Women work harder than men at university and get better degrees as a result, according to a study at Brunel University.
The research, which followed 200 students for four years, found that women consistently outperformed men in their studies even though they had started their courses with almost identical A-level grades.
An analysis of the results showed that while 65 percent of female graduates were awarded, only 35 percent of male graduates did as well. Girls are known to outperform boys at school, but this research showed that trend continued at university.
Fiona Smith, who led the research, said, “The research shows that the difference has something to do with schools in general.”
“It also shows something about the inequality for working women in terms of pay and promotion. Women work harder at school, harder at university, and do better at both, but they still receive less pay.”
The research found that female students were more faithful, less likely to miss lectures, and more likely to believe that their marks reflected their abilities than male students. Female students were also more likely to ask for and receive support from their professors.
Women were also more likely to choose their universities because they liked the courses offered.
In contrast, men were more likely than women to miss lectures due to “other affairs” and “l(fā)aziness”, and to believe that playing sports was an important part of university life.
Generally, people think that women’s success comes from more emphasis on coursework, but the research showed that female geographers at Brunel did better in their exams than in their coursework.
Dr Smith said, “Most women feel that getting good grades is the most important part of university life. They believe that they need to work harder in order to compete in the male-dominated (男性主導(dǎo)的) environment they will encounter at work. Good grades are viewed as an ‘insurance policy’ for success. Men, on the other hand, prefer going out and playing sports to academic work.”
“This research shows how important it is to get all young people working hard and teach them the value of higher education,” he said.
【小題1】The research at Brunel University showed that women ________.

A．did worse than men both at school and at university

B．got better grades than men

C．paid little attention to their courses

D．often missed classes

【小題2】Which of the following about men is TRUE according to the passage?

A．They work as hard as women.

B．They spend as much time on courses as women.

C．They play a lot more than women.

D．They consider good grades to be an “insurance policy” for success.

【小題3】We can infer from the results of the research that ________.

A．women do better both at school and at university

B．female students are more likely to ask for and receive support from their professors

C．compared with men, women are in an unfavorable condition in the male-dominated world

D．it’s easier for women to get rises in pay and promotion

【小題4】The main purpose of the research is to _________.

A．give the government some advice on higher education

B．show us some information about higher education

C．show the sex difference in higher education

D．make all students work hard and realize the importance of higher education

There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process. People have generally viewed personal growth as an external（外部的） result or product that can easily be identified and measured. The worker who gets a promotion, the student whose grades improve, the foreigner who learns a new language--- all these are examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.
By contrast, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since by definition it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they go through new experiences and unexpected obstacles. In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept.
In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to be faced with the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may “fail” at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential to our ability to grow.
These feelings of insecurity and self – doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. If we do not face and overcome these internal fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we cease to grow. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making.
【小題1】A person is generally believed to achieve personal growth when______..

A．he has given up his smoking habit

B．he has made great efforts in his work

C．he is interested in making anything new

D．he has tried to determine where he is on his journey

【小題2】In the author’s eyes, one who views personal growth as a process would______.

A．judge his ability to grow from his own achievements

B．succeed in climbing up the social ladder

C．face difficulties and take up challenges

D．a(chǎn)im high and reach his goal each time

【小題3】When the author says “a new way of being” (para. 3), he is referring to _____.

A．a(chǎn) new way of taking risks

B．a(chǎn) new approach to experiencing the world

C．a(chǎn) new system of adapting to change

D．a(chǎn) new method of finding ourselves

【小題4】For personal growth, the author may not support __________.       .

A．curiosity and more chances

B．being quick in self – adaptation

C．open – minded to new experiences

D．a(chǎn)voidance of internal fears and doubts

If you do not use your arm or your legs for some time, they become weak; when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong. If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault(過(guò)錯(cuò)). But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame(受責(zé)備), and few of us know that it is just his own fault. Have you ever found that some people can’t read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things; they cannot write down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised. So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: Practice remembering.
【小題1】The main reason for one is poor memory is that _______.

