-
The classic model of education — a burst at the start and company training — is breaking down. One reason is the need for new and constantly updated skill. Manufacturing increasingly calls for brain work rather than manual labor.
Pushing people into ever-higher levels of formal education at the start of their lives is not the way to handle the problem. Just 16% of Americans think that a four-year college degree prepares students very well for a good job. Although a vocational education promises that vital first hire, those with specialized training tend to withdraw from the labor force earlier than those with general education perhaps because they are less adaptable.
At the same time on-the-job training is shrinking. In America and Britain it has fallen by roughly half in the past two decades. Self-employment is spreading, leaving more people to take responsibility for their own skills. Taking time out later in life to pursue a formal qualification is an option, but it costs money and most colleges are meant for youngsters.
The market is innovating to enable workers to learn and earn in new ways. Providers from General Assembly to Pluralsight are building businesses on the promise of improving careers. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have turned away from lectures on Plato or black holes in favor of courses that make their students more employable. At Udacity and Coursera self-improvers pay for cheap, short programs. By offering degrees online, universities are making it easier for professionals to polish their skills. A single master’s program from Georgia Tech could expand the annual output of computer-science master’s degrees in America by close to 10%.
Lifelong learning starts at school. As a rule, education should not be narrowly vocational. The curriculum needs to teach children how to study and think. A focus on “metacognition” (元认知) will make them better at picking up skills later in life.
1.Which is the reason why traditional education is failing?
A.It bursts educators’ bubble in the beginning. B.Companies can’t afford training fees.
C.Old skills can’t meet the present needs. D.It fails to develop one’s brain.
2.What can we infer from the text?
A.The more knowledgeable one is, the more likely he is to be employed.
B.Most Americans are poor at their studies in the college.
C.More than 80% of Americans have to be self-employed now.
D.Returning to college after working is not considered worthwhile.
3.What does the underlined word “innovating” in Paragraph 4 mean?
A.Reforming its system. B.Declining little by little.
C.Booming all at once. D.Wasting time and energy.
4.How do colleges adapt to the present education model?
A.They open online courses. B.They provide easier access to updated skills.
C.They pay for cheap short programs. D.They lower the standard for master’s degree.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
-
The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational (理性的) model of first clarifying goals, assessing the problem, formulating options, estimating likelihoods of success, making a decision, and only then taking action to carry out the decision. Rather, in their day-by-day tactical maneuvers(战术动作), these senior executives rely on what is vaguely termed intuition(直觉) to manage a network of interrelated problems that require them to deal with ambiguity, inconsistency, novelty, and surprise; and to integrate action into the process of thinking.
Generations of writers on management have recognized that some practicing managers rely heavily on intuition. In general, however, such writers display a poor grasp of what intuition is. Some see it as the opposite of rationality; others view it as an excuse for capriciousness(变化无常).
Isenberg's recent research on the cognitive processes of senior managers reveals that managers' intuition is neither of these. Rather, senior managers use intuition in at least five distinct ways. First,they intuitively sense when a problem exists. Second, managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns rapidly. This intuition is not arbitrary or irrational, but is based on years of painstaking practice and hands-on experience that build skills. A third function of intuition is to combine isolated bits of data and practice into an integrated picture. Fourth, some managers use intuition as a check on the results of more rational analysis. Most senior executives are familiar with the formal decision analysis models and tools, and those who use such systematic methods for reaching decisions are occasionally alert of solutions suggested by these methods which run counter to their sense of the correct course of action. Finally, managers can use intuition to bypass in-depth analysis and move rapidly to engender a plausible solution. Used in this way, intuition is an almost instantaneous cognitive process in which a manager recognizes familiar patterns.
One of the implications of the intuitive style of executive management is that thinking is inseparable from acting. Since managers often know what is right before they can analyze and explain it, they frequently act first and explain later. Analysis is tightly tied to action in thinking-acting cycles, in which managers develop thoughts about their companies and organizations not by analyzing a problematic situation and then acting, but by acting and analyzing in close concert.
