英语听力精选进阶版 6428

Did you have a very strict teacher at school? I did. I'll never forget 'Mr Grumpy'. If you didn't get your geography right, you would wish to run to the end of the earth to be far away from him.

That tall man with a very loud voice knew how frighten you and put the fear of God into you. 'Discipline and commitment' was his motto. Nobody dared to be late for his class. No idle chat no matter how boring the subject was. And not even the cheekiest pupil would dream of cheating in his tests.

I thought about my old teacher when I read about a new government programme in England to fast-track former soldiers with no degrees into teaching. They can specialise either as secondary school subject teachers or as primary teachers.

From next January those selected for the programme will earn a salary and train on-the-job four days a week and one day at university. In two years they will be considered 'newly qualified¹ teachers'.

Education Minister David Laws said: "We know that our highly-skilled servicemen and women can inspire young people." He believes that military values such as leadership, discipline, motivation, and teamwork would benefit children.

But not everybody is happy with the government plans. Brian Lightman, from an organisation² called the Association of School and College Leaders, thinks the training offered to the ex-soldiers who want to be teachers is not enough.

Christine Blower, of the National Union of Teachers, believes that teachers need to understand how children develop. According to her, trainees³ need a high level of education themselves and thorough⁴ teacher training before they can educate the young.

I'm not sure how much 'Mr Grumpy' knew about child development. What I know is how happy he was when we did well. I'll never forget the broad smile on his face when I got a very high mark. My teacher was no soldier, but to me his smile was a medal for bravery in our war against ignorance⁵!

Quiz 测验

1. What wouldn't pupils do in Mr Grumpy's class?

Be late, have idle chat or cheat on tests.

2. What kind of soldiers can take part in the government programme?

Former soldiers with no degree.

3. Who said soldiers can inspire young people?

The Education Minister David Laws.

4. How did the author know that Mr Grumpy was happy with their learning?

When Mr Grumpy smiled at the author upon getting a very high mark.

5. Which word means lack of knowledge or information?

Ignorance.

Glossary 词汇表

grumpy 脾气不好的

discipline 纪律

commitment 致力，投入

motto 座右铭，格言

to dare 敢做（某事）

idle chat 闲聊

cheekiest 最调皮的

fast-track 使某人快速获得成功

a degree 文凭，学位

to specialise 专门从事

to train on-the-job 在岗培训

highly-skilled 高技能的

a serviceman 军人

to inspire 激励，鼓舞

military values 军队的价值，军人价值观

leadership 领导，领导地位

motivation 动力

teamwork 团队合作

a trainee 培训生

a medal for bravery 英勇勋章

ignorance 无知

1 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

2 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

3 trainees   

新兵( trainee的名词复数 )； 练习生； 接受训练的人； 训练中的动物

参考例句：

• We've taken on our full complement of new trainees. 我们招收的新学员已经满额了。
• The trainees were put through an assault course. 受训人员接受了突击训练课程。

4 thorough   

adj. 彻底的，完全的，精心的

参考例句：

• He made a very thorough analysis on the situation.他对形势的分析很透彻。
• The committee reported its findings after a thorough investigation.委员会在彻底调查以后报告了调查结果。

5 ignorance   

n.无知，愚昧，不了解，（of，about）不知道

参考例句：

• The relation of disease to poverty and ignorance is easy to see.疾病与贫穷、无知之间的关系是显而易见的。
• Maybe it is all due to my own ignorance.也许是我少见多怪。