Experts analyzed how language can affect children’s lives and the role it plays in everyday life They also determined which languages tend to lead to the best career opportunities as an adult. “We believe that language learning is hugely beneficial for children’s development and it is a real investment for the future,” said Antonella Sorace, professor of developmental linguistics (语言学) at Edinburgh University. The study involved a survey of 2,001 parents with children under the age of 18, as well as another survey of more than 500 business leaders.
So which languages took the top spot? Results indicated that children should be learning French, German, and/or Chinese if they want to be successful within the next ten years. Mastering a second language opens the door to new markets for businesses and allows them to create new relationships with potential partners. Besides being able to speak another language, the academic and interpersonal skills that can be acquired from learning a new language are important as well. “Children who are exposed to different languages become more aware of different cultures, other people, and other points of view. They also tend to be better than monolinguals (只用单语的人) at multitasking and are often more advanced readers,” said Sorace.
A vast majority of parents surveyed in this study (85 percent) believe it is important for their children to learn a second language, and about one in four believe it will increase their child’s career opportunities and improve their chance of being employed. The future employment markets are in need of space tour guides, robot coaches, front-line e-commerce workers, nurses etc. No matter what a child choose to be, multilinguals and cross-culture talents will probably have a good chance to take the lead. However, 45 percent of parents surveyed admit that their child or children cannot speak a second language.
If you want your child to stand out from the crowd, follow the habits of parents of successful people-give children chores, set high but realistic expectations, get yourself educated, make time for bonding, accept and recognize their feelings—and, of course, make sure they learn one of the three success languages!
1.Who might be a person that took part in the survey?A.A young technician with no child. | B.A farmer with a 19-year-old child. |
C.A librarian with a 16-year-old child. | D.A middle-aged reporter with no child. |
A.①③⑤ | B.③④⑤ | C.①②④ | D.②③④ |
A.About 500. | B.About 600. | C.About 700. | D.About 800. |
A.To present some parents’ opinions. | B.To offer readers some suggestions. |
C.To explain some concepts. | D.To tell readers a story. |
How to Study Effectively
Stepping out of your comfort zone (区域) helps you to improve yourself and become a happy and fun person. You’ll experience greater enjoyment as you try out new experiences.
Unplug (拔掉插头)
Take a break from today's interconnected world.
Go to another country
You will experience new cultures, different customs, unique landscapes and another language from travel.
Try diving, skydiving or a roller coaster ride. If those are too frightening, try giving a speech or taking a dance class. Once you overcome your inner fear, you will have a sense of satisfaction that comes from overcoming it.
Talk with someone new
This doesn’t have to be a complete stranger. Start a conversation with someone new at work, the barista (咖啡师) in your local coffee shop, a neighbour or someone in the queue.
A.Do something that is fearful for you |
B.Become uncomfortable with the Internet |
C.You can end your conversation with your friends anytime |
D.Leave your phone at home, turn off the TV and the Internet |
E.Here are some ways that can probably lead you to a new life |
F.See if you can continue the conversation for 30 seconds or longer |
G.Besides, using cash from different countries is also good for your brain |
Here are the introductions and achievements of four scientists.
Jöns Jacob Berzelius was a Swedish chemist, often referred to as one of the founders of modern chemistry. He developed a system of chemical symbols, which laid the foundation for the establishment of the modern periodic table. Berzelius also made important discoveries in the field of electrochemistry.
Niels Henrik David Bohr was a Danish physicist. He proposed the atomic (原子的) model known as the Bohr model, which explained the behavior of electrons moving in fixed energy levels or orbits around the atomic nucleus. His model helped explain the spectra of elements and laid the groundwork for further developments in atomic physics.
Robert Boyle, born in Ireland, was regarded as one of the founders of modern chemistry, known for Boyle’s law. Boyle’s law describes the relationship between the pressure and volume (体积) of a gas at constant temperature. Boyle’s work laid the foundation for the modern understanding of gas behavior and promoted the development of scientific experimental methods.
William Lawrence Bragg was a British physicist born in Australia who made significant contributions to X-ray crystallography (晶体学). Together with his father William Henry Bragg, he developed the famous Bragg’s law. This discovery revolutionized the field of crystallography and paved the way for determining the atomic and molecular structures of various substances, including DNA and proteins.