Given the great uncertainty of many of the management issues that they face, senior managers often instigate (发起) a course of action simply to learn more about an issue. They then use the results of the action to develop a more complete understanding of the issue. One implication of thinking-acting cycles is that action is often part of defining the problem, not just of implementing the solution.
1.Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph?
A. An claim is made and a specific supporting example is given.
B. A conventional model is dismissed and an alternative introduced.
C. The results of recent research are introduced and summarized.
D. Two opposing points of view are presented and evaluated.
2.Which of the following does the passage suggest about the writers on management mentioned in paragraph 2?
A. They have criticized managers for not following the classical rational model of decision analysis.
B. They have not based their analyses on a sufficiently large sample of actual managers.
C. They have misunderstood how managers use intuition in making business decisions.
D. They have drawn their conclusions on what managers say rather than on what managers do.
3.According to the text, senior managers use intuition in all of the following ways EXCEPT to .
A. define clear goals
B. identify a problem
C. bring together diverse facts
D. speed up the creation of a solution to a problem
4.Which of the following statements does the passage support?
A. Managers cannot justify their intuitive decisions
B. Managers' intuition works contrary to their rational and analytical skills.
C. Intuition enables managers to employ their practical experience more efficiently.
D. Managers relying on intuition are more successful than those relying on formal decision analysis.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
-
Look at any advertisement for a fashion（时尚）store,and you may notice that most of the models are teens.In Western culture,especially,fashion is an extremely important component of teenage life.But "Why?" you may ask.
For teenagers,fashion is first and foremost a social statement.It is a means of expression to their peers（同龄人）and the rest of the world.
Fashion also provides teenagers a sense of identity by signalling which "grouping" they belong to.It many signal a more independent or inclusive personality.
Teens can be extremely conscious about overall image.They will often make use of fashion as a means to attract a certain type of person.
Rebellion（叛离）may also be acted out via fashion.Since rebellion is often a huge aspect of a teenager's life, teens often use shocking fashion to rebel against their parents,their classmates, and/or society.
Many teens pick up on fashion trends in an effort to avoid losing face.Poor fashion choices in the eyes of others can often be an open door to ridicule.
Often,fashion for teenagers is the result of the desire to be like a celebrity（名人）.Celebrities are perhaps the greatest influences on teenagers in the modern world,and the can have a huge effect on a teen's ideas about fashion and its importance.
1.What is the best tide for the text?
A. Why is fashion so important to teens? B. Why do teens learn from celebrities?
C. What fashion do teens want? D. Who leads the fashion?
2.For teens,fashion .
A. has a deep effect on celebrities B. is about expressing themselves
C. can prevent them from rebelling D. will remove their peer pressure
3.Which of the following can describe the main point of Paragraph 3?
A. Fashion and independence. B. Fashion and peers.
C. Fashion and teenagers. D. Fashion and identity.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
-
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has called for a return to the classics of English literature in schools, but are they still appropriate for today’s children?
A quick scan of any list of the most read children’s books will reveal(揭示) that today’s young people are growing up in a very different literary environment from their parents.
Gone from bedroom bookshelves are the Famous Five and the Chronicles of Narnia. And in their places are the likes of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid. And as for the 19th Century classics of English literature, such as Emily Bronte and Charles Dickens, many children simply have not heard of them.
One south London mother, Geri Cox, explained how her daughter’s Year 5 class was to be named this year after the literary giant, Jane Austen. But the class teacher soon had second thoughts when the suggested name was met with blank stares. “My daughter came back and said they weren’t going to be called Austen class anymore, because not many people had heard of her. Instead, the class was to be named after Rowing, the Harry Potter author.”
