The practice of students endlessly copying letters and sentences from a blackboard is a thing of the past. With the coming of new technologies like computers and smartphone, writing by hand has become something of nostalgic (怀旧的)skill. However, while today's educators are using more and more technology in their teaching, many believe basic handwriting skills are still necessary for students to be successful---both in school and in life.
Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, says it's important to continue teaching handwriting and help children acquire the skill of writing by hand.
Berninger and her colleagues conducted a study that looked at the ability of students to complete various writing tasks---both on a computer and by hand. The study, published in 2009, found that when writing with a pen and paper, participants wrote longer essays and more complete sentences and had a faster word production rate.
In a more recent study, Berninger looked at what role spelling plays in a student's writing skills and found that how well children spell is tied to know well they can write. "Spelling makes some of the thinking parts of the brain active which helps us access our vocabulary, word meaning and concepts. It is allowing our written language to connect with ideas." Berninger said.
Spelling helps students translate ideas into words in their mind first and then to transcribe(转换) "those words in the mind written symbols on paper or keyboard and screen," the study said. Seeing the words in the "mind's eye" helps children not only to turn their ideas into words, says Berninger, but also to spot(发现) spelling mistakes when they write the words down and to correct then over time.
"In our computer age, some people believe that we don't have to teach spelling because we have spell checks," she said. "But until a child has a functional spelling ability of about a fifth grade level, they won't have the knowledge to choose the correct spelling among the options given by the computer."
What makes writing by hand a thing of the past?
Berninger's study published in 2009
Which of the following best shows the role of spelling?
What does "mind's eye" in paragraph 5 mean?
What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?
Some people think as more and more people have televisions in their homes, fewer and fewer people will buy books and newspapers. Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can bring you the information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read the life story of a famous man, when a short television program can tell you all that you want to know?
Television has not killed reading, however. Today, newspapers sell in very large numbers. And books of every kind are sold more than ever before. Books are still a cheap way to get information and enjoyment. Although some books with hard covers are expensive, many books are printed today as paperbacks (平装本), which are quite cheap. A paperback collection of short stories, for example, is always cheaper than an evening at the cinema or the theater, and you can keep a book for ever and read it many times.
Books are a wonderful provider of knowledge and pleasure and some types of books should be in every home. Every home should have a good dictionary. A good encyclopedia (百科全书), though expensive, is useful, too, because you can find information on any subject. Besides, you can have such books as history books, science textbooks, cookbooks, and collections of stories and poems. Then from time to time you can take a book of poems off your shelves and read the thoughts and feelings of your favorite poets.
63. It can be inferred from the passage that _____.
A. TV programs are a chief provider of knowledge
B. cinemas are the best choice in getting information
reading is a cheap way of learning and having fun
D. newspapers are an expensive way to enjoy oneself
64. What does the sentence “Television has not killed reading, however” underlined in the second paragraph suggest?
A. People only need reading, though. B. Reading is still necessary today. Reading is more fun than television. D. Watching television doesn’t help reading.
65. Which of the following is mainly discussed in the last paragraph?
A. Types of books B. Kinds of dictionaries Lists of history books. D. Collections of stories and poems.
66. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Fewer and fewer people will buy books.
B. A good dictionary should be kept in every home. Books with hard covers sell better than paperbacks.
D. More people like TV programs about famous men.
No one could have failed to be moved had he watched the live televised volleyball game between the Chinese and Cuban women’s teams. As we sat before the television set, with our eyes fixed on the screen, we experienced every kind of feeling. When the two teams played neck and neck, we were on pins and needles, anxious as to what would come next, and when our team fell behind, our hearts were in our mouths. Watching the game between those two teams is not only a matter of great joy. For more than that it provides food for thought. Just see how the Chinese women won the game — by their cooperation, by their excellent skill, their effort and strong will. A Chinese saying goes, "When two competent opponents (比赛的双方) meet, the strong-minded one will win." This is the spirit of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team. If every Chinese showed some of the spirit, never losing heart in times of difficulty and remaining clear-minded in times of advantage, then our nation would stand in the vanguard (前列) of the world family of nations, just as the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team has done, is doing and will do.
59. While watching the game, we _____.
A. had feelings of different kinds
B. enjoyed a friendly and wonderful game
clapped and cheered only for the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team
D. were eager to know what would happen later on
60. The wonderful game _____.
A. brought us great joy
B. provided us with food for our thoughts
gave us not only great joy but also food for thoughts
D. give us a valuable amusement
61. The author believed that _____.
A. the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team was the strongest
B. China was sure to become stronger and stronger if only we have that spirit of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team
the Chinese must remain clear-minded in time of advantage
D. the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team would never be beaten.
62. The best title of the passage might be “_____”.
A. Watching a Close Volleyball Game
B. The Spirit of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team
Learn from the Members of the Volleyball Team
D. The Strong - Minded Are the Winners
I chose to study in Madrid because I had a desire to learn Spanish. My first impressions of Madrid were incredible. It was before the New Year that I arrived in Madrid for the first time. While traveling to my Spanish friend’s house in a taxi, I appreciated the buildings along the road which were different from those of my own country.
