How would you like to study at an American university in China? With the news that New York University (NYU) is considering setting up a branch（分校）on Chinese mainland, the possibility of getting an American education becomes a reality. But how will Chinese students deal with a very different style of teaching? One that encourages debate（辩论）, discussion and critical thinking (批判思维)； one which puts little attention on rote learning.

You know how kids ask questions all the time? Asking questions shows they are curious (好奇). So when does that natural curiosity get weak? Not at kindergarten or nursery, nor at primary school. As you grow older perhaps refusing to draw attention to yourself by asking the teacher questions, you grow quiet. If so, that's a pity, because questioning your teachers should be encouraged. After all, they're the ones who've been educated, have a lot more experience than you and perhaps have a little wisdom. When I taught joumalim at college in Scotland I enjoyed answering students' questions. Some of them raised difficult questions. I didn't always know the answers. If I didn't, I'd accept it and try to find out later.

At university we were encouraged to challenge our classmates and teachers. There was often a regular meeting between teachers and some students. A student would prepare a paper on a subject and the other students would criticize it. It could be frightening. But it was a way of developing critical thinking.

We need to differentiate critical thinking with loudmouths. We've all come across loudmouths who speak out quickly as if they knew what they were talking about. I know one loudmouth who is paid a great deal of money by a British tabloid newspaper to entertain readers with his deeply-held prejudices(偏见). You might not agree with columnist(专栏作家) Richard Littlejohn, but you have to say that he is entertaining and there is an internal logic（内在的逻辑）to his statements. Having a logical mind can help develop critical thinking.

My wife doesn't have a logical mind, but she does have emotional intelligence（情商）. I can't say that I have anything like her emotional intelligence. but I'd like to think some of it rubbed off on me. If you can't at least try to put yourself in someone else's shoes, how can you understand their situation, their problems and issues?

So try to develop your powers of critical thinking. Start with books, films, music and newspapers. And don't believe everything you read or see. Think independently.

57. According to the passage, to develop your critical thinking, you can____________.

A. keep curious and follow your heart

B. think logically, not emotionally

C. do more reading and think actively

D. voice your opinion like a loudmouth

58. The underlined words 66rubbed off on mc" in Paragraph 5 probably mean " __________".

A. helped me solve the problem better

B. had some influence on me in a way

C. moved it backwards and forwards

D. advised me to wear others' shoes

59. What can be the best title for the passage?

A. Want to be different? Think critically

B. Want to be critical? Think for yourself

C. Choose NYU, choose critical thinking

D. Importance of improving critical thinking

Before you hit ‘Enter’ on MSN, read this
It is often said that the language we use online is less formal than that we use in a letter, or in direct speech sometimes. This is true, but it can also make us in trouble sometimes.
The thing about online communication is that you have no idea what the person who is reading your messages is feeling. For this reason, it is always a good idea to be polite and cautious when writing e-mails or messages to your friends.
Chinese can be a direct language, but in English, people often talk about a subject in another way. So instead of saying “Please meet me here” or “Do this for me now”, English speakers usually go for indirect phrases like “Would it be possible”, “if you have time” or “It would mean a lot to me if…”
If you have a close friend, you may still run into trouble because of your jokes. If you have asked someone to do something and they need a bit more time, you might joke with him: “What? You still haven’t done it yet? What’s wrong with you?” While this seems funny to you, your friend may feel unhappy.
If you have foreign friends in different countries, the time difference can also be a factor. While you are waking up for class on Friday morning, they may be having a party on Friday night. You will be serious and they will, probably, be excited. So don’t be angry if they seem not to care about you. Just try to message them at the proper time.
【小题1】 According to the passage, we learn that our letters are more ______ than the e-mails.

Molly’s brother Sammy liked to play the guitar and sing. He wrote a lot of songs and played them   33   his family.

But one day when Sammy played basketball, he hurt his   34  . The doctor at the hospital told Sammy his arm would never work again. It made him very sad.

Molly felt sad for him, too. She wanted to help him. When Sammy got home from hospital, he

  35  wait to take out the guitar and try to play a song. But Sammy’s arm did not work well, and the song sounded   36  . He became so sad, he   37   away his guitar .

Molly saw that. Then she had a great idea. She walked to Sammy and said, “You threw it away? Well, I think it is   38   now.” She took Sammy’s guitar out of the dustbin and said, “I want to learn to play the guitar. Can you teach me?” And Sammy said, “Yes, I can.”

So Sammy taught Molly   39   to play the guitar, and soon she learned to play just like a superstar. Sammy was very happy. Molly could play and he could sing. He wrote a lot of new songs for their little family band. And Molly helped Sammy   40   again, and that made her feel happy.

33. A. in                                     B. for                                  C. at      

34. A. arm                                  B. leg                                  C. guitar 

35. A. could                                B. couldn’t                          C. shouldn’t

36. A. beautiful                            B. terrible                            C. exciting     

37. A. put                                       B. took                             C. threw

38. A. mine                              B. hers                                C. his     

39. A. when                                B. how                                C. what  

40. A. smile                                B. smiles                             C. smiled

Dear Pet,
Without knowing more about you, it’s hard for me to give you some good advice.
But first, I am sure that you are 39  . You said that nobody would care if you left home. What about your   40  ?  And other family members? It seems that you are very 41  . You’d better go to a doctor or talk   42  your parents. They will be able to help you.
Second, I’m sure there’s someone else in your class who feels lonely,   43 . You never know   44 other people feel. Try to make friends with your classmates. And you could 45 a club to meet new people and make friends, too.
You 46  find happiness in yourself. So my  47  advice is to write a list of all the good things about yourself, learn to like yourself, and then  48  will see your confidence (信心)and like you, too.
Editor