Ms. Morgan argues that children will miss out if they do not have access to “our rich heritage(遗产) of world-famous children’s literature”. But perhaps these more modern books are able to do the job of lighting the literary touch paper just as well. A spokesman for Penguin Random House Children’s books said: “Millions of children are readers because of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Jeff Kinney’s work is perfect for turning unwilling readers on to books.”
According to Seni Glaister, children’s books expert, the mix of type-face and art is a big part of the attraction. “It means the text does not look frightening and that it will therefore appeal to unwilling readers.”
1.Who enjoys the greatest popularity among children?
A. Jeff Kinney. B. Jane Austen.
C. Emily Bronte. D. Charles Dickens
2.What does the story of Geri Cox’s daughter suggest?
A. Teachers learn less about their students.
B. Children often stare blankly at their teachers.
C. Year 5 class should select their own literary giant.
D. Children don’t like reading literary classics today.
3.What’s Ms. Morgan’s attitude towards literary classics?
A. Unclear. B. Positive.
C. Doubtful. D. Confused.
4.What do we learn about Diary of a Wimpy Kid?
A. It belongs to one of literary classics
B. It was written by a writer in 19th century.
C. It turns out to be a great success among children.
D. It isn’t well-received by experts on children’s books.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
-
I start every summer with the best of intentions: to attack one big book from the past, a classic that I was supposed to have read when young and ambitious. Often the pairings of books and settings have been purely accidental: “Moby Dick” on a three-day cross-country train trip; “The Magic Mountain” in a New England beachside cottage with no locks on the doors, no telephones or televisions in the rooms, and little to do beyond row on the salt pond. Attempting “The Man Without Qualities” on a return to Hawaii, my native state, however, was less fruitful: I made it through one and a quarter volumes (册), then decided that I’d got the point and went swimming instead.
But this summer I find myself at a loss. I’m not quite interested in Balzac, say, or “Tristram Shandy.” There’s always “War and Peace,” which I’ve covered some distance several times, only to get bogged down in the “War” part, set it aside for a while, and realize that I have to start over from the beginning again, having forgotten everyone’s name and social rank. How appealing to simply fall back on a favorite — once more into “The Waves” or “Justine,” which feels almost like cheating, too exciting and too much fun to properly belong in serious literature.
And then there’s Stendhal’s “The Red and the Black,” which happens to be the name of my favorite cocktail (鸡尾酒) of the summer, created by Michael Cecconi at Savoy and Back Forty. It is easy to drink, and knocking back three or four seems like such a delightful idea. Cecconi’s theory: “I take whatever’s fresh at the greenmarket and turn it into liquid.” The result is a pure shot of afternoon in the park, making one feel cheerful and peaceful all at once, lying on uncut grass with eyes shut, sun beating through the lids...
1.What can we infer about the author from the first paragraph?
A. He shows talents for literature. B. He admires a lot of great writers.
C. He has a cottage in New England. D. He enjoys reading when traveling.
2.What do the underlined words “get bogged down” in paragraph 2 mean?
A. Be interrupted. B. Make no progress.
C. Get confused. D. Be carried away.
3.Why does the author say reading his favorite books feels like cheating?
A. He barely understands them. B. He finishes them quickly.
C. He has read them many times before. D. He should read something serious.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. To Read or Not to Read B. The Books of Summer
C. It’s Never Too Late to Read D. My Summer Holiday
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
-
Until the start of the Industrial Revolution, mankind was poor, hungry, and constantly at the _______ of disease and natural disasters.
A. power B. limit C. control D. mercy
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
-
（1）语法填空
Started at the height of the economic boom and built by some 12,000 laborers, the world's tallest building opened on January 4, 2010 in Dubai. ___1___ $1.5-billion tower reaches up 828 meters, 200 storeys into the sky. It surpasses the next highest building, Taiwan's Taipei 101, ___2___ more than 300 meters.
Burj Dubai, whose opening ___3___(delay) twice since construction began in 2004, will mark another milestone for the deeply indebted emirate（酋长国）.
