Question

Asia tops the OECD solving skills test

QUESTION: Can you quickly learn to set a thermostat（温度调节器）?

Don’t look down upon such a task. It shows your ability to solve problems in creative ways, said the OECD（经合组织）. The OECD recently gave a problem-solving test to 85,000 students. They were all 15 years old, and from 44 countries.

The test give each student four to eight everyday problems to solve. For example, they had to set a thermostat, and find the quickest way to a place. Students from Singapore and South Korea did the best job, said the OECD. They were quick learners, curious（好奇的）and able to solve problems that they were not familiar with. Students from Japan and China were also among the top-performing groups. They did a better job than those from countries like the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and France.

Problem-solving skills are important, said the OECD. “Today’s 15-year-olds with poor problem-solving will become tomorrow’s adults struggling（努力）to find or keep a good job,” said Andreas, acting director of Education and Skills at the OECD. ”The world economy（经济）no longer pays you for what you know. Google knows everything .The world economy pays you for what you can do with what you know,” he said.

1. The students from _______ performed best in the test.

A. the US and Canada B. the UK and the US

C. South Korea and Singapore D. Australia and Canada

2. Why does the OECD test the students?

A. They want to make more money.

B. They want the students to help them solve the problems.

C. They want to help the students to solve the problems in creative ways.

D. They think the US students are the best at the test.

3. What does the underlined word “top-performing” mean in the test?

A. do familiar things in the test

B. perform the best in the test

C. do something carefully

D. develop their ability

4.Why are problem-solving skills important?

A. Because the world economy will pay you for what you know.

B. Because Google knows everything.

C. Because poor problem-solving skills will become tomorrow’s ability.

D. Because problem-solving skills will help you keep a good job in the future.

Answer 1

1.C

2.C

3.B

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：短文大意：经济合作与发展组织最近对85000学生做了一个解决问题的测试。他们都是15岁，来自44个国家。在测试中来自亚洲的学生做得最好。

1.第三段中Students from Singapore and South Korea did the best job.可知来自新加坡和韩国的学生做的最好，所以该选C。

2.第二段中It shows your ability to solve problems in creative ways, said the OECD（经合组织）可知经合组织测试学生是为了帮助他们用创造性的方法解决问题，所以该选C。

3.词义猜测题。根据根据下句They did a better job than those from countries like the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and France.可知“top-performing”意味着在测试中做得最好，所以该选B。

4.最后一段中“Today’s 15-year-olds with poor problem-solving will become tomorrow’s adults struggling（努力）to find or keep a good job,”可知今天具有解决问题的能力，明天就能寻找或保持一份好的工作，所以该选D。

考点：日常生活类阅读。