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2[阅读题]
Bright Sparks (1) By the time Laszlo Polagar’s first baby was born in 1969 he already had firm views on child-rearing. An eccentric citizen of communist Hungary, he had written a book called “Bring up Genius!” and one of his favorite sayings was “Geniuses are made, not born”. (2) An expert on the theory of chess, he proceeded to teach little Zsuzsa at home, spending up to ten hours a day on the game. Two more daughters were similarly hot-housed. All three obliged their father by becoming world-class players. The youngest, Judit, is currently ranked 13th in the world, and is by far the best female chess player of all time. (3) Would the experiment have succeeded with a different trio of children? If any child can be turned into a star, then a lot of time and money are being wasted worldwide on trying to pick winners. (4) America has long held “talent searches”, using test results and teacher recommendations to select children for advanced school courses, summer schools and other extra tuition. This provision is set to grow. In his state-of-the-union address in 2006, President George Bush announced the “American Competitiveness Initiative”, which, among much else, would train 70,000 high-school teachers to lead advanced courses for selected pupils in mathematics and science. Just as the super powers’ space race made Congress put money into science education, the thought of China and India turning out hundreds of thousands of engineers and scientists is scaring America into stimulating its brightest to do their best. (5) The philosophy behind this talent search is that ability is innate; that it can be diagnosed with considerable accuracy; and that it is worth cultivating. (6) In America, bright children are ranked as “moderately”, “highly”, “exceptionally” and “profoundly” gifted. The only chance to influence innate ability is thought to be in the womb or the first couple of years of life. Hence the craze for “teaching aids” such as videos and flashcards for newborns, and “whale sounds” on tape which a pregnant mother can strap to her belly. (7) In Britain, there is a broadly similar belief in the existence of innate talent, but also an egalitarian (平等主义的) sentiment which makes people queasy about the idea of investing resources in grooming intelligence. (8) Teachers are often opposed to separate provision for the best-performing children, saying any extra help should go to stragglers. In 2002, in a bid to help the able while leaving intact the ban on most selection by ability in state schools, the government set up the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth. This outfit runs summer schools and master classes for children nominated by their schools. To date, though, only seven in ten secondary schools have nominated even a single child. Last year all schools were told they must supply the names of their top 10%. (9) Picking winners is also the order of the day in excommunist states, a hangover from the times when talented individuals were plucked from their homes and ruthlessly trained for the glory of the nation. But in many other countries, opposition to the idea of singling out talent and grooming it runs deep. In Scandinavia, a belief in virtues like modesty and social solidarity makes people flinch from the idea of treating brainy children differently. (10) And in Japan there is a widespread belief that all children are born with the same innate abilities - and should therefore be treated alike. All are taught together, covering the same syllabus at the same rate until they finish compulsory schooling. Those who learn quickest are expected then to teach their classmates. (11) Statistics give little clue as to which system is best. The performance of the most able is heavily affected by factors other than state provision. Most state education in Britain is nominally non-selective, but middle-class parents try to live near the best schools. Ambitious Japanese parents have made private, out-of-school tuition a thriving business. And Scandinavia’s egalitarianism might work less well in places with more diverse populations and less competent teachers. For what it’s worth, the statistical data suggest that some countries, like Japan and Finland, can avoid selection and still thrive. But that does not mean that any country can ditch selection and do as well. (12) Mr. Polgar thought any child could be a prodigy given the right teaching, an early start and enough practice. Some say the key to success is simply hard graft. Judit, the youngest of the Polgar sisters, was the most driven, and the most successful; Zsofia, the middle one, was regarded as the most talented, but she was the only one who did not achieve the status of grand master. “Everything came easiest to her,” said her older sister. “But she was lazy.” In this section, there are ten incomplete statements followed by four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer and write the corresponding letter on your Answer Sheet. 