Since the day of its birth, the United Nations has been the subject of much debate.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Others think that it is too weak. We can better understand this debate if we learn more about the U.N. and its history.

    The U.N. was started for two reasons. First, when the idea was born, people all over the world were tired of war. They felt that there must be peaceful answers to the world's problems.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    The second reason was that modern science had developed new bombs and airplanes.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}National borders were beginning to lose their meaning. Science would develop even more dangerous weapons in the future. Only an international organization would be able to control modern science.

    Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. President at the time, believed that the Allies (联盟) should plan for peace before the war ended. On December 1, 1943, Roosevelt, Britain's Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin from Soviet Union agreed to start an organization for world peace.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    During the next year and a half, the idea of such an organization was debated around the world. Then came the big day. On April 11, 1945, the first international meeting of the United Nations took place in San Francisco. The goal of the meeting was to write the U.N. Charter (宪章). All of the fifty-one nations at the meeting had their own ideas to offer for the Charter.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Every nation present voted for the Charter. No one voted against it.

A. After a long debate, a final Charter was agreed upon.

B. The U.N. Charter is a beautiful piece of writing.

C. They asked all countries, large and small, to join the organization.

D. Even the smallest country on earth can have its voice heard.

E. They also felt that only an international organization could keep world peace.

F. These weapons made it almost impossible for a country to defend itself.

G. Some people attack the organization because they think it is too powerful.

    About ten percent of spending on primary and secondary education in the United States comes from the federal government{#blank#}1{#/blank#} States have been required to show progress through yearly testing.

    But states say testing tells only part of the story about efforts by schools and students to improve. So the Obama administration has eased the limits in states in measuring performance.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} This new measurement tool is called the Colorado Growth Model. The ideas is to show academic growth, not just achievement on tests. It combines test scores, family income levels, school size, the ethnicity of the student and many other factors.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The graph shows a school's average score on standardized tests as well as its academic growth.

    On average, students enter sixth grade at WEST Denver Prep performing below grade level{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The new assessment(评价) method shows that, each year, the average West Denver Prep student learns more math than ninety-four percent of all the students in Colorado{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Josh Smith says perhaps the most important thing they should learn is to believe in themselves.

A. The results from schools across the state are shown online on a graph.

B. Reading and writing scores also show growth.

C. For ten years now, federal law has tied this spending to student performance.

D. Therefore, the government feels it a great pressure.

E. But three years later, most are outperforming other students across the state.

F. However, the limits don't work at all.

G. The western state of Colorado, for example, has a new assessment method.

    Gratitude(感恩)is a social feeling．Many people see it as relationship—strengthening because it requires us to see how we've been supported and recognized by other people．

    First，it's belief of goodness．We are convinced that there are good things in the world，gifts and benefits we've received．The second part of gratitude is figuring out where that goodness comes from{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It doesn't come from anything we necessarily did ourselves．Instead，we acknowledge that other people gave us many gifts to help us achieve the goodness in our lives{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Of course，there are various important reasons．Here are some of them．

    Gratitude allows us to celebrate the present{#blank#}3{#/blank#}We notice the positives more，and that enlarge the pleasures you get from life．Instead of adapting to goodness，we celebrate goodness．

    Gratitude blocks negative feelings．You cannot feel envious and grateful at the same time{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you're grateful，you can't hate someone for having something that you don't．Those are very different ways of connecting to the world，and sure enough，research has suggested that people who have high levels of gratitude have low levels of negative feelings．

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}That's because when you're grateful，you have the sense that someone else has provided for your happiness．You notice a network of relationships of people think it's worthwhile to help you get to where you are right now．Realizing someone has seen the value in you transforms the way you see yourself．

A．They're contradictory feelings．

B．It strengthens positive feelings．

C．Gratitude heightens your sense of self-worth．

D．Most of the time，it makes you feel confused．

E．Gratitude allows us to participate more in life．

F．So why gratitude has such effects on people's lives?

G．We recognize the sources of it as being outside of ourselves．

    We need to do more to help the teachers who are exhausted and stressed

    Teaching should not be one of the most stressful jobs in the US. But it is. “The only other profession that comes close to us for stress is nursing and we still have the numbers… by a lot. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}”

    “Nobody realizes how horrific working conditions are for teachers throughout the country,” Brice-Hyde says, an experienced teacher in New York who is part of the national group Badass Teachers Association (BAT).

