Contribution of Coeducation

       Imagining being asked to spend twelve or so years of your life in a society which consisted only of members of own sex. How would you react? Unless there was something definitely wrong with you, you wouldn’t be too happy about it, to say the least. It is all the more surprising therefore that so many parents in the world choose to impose such abnormal conditions on their children – conditions which they themselves wouldn’t put up with for one minute!

       Any discussion of this topic is bound to question the aims of education. Stuffing children’s heads full of knowledge is far from being foremost among them. One of the chief aims of educations is to equip future citizens with all they require to take their place in adult society. Now adult society is made up of men and women, so how can a segregated school possibly offer the right sort of preparation for it? Anyone entering adult society after years of segregation can only be in for a shock.

       A co-educational school offers children nothing less than a true version of society in miniature. Boys and girls are given the opportunity to get to know each other, to learn to live together from their earliest years. They are put in a position where they can compare themselves with each other in terms of academic ability, athletic achievement and many of the extra-curricular activities which are part of school life. What a practical advantage it is ( to give just a small example ) to be able to put on a school play in which the male parts will be taken by boys and the female parts by girls! What nonsense co-education makes of the argument that boys are cleverer than girl or vice-versa. When segregated, boys and girls are made to feel that they are a race apart. Rivalry between the sexes is fostered. In a coeducational school, everything falls into its proper place.

       But perhaps the greatest contribution of co-education is the healthy attitude to life it encourages. Boys don’t grow up believing that women are mysterious creatures – airy goddesses, more like book-illustrations to a fairy-tale, than human beings. Girls don’t grow up imagining that men are romantic heroes. Years of living together at school dispel illusions of this kind. There are no goddesses with freckles, pigtails, piercing voices and inky fingers. There are no romantic heroes with knobby knees, dirty fingernails and unkempt hair. The awkward stage of adolescence brings into sharp focus some of the physical and emotional problems involved in growing up. These can better be overcome in a co-educational environment. Segregated schools sometimes provide the right conditions for sexual deviation. This is hardly possible under a co-educational system. When the time comes for the pupils to leave school, they are fully prepared to enter society as well-adjusted adults. They have already had years of experience in coping with many of the problems that face men and women.

What is the best title for this passage?

A only co-education can be in harmony with society.

B people are in great need of co-education.

C any form of education other than co-education is simply unthinkable.

D co-education has many features.

what does co-education offer to children?

A A society.           B A true small model of society.

C A real life.          D True version of social condition.

According to the passage, what is one of the chief aims of education?

A It is for students to acquire knowledge.

B It is to equip future citizens with scientific technology.

C It is to equip future citizens with what is required in getting a position in society.

D It is for students to get academic achievements.

Why do boys and girls in co-education have no illusion about each other?

A They live together and know each other too well.

B Years of living together at school dismiss such illusion.

C co-education encourage them to have an healthy attitude toward life.

D They are familiar with each other’s problems.

While students in Hainan are quite used to clear skies, Beijing teenagers are not so lucky. As another warm winter approaches, the city can expect the normal clouds of smoke caused by air pollution.

But things could start to get better soon. The government is co-operating with a US-based environmental protection agency to update existing buses and trucks with clean fuel technology. The new technology could reduce air pollutants in existing diesel vehicles (柴油机) by 40 per cent. The programme will begin by testing buses in Beijing to see if the technology can be applied to them.

“We encourage the development of public transportation. But at the same time we need to reduce pollution from them,” said an official.

Efforts are being made to improve the capital’s environment with tighter controls on emissions (排放). Some heavily polluting factories and construction sites, such as those owned by the steel giant Shougang Group, have been asked to cut production in November and December or be closed.

Beijing was the third polluted city in the world at the end of last century, according to the UN. But thanks to recent measures, the capital has made some progress. Last year 224 clear days were rated as having good air quality. In 1998 the air quality index (指数) gave just 100 days as good.

“I am glad to see an improvement,” said a Senior 1 boy living in the northwest of Beijing. “Compared to other places, the air quality of Beijing is still worrying though. I hate the pollution. Once I was riding my bike in the morning when I almost had a traffic accident because I couldn’t see a car only metres away from me in frog.”