1. In their childhood, the three daughters of Polagar _____. A. played chess in house all day long B. had plenty of intense training on chess C. took various lessons on games in house D. revealed their talent in playing chess 2. In paragraph 3, the author tends to _____ Polagar’s view on child-rearing. A. support B. despise C. question D. defend 3. In America, student winners are usually picked out on the basis of _____. A. test results and praises from teachers B. teacher recommendations and test papers C. test scores and teacher recommendations D. self-presentation and teachers’ evaluations 4. The American “talent searches” is based on the belief that _____. A. there is no innate ability B. few have inborn talent C. education can help develop talent D, one’s innate ability can be measured 5. In paragraph 7, the word “queasy” is closest in meaning to _____. A. curious B. worried C. unhappy D. comfortable 6. According to the passage, in Britain, _____. A. state schools are forbidden to select winners by talent B. state schools are allowed to select students by ability C. secondary schools are eager to pick talented students D. the government is entitled to picking talented children 7. In paragraph 8, the word “outfit” is closest in meaning to _____. A. corporation B. community C. government D. organization 8. In Scandinavia, people value virtues like modesty and social solidarity, so they _____. A. approve of the idea of selecting different brains B. single out the talented children from the dull ones C. refuse to teach talented children in normal ways D. avoid picking talented children for special education 9. In paragraph 11, the word “ditch” is closest in meaning to _____. A. abandon B. embrace C. welcome D. denounce 10. Of the Polgar sisters, _____. A. all achieved the status of grand master B. two became world-class chess players C. the youngest was the most diligent one D. the eldest was under the greatest pressure
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3[阅读题]
Why Go to Canada?
(1) Huge, scenic and sparsely populated, Canada was rated by the United Nations Human Development Index as the best country to live in. The land of new hopes and opportunities attracts people worldwide.
(2) Very few people really understand or know anything about the process of immigration application. First of all a potential immigrant needs to know something about the rules and regulations. The Canadian Government has designed a point system to assess potential independent immigrants. Emphasis is placed on education, practical training, experience and the likelihood of successful settlement in Canada. This means that people with a bachelor degree of some kind and advanced technical or other skills that are in demand in Canada are more likely to be accepted. The Government also adds weight to an application if the individual is fluent in Canada’s official languages, English and French. Therefore someone with a good command of either English or French will have a better chance. Another way to immigrate to Canada is via the immigrant investor program. This provides an opportunity for experienced business persons to immigrate to Canada after making a substantial investment in a provincial government-administered venture capital fund.
( 3 ) If you think you fulfill all the criteria you can easily apply for immigration by yourself. The Canadian Government clearly states: “Any one can apply without the help of a third party”. As often happens in these situations, unscrupulous agents can take advantage of people who think that the only way they can immigrate is by paying huge amounts of money. People who want to become immigrants should carefully investigate the reputation and qualifications of third parties who offer their services for a fee. So why bother to use an immigration agent if application is easy?
( 4 ) Actually there are many good reasons why so many intending migrants use such services. What the least competent and reliable professionals do is simply fill out forms and send them to the Canadian Embassy with the required fees and documents! Some individuals (who can be referred to as “unscrupulous agents”) may fail to send in the correct documents, delay the clients’ application delivery, talk an unqualified candidate into buying their services despite the high possibility that the visa application will be refused or even suggest their clients supply fraudulent documents that are often discovered by the Canadian Embassy. Conversely, a highly qualified and reliable professional service justifies its costs for the comprehensive services it provides. A professional and reliable immigration firm should provide these services for its clients:
(5) Firstly, an intending immigrant must first be well aware of his chances of success. A substantial amount of necessary payment and the potential impact on an applicant’s life can be avoided. A highly experienced immigration professional is capable of assessing a client’s chances of success with an extremely high degree of certainty. In the case of a most unfavorable application, he discourages the client’s application.
