We're told that writing is dying． Typing on keyboards and screens （1） written communication today． Learning cursive （草书）， joined﹣up handwriting was once （2） in schools． But now， not so much． Countries such as Finland have dropped joined﹣up handwriting lessons in schools （3） typing courses． And in the U． S．， the requirement to learn cursive has been left out of core standards since 2013． A few U． S． states still place value on formative cursive education， such as Arizona， but they're not the（4） ．
Some experts point out that writing lessons can have indirect （5） ． Anne Trubek， author of The History and Uncertain Future of Handwriting， argues that such lessons can reinforce a skill called automaticity． That's when you've perfected a task， and can do it almost without thinking． （6） you extra mental bandwidth to think about or do other things while you're doing the task． In this sense， Trubek likens handwriting to （7） ．
"Once you have driven for a while， you don't （8） think 'Step on gas now'（or） 'Turn the steering wheel a bit'，" she explains． "You just do it． That's what we want children to （9） when learning to write． You and I don't think 'now make a loop going up for the 'I' or 'now look for the letter 'r' on the keyboard'．" Trubek has written many essays and books on handwriting， and she doesn't believe it will die out for a very long time， "if ever"． But she believes students are learning automaticity faster with keyboards than with handwriting： students are learning how to type without looking at the keys at （10） ages， and to type faster than they could write， granting them extra time to think about word choice or sentence structure． In a piece penned （if you'll pardon the expression） for the New York Times last year， Trubek argued that due to the improved automaticity of keyboards， today's children may well become better communicators in text as （11） takes up less of their education． This is a（n）（12） that has attracted both criticism and support．
She explains that two of the most common arguments she hears from detractors regarding the decline of handwriting is that not （13） it will result in a "loss of history" and a "loss of personal touch"．
On the former she （14） that 95% of handwritten manuscripts can't be read by the average person anyway "that's why we have paleographers，" she explains， paleography being the study of ancient styles of writing while the latter refers to the warm （15） we give to handwritten personal notes， such as thank﹣you cards． Some educators seem to agree， at least to an extent．
（1）
| A． |
abandons |
B． |
dominates |
C． |
enters |
D． |
absorbs |
（2）
| A． |
compulsory |
B． |
opposite |
C． |
crucial |
D． |
relevant |
（3）
| A． |
in want of |
B． |
in case of |
C． |
in favour of |
D． |
in addition to |
（4）
| A． |
quantity |
B． |
minimum |
C． |
quality |
D． |
majority |
（5）
| A． |
responsibility |
B． |
benefits |
C． |
resources |
D． |
structure |
（6）
| A． |
granting |
B． |
getting |
C． |
bringing |
D． |
coming |
（7）
| A． |
sleeping |
B． |
driving |
C． |
reviewing |
D． |
operating |
（8）
| A． |
eventually |
B． |
constantly |
C． |
equivalently |
D． |
consciously |
（9）
| A． |
adopt |
B． |
reach |
C． |
acquire |
D． |
activate |
（10）
| A． |
slower |
B． |
later |
C． |
faster |
D． |
earlier |
（11）
| A． |
handwriting |
B． |
adding |
C． |
forming |
D． |
understanding |
（12）
| A． |
trust |
B． |
look |
C． |
view |
D． |
smile |
（13）
| A． |
containing |
B． |
spreading |
C． |
choosing |
D． |
protecting |
（14）
| A． |
commits |
B． |
counters |
C． |
completes |
D． |
composes |
（15）
| A． |
associations |
B． |
resources |
C． |
procedures |
D． |
interactions |
I went to my favorite restaurant one evening to have supper. I knew the owner very well. __36 _ I was waiting for the soup to arrive, I looked around to see if I knew anyone in the restaurant. It was __37_ that I noticed a man sitting at the corner table __38__ watching in my direction, as if he knew me. The man had a newspaper open __39__him, which he was __40__ to read, though all the while I could see that he was keeping an eye on me. When the waiter brought the soup, the man was clearly __41_ by the familiar way in which the waiter and I talked to each other. He became even more puzzled as time went on and it grew more and more obvious that I was well__ 42__ in the restaurant. In the end he got up and went to the kitchen. After a few minutes he came_ 43__ again, paid his bill and left without__ 44__ looking in my direction.
When I finished and was__ 45__ to pay my bill, I called the owner over and __46__him what the man had wanted. The owner at__47_ didn’t want to tell me. I __48__ “Well”, he said “ that man was a detective.” “__49__?” I said, much surprised. “he followed you here because he_ 50__ you were the man he was looking for,” the owner said. “He showed me a photo of the__51__ man. He certainly looked __52__ you! Of course since we know you here. I was able to make him __53 _that he had made a mistake.” “It’s__ 54__ I came to a restaurant where I’m where I’m known,” I said, “otherwise I __55__have been taken to police station!”
