GCSEs not fit for purpose
GCSEs(General Certificate of Secondary Education,普通中等教育證書)encourage "teaching to the test" and may be past their sell-by date, according to Britain's leading business organization. The Confederation of British Industry(CBI) warns that the qualification is stopping teachers delivering an "inspirational classroom experience" and should be replaced.
John Cridland, the CBI director general, said industry faced a shortage of key skills, particularly in science and maths. The CBI(英國工業(yè)聯(lián)合會), which represents more than 240,000 companies, is also concerned about the 40% of young people who fail to achieve the benchmark of five good GCSE passes including English and maths. The percentage of pupils who reach this standard is the main measure of school success.
Speaking at the launch of a CBI inquiry into education, Cridland argued that abandoning GCSEs could help deliver a full education. "There's something about this GCSE limitation which produces a form of learning ------ teaching for the test.’’
"It frustrates teachers because it stops them delivering that inspirational classroom experience."
The CBI head suggested that raising the school leaving age to 18 – a change that comes into effect in 2015 – is an opportunity to reform the system. "It seems to me that we've raised the participation age to 18 and we're left with an education system that focuses on 16," said Cridland. More than 600,000 children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to take GCSEs this summer.
Many other countries do without a public exam at 16. Finland, the highest performing school system in Europe, has just one public exam, at 18, though children are regularly tested at younger ages.
小題1:What does the author intend to tell us in paragragh1?
A.“Teaching to the test” should be encouraged.
B.We should stop teachers delivering “inspirational experience”.
C.The current qualification is out of date and should be replaced.
D.The Confederation of British Industry should be replaced.
小題2:What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.The British GCSEs are no longer practical and should be reformed.
B.In the GCSEs system , teachers don’t have freedom.
C.Five good GCSEs is hard to achieve.
D.The British Education Department will reform education system.
小題3:The meaning of the underlined word “benchmark” in paragraph 2 may be ______.
A.successB.targetC.standardD.excellent grades
小題4:Where can we find this article?
A.TV seriesB.radio news
C.newspaper education sectionD.government report

小題1:C
小題2:A
小題3:B
小題4:C

試題分析:文章主要講的是英國的教育問題。GCSEs標準已經(jīng)過時,不符合社會發(fā)展的需要,應該進行改革,為社會培養(yǎng)合格的實用型人材。
小題1:根據(jù)第一段“the qualification is stopping teachers delivering an "inspirational classroom experience" and should be replaced”可知,這種資格認證方式正在阻止老師進行啟發(fā)性的課堂教學,應該被取代。故選C。
小題2:根據(jù)“the qualification is stopping teachers delivering an "inspirational classroom experience" and should be replaced
abandoningGCSEs could help deliver a full education...teaching for the test...is an opportunity to reform the system”可知,GCSEs已經(jīng)不能滿足社會需求,應該改革。故選A。
小題3:the 40% of young people who fail to achieve the benchmark of five good GCSE passes40%的年輕人未能達到五項良好的普通教育證書考試目標。故選B。
小題4:A電視連續(xù);B廣播新聞;C報紙教育專欄;D政府報告。文章多次提到教師,根據(jù)"teaching to the test"..."It frustrates teachers because it stops them delivering that inspirational classroom experience."可知,文章主要講的是GCSEs已經(jīng)過時,教育體制需要改革。與教育有關的是C項。故選C。
練習冊系列答案
相關習題

