Take a look at the following list of numbers: 4, 8, 5, 3, 7, 9, 6. Read them loud. Now look away and spend 20 seconds memorizing them in order before saying them out loud again. If you speak English, you have about a 50% chance of remembering those perfectly. If you are Chinese, though, you’re almost certain to get it right every time. Why is that? Because we most easily memorize whatever we can say or read within a two-second period. And unlike English, the Chinese language allows them to fit all those seven numbers into two seconds.

That example comes from Stanislas Dahaene’s book The Number Sense. As Dahaene explains: Chinese number words are remarkably brief. Most of them can be spoken out in less than one-quarter of a second (for instance, 4 is “si” and 7 “qi”). Their English pronunciations are longer. The memory gap between English and Chinese apparently is entirely due to this difference in length.

It turns out that there is also a big difference in how number-naming systems in Western and Asian languages are constructed. In English, we say fourteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen and nineteen, so one might expect that we would also say oneteen, twoteen, threeteen, and fiveteen. But we don’t. We use a different form: eleven, twelve, thirteen and fifteen. For numbers above 20, we put the “decade” first and the unit number second (twenty-one, twenty-two), while for the teens, we do it the other way around (fourteen, seventeen, eighteen). The number system in English is highly irregular. Not so in China, Japan, and Korea. They have a logical counting system. Eleven is ten-one. Twelve is ten-two. Twenty-four is two-tens-four and so on.

That difference means that Asian children learn to count much faster than American children. Four-year-old Chinese children can count, on average, to 40. American children at that age can count only to 15. By the age of five, in other words, American children are already a year behind their Asian friends in the most fundamental of math skills.

The regularity of their number system also means that Asian children can perform basic functions, such as addition, far more easily. Ask an English-speaking seven-year-old to add thirty-seven plus twenty-two in her head, and she has to change the words to numbers (37+22). Only then can she do the math: 2 plus 7 is 9 and 30 and 20 is 50, which makes 59. Ask an Asian child to add three-tens-seven and two-tens-two, and then the necessary equation(等式) is right there, in the sentence. No number translation is necessary: it’s five-tens-nine.

When it comes to math, in other words, Asians have a built-in advantage. For years, students from China, South Korea, and Japan --- outperformed their Western classmates at mathematics, and the typical assumption is that it has something to do with a kind of Asian talent for math. The differences between the number systems in the East and the West suggest something very different --- that being good at math may also be rooted in a group’s culture.

What does the passage mainly talk about?

A. The Asian number-naming system helps grasp advanced math skills better.

B. Western culture fail to provide their children with adequate number knowledge.

C. Children in Western countries have to learn by heart the learning things.

D. Asian children’s advantage in math may be sourced from their culture.

What makes a Chinese easier to remember a list of numbers than an American?

A. Their understanding of numbers.

B. Their mother tongue.

C. Their math education.

D. Their different IQ.

Asian children can reach answers in basic math functions more quickly because ____________.

A. they pronounce the numbers in a shorter period

B. they practice math from an early age

C. English speaking children translate language into numbers first

D. American children can only count to 15 at the age of four

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项多余选项。

It’s not news that we spend more time than ever texting and online.1 Yes, that’s right: a 2010 study shows that more teens are reading good old-fashioned, ink-on-paper books.

Reading is a good way to discover the next big thing and to learn a little more about yourself while you’re at it.2 Here are some tips.

Start with your interests

Reading on your own isn’t like reading for school. You can pick something that’s all about your interests, whether it’s ancient martial arts, computers, or fashion design.

Reading the blurbs(简介)

The reviews and quotes on the back and inside covers of many books are called “blurbs”. 3if you find a book you really like, take a minute to read the quotes(if there are any) and see which authors praised the book. Often, they’ll have similar styles and you might find you like books by those authors too.

Ask an expert

4 Explain your interests--- rock stars, sports teams, historical events, humors, whatever you’re into—and any writers you like, and your librarian can point you toward books that you’ll love.

Finally, you’ll probably enjoy what you’re reading a lot more if you find a quiet place and make time for the book.5 You can put on some good music(ideally without lyrics), get yourself some tea and a comfy spot, and let yourself be carried away by the book.

You’ll see that time does fly when you are reading something you love!

A．Join a group with your friends and people you trust.

B．But do you know how to pick a book you’ll really like?

C．But did you know that we also spend more time reading?

D．Your local library can hook you up with a whole lot of great book ideas.

E. What was your mother’s favorite book when she was your age or your dad’s?

F. We all multitask, but most reading is best enjoyed when you can concentrate and focus on it.

G. They give you an idea of what the book is about, and can also help you pick future books too.

 

Head of Research   

Salary：￡55.271

We are looking for a Head of Research to manage the CWU Research Department and Information Centre.You would be required to exercise control of all research work of the department and manage a team of three researchers and four support staff.