A While B. After C. Before D. Until
A．time B．then C．here D．there
A．began B．enjoyed C．kept D．stopped
A．behind B．over C．in front of D．beside
A．pretending B．seen C．prepared D．hold
A．frightened B．surprised C．puzzled D．pleased
A．treated B．welcomed C．received D．known
A．around B．up C．in D．out
A．another B．all C．any D．each
A．able B．about C．willing D．anxious
A．told B．showed C．asked D．gave
A．last B．first C．least D．once
A．insisted B．apologized C．wondered D．regretted
A．Certainly B．Really C．Why D．How
A．knew B．found C．explain D．thought
A．strange B．famous C．wanted D．curious
A．for B．at C．after D．like
A．believe B．agree C．remember D．learn
A．necessary B．funny C．lucky D．clear
A．need B．will C．can D．might
John，an academically excellent young man，went to apply for a management position in a big company．The director did the last 36 ．
The director asked，“Who paid for your school fees?” John answered．“My 37 did．When I was young，my father 38 ．”Then he continued．“ 39 was your mother?” John answered，“My mother worked as a 40 cleaner．”Hearing this, the director asked John to 41 his hands．John reached out his hands that were 42 and perfect．The director said，“I have a 43 ．when you go home，clean your mother’s hands and see me tomorrow．”
John felt 44 but did it．His tears fell 45 he cleaned his mother’s hands．He noticed for the first time that her hands were so 46 ．Also John 47 that it was this pair of hands that washed clothes every day to 48 him．After cleaning his mother’s hands，John 49 washed all the remaining clothes for her．
Next day，John went to the director’s office. Tears in eyes，John was asked to 50 his feelings．“Now I know what is 51 ．Without my mother，there wouldn’t be the 52 me today．By helping my mother，I see how 53 it is to get something done．I have also come to know the value of family relationship．”
The director smiled，This is what I am 54 ．I want a person who can appreciate the help of others，a person who knows the sufferings of others and a person who 55 put money as his only goal in life．You are hired．”
A．farewell B．job C．interview D．try
A．tutors B．father C．parents D．mother
A．died away B．passed away C．died out D．passed by
A．What B．How C．Who D．Where
A．carpet B．floor C．clothes D．window
A．turn B．show C．wave D．shake
A．clumsy B．dirty C．strong D．smooth
A．request B．question C．wish D．choice
A．embarrassed B．frightened C．confused D．inspired
A．before B．as C．since D．until
A．slim B．warm C．soft D．rough
A．realized B．believed C．insisted D．wondered
A．sacrifice B．serve C．satisfy D．support
A．modestly B．secretly C．quietly D．gently
A．improve B．describe C．awaken D．hide
A．appreciation B．cooperation C．qualification D．communication
A．wealthy B．famous C．successful D．humorous
A．firm B．exciting C．crazy D．tough
A．looking through B．looking for C．looking at D．looking into
A．shan’t B．needn’t C．won’t D．can’t
Andy was still travelling in Spain when he realized he had to eonfirm(确认) his flight home with the airline company. He was visiting Spain in order to 36 his Spanish. When he was speaking to people 37 he had no 38 understanding what they said. 39 , when he was speaking on the phone, he 40 had a problem. Andy 41 the airline. And the clerk confirmed that his plane was leaving at nine o’clock three days from that day. She 42 told Andy to be at the airport two hours 43 in order to check in his luggage and get a set.
Since he was 44 in three days, Andy didn’t 45 any time. He visited as many places as he could. He thought that it would probably be a while before he had enough money again. He wished he could 46 and spend a year in Spain.
Too 47 , the final day arrived. Andy left early for the airport to arrive two hours before takeoff. He hated to 48 . He went to the clerk to 49 his ticket. The clerk looked at the ticket with 50 . “Why, sir, but your flight was at nine o’clock in the morning, and 51 it is eight in the evening. ”“But I confirmed my flight. ” 52 Andy. “Will I have to pay for another ticket?”
“No, sir. However, the next flight out will be three days from now. ”
Andy’s 53 of shock turned to one of 54 as he realized that now he could continue his 55 .