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Back in old times, people had little knowledge about the universe and nature. Things we now consider to be common sense were mysteries to our ancestors.
Over the years, major breakthroughs have been made in science and many phenomena have been explained. But still, there are always questions we can't yet answer, and The Guardian has listed some of them.
1. What makes us human?
Just looking at your DNA won't tell you - human DNA is 99 percent identical to that of the chimpanzee and, believe it or not, 50 percent identical to a banana's! A lot of the things we once thought were unique about us - language and tool use, recognizing ourselves in the mirror and so on – have since been seen in other animals. Perhaps it's our culture that makes the difference or maybe our ability to use fire. It's also possible that our capacity (能力) for co-operation and our trading skills are what make us unique.
2. Why do we dream?
Given the fact that we spend around a third of our lives sleeping, shouldn't we know everything about it? Unfortunately, scientists are still searching for a complete explanation of what happens when we sleep and why we dream.
Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud believed dreams were the expressions of wishes that we can't fulfill in our real lives. Others have wondered whether dreams are just random "noise" coming from a sleeping brain.
3. Could we someday live forever?
Apart from accidents, most people die because of diseases that can be treated and aging. And since many diseases, such as diabetes(糖尿。 and cancer, are diseases of aging, treating aging itself could be the key to extending our lives.
Our knowledge of what causes us to age - and what allows some animals to live longer than others - is expanding rapidly. And though we haven't quite worked out all the details, we've worked out some pieces of the puzzles such as DNA damage and metabolism (新陳代謝), which are all leading to the invention of drugs that can slow down the aging process.
If we're lucky enough to lengthen our lives, we might even get to see the day when all of these questions are answered.
小題1:The main point of the passage is ______.
A.to inform people of the knowledge about the universe and nature
B.to introduce major breakthroughs that have been made in science
C.to present some questions we can't yet answer
D.to explain what were once mysteries to our ancestors
小題2:Chimpanzees and bananas are mentioned as examples to prove that ______.
A.human beings are actually not different from other animals
B.a(chǎn)nimals have completely different DNA from that of plants
C.both animals and plants share the same amount of DNA
D.DNA alone is not good enough to make humans different
小題3:The underlined word "identical" is closest in meaning to ______.
A.mysteriousB.uniqueC.a(chǎn)dvancedD.same
小題4:Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.What were mysteries to our ancestors are considered to be common sense now.
B.Now we know much more about dreams than our ancestors did in the past.
C.With the invention of new drugs people can possibly live even longer.
D.If all the diseases can be treated people can theoretically live forever.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

A funny thing happened on the way to the communication revolution: we stopped talking to one another.
I was walking in the park with a friend recently, and his cell phone rang, interrupting our conversation. There we were, walking and talking on a beautiful sunny day and suddenly, I became invisible, absent from the conversation.
The telephone used to connect you to the absent. Now it makes people sitting next to you feel absent. Why is it that the more connected we get, the more disconnected I feel? Every advance in communication technology is a tragedy to the closeness of human interaction. With email and instant messaging over the Internet, we can now communicate without seeing or talking to one another. With voice-mail, you can conduct entire conversations without ever reaching anyone. If my mom has a question, I just leave the answer on her machine.
As almost every contact we can imagine between human beings gets automated, the emotional distance index goes up. You can’t even call a person to get the phone number of another person any more. Directory assistance is almost always fully automated.
I am not against modern technology. I own a cell phone, an ATM card, a voice-mail system, and an email account. Giving them up isn’t wise. They’re a great help to us. It's some of their possible consequences that make me feel uneasy.
More and more, I find myself hiding behind e­mail to do a job meant for conversations or being relieved with voice-mail picking up because I don't really have time to talk. The industry devoted to helping me keep in touch is making me lonelier.
小題1:Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
A.The Advance of Modern Technology
B.The Consequences of Communication Technology
C.The Story of Communication Revolution
D.The Automation of Modern Communication
小題2:Which is NOT TURE according to the passage?
A.The author has decided not to use his phone when he is with his friend.
B.Modern technology makes it hard for people to have a face-to-face talk.
C.The limited use of communication device brings much inconvenience to the author.
D.The industry intended to keep people in touch is taking them away from each other.
小題3:The writer feels that the use of modern communication is ______.
A.satisfyingB.encouraging
C.disappointingD.embarrassing
小題4:The passage implies that ______.
A.modern technology is bridging the people
B.modern technology is separating the people
C.modern technology is developing too fast
D.modern technology is interrupting people

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

What will people die of 100 years from now? If you think that is not a simple question, you have not been paying attention to the revolution that is taking place in bio­technology(生物技術). With the help of new medicine, the human body will last a very long time. Death will come mainly from accidents, murder and war. Today's leading killers, such as heart disease, cancer, and aging itself, will become distant memories.
In discussion of technological changes, the Internet gets most of the attention these days. But the change in medicine can be the real technological event of our times. How long can humans live? Human brains were known to decide the final death. Cells are the basic units of all living things, and until recently, scientists were sure that the life of cells could not go much beyond 120 years because the basic materials of cells, such as those of brain cells, would not last forever. But the upper limits will be broken by new medicine. Sometime between 2050 and 2100, medicine will have advanced to the point at which every 10 years or so, people will be able to take medicine to repair their organs. The medicine, made up of the basic building materials of life, will build new brain cells, heart cells,and so on-in much the same way our bodies make new skin cells to take the place of old ones.
It is exciting to imaging that the advance in technology may be changing the most basic condition of human existence, but many technical problems still must be cleared up on the way to this wonderful future. 
小題1:According to the passage, human death is now mainly caused by____   
A.diseases and agingB.a(chǎn)ccidents and war
C.a(chǎn)ccidents and agingD.heart disease and war
小題2:Humans may live longer in the future because ____  
A.heart disease will be far away from us
B.human brains can decide the final death
C.the basic materials of cells will last forever
D.human organs can be repaired by new medicine
小題3:We can learn from the passage that ____
A.human life will not last more than 120 years in the future
B.humans have to take medicine to build new skin cells now
C.much needs to be done before humans can have a longer life
D.we have already solved the technical problems in building new cells