Dubai, one of seven members of the United Arab Emirates, gained a reputation for excess with the creation of man-made islands ___4___(shape) like palms and an indoor ski slope in the desert.
With investor confidence in Dubai ___5___(bad) frustrated by the emirate's announcement in November ___6___ it would seek a debt standstill for one of its largest enterprises, the Burj Dubai is seen ___7___ a positive start.
The project has been examined carefully by human rights groups, who have objected to its ___8___(treat) of laborers, as well as by environmentalists ___9___ said the tower would act as a power vacuum, increasing the city's already massive carbon footprint.
But despite the criticism, many say the tallest building, believed ___10___(cost) $1.5 billion to build, is an architectural miracles.
高三英语语法填空简单题查看答案及解析
-
An Israeli law banning too skinny models went into effect with the start of 2013. The law, approved last March in Israel, requires models to prove they have maintained a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 18.5 for three months before a fashion show. That means a woman who is 5'8''tall can weigh no less than 119 pounds.
“This law is another step in the war against eating disorders,” said physician Adatto. “Underweight models,” he explained, “can no longer serve as role models for innocent young people who copy their false image of being skinny.”
But some critics in this country say it is misguided, focusing on weight instead of health. They also say the Israeli ban is bound to fail because of the strong power of the fashion industry. “I think it’s an approach that isn’t going to work.” Said eating disorder expert Susan Ice, who worked with an organization which creates a healthy working environment for models.
But Adatto told the reporter that he began to concern the issue after meeting an ambitious model who looked like she needed to be hospitalized. He said. “I realized that only legislation can change the situation. There was no time to waste, so many girls were dieting to death.”
However, the efforts to regulate models’ weight in Spain and Italy have not resulted in significant changes in part because of difficulties in determining reliable methods of measuring weight and health.
Still, folks including Ice say there’s no denying that images from Hollywood and the fashion industry can be difficult for young women to deal with. “Certainly I don't believe the modeling industry has caused the rise in eating disorders, but it makes it harder,” she says. “It’s a difficult recovery environment, worshiping thinness as the beauty ideal.”
1.What does BMI in the first paragraph refer to?
A. A measure of body health based on height and weight.
B. A worldwide prize for the healthiest model.
C. A new show held by those skinny models.
D. A kind of medicine to cure eating disorders.
2.One benefit the new Israeli law may bring is ________.
A. to change the working conditions of models
B. to lower the chance of skinny models’ death
C. to provide guidance for women worshiping thinness
D. to prevent models from suffering from eating disorders
3.In the opinion of the critics, the law won’t succeed because ________.
A. it misleads young women to form a bad eating habit.
B. it doesn’t provide a proper approach that can work well.
C. it doesn’t create a healthy working environment for models.
D. the fashion industry is much too influential.
4.What caused Adatto to think that a law was needed to change the situation?
A. Meeting an ambitious but too skinny model.
B. Establishing his fashion model agent.
C. Being interviewed by a reporter.
D. Seeing a model die from eating disorders.
5.According to the passage, the new Israeli law banning skinny models is ________.
A. practical B. controversial C. acceptable D. Reasonable
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
-
An Israeli law banning too skinny models went into effect with the start of 2013. The law, approved last March in Israel, requires models to prove they have maintained a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 18.5 for three months before a fashion show. That means a woman who is 5'8''tall can weigh no less than 119 pounds.
“This law is another step in the war against eating disorders,” said physician Adatto. “Underweight models,” he explained, “can no longer serve as role models for innocent young people who copy their false image of being skinny.”
But some critics in this country say it is misguided, focusing on weight instead of health. They also say the Israeli ban is bound to fail because of the strong power of the fashion industry. “I think it’s an approach that isn’t going to work.” Said eating disorder expert Susan Ice, who worked with an organization which creates a healthy working environment for models.
But Adatto told the reporter that he began to concern the issue after meeting an ambitious model who looked like she needed to be hospitalized. He said. “I realized that only legislation can change the situation. There was no time to waste, so many girls were dieting to death.”
