Question

One morning Fan Xing discovered that her classroom had changed.The 13-year-old saw that the desks were no longer in rows,but pushed together to make six bigger desks.

The new arrangement was part of a reform at Fan’s school,Changsha Daotian Middle School in Hunan.About five weeks ago,more than 2,000 junior students at the school began studying in this way,with six to eight students sitting in groups.

“This reform is designed to provide students with easier ways to study and more chances for discussion,” said Liu Xu,a school head teacher.“Our school hopes it can improve students’ abilities for self-study as well as teamwork.”

The new arrangement took some time for students to get used to.“I was too curious about it for the first two days,” said Fan.But soon she and her classmates got used to it.“Now our class is quieter because we can stop loud students with some simple gestures,” said Fan.“What’s more,we can express our own ideas and learn others’ through discussion.It’s a better way to study.”

Feng Yu likes this new classroom arrangement very much and has made some progress in studying.The 14-year-old said,“Group members first discuss,and then explain the solutions or answers to difficult questions in front of the whole class.”

“The discussion gives us more confidence to make speeches,” said Feng.“We can also improve our friendships.”

The reform has asked for more from teachers.They have no more than 15 minutes to teach in class.“It is a big challenge to teach in such a short time the lessons which should be taught in 45 minutes,” English teacher Wang Jing said.“We have to improve methods to teach better.We must prepare some interesting topics and exercises before class so that students can discuss them.”

Wang said that some students always talk.The teachers have to move continuously in the classroom to keep them quiet and get them to concentrate on class.“It demands more,but I believe it will pay off,” Wang added.

1.From the first paragraph of the passage,we know that 　　　.

A. Fan Xing was a 13-year-old student

B. Fan Xing’s classroom was changed in rows

C. Fan Xing’s desk was no longer in her classroom

D. six big desks were moved into Fan Xing’s classroom

2.The purpose of the new classroom arrangement is to 　　　.

A. make the students feel fresh and interested

B. divide big classes into small classes

C. make more room for new students

D. provide students with more chances for teamwork

3.What is the big challenge for the teachers in classroom teaching in the reform?

A. The teachers have to improve their studying methods.

B. The teachers must prepare more interesting topics for exercises.

C. The teachers are only given 15 minutes to teach in one period of the class.

D. The teachers have to move about in the classroom to keep the students quiet.

4.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The students in Changsha Daotian Middle School are sitting in groups when having classes.

B. The reform in the school is aimed at improving the students’ abilities for self-study.

C. Studying in groups gives the students more confidence to concentrate on class.

D. The new classroom arrangement also brings some new challenges to the teachers.

Answer 1