In a time of low academic achievement by children in the United States, many Americans are turning to Japan, a country of high academic achievement and economic success, for possible answers. However, the answers provided by Japanese preschools are not the ones Americans expected to find. In most Japanese preschools, surprisingly little emphasis is put on academic instruction. In one investigation, 300 Japanese and 210 American preschool teachers, child development specialists, and parents were asked about various aspects of early childhood education. Only 2 percent of the Japanese respondents (答問卷者) listed “to give children a good start academically” as one of their top three reasons for a society to have preschools. In contrast, over half the American respondents chose this as one of their top three choices. To prepare children for successful careers in first grade and beyond, Japanese schools do not teach reading, writing, and mathematics, but rather skills such as persistence, concentration, and the ability to function as a member of a group. The vast majority of young Japanese children are taught to read at home by their parents.
In the recent comparison of Japanese and American preschool education, 91 percent of Japanese respondents chose providing children with a group experience as one of their top three reasons for a society to have preschools. Sixty-two percent of the more individually oriented (強(qiáng)調(diào)個性發(fā)展的) Americans listed group experience as one of their top three choices. An emphasis on the importance of the group seen in Japanese early childhood education continues into elementary school education.
Like in America, there is diversity in Japanese early childhood education. Some Japanese kindergartens have specific aims, such as early musical training or potential development. In large cities, some kindergartens are attached to universities that have elementary and secondary schools. Some Japanese parents believe that if their young children attend a university-based program, it will increase the children’s chances of eventually being admitted to top-rated schools and universities. Several more progressive programs have introduced free play as a way out for the heavy intellectualizing in some Japanese kindergartens.
16. We learn from the first paragraph that many Americans believe ________.
A) Japanese parents are more involved in preschool education than American parents
B) Japan’s economic success is a result of its scientific achievements
C) Japanese preschool education emphasizes academic instruction
D) Japan’s higher education is superior to theirs(C)
17. Most Americans surveyed believe that preschools should also attach importance to ________.
A) problem solving【外語教育&網(wǎng)www.for68.com】
B) group experience
C) parental guidance
