题目内容

After a year of examining many studies concerning whether homework is effective, NYC P. S. Elementary School decided that math worksheets and essay assignments were actually a waste of time. In February, Principal Jane Hsu sent a letter to parents stating that the Pre-K(学前班) through fifth grade students wouldn’t be given any traditional homework to encourage kids to free time for reading, playing outside, or doing activities they enjoy.

“The negative effects of homework have been well established.” Hsu wrote in a note to parents. “They include, children’s frustration and exhaustion, lack of time for other activities and family time and, sadly for many, loss of interest in learning.”

Some parents, however, disagree with the policy change, believing that a lack of focus will cause children to fall behind. Homework has been part of education from the beginning, and has increased in amount in recent years.

Hsu’s advice that children should read and spend time with their families has upset some parents to the point of considering pulling their children out of the school. This group feels that homework gives children a goal to work toward. Others feel so strongly about the importance of homework that they have begun giving their own homework to their children.

An Australian Childhood Foundation survey finds that 71% of Australian parents feel they don’t spend enough quality time with their children mainly because of the time spent running the household or the time spent helping with homework. Education experts in Australia are saying that parents should stop helping. Doing so will give kids more independence, give parents more free time, and help reduce the number of arguments caused by homework in the family.

While some research suggests that homework has little academic benefit for elementary students, other researches show homework can help kids develop independence, and confidence. It can also contribute to a sense of belonging or control over their lives. When parents try to help their children with homework, the assistance can take away that feeling and can also make working parents more tired.

1.Cancelling traditional homework is aimed at ________.

A. allowing students to learn on their own

B. wising students to spend more time with parents

C. inspiring students to seek self-development

D. motivating students to help with homework

2.What can be concluded from the 1st and 2nd paragraph?

A. Jane Hsu is the first principal to cancel homework.

B. Jane Hsu has done much research on different aspects of homework.

C. Jane Hsu pays little attention to students’ academic records.

D. Jane Hsu knows students prefer activities to their subjects.

3.Why are some parents strongly against Principal Jane Hsu?

A. They are afraid their kids will fall behind.

B. They dislike their kids doing too many activities.

C. They have no time to give their children homework.

D. They don’t think the school is responsible for their kids.

4.What is the author’s attitude to parents’ helping kids with homework?

A. Supportive. B. Worried. C. Unconcerned. D. Negative.

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The ninth week of SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) training is referred to (意指) as Hell Week. It is six days of no sleep, physical and mental suffering and one special day at the Mud Flats (泥沼) where you will sink into the mud.

It is on Wednesday of Hell Week that we came down to the mud flats and spend the next 15 hours keeping alive in the freezing-cold mud, the cold wind and the strong pressure from the instructors to give up.

As the sun began to set that Wednesday evening, my training class, having broken some of the rules, was ordered into the mud. We sank into the mud until only our heads could be seen. The instructors told us we could leave the mud if only five men would give up — just five men and we could get out of the cold.

Looking around the mud flat, it was clear that some of us were about to give up. It was still over eight hours till the sun came up—eight more hours of coldness. Our cries were so loud that it was hard to hear anything. And then, one voice began to fly through the night—one voice raised in song.

The song sounded terrible, but it was sung with great power. One voice became two, and two became three, and before long everyone in the class was singing.

We knew that if one man could rise above the suffering then others could as well. The instructors warned us of more time in the mud if we kept up the singing—but the singing went on and on. And somehow, the mud seemed a little warmer, the wind a little weaker and the morning not so far away.

If I have learned anything in my time traveling the world, it is the power of hope. The power can change the world by giving people hope.

So, if you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.

1.What did the writer experience during Hell Week?

A. He suffered sleeplessness for one day. B. He was physically and mentally crazy.

C. He went through some hard tests. D. He sank into the mud for the week.

2.Why did the class have the experience at the Mud Flat?

A. Because they wanted to break the rules. B. Because the weather was terribly bad.

C. Because it was one of the training courses. D. Because the instructors were strict with them.

3.What did the class do when they were in the mud?

A. Five of them gave up. B. They cried all the time.

C. Someone sang from the beginning. D. Everybody joined in the singing.

4.What is probably the author’s job?

A. A terrorist. B. A soldier. C. An instructor. D. A trainer.

5.What does the writer want to tell us?

A. Singing helps change the world. B. Singing solves problems in life.

C. People should help each other. D. Hope helps pull through difficulties.

Want to boost the chance of your story being published in Reader's Digest and win $25,000? Here are a few of our favorite entries so far in our "Your life: The Reader's Digest Version" contest. After reading these, head over to Facebook and submit your own story about a special moment or lesson that shaped your life.

"There's Always a John" By Darla Boyd

My first year of teaching, there was a kid named John in my class. John was difficult to control and he nearly drove me crazy. While talking about him one day, an old teacher put his hand on my shoulder and said, "There will always be a John. Your job is to learn to discover what makes him different and help him succeed." The next year, there was indeed another John. But that advice taught me that there is something to appreciate in everyone.

"An Early Key Lesson" By Elaine West

Before I began my first teaching job, my mother, a teacher of 30 years, gave me a very special gift, five simple words that have had an effect on my entire life." Make friends with the janitor(门卫)." Her wisdom taught me the respect for all types of characters and continues to enrich my life to this day. Just five little words but what an impact they can have when you take them to heart.

“Raising Mommy” By Jan Davis

Being a mother can always present challenges and rewards. Someone told me early that children will teach you everything you need to know. Being a mother is being raised. Our children become our advisers. Their dreams become our professors, as we are taking notes carefully. The sounds of their laughter and smiles are a great reward to us. Their tears remind us that it is okay to fail, and that we should wipe the tears away and try again.

1.What did Elaine West's mother advise her to do?

A. Don't treat students differently. B. Respect people from different backgrounds.

C. Don't judge people by appearance. D. Take care of janitors.

2.From the last paragraph, we can infer that ________.

A. a mother improves herself greatly in parenting

B. a mother should be given more care

C. children should realize the dreams of their parents

D. being a mother has more challenges than rewards

3.The text is most probably a(n) ________.

A. poster about a lecture B. ad for three new books

C. introduction to a contest D. notice inviting contributions

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