New Jersey Middle School Makes Students Go Phone-Free
A middle school in Union County, New Jersey, is forcing its students to stay disconnected in class, by prohibiting cellphones. Maxson Middle School Principal Kevin Stansbury put forward the phone ban last week after he noticed some major issues in the school. “Our test scores were down, discipline was up,” he says. According to him, students were too focused on their phones to pay attention to their lessons. So, he purchased Yondr pouches for the school.
Yondr pouch
When students come into class each morning, they place their phones in the pouch, which is then locked up tight. It can only be opened using a special device at the end of the day. The ban on mobile devices applies not just during class time but during breaks, with the only exceptions being in times of emergency or in cases of students who need such devices to help with disabilities.
Eighth-graders who spoke with News 12 New Jersey say that they noticed a change in a matter of hours. “It’s just better for everyone because you’ll understand how it feels to get more work done instead of paying attention to the phone,” says student Charlene V. “I’m usually listening to music, but today I got to communicate with all my friends,” says student Desiree Duncan.
The program was originally met with resistance from students and parents, so the process was not that smooth. But teachers and administrators say that the program will have a major impact. “Students were talking and laughing and there were no cellphones other than being carried in the pouches,” Stansbury says.
Teacher Nia Cummings says she even noticed students bouncing ideas off each other in class. She says students used to give up quickly and just look for answers on their phones. She says they now try to figure it out themselves. “Everyone is socializing and eating lunch together. That’s what I wasn’t seeing enough of when phone usage was at its worst,” she adds.
Maxson Middle School is currently the only one in the district to use these pouches. Kevin Stansbury also called on all the schools in the community that it’s worth paying close attention to cellphone issues at secondary schools and taking actions when necessary.
1.Maxson Middle School put forward the phone ban because students _____.
A.weren’t focused on school work B.were always listening to music
C.used phones to cheat on exams D.stopped talking with others
2.What did the two eighth-graders tell the newspaper?
A.Opposition from students. B.Teamwork with friends.
C.Daily routine at school. D.Effect of the program.
3.According to Nia Cummings, what change has the phone ban brought?
A.Students discuss more in class. B.Students finish their work on time.
C.Students guess the answers themselves. D.Students check messages during the break.
4.It can be inferred from the passage that the phone ban _____.
A.has brought little change to teaching and learning
B.has gained support from every student and parent
C.might be carried out in other schools in the community
D.might have good influence on students'health conditions
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A.excellent costumes B.experienced actors
C.attractive story D.beautiful songs
2.Which of the following musicals would most probably catch the eye of both kids and adults?
A.The Phantom of the Opera. B.Matilda The Musical.
C.School of Rock. D.Thriller–Live.
3.What is the main purpose of the passage?
A.To analyze musicals. B.To criticize musicals.
C.To advertise musicals. D.To evaluate musicals.
Ekaterina is a famous skater. She ____ the activity of skating at the age of 4. Since then, she has been devoted to one career that drives her life and ____ beauty, and romance into lives of millions of others.
When she was 11, she found a ____ partner, Sergei Grinkov, 15 years old then, with whom she could perform that activity in the most expressive, most elegant way. They were the most winning pair skaters on the ice in every way: The tiny fragile Ekaterina, in the ____ of her tall, strong, handsome partner, lovingly launched into the ____, tenderly caught, and beautifully skated around the ice.
Gradually, the two of them ____ together into a dream couple and the most beautiful kind of loving relationship. When she was 19, she married him. They had a daughter, a charming girl they both loved and protected. And then, ____ in 1995, during a routine practice session, her mate, her love, her partner, Sergei Grinkov, stopped, fell and died of a heart attack at 28.
Ekaterina’s world seemed to end. It was her mum who lit her ____ to start remaking her life by saying “Little Dasha, having lost a father, needs at least a healthy mother.” This reminded her to ask a friend to send her ____ which had been left in the corner for a long time. Later she said in her book ‘‘____ is the only thing that can help people recover.’’ In February 1996, Ekaterina skated a moving tribute (悼念) to Sergei, which she ____ to the music of Mahler’s Symphony No.5, the couple’s favorite. She was ____ at the beginning, because it had been a long time since she had skated alone. And she was afraid of the ____ the piece would recall. But that night, she did it. She filled up the ____ with her courage.
No one who saw Ekaterina’s that night would forget her performance, just as she would never forget Sergei. But everyone was already learning, as she already learned, that ____ “goodbye” was the beginning of her new life.
1.A.started B.learned C.marked D.watched
2.A.drags B.brings C.pulls D.attracts
3.A.quiet B.brave C.lovely D.perfect
4.A.palms B.memory C.arms D.dream
5.A.earth B.sky C.air D.space
6.A.broke B.talked C.grew D.studied
7.A.naturally B.suddenly C.immediately D.obviously
8.A.determination B.imagination C.curiosity D.career
9.A.gifts B.pictures C.books D.skates
10.A.Interest B.Work C.Medicine D.Ambition
11.A.sang B.applied C.adjusted D.performed
12.A.nervous B.relieved C.happy D.disappointed
13.A.words B.ideas C.emotions D.moves
14.A.ice B.match C.chance D.gap
15.A.crazy B.sad C.long D.favorite
听下面一段独白, 根据题目要求在相应的横线上写下关键信息。每小题仅填写一个词。
A Personal Shopper | |
Job Responsibility | Provide expert 1. and give personal customer service |
Provide advanced knowledge of 2., services, and trends | |
Working Procedure | Come to your home or office |
Make a list of all the 3. you want to shop for | |
Decide what gift would be 4. | |
Pick out gifts | |
Phone No. | 5. |
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is troubling the high school student?
A.Poor school scoring. B.Having no real friends. C.Lack of personal space.
2.Who are expected to attend the meeting?
A.Parents. B.Students. C.Teachers.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What will the man do tonight?
A.Send a report. B.Order a taxi. C.Play golf.
2.Where is the woman?
A.At the hotel. B.At the office. C.At the airport.
