Atlantis, a beautiful and wealthy island, is supposed to have existed over 11, 000 years ago. It was in the middle of the vast Atlantic Ocean, and was a centre for trade. Its people were very wealthy and powerful. The rulers of Atlantis controlled their people and land, and their power spread to Europe and Africa.
The weather was very good in Atlantis, and therefore people could grow food all year around. Many different kinds of vegetables, fruits and nuts grew there, and a lot of different animals lived on the island, including elephants.
Atlantis was the home of Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea. Poseidon had five sets of twin boys, who became the first rulers of Atlantis. The island’s many hills, fields and rivers were divided between the ten brothers. The eldest son, Atlas, was the first king of Atlantis. He controlled the island’s central hill and its surrounding area.
At the top of the central hill, a temple was built in honor of Atlas’s father, Poseidon. Inside the temple was a huge gold statue of Poseidon. The rulers of Atlantis discussed laws in the temple.
For centuries the people of Atlantis lived simple, honest and happy lives. However, over time they began to change. They enjoyed the power they had and desired more of it. When the God Zeus saw how corrupt (腐败) the people of Atlantis were, he was very angry and gathered the other gods together to decide on a punishment for them. The gods agreed with Zeus and decided to sink the island. In one short day and a half, the island of Atlantis, its people and its memory―a whole civilization―were destroyed forever, swallowed up by the sea.
Atlantis: The (71) ▲ Island
| Brief (72) ▲ of the island | ● It is a beautiful and wealthy island. ● It is supposed to have existed over 11,000 years ago. ● (73) ▲ in the middle of the Atlantic ocean，it became a center for trade. ● The rulers of it got its people and land (74) ▲ control. |
| Weather on the island | ● It had very good weather. ● It was suitable to grow food (75) ▲ the year. ● It was rich in fruits, vegetables and animals, elephants (76) ▲ . |
| Stories about the island | ● It was the home of Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea. ● Poseidon’s five sets of sons became the first rulers of Atlantis. ● The ten brothers divided its hills, fields and rivers between themselves. ● The eldest son, Atlas was the first to (77) ▲ the island. ● A temple was built on the top of the central hill in honor of Poseidon. |
| (78) ▲ for the sinking of the island | ● People’s (79) ▲ to enjoy more power made them corruptive. ● Zeus gathered the other Gods to decide to (80) ▲ them, by sinking the island, which was swallowed up by the sea in one and a half days. |
1. Lost 2. introduction 3. Located/Lying/Situated 4. under 5. throughout
6. included 7. rule/ control 7. Reasons 9. desire 10. punish
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．_________ | ||