Final exams are just around the corner. Liu Haoxuan, 14, who studies at Beijing Dayu School, is quite busy. However, he still had to find time to practice his spoken English. That’s because he had to take a new English listening and speaking test.

Liu is not alone. This is a new test for all students who are taking senior high school entrance exams (中考) in Beijing. Junior 3 students have to take an English listening and speaking test that counts for 40 points on their full English exam. The test is taken on a computer. They can take the test twice – once in December and again in March – to try to get the higher score possible. The test was just introduced last year.

During the 30-minute test, students have to fill in blanks, answer questions and retell stories after listening to different materials. “It pushes us to speak. Though it was hard at the beginning, it’s a good thing,” Liu said. He got a low score when he first took it last semester. But he kept working hard in order to improve his pronunciation and other skills. He practiced speaking in front of a mirror every day. Later, he got a score of 39 on the test.

Liu Tianyou, 14, from Beijing Yuying Middle School, has his own way to prepare for the spoken English test. He uses apps to take practice tests every day. “The apps will score your performance so that you can improve accordingly,” he said. “Also, the practice tests help me learn to take notes properly. They help me grasp topic sentences and connection words.”

1.The story mainly talks about _____.

A. the difficulties students face in learning English

B. the improvement of English education in China

C. an oral English class that students in Beijing have to take

D. a new oral English test for Beijing Junior 3 students

2.What do we know about the online English listening and speaking test?

A. Students have to take it twice.

B. The test was introduced many years ago.

C. It is worth 40 points on the full English exam.

D. Students rarely get high scores on the test.

3.What do students have to do for the test?

①Fill in blanks. ②Answer questions. ③Retell stories. ④Write stories.

A. ①②③ B. ①②④ C. ①③④ D. ②③④

4.How long does the new English listening and speaking test take?

A. 40 minutes. B. 30 minutes. C. One year D. two months

5.What do we know about Liu Tianyou?

A. He got a score of 39 on the test.

B. He prepared for the test by using apps.

C. He still finds it hard to grasp topic sentences.

D. He used to be nervous about speaking English.

How to investigate

①Planning

Decide on a scientific problem to investigate

For example, a student named Mary has decided to research into how quickly sugar dissolves(溶解) in water.

Write down your hypothesis

You may already have an idea of what you expect to happen in your investigation. This idea is called your hypothesis. It may not be right! It is just an idea, though it may be based on work in science which you have done before. The aim of your investigation is to test your idea.

Decide what variables(变量) you are dealing with Things like temperature, size, weight, and colour are called variables. Variables are things you can measure(测量).

In your investigation, you have to decide what the variables are, which ones you will keep fixed, and which you will change.

You need to change just one variable at a time. If lots of variables change at once.it won't be a good test.

Decide what equipment you need, and in what order you will do things

Prepare tables for your results

②Getting your evidence(数据)

•Make your measurements, and record your results

③Reaching conclusions

Look for patterns in your results

Present your conclusions

What links(关联) did you find between any of the variables? How would you explain these links?

④Checking your findings

Compare your conclusions and hypothesis

Do your results support your idea?

1.What does the underlined word "hypothesis" most probably mean?

A. reason

B. result

C. method

D. guess

2.In Mary's investigation, which of the following about the variables is true?

A. She can only change one variable at a time.

B. Some of the variables can't be measured.

C. Her weight and age can be the variables.

D. The temperature of water cannot be a variable.

3.What is the passage mainly about?

A. How to do a scientific research.

B. How to explain a scientific finding.

C. How to deal with a chemistry problem.

D. How to understand some chemistry knowledge.

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