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

This site , all-birds. com, is about bird watching. Enjoy your browsing. There is much to learn and see.
Bird Watching Equipment
Some items that might make bird watching more enjoyable are binoculars ( 雙目望遠鏡) , a camera, some kind of system for keeping notes, and maybe a back pack. Birders often keep lists of the birds they see along with notes about the habits. There is some great bird log software that will let you keep records on your computer. For more details on choosing binoculars see our Binocular -Optics page.
Clothes
If you are walking through a wooded area just wear clothes you would wear on any hike or field trip. You are best off wearing clothes with dull colors that mix into the background. Greens, browns, and grays are good. Avoid fabrics that rustle(沙沙響)easily. Depending on the birds you are watching you may want to get rain gear, rubber boots and warm clothing. For birds such as owls that you might look for in the evening a strong flashlight is also handy.
Choosing a Bird Field Guide
Take a good field guide to identify birds. Look for clear color pictures that make it easy to recognize one bird from another. Next to each picture should be detailed descriptions of each bird's anatomy, habits, and what it eats. The guide should have information about what habitat each species uses. Many guides have maps showing the range of different birds along with their migration patterns.
Where and When to see Birds
Learning the habitats of birds in your area will increase the number of birds you see, and make  your birding more enjoyable. If you know that Meadow larks are likely to be in open grassy areas, and  dippers are forage along stream beds, you may be looking for them if you are in those types of  habitats. Edge areas where different types of habitats meet will likely have more species in them. You  are more likely to see specific birds at certain times of the day. For example songbirds are easier to see  two to three hours after dawn, or just before sunset. This is when songbirds are most actively feeding.  Many small birds will be silent or even hidden during the rest of the day. After sunup is the best time to see eagles and hawks. Visibility is best for hunting at this time, and they can soar on the thermal currents from the warmed air. Birds like owls are more likely to be seen in the evening. Many  shorebirds and waders rest at high tide and feed when the water rises or falls.
Photographing Birds
Patience in Bird Photography
Most birds are afraid of people, and all species have their own comfort zone. With a little  time you can learn the comfort zone of the birds you are photographing. Once they know that you  are not a threat you may be able to get closer.
Type or Style
Your reason for photographing birds may determine your style and the kind of equipment you  use. If you are just recording the kinds of birds you see you don't need to get as close, and you  can use less expensive equipment, then you need for high quality prints.
Photographing Birds in Flight
Photographing birds in flight can be fun. Many digital cameras have a tracking function. With these you focus on the bird, and then as you track it the lens will keep focus.
Use Your Yard
Choose an open area where the birds will get direct sunlight, showing off their magnificent colors.
Try using props
Birds will often land on a stick or post near a seed feeder before going to the feeder. The background was just an out of focus fence but you can use anything you want for a background, and then wait for a bird to perch.
小題1:The main purpose of the passage is to _____.
A.a(chǎn)ttract more people to photograph birds
B.help birders learn how to identify and understand birds
C.call on people to set some comfort zones for birds
D.inform birders of the results of a scientific research on birds
小題2:Clothes in ______ are highly recommended when you are going bird watching.
A.redB.yellowC.brownD.blue
小題3:________ are likely to be seen at 7 in the morning.
A.Owls B.ShorebirdsC.SongbirdsD.Larks
小題4:Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the passage?
A.A stick in the yard may scares birds off when you are photographing them.
B.It will be wise for birders to hire a guide for themselves.
C.Birders have to bring some notebooks to keep records of birds' habits.
D.A flashlight will come in handy when you look for owls.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:單選題