1.What do we say about Jöns Jacob Berzelius?A.He invented a new chemical substance. |
B.He established the modern periodic table. |
C.He was referred to as a founder of modern physics. |
D.He made important achievements in the field of electrochemistry. |
A.Jons Jacob Berzelius. | B.Niels Henrik David Bohr. |
C.Robert Boyle. | D.William Lawrence Bragg. |
A.They were born in Denmark. | B.They made a contribution to physics. |
C.They discovered new models for chemistry. | D.They did research together with their family. |
In my opinion, we should try our best
I used to be
Math had never been something I was good at since middle school. Classes became harder in high school, and I was even further from a math teacher’s dream student. So at the start of my freshman year, I had an aversion to math. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do well, but simply that I didn’t think I was able to do well. “I can’t” became my state of mind in all things related (有关的) to math.
However, I was soon to learn that “I can’t” was not a choice in Mr. A’s class.
Mr. A always greeted (迎接) us with open arms as he said, “Welcome! Smile! It’s a great day to be alive!” It was clear that Mr. A had a true passion (热情) not only for math but for teaching. If Mr. A ever experienced bad days in life, he never showed it. Mr. A greeted us with that same smile every day. He encouraged each student, from the top achiever to the “I can’t” student.
I found myself looking forward to math class, although I still hated the subject itself. Being in Mr. A’s presence made me feel good, as if I had the chance to succeed. As the year progressed, I spent increasingly more time on my homework, and I met with Mr. A weekly. My classmates began to do the same, and it became “cool” to have lunch and talk with Mr. A. We didn’t know it at the time, but he was changing our attitudes (态度).
Though my story is not one of overnight success and I didn’t become a straight-A math student, my hard work did begin to pay off and my grades slowly began to climb. There were hard times, of course. Difficult math questions sometimes succeeded in bringing me down, but Mr. A kept reminding (提醒) me, “Kate, smile! It’s a great day to be alive!”
1.What does the underlined word “aversion” in paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Interest. | B.Responsibility. | C.Dislike. | D.Misunderstanding. |
A.Mr. A’s attitude. |
B.Her interest in math. |
C.Her friends’ encouragement. |
D.The top achievers in her class. |
A.It was straight. |
B.It was awkward. |
C.It was challenging. |
D.It was impressive. |
A.She made slow progress. |
B.She fell in love with math. |
C.She became a straight-A math student. |
D.She became comfortable with difficult math questions. |
The Best Fall Leaves Camping in the US
Whether in search of changing leaves, mild climates, or a socially distant getaway, here are some of the best spots for fall leaves camping in the US.
Quarryville, PA
Home to pretty rolling hills and rural countryside, this area develops successfully in the fall with some of the best leaf-admiring in the Northeast. It’s located on 63 wooded acres, head to Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort. Here, you’ll find never-ending views of the changing leaves plus family-friendly entertainments such as a water zone and mini golf.
Cape May, NJ
Known as America’s oldest seaside resort made famous by its beaches and boardwalks——Cape May is also home to several camping destinations. Guests can enjoy wilderness with the conveniences of a modern campground. Hike through the amazing National Wildlife Refuge to see leave s change color in fall or discover some of the finest wines on the east coast at nearby vineyards.
Beaverton, MI
Central Michigan, along the Cedar River, offers plenty of cool campgrounds where you can splash in the water and admire the fall leaves. Gladwin City Park and Campground in Gladwin provides peaceful escape for those looking to sit back and relax. Meanwhile, in Beaverton, Calhoun Campground occupies 40 acres of backwater land on Ross Lake with beautiful wooded sites facing the lake and activities such as boating and trail hiking.
Conway, SC
This travel hotspot is known for beachside accommodations, but it’s also home to forest camping. You’ll find the best of both worlds at Carolina Pines RV Resort it’s still warm enough to go to the beach or the pool in the fall, but you’ll also enjoy views of the season’s changing leaves. And don’t forget to check out the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway(SC11),where more than a half-dozen colorful state parks and their gorgeous fall leaves are all within easy reach.
1.Which spot will mini golf lovers most likely choose?A.Conway, SC. | B.Cape May, NJ. | C.Beaverton, MI. | D.Quarryville, PA. |
A.Cycling. | B.Hiking. | C.Driving. | D.Shopping. |
A.A biography. | B.An encyclopedia. |
C.A geography book. | D.A travel brochure. |