听力原文：W: Not long ago an American magazine released a report, saying: "American student

s are remarkably limited in their knowledge of science and their ability to use what they know." What do you think of this report？

M: It's a reflection of the true state of affairs of the American educational system. By that I mean not only the schools, but also the social attitude toward education. This is a big and very complicated issue. But what is obvious is that the kids from the east are more disciplined. They have a tendency to listen to the advice of their parents and teachers. I noticed when my children were very little, I would say, "Perhaps you should do this." They said, "No, I don't want to do; it's boring." This concept of not doing something because it might be boring does not exist with children in the east; they don't have the idea that they have to find instant gratification before they launch into something. Here the kids all want to see something immediately, to see the point. Kids from babyhood in the east learn to be quiet, sit down and work before they can get ahead. They take that naturally and are willing to be drilled. In this respect, the educational system in the east has a great advantage.

W: It's what society expects of them, and they know that.

M: Yes. Their parents, neighbors and friends—all say the same thing. But I'm not saying this system is absolutely good for everybody. The other side of the coin is that kids trained in the east tend to be timid, tend to say: "My god, there have been all these saints who have done this and that. Who am I？" This attitude prevents a number of them later from jumping over hurdles to make important contributions. We see this very clearly among our postgraduate students. The postgraduate students from the east are quieter and more willing to work, and they make very good grades, but they are somewhat restrained from making imaginative leaps.

W: You mean that if you give them a problem, they can solve, but if you ask them to find the problem themselves, they have a harder time at it？

M: Yes, because there is a tendency for them to automatically, subconsciously say: "I have to follow the rules; the rules have already been given." They don't want to challenge previous authors; they don't get the creative daring of the individual spirit that soars beyond the accepted boundary. And if you compare the eastern with European cultures and American ones, Europe is somewhere between the two. The European students are usually better trained and less daring than American students.

W: What do you think explains the fundamental difference？

M: I think America is a new country; it is a young culture. My belief is that as culture age, they will show a greater respect for learning. They will tell kids to sit down and learn all the great things that people said in the past.

W: What are the problems you see now in American culture？

M: One problem is that kids are not patient enough to learn; another is that we have drug problems. All this is related to the American concept that the individual is supreme. I'm not saying it is a wrong concept; I'm only trying to analyze. In China you would say that in the final analysis, it is the society that's important, not the individual, while in America you are told that what you do is important, that you've got to get out on your own and make it and succeed, and nobody's there to help you.

Questions:

11.Which of the following is NOT included in the reasons that children in the east even do some boring things？

12.What actually prevents students from the east from jumping over hurdles to make important contributions？

13.In what respect does the educational system in the east enjoy a great advantage？

14.Compared with European students, why are American students usually poorer trained but more daring？

15.Why has the man referred to the American concept that the individual is supreme？

(31)

A．They have been accustomed to being obedient to their parents and teachers.

B．They naturally do not need instant gratification before starting to do anything.

C．They know they must sit down and work hard before making any progress.

D．They are repeatedly told by their parents, friends and neighbors to do so.