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Section C (12 marks)
Directions: Complete the following passage by filling in each blank with one word that best fits the context.
When kids in parts of the world want to play, they often make soccer balls out of trash tied together with string. “________1.________ the areas used for playing fields are often rough and rocky, millions of real balls go flat (变瘪) ________2.________ 24 hours,” says Tim Jahnigen, a California businessman. Determined to solve this problem, ________3.________ created an indestructible ball called the One World Futbol.
The ball is made of ________4.________ special material, ethylene-vinyl acetate foam. It’s lightweight, it’s flexible, and—________5.________ important—it holds its shape.
The One World Futbol needs no pump ________6. won’t wear out, even on rough surfaces. When tested,________7.________ withstood (经受住) being crushed by a car, and even being chewed on by a lion.
Although it costs more to produce ________8.________ a typical soccer ball, Jahnigen estimates the One World Futbol can last 30 years. So far, it’s been given to kids in 143 countries. (154 words)
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
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While there is no widely accepted definition of MOOCs, their key features are open access：they are currently free to participants, no entry qualifications are required, they support an unlimited number of participants and as yet, very few include any form of accreditation (认证).
Currently offered by some famous universities, MOOCs are attractive to people who do not have the financial resources to meet the growing costs of university education, or who do not have formal qualifications. They also allow participants to study at their own pace.
The potential for MOOCs to deliver education is obviously vast—they could be considered as a huge step forwards in widening participation. They also have the potential to provide a unique window on universities that offer popular and valuable courses, they may attract some participants to register for formal fee-paying programmes at the same or other universities and are likely to promote new ways of on-line education.
However, it is still very early days for MOOCs. The quality of the education provision is highly variable, with many courses offering only recordings of lectures, and delivery is particularly difficult in some special fields that require practical classes, research projects or extensive library access. Besides, wider engagement with participants requires very considerable resource. Even limited feedback or examination becomes a major task if there are several thousand students in the class.
Considering the challenges, some people argue MOOCs will soon evaporate (蒸发). But they certainly provide good opportunity for widening higher education, are a means of raising awareness of universities to audiences of tens or hundreds of thousands, and are well worthy of serious consideration. (271 words)
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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Directions: Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage.
“Let’s Talk”：The Free Advice Project
A few weeks ago, I took a walk around Washington Square Park. I met all the usual people：street performers, the Pigeon Guy, a group of guitarists singing in harmony. But off to the side, sitting on a bench was a woman doing something vastly different—giving free advice.
A week or two later, I set up an interview with her and we discussed her project at length.
Lisa Podell, 32, started the Free Advice Project this past May. It began as an experiment；she sat in Washington Square Park for a day with a sign that read “Free Advice” as a simple way to reach out to people. Podell was astonished at the strong response.
Podell admits that she was doubtful at first, but now she describes the project as mutually (相互地) beneficial. People learn from her—but she also learns from them. She says that the majority of those who come to her are dealing with some pretty heavy issues, and they expect her not only to listen, but also provide real answers.
Having worked as a full time teacher and now as an adolescent advisor, Podell believes that talking things out is an important in the decision-making process.
Sometimes, people walk around all day, keeping their problems in their own head and thinking about them in the same way. Podell simply strives to provide people with perspective.
I asked if there is a future plan for the Free Advice Project. Podell said she would like to promote it to each public space in New York, which would be carried out by various volunteers across the city.
It was truly inspiring to meet someone with such a big heart, especially in New York—where it is sometimes very hard to find anybody to listen. (303 words)
1.In what way was Podell different from other people in the park? (No more than 6 words) (2 marks)
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2.What do people in need expect Podell to do? (No more than 10 words) (3 marks)
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3.According to Podell, what should people do when making decisions?
(No more than 6 words) (2 marks)
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4. How would Podell promote her project in New York? (No more than 15 words) (3 marks)
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析
