The computer keyboard helped kill shorthand---a system of rapid handwriting, and now it's threatening to finish off handwriting as a whole. When handwritten essays were introduced on the SAT exams for the class of 2011, just 15% of the most 1.5 million students wrote their answers in cursive (草写字母）.The rest? Block letters.
And those college hopefuls are just the first edge of a wave of US students who no longer get much handwriting instructions in the primary grades, frequently 10 minutes a day or less. As a result, more and more students struggle to read and write cursive.
At Keene Mill Elementary School in Springfield, all their poems and stories are typed. Children in Fairfax County schools are taught keyboarding beginning in kindergarten. Older students who never mastered handwriting say it doesn't affect their grades.
There are those who say the culture is at a crossing, turning from the written word to the typed one. If handwriting becomes a lost form of communication, does it matter?
It was at University of Virginia that researchers recently discovered a previously unknown poem by Robert, written in his unique script. Handwritten documents are more valuable to researchers, historians say, because their authenticity (真实性）can be confirmed. Students also find them more fascinating.
The loss of handwriting also may be a cognitive (认知的）opportunity missed. Several academic studies have found that good handwriting skills at a young age can help children express their thoughts better-a lifelong benefit.
It doesn't take much to teach better handwriting skills. At some schools in Prince George's County, elementary school students use a program called Handwriting Without Tears for 15 minutes a day. They learn the correct formation of manuscript letters through second grade, and cursive letters in third grade.
There are always going to be some kids who struggle with handwriting because of their particular neurological (神经系统的)wiring, learning issues or poor motor skills. Educators often point to this factor in support of keyboarding.
1.What is the author concerned about after 2011 SAT exams?
A. Keyboarding. B. Shorthand
C. Handwriting. D. Block letters.
2.A poem by Robert mentioned in the passage is used to _________.
A. prove how valuable handwriting is
B. explain what a famous poet he is
C. show how unique his poem is
D. stress how fascinating the documents are
3.The example of Handwriting Without Tears helps to argue that_________.
A. the schools are responsible for the loss of handwriting
B. the loss of handwriting is a cognitive opportunity missed xKb 1.Com
C. it doesn't take much to teach better handwriting skills
D. the culture is turning from the written word to the typed one
4. According to the author, when is a perfect time to learn handwriting?
A. Kindergarten. B. Primary school. C. High school. D. College.
5.What is the author’s attitude towards this debate?
A. Devotion. B. Encouragement. C. critical. D. Objective.
Have you ever picked a job based on the fact that you were good at it but later found it made you feel very uncomfortable over time? When you select your career, there's a whole lot more to it than assessing your skills and matching them with a particular position. If you ignore your personality, it will hurt you long-term regardless of your skills or the job's pay. There are several areas of your personality that you need to consider to help you find a good job. Here are a few of those main areas;
1) Do you prefer working alone or with other people?
There are isolating jobs that will drive an outgoing person crazy and also interactive jobs that will make a shy person uneasy. Most people are not extremes in either direction but do have a tendency that they prefer. There are also positions that are sometimes a combination of the two, which may be best for someone in the middle who adapts easily to either situation.
2) How do you handle change?
Most jobs these days have some elements of change to them, but some are more than others. If you need stability in your life, you may need a job where the changes don't happen so often. Other people would be bored of the same daily routine.
3) Do you enjoy working with computers？
I do see this as a kind of personality characteristic. There are people who are happy to spend more than 40 hours a week on a computer, while there are others who need a lot of human interaction throughout the day. Again, these are extremes and you'll likely find a lot of positions somewhere in the middle as well.
4) What type of work environment do you enjoy？
This can range from being in a large building with a lot of people you won't know immediately to a smaller setting where you'll get to know almost all the people there fairly quickly.
5) How do you like to get paid?
Some people are motivated by the pay they get, while others feel too stressed to be like that. The variety of payment designs in the sales industry is a typical example for this.
Anyway, these are a great starting point for you. I've seen it over and over again with people that they make more money over time when they do something they love. It may take you a little longer, but making a move to do what you have a passion for can change the course of your life for the better.
1.What does the underlined sentence in paragraph one mean?
A. Before you select your job, you should assess your skills and match them with your position.
B. There are more important things than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select jobs.
C. Nothing is important than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select job.
D.You should ignore your skills when you select job.
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Isolating usually drive people mad.
B. Interactive jobs make people shy easily.
C. Extreme people tend to work with others.
D. Almost everyone has a tendency in jobs.
3.The underlined word “stability” in the passage most probably means?
A. no movement. B. no anger. C. gentleness. D. enthusiasm.
4.In a job search, what quality is not mentioned in the passage?
A. Outgoing. B. Motivated. C. Cooperative. D. Passionate.
5.What could be the best title for this passage?
A. Lifestyles and Job Pay B. Jobs and Environment
C. Job Skills and Abilities D. Personalities and Jobs
Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her three-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They find out that the new baby is going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sings to his sister in Mommy's tummy.
