【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[听力原文] It is often said mathematics is a foundation of learning. Communications, computer science, the arts, the Interact, space exploration all are based on underlying mathematical concepts. In its most recent international survey, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) ranked the United States in 27th place for student performance in math. What are the causes and what is being done about it? Mathematics is more than arithmetic. Scientists and philosophers throughout history have called it the foundation of all knowledge, and praise its simple beauty. Yet many Americans seem to have a problem with it. In a recent survey, one in three Americans admitted that they're not good at math. Here nationally renowned mathematician and Dean of the School of Education, Albert knows why. 'Elementary school teachers in this country, and Europe as well, are part of that general population and consequently they bring that dislike of mathematics subconsciously, sometimes consciously at other times, to the classroom and as a result the teaching mathematics at the elementary school level lacks motivation, lacks enthusiasm. The enthusiasm of the teacher is extremely important in turning kids on to the subject matter, ' said Albert. Turning kids on to math is the goal of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City. It's a one-of-a-kind museum that resembles a high-tech playground with more than 30 hands-on attractions. 'And as a nation we need to get kids more excited about math and about science, technology, and engineering because that's our productivity, that's our workforce, ' said Lawrence, the Executive Director of MoMath. Every day the museum is filled with lots of excited schoolchildren and adults. 'I learn a lot more than I am learning currently, but it's really just a lot of fun to see all the different things that look like just games when they're actually just math, ' said Sera. 'It probably makes mathematics seem less scary than a lot of people think it is, ' said Lew, Sera's grandfather. What is the foundation of all knowledge according to scientists throughout history? 听力原文中明确提到Mathematics is more than arithmetic. Scientists and philosophers throughout history have called it the foundation of all knowledge. 由此可知数学不仅仅是算术，科学家和哲学家把数学称为所有知识的基石，故选项B为答案。A项Arithmetic为干扰项，听音时应注意分辨。
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[听力原文] According to Albert, why does the teaching mathematics at elementary school in U. S. lack motivation and enthusiasm? 听力原文中提到，有调查结果显示三分之一的美国人承认自己不擅长数学，紧接着提到美国的一部分小学老师就属于这类人，他们把对数学的厌恶带到教室中，从而导致了这里的数学教学缺乏动力和热情，故选A。