In early October, the skies were covered by such a thick fog that a display show by the visiting French air force was called off.

Rapid development, industry, traffic fumes (烟) and sandstorms from the desert all contribute to the city’s bad air.

The passage is mainly about ________?

A. a programme to improve Beijing’s air quality

B. progress made in Beijing’s air quality

C. Beijing’s air pollution

D. the difference between Hainan and Beijing

Which of the following is not the measure taken or to be taken to improve Beijing’s air?

A. Clean fuel technology will be used in public transportation.

B. Some factories have been asked to cut production.

C. Some construction sites have been told to be closed.

D. A display show of airplanes has been called off.

We can infer from the passage that, with the aim of being an ecological (生态的) city by the 2008 Olympics, ________.

A. far more still needs to be done  

B. nothing else needs to be done

C. all traffic has to be closed           

D. the development of the city has to be slowed down

Which is not correct according to the passage?

A. Beijing’s air quality is getting worse and worse.

B. Development, industry, traffic fumes and sandstorms are all the causes of bad air quality.

C. Clouds of smoke in the sky is the common feature in the winter of Beijing.

D. The government is making every effort to stop air pollution.

Angela Chang(张韶涵) didn’t know it would be so hard to turn singing into a career. She went to many different record companies. But she was always turned down for looking too young and small.
“I’d never had such difficulties before,” Chang said. But Chang’s talent was finally accepted in 2002. When she got a piece of work, she cried.
She soon became a star. Her first album Over the Rainbow sold very well. She won many awards.
“You wouldn’t believe such a beautiful voice could come from such a small body,” said one musician after hearing Chang sing. “She has a special voice. You can’t forget it.”
But the 25-year-old girl has other talents too. Chang is also an actress. She has played a role in the popular TV plays, My MVP Valentine and At Dolphin Bay. Many people remember her common-girl parts in the plays. But acting is difficult. Chang once acted so badly that she was nearly fired. Another time it took her 27 tries to get a scene right.
“I cried when I got back home,” Chang said. “But I knew that I wouldn’t always fail. You only fail when you give up.”
Now with four albums behind her - Over the Rainbow, Aurora, Pandora and Flower in the Wonderland, it’s clear that Chang and music were made for each other. As she sings in one song, “I have a pair of invisible wings. They fly me to the sky and give me hope.”
【小题1】The word “invisible” in the last paragraph means “________________”.

A.难以相信的B.看不见的C.隐藏的D.暗的
【小题2】 Many record companies refused to co-operate(合作) with her because ______________.
A.she looks very commonB.she is too young
C.she doesn’t sing very wellD.she looks young and small
【小题3】 Which of the following is NOT right?
A.She won many awards for the album Over the Rainbow.
B.She has made four films.
C.One musician spoke highly of her.
D.She is not only a singer but an actress.
【小题4】Although acting is difficult for her, she never gives up because ______________.
A.she is strong-mindedB.people like her films
C.she is interested in actingD.she acted in the popular TV plays
【小题5】Which do you think is the best title of the passage?
A.The Small Girl.B.Four Albums.
C.I have a Pair of Invisible Wings.D.A Poor Actress.

More parents are looking to cellphones to help keep their children safe.  But mom and dad should be careful: Kids who talk on a cellphone may be more likely to step into traffic. Children should learn to end phone conversations before they prepare to step into traffic.
While research shows that older kids and more experienced users also don’t navigate(穿行于) streets as well while on a cellphone, younger children tends to find the small tools more distracting(令人分心的).
“Kids of this age are just learning to cross the street on their own, ”says David-Schwebel, a co-author of the study. “They’re beginners. ”
Kids don’t need to be stopped from chatting on the phone when outside,
however. Instead, parents simply should instruct them to finish their conversations before crossing the street.        
“I don’t think this means parents should take phones away from their kids, ”says Schwebel. “I encourage families to get cellphones for their children.  They’re more helpful than harmful,  if they’re used in a safe way. ”
Other distractions, such as conversations with friends, listening to music,  and text messaging, may also cause problems for children in this age group.  The researchers expect to study the effect of those types of distractions in the future.
Experts in child safety approved the cellphone study. “If you’re talking on a cellphone,  you’re not paying much attention to the environment around you, ” says Susan Baker, a professor.
Brooke Carlson, a 44-year-old mom, has noticed how riveted her 9-year-old son is when he’s talking on the cellphone. Although she’d never thought of the dangers of crossing traffic while on the phone, Carlson says, “Now that I know about it, it makes total sense. ”She plans to have a chat with her child about cellphones and street safety.
For younger kids, parents might consider purchasing a phone with a plan that only allows the child to call up his or her parents. That way the cellphone can be used for emergencies, but not for chatting with friends for hours.
【小题1】In Schwebel’s opinion, _____ .

