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 stress is put on academic instruction.In one investigation(调查),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(答问卷者) listed “to give children a good start academically” as one of their top three reasons for a society to have preschools.On the contrary,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(毅力),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.Sixty­two percent of the more individually oriented(强调个性发展的) Americans listed group experience as one of their top three choices.A stress on the importance of the group seen in Japanese early childhood education continues into primary school education.

Like in America,there is diversity(多样性) in Japanese early childhood education.Some Japanese kindergartens have clear aims,such as early musical training or potential development.In large cities,some kindergartens are attached to universities that have primary and middle schools.Some Japanese parents believe that if their young children attend a university­based program,it will increase the children's chances of eventually being admitted to top­rated schools and universities.Several more progressive programs have introduced free play as a way out for the heavy intellectualizing(智力化) in some Japanese kindergartens.

22.We learn from the first paragraph that many Americans believe ________.

A.Japanese parents pay more attention to preschool education than American parents

B.Japan's economic success is the result of its scientific achievements

C.Japanese preschool education attaches greater importance to academic instruction

D.Japan's higher education is better than theirs

23.In Japan's preschool education,the focus is on ________.

A.preparing children academically

B.developing children's interests in music

C.discovering children's potential

D.shaping children's character

24.Free play has been introduced in some Japanese kindergartens in order to ________.

A.lighten children's study load

B.encourage children's creativity

C.broaden children's views

D.enrich children's knowledge

25.Why do some Japanese parents send their children to university­based kindergartens?

A.They can have no problems in their future studies.

B.They can have clear aims in life.

C.They can succeed in developing in every way.

D.They can have better chances of getting a first­rate education.

One of the greatest contributors to the first Oxford English Dictionary was also one of its most unusual. In 1879, Oxford University in England asked Prof. James Murray to serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language. It would include every English word possible and would give not only the definition but also the history of the word and quotations(引文)showing how it was used.

    This was a huge task, so Murray had to find volunteers from Britain, the United States, and the British colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in English. Hundreds of volunteers responded, including William Chester Minor. Dr. Minor was an American surgeon who had served in the Civil War and was now living in England. He gave his address as “Broadmoor, Crowthorne, Berkshire,” 50 miles from Oxford.

Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray. Over the next 17 years, he became one of the staff's most valued contributors.

But he was also a mystery. In spite of many invitations, he would always decline to visit Oxford. So in 1897, Murray finally decided to travel to Crowthorne himself. When he arrived, he found Minor locked in a book­lined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum(精神病院)for the Criminally Insane.

Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years. Murray continued to visit Minor regularly, sometimes taking walks with him around the asylum grounds.

In 1910, Minor left Broadmoor for an asylum in his native America. Murray was at the port to wave goodbye to his remarkable friend.

Minor died in 1920, seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed. The 12 volumes defined 414,825 words, and thousands of them were contributions from a very scholarly and devoted asylum patient.

16. According to the text, the first Oxford English Dictionary________.

A. came out before Minor died

B. was edited by an American volunteer

C. included the English words invented by Murray

D. was intended to be the most ambitious English dictionary

17. How did Dr. Minor contribute to the dictionary?

A. He helped Murray to find hundreds of volunteers.

B. He sent newspapers, magazines and books to Murray.

C. He provided a great number of words and quotations.

D. He went to England to work with Murray.

18. Why did Dr. Minor refuse to visit Oxford?

A. He was shut in an asylum.

B. He lived far from Oxford.

C. He was busy writing a book.

D. He disliked traveling.

19. Prof. Murray and Dr. Minor became friends mainly because________.

A. they both served in the Civil War

B. they had a common interest in words

C. Minor recovered with the help of Murray

D. Murray went to America regularly to visit Minor

20. Which of the following best describes Dr. Minor?

A. Brave and determined.

B. Cautious and friendly.

C. Considerate and optimistic.

D. Unusual and scholarly.

21. What does the text mainly talk about?

A. The history of the English language.

B. The friendship between Murray and Minor.

C. Minor and the first Oxford English Dictionary.

D. Broadmoor Asylum and its patients.

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