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Reading Comprehension
A
?Even if companies are marketing electronic toys as educational, they’re not teaching the babies anything at this time,” said a study’s author, Anna Sosa. She is a Northern Arizona University professor who heads the school’s Child Speech and Language Lab.
Sosa and her fellow researchers listened to audio(声频的) recordings of parents playing with their babies — aged 10 months to 16 months. The researchers compared the experiences when the children played with electronic toys, traditional toys such as blocks, or when the children looked at books. What they found was that parents talked less with their babies when the babies played with electronic toys. “The parents talked less, responded less and used fewer content specific words,” Sosa said.
Sosa said research showed that how quickly children developed language was often based on what they heard from parents. 揥hen the infants(c幼儿) played with electronic toys, parents said little to their children. But with traditional toys, such as blocks, parents shared the names and descriptions of the animals, colors and shapes as their children played. There was even more information given by parents as their babies looked at the pictures in books,” Sosa said. Sosa is not telling parents to throw out electronic toys. But she said parents should look at their infants’ play with such toys as entertainment, not a learning experience.
Toy Industry Association spokeswoman Adrienne Appell responded to the study. She said it was important that parents made time to play with their children. 揚laying is a way that kids can learn so much, not only cognitive skills(g认知能力), but social and developmental skills,” she said. She added that play should be balanced, including time for just “make believe” activities, as well as traditional and electronic toys.
1. Anna Sosa, the study’s author, ____.
A. thinks that electronic toys are not helping babies learn
B. advises parents to play with their infants frequently
C. thinks that traditional toys are much better than books for infants
D. thinks that 10 months to 16 months is the best time for infants to develop language
2. What method did Sosa and her fellow researchers use to conduct the study?
A. Giving examples.
B. Making comparisons.
C. Providing explanations. D. Offering analyses.
3. When infants play with traditional toys, ____.
A. they can develop language quickly
B. they can get help from their parents
C. they learn less than those who play with electronic toys
D. their parents talk much more with them than when they play with electronic toys
4. What does Adrienne Appell advise parents to do?
A. Buy traditional toys only.
B. Throw out all electronic toys.
C. Play with their children more often.
D. Read to their babies every day.
B
Students will now be able to nap (小憩) between classes, as the ASUC has just opened several napping areas across the campus. The office held a launch event for these Relaxation Enhancing Study and Tranquility, or REST Zones last week on Sproul. The first four zones will accommodate a total of about 15 students at one time.
?I really want to introduce this new mindset — that it’s OK to nap and it’s OK to take a break, especially when so many students at this school are affected by mental health issues,” said ASUC Academic Affairs Vice President Melissa Hsu.
The creation of REST Zones and their furniture was funded by the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Student Services and Fees, or CACSSF, and the Wellness Initiative Fee. CACSSF contributed $80,000 while the Wellness Initiative Fee provided an additional $12,000 directly to the zones and another $12,000 for related marketing.
Much of this funding was acquired by Hsu, who began advocating for the creation of REST Zones more than a year ago. “I noticed that people weren’t getting enough sleep, and that directly related to their mood,” Hsu said. According to Maddy Abroms, the director of the REST Zones project, in a survey on wellness, “one of the biggest complaints among students is a lack of sleep.”
One of the sources of funds, the Wellness Referendum, was passed by ASUC last spring and allocates (分配) funds for student wellness, including mental health. A $54 per-semester fee, included in student tuition (学费), goes toward the Tang Center and other mental and physical health services such as REST Zones.
Students voiced enthusiasm for REST Zones. REST Zones are intended for student use and have been placed in locations that are visited primarily by students, Hsu said. The office expects to open several more REST Zones later this semester or in fall this year.
1. How much did the Wellness Initiative Fee funded Rest Zones?
A. $80,000.
B. $12,000.
C. $92,000.
D. $24,000.
2. Which statement is WRONG about Melissa Hsu?
A. She was a supporter of Rest Zones.
B. She was the director of the REST Zones project.
C. She raised much fund for Rest Zones.
D. She paid attention to students’ mental health.
3. Besides the Wellness Initiative Fee, who also funded REST Zones?
a. CACSSF
b. the Tang Center
c. the Wellness Referendum
d. ASUC
A. bd
B. ad
C. cb
D. ac
4. What’s students’ attitude towards Rest Zones?
A. Doubtful.
B. Uncertain.
C. Positive.
D. Puzzled.
C
As the new school year begins, all those little hands in elementary school are once again at the center of a fierce debate: Is cursive(草书) writing a skill that’s still worth teaching?
One national survey of 612 elementary school teachers found 41 percent no longer had cursive writing lessons in their curriculum.
Responding to parent complaints, some states are revising the national standards and adopting their own rules. Some states bringing cursive back to the curriculum.
Some experts say handwriting continues to be an important skill for kids to learn. “There is still a value to it,” said educational psychologist Michele Borba. “I get the point that we are in a digital-driven age ... but there are times when a keyboard is not going to be sitting there glued to your hip(臀部).” Borba noted that, “When handwriting is required, it’s much easier and faster to take notes in cursive than by printing letters.” She also said, “I believe the written note is an important tradition that should continue.”
But others argue there’s no need to teach kids both print and script(笔迹). “Students should learn some form of handwriting, but printing and typing are now the most relevant skills for future success,” wrote Morgan Polikoff, an assistant professor of education.
