have chance to see his younger sister alive. |
| B．Because Karen was driven mad at that time. |
| C．Because Michael was also seriously ill. |
| D．Because Karen knew Michael would save his younger sister by his singing. |
Who saved the girl in the end?
| A．The pediatric specialist. |
| B．Karen and her husband. |
| C．The baby. |
| D．Her brother Michael. |
What does the writer want to convey in the passage?
| A．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| B．Love can make miracles. |
| C．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| D．Parents are the best teachers in children’s development. |
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