Erin and Caleb Funk now live in Toledo, Ohio, and have a 16-year-old son, a senior in high school, who has already registered in a vocational（职业的）school for this school year. The idea that their son might attend a vocational school worried the Funks at first.
“Vocational schools seemed to be reserved for people who weren’t making it in ‘real’ schools, so we weren’t completely sure whether we should support our son attending one,” Erin says.
Both Erin and Caleb worked hard to be the first in their families to obtain college degrees, and wanted the same opportunity for their three children. After touring the video- production-design program at Penta Career Center, though, they could see the draw for their son. Despite their initial worries, after learning more about the program and seeing how excited their son was about it, they threw their support behind his decision.
But not everyone in the Funks’ lives understands this decision. Erin says, “When I mentioned it to a friend recently that my eldest had decided to go to the vocational-technical school in our city, her first reaction was, ‘Oh, is he having problems at school？’ There is an attitude out there that the only reason you would go to a vo-tech is that you have some kind of problem at a traditional school.”
But their son has a 3. 95 GPA, a very good score. He was simply more interested in the program at Penta Career Center. He just doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.
The Funks are not alone in their misunderstandings and misgivings about the idea of vocational and technical education. Negative（负面的）attitudes and parental worries are still there even in the face of the promising future for these middle-skill students.
“It is considered a second choice, second-class. We really need to change how people see vocational and technical education,” said Patricia Hsieh, the president of Penta Career Center in Toledo, Ohio.
【小题1】What can we learn about the funks？| A．They want their children to receive technical education. |
| B．They come from rich and well-educated families. |
| C．They decided to support their son’s decision eventually. |
| D．They felt ashamed of their son’s choice at first. |
| A．Worries. | B．Shames. | C．Mistakes. | D．Refusals. |
| A．it provides less interesting curricular | B．it can only get second-class students |
| C．it mainly focuses on middle-skill training | D．it is more sensitive to job market changes |
| A．Should We Support Our Children’s Choice of Vo-tech? |
| B．Negative Attitudes to Technical Education. |
| C．Better Job Market for Vocational Students. |
| D．Is Vocational Education a New Trend? |
She couldn't hide the awkwardness when walking to the center of the stage in a house dress, and everyone — including the judges — seemed laughing at her when she said she wanted to be as successful as Elaine Paige. As soon as she began singing, however, everyone in the hall fell silent, then rose within seconds to admire her wonderful voice as the celebrity judges sat openmouthed, and remained standing to the end.
After her performance, one of the judges Piers Morgan said，“Without doubt that was the biggest surprise I've had in three years of this show. When you stood there everyone was laughing at you. No one is laughing now. That was amazing.” Actress Amanda Holden followed，“I'm so thrilled because I know that we everybody were against you. I honestly think that we were all being very cynical (愤世嫉俗的) and I think that's the biggest wakeup call ever.”
Susan obviously won over the hearts of millions around the world with success spreading across the Atlantic. Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher, who has nearly 1.5 million followers, speaks highly of her. Kutcher posted a link to the video clip (片段). The Scottish talent made her live American show via satellite connection on CBS's The Early Show, doing an interview and singing live from her room. And she already accepted an invitation from talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey.
Now Boyle has become one of the world's hottest celebrities. The video clip of her performance has been viewed more than 50 million times on Youtube, becoming a hit on the Internet.
【小题1】We learn from the passage that Susan Boyle ________.
| A．rose from a low social class |
| B．had an unhappy marriage |
| C．lived with a dog alone on a farm |
| D．won the championship in the Britain's Got Talent show |
| A．looked forward to her wonderful performance |
| B．was attracted by her beautiful dress |
| C．looked down upon her |
| D．placed great hope on her |
| A．how Susan Boyle achieved her success |
| B．the comment made by American actor Ashton Kutcher |
| C．Susan Boyle's influence in the USA |
| D．Oprah Winfrey's invitation to Susan Boyle |
As a student, you must have met all kinds of teachers. Do you love and respect them a lot? Is there a complete understanding between you and them?
Miss Li is very good at teaching English. She can explain the English grammar so clearly that even I, who hate English more than any other subject, can understand it well!
Miss Li is very strict and serious.
Actually, Miss Li is deeply loved by all of my classmates. Any reason? We simply feel and know that she really enjoys teaching us. As soon as she enters our classroom, she just changes then and there. When she thinks we’re getting bored, she is always ready to tell us jokes and make us concentrate again
| A．How we couldn’t miss her |
| B．We really enjoy her grammar classes |
| C．Miss Li never makes me feel awkward |
| D．What a luck to have such a good teacher |
| E．For many, the answer is usually not positive |
| F．In her class, I don’t dare to make any trouble |
| G．And her lecture is easy to follow |
A debate is a discussion about a subject on which people have different views. It’s a nice way of gaining a lot of knowledge and views on a topic, or situation that we aren’t either aware of, or haven’t really looked into in detail. It makes you more able to think critically and more confident in speaking. In addition, it helps in appreciating tolerance of others’ opinion and improves your listening skills.
A debate requires one to know how to use words and intelligence to overcome his or her opposing team members. To give great arguments during a debate, first you need to get your facts right. To make what you have in material for a debate contain facts, don’t just depend on the Internet, especially avoid just referring to one website for all your information. You are also required to refer to books, and make sure they’re authors of a high degree, since their materials have reference notes and extensive research projects done on what they are covering.
Second, you should be full of confidence. You need to show that you’re sure of what you’re saying , and point out how flawed their comeback arguments were. The only way to do this is to thoroughly know your material before heading on out to a debate session. Know your statistics, know your history and above all know names, dates and places. Make key notes to refer to. Don’t stammer (口吃), and also don’t level your gaze with your opponent or the rest of them. All this will help you keep confident.
At last, by no means should you lose your calmness, but keep your voice firm and raised enough to sound calm. A good team member should know how to keep his emotions in control as well as keep others under control in his/ her team.
| Title | Debate | |
| A discussion about a subject on which people have different views. | ||
| ◇Help understand a topic or situation more deeply. ◇Improve your ◇ ◇Help appreciate tolerance of others’ opinion. ◇Make you better at speaking. | ||
Tips | Get your facts right | ◇Don’t just be ◇Refer to books |
| Be | ◇Show your ◇Point out the flaw of others’ comeback arguments. ◇Thoroughly know your material before attending a debate. ◇Make key notes to refer to. ◇Avoid stammering and | |
| Keep cool | ◇Speak ◇Control your emotions. | |
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