Last week, Education Secretary Arne Duncan declared war on paper textbooks. “Over the next few years,” he said in a speech at the National Press Club, “textbooks should be abandoned.” In their place would come a variety of digital-learning technologies, like e-readers and multi-media websites.
Such technologies certainly have their place. But Secretary Duncan is threatening to light a fire to a tried-and-true technology—good old paper—that has been the foundation for one of the great educational systems on the planet. And while e-readers and multi-media websites may seem appealing, the idea of replacing an effective learning platform with a widely hyped (炒作) but still unproven one is extremely dangerous.
An expert on reading, Maryanne Wolf, has recently begun studying the effects of digital reading on learning, and so far the results are mixed. She worries that Internet reading, in particular, could be such a source of distractions(分散注意力) for students that they may cancel out most other potential benefits of a Web-linked, e-learning environment and while it's true that the high-tech industry has sponsored substantial amounts of research on the potential benefits of Web-based learning, not enough time has passed for longitudinal(纵向的) studies to demonstrate the full effects.
In addition, digital-reading advocates claim that lightweight e-books benefit students' backs and save schools money. But the rolling backpack seems to have solved the weight problem, and the shocking costs to outfit every student with an e-reader, provide technical support and pay for regular software updates promise to make the e-textbook a very pricey choice.
As both a teacher who uses paper textbooks and a student of urban history, I can't help but wonder what parallels exist between my own field and this sudden, wholesale abandonment of the technology of paper.
1.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Multi-media websites and good old paper are kinds of digital-learning technologies.
B. Digital learning technologies will replace the paper textbooks sooner or later.
C. E-readers and multi-media websites are learning methods that are proved effective.
D. A tried-and-true technology is paper textbooks, long used in educational system.
2.What is the drawback of paper textbooks according to the passage?
A. Their weight. B. Their price.
C. Their content. D. Their appearance.
3.What worries Maryanne Wolf is that ________.
A. paper learning can provide more potential benefits
B. students may not focus on learning by digital reading
C. digital reading can't provide potential benefits for users
D. the results of digital reading effects are understandable
4.What is the author's attitude towards digital-learning?
A. Disapproving. B. Supportive.
C. Positive. D. Objective.
Here is a record of the discussion about AI (artificial intelligence) conducted by several scientists:
Scientist A: I would say that we are quite a long way off developing the AI, though I do think it will happen within the next thirty or forty years. We will probably remain in control of technology and it will help us solve many of the world’s problems. However, no one really knows what will happen if machines become more intelligent than humans. They may help us, ignore us or destroy us. I tend to believe AI will have a positive influence on our future lives, but whether that is true will be partly up to us.
Scientist B: I have to admit that the potential consequences of creating something that can match or go beyond human intelligence frighten me. Even now, scientists are teaching computers how to learn on their own. At some point in the near future, their intelligence may well take off and develop at an ever-increasing speed. Human beings evolve biologically very slowly and we would be quickly substituted. In the short term, there is the danger that robots will take over millions of human jobs, creating a large underclass of unemployed people. This could mean large-scale poverty and social unrest. In the long term machines might decide the world would be better without humans.
Scientist C: I’m a member of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. Forget the movie image of a terrifying Terminator stamping on human skulls and think of what’s happening right now: military machines like drones, gun turrets and sentry robots are already being used to kill with very little human input. The next step will be autonomous “murderbots” following orders but finally deciding who to kill on their own. It seems clear to me that this would be extremely dangerous for humans. We need to be very cautious indeed about what we ask machines to do.
1.What is Scientist B worried about?
A. AI technology will destroy the earth. B. Robots will take the place of humans.
C. Computers can’t think by themselves. D. Humans will be unhappy without machines.
2.What does the underlined word “this” in the last paragraph refer to?
A. I launched the campaign to Stop Killer Robots.
B. We forget the movie image of a terrifying Terminator.
C. “Murderbots” will be against humans’ orders.
D. “Murderbots” can’t decide by themselves.
3.Which statement is CORRECT according to the record?
A. The employment will be affected by AI technology in the future.
B. Scientist A thinks AI technology will never develop.
C. “Murderbots” will follow the orders of their manufacturers in the wars.
D. All the three scientists agree that AI technology will benefit human beings.
4.Who agree(s) AI has more negative aspects than positive aspects?
A. Scientist A. B. Scientists B & C.
C. Scientist B. D. Scientists B & A.
A young man wandered through the desert for forty days until he reached a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain. There lived the sage(圣人) that he was looking for.
With considerable patience, the sage listened attentively to the reason for the boy’s visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have time to explain to him the secret of happiness.
He suggested that the young man take a walk around his palace and come back in two hours’ time. “However, I want to ask you a favor,” he added, banding the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. “While you walk, carry this spoon and don’t let the oil spill.”
