E Children start out as natural scientists, eager to look into the world around

E

Children start out as natural scientists,eager to look into the world around them. Helping them enjoy science can beeasy; there’s no need for a lot of scientific terms or expensive lab equipment.You only have to share your children’s curiosity(好奇). Firstly, listen to their questions. I oncevisited a chlassroom of seven-year-olds to talk about science as a job. Thechildren asked me “textbook questions” about schooling, salary(薪水) and whether I liked my job.When I finished answering, we sat facing one another in silence. Finally Isaid, “now that we’ve finished with your lists, do you have questions of yourown about science?”

After a long pause, a boy raised his hand,“Have you ever seen a grasshopper(蚱蜢) eat? When I try eating leaves like that, I get a stomachache.Why?”

This began a set of questions that lastednearly two hours.

Secondly, give them time to think. Studiesover the past 30 years have shown that, after asking a question, dultstypically wait only one second or less for an answer, no time for a child tothink. When adults increase their “wait time” to three seconds or more,children give more logical(符合逻辑的), complete and creative answers.

Thirdly, watch your language. Once you havea child involved in a science discussion, don’t jump in with “That’s right” or“Very good”. These words work well when it comes to encouraging good behavior(行为). But in talking aboutscience, quick praise can signal that discussion is over. Instead, keep thingsgoing by saying “That’s interesting” or “I’d never thought of it that waybefore”, or coming up with more questions or ideas.

Never push a child to “Think”. It doesn’tmake sense, children are always thinking, without your telling them to. What’smore, this can turn a conversation into a performance. The child will try tofind the answer you want, in as few words as possible, so that he will be asmaller target(目标)for your disagreement.

Lastly, show; don’t tell. Real-lifeimpressions of nature are far more impressive than any lesson children canlearn from a book or a television program. Let children look at theirfingertips through a magnifying glass(放大镜), and they’ll understand why you want them to wash before dinner.Rather than saying that water evaporates(蒸发), set a pot of water to boil and let them watch the water leveldrop.

57. According to the passage, children arenatural scientists, and to raise their interest, the most important thing foradults to do is ________.

A. to let them see the worldaround            B. to share the children’s curiosity

C. to explain difficult phrases aboutscience      D. to supply the children with labequipment

58. In the last sentece of the first paragraph,the word “lists” could best be replaced by “________”.

A. anyquestions                           B. any problems

C. questions fromtextbooks                  D. any number of questions

59. According to the passage, children cananswer questions in a more logical, complete and creative way if adults________.

A. ask them to answerquickly             B. wait for one or two seconds after a question

C. tell them to answer the nextday         D. wait at least forthree seconds after a question

60. The author mentions all of thefollowing techniques for adults to share with their children’s curiosity exceptthat adults should ________.

A. tell their children stories instead ofreciting(背诵) facts

B. offer their children chances to seethings for themselves

C. be patient enough when their childrenanswer questions

D. encourage their children to askquestions of their own

试题答案

【答案】

57---60   BCDA  

【解析】略