A study of English learning problems was carried out among a total of 106 foreign students. It shows that most students considered understanding spoken English to be their biggest problem on arrival. This was followed by speaking. Writing increased as a problem as students discovered difficulties in writing papers that they were now expected to hand in. Reading remained as a big problem.
Information gained helped us in determining where special attention should be paid in our course. Although many students have chosen to join the course with a reasonable motivation, we considered it important to note what seemed to encourage interest. Nearly all the students have experienced some kind of grammar-based English teaching in their own country. To use the same method would be self-defeating because it might reduce motivation, especially if it has failed in the past. Therefore a different method may help because it is different.
Variety of activity was also seen as a way of maintaining or increasing motivation. Several years ago we had one timetable that operated throughout, but we soon found that both the students and the teachers lost interest about halfway through the ten weeks. This led us to a major re-think, so in the end we brought it into line with the expressed language needs of the students.
【小题1】What does the passage want to tell us?A．Foreign students have more problems.B．There are many ways to improve English.C．Teaching should meet students’ needs.D．English learning problems should be studied again.【小题2】 Writing became a bigger problem when foreign students .A．had to write their papersB．became better at speakingC．became less interested in readingD．had fewer problems with listening【小题3】We may infer from the last two paragraphs that .A．different teaching methods should be usedB．grammar-based teaching seems to be encouragingC．English courses are necessary for foreign studentsD．teaching content should be changed halfwayC
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(答案→)C
解析：文章介绍外国学生面临的学习英语的问题，包括口语方面的，书写和阅读等方面都存在问题，有效的办法是使用不同的教学方法。
【小题1】主旨题：第一段列出的调查结果是为了引出话题，第二段To use the same method would be self-defeating because it might reduce motivation, especially if it has failed in the past. 和第三段的句子：Variety of activity was also seen as a way of maintaining or increasing motivation.可知这篇文章讲的是教学应该适应学生的需求，选C
【小题2】细节题：从第一段的句子：Writing increased as a problem as students discovered difficulties in writing papers that they were now expected to hand in. 可知写作是个问题当外国学生被要求写论文的时候，选A
【小题3】细节题：从第二段的句子：Nearly all the students have experienced some kind of grammar-based English teaching in their own country. 和第三段的句子：Variety of activity was also seen as a way of maintaining or increasing motivation.可知应该使用不同的教学方法，选A。