D) individually-oriented development(B)
18. In Japan’s preschool education, the focus is on ________.
A) preparing children academically
B) developing children’s artistic interests
C) tapping children’s potential
D) shaping children’s character(D)
19. Free play has been introduced in some Japanese kindergartens in order to ________.
A) broaden children’s horizon
B) cultivate children’s creativity
C) lighten children’s study load
D) enrich children’s knowledge(C)
20. Why do some Japanese parents send their children to university-based kindergartens?
A) They can do better in their future studies.
B) They can accumulate more group experience there.
C) They can be individually oriented when they grow up.
D) They can have better chances of getting a first-rate education.(D)
這是一篇講述日本學(xué)前教育的材料,因為文章是講給美國人看的偷卧,所以附帶介紹美國的學(xué) 前教育以和日本進(jìn)行對比开仰。材料一共只有三大段,第一大段指出日本學(xué)前教育的側(cè)重點棚饵,第二段進(jìn)一步說明日本學(xué)前教育側(cè)重點中對集體主義的重視辆苔,第三段則說明 日本學(xué)前教育除集體主義外的豐富內(nèi)容楼镐。
第一段開頭實際上提出了研究日本學(xué)前教育的原因:low academic achievement by children in theUnited States喷橙,大意是美國的兒童教育成效不明顯啥么,這迫使人們把目光投向了教育和經(jīng)濟(jì)水平都很高的日本,以期得到答案(for possible answers)贰逾。這一探詢的結(jié)果是出乎美國人意料的悬荣,日本學(xué)前教育很少強(qiáng)調(diào)功課指導(dǎo)(little emphasis is put on academic instruction),這也是本文的主要觀點似踱。文章接下來以問卷調(diào)查為論據(jù)對這一觀點進(jìn)行了論證隅熙。
問卷調(diào)查的結(jié)果是日本人更重視堅韌、專注和集體主義等素質(zhì)的培養(yǎng)(but rather skills such as persistence,concentration, and the ability to function as a member of a group)核芽,第二段繼續(xù)對集體主義這一項素質(zhì)做了進(jìn)一步說明(可見其重要性):91%的日本人將其列為學(xué)前教育的三大目標(biāo)之一(91 percent of Japanese respondents chose providingchildren with a group experience),這項教育甚至?xí)永m(xù)到小學(xué)教育(continuesinto elementary school education)酵熙。
最后一段討論了除去上述素質(zhì)教育外轧简,日本學(xué)前教育的其他內(nèi)容和特色。其中包括早期音樂訓(xùn)練和潛力發(fā)掘(early musical training or potentialdevelopment)匾二,附屬于大學(xué)(這一項屬于特色)哮独,以及自由玩耍(have introduced free play)。
16. C
題目問從第一段可以獲知許多美國人認(rèn)為……
A察藐,日本父母比美國父母更多地參與學(xué)前教育皮璧。
B,日本的經(jīng)濟(jì)成功是其科學(xué)成就的結(jié)果分飞。
C悴务,日本學(xué)前教育強(qiáng)調(diào)功課指導(dǎo)。
D,日本更高級的教育比美國的更加優(yōu)越讯檐。
第一段的內(nèi)容很長羡疗,幾乎占全篇文章的二分之一,所以别洪,題目雖說讓我們從第一段進(jìn)行推理叨恨,實際上考查的只能是第一段開頭部分的內(nèi)容,而不可能是全段內(nèi)容挖垛。
題目的關(guān)鍵信息是“美國人認(rèn)為”痒钝,也就需要在第一段開頭部分尋找和美國人的觀點有關(guān)的內(nèi)容。
首先痢毒,第一句話中就出現(xiàn)了many Americans午乓,和題目照應(yīng)。這一句話的意思是美國人因為自身的學(xué)前教育成效不大而把目光投向日本闸准,原因就是看到了日本的教育成就和經(jīng)濟(jì)成功益愈。這里的教育成就和經(jīng)濟(jì)成功是并列關(guān)系,并不存在因果關(guān)系夷家,所以可以判斷B的說法是錯誤的蒸其。
第二句話很簡短,意思是美國人發(fā)現(xiàn)日本的學(xué)前教育和他們預(yù)想的不一樣库快。第三句則解釋了日本學(xué)前教育的特點:日本學(xué)前教育很少強(qiáng)調(diào)功課指導(dǎo)摸袁。這一特點是美國人沒有預(yù)料到的,那么美國人此前的觀點就應(yīng)該是日本人比較強(qiáng)調(diào)功課指導(dǎo)义屏。C的說法與此相符靠汁。
第四句以后的內(nèi)容是進(jìn)一步詳述日本學(xué)前教育的這一特點,可以判斷第一題考查的內(nèi)容應(yīng)該截止到第三句話闽铐。在這三句話中蝶怔,沒有提到A的說法,可以排除A兄墅。D所說的higher education應(yīng)該是指比學(xué)前教育更高級的教育踢星,但從文章開頭可看出,美國人教育成就較低的是兒童教育(low academic achievement by children)隙咸,而非更高級的教育沐悦。
