The International Adult Literacy Survey: What Does It Really Measure?

The paper evaluates the work of the International Adult Literacy Survey as reported in OECD 1997. It assesses its contribution to understanding literacy in terms of the perspective of the New Literacy Studies. It outlines this perspective as a basis for a critique that is mostly concerned with the validity of the test. Three criticisms of the survey are made: that it provides only a partial picture of literacy; that culture is treated as bias; and that the test items do not represent the real-life items as claimed. Finally, the paper concludes with an overall evaluation of what the IALS achieves in terms of its own aims.     

What Is Success?

What Is Success? To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; to lea…     

What Is Shyness?

People often talk as if shyness is a disease or mental condition that can be cured. I prefer to think of it as an emotional disability. It's something we are born with and something we carry with us in our entire life. There are too many people, however, …     

What Is Slang?

俚语已成为现代英语不可或缺的部分,遗憾的是人们对其缺乏认识,常将其和其相近的术语混在一起,本文拟就英语俚语定义的起源及沿革进行于简明论述,以飨读者.     

What Is It?

江西省赣州市的李欣同学给我们出了个小小的谜语。不看完她的文章,恐怕你还猜不出呢?     

What Is Good?

“什么是真好?”我在沉思中问。法庭说:“法规。”学校说:“知识。”智者说:“真理。”愚人说:“欢乐。”少女说:“爱情。”侍者说:“美丽。”     

What Is Beauty?

It seems that beauty and women are twins. You are joking? No, I am not. Observe for yourself. Ads on fashion flood TV screens, radio programs, magazines, newspapers, and the streets. Whether they have realized or not, women are besieged by a sea of fashions. They are taught to think that without beautiful clothes they will grow old and lose their charm. So who dares to neglect dressing up at the cost of their appearance and youth?     

What Time Is It?

Story: It’S a Sunny morning．The Sun iS Shining and the birds are Singing．Judy'S mom goes into Judy’S room and tries to wake her up for breakfast。“Wake up,baby,”says Judy’S mom and gives her a good morning kiss．”Huhhhh,what time iS it now?”asks Judy's while she rubs her sleepy eyes．Her mom answers,“It’s seven O'clock．Time to get up．”“Yes．Mom,”says Judy and yawns．It seems that little Judy is still very sleepy．     

What Is Your Name?

"Who's calling?"was the answer to the telephone.“Watt.” “What is your name,please?” “Watt’s m y nam e.” “That’s w hat I asked you.W hat’s your nam e?” A long pause, and then, from W att, “Is this Jam es B row n?” “N o,this is K nott.” “Please tell m e your nam e.” “W ill K nott.” Then they both hung up and got puzzled.N otes: 1.W ho’s calling?你 是谁?(打电 话用 语) 2.W att’s m y nam e.我叫 瓦特。 对方 理解 为:W hat’s m y nam e? 3.a long pause 停了很 长时 间 4.N o,…     

What Is the Sun?

认.t‘~~已一、_、，、~耘 戮estlnis a efock， 讥招衬流庇out漏t一 ，阵“:_二 pound‘呜oin， 匆· le sun isa昌udower， ich断6计。in氏aven匀幽记en. 钱e一赫15们漏而能撬’ In tyoa 8 In】IL DOWI- -卜::一逻一‘ Thesuni，al汪酷， 。:the润如ets击星).‘ 太阳是钟、，叮吁谕洲 滴答地散发着热量。 太阳是硬币， 飞卜 买下了广表的天空。 太阳是向日葵， 生长在天国的花园。 太阳是柠檬， ‘盛在上帝的水果盘里。 太阳是一个蛋， 哺育着无数颖行星。What Is the Sun?@May~~…     

What Time Is It?

我想大家都知道这样的一首小诗:明日复明日,明日何其多。我生待明日,万事成蹉跎。它告诉我们时光飞逝,一去不复返,所以我们要珍惜时间,今日事今日毕,抓紧每一分每一秒来学习。我们今天就学学关于时间的表达方式吧。     

What Is Benford's Law?

The surprising property of many data sets that their first significant digits follow Benford's Law provides examples that can pique and hold students’ interest. Several ideas for student activities are presented.