Currently, classes are often divided into groups based on ability. Critics blame the British teaching styles that focused on applying maths to real-life situations in an effort to make the subject more interesting. They say this has led to confusion and stopped children learning the basics. Under the Government's new plans, children as young as five will have drills to practise sums and exercises, and must master each concept before moving to the next.

Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said that training will be provided for 8 000 primary schools — half the country's total —to switch to the Shanghai “mastery” approach.

“We are seeing a renaissance (复兴) in maths teaching in this country, with good ideas from around the world helping to cheer up our classrooms，” he said.

【文章大意】本文是一则新闻报道。英国半数小学课堂将推行中国传统的数学教学模式来提高孩子们的数学计算能力，以防止英国青少年在数学上落后于亚洲同龄人。

5．The underlined words “their Asian counterparts” in Paragraph 1 r efer to ________.

A．the weak pupils in Asia

B．the young students in Asia

C．the primary schools in Asia

D．the maths teachers in Asia

解析：B指代判断题。根据第一段中的“British youngsters”可知，此处指英国政府将在半数英国小学课堂推行中国传统的数学教学法，以防止英国少年落后于亚洲同龄人。由此可推断出，画线部分指的是Asian youngsters，即亚洲的少年们。故选B。

6．Which of the following is an approach of “Shanghai maths”？

A．Children can choose to learn what interests them.

B．Children are given different work based on their ability.

C．Children are taught in groups rather than as an entire class.

D．Children are required to master a concept before they progress.

解析：D细节理解题。根据关键句可知，“上海数学”要求孩子们在学习更深一层的知识之前一定要掌握每一个概念。故选D。

关键句：... and must master each concept before moving to the next.(第四段最后一句)

译文：……而且必须先掌握每一个概念，然后才能学习新的知识。

7．Recently, some British maths teachers have been trained to ________.

A．increase the difficulty level

B．conduct “child­centred” classes

C．guide students to repeat and drill

D．meet the needs of smart students

解析：C推理判断题。根据关键句并结合第三段最后一句可推知，一些英国数学老师接受培训是为了指导学生重复、训练。故选C。

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