Question

Girls do better at school

Around the world, girls do better than boys at school. These are the findings of a recent study that looked at the test results of 1.5 million 15-year-olds in 74 regions across the globe.

The level of gender equality in those regions made no difference to the results. Other causes, such as the income level of the region also had little impact on the findings. In only three regions – Colombia, Costa Rica and the Indian state Himachal Pradesh – was the opposite with boys doing better.

So what are the causes of girls’ stronger performance? In the UK, girls outperform boys in exams that are taken at the age of 15 or 16, called GCSEs(普通中等教育证书). According to education expert Ian Toone, this is down to the way girls and boys are brought up. “Boys are encouraged to be more active from an early age, whereas the restless movements of baby girls are calmed… Hence, girls develop the skill of sitting still for longer periods of time, which is useful for something like studying for GCSEs."

He goes on to say that boys often get together in larger groups than girls. Because of this they are more likely to be influenced by peer(同龄人) pressure and develop a gang mentality (帮派心态). He says that GCSEs require a lot of personal work and are not viewed as 'cool' in a childish culture.

This is backed up by research in the UK that says girls are out-performing boys at the age of five. So what is the answer? Should girls and boys be educated separately? Or do exams and school curricula need to be changed to better reflect boys’ skills? These are the questions facing educators in many countries.

1.What are the two things that made little or no difference to the results?

A. Gender equality and intelligence.

B. Gender equality and income level.

C. Income level and feelings.

D. Income level and intelligence.

2.According to Ian Toone, girls do better at school than boys because girls ______.

A. study harder    B. are cleverer

C. can sit still longer    D. are more restless

3.What does Ian Toone say can influence boys?

A. Gang mentality.    B. Personal work.

C. Peer pressure.    D. Childish culture.

4.What could be changed to include the skills boys have?

A. Exams and school curricula.

B. Ways of education and evaluation.

C. Outdoor activities and performances.

D. Separate education and different curricula.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.C

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。研究表明，在学校里，女孩的考试成绩要比男孩好，本文针对这个现象进行了分析。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段The level of gender equality in those regions made no difference to the results. Other causes, such as the income level of the region also had little impact on the findings.可知，性别平等和收入水平对孩子学习没有影响，故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段Hence, girls develop the skill of sitting still for longer periods of time, which is useful for something like studying for GCSEs."可知，女孩可以比男孩坐的更久，因而对考试更有利，故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段Because of this they are more likely to be influenced by peer(同龄人) pressure and develop a gang mentality (帮派心态).可知，男孩更容易受同龄人压力的影响，故选C。

4.细节理解题。根据最后一段Or do exams and school curricula need to be changed to better reflect boys’ skills?可知，可能改变考试和学习课程，故选A。