While learning the science lessons, I used to get a doubt--why ear, nose, tongue and eyes should be called as special senses? The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings. Though apparently it may feel like these are individual sensory organs, they do show some connectivity. Interestingly, our hearing is less sharp after we eat a heavy food. Isn’t it good for a sound nap after a stomach-full meal? That does not mean we go deaf after a meal, but the hearing pitch(強度)does change after a heavy meal.
We usually give credit of the taste to our tongue, but do you know that unless saliva(唾液)dissolves something, our tongue cannot recognize the taste of the food eaten. Taste is nothing but the food chemicals dissolved in the saliva being sensed by the taste buds(味蕾)present on the tongue. Try to dry off your tongue and mouth with a tissue paper and then taste something.
Women are much better smellers than men. They are born with this characteristic ability and can correctly recognize the exact fragrance of the sample. We all can store almost 50,000 different smells, which are strongly tied to the memories.
Pupils(瞳孔)do not respond to light alone, but to the slightest bit of noise around too. Thus surgeons, watchmakers and those professionals who have to perform a much delicate job do prefer to have a sound-free environment. Even a small noise can enlarge their pupils, change the focus and make their vision less clear.
Each and every one of us has a particular or individualistic or characteristic smell, which is unique to us, except the twins. This smell is very subtle yet can be sensed even by a newborn. It may be due to this smell that the newborn recognizes the presence of his parents around.
小題1:What may happen after you have had a rich lunch?
A.Your eyes become weak and can not see well.
B.You may feel energetic and fresh.
C.Your hearing pitch may be decreased.
D.Your tongue may lose the function of taste.
小題2:. What does the author mean by the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?
A.Our tongues can’t be dried while eating something.
B.If your tongue is dried without any saliva on it, it will not work.
C.A tissue paper is the only thing that can be used to dry our tongues.
D.If your tongue is dried with a tissue paper, it may work as well as before.
小題3:What makes each person different from anyone else except twins according to the passage?
A.The number of sensory organs.
B.The functions of sensory organs.
C.The particular smell of a person.
D.The style of one’s behavior.
小題4:Which of the following may be the best title of this passage?
A.The Sensitivity of Sensory Organs
B.The Functions and Connections of Sensory Organs
C.A Newborn’s Sensory Organs
D.Different Senses Between Men and Woman

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

About seven years ago, whenever I notice someone looked nice, I started telling them they looked nice. Shortly afterwards, I came up with an observation: If you tell five people during the day that they look nice, at the end of the day, six people feel great. Here are some fruitful experiences I have with this.
One day, I was riding with a friend when we rolled to a stop at the traffic light. As we waited for the light to turn green, a man walked across the crosswalk. He looked very together, so I called out, “Hey, you look sharp today!” Pointing towards a building, he said, “Thanks, but I was sharper there.” His comment puzzled me. But before I could ask about it, the light turned green, and we drove on. I asked my friend what he meant. My friend informed me that we were at the corner of a radio station and the man was the voice on the radio. Then I understood. But no matter who he was the biggest thing for me was that he was smiling when he accepted my compliment (贊揚).
Later that day, there was a woman standing on the corner where we were turning, and I yelled (大喊) the compliment again, “You look nice!” She was just taking a sip of a bottle of water and started to laugh. I felt good to get a laugh.
Another day, while seated in a restaurant, there was a lady sitting near me. I really did not care for her skirt, but she did look nice in it, so I told her, “You look nice today.” She looked at me and rolled her eyes a little. Well, her friend sitting next to her told her, “He just gave you a compliment. Say thank you.” I don’t remember whether she said “thank you” or not, but what I did notice was that her friend was smiling at my “You look nice today” compliment.
小題1:The underlined word “sharp” in Paragraph 2 probably means_________.
A.a(chǎn)ttractiveB.sudden
C.strictD.mild
小題2:Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.The first man the author praised accepted his compliment.
B.The first man the author praised worked at a radio station.
C.The woman standing on the corner didn’t like the compliment
D.The friend of the lady in the restaurant felt happy about the compliment.
小題3:What would be the best title of the passage?
A.Fruitful Experiences
B.Help Others, Help Yourself
C.Learn to compliment.
D.“You Look Nice Today”

