We had a terrible school trip last week．Some students were late．Then we waited half an hour for the school bus，but it didn't arrive. In the end，the teacher took us by subway．It took over an hour．When we arrived at the zoo，we were all tired and hungry．We wanted to see elephants．but there weren't any．There were some really smart seals(海豹)，but we didn't see the show．We arrived too late．We forgot our cameras，so we didn't take any photos．Then it started to rain，and nobody had an umbrella．So we went for lunch and ate some pizza．My friends had some ice-cream，too．I didn't have any because I don't like it．We didn't see many animals because it rained．Finally we went back to school．We were wet and tired．I didn't enjoy my school trip at all!

    Stephen Hawking was born in England in 1942. He's one of the most famous scientists on space and time in the world. He is called the King of the Universe.

    He studied math and science at Oxford University, then he became seriously ill, which made him unable to speak or breathe without the help of machines.

    He went on to study at Cambridge University after graduating from Oxford University. In 1965, he got a Doctor's Degree of philosophy（哲学）. Because of his serious illness, it was difficult for him to draw diagrams or to write. So he started to think in pictures. With this new way of thinking, he is respected by people in the world. Then in 1988, he wrote his first important book, A Brief History of Time. It was sold more than 5.5 million copies in over 33 different languages. He was once invited to China to give lectures（做演讲）. His self-confidence and humouous conversations impressed us deeply.

    Critical thinking(批判性思维) is trying to improve the way you think. People use critical thinking in every area of life to solve problems and evaluate claims(评估主张).

    Like every other skill, critical thinking takes practice. When a problem comes our way, we need to think critically to decide how to solve it. When we see an advertisement, for example, we should stop and think. Advertisements are made to make people feel certain that they are true, and then people can buy the products. But is what the advertisement says true? Is it making a claim? Or does it only interest us? Critical thinking is important and stops us from making poor choices. In fact, we are using it if we ask questions naturally about what we see.

    Practice makes perfect. While you are growing in critical thinking, you'll become a wiser and more thoughtful person. There are many ways of doing practice. Here are a few.

    Read about a topic people disagree on. Look at articles or books on all sides of the subject. For each side of the subject, think carefully and evaluate it.

    When you see or hear a claim, ask questions about it. Who is making the claim and why?

    Evaluate your own thinking. Where and why do you think uncritically? How can you improve?

    Critical thinking should be part of everything we do. It may help you to succeed at work or school. Make yourself into a habit of critical thinking. Change your thoughts and change your world.

    Sam hated doing chores. And he had many chores. For example, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays he took out' the rubbish. And on weekends he always washed his father's car. He also cleaned his own room once a week. Sometimes he even had to (1) look after "his little sister and brother.

    Sam had a foreign friend at school. His name was Kumar. Doing chores in Kumar's family was very different. In the house only the girl did chores. His sisters made all the beds and cleaned all the rooms too, even his bedroom. His mother always cooked the meals, and his sisters helped her to go shopping, and prepare(准备) the food. They worked hard at home, doing all the chores with their mother. So when Kumar talked to his friend Sam about chores, he felt very lucky. One day, Sam had an idea. He asked Kumar, "Could I borrow your sisters?" He wanted them to help him clean his room, but (2) they said "no". Instead  (相反), they asked Sam to teach their brother how to do chores, so that he could make his own bed.

Sam and Kuimar are very good at science. They are going to be scientists after university. They want to make a robot to do the chores. Then everyone一mothers and fathers, sons and daughters- will be happy!

任务一: 根据短文,回答问题。