A．his father or mother may have a poor memory

B．He does not use his name or legs for some time

C．his memory is not often used

D．he can’t read or write

【小題2】If you do not use your arms or legs for some time _______.

A．you can’t use them any more

B．they will become stronger

C．they become weak and won’t become strong until you use them again.

D．they will become neither stronger nor weaker

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT true?

A．Your memory works in the same way as your arms or legs.

B．Your memory, like your arms or legs, becomes weak if you don’t give it enough chance for practice.

C．Don’t learn how to read and write if you want to have a better memory.

D．A good memory comes from more practice.

【小題4】Some people can’t read or write, but they usually have better memories, because _______.

A．they have save much trouble

B．they have saved much time to remember things

C．they have to use their memories all the time

D．they can’t write everything in a little notebook

【小題5】Which is the best title for this passage?

A．Don’t Stop Using Your Arms Or Legs

B．How To Have a Good Memory

C．Strong Arms And Good Memories

D．Learn From the People

We are always told that TV is not good for us. If it is true, how come the TV-addicted kids of our young generation nowadays are much smarter than we are? In my family, the only persons who can work the TV remote control well are the children.
Probably TV really educates us. For example, we can learn a very useful medical fact: A man that has been shot always has time to speak a broken sentence when he is dying. “The killer was…” (dies)
But I suppose the biggest things that we learn from TV can be regarded as “Life Skills”. Bad things simply happen on either stormy or dark nights. Emotional breakdowns make people wander in the heavy rain without raincoats or umbrellas. And contrary to the scientists, the crack of lightning and the accompanying flash come on at exactly the same time, wherever the scenes are.
I’ve even got to know useful geographical facts from science-fiction shows: Aliens only speak the language of English no matter which planet they come from.
To make good use of something that we learn from TV can make our security better. Consider these truths. When you are really attacked by 20 bad guys, you needn’t worry about your being outnumbered. The criminals will hang back and take turns to approach you in ones and twos just so you can conveniently defeat them all. Bad guys who are completely covered in black clothes always remove their black masks to reveal that they are in fact, aha, women.
TV often teaches us a lot of important information as well about escaping from danger. Watch and learn. (1) If anyone is running after you down a passage, you will find that boxes have been conveniently placed near all the walls you need to jump over. (2) If you are tall and handsome, you can run from any number of armed criminals, and every shot will miss you.
Be warned, however, if your name card says “henchman” (幫兇) and you are part of a group of plain-looking people trying to catch a handsome individual, a single shot will kill you. But don’t be anxious: TV also delivers useful information for bad guys. All cars are inflammable (易燃的) and have amazing shock absorbers that enable them to fly into the air and land without damage — except police cars.
TV even teaches us about TV. Whenever anyone turns on a TV, it shows a news flash about someone they know. They then turn the box off immediately after that news item.
【小題1】 When the writer says “A man that has been shot always has time to speak a broken sentence when he is dying” (Paragraph 2), he shows his________.

A．humor

B．sympathy

C．deep concern

D．medical knowledge

【小題2】 We can learn from Paragraph 3 that in the real world________.

A．bad things cause people to break down in the rain

B．bad things never happen on dark and stormy nights

C．people with emotional problems like to walk in the rain without umbrellas

D．you can’t hear the crack of lightning and see the accompanying flash exactly at the same time

【小題3】 On TV what usually happens when a person turns it on?

A．The program shown is always about the importance of TV.

B．The person always turns off the TV when it’s time for news.

C．The news shown is always about someone the person knows.

D．TV always shows news about famous people.

【小題4】 What’s the main idea of this passage?

A．Life skills can be learned from TV.

B．What happens in TV is quite different from reality.

C．Watching TV makes people more creative.

D．TV plays an important role in society.

【小題5】 The writer of this passage takes a(n) ________ attitude towards TV plays.

