PISA is not the same as pizza, although both words are pronounced the same by Chinese. Pizza, of course, is the tasty Italian dish of crispy bread topped with many wonderful flavors. PISA, on the other hand, is just a test, a reflection of the knowledge you learn in school. And how could that possibly be as flavorful as pizza?!

PISA stands for Programme for International Student Assessment. It’s a test taken every three years by fifteen-year-olds worldwide. It tests students’ ability in math, reading and science. Last year’s results were just released and they show that Shanghai students are ranked number one in the world. Yes, that’s right! Shanghai students are the best in the world!

Shanghai students are the best because they are also the hardest working. No other students in the world put in as many hours of study, homework and test taking as Shanghai students. And few others feel the stress of schoolwork like Shanghai students.

That’s why the Shanghai education authority is encouraging students to step away from their books from time to time and take up hobbies or join clubs. Schools are setting aside time and providing facilities so that students can follow some personal interests such as photography, art, singing and dancing. They want students to have a little more flavor in their lives.

Doing well on the tests like PISA is important, but developing yourself as a whole person is also important. There is no end to the flavor you can add to pizza, and there should be no limit to the amount of flavors you can add to your own life.

【小题1】Is PISA pronounced that same as pizza by Chinese?
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【小题2】What does PISA stand for?
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【小题3】How often is PISA taken?
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【小题4】What did the last year’s results show?
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【小题5】Why is the Shanghai education authority encouraging students to step away from their books?
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【小题6】Is it a good idea that schools are setting aside time and providing facilities for the students? Why or why not?
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