Shell Roush, who has three sons, noted that, “her sons’ school is working on getting laptops for every child, which means lots of typed assignments. For her, cursive is not a priority(优先考虑的事) as long as her boys can do basic script writing, like signing their names. She’s more concerned that they’re able to get out their ideas, express themselves and show what they know than whether it’s printed, in cursive or typed.”
But Corinne Schmitt, whose daughter is 8 years old, thinks cursive is so important that she plans to teach it to her daughter at home now that her school no longer offers lessons. “A handwritten note carries so much value and meaning, perhaps even more now that communication is so technical,” she said. “We lose a way to know and connect with each other when we are no longer able to communicate in this way.”
1. Handwriting lessons return to some schools ____.
A. after parents screamed for them
B. though most parents are against them
C. in most elementary and secondary schools
D. but most schools have them as part of art classes
2. Why is handwriting important according to supporters?
A. We can use it to communicate more easily.
B. It can help students succeed more easily later.
C. It is more beneficial to students’ school work.
D. It is convenient and fast and has cultural value.
3. For those who are against it, the handwriting class ____.
A. has not any use value at all actually
B. is useless for children’s future careers
C. is not suitable for students of English
D. will waste the time of students’ lessons
4. What is Roush’s idea about the cursive writing class?
A. Students should write both in cursive and typed.
B. She is firmly against having the class in schools.
C. Schools shouldn’t give students typed assignments.
D. The way of writing is not very important to kids.
Cloze Test
A
Jumoke Orisaguna is a mother of two who used to walk the streets of Lagos, Nigeria selling bread. Working from 2:30 pm to 11:00 pm selling the
1
, Jumoke would make less than $20 each day. Now she’s about to become a top
2
, who has signed for a modeling agency and is gaining international
3
and prominence(名声).
Famous photographer Bello is the man who changed Jumoke’s
4
. A few days ago, Bello was photographing UK popstar Tinie Tempah
5
Jumoke walked into the shot(镜头). “She seemed a little
6
,” says Bello. “Some people were asking her to walk past quickly; others were asking her to
7
. So she just didn’t know what to do. I said ‘Is it OK to take your
8
?’ And with a hesitation she
9
. I didn’t think I made a great image,” Bello says, “but once she
10
the photographs on social media, interest in Jumoke
11
.” “When the photographs appeared on social media, everyone
12
thought she was a model,” Bello explains. “No one
13
she was just a bread seller. It occurred to me that if everyone thought she should be a model then maybe she should be one, then the search for her began.”
Jumoke
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a contract(合同) with Few Models. Her face will appear on billboards(广告牌) after landing a contract. She becomes famous in the world. “I
15
expected this would ever happen to me,” says Jumoke Orisaguna. 揗y friends have told me they saw me otn TV and they are really
16
. My parents can’t believe their own child can become so
17
. They are all so happy.”
Now the mum of two has been given a scholarship to complete her
18
, and a bank has offered to pay for schooling for her two children until university age. “Everyone connected with the story because everybody has dreams,” says Bello. “Everyone is
19
the magical break of their life ... I think this is very
20
because the way people have connected with it is extraordinary. It’s an extraordinary story.”
1. A. clothing B. food
C. drinks
D. flowers
2. A. model
B. cook
C. student
D. artist
3. A. wealth
B. knowledge
C. confidence
D. reputation
4. A. nature B. mind
C. fate
D. attitude
5. A. when
B. because
C. until
D. though
6. A. disappointed
B. confused
C. worried
D. funny
7. A. leave
B. perform
C. escape
D. stay
8. A. luggage
B. bag
C. photograph D. bread
9. A. refused
B. agreed
C. continued
D. responded
10. A. started B. avoided
C. called
D. posted
11. A. exploded
B. spread
C. disappeared
D. decreased
12. A. gradually
B. hurriedly
C. immediately
D. finally
13. A. expected
B. believed
C. imagined
D. noticed
14. A. prepared
B. found
C. changed
D. signed
15. A. hardly
B. only
C. never
D. also
16. A. excited
B. upset
C. annoyed
D. content
17. A. powerful
B. mysterious
C. independent
D. successful
18. A. education
B. challenge
C. request
D. chance
19. A. getting to
B. giving up
C. looking for
D. talking about
20. A. important
B. wonderful
C. crazy
D. worthwhile
B
Liao Yifeng is a police officer who works in a remote village in Wuhan, Hubei Province. He is a
1
to 39 left-behind children, whose parents are working far away from home and
2
spend time with them.
Wan Tianle, an 8-year-old boy, was the first to call Liao Dad. Wan’s parents
3
when he was only 6 months old. He was raised by his uncle after his parents’ death, whose family was
4
. Upon learning the boy couldn’t even
5
the 100 yuan monthly school living fees, Liao felt
6
and began going to his home every
7
, bringing 100 yuan. During last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, Liao
8
the boy to his home. After dinner, the boy put his arm around Liao’s neck and
9
shyly, “Uncle Liao, can I call you daddy?” Liao was deeply
10
with tears in his eyes. He made up his mind to be a good father.
Liao has built a special room named “family love room”, which is
11
with children’s books, tables and desks for doing homework. A
12
in the “family love room” plays an important role
13
it offers an opportunity for Liao to help children whose parents are working far away to