17. B
題目問多數(shù)受調(diào)查的美國人認(rèn)為幼兒園(學(xué)前班)也應(yīng)當(dāng)重視什么。
A五督,解決問題能力的培養(yǎng)
B藏否,團(tuán)隊經(jīng)驗
C,父母指導(dǎo)
D充包,強(qiáng)調(diào)個性發(fā)展
A的說法在文中找不到副签,可見文章沒有論述過problem solving,可以排除A。B和D在第二段第二句話中可以找到相應(yīng)內(nèi)容继薛。其中與B相關(guān)的論述是:受訪的62%的美國人把團(tuán)隊經(jīng)驗列為學(xué)前教育的三大目標(biāo)之一修壕。62%是一個較大的比例,可以看做是MostAmericans surveyed遏考,因此可以把B選作正確答案慈鸠。與D有關(guān)的詞組individually oriented是Americans的修飾語,表明相對于強(qiáng)調(diào)集體主義的日本人來說灌具,美國人更加重視個性發(fā)展(但即便是這樣青团,依然有62%的受訪美國人選擇了團(tuán)隊經(jīng)驗)。所以咖楣,individually oriented并不是美國人對學(xué)前教育的觀點督笆。
C所說的父母指導(dǎo)在第一段最后一句有所提及,那一句的意思是日本孩子的閱讀能力的培養(yǎng)是在家庭中由父母來完成的诱贿。這與本題無關(guān)娃肿。
18. D
題目問日本的學(xué)前教育的焦點在于什么。
A珠十,功課教育準(zhǔn)備
B料扰,培養(yǎng)孩子的藝術(shù)興趣
C,開發(fā)孩子的潛能
D焙蹭,塑造孩子的性格
A所說的功課教育是這篇材料首先否定的內(nèi)容(little emphasis is put on academic instruction晒杈,功課指導(dǎo)所受重視甚少),所以可以立即排除孔厉。B所談的藝術(shù)興趣和C所談的潛能在第三段開頭有所提及拯钻,Some Japanese kindergartens have specificaims, such as early musical training or potential development,這里的musical training應(yīng)該屬于藝術(shù)范疇撰豺,而potentialdevelopment和C的說法直接吻合粪般。不過,句子的第一個單詞some表明這種現(xiàn)象只存在與某些幼兒園郑趁,屬個別行為刊驴,而題目問的是focus,屬普遍現(xiàn)象寡润。從邏輯角度講,B和C如果某一個符合題意舅柜,那么另外一個必然也符合題意梭纹,這就會出現(xiàn)兩個正確答案,而這是不可能的致份。故此可以排除B和C变抽。
第一段后半部分有一句話道出了日本學(xué)前教育的重心所在:but rather skills such as persistence,concentration, and the ability to function as a member of a group,諸如堅韌、專注绍载、團(tuán)隊意識等能力應(yīng)該屬于D所說的性格范疇诡宗。本題應(yīng)該選擇D。
19. C
題目問某些日本幼兒園引入了自由玩耍击儡,目的是什么塔沃。
A,開拓孩子的視野阳谍。
B蛀柴,培養(yǎng)孩子的創(chuàng)造力。
C矫夯,減輕孩子的學(xué)習(xí)負(fù)擔(dān)鸽疾。
D,豐富孩子的知識训貌。
題目里給出了關(guān)鍵詞free play制肮,需要在文章后半部分尋找這個詞組。
它出現(xiàn)在了材料最后一句中:Several more progressive programs have introduced freeplay as a way out for the heavy intellectualizing in some Japanesekindergartens递沪,可以看到introduced free play as a way out for這個詞組和題目基本一致豺鼻,那么for后面即為引入free play的目的。Theheavy intellectualizing中的核心詞intellectualizing意為知識化区拳,實際就是文化教育拘领。修飾詞heavy表面意思是“沉重的”,用來修飾“文化教育”時樱调,可以很容易地聯(lián)想到“課業(yè)沉重”一詞约素,這也是這個短語的本來意思。玩耍作為課業(yè)沉重的一種“解決方案”笆凌,其作用自然就是減輕孩子的學(xué)習(xí)負(fù)擔(dān)圣猎。本題應(yīng)該選擇C。
20. D
題目問為什么有些日本父母把孩子送到大學(xué)附屬的幼兒園乞而。
A送悔,孩子們可以在未來的學(xué)習(xí)中做得更好。
B爪模,在這樣的幼兒園里孩子們可以積累更多的團(tuán)體經(jīng)驗欠啤。
C,長大后可以獲得個性發(fā)展屋灌。
D洁段,更有機(jī)會獲得一流教育。
可以判斷題目里的關(guān)鍵信息是university-based共郭,這個詞出現(xiàn)在了最后一段中:Some Japanese parents believe that if theiryoung children attend a university-based program, it will increase the children’schances of eventually being admitted to top-rated schools and universities祠丝,意思是有些父母認(rèn)為疾呻,如果把孩子送入大學(xué)附屬的幼兒園,將會增加孩子們最終進(jìn)入頂級學(xué)校和大學(xué)的機(jī)會写半。
B和C提到的個性發(fā)展和團(tuán)體經(jīng)驗都是前兩段的內(nèi)容岸蜗,前面幾道題已經(jīng)考查過,本題顯然和這二者無關(guān)叠蝇。A和D都提到了學(xué)習(xí)璃岳,D中的gettinga first-rate education直接與最后一段being admitted to top-ratedschools and universities意思一致,應(yīng)為正確答案蟆肆。A雖然也提到未來教育矾睦,但do better in their future studies僅指明學(xué)習(xí)本身更好(通常指成績好),過于空泛炎功,不如D所述明確枚冗,可以排除。