16 A recent study found that ten percent of British children suffer from math anxiety. This means they have overwhelming negative emotions towards the subject, ranging from rage to despair. Other emotions triggered by math include feelings of tension and frustration. Physical symptoms include a racing heart or struggling to catch breath. The phenomenon of math anxiety is characterized as a general sense of feeling that the subject is hard compared with other subjects, leading to a subsequent lack or loss of confidence.
Researchers said they investigated individuals’ attitudes towards mathematics because of what could be referred to as a “mathematics crisis” in the UK. 17 There was a widespread misunderstanding that only low-performing children suffer from math anxiety. People automatically assume children are anxious about math because they are poor achievers. 18 In fact, more than three quarters of children with high levels of math anxiety are normal to higher achievers. Probably, their math anxiety will go unnoticed because their performance is good. But, in the long term, their performance is negatively affected. So a real danger here is that children who are completely able to do math at normal level may keep away from it because they feel anxious.
18 Math anxiety can severely disrupt students’ performance in the subject in both primary and secondary school. But importantly—and surprisingly—this new study suggests that the majority of students experiencing math anxiety have normal-to-high math ability.
16 最近的一项研究发现， 10%的英国孩子患有“数学焦虑症” 。这意味着他们对这个科目有强烈的负面情绪，从愤怒到绝望，不一而足。其他由数学引发的情绪包括紧张感和挫败感。身体症状包括心跳加速或呼吸困难。“数学焦虑”现象指的是一种普遍的感觉，认为这门学科比其他学科难，从而导致自信心的缺乏或丧失。
研究人员表示，他们调查了个人对数学的态度，原因是英国存在所谓的“数学危机” 。 17 有一种普遍的误解，认为只有成绩不好的孩子才会患上“数学焦虑症”。人们很自然地认为孩子们对数学感到焦虑是因为他们成绩不好。 18 事实上，超过四分之三患有严重“数学焦虑症”的孩子的数学成绩属于中等或偏上水平。也许，他们的“数学焦虑”会因为他们成绩很好而被忽视。但是，从长远来看，他们的成绩会受到负面影响。因此，一个真正的危险是那些数学完全能达到正常水平的孩子可能会远离数学，因为他们感到焦虑。
18 “教学焦虑”会严重妨碍学生在小学和中学的数学成绩。但重要且令人惊讶的是，这项新研究表明，大多数经历“数学焦虑”的学生，其数学能力在一般至高水准之间。
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
- 单选题
- 分值:14.2
What did a recent study find about some British children？
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They have little talent for learning math.
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They need medical help for math anxiety.
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They need extra help to catch up in the math class.
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They have strong negative emotions towards math.
16. 关于英国的一些孩子，最近的研究发现了什么?
A) 他们几乎没有学习数学的天赋。
B) 他们需要医疗帮助来治疗数学焦虑。
C) 他们需要额外的帮助才能赶上数学课。
D) 他们对数学有强烈的负面情绪。
- 单选题
- 分值:14.2
What is the widespread misunderstanding about math anxiety?
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It will gradually pass away without teachers’ help.
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It affects low-performing children only.
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It is related to a child’s low intelligence.
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It exists mostly among children from poor families.
17. 人们对“数学焦虑”普遍存在的误解是什么?
A) 不需要老师的帮助，它就会逐渐消失。
B) 它只对成绩不好的孩子有影响。
C) 这与一个孩子的智力低下有关。
D) 它主要存在于贫困家庭的子女中。
- 单选题
- 分值:14.2
What does the passage say about British students with math anxiety?
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Most of them have average to strong math ability.
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Most of them get timely help from their teachers.
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They will regain confidence with counselling.
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They are mostly secondary school students.
18. 关于患有“数学焦虑症”的英国学生，文章讲述了什么?
A) 他们大多数人都有中等乃至较强的数学能力。
B) 他们中的大多数人会及时得到老师的帮助。
C) 他们将通过咨询重新获得信心。
D) 他们中大多数是中学生。
