Question

【题目】Encouraging pupils to keep noise to a minimum should be a valuable part of all children’s education, according to a new research.

Dr. Helen Lees, from Stirling University’s school of education, says that “enforced (强制的) silence” is seen as a punishment and often acts to suppress children’s natural ability. But she says that teaching children about the benefits of “enforced silence” — deliberate stillness that gives them the opportunity to focus and reflect in a stress-free environment — can have a significant effect on pupils’ concentration and behaviour.

It is the latest in a string of researches to establish a link between the classroom environment and pupils’ academic ability.

A study almost a decade ago in London found that children’s exam results were cut by as much as a third if they taught in noisy classrooms. Teaching unions have also called for a limit of 26℃ to be put on classroom temperatures because teachers and pupils struggle to work in hot conditions and some educationalists claim that too much clutter(杂乱的东西) on classroom walls can prevent children from concentrating.

Dr. Lees said: “When we take some research on school settings and put it all together, what we see is that education without silence does not make much sense. In areas of better learning outcomes, better self-confidence and well-being measures, enforced silence in a person’s life and an individual’s education is shown throughout the relevant research to be a benefit.”

Dozens of schools across Britain already introduce periods of “reflective silence” into the timetable.

Kevin Hogston, head of Sheringdale Primary, south London, has just introduced a minute’s silence at the start of twice-weekly meetings in which children are taught breathing techniques and encouraged to reflect. The school plans to introduce it into classrooms every day.

【1】According to Dr. Helen Lees, “enforced silence” _____________.

A. is an effective way of punishment

B. does not make much sense in class

C. can improve pupils’ confidence

D. can make pupils more creative

【2】The underlined word, “suppress”, in the second paragraph probably means “_________”.

A. prevent something from developing

B. make something better than before

C. get something back

D. unite with something.

【3】What can be inferred from the research on school settings?

A. Students are more creative if taught in noisy classrooms.

B. Silence makes a great difference to pupils.

C. Clutter on the walls can help students concentrate.

D. Most schools are not satisfactory in terms of classroom temperatures.

【4】What is the passage mainly about?

A. How to arrange classroom settings.

B. How to achieve silence in class.

C. Encouraging pupils in class is beneficial.

D. Keeping quiet in class can improve academic ability.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】A

【3】B

【4】D

【解析】研究表明强制的沉默是孩子教育的重要组成部分，它能提高学习成绩，使孩子集中注意力。

【1】推理判断题。根据第二段she says that teaching children about the benefits of “enforced silence” — deliberate stillness that gives them the opportunity to focus and reflect in a stress-free environment — can have a significant effect on pupils’ concentration and behaviour.可知Dr. Helen Lees认为强制的沉默能让学生在没有压力的环境中集中注意力和思考——这对学生的注意力和行为有显著的影响。故选C.

【2】猜测词义题。句意：强制的沉默被视为一种惩罚手段，它常常被认为会抑制儿童的自然能力。划线词语“suppress”意为“抑制”指prevent something from developing，故选A.

【3】推理判断题。根据第五段When we take some research on school settings and put it all together, what we see is that education without silence does not make much sense.可知对学校设置调查后发现没有沉默的教育没有多大意义，故选B.

【4】主旨大意题。文章首段Encouraging pupils to keep noise to a minimum should be a valuable part of all children’s education, according to a new research.提出了强制的沉默是孩子教育的重要组成部分。下文“enforced silence” ……can have a significant effect on pupils’ concentration and behaviour.和that education without silence does not make much sense.介绍了沉默教育的重要性，强制的沉默能提高学习成绩，集中注意力。故选D.

概括主旨的方法是：先看首尾或各段开头再看全文找主题句，若无明显主题句，就通过关键词句来概括(如议论文中寻找表达作者观点态度的词句，记叙文寻找概括情节和中心的动词或反映人物特点的形容词)。文中出现两种或两种以上的不同观点时，务必牢记作者的观点才是体现全文中心的。该文是介绍一个研究结果的，该类文章的中心一般就在第一段。因此，考生直接抓住第一段中的Encouraging pupils to keep noise to a minimum should be a valuable part of all children’s education, according to a new research得知强制的沉默是孩子教育的重要组成部分。