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Our environment isn’t as green and beautiful as it should be. There are steel monsters blocking out the sun, blowing out dangerous smoke, and letting out poisonous chemicals into rivers, cars producing harmful waste gas, people throwing out waste in a wrong way and all other kinds of sources that ruin the planet. Facing current environmental problems, people need to do their best to save the Earth.
You can see many big garbage dustbins in the streets. They’re not there for a show, but for you to drop your waste. We should realize that what a little we do does count. So next time you get that urge to throw gum or a chocolate package out of the car window, or “ accidentally” drop as you walk down the street, ask yourself how much waste you’ve been contributing to the environment with that bad habit going on for years.
At home, the first thing we can do to protect the environment is avoid letting water run continuously and make sure that taps(水龍頭)are not leaky(泄露的),which would help greatly in scrimping. Another is to use energy-saving lights, and turn them off before you leave the rooms. It’s not only energy-saving, but also cuts down electricity costs.
Recycling is a method to make items reusable. Many things you want to throw out can be made into new products through the reproducing process. Use your imagination to come up with ways on things that you can use again.
Pass the message of simple ways to save the environment on to kids. Starting with kids is a good way of teaching the message early in their lives, in the hope that they can carry it forward as they grow older.
With environmental protection awareness in mind, we can do what we can, for the results are to have a big effect on the planet. As long as we do our part, the world is one small step closer to being saved.
小題1:The underlined word “scrimping” in the third paragraph can be replaced by _____.
A.savingB.cleaningC.cookingD.drinking
小題2:From the fifth paragraph, we can know that ________.
A.protecting the environment begins with small chores
B.protecting the environment should start from childhood.
C.wonderful life comes from environmental protection
D.protecting the environment benefits the country and the people
小題3:Which of the following isn’t true?
A.The more people do their part, the greener the environment will be.
B.Selling what you don’t want any more is a kind of recycling.
C.To protect the environment may help you save some money.
D.Your bad habits for the environment are a valuable contribution.
小題4:Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
A.The Use of Garbage Dustbin
B.How to Save Water and Electricity
C.How to Save the Environment
D.Our Current Environmental Problems

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

LIKE many teachers, Cristi Derow and Jennifer Bradley have spent most of their careers giving classroom lectures to students who sat passively in their seats.
The Lewisvillle, Texas, school teachers were aware that the hours they spent on preparing lessons were too often wasted on many students. So Forestwood High School, Texas, used the “flipped (翻轉的) classroom” method of instruction. “We’ve completely done away with our lecture,” Derow said. And homework assignments “are all done in class,” Bradley said.
With the flipped concept, a student’s usual homework assignment is to watch pre-recorded lectures on their computers or smart phones.They walk into class ready to discuss the topic, collaborate(合作) with other students and work on assignments based on what they learned from the video. Free from lecturing, the teachers can use class time to look deeper into the subject and focus on difficult concept. As students change from a passive to an active role, they learn critical thinking skills, learn to collaborate and become independent learners.
Instead of doing homework assignments alone at home, students are now “working together, talking about it,” Bradley said. “If they don’t agree on an answer, they debate it and have to justify their answers. It’s a higher level of learning.”
Her students give the flipped classroom high marks.
Sarah Lee, 14, watches the 30-minute videos on a home computer. She likes the ability to rewind the tapes if she doesn't understand a concept. She also likes being able to watch the lessons on her own schedule.
One of her classmates, Dawson Depperschmidt has the same idea and thinks the time she spends in the classroom is more productive. “It gives us more time to learn at school,” Dawson said. “You get more in-depth in class.
小題1:What can we conclude from the first two paragraphs?
A.Teachers in Lewisville enjoyed giving classroom lectures.
B.It takes time for students to concentrate and understand in class.
C.Many students took an inactive part in lecture-style classes.
D.Teachers in Lewisville found that there was no need to prepare lessons.
小題2:What difference does the “flipped classroom”method make to students?
A.They have more arguments with classmates.
B.They have to be independent and cooperative.
C.They need to do more homework at home.
D.They have to prepare lectures by themselves.
小題3:What does the underlined word “productive” mean?
A.reducing difficultiesB.trying new methods
C.a(chǎn)chieving a lotD.causing troubles
小題4:What are the benefits of the “flipped classroom” method?
a. Teachers have time to solve deeper problems
b. Students are engaged in a higher level of learning.
c. Students study according to their own schedule.
d. Teachers don’t have to design homework for students
A.a(chǎn), b, c,B.a(chǎn), c, dC.b, c, dD.a(chǎn), b, d

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習冊答案