(6) Secondly, depending on an effective interpretation of the selection rules as well as accumulated experiences, an experienced immigration professional highlights the applicant’s qualities and helps persuade visa officials that the applicant is worthy of selection and meets all the selection criteria. If a person doesn’t seem qualified, the adviser tries to find out other alternatives that may exist to make him a successful applicant. Such instances where qualified persons were discouraged from making applications are numerous. For example, a computer programmer whose professional skills are highly sought after in the Canadian labor market may be considered unqualified by the variance of their job description to the specifications in the National Occupational Descriptions published by the Canadian Government. An experienced immigration professional avoids areas of potential misunderstanding and best ensures that all the documents submitted and answers given at an interview will support a successful application.
(7) Thirdly, the presentation or package of the application often makes a decisive impression on the visa officer. An experienced immigration professional identifies what type of information can be supplied that is most likely to favorably impress the visa officer considering the application.
( 8 ) Fourthly, in the case of a person who simply does not qualify, an immigration professional indicates the reasons that may lead to their visa application refusal and tries to find out ways to improve their circumstances so they become qualified.
( 9 ) Fifthly, sometimes even highly qualified candidates finally end up in dismay for want of knowledge on migration affairs or misinterpretation of Canadian migration rules. In many cases, due to unnecessary concealing of certain facts that often lead to discovery, a supposedly successful application will be rejected and the applicant’s personal credibility in future applications is ruined. A migration professional explains and convinces the visa officers that a person is highly qualified despite some minor factors that may be unfavorable to his application.
(10) Sixthly, a seasoned immigration professional helps identify potential problems and provides advice in advance. An immigration professional is expected to be familiar with immigration law, she/he advises the applicant whether or not to submit certain complimentary documents, what evidence needs to be acquired to help support the candidate, and what should be avoided that may cause a negative impact on the application.
In this section, there are ten incomplete statements, followed by four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer and write the corresponding letter on your Answer Sheet. (10 points, 1 point for each)
1. “People with a bachelor degree” in Paragraph 2 are ______.
A. holders of a first university degree
B. holders of a second university degree
C. people who have received the highest university degree
D. people who have never been married
2. Business people can immigrate to Canada after they have made a substantial investment ____.
A. in their own country
B. in both Canada and their own country
C. in Canada
D. in either Canada or their own country
3. The writer of this article ______.
A. suggests that an applicant use an immigrant agent even when an application is easy
B. disapproves of using an immigrant agent if application is easy
C. thinks that third parties should not charge a fee for their services
D. believes that all immigration agents are unscrupulous
4. Immigration professionals should ______.
A. suggest their clients supply fraudulent documents
B. delay the clients’ application delivery
C. talk an unqualified candidate into buying their services
D. send in the correct documents
5. In the case of a most unfavorable application, a highly experienced immigration professional
______.
A. encourages the client’s application
B. highlights the applicant’s qualities and helps persuade visa officers that the applicant is Worthy of selection and meets all the selection criteria
C. does not charge a fee for their service
D. discourages the client’s application
6. In the case of clients who do not qualify, an immigration professional ______.
A. needs to know something about the rules and regulations of the Canadian Government
B. explains the reason why their clients’ visa application might be refused and tries to find out ways to improve their circumstances so they become qualified
C. would suggest that they apply for immigration on their own behalf
D. would simply discourage the clients from making application
7. Canada is all the following EXCEPT ______.http://bbs.zikao5.com 自考资料,自考白皮书
A. populous B. large in size
C. beautiful D. thinly populated
8. If you intend to immigrate, ______.
A. you must apply on your own
B. you could either try to apply on your own or seek help from an immigration firm
C. you have to seek the help of a third party
D. you have to make a substantial investment in Canada
9. This passage is ______.
A. narrative B. expository
C. descriptive D. argumentative
10. The most suitable heading for Paragraph 2 is ______.http://bbs.zikao5.com 自考资料,自考白皮书
A. Anticipating problems
B. Either way, you make a choice
C. Two types of immigrants
D. Hiring professionals to apply on your behalf
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