The person appointed would be expected to carry out research work of a strategic nature across the range of businesses in which the CWU has or seeks membership and to contribute to the strategic thinking and direction of the union as a whole.

You will need：proven line management skills，especially in managing and motivating a team；good research skills，holding a good degree in a related subject or other similar experience；a high level of mathematical and calculating skills；the ability to produce high quality work under pressure；a commitment to any knowledge of the trade union movement and social democratic politics；and knowledge and/or experience of the postal and/or telecommunications industry.

To apply，please request an application pack by emailing hr@cwu.org or by telephoning HR(Human Resources)on 020 8971 7482.When applying，please stay your source.

Closing Date for Applications：4th August

Anticipated interview date：17th August

No agencies please

56．In which column of a newspaper could we find this advertisement?

A．Arts.　　　     B．Sales.　　

C．Jobs.　　 D．News.

57．One of the duties of the person to be appointed is________

A．taking charge of research work

B．seeking membership for the trade union

C．managing a team of three or four members

D．running a telecommunications company

58．If you want to apply for this position，you can do all EXCEPT________.

A．ask an agency for an application form

B．dial 020 8971 7482 for more information

C．email hr@cwu.org for an application pack

D．send in your application before 4th August

59．Which of the following applicants is most likely to be employed?

A．A school teacher with a master's degree.

B．A university graduate majoring in computer science.

C．A director from a research centre with a master's degree.

D．A clerk from a telecommunications company.

 (10·江西B篇)

CWU

The communication union

Head of Research

Salary:￡55.271

We are looking for a Head of Research to manage the CWU Research Department and Information Centre. You would be required to exercise control of all research work of the department and manage a team of three researchers and four support staff.

 The person appointed would be expected to carry out research work of a strategic nature across the range of businesses in which the CWU has or seeks membership and to contribute to the strategic thinking and direction of the union as a whole.

 You will need: proven line management skills, especially in managing and motivating a team; good research skills, holding a good degree in a related subject or other similar experience; a high level of mathematical and calculating skills; the ability to produce high quality work under pressure; a commitment to and knowledge of the trade union movement and social democratic politics; and knowledge and/ or experience of the postal and/ or telecommunications industry.

 To apply, please request an application pack by emailing hr@cwu.org or by telephoning HR( Human Resources ) on 020 8971 7482. When applying please state your source.

 Closing Date for Applications: 4^th August 2010

Anticipated interview date: 17^th August 2010

No agencies please

60. In which column of a newspaper could we find this advertisement?

A. Arts.            B. Sales.           C. Jobs.         D. News.

61. One of the duties of the person to be appointed is           .

A. taking charge of research work.

B. seeking membership for the trade union.

C. managing a team of three or four members.

D. running a telecommunications company.

62. If you want to apply for this position, you can do all EXCEPT           .

A. ask an agency for an application form.

B. dial 020 8971 7482 for more information.

C. email hr@cwu.org for an application pack.

D. send in your application before 4^th August 2010

63. Which of the following applicants is most likely to be employed?

A. A school teacher with a master’s degree.

B. A university graduate majoring in computer science.

C. A director from a research centre with a master’s degree.

D. A clerk from a telecommunications company.

 

CWU

The communication union

Head of Research

Salary:￡55.271

We are looking for a Head of Research to manage the CWU Research Department and Information Centre. You would be required to exercise control of all research work of the department and manage a team of three researchers and four support staff.

 The person appointed would be expected to carry out research work of a strategic nature across the range of businesses in which the CWU has or seeks membership and to contribute to the strategic thinking and direction of the union as a whole.

 You will need: proven line management skills, especially in managing and motivating a team; good research skills, holding a good degree in a related subject or other similar experience; a high level of mathematical and calculating skills; the ability to produce high quality work under pressure; a commitment to and knowledge of the trade union movement and social democratic politics; and knowledge and/ or experience of the postal and/ or telecommunications industry.

 To apply, please request an application pack by emailing hr@cwu.org or by telephoning HR( Human Resources ) on 020 8971 7482. When applying please state your source.

 Closing Date for Applications: 4^th August 2010

Anticipated interview date: 17^th August 2010

No agencies please

1.In which column of a newspaper could we find this advertisement?

A. Arts.            B. Sales.           C. Jobs.         D. News.

2.One of the duties of the person to be appointed is           .

A. taking charge of research work.

B. seeking membership for the trade union.

C. managing a team of three or four members.

D. running a telecommunications company.

3.If you want to apply for this position, you can do all EXCEPT           .

A. ask an agency for an application form.

B. dial 020 8971 7482 for more information.

C. email hr@cwu.org for an application pack.

D. send in your application before 4^th August 2010

4.Which of the following applicants is most likely to be employed?

A. A school teacher with a master’s degree.

B. A university graduate majoring in computer science.

C. A director from a research centre with a master’s degree.

D. A clerk from a telecommunications company.