The pregnancy progresses normally for Karen. But complications arise during delivery. Finally, Michael's little sister is born. But she is in serious condition. With siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushes the infant to the intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital.
The little girl gets worse. The doctor tells the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst." Karen and her husband have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby — now they plan a funeral.
Michael, keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he says. But kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. However, Karen makes up her mind. She will take Michael whether they like it or not. “If he doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive.” She dresses him in an oversized scrub suit and marches him into ICU. The head nurse recognizes him as a child and bellows, "Get that kid out of here now! " The mother, the usually mild-mannered lady glares steel-eyed into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Karen tows Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. And he begins to sing.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray”
Instantly the baby girl responds. The pulse rate becomes calm and steady.
"You never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away "
The ragged, strained breathing becomes as smooth as a kitten's purr.
Keep on singing, Michael. Tears conquer the face of the bossy head nurse as well as Karen.
Funeral plans are scrapped. The next, day — the very next day — the little girl is well enough to go home!
NEVER GIVE UP THE ONE WE LOVE!
1.How did Michal’s feel when he knew that he was going to have a sister?
A. indifferent. B. worried. C. expectant. D. disappointed.
2.The doctor recommended the family ___________.
A. get ready for the worst result.
B. wait for the hope in the near future.
C. prepare much more money for the infant.
D. prepare for another chance in other hospitals.
3.Which word can best replace the underlined word in Paragraph 4?
A. pointed. B. yelled. C. whispered. D. ignored.
4.What happened when Michael sang to his little sister?
A. The little baby responded to his song and woke up immediately.
B. The baby heard the song and burst into tears.
C. The baby’s physical signs disappeared eventually.
D. The baby recovered from the dangerous state of coma gradually.
5.What could be the best title of the article?
A. An unexpected gift. B. A miracle of love.
C. A iron-mother. D. A medical success.
Anyone who owns a car knows that we should maintain the car and fill it with fuel of good quality. To keep it looking good, we occasionally take it 1. a wash. If we abuse the car, it won’t take us where we want to go. 2. it is with our body and soul. The body is just like a vehicle to do the soul’s building. 3. the body is full of energy, it can help open up the soul. Some deeper life issues will become easy for us. Just 4. we learn to maintain a car, we ought to learn how to maintain the body. There must be 5. balance between enjoying ourselves and working. For one thing, we don’t need to be a slave. 6. can sometimes refresh the body so that our soul can accomplish more. For 7. , we have to be in control. Enjoy the pleasure, 8. don’t be addicted to it. Only when our body is at full power can the “will-power” go further.
On Friday morning, I was waiting in the corridor with my class for the physics exam. Glancing back from the front of the queue, I found my best friend Terry, who was treating me like I didn’t exist during the past two weeks, 36 all my calls and messages.
With all the students seated in the exam room, Mr. Reed, our physics teacher, talked to the class and announced the exam. I hated physics and felt it hard to 37 my paper. I was just looking up when a 38 caught my eye. I could hardly believe it! Terry had her phone on her left knee and she was reading from it. Is that how Terry always got good 39 ? I almost put my hand up to tell the teacher, but what would everyone else think of her? However, it wasn’t 40 ! So I nodded to Mr. Reed. He walked 41 down the row of tables. Terry was busy with her phone so that she didn’t even find Mr. Reed had 42 her. She looked up from her phone with a frightened expression. Before she had a chance to explain, Mr. Reed took her 43 and told her to leave the room. Terry started crying as she walked to the door, looking back over her shoulder at me, sad and ashamed.
After the exam, I received a text message from Terry, saying “I’m really 44 that I’ve been avoiding you lately but it’s been the hardest two weeks of my life. My dad has a heart attack and he’s been in hospital. He has a(n) 45 today and I am really worried. I know it is stupid, but I was trying to send a text message to my mum to see how it was going. Then Mr. Reed caught me and thought I was 46 . I wish I’d told you what’s been happening. I know I shouldn’t 47 who my friends are. Will you forgive me?” At these words, from my deep heart sprang up a burst of guilt along with the belief: Friendship is an honor and a gift, and worth the effort to treasure.
1.A. ignoring B. receiving C. answering D. preserving
2.A. hand out B. give up C. throw away D. concentrate on
3.A. mistake B. movement C. mark D. sentence
4.A. spirits B. preparations C. grades D. questions
5.A. serious B. difficult C. fair D. helpful
6.A. silently B. nervously C. happily D. bravely
7.A. left B. reached C. passed D. followed
8.A. advice B. guidebook C. place D. paper
9.A. sorry B. angry C. glad D. lucky
10.A. competition B. interview C. speech D. operation
11.A. learning B. cheating C. relaxing D. calling
12.A. mind B. forgive C. forget D. persuade
When young, work with every fiber of your being and when old, you’ll have little left _____ about.
A. to complain B. complaining
C. having complained D. to have complained
