Up to 60 Shanghai maths teachers are to be brought to England to raise standards, in an exchange arranged by the Department for Education.The announcement comes as a campaign is launched to raise adult maths skills.A survey of 300 adults for the numeracy campaign found that over a third thought their level of maths had held them back.An accompanying economic analysis said that a lack of maths skills cost the UK 20 billion pounds per year.
The plan to bring 60 English-speaking maths teachers from Shanghai is an attempt to learn from a city that has been the top performance in the OECD's Pisa tests.The OECD says that children of poor families in Shanghai are on average better at maths than middle class children in the UK.The Shanghai teachers, expected to arrive from the autumn, will help share their teaching methods, support pupils who are struggling and help to train other teachers.
“We have some smart maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai-and other Chinese cities-has only strengthened my belief that we can learn from them.” said education minister, Elizabeth Truss, who has recently visited Shanghai, accompanied by head teachers from England, “They have a can-do attitude to maths-and I want us to match that, and their performance,” She stressed the economic significance of raising maths standards, for individuals and the country.'As part of our long term economic plan, we are determined to drive up standards in our schools and give our young people the skills they need to succeed in the global race.Good maths qualifications have the greatest earning potential and provide the strongest protection against unemployment,” said the education minister.
1.Poor maths skills have caused serious _____ consequences in England.
A. academic B. economic
C. cultural D. political
2.What is the main factor behind Shanghai teachers’success in maths teaching?
A. Their students are from poor families
B. Their students have a talent for maths
C. They have a positive attitude to teaching
D. They teach in a highly developed city.
3.According to Elizabeth Truss, raising maths standards can be helpful in_____.
A. equipping young people with global competitiveness
B. promoting the pupils’ international test performance
C. teaching how to earn money in the global market
D. discovering one’s maths talent at an early age
4.What can be the best title for the passage?
A. Good Maths Skills Are about Hard Work
B. Why Are English Maths Standards Left Behind?
C. Why Are Shanghai Maths Teachers Getting Popular?
D. Chinese Teachers Bring the Art of Maths to English Schools
Creative Writing Summer School
2-15 August 2015
Study at one of the world's leading universities
About the Creative Writing Summer School
This programme is for those wishing to develop their existing creative writing skills, either for eventual professional use, or out of personal interest.Workshop courses take place twice a day.In a series of plenary(全体出席的)lectures (each morning, and on some evenings), novelists, poets and writers of creative non-fiction discuss their own work and the art of writing.Plenary lectures are designed to expand students' understanding of their own creative options.Students will expected to complete daily writing tasks outside classroom hours; the resulting work will form the primary focus of the workshops.
What will I be studying?
Workshop courses focus on practical writing skills and critical reflection; there are specialist options in fiction; creative non-fiction and poetry, and writing for stage and screen, as well as a more broadly-based writing course.
Who can apply?
The programme is open to university students, literature teachers, professionals and those with other life experience; gap-year students preparing for university may also apply (students must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian if under 18 when the programme starts).Participants must also meet the language requirements specific to this programme and will be asked to provide a 300-400 word piece explaining their reasons for applying.
Who will be teaching me?
Courses are taught by a combination of published writers associated with the School of Continuing Education, Peking University and by guest subject specialists from beyond the university.
Where will I stay?
Participants can stay in the School of Continuing Education, Peking University, close to the teaching sites and city Coventry.
How do I apply?
You can download an application form or apply online.
Find out more: www.sce.pku.edu.cn
1.Participants are supposed to finish their writing tasks______.
A. in the morning B. in the evening
C. after class D. during plenary lectures
2.The writing courses_____·
A. focus on practical writing skills
B. cover various kinds of writing
C. don't include writing for stage and screen
D. are mainly about creative non-fiction
3.Applicants need to write an essay to_______.
