TeenagersinEnglanddomanyofthes-优题课

Are you a media addict who would go mad after two hours without TV, friend requests, exciting online games and your mobile or would you easily survive?
Recently, university students around the world were asked to volunteer in a global experiment called Unplugged. It was designed to see how young people would react if they were asked to observe a total media ban （禁令）by unplugging （切断）all forms of media devices for 24 hours.
Unplugged is being run by Dr. Roman Gerodimos, a lecturer in Communication and Journalism at Bournemouth University. Dr. Gerodimos said there were already signs of how much the exercise affected volunteers. " They're reporting withdrawal symptoms （脱瘾症状），overeating, feeling nervous, lonely and disconnected. "
During the 24-hour experiment, three of the experiment's guinea pigs had to bear one intrusion （扰乱）from the media ： a BBC reporter and cameraman who followed them around for the day. They were asked to write down 100 lines about their day off-line, but of course, they all waited until the next day when they had access to their laptops.
Elliot Day wrote，"Today, my whole morning routine （常规）was thrown up into the air. Despite being aware of the social importance of the media, I was surprised by how empty my life felt without the radio or newspapers. "
And Charlotte Gay wrote，" I have to say the most difficult item for me to be without has been my mobile; not only is it a social tool, but also it's my main access point of communication. "
Earlier in the year, a UK government study found that in the UK we spend about half our waking hours using the media, often plugged into several things at once.
So, with technology continuing to develop at an alarming rate, how much time will you set aside for sleep in the future?
What's the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．o ask for information.	B．To entertain the readers.
C．To lead to the topic.	D．To present an idea.

About Dr. Roman Gerodimos' experiment, we know that __________.

A．volunteers felt uncomfortable in it

B．three pigs were included in it

C．a BBC reporter discussed the experiment

D．volunteers were allowed to take their laptops

The underlined expression "was thrown up into the air" in the fifth paragraph means __________.

A．went on normally	B．was completely disturbed
C．turned out perfectly	D．was badly designed

Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?

A．Surviving without the media.

B．Unplugging your life.

C．Valuing social communication.

D．Setting aside time for sleep.

Success is often measured by the ability to overcome adversity. But, it is often the belief of others that gives us the courage to try.
J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, began writing at age 6. In her biography, she remembers with great fondness when her good friend, Sean, whom she met in secondary school, became the first person to encourage her and help build the confidence that one day she would be a very good writer.
"He was the first person with whom I really discussed my serious ambition to be a writer. He was also the only person who thought I was bound to be a success at it, which pieant much more to me than I ever told him at the time. "
Despite many setbacks Rowling persevered in her writing, particularly fantasy stories. But it wasn't until 1990 that she first conceived the idea about Harry Potter. As she recalls, it was on a long train journey from London to Manchester that " the idea of Harry Potter simply fell into my head. To my immense frustration （沮丧），I didn't have a functioning pen with me, and I was too shy to ask anybody if I could borrow one. I think, now, that this was probably a good thing, because I simply sat and thought, for four （delayed train） hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain, and this scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who didn't know he was a wizard became more and more real to me. "
That same year, her mother passed away after a ten-year battle with multiple sclerosis, which deeply affected her writing. She went on to marry and had a daughter, but separated from her husband shortly afterwards.
During this time, Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression. Unemployed, she completed her first novel in area cafes, where she could get her daughter to fall asleep. After being rejected by 12publishing houses, the first Harry Potter novel was sold to a small British publishing house.
Now with seven books that have sold nearly 400 million copies in 64 languages, J. K. Rowling is the highest earning novelist in history. And it all began with her commitment to writing that was fostered by the confidence of a friend ！
Rowling first came up with the idea about Harry Potter __________.

A．at the age of 6

B．on a train journey

C．after her mother's death

D．in her secondary school

She felt frustrated on the train because __________.

A．her train was delayed for four hours

B．she didn't have a pen with her

C．her mind suddenly went blank

D．no one would offer her help

It can be concluded from Paragraph 5 and 6 that Rowling is __________.

A．open-minded	B．warm-hearted
C．good-natured	D．strong-willed

The text mainly tells us __________.

