Question

    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 can be confirmed. Students also find them more fascinating.

The loss of handwriting also may be a cognitive 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 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

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.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章指出计算机键盘正威胁着整个书写体系的消亡，越来越多的学生难以读和写草写字母。书法是很有价值的，年轻时的良好书写技能可以帮助孩子更好地表达他们的想法——这对他们一生都有好处。同时想拥有更好的书写技能并不需要花费太多。

1.

细节理解题。根据第一段中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.可知当2011年的SAT考试引入手写作文时，150万学生中只有15%用草书字母写答案。其余的人呢？印刷体。由此可知，2011年SAT考试结束后，作者关心的是书写。故选C。

2.

推理判断题。根据第五段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 can be confirmed. Students also find them more fascinating.可知在弗吉尼亚大学，研究人员最近发现了一首Robert以前不为人知的诗，是用他独特的手稿写的。历史学家说，手写文件对研究人员来说更有价值，因为它们的真实性可以被证实。学生们也发现它们更吸引人。由此可推知，文章中提到Robert的一首诗是用来证明书法的价值的。故选A。

3.

推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中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.可知教更好的书写技巧并不需要花费太多。在乔治王子县的一些学校，小学生每天使用15分钟的“Handwriting Without Tears”程序。由此可推知，Handwriting Without Tears的例子有助于论证，教更好的书写技能并不需要花费太多。故选C。

4.

推理判断题。根据第二段中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.可知而这些有望上大学的学生只是美国学生中的第一批，这些学生在小学阶段不再得到太多的手写指导，通常是每天10分钟甚至更少。以及倒数第二段中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.可知在乔治王子县的一些学校，小学生每天使用15分钟的“Handwriting Without Tears”程序。他们从二年级开始学习手写字母的正确结构，三年级开始学习草书字母的正确结构。由此可推知，文章中反复提到从小学阶段学生就开始练习书法，可推知作者认为，小学是学习书法的最佳时间。故选B。