A. introduce themselves
B. show their writing skills
C. state their language learning experiences
D. explain why they want to attend the programme
假如你是李华，你准备暑假去英国旅游一个月。请你写信向你的英国笔友Tom询问有关在英国住宿、观光等方面的问题以及其他注意事项。要点如下：
1.写信的目的；
2.寻求帮助和建议；
3.表达谢意。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Tom,
How are you getting on with your life?_________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
I’ m looking forward to your early reply and I can’t wait to see you.
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Tower Bridge is not only a very specially landmark in London, but also one of the most famous bridge in the world. Tower Bridge had stood over the River Thames in London since 1894. On June 30, 1894, the bridge designing by Horace Jones and Wolfe Barry were constructed. Tower Bridge consists two huge towers, that are linked together. The bridge stands at a height of 60 meters but the height of each tower is about 43 meters. The middle part of the bridge can be lifted up when huge ships past through that way. In the past, it was lifted nearly 50 times per a day.
While I was in Ojai this past weekend, I came across a man 1. (sit) at a bench by himself. I smiled and said hello to him. As I passed, he yelled to me 2. (come) back. The man said that I was the only one of the 3. (passer-by) who had treated him in such a kind way. He said he was a reverend (牧市) and asked 4. I was from; I said England. At that point, most people would say something like, near London. 5., his response was Birmingham. As 6. matter of fact, Birmingham is the largest city near my rural hometown. We carried on a 7. (friend) conversation and in the conversation, I 8. (inform) that he needed some money to go back home. Not knowing how much money I had, I told him I’d give him whatever was in my purse. He said he prayed that I’d have $47. Then I opened the wallet in my purse and counted out the money. That was 9. (exact) $47. I offered the man all of my money. I felt really good for giving help to someone, 10. was in trouble.
Today I share this story with you, because I want to spread as much kindness in the world as I can.
Last week I talked with Mandy, a mother of a young teenager in my class. She was telling me how ______ it was for her son at school, because he is in a school uniform that doesn’t ______ him as he’s outgrown it. Since her husband and she both lost their ______ in the last couple of years, they have been searching and interviewing persistently (坚持不懈地). ______, unfortunately they are still out of work.
Now I know the fact that they just can’t ______ a new one. She wiped away ______ as she told me sadly that she is ______ trying to buy a new shirt, then trousers, then… then shoes.
I know her well enough to know that she doesn’t ______ want to get my sympathy or help. She’s ______ asked for anything from me, either. She was just telling me the honest ______. I felt moved to go to the ______ to draw money out from my own account through ATM and come back with a bit of savings of my own ______ I believe I can spare. I told her to just go and buy the ______, and not to tell anyone that I did this but her husband.
I also made it clear to her that nothing is ______ —no payback, nothing. It’s a gift done, so I can enjoy ______, and that is all I need right now. I told her that she was also doing me a favor, ______ she let me know everything. She was so ______ for what I had done for her that she was moved to tears, but I really just feel happy that her boy won’t continue to be ______ for his ugly uniform. I know what that is like, and as a victim of school bullying (恃强欺弱) when young, I can say ______ it hurts for a long time. I felt so ______ to be able to do this!
1.A. sick B. hungry C. cold D. bad
2.A. disappoint B. embarrass C. fit D. challenge
3.A. work B. son C. furniture D. education
4.A. Therefore B. However C. Otherwise D. Besides
5.A. describe B. miss C. afford D. find
6.A. tears B. sweat C. stains D. dirt
7.A. quickly B. slowly C. suddenly D. immediately
8.A. patiently B. worriedly C. secretly D. deliberately
9.A. ever B. only C. even D. never
10.A. standard B. benefit C. truth D. answer
11.A. classroom B. hospital C. bank D. shop
12.A. which B. where C. what D. why
13.A. book B. uniform C. food D. car
14.A. expected B. regretted C. hidden D. valued
15.A. studying B. traveling C. succeeding D. helping
16.A. but B. because C. unless D. even if
17.A. hateful B. calm C. careful D. grateful
18.A. teased B. praised C. scolded D. motivated
19.A. for consideration B. for sure C. for fun D. for example
20.A. sorry B. sad C. good D. nervous