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} So they did a national study of teacher working conditions around issues like stress, work-life balance, respect, and more. The results are both surprising and not. If you've been seeing the stories about teacher walkouts and pay inequality, you probably aren't all that shocked to see these things like: 61 percent of educators find work “always” or “often” stressful; 27 percent of educators said they've been threatened or bullied; 86 percent of educators feel disrespected by US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

    Teachers are stressed out, and turnover is high. No wonder we're seeing more stories about the importance of self-care, classroom burnout, and mental health days for teachers. Yet, self-care doesn't seem to come easily for people, and this is definitely true for teachers. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    We think it's time to change that, though. So in honor of World Mental Health Day, we are working to change the dialogue about teacher mental health. Below are some of the top challenges people give for not seeking therapy, or even basic self-care, along with possible solutions and workarounds for each one.

    We hope you share this article widely, giving support and love to your fellow educators. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} And it's pretty much guaranteed to help you do what you set out to in the first place be a good teacher.

A. BAT wanted to take action.

B. Those who gave more tended to gain less.

C. The data are ridiculous, and no one is really paying attention.

D. By nature, educators are taught to give care and support others not themselves.

E. Although respected for its own sake, teaching is under suspicion in today's world.

F. After all, self-care, good mental health, positive well-being is one of the single best things you can do for yourself.

    Does Using Technology in the Classroom Help College Students?

    Almost anywhere in the world, you are likely to find people doing the same thing in public places, on trains and buses or wherever else you look. They spend their day looking at laptop computers, smartphones or other personal electronic devices. They are thinking mainly about their electronic devices, and not much else.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} More and more college students have no problem walking into a classroom and immediately opening their laptops. Others may spend an entire study period with a smartphone in hand. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But recent research suggests that using technology during class time may harm college students' ability to remember and process the subject material they are learning.

    Arnold Glass, a professor in Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and a student researcher investigated the issue of divided student attention. During half of their daily class periods, the students in their study were permitted to use any electronic device as much as they wanted. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    The students' academic performance was measured in several ways throughout the semester. They took a short test every day, longer tests every few weeks and a final exam covering all the class material. The researchers found that the average daily quiz results showed no evidence of harmful effects from the use of technology. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} They showed that all the students performed poorly on questions covering material taught on days when they were permitted to use technology in the classroom.

    Glass says that it shows the use of electronic devices in the classroom prevents students from processing information. The students hear what the professor is saying. But they might be buying things online or reading unrelated emails at the same time, for example. So they are not thinking deeply about the subject matter as they are hearing it. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. The same can be said about the world of college education.

B. However, the average results of the larger tests and final exam told a different story.

C. And that, Glass says, makes it harder for the information to enter their long-term memory.

D. Technology, in general, is not the only way that students find to distract themselves in class.

E. But even if technology is helpful to some students, there are times when it needs to be turned off.

F. Some students argue that the increasing use of technology can have many helpful effects on society.

G. During the other half, researchers closely watched them to make sure no one was using any technology.

    Learning a foreign language can be interesting. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In order to increase your chances of success, it is important to consider which method of language learning will provide you with the most benefits. So think about the three ways of learning a language: self­study at home, attending classes and online courses.

    The main disadvantage of learning by yourself is that there is no one available to answer your questions. One way to deal with this is to make a list of your questions and ask for the help of a native speaker of the language regularly. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Learning a foreign language in a classroom is probably the most popular choice. The regularity(规律性) of the lessons will encourage you to attend classes. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In most cases, the enthusiasm of the other students may also encourage you to make progress.

    Online learning is the newest method of learning a foreign language. It suits both the students who prefer to learn alone and the students who may prefer to attend a class but are unable to do so. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It is also possible to ask questions and to communicate with other students online.

    Whichever method you choose, keep in mind the reasons why you are learning the language. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This will help you stay focused throughout the learning process.

A.Many students prefer to learn by themselves.

B.But it can also be difficult, frustrating and boring.

C.You should also make sure you will benefit from it.

D.You will be able to ask the teacher questions face to face.

E.You may even decide to ask others sometimes to help your self­study.

F.Online learning makes the whole process more interesting and fun.

G.Your personality should be considered when deciding which method of learning to use.