Just seven years ago, the Jarvik-7 artificial heart was being cheered as the model of human creativeness. The sight of Barney Clark----alive and conscious after trading his diseased heart for a metal-and-plastic pump----convinced the press, the public and many doctors that the future had arrived. It hadn't. After monitoring production of the Jarvik-7, and reviewing its effects on the 150 or so patients (most of whom got the device as a temporary measure) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded that the machine was doing more to endanger lives than to save them. Last week the agency cancelled its earlier approval, effectively banning the device. The recall may hurt Symbion Inc., maker of the Jarvik-7, but it won't end the request for an artificial heart. One problem with the banned mode is that the tubes connecting it to an external power source created a passage for infection. Inventors are now working on new devices that would be fully placed, along with a tiny power pack, in the patient's chest. The first sample products aren't expected for another 10 or 20 years. But some people are already worrying that they'll work---and that America's overextended health-care programs will lose a precious $2.5 billion to $5 billion a year providing _ for a ly few dying patients. If such expenditures cut into funding for more basic care, the net effect could actually be a decline in the nation's health. The word "them" in Line 7, Para. 2 refers to _ . A) doctors who treat heart diseases B) makers of artificial hearts C) America's health-care programs D) new models of artificial hearts
D
Science. And technology students in China and the US have a1ong way to go before they call develop a deep understanding of scientific reasoning, researchers have found. As part of a research to compare science education in China and the US,LeiBao, a professor from the Department of Physics of the Ohio State University, gave 5,760;freshmen in three US and four Chinese universities two tests to evaluate content knowledge and another to assess scientific reasoning |Though Chinese students did better than theirprefix = st1 /UScounterparts in the first two tests that Emphasized on learning facts, both groups "scored ly poorly" on the third test, designed to assess their ability on systematically explore a problem, the results showed. Lei Bao said that the finding challenges conventional wisdom,which holds that teaching science facts will improve students' reasoning ability."Our study shows that ,contrary to what many people would expect,even when students are thoroughly taught the facts,they don't necessarily develop the reasoning skills they need to succeed.''IBao said:'"Because students need both knowledge and reasoning, we need to explore teaching methods that target both." 'The current education systems and assessments of China and the US do not emphasize on deep understanding of scientific reasoning in the disciplines of science;technology, engineering and mathematics(STEM),the study concluded. Bao explained that reasoning is good skill for everyone to possess-not just scientists and engineers:The general public also need good reasoning skills in order to correctly interpret scientific findings and think rationally.STEM students need to _ scientific reasoning in order to handle open-ended real-world tasks in their future careers in science and engineering. How to boost scientific reasoning? The study suggests that educators must go beyond teaching science facts if they hope to boost students' reasoning ability.Bao points to inquiry-based leaning. where students work in... Based on the study, what will be done to improve students' reasoning ability? A) To improve teaching techniques. B) To better students' learning conditions. C) To teach students more science facts. D) To offer students more tests.
A
Q: GCSEs not fit for purpose GCSEs(General Certificate of Secondary Education,)encourage "teaching to the test" and may be past their sell-by date, according to Britain's leading business organization. The Confederation of British Industry(CBI) warns that the qualification is stopping teachers delivering an "inspirational classroom experience" and should be replaced. John Cridland, the CBI director general, said industry faced a shortage of key skills, particularly in science and maths. The CBI , which represents more than 240,000 companies, is also concerned about the 40% of young people who fail to achieve the _ of five good GCSE passes including English and maths. The percentage of pupils who reach this standard is the main measure of school success. Speaking at the launch of a CBI inquiry into education, Cridland argued that abandoning GCSEs could help deliver a full education. "There's something about this GCSE limitation which produces a form of learning ------ teaching for the test.'' "It frustrates teachers because it stops them delivering that inspirational classroom experience." The CBI head suggested that raising the school leaving age to 18 - a change that comes into effect in 2015 - is an opportunity to reform the system. "It seems to me that we've raised the participation age to 18 and we're left with an education system that focuses on 16," said Cridland. More than 600,000 children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to take GCSEs this summer. Many other countries do without a public exam at 16. Finland, the highest performing school system in Europe, has just one public exam, at 18, though children are regularly tested at younger ages. What does the author intend to tell us in paragragh1? A) "Teaching to the test" should be encouraged. B) We should stop teachers delivering "inspirational experience". C) The current qualification is out of date and should be replaced. D) The Confederation of British Industry should be replaced.
A: C
Q: When a dirty and untidy orange cat showed up in the prison yard,I was one of the first to go out there and pet it. I hadn't touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years.I spent at least 20 minutes, knelt down behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around,relaxed.What he was expressing outwardly, I was feeling inwardly.It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and note that I was reaching a life or another creature with something as simple as my care. Over the next few days,there were other prisoners responding to the cat.Every yard period,a group of prisoners gathered there.They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat. These were guys you wouldn't usually find talking to each other.Several times I saw an officer in the group,not chasing people away,but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners. Bowls of milk and water appeared along with bread,wisely placed under the edge of the dustbin to keep the birds from getting it. The cat was obviously homeless and in pretty bad shape .People said that the cat came to the right place.He's getting treated like a king.This was true,but as I watched I was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us.There was a lot of talk about what's wrong with prisons in America.We need more programs.We need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds, Some may even talk about making prisons more kind. But I think what we really need is a chance to practice our own kindness , Not receive it , but give it, After more than two decades here, I know kindness is not a value that's encouraged. It's often seen as a weakness, Instead, the culture encourages keeping your head down, minding your own business, and never letting yourself be weak. The cat did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here, By simply saying ,"I need some help here", he did something important for us, He needed us , And we needed to be needed, I believe we all do. What is the best title for the passage? A) . Caring Makes us Human B) . Prison Culture is Important C) . Animals Need Care D) . Everyone Needs to be Cared for
A: A