A．prepare B．improve C．enjoy D．learn
A．slowly B．in public C．in person D．carefully
A．difficulty B．idea C．mistake D．interest
A．Instead B．Therefore C．Meanwhile D．However
A．even B．just C．still D．seldom
A．called B．liked C．trusted D．asked
A．again B．also C．only D．once
A．before B．earlier C．later D．after
A．moving B．returning C．staying D．leaving
A．take B．have C．lose D．find
A．wait B．go home C．stop D．come back
A．shortly B．quickly C．badly D．early
A．speak B．go C．rush D．delay
A．buy B．present C．order D．provide
A．astonishment B．patience C．respect D．delight
A．maybe B．go C．here D．now
A．insisted B．apologized C．replied D．demanded
A．experience B．movement C．look D．face
A．pleasure B．anger C．sadness D．hopelessness
A．plan B．flight C．voyage D．vacation
Nancy had just got a job as a secretary in a company. Monday was the first day she went to work, so she was very 36 and arrived early.
She 37 the door open and found nobody there. “I am the 38 to arrive.” She thought and came to her desk. She was surprised to find a bunch of 39 on it. They were fresh. She 40 them and they were sweet. She looked around for a 41 to put them in. “ Somebody has sent me flowers the very first day!” she thought 42 . “ But who could it be?” she began to 43 .
The day passed quickly and Nancy did everything with 44 interest. For the following days of the 45 , the first thing Nancy did was to change water for the followers and then 46 her work.
Then came another Monday. 47 she came near her desk she was overjoyed to see a(n) 48 bunch of flowers there. She quickly put them in the vase, 49 the old ones.
The same thing happened again the next Monday. Nancy began to think of ways to find out the 50 .
On Tuesday afternoon, she was sent to hand in a plan to the 51 . She waited for his directives(命令)at his secretary’s 52 . She happened to see on the desk a half-opened notebook, which 53 : “ In order to keep the secretaries 54 , the company has decided that every 55 a bunch of fresh flowers should be put on each secretary’s desk.”
Later, she was told that their general manager was a business management psychologist（心理学家）.
A． depressed B． encouraged C． excited D． surprised
A． turned B． pushed C． knocked D． forced
A． last B． second C． third D． first
A． keys B． grapes C． flowers D． bananas
A． smelled B． ate C． took D． held
A． vase B． room C． glass D． bottle
A． angrily B． quietly C． strangely D． happily
A． seek B． wonder C． Work D． ask
A． low B． little C． great D． general
A． month B． period C． year D． week
A． set about B． set up C． set out D． set off
A． Unless B． When C． Since D．Before
A． old B． red C． blue D． new
A． covering B． demanding C． replacing D． forbidding
A． sender B． receiver C． secretary D． waiter
A． assistant B． colleague C． employee D． manager
A． notebook B． desk C． office D． house
A． said B． written C． printed D． signed
A． at home B． on time C． in high spirits D． in low spirits
A． Sunday morning B． Monday morning C． Monday afternoon D． Tuesday afternoon
“Daddy, can I have a piece of cake?” my oldest son asked me.
We had just been to the gym and stopped to 31 at the restaurant.
“No,” I replied, “you don’t need a piece of cake.”
My son 32 15 in a few days. He 33 over 6 feet tall. He is very slim and athletic in shape. It was not always that way. My wife wrote a book about the challenge and 34 of getting him fit. He now takes it 35 and looks as he’s never been overweight in his life.
He had a full plate of 36 and tofu. He didn’t need a piece of cake. Besides, everything in the restaurant is quite 37 . Our dinners could have 38 a family of seven at a fast food restaurant. That cake probably cost $5.
He was 39 as he looked at the delicious cakes. I had forgotten that I had walked over to the cake shelf while he was 40 his food from the buffet (自助餐).
I looked at my 41 . There sitting on the edge was a piece of 42 . I looked at it wondering but also knowing how it got there. “We will divide it,” I said.
A few days later my oldest son was with me again. We stopped at a 43 . He ordered a sandwich. I then 44 two sandwiches. He immediately barked, “Can I have two?” He wanted exactly what Daddy had.
Your kids are very likely to put on their plates, exactly what you have on yours, and I think this applies to more than food. Keep your 45 plate with only what you want your kinds to have.
A．eat B．relax C．play D．rest
A．gets B．turns C．becomes D．grows
A．appears B．stands C．seems D．shows
A．trouble B．success C．matter D．failure
A．closely B．happily C．seriously D．carefully
A．vegetables B．meat C．desserts D．cream
A．different B．good C．healthy D．expensive
A．supported B．provided C．served D．given
A．worried B．thirsty C．silent D．surprised
A．buying B．choosing C．making D．cooking
A．bowl B．spoon C．table D．plate
A．glass B．cake C．paper D．wood
A．restaurant B．gym C．shop D．hotel
A．sent B．tasted C．ordered D．brought
A．play B．rest C．study D．life
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