问答题 As researchers learn more about how children"s intelligence develops, they are increasingly surprised by the power of parents. The power of the school has been replaced by the home. To begin with, all the factors which are part of intelligence—the child"s understanding of language, learning patterns, curiosity—are established well before the child enters school at the age of six. Study after study has shown that even after school begins, children"s achievements have been far more influenced by parents than by teachers. This is particularly true about learning that is language-related. The school rather than the home is given credit for variations in achievement in subjects such as science.
In view of their power, it"s sad to see so many parents not making the most of their child"s intelligence. Until recently, parents had been warned by educators who asked them not to educate their children. Many teachers now realize that children cannot be educated only at school and parents are being asked to contribute both before and after the child enters school.
Parents have been particularly afraid to teach reading at home. Of course, children shouldn"t be pushed to read by their parents, but educators have discovered that reading is best taught individually—and the easiest place to do this is at home. Many four and five-year-olds who have been shown a few letters and taught their sounds will compose single words of their own with them even before they have been taught to read.
问答题 What have researchers found out about the influence of parents and the school on children"s intelligence?
【正确答案】
【答案解析】Parents have greater influence than school.[解析] 文中第一段提到,研究人员对儿童的智力发展过程了解得越多,他们对父母的影响力就越感到惊讶。学校的影响力已被家庭取代。
问答题 What do researchers conclude about children"s learning patterns?
【正确答案】
【答案解析】They are established well before the age of six.[解析] 文中第一段提到,在儿童六岁入学之前,所有与智力相关的因素——儿童对语言的理解力、学习模式、好奇心——都已经确定。
问答题 In which area may school play a more important role?
【正确答案】
【答案解析】Subjects such as science.[解析] 文中第一段提到,在诸如科学这类科目的成绩有所变化时,受到称赞的是学校而非家庭。
问答题 Why did many parents fail to make the most of their children"s intelligence?
【正确答案】
【答案解析】They were warned by educators not to educate their children.[解析] 文中第二段提到,鉴于父母的影响力,他们中很多人没有充分开发孩子的智力,真是令人遗憾。直到最近,教育学家还告诫父母不要教育他们的孩子。
问答题 The author suggests in the last paragraph that parents should be encouraged to ______.
【正确答案】
【答案解析】teach reading at home[解析] 文中最后一段说,父母特别怕在家里教孩子阅读。当然,父母不应逼迫孩子读书。然而,教育学家已经发现阅读最好单独教授,而家里是最轻松的教育场所。