A．hardship makes a good novelist

B．the courage to try is a special ability

C．you can have a wonderful idea everywhere

D．encouragement contributes to one's success

Technology has totally transformed our ability to communicate with each other. Linking to each other both literally and figuratively, many of us connect through cell phones, email, instant messaging, blogs, and networking web sites, yet we may be less connected to each other than we think.
According to a study, Americans are becoming increasingly socially isolated （孤立的）. The study suggests, for example, that one quarter of Americans say that they have no one to discuss important personal issues with, and that the number of close friends that Americans have has dropped from three to two. Meanwhile, the Boston Globe reports that this spreading isolation is experienced more sharply among those with less education, people of color, and older Americans. Unsurprisingly, those who are young, white, and well educated tend to have stronger social networks.
From my own experience I have to say that I've never felt more connected, thanks to a web of friends, family, and colleagues. One of my closest friends is someone I met through an online discussion group who lives hundreds of miles away from me. We have met face-to-face only twice, yet our regular electronic correspondence and cell phone calls maintain our close friendship. And, speaking of blogging, my blog has introduced me to people I would never have met otherwise and has led to enduring and important friendships.
On the other hand, I recently saw a scene unfold that proved to me how deeply disconnected we as Americans have become. I had just wrapped up a presentation on mediation at a family therapy （治疗）center.
As I was leaving, I noticed a mother and her teenage son who had just completed their session with their family therapist. After making their next appointment, they both took out their cell phones, placed calls, and began loud conversations with whoever was on the other end. I walked out behind them to the parking lot to my car. They both jumped into their cars, and, as I saw them drive off, they were still talking on their cell phones.
But, alas, not to each other.
What does the passage lead you to believe?

A．Americans are more socially connected today.

B．Americans are more socially isolated today.

C．Technology plays a bigger role in American society.

D．Americans don't make good use of technology.

Which of the following has nothing to do with the isolation among Americans?

A．Age.	B．Education.
C．Skin color.	D．Sex.

What is true about the mother and son in the passage?

A．They came for therapy in the same car.

B．They were quite close to each other.

C．There was not much communication between them.

D．They preferred talking to each other on cell phones.

The author probably feels __________ with the mother and son.

A．puzzled	B．disappointed
C．amused	D．surprised

Mozart was a great man born with a given talent. He was writing songs at the age of five and performing before the queen by the time he was six years old. Early on, Mozart realized what his talents were, practiced or honed what he was born to do and used his natural abilities to create amazing pieces of music.
Mozart was not the first to be born with natural talents and he wasn't the last. We all have them. We only need to discover what they are and use them to the best of our abilities. You have been given amazing gifts that are meant to be shared with the world. Your job is to find out what those talents are and master them.
Finding your natural talents may not be an easy task. Perhaps your parents except fewer wouldn't approve of （赞成）your artistic ability to paint or sing, because they want you to be a successful doctor or lawyer. Maybe your gift wouldn't seem to have the ability to bring the kind of wealth you hope. These may be excuses; it's up to you. Have you ever noticed that when you engage in an activity in which you are naturally talented, you feel active and excited? That's a sign that these are the things you should do. Discover your brilliance （才华）in life and practice, practice, practice.
Look at the world's greatest athletes. They practice what they're naturally good at, and what they love. You don't see Jordan sitting trying to study DNA. If that was something he was talented at, that's what he would be doing. But it's not. He's a brilliant athlete. He sticks to what he does best and he realizes his dream.
There are only two steps to success-discover your brilliance and perfect it.
In the writer's opinion Mozart's success lies in __________.

A．his great given talent

B．making good use of his natural talent

C．learning from others

D．his favorable conditions

What does the underlined word " honed" in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．To do something repeatedly to improve one's skill.

B．To find out what one is always good at doing.

C．To do what one likes and what is interesting.

D．To ask others for some advice of doing something.

In Paragraph 4 the writer advises us to __________.

A．work hard at what we are engaging in

B．fear no difficulty and realize our dream

C．practice what we are naturally good at

D．become a great athlete like Jordan

When something goes wrong, it can be very satisfying to say，"Well, it's so-and-so's fault. " or " I know I'm late, but it's not my fault; the car broke down. " It is probably not your fault, but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation, you are a loser. You have no power and could do noting that helps change the situation. However, you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to remedy the situation. This is the winner's key to success.
Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don't rely on this person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well.
This is what being a winner is all about-creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what hap-pens. Winners don't have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on “whose fault it is.” Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stop on for success.
According to the passage, winners __________.

A．deal with problems rather than blame others

B．meet with fewer difficulties in their lives

C．have responsible and able colleagues

D．blame themselves rather than others

The underlined word “remedy" in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to __________.

A．avoid	B．accept
C．improve	D．consider

When your colleague brings about a problem, you should __________.

A．find a better way to handle the problem

B．blame him for his lack of responsibility

C．tell him to find the cause of the problem

D．ask a more able colleague for help

When problems occur, winners take them as __________.

A．excuses for their failures

B．barriers to greater power

C．challenges to their colleagues

D．chances for self-development

Day One	After breakfast , Sally’s mother went out and left her alone at home . She checked her mobile phone during lunch—one of her friends sent her a message early in the morning . Dinner was ready at 6:30 p.m. After that , she finished her English homework . Then she surfed the Internet .
Day Two	Sally and her mother paid a visit to their friends and went swimming together . Later , they wnet shopping for clothes and books , and had dinner in a restaurant .
Day Three	She went to the supermarket with her mother to buy fish and chips for lunch as well as some pens . After she got back home , she spent the next few hours surfing the Internet and watching TV .
Day Four	She surfed the Internet . Her mother took her out for lunch before going to work . She then read storybooks after lunch .
Day Five	She woke up at 2 p. m. , and so did her mother . They went to a park . Her mother met some friends there . When they got home , it was already time for dinner . Aterwards , she did her homework until 10 p. m.