A．positive

B．casual

C．negative

D．indifferent

Make Up Your Mind to Succeed
Kind-hearted parents have unknowingly left their children defenseless against failure．The generation (age) born between 1980 and 2001 grew up playing sports where scores (marks) and performance (show) were played down because “everyone's winner.” And their report cards sounded more positive than ever before．As a result, Stanford University professor Carol Dweck, PhD, calls them “the overpraised generation.”
Dweck has been studying how people deal with failure for 40 years．Her research has led her to find out two clearly different mind-sets that have a great effect on how we react to it．Here's how they work:
　　A fixed mind-set is grounded in the belief that talent is genetic – you're a born artist, point guard, or numbers person．The fixed mind-set believes it's sure to succeed without much effort and regards failure as personal shame．When things get difficult, it's quick to blame (liability), lie, and even stay away from future difficulties.
　 On the other hand, a growth mind-set believes that no talent is entirely heaven-sent and that effort and learning make everything possible．Because the ego (自尊) isn't on the line as much, the growth mind-set sees failure as a chance rather than shame．When faced with a difficulty, it's quick to rethink, change and try again．In fact, it enjoys this experience.
　　We are all born with growth mind-sets．(Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to live in the world.) But parents, teachers, and instructors often push us into fixed mind-sets by encouraging certain actions and misdirecting praise．Dweck's book, Mind-set: The New Psychology of Success, and online instructional program explain this in depth．But she says there are many little things you can start doing today to make sure that your children, grandchildren and even you are never defeated by failure.
【小題1】What does the author think about the present generation?

A．They don't do well at school.

B．They are often misunderstood.

C．They are eager to win in sports

D．They are given too much praise.

【小題2】A fixed mind-set person is probably one who ___ .

A．doesn't want to work hard

B．cares a lot about personal safety

C．cannot share his ideas with others

D．can succeed with the help of teachers

【小題3】What does the growth mind-set believe?

A．Admitting failure is shameful.

B．Talent comes with one's birth.

C．Getting over difficulties is enjoyable.

D．Scores should be highly valued.

The computer keyboard helped kill shorthand—a system of rapid handwriting, and now it’s threatening to finish off handwriting as a whole. When handwritten essays were introduced on the SAT exams for the class of 2012, just 15% of the most1.5 million students wrote their answers in cursive(草寫字母). The rest? Block letters.
And those college hopefuls are just the first edge of a wave of US students who no longer get much handwriting instructions in the primary grades, frequently 10 minutes a day or less. As a result, more and more students struggle to read and write cursive.
At Keene Mill Elementary School in Springfield, all their poems and stories are typed. Children in Fairfax County schools are taught keyboarding beginning in kindergarten. Older students who never mastered handwriting say it doesn’t affect their grades.
There are those who say the culture is at a crossing, turning from the written word to the typed one. If handwriting becomes a lost form of communication, does it matter?
It was at University Virginia that researchers recently discovered a previously unknown poem by Robert, written in his unique script. Handwritten documents are more valuable to researchers, historians say, because their authenticity(真實(shí)性) can be confirmed. Students also find them more fascinating.
The loss of handwriting also may be  a cognitive(認(rèn)知的) opportunity missed. Several academic studies have found that good handwriting skills at a young age can help children express their thoughts better—a lifelong benefit.
It doesn’t take much to teach better handwriting skills. At some schools in Prince George’s County, elementary school students use a program called Handwriting Without Tears for 15 minutes a day. They learn the correct formation of manuscript letters through second grade, and cursive letters in third grade.
There are always going to be some kids who struggle with handwriting because of their particular neurological(神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)的) writing, learning issues or poor motor skills. Educators often point to this factor in support of keyboarding.
【小題1】What is the author concerned about after 2012 Sat exams?

A．Keyboarding.

B．Shorthand.

C．Handwriting.

D．Block letters.

【小題2】A poem by Robert mentioned in the passage is used to ____________.

A．prove how valuable handwriting is

B．explain what a famous poet he is

C．show how unique his poem is

D．stress how fascinating the documents are

【小題3】The example of Handwriting Without Tears helps to argue that _____________. 

A．the schools are responsible for the loss of handwriting

B．the loss of handwriting is a cognitive opportunity missed

C．it doesn’t take much to teach better handwriting skills

D．the culture is turning from the written word to the typed one

【小題4】According to the author, when is a perfect time to learn handwriting?

