Identifying and Nurturing Gifted Children in Israel

The article describes Israel’s approach to the education of gifted and talented children. It describes the programs for gifted and talented children in Israel and the process for selecting students for these programs. The method of selecting students for programs is consistent with the Ministry of Education’s definition of giftedness, the goals of the giftedness programs, and the characteristics of these programs. The selection method is affected by the standards required of the instruments as well as other constraints, such as the constraints on funding for this purpose.The author of this article is the director of the Szold Institute program for identifying gifted children. The project is funded by the Israeli Ministry of Education     

Genuine Religious Tolerance: Is It a Thing of the Past in Public Schools?

The so-called Culture Wars have made the issue of religious tolerance in schools more confusing than ever. Where once free speech trumped nearly every concern in these wars in the public schools, there is now great concern about whether messages put out are politically correct. The preoccupation teachers now have with avoiding speech or themes likely to get them into trouble has led to a new form of censorship. The authors explain that free speech in the educational forum requires respect for every earnest attempt to get at a legitimate truth claim. In matters religious, this epistemic openness is no longer respected. The argument below does not encourage teachers to engage in debate among students in matters religious, or even to encourage it. Nor are the arguments below aimed at introducing religious discourse as a means of developing skills of critical thinking as the feminist, moral philosopher Nel Noddings has previously recommended. The argument simply concludes with the modest recommendation that teachers be more conscientious about indirectly censoring or trivializing student religious speculations.     

关于日语古文今译用于古典语法测试的探讨

对日语古典语法测试项目使用的古文今译多项选择题进行探讨,阐述以下内容：（1）在译文多项选择题的命题中,常常出现双重评判标准和选择项中有多个答案的问题,这些问题源于评判译文标准的不确定性。（2）我们可以应用功能翻译理论的目的原则建立教学翻译的评判标准;教学翻译有区分合不合适的标准,合适的教学翻译又有区分一般和高质量之差的标准。前者可应用于语法测试,而后者应用于语法测试时会引起诸多问题,应尽量避免使用。     

Investigating gender differences in mathematics by performance levels in the Italian school system

Amongst the extensive research conducted about girls’ lack of interest in STEM subjects, an issue that is frequently examined is the learning of mathematics. This research investigates the gender gap in mathematics among Italian students based on performance levels, using standardised large-scale data from INVALSI tests. We performed a quantile regression to better understand the differences along the entire score distribution. A latent class model was then estimated to identify groups of students with similar performance levels, taking into account the gender covariate. The results indicate that boys are already ahead from primary education and that there is a general decrease in the performance as students progress through the education stages.     

加强软件质量管理的必要性

通过开发和应用中小型软件对软件质量中存在的问题进行分析，提出提高软件质量的办法。     

Study on dynamic response of embedded long span corrugated steel culverts using scaled model shaking table tests and numerical analyses

INTRODUCTION On Jan. 17, 1995, the Hyogoken-nanbu earth-quake in Kobe, Japan, caused great destructive and damage to underground structures, such as subway structures, mountain tunnels, multipurpose under-ground ducts and other underground structures, which had previously been considered to be resistant to earthquake effects (JSCE, 1996; ECRHAED, 1998). This earthquake revealed that a number of critical issues should be added in the seismic design and seismic strengthening of undergr…     

例说语文考试的大趋势

在分析研究近年大量语文试题的基础上归纳出语文考试的大致趋势；主观性试题的比重越来越大，客观性试题大大减少；开放性试题逐渐增加，重视考查学生的思维能力，尤其是创造性思维能力，提倡探究，鼓励创造；课内外结合，重视语言积累和文化积累；注重考查综合知识和综合能力，注重学科之间的综合；注意从情感态度与价值观、过程与方法、知识和能力三个维度设计考试题，试卷日益体现对学生的人文关怀；听说读写全面考查；作文测试紧扣时代脉搏，直面现实生活，力求引导学生关注现实人生，写出真情实感；立足生活实际，关注社会热点，强调学以致用；试题设计越来越新颖，考试方式呈现多样化。     

测试的负面反拨作用对英语教学的影响

语言测试的反拨作用是应用语言学较新的研究领域，笔者就测试中的显性与隐性负面反拨作用对英语教学的影响作了分析，并提出了减少负面反拨作用的一些措施。     

Policies of global English tests: test-takers’ perspectives on the IELTS retake policy

Globalized English proficiency tests such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are increasingly playing the role of gatekeepers in a globalizing world. Although the use of the IELTS as a ‘policy tool’ for making decisions in the areas of study, work and migration impacts on test-takers' lives and life chances, not much is known about its own policy and policy logic. With the growing call for listening to test-takers' voices, specific policy aspects of the test have recently been scrutinized. This article seeks to contribute to this area by drawing on test-takers' perspectives on the IELTS retake policy and developing an understanding of how policies of global English tests are perceived, interpreted and given new meanings by its key stakeholders. Although the truth-value of the emic views of test-takers may be debated, their experiences and perceptions problematize the reliability claims of the testing agency by locating commercial motives at the center of their policy and thereby raising theoretical, professional and ethical questions.     

对“选项式英语交际试题”交际性的质疑

外语测试理论的发展进入交际语用阶段。在此背景下,我国一些大规模考试中出现了“选项式交际试题”。本文对此类试题的交际性提出质疑,认为它只反映了情景真实性,却忽视了交际过程的真实性,测试过程仅停留在语用分析层面,无法测量受试者实际运用语言的能力。本文还指出此类试题与其初衷相悖的先天局限性。考查交际知识固然有意义, 但若将涉及交际知识的选项式客观试题等同于交际语言测试则反映出对交际测试理论的认识存有片面性。在外语作为交际工具而被广泛使用的今天,认清交际语言测试的本质及其意义尤为重要,有助于我们在外语测试实践中针对不同的情况采取合适的测试手段,使外语测试活动更加具备目的性和合理性。