三、阅读理解(30分，每小题2分)
A
That year, in the local school, there was a new math teacher, as well as some new pupils. One of the new kids was the stupidest child that anyone had ever seen. It made no difference how quickly or how slowly they tried explaining numbers to him; he would always and up saying something enormously stupid. Like two plus two was five, seven times three was twenty--seven, or a triangle had thirty comers, etc.
Before this boy arrived, math lessons had been the most boring of all. Now they were great fun. Encouraged by the new teacher, the children would listen to the pieces of nonsense spouted by the new kid, and they would have to correct his mistakes.
Whenever the new teacher asked questions, the stupid kid would stand up but made the wrong answers, the other students all wanted to be the first to find his mistakes, and then think up the most original ways to explain them. To do this they used all kinds of stuff: sweets, playing cards,oranges, paper planes, etc. It didn' t seem like any of this bothered the new kid.
However, little Lewis was sure that it was bound to make him feel sad inside. Lewis was sure he would see him crying. So, one day, he decides to follow the new kid home after school. On leaving school, the new kid walked a few minutes to a local park, and there he waited for a while, until someone came along to meet him.
It was the new teacher!
The teacher gave the new kid a hug, and off they went, hand in hand. Following from a distance, Lewis could hear they were talking about math.
31. The math lessons became interesting because of the new teacher's __________.
A. creativity B. imagination
C. responsibility D. curiosity
32. What does the passage imply?
A. The stupid student was not good at math.
B. The stupid student was by no means slow in math.
C. The stupid student had no gift for math and was slow in math.
D. The stupid student dislike both the new math teacher and his lessons.
33. Why did Lewis follow the stupid kid?
A. He wanted to learn about where he lives.
B. He wanted to find out if he felt upset.
C. He wanted to say something to comfort him.
D. He wanted to make friends with him.
34. What does the underlined word "this" in the third paragraph refer to?
A. To find the new kid's mistakes.
B. To think up the most original way to explain.
C. To use all kinds of stuff.
D. To follow him home after school.
35. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. The Learning Method
B. The Stupidest Child
C. The New Teacher's Strategy
D. The Challenging Job
B
A proverb from ancient China was widely spread in the west; if you want to be happy for a few hours, go to get drunk ; if you want the happiness to last three years, get married ; if you wanta lifetime happiness, take up gardening. The reason for the last choice is this: gardening is not only useful, it helps you to identify yourself with nature, and thus brings you new joy each day besides improving your health.
A research for a US university that I have read gives a definition of happiness as what makes a person feel comfortably pleased. To put it simply, happiness is an active state of mind where one thinks one' s life is meaningful, satisfactory and comfortable. This should be something lasting rather than temporary.
Lots of people regard it the happiest to be at leisure. But according to the study, it is not a person with plenty of leisure but one at work that feels happy, especially those busy with work having little time for leisure. Happiness does not mean gains which one is after but a desire to harvest what one is seeking for. People often do not cherish what they already have but yearn(渴望) for what they can not get. That is somewhat like a man indulging(沉湎于) in dreams of numerous lovers while unwilling to settle down with the woman beside him.
Happiness is a game balancing between two ends--what one has and what one wishes for, e.g. one's dream and the possibility to realize it. The study comes to this conclusion. A happy man is one who aims high but never forgets his actual situation: one who meets challenges,that develop his ability and potential; one who is proud of his achievements. He has self-respect and self-confidence; treasures his own identity and loves freedom. He is sociable and enjoys wide-rahge communication with others; he is helpful and ready to accept assistance, he knows he is able to bear suffering and frustrations, he is sensible enough to get fun from daily chores(杂事). He is a man capable of love and passion.
36. According to the passage, gardening can bring lifetime happiness because ___________.
A. it is a profitable business
B. it can strengthen gardeners' ability to remake nature
C. a gardener can enjoy a very happy marriage
D. nature is a source of joy forever
37. The research of the US university found that most people feel happy when they ___________.
A. are after their goals
B. work as gardeners
C. are at leisure
D. have great leisure
38. The author mentions a man indulging in dreams of numerous lovers in order to ___________.
A. show the serious problem in marriage in modem society
B. illustrate an extreme way to achieve happiness
C. criticize those who do not cherish what they already have
D. indicate that happiness involves something besides the desire to gain
39. Who is more likely to be unhappy according to the study?
A. The man who is ambitious regardless of his actual situation.
B. The one who has self-esteem and has confidence in himself.
C. The one who can take pleasure in communicating with others.
D. The one who always helps others and also accepts help from others.
40. From the passage we know that happiness is ___________.
A. a transitory state of mind
B. getting everything what one is eagerfor
C. a desire based on our actual situation
D. an all-working and no-leisure life
C
Three years ago I listened to a lecture in cognition(认知) that changed the way I think about intelligence There are two types of cognition. The first is normal cognition: the ability to regain knowledge from memory. The second type of cognition is metacognition: the ability to know whether or not you know.
Does this affect intelligent? In traditional education, intelligent is measured by cognitive ability. Some people can easily produce everything they know on a test. But others are awarded with poor grades considered inferior, but does this inability make them any less intelligent? If the question came upon a task, they could refer to a book or quick Google search. In reality, they're just as effective as the people that ace a test. They just can't prove it as easily.
Metacognition is more important to success than cognition. A person with poor cognitive ability, but great metacognition ability might do poorly in school, but when faced with a challenge, they understand their abilities and take the best course of action. For example, when faced with a question, a person with strong metacognition ability will deal with it like this. If he knows the answer, but can' t come up with it, he can always do a bit of research, if he knows for sure that he doesn't know, then he can start educating himself. Metacognition is more important to success than cognition. These people might not seem intelligent at first glance, but because they know what they know, they make better decisions and learn the most important things.
However, people with great cognitive ability but poor metacognition ability may be considered excellent at a .young age for acting every test and getting great scores. Unfortunately, they've been ruined by poor metacognition: they think they know everything but they really don't. They are arrogant(overconfident), fail to learn from-mistakes, and don't understand the slight differences of personal relationship, showing disregard for persons with lower cognitive ability. They may make the worst decisions.
The most important mental power is the ability to know what you don't know. The recognition of a fault is the first step to improvement. Don't try to hide a lack of knowledge. For intelligent people, this is the toughest lesson to learn.
41. People with great cognitive ability tend to ___________.
A. do well in tests
B. be considered inferior
C. be more effective than others
D. do research when faced with a task
42. The underlined phrase "take the best course of action" probably means ___________.
A. starting educating himself
B. taking action during the course
C. making the right decision
D. coming up with many ideas
43. People with poor metacognition may not succeed because they___________.
A. lack basic moral values
B. have improper self evaluation
C. fail to communicate with others
D. show little respect for others
44. The author probably supports the idea that___________.
A. intelligent is measured by cognitive ability
B. cognition is the most important mental power
C. the toughest lesson is to distinguish the two types of cognition
D. the awareness of one's ignorance contributes to one's improvement
45. Which is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The people with great cognitive ability are hard to learn from mistake.
B. The people with great cognitive ability usually do poorly in school.
C. The people with great cognitive ability always get great scores at a young age.
D. The people with great cognitive ability but poor metacognitive abihty might make the worst decision.