The young man began to climb up and down the palace staircases, always keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. At the end of two hours he returned to the presence of the wise man.
“So,” asked the sage, “did you see the Persian tapestries(挂毯)hanging in my dining room? Did you see the fantastic garden that the Master of Gardeners spent ten years in creating?”
Embarrassed, the young man admitted that he had seen nothing.
“So, go back and see the wonders of my world,” said the wise man. “You can’t trust a man if you don’t know his house.”
Now more at ease, the young man took the spoon and wandered again through the palace, this time paying attention to all the works of art that hung from the ceilings and walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around the palace, and the delicacy of the flowers. Returning to the sage, he reported in detail what he had seen.
“But where are the two drops of oil that I entrusted to you?” asked the Sage.
Looking down at the spoon, the young man realized that he had spilled the oil.
“Well, that is the only advice I have to give you,” said the sage. “The secret of happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world and never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.”
1.What was the intention of the young man to travel to look for the sage?
A. To appreciate the most beautiful scenery along the way.
B. To experience adventures of the outside world.
C. To learn the secret of happiness from the wisest man.
D. To figure out whether the sage was knowledgeable or not.
2.Which of the following statements is wrong?
A. The sage listened to the young man with patience.
B. The young man made it as the sage had expected.
C. During his second round of wandering, the young man appreciated the wonders of the castle.
D. The young man was too concerned about the oil when he first went around the castle.
3.Why did the sage ask the young man to go around his castle with a spoon of two drops of oil?
A. Because he wanted to find out whether the young man was perseverant(坚持不懈的)in accomplishing his goals.
B. Because he intended to let the young man know that happiness came at a price.
C. Because he wanted to help the young man to uncover the secret of happiness in an indirect way.
D. Because he wanted to let the young man trust him.
4.What can we learn from the story?
A. Real happiness consists in enjoying our rights and meanwhile fulfilling our duties.
B. We can’t trust a man unless we get familiar with his house.
C. The search for the secret of happiness demands our devotion.
D. It’s not easy to keep balance between enjoyment and commitment.
Assistant professor in Musical Theatre Dance Wichita State University seeks a full-time， 9-month assistant professor， beginning in August． Applicants are required to have a degree in dance area， teaching experience at a professional or college level， ability to direct and teach stage movement． The salary depends on qualifications and experience．
For complete information visit http://finearts．wichita．edu．
Full Professor in Theatre and Dance
The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of California at San Diego （http： ∥www． theatre， ucsd．edu） is seeking an experienced theatre artist in lighting design． Applicants must work for us for at least one year． Significant professional experience is required． This position is expected to teach at both graduate and undergraduate levels．
A review of applications will start on June 1st． Application deadline： September 1st．
Technical Director in Performing and Fine Arts
DeSales University's Performing and Fine Arts Department seeks a highly skilled， professional technical director． The position is a 10-month staff position with the possibility of summer employment with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival． Professional experience is required； MFA is preferred．
Please email materials to john． bell desales．edu． Screening of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled．
Assistant Director-Media Resources Center
Maryland Institute College of Art is seeking an assistant director of Media Resources Center in the Academic Affairs Division．
Qualifications for the position include a degree in Art History or related fields with knowledge of art and design history， library experience， excellent interpersonal communication skills and familiarity with photoshop and scanning．
A review of applications will begin immediately； job announcements will remain open until the position is filled． Applicants are required to work for us at least 11 months and can send emails to jobs mica．edu． The salary differs depending on your experience． Please include your desired salary in your application letter．
1.If an applicant has 9.5-month free time， he or she can pay close attention to the ad of ______ ．
A. Assistant Professor in Musical Theatre Dance
B. Full Professor in Theatre and Dance
C. Technical Director in Performing and Fine Arts
D. Assistant Director Media Resources Center
2.If you have excellent interpersonal communication skills， you can apply to ______ ．
A. Wichita State University B. the University of California
C. Maryland Institute College of Art D. DeSales University
3.According to the advertisements， we can learn that ______ ．
A. all the job announcements will remain open until the positions are filled
B. all the jobs mentioned above promise a good salary
C. all the reviews of applications will begin immediately
D. all the jobs mentioned in the text require experience
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Where will the matches be played this season?
A. At Royal Park. B. At King's Park. C. At Gold Park.
2.When will the seniors play the matches?
A. On Saturday afternoons. B. On Saturday mornings. C. On Wednesday afternoons.
3.What is Jason?
A. The new president. B. The new accountant. C. The head coach.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is the maximum number of people who can join the tour?
A. Thirteen. B. Fifteen. C. Sixteen.
2.Which month is it probably now?
A. March B. April. C. June.
3.What activity has no extra cost?
A. Going to a reptile park. B. Going on a fishing trip.
C. Having a bushwalk.
4.What does the man prefer to do?
A. Play table tennis. B. Go bowling. C. Play badminton.