A．Kindergarten.	B．Primary school.
C．High school.	D．College.

【小題5】What is the author’s attitude towards this debate? 

A．Devotion.

B．Encouragement.

C．Critical.

D．Objective.

Having spent two and a half years in China over several visits, I don’t remember ever going through a phase we in the United States call “cultural shock”. This period of difficulty in adjusting to a new culture would probably have set in during my semester at Peking University. Of course, this is not to say that I didn’t notice any differences between the American and Chinese cultures upon my arrival at Peking University, I did notice the differences. Looking back, I remember one of the first differences I noticed: Chinese universities are surrounded by walls.
To an American, this is one of the most striking aspects of a Chinese university which immediately sets it apart from an American campus. Having grown up in the United States, I had never seen a university surrounded by high, cement(水泥) walls. My idea of a university, based on having seen scores of them in different states of the U.S., was a place of life and learning, an inseparable part of the community in which it was located, open not only to the students of the school itself, but also fully accessible to students from other schools and to the broader public.
My idea of a university was that it was a center of cultural life, a resource for the entire community. In all my twenty-one years, it had never occurred to me that a school would have a wall around it. Walls enclose and separate; schools expand and integrate(合并). The very idea seemed fundamentally incompatible. I asked a Chinese friend if all Chinese universities have walls around them. “You know, I have never really thought about it. I guess so. I guess all Chinese schools have walls around them, not just universities.” “Why?” I asked, “What’s the point?” “I don’t know. To protect us, I suppose.”  “From whom?” “I don’t know. Don’t you have walls around your schools in the United States?” I thought carefully before answering. “No, I’ve never seen or heard of a university encircled by a wall.” My Chinese friend seemed puzzled. Walls around schools came to strike me as more than just an architectural difference between the United States and China. As China continues to open up to the outside world, these walls seem increasingly out of place.
【小題1】The author felt strange about Chinese culture when he ___________.

A．studied in Peking University

B．talked with his friends about the walls

C．experienced the “cultural shock” at his arrival

D．spent two and a half years in China over several visits

【小題2】In the author’s opinion, a university is a place ___________.

A．where only students can come to study

B．which is similar everywhere in the world

C．that should be surrounded by high cement walls

D．that is an inseparable part of and a resource for the community

【小題3】What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．The two ideas are fundamental.

B．The two ideas are basically different.

C．The two ideas about “school” and “wall” are suitable.

D．The two ideas about “school” and “wall” are conflicting.

【小題4】What did the author’s friend feel about the walls around universities?

A．He thought it a good idea to have walls encircling schools.

B．He was shocked that American universities are not enclosed.

C．He thought they were necessary to protect students from being hurt.

D．He thought the difference between two countries is only architectural styles.

【小題5】We can infer from the passage that the author thinks _____________.

A．walls are really useful in the universities

B．he can never really understand the Chinese culture

C．Chinese universities should work as public scenic spots

D．walls around the universities are inappropriate in an open China

It was once unheard-of to be a businessman in China. Nowadays, though, it’s quite common to become your own boss. Let’s say you have an idea. Maybe you want to open an English school or sell Japanese comics. First, you need a business plan. It sets out what you’ll sell and how much everything will cost. Most businesses that fail didn’t have this. If you need to borrow money at the start, banks will ask for a detailed plan.
The best starting place for a business plan is the 4Ps: product, place, price and promotion. All these must be strong to be successful.
□Product
Your product must have something unique. What makes it special compared to other similar products? If you want to start a noodle shop that has nothing new, don’t expect people to show much interest. You can research your product. For food, let people try it for free. For toys, let a few children play with them to see if they like them.
□Place
There’s no point having a product that people want to buy if your shop is in an empty mall. Think about which type of person is going to buy what you sell. Where do they usually go shopping? When looking at possible places, spend the day there. See how many people pass by. Also, are there other shops nearby selling similar products? If so, how can you be better than them?
□Price
Work out how much it costs to make or provide your product. As a general rule, your price will be double the cost. After all, you’re also paying for rent, staff and you need to eat too!
□Promotion
How can you attract people to your shop? Advertising in newspapers and on TV is expensive. Perhaps you can get free advertising by getting a newspaper to write about your business.
【小題1】What’s the best title for the passage?