There are an incredible number of restaurants and bars from all over the world. If you are really into sightseeing, I hope you have rechargeable batteries for your digital camera, because one week really isn’t enough time to see everything here including a number of art, science, and historical museums as well as parks, buildings, and amazing landscapes.
What I liked best about life in Madrid was the fact that if you were frustrated with schoolwork and wanted to have some fun, you can easily go out. The nightlife never seems to stop and the people are all very friendly. You can meet people and practice Spanish while having fun at the same time.
What I liked least was the fact that many people smoked in the streets. Also, coming from the US, I was used to having a big breakfast every morning, but while living with an actual Spanish family, I wasn’t really satisfied with the food in the morning.
I think I have definitely become more independent since I came back from Spain. Living in a big city like Madrid I found that it is necessary to plan ahead and to make a schedule for future. There is so much to see, not just in the Spanish World, but in the European World as well.
56. What’s the purpose of the text?
A. To attract people to tour around Madrid.
B. To show how to enjoy Spanish culture.
To give advice on how to study Spanish.
D. To describe the author’s life in Madrid.
57. Why did the author suggest taking rechargeable batteries?
A. It’s difficult to deal with the used batteries.
B. It’s not convenient to recharge batteries. There are few stores that sell ordinary batteries.
D. You will find lots of places worth taking pictures of.
58. Which of the following in Madrid didn’t please the author?
A. Parks and buildings. B. Restaurants and bars.
Nightlife. D. Breakfast.
In today’s world, we rely on computers as never before. They are used for everything from ordering a pizza to running hospitals and military defense systems. Banking and credit card information is stored and accessed by computers. So what happens when a computer gets infected with a virus? One effect is that people's access to their e-mail accounts is cut off. A more serious possible consequence is that billions of dollars could be lost.
A virus is a computer program that copies itself onto other programs and infects them. Similar to an easily spread disease, a computer virus goes from computer to computer, either adding to or changing the tasks a program is designed to do.
The first computer viruses were created in the mid '80s and had varying effects. Some caused files to be deleted, or made the letters on the screen appear to fall off. Others displayed a specific message once the computer was turned on.
Viruses today are much more widespread and dangerous than ever before. Perhaps the most damaging to date has been the “I Love You” virus. “I Love You” appeared in May 2000 and has possibly been the most destructive virus in terms of monetary loss.
The virus is released when an attachment to a fake e-mail message is opened. By changing the names of files on computers, "I Love You" makes them difficult to access. It also searches for important personal information, including passwords, which it sends to a web site for others to see.
It is estimated that more than 45 million people in 20 countries have had their computers infected by the “I Love You” virus. Some say the cost of repair and lost business has been more than US$ 10 billion.
If you own a computer, it is important to keep it in good health by installing an
anti-virus program. If updated frequently, it will protect your e-mail access — not to mention your wallet.
1.What does “virus” mean in the article?
A. An easily spread disease.
B. A contagious (传染的) computer program.
C. An extremely small organism (生物) which causes disease.
D. A parasite (寄生虫) in computer.
2. How does “I Love You” virus spread?
A. It is spread when an e-mail account is opened.
B. It is spread through on-line chatting.
C. It is spread through e-mail.
D. It spreads from web site to web site.
3. Which of the following is one of the damages brought by “I Love You” virus?
A. It deletes files.
B. It automatically turns on computers.
C. It automatically turns off computers.
D. It makes it difficult to access files.
4. Which of the following is the best way to guard against virus?
A. To load an up-to-date anti-virus program into our computer
B. Not to use an e-mail account,
C. To upgrade our computer.
D. Not to use the Internet.
5. What is the purpose of the article?
A. To warn us against virus.
B. To remind us the importance of being healthy.
C. To stress the importance of computer.
D. To alert us to economic loss.
Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships. One strength of the human condition is our possibility to give and receive support from one another under stressful (有压力的) conditions. Social support makes up of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties. Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily problems. People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties. Studies over types of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people defend themselves against illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely.
Social support cushions stress in a number of ways. First, friends, relatives and co-workers may let us know that they value us. Our self-respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others in spite of our faults and difficulties. Second, other people often provide us with informational support. They help us to define and understand our problems and find solutions to them. Third, we typically find social companionship supportive. Taking part in free-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting (转移注意力) us from our worries and troubles. Finally, other people may give us instrumental support money aid, material resources, and needed services — that reduces stress by helping us resolve and deal with our problems.
36. Interpersonal relationships are important because they can ________________
A. make people live more easily B. smooth away daily problems
C. deal with life changes D. cure types of illnesses
37. The researches show that people's physical and mental health _______________
A. lies in the social medical care systems which support them
B. has much to do with the amount of support they get from others
C. depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles
D. is related to their courage for dealing with major life changes
38. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word "cushions"?
A. takes place of B. makes up of
C. lessens the effect of D. gets rid of
39. Helping a sick neighbor with some repair work in spare time is an example of ________.
A. instrumental support B. informational support
C. social companionship D. the strengthening of self-respect
40. What is the subject discussed in the text?
A. Interpersonal relationships. B. Kinds of social support.
C. Ways to deal with stress. D. Effects of stressful condition.
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