A.kids are still too young to walk on the street alone
B.kids don’t know how to use cellphones appropriately
C.kids have little experience in crossing the street alone
D.kids are not experienced cellphone users
【小题2】 Which of the following is Schwebel in favor of?
A.Children shouldn’t be allowed to have a cellphone.
B.Children should be forbidden to chat on the phone when outside.
C.Cellphones do more harm to children than other distractions.
D.Parents should teach kids about cellphones and street safety.
【小题3】 The underlined word “riveted” may mean“_____”.
A.confusedB.absorbed
C.dangerousD.excited
【小题4】 According to the passage, what does Mrs Carlson know?
A.There are dangers of crossing streets while on the phone.
B.Her 9-year-old son is not interested in talking on the phone.
C.Cellphones are more helpful than harmful to children.
D.Kids don’t pay attention to the environment when talking on the phone.
【小题5】 The purpose of writing this passage is to _____.
A.advise parents not to buy cellphones for children
B.introduce a phone that only allows kids to call up parents
C.expect kids not to talk on cellphones while on the street
D.expect people to use cellphones less in daily life

A healthy amount of sunshine may be the secret to staying young. British scientists have discovered.

    Vitamin D is produced naturally by the skin in response to(对…的反应) sunlight and may help to slow the ageing process and protect against heart disease, according to the study.

    Researchers from King’s College London studied 2,160 women aged between 18 and 79, looking at their telomeres--- a biological marker of ageing found in DNA. As people get older, their telomeres get shorter and they become more susceptible(易受伤害的) to certain illnesses.

    But the study found women with high levels of vitamin D had comparatively longer telomeres--- a sign of being biologically younger and healthier.

    The study suggests vitamin D may help to slow down the ageing process of DNA, and therefore the ageing process as a whole.

    Lead researcher Dr Brent Richards said, “These results are exciting because they show for the first time that people who have higher levels of vitamin D may age more slowly than people with lower levels of vitamin D.” This could help to explain how vitamin D has a protective effect on many ageing related diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.”

Professor Tim Spector, a co-author of the report, added, “Although it might sound absurd

(荒唐的), it’s possible that the same sunshine which may increase our risk of skin cancer may also have a healthy effect on the general ageing process.”

    Vitamin D made by the action of sunlight on the skin accounts for 90 percent of the body’s supply, but lower levels can also be got through food such as fish, eggs and breakfast cereals(粥).

    Other studies have suggested the vitamin plays a key role in protecting against cancer and heart disease.

1. A certain amount of sunshine helps people stay young because _____.

A. people feel happy and energetic in the sun          

B. sunshine protects people against heart disease

C. vitamin D makes one’s skin look young and healthy 

D. vitamin D may help to slow the ageing process

2.From Brent Richards, we know that _____.

    A. sunlight causes skin cancer to people with high level of vitamin D

    B. the study generally has a healthy effect on the general ageing process

    C. vitamin D can only be got from fish, eggs and breakfast cereals

    D. the higher levels of vitamin D people have, the more slowly people may age

3.What can we infer from the passage?

    A. Telomeres are important signs of ageing of the DNA.

    B. Sunlight can be dangerous as it causes skin cancer.

    C. Sunlight does a great deal of good to our health.

    D. Vitamin D can also be gained from food.

4. What is the best title of the passage?   

A. Secret of Staying Young                  B. Vitamin D Helps Slow Ageing

C. Sunlight and Vitamin D                   D. Sunlight and Health

 

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