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高中英语课文阅读材料 Furthermore...
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What's wrong?
(Key words: Indian, simple, problem, unwilling, self-image, respect, individuality)
A newly trained teacher named Mary went to teach at a Navajo Indian reservation (1). Every day, she would ask five of the young Navajo students to go to the chalkboard and complete a simple math problem from their homework. They would stand there, silently, unwilling to complete the task. Mary couldn't figure it out. Nothing she had studied in her educational curriculum helped, and she certainly hadn't seen anything like it in her student-teaching days back in Phoenix (2).
What am I doing wrong? Could I have chosen five students who can't solve the problem? Mary would wonder. No, it couldn't be. Finally she asked the students what was wrong. And in their answer, she learned a surprising lesson from her young Indian pupils about self-image and a sense of self-worth.
It seemed that the students respected each other's individuality (3) and knew that not all of them were capable of solving the problems. Even at their early age, they understood the senselessness of the win-lose approach in the classroom. They believe no one would win if any student was shown up or embarrassed (4) at the chalkboard. So they refused to compete with each other in public.
Then, Mary changed the system so that she checked each child's math exercise individually, but never at any child's expense in front of his classmates.
Question
1. What difference can you tell between the mainstream American value and that of the Indian people?
Notes: 1. (n.)保留地 2. (n.)凤凰城 3. (n.)个性 4. (v.)使…尴尬(For Students' Book 1B)
A gift for two
(key words: picnic, split up, hot dog, freebie, homeless, generosity, go farther)
It was a beautiful day for sightseeing around downtown Portland. We were a bunch of counselors on our day off, away from the campers, just out for some fun. The weather was perfect for a picnic, so when lunchtime came, we set our sights on a small park in town. Since we all had different cravings, we decided to split up, get what each of us wanted, and meet back on the grass in a few minutes.
When my friend Robby headed for a hot dog stand, I decided to keep her company. We watched the vendor put together the perfect hot dog, just the way Robby wanted it. But when she took out her purse to pay him, the man surprised us.
"It looks a little on the cool side," he said, "so never mind paying me. This will be my freebie of the day."
We said our thanks, joined our friends in the park, and dug into our food. But as we talked and ate, I was distracted (1) by a man sitting alone nearby, looking at us. I could tell that he hadn't showered for days. Another homeless person, I thought, like all the others you see in the city.
We finished eating and decided to head off for more sightseeing. But when Robby and I went to the garbage can to throw away my lunch bag, I heard a strong voice ask, "There isn't any food in that bag, is there?"
It was the man who had been watching us. I didn't know what to say. "No, I ate it already."
"Oh," was his only answer, with no shame in his voice at all. He was obviously hungry, couldn't bear to see anything thrown away, and was used to asking this question.
I felt bad for the man, but did not know what to do. That's when Robby said, "I'll be right back. Please wait here," and ran off. I watched curiously as she went across to the hot dog stand. She bought a hot dog, crossed back to the trashcan, and gave the hungry man the food.
That day I learned how generosity (2) can go farther than the person you give to. By giving, you teach others how to give also.
Question
1. Why did Robby buy the homeless guy a hot dog?
Notes: 1. (v.) 转移注意力 2. (n.) 慷慨
Be prepared for a phone interview
The phone rings at 7pm. Jean answers, thinking it is one of her friends calling. The caller announces that she is calling to talk about the position Jean has applied for. What position? She has responded to several job postings. Panic sets in as Jean tries to remember which position the caller is talking about.
The phone interview can happen at any time of the day or night. Some interviewers find evenings the best time to catch people at home, where they will be able to talk more candidly (1). Therefore, you should be on-call and prepared to receive a telephone interview at any time.
Telephone interviews, typically conducted by a human resources staff member or a hired recruiter (2), are used as screening (3) tools. By asking key questions, the interviewer determines whether or not it is worthwhile to pursue the candidate further. The screenings may consist of a few quick questions or as much as a one-hour grilling (4).
Getting through this screening is critical for advancing to the next step: The face-to-face interview. This puts added pressure on you to present yourself in a positive, focused manner. If you attempt to wing this call, you may reach a dead end in the process.
Some basic preparation steps can make a huge difference in your confidence level:
Organize
Set aside your materials as though you were going to a face-to-face interview. Have a folder (5) set aside with job postings or ads you have answered, along with company information.
Prepare
This is key to any interview, but for the telephone interview it is essential. Practise with a tape recorder to hear the level of enthusiasm in your voice. The key to telephone interviews is projecting an upbeat (6) image through the sound of your voice and the words you use.
Take Control
When called, ask for a minute to get yourself together.
Even though you do not have control over the phone ringing, you can take steps to feel more prepared. Getting a call means you have made it through the first cut and the company is interested in you. By anticipating the call before it comes, you will avoid being caught off guard.
Question
1. What tips does the author give on a phone interview?
Notes: 1. (ad.) 坦率的 2. (n.) 招聘人员 3. (adj.) 筛选的 4. (n.) 盘问 5. (n.) 文件夹 6. (adj.) 乐观的
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