By the midnineteenth century, the term “icebox” had entered the American language, but ice was still only beginning to affect the diet of ordinary citizens in the United States. The ice trade grew with the growth of cities. Ice was used in places like hotels and hospitals, and by some forwardlooking city businessmen in fresh meat, fresh fish, and butter. After the Civil War (1861～1865 ), it also came into household use. Even before 1880, half of the ice sold in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, and onethird of that sold in Boston and Chicago, went to families for their own use. This had become possible because a new household convenience, the icebox, early form of the modern refrigerator，had been invented.
Making an efficient icebox was not as easy as we might now suppose. In the early nineteenth century, people only had some simple and basic knowledge of the physics of heat. The common idea that the best icebox was one that prevented the ice from melting was of course mistaken, for it was the melting of the ice that performed the cooling. Early efforts to save ice included wrapping up the ice in blankets, which kept the ice from doing its job. Not until near the end of the nineteenth century did inventors achieve the delicate balance needed for an efficient icebox.
But as early as 1803, a Maryland farmer, Thomas Moore, had been in the correct direction. He owned a farm and used an icebox of his own design for the transportation of his butter to a market in the village of Georgetown. And there he found that customers would pass up the rapidly melting goods of his competitors to pay a higher price for his butter, still fresh and hard in neat, onepound bricks. One advantage of his icebox, Moore explained, was that farmers would no longer have to travel to market at night in order to keep their produce cool.As a result，Moore managed to earn a large sum of money.
| The Origin of Refrigerators | |
| History of the icebox | *By the mid19th century the 76.________ that ice had on American citizens' life was limited mainly to the diet. *When cities grew, the ice 77.________ increased. *Forwardlooking businessmen used ice to keep meat, fish and butter78.________. *After the Civil War, due to the 79.________ of the modern refrigerator, household use of ice became possible. |
| Incorrect 80________ about the icebox | *The icebox 81.________ best when the ice was prevented from melting. *Ice should be 82.________ up in blankets to help do its jobs. |
| Thomas Moore's story | *As early as 1803, Thomas Moore knew how to use an icebox 83.________. *An icebox was designed by Thomas Moore to84．________ his butter to the market. *Thomas Moore was very 85.________ in his business. |
76
effect/influence/impact
81
worked/functioned
77
trade/business/deal
82
wrapped/packed/parceled
78
fresh
83
correctly/properly/efficiently
79
invention/appearance
84
transport/deliver
80
ideas/views/opinions
85
successful
In a society, such as the United States or Canada, which has many national, religious and cultural differences, people highly value individualism--the difference among people. Teachers place a lot of importance on the qualities that make each student special. The educational systems in these countries show these values. Students don't memorize information. Instead, they work individually and find answers themselves. There is often discussion in the classroom. At an early age, students learn to form their own ideas and opinions.
In most Asian societies, by contrast, people have the same language, history, and culture. Perhaps for this reason, the educational system in much of Asia reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism. Children in China, Japan, and Korea often work together and help one another in assignments. In the classroom, the teaching methods are often very formal. The teacher lectures, and the students listen. There is not much discussion. Instead, the students recite rules of information that they have memorized.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these systems of education. For example, one advantage to the system in Japan is that there much more math and science than American students learn by the end of high school. They also study more hours each day and more days each year than North Americans do. The system is difficult, but it prepares students for a society that values discipline and self-control. There is, however, a disadvantage. Memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools, yet many students say that after an exam, they forget much of the information that they have memorized.
The advantage of the educational system in North American, on the other hand, is that students learn to think for themselves. The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas. There is, however, a disadvantage. When students graduate from high school, they haven’t memorized as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have.
Title： 76 of Educational System between North America and Asia
| Students in the US and 77 | Students in China, Japan and Korea | |
| What do they 78 | Individualism | 79 goals and purposes |
| Different 80 of study | Working individually | Listening to the teachers |
| Forming their own ideas and opinions | Reciting rules and memorizing information | |
| A lot of discussion in the classroom | Not much discussion | |
| 81 | Learning to think for themselves | Learning much more math and science |
| Studying more hours each day and more days each year | ||
| Good for a society that values 82 | Good for a society valuing 83 and self-control | |
| Disadvantages | Students haven’t memorized many basic rules and facts before 84___ | Information is 85 easily. |
Directions: Read the following passage. Complete the diagram by using the information from the passage. Write NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS for each answer.
American public education has changed in recent years. One change is that increasing numbers of American parents and teachers are starting independent public schools called charter schools.
In 1991, there were no charter schools in the Unite States. Today, more than 2300 charter schools operate in 34 states and the District of Columbia. 575. 000 students attend these schools. The students are from 5 years of age through 18 or older.
A charter school is created by groups of parents, teachers and community members. It is similar in some ways to a traditional public school. It receives tax money to operate a number of students. The charter school must prove to local or state governments that its students are learning. These governments provide the school with the agreement, or charter that permits it to operate.
Unlike a traditional public school, however, the charter school does not have to obey most laws governing public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell it what to teach.
Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach those goals. Class sizes are usually smaller than in many traditional public schools. Many students and parents say teachers in charter schools can be more creative.
However, state education agencies, local education-governing committees and unions often oppose charter schools. They say these schools may receive money badly needed by traditional public schools. Experts say some charter schools are doing well while others are struggling.
Congress provided 200 million dollars for establishing charter schools in the 2006 federal budget. But, often the schools say they lack enough money for programs. Many also lack needed space, District officials say they have provided 14 former school buildings for charter education. Yet charter school supporters say officials should try harder to find more space.
Title: 71.
| 72 ________ | Independent public school | ||
| Similarities between charter schools and traditional schools | ●73 ________ to operate U number of students ●Having to prove the students are learning ●Getting 74 ________ to operate from government | ||
| 75 __________ between charter schools and traditional schools | ●Not having to obey most laws for public schools ●Being free to decide the 76 ________ ●Being free to choose the goals and decide 77 ________ them ●There usually being 78 ________ students in charter schools’classes ●Having teachers who are more creative | ||
| Charter school's problems | Opinions from education departments | These schools receiving money badly needed by 79 ________ Not all doing well | |
| Opinions from charter schools | Lacking enough money Lacking 80．_________ | ||