However, the efforts to regulate models’ weight in Spain and Italy have not resulted in significant changes in part because of difficulties in determining reliable methods of measuring weight and health.
Still, folks including Ice say there’s no denying that images from Hollywood and the fashion industry can be difficult for young women to deal with. “Certainly I don't believe the modeling industry has caused the rise in eating disorders, but it makes it harder,” she says. “It’s a difficult recovery environment, worshiping thinness as the beauty ideal.”
1.What does BMI in the first paragraph refer to?
A. A measure of body health based on height and weight.
B. A worldwide prize for the healthiest model.
C. A new show held by those skinny models.
D. A kind of medicine to cure eating disorders.
2.One benefit the new Israeli law may bring is ________.
A. to change the working conditions of models
B. to lower the chance of skinny models’ death
C. to prevent models from suffering from eating disorders
D. to provide guidance for women worshiping thinness
3.In the opinion of the critics, the law won’t succeed because .
A. it misleads young women to form a bad eating habit
B. the fashion industry is much too influential
C. it doesn’t provide a proper approach that can work well
D. it doesn’t create a healthy working environment for models
4.What caused Adatto to think that a law was needed to change the situation?
A. Establishing his fashion model agent.
B. Meeting an ambitious but too skinny model.
C. Being interviewed by a reporter.
D. Seeing a model die from eating disorders.
5.According to the passage, the new Israeli law banning skinny models is .
A.practical B.acceptable
C. reasonable D.Controversial
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
-
I arrived in this beautiful Spanish island at the start of September, full of enthusiasm and eager to start work as an English teacher. I sorted all the necessary paperwork out and moved into a flat of my own within the first couple of days. Great! Or so I thought. As 4 am and at several intervals after that, I was rudely awoken by the cock that lives opposite me. Fantastic! I now have 5 extra alarms every morning.
In the following weeks, I also started to notice a trend. Things in my flat started to break at the rate of one object per day, like the hot water, bowls, cups, shower, doors or glass shelves. Yes, I am clumsy（笨拙的）but things just fell apart. If it wasn’t broken, it would either be dirty or missing. Using my washing basket for the first time was pretty disgusting. When I took out my clothes, they were swiftly followed by a hundred or so bugs that were living in the bottom.
As for（至于）the general lack of equipment in the house, there was no oven, tin opener, sharp knives or potato peeler. It turns out making a burger from scratch wasn’t the best idea. I have a small microwave and a grill（钻）. I thought the general understanding was never to put metal in a microwave but I went with it. Smoke soon started to appear. I was not quite sure if it was the burger or the grill but as soon as I opened the door, the electricity cut out. I spent the following 10 minutes in a dark, smoky room hunting for the power switch using the light from my mobile phone, which broke the week after and left me without a connection to the outer world.
Luckily, I’m now borrowing a phone and my luck has returned. No more things have broken (probably because there is nothing left to break). I’ve also realized that even if a flat looks pretty, it doesn’t mean its contents（内容）work. I am also learning how to adapt to life with limited, broken utensils（厨房用具）.
1.How did the author feel right after her reaching the island?
A.Excited. B.Nervous.
C.Confident. D.Exhausted.
2.What problem did the author have in the morning?
A.She often slept late. B.Her alarm failed to work.
C.She got some noisy neighbors. D.Her sleep was disturbed by a rooster.
3.What can we know about the author from Paragraph 2?
A.She was a very careful woman. B.She was quite satisfied with her flat.
C.Her flat was pretty old but comfortable. D.Her household articles（物品）were in poor condition.
4.What happened when the author was making a burger?
A.She was seriously injured. B.She made a terrible mistake.
C.She broke her phone accidentally. D.She suffered a sudden power failure.
5.What is the next mainly about?
A.Remaining optimistic. B.How to choose a nice flat.
C.Learning to live in a new flat. D.Why living abroad is not easy.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析