北京交通大学2011级2级起点第一学期期末口语考试题PartoneReadthefollowingparagraph(21世纪)HowdoAstudentslikethesedoit?Brainsaren’ttheonlyanswer.Themostgiftedstudentsdonotnecessarilyperformbestinexams.Knowinghowtomakethemostofone’sabilitiescountsformuchmore.Hardworkisn’tthewholestoryeither.Someofthesehigh-achievingstudentsactuallyputinfewerhoursthantheirlower-scoringclassmates.Thestudentsatthetopoftheclassgettherebymasteringafewbasictechniquesthatotherscaneasilylearn.Here,accordingtoeducationexpertsandstudentsthemselves,arethesecretsofAstudents.Thisexplainswhyitcanbesodifficulttogetawestern-stylediscussiongoingwithJapanesestudentsofEnglish.WheneverIserveavolleyball,everyonejuststandsbackandwatchesitfall.Noonehitsitback.EveryonewaitsuntilIcallonsomeonetotakeaturn.Andwhenthatpersonspeaks,hedoesn'thitmyballback.Heservesanewball.Again,everyonejustwatchesitfall.SoIcallonsomeoneelse.Thispersondoesnotrefertowhatthepreviousspeakerhassaid.Healsoservesanewball.Everyonebeginsagainfromthesamestartingline,andalltheballsrunparallel.Thereisneveranybackandforth.Justafterthissuccess,however,tragedystruck.InAugustof1973,Steviewasinvolvedinaseriouscaraccident.Fornearlyaweekhelayinacoma,unabletospeakorwalk.“Wedon’tknowwhenhe’llbeoutofdanger,”thedoctorsaid.Everyonewaitedandprayed.Suddenly,itdidn’tmatterthatSteviewasamusicalgeniusorthathehadconqueredblindnessandpoverty.Allhehadleftwashisfaithandstrongwill.Shewasasmallwoman,oldandwrinkled.Whenshestartedwashingforus,shewasalreadypastseventy.MostJewishwomenofherageweresicklyandweak.Alltheoldwomeninourstreethadbentbacksandleanedonstickswhentheywalked.Butthiswashwoman,smallandthinasshewas,possessedastrengththatcamefromgenerationsofpeasantforebears.Motherwouldcountouttoherabundleoflaundrythathadaccumulatedoverseveralweeks.Shewouldthenliftthebundle,putitonhernarrowshoulders,andcarryitthelongwayhome.Irememberwhentheytooktheirfirstholidaytogether.Tedwantedtodosomethingenergetic,becausehedidn’tusuallygetmuchexerciseduringtheyear.Mary’sjobmeantthatshewasonherfeetmostofthetime.Allshewantedtodowaslieinthesun.Tedhatedtheideaoflyingonabeach;Maryhatedtheideaofbeingtooactive.Theycompromised,andtooktheirholidayinmid-summer,highintheAlps.Marywasabletolieinthesunbythehotelswimmingpool,whileTedwentoffforlongwalksinthemountainswithagroupofhikers.Intheeveningtheymetatthehotel,bothcontentwiththeirday,happytoeataleisurelymealtogetheranddancealittle1afterwards.Howcanacountrywheretypicalparentsareashamedoftheirdaughterstudyingmathematicsinsteadofgoingdancing,oroftheirsonreadingWeberwhilehisfriendsplaybaseballbeexpectedtocompeteinthetechnologyracewithJapanorremainaleadingpoliticalandculturalforceinEurope?HowlongcanAmericaremainaworld-classpowerifweconstantlyputsocialskillsandphysicalstrengthoveracademicachievementandintellectualability?Myfather,WinstonChurchill,beganhisloveaffairwithpaintinginhis40s,amiddisastrouscircumstances.AsFirstLordoftheAdmiraltyin1915,hehadbeendeeplyinvolvedinacampaignintheDardanellesthatcouldhaveshortenedthecourseofabloodyworldwar.Butwhenthemissionfailed,withgreatlossoflife,Churchillpaidtheprice,bothpubliclyandprivately:HewasremovedfromtheAdmiraltyandlosthispositionofpoliticalinfluence.ThisbeliefinhardworkisthefirstofthreemainfactorscontributingtoAsianstudents’outstandingperformance.ItspringsfromAsians’commonheritageofConfucianism,theph...
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