A．How to start a business.

B．Starting a business soon.

C．Starting your own business.

D．Preparations for starting a business.

【小題2】According to the author, the reason why most businesses fail is due to lack of ________.

A．a(chǎn) business plan

B． a shop

C． money

D．successful businessmen

【小題3】If you want to start a noodle shop, you should ________.

A．expect people to show much interest

B．research your noodles

C．let people try it at a low price

D．let children have a try

【小題4】What does “If so” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．There are shops selling the goods like yours.

B．Many people pass by.

C．You should think about which type of person is going to buy what you sell.

D．You should spend the day on possible places.

【小題5】You are selling toys to children. It costs 5 yuan to make each one. How much should you charge the children for each toy?

A．15 yuan.

B． 5 yuan.

C． 10 yuan.

D． 50 yuan.

Work-Study Program
The Work-Study Program gives you the chance to work part-time on campus. If you need more money to cover all of your education-related costs, you may be qualified for this program.
Advantages
· Work experience: Last year, more than 1,400 positions were available across all departments. The jobs vary from one department to the next, and in most cases, participants find a position in their chosen field.
· Money: During the regular academic year (September to April), you can work part-time and earn $3,200---sometimes more---while you take courses! During the summer time, you work full-time and can earn around $6,000 over 18 weeks.om]
·Easy access: Applying for the program is easy. There is no need for face-to-face interview. All the forms you need are online; just fill in the forms and email us; we accept no letter or phone application!
Did you know?
At the University of Ottawa, it is not essential to receive government assistance to qualify for our Work-Study Program. You simply need to demonstrate（證明）financial need.
You could have one of these great Work-Study jobs:
·Student ambassador
·Computing and network technician
·Marketing assistant
·Sports team manager
·Researcher / translator
·Writer
And more!
The Admission Section receives and evaluates applications to undergraduate programs, in addition to answering applicants’ questions.
Phone: 613-562-5315         Toll-free: 1-877-868-8292 (#5315)
Financial Aid & Awards Service Section:
Phone: 613-562-5734         Toll-free phone: 1-877-868-8292
Regular Office Hours: Monday to Friday
September to May: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
June to August: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
【小題1】To earn most each month, you may choose to work __________.

A．from April to September	B．during the daytime
C．from May to August	D．most of the weekends

【小題2】To be admitted by the program, you need to ___________.

A．get some government assistance first

B．have much working experience

C．perform well in your studies

D．explain your financial need first

【小題3】How can students apply for a working position?

A．Through the internet.	B．By phone.
C．By face-to-face interview.	D．By letter.

Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it.
Recite and repeat in conversation
When you hear a person’s name, repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips .You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial.
Ask the other person to recite and repeat
You can let other people help you remember their names. After you’ve been introduced to someone, ask that person to spell the name and pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort you’re making to learn their names.
Admit you don’t know
Admitting that you can’t remember someone’s name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say, “I’m working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again？”
Use association
Link each person you meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example, you could make a mental note: “Vicki Cheng-tall，black hair”. To reinforce your association, write them on a small card as soon as possible.
Limit the number of new names you learn at one time.
When meeting a group of people, concentrate on remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering everyone. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later.
Go early
Consider going early to conferences, parties and classes. Sometimes just a few people show up on time. That’s fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to others-an automatic review for you.
【小題1】If you can’t remember someone’s name, you may________

A．tell them the truth	B．tell them a white lie
C．a(chǎn)sk him for pity	D．a(chǎn)sk others to help you

【小題2】The underlined word “reinforce” mostly means “______”.

A．get

B．simplify

C．strengthen

D．collect

【小題3】When you meet a group of people, it is better to remember______

A．a(chǎn)ll their names	B．a(chǎn) couple of names first
C．just their last names	D．a(chǎn)s many names as possible

【小題4】What does the text mainly tell us?

A．How to recite and repeat names	B．Importance of attending parties
C．How to make use of associations	D．Tips on an important social skill