Aimlessness has hardly been typical of the postwar Japan whose productivity and social harmony are the envy of the United States and Europe. But increasingly the Japanese are seeing a decline of the traditional work-moral values. Ten years ago young people were hardworking and saw their jobs as their primary reason for being, but now Japan has largely fulfilled its economic needs, and young people don't know where they should go next. The coming of age of the postwar baby boom and an entry of women into the male-dominated job market have limited the opportunities of teenagers who are already questioning the heavy personal sacrifices involved in climbing Japans rigid social ladder to good schools and jobs. In a recent survey, it was found that only 24.5 percent of Japanese students were fully satisfied with school life, compared with 67.2 percent of students in the United States. In addition, far more Japanese workers expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs than their counterparts did in the ten other countries surveyed. While often praised by foreigners for its emphasis on the basics, Japanese education tends to stress test taking and mechanical learning over creativity and self-expression." Those things that do not show up in the test scores, personality, ability, courage or humanity are completely ignored," says Toshiki Kaifu, chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's education committee." Frustration against this kind of thing leads kids to drop out and run wild." Last year Japan experienced 2,125 incidents of school violence, including 929 assaults on teachers. Amid the outcry, many conservative leaders are seeking a return to the prewar emphasis on moral education. Last year Mitsuo Setoyama, who was then education minister, raised eyebrows when he argued that liberal reforms introduced by the American occupation authorities after World WarII had weakened the "Japanese morality of respect for parents." But that may have more to do with Japanese life-styles." In Japan," says educator Yoko Muro,... The change in Japanese life-style is revealed in the fact that _ . A) the young are less tolerant of discomforts B) the divorce rate in Japan exceeds that in the U.S. C) the Japanese endure more than ever before D) the Japanese appreciate their present life
A
Steven Spielberg's new movie Lincolnpaints a vivid and breath-taking picture of the 16th U.S. president and his determination to end slavery. Spielberg based his film on parts ofTeam of Rivals, a book by Doris Kearns Goodwin. He makes Abraham Lincoln relevant today by presenting a cunning political mind trying to overcome Washington's all too familiar political divisions. In previous movies, Lincoln was shown as a simple yet almost perfect man. But Spielberg's Lincolnis different. "I was determined to make a movie about a working president dealing with real problems. Not some angel," Spielberg said. We watch the president first ending slavery and then the war. The film's adviser, historian Eric Martin, explains how Lincoln's thinking evolved. "His main objective when the war began was not the freeing of the slaves but to keep the country united. Lincoln realizes that in order to keep the country together, the question of slavery will have to be addressed," Martin said. The film focuses on the last four months of his presidency. In the movie, the arguments among political enemies seem very similar to the problems we see in Washington today. The disagreements were bitter. The film turns to Lincoln's relationships with his wife and kids, his beliefs and constant self-examination. Daniel Day-Lewis, the actor who plays Lincoln, offers an Oscar-worthy performance as the 16th President. Not only is his physical similarity to the president incredible, he is able to capture many of Lincoln's mannerisms and his high-pitched, almost lady-like voice. "I found it very easy to play the role of Lincoln because the real man himself was so open. When I was researching his history to prepare for the part, one of the most surprising things I found was just how accessible he was. Even in war-time, when he was in great danger, he was always willing to meet with others and share his ideas," Day-Lewis said. Spielberg's Lincolnwill head to the Oscars. But more important it will make history. What is the author's opinion about the movie? A) It reflects historical facts. B) It is controversial. C) Its performances aren't realistic. D) It is of high quality.
D
Q: Almost anyone who has read a travel brochure about Africa has heard of a story ----- that elephants can get drunk by eating the fermented marula fruit rotting on the ground. Books have even been written to prove the truth of the phenomenon. But a study published in the journalPhysiological and Biochemical Zoologytells a very different story. Steve Morris, a biologist at the University of Bristol in England and an author of the study, says there is nothing in the biology of either the African elephant or the marula fruit to support the stories. Morris says, "People just want to believe in drunken elephants." The marula tree, a member of the same family as the mango , grows widely in Africa. Its sweet, yellow fruit is used for making jam, wine and beer. "The first mistake of the drunken-elephant theory is that it's unlikely that an elephant would eat the fruit if it were rotten," Morris says. "Elephants eat the fruit right off the tree, not when it's rotten on the ground," he explains. Other experts add that if an elephant were to eat the fruit on the ground, it wouldn't wait for the fruit to ferment. Michelle Gadd, an African wildlife specialist, says that elephants and many other animals, including birds and monkeys, are too fond of marula fruit to let it rot. If fermented fruit on the ground is out of the question, so is the concept that the fruit could ferment in the stomach of elephants, according to the study authors. Food takes between 12 and 46 hours to pass through an elephant's digestive system, the authors point out, which is not enough for the fruit to ferment. Supposing that _ happened, it's still highly improbable that the food would produce enough alcohol to make an elephant drunk. Through calculations of body weight, elephant digestion rates, and other factors, the authors conclude that it would take about 1.9 litres of alcohol to make an elephant drunk. Which of the following is Mr. Morris's opinion? A) Elephants prefer mangoes to the marula fruit. B) Elephants will not eat the marula fruit if it is rotten. C) The marula tree and the mango belong to different families. D) There are several connections between elephants and the marula fruit.
A: B
(Q).
Last year more than 13 Korean TV series were introduced in China. Turn on the TV, and Korean beauties are appearing during peak viewing times . Some of the dramas are being _ , but audiences continue to watch them. Why are the South Korean TV series loved by so many Chinese people? Cheng Yiting, a student from East China Normal University, gives us her reasons. She thinks that the good-looking actors with cool clothes and the beautiful sight in the dramas are the selling points for South Korean TV dramas. But what attracted the young audiences most is the pure and moving love stories. And it seems that South Korean TV series has also won the hearts of middle-aged people. They are touched by the morals in the shows. These include the importance of respecting elders and social order. Though some people think South Korean TV series are too slow and too long, most of the Chinese audiences like them. Maybe we are really tired of Western TV series. Compared with that, South Korean TV series are not bad. What does the writer want to tell us? A) We are fed up with South Korean TV series. B) South Korean TV series is a great success and popular in China. C) South Korean TV series are better than Chinese TV series. D) We can learn a lot from Korean TV series so we need to watch them again and again.
(A).
B