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The strong fear of high school math is lost here among the blue light of computer screens and the sounds of typing keyboard.
A fanfare (喇叭声) plays from a speaker as a student passes a chapter test.Nearby another student is watching a video lecture.Another works out a math problem in her notebook before clicking on a multiple-choice answer on her screen.
Their teacher at Agoura High School, US, Russell Stephans, sits at the back of the room, watching as scores pop up in real time on his computer grade sheet.One student has passed a level, the data shows; another is retaking a quiz.
"Whoever thought this up makes life so much easier," Stephans says.
This textbook-free classroom is by no means the norm(常态), but it may be someday.Slowly, but in increasing numbers, schools across the US are replacing the heavy and expensive textbook with its lighter and cheaper cousin: the digital textbook.
A digital textbook can be downloaded, projected and printed, and can range from simple text to a course filled with multimedia and links to Internet content.Some versions (版本) must be purchased; others are "open source" —free and available online to anyone.
Some praise the technology as a way to save schools' money, replace outdated books and better engage students.Others say most schools don't have the resources to join in, or they question the quality of open-source content.
Paper books still hold the highest percentage of the US textbook market, with digital textbooks making up less than 5 percent, according to analyst Kathy Mickey of Simba Information, a market research group.
But that is changing, as grade schools follow the lead of US universities and schools in other countries, including South Korea and Turkey.
California made the largest embrace (拥抱) of digital textbooks this summer when it approved 10 free high school math and science titles developed by college professors.The state left the choice to use them up to individual schools.
"The textbooks are outdated, as far as I'm concerned, and there's no reason why our schools should have our students pull around these old-fashioned and heavy and expensive books," Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said this summer.
But some disagree with the idea that digital textbooks will improve education quality.
"Keep in mind that with open-source materials, you have to ask: 'Where are they coming from?'" said Jay Diskey, executive director of the Association of American Publishers' school division."Is it a trusted source? Is it based on real research?"
Diskey said traditional textbooks offer a comprehensive course, while some open-source texts provide only bits and pieces."There can be quite a difference of content and accuracy," he said."In many cases, you get what you pay for."
The writer's purpose in writing the passage is to  ____    .

A.explain how to use digital textbooks
B.predict the future of paper textbooks
C.describe the current use of digital textbooks and present arguments about it
D.explain the difference between paper textbooks and digital ones

What is Schwarzenegger's opinion of traditional textbooks?

A.He is against getting rid of them.
B.He wants to have them replaced with digital ones.
C.Soon they will no longer be used.
D.He believes that they are to blame for the poor quality of education in California

Diskey holds the view that      .

A.the government shouldn't strengthen the use of open-source digital texts
B.digital textbooks make up for the shortcomings of traditional textbooks.
C.paper textbooks and digital ones both have advantages
D.traditional textbooks have more reliable content

According to the text, which of the following is TRUE?

A.Math is easier with the use of computers.
B.It is believed that digital books will replace traditional ones.
C.Textbook-free classes are the main form of teaching in the US schools.
D.Not all people are in favor of replacing paper textbooks with digital ones.
科目 英语   题型 阅读理解   难度 中等
知识点: 日常生活类阅读
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In ancient Japan, if you saved someone’s life, they would make it their duty to spend the rest of their life serving you. Nowadays, if you rescue someone’s story, he or she will feel the same kind of gratitude (感激).
It happens all the time. Someone in a group is telling a story and, just before their big point, BOOM! There’s an interruption. Someone new joins the group, a waiter with a plate of biscuits comes over, or a baby starts crying. Suddenly everyone’s attention turns to the new arrival, the food on the plate, or the “charming” little child. Nobody is aware of the interruption — except the speaker. They forget all about the fact that the speaker hasn’t made his or her point.
Or you’re all sitting around the living room and someone is telling a joke. Suddenly, just before their big punch line (妙语), little Johnny drops a dish or the phone rings. After the crash, everyone talks about little Johnny’s carelessness. After the call, the subject turns to the upcoming marriage or medical operation of the caller. Nobody remembers the great punch line got unfinished — except the joke teller. When it’s you entertaining everyone at a restaurant, have you ever noticed how you can almost set your clock by the waiter coming to take everyone’s order just before your funny punch line?
Most joke and story tellers are too shy to say, after the interruption, “Now, as I was saying …” Instead, they’ll spend the rest of the evening feeling bad they didn’t get to finish. Here’s where you come in. Rescue them with the technique I call “Lend a Helping Tongue.”
Watch the gratitude in the storyteller’s eyes as he stabilizes where his story sunk and he sails off again toward the center of attention. His expression and the appreciation of your consideration by the rest of the group are often reward enough. You are even more fortunate if you can rescue the story of someone who can hire you, promote you, buy from you, or otherwise lift your life. Big winners have excellent memories. When you do them subtle favors like Lend a Helping Tongue, they find a way to pay you back.
Very often, a storyteller cannot make his point because _________.

A.people are more interested in food than his story
B.many guests bring their babies to the party
C.he is interrupted by something unexpected
D.his story is easily forgotten by the listeners

From Paragraph 3, we know that when someone is telling a joke, _________.

A.something bad will surely happen just before their punch line
B.listeners’ attention is often drawn to something else
C.the only person really interested in the joke is the joke teller
D.the waiter knows when to take everyone’s order

How can we help the joke and story tellers when they are interrupted?

A.By giving them a chance to finish.
B.By comforting them to make them happy.
C.By going on telling the story for them.
D.By teaching them some useful techniques.

What is the text mainly about?

A.People should learn how to take turns in a conversation.
B.We can win someone’s heart by getting him back to his story.
C.Telling jokes will make you the center of attention.
D.It is impolite to cut in on someone’s talk.

Can dogs and cats get along well in the same home? People who are thinking about getting a dog as a friend for their cat are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found that if the cat is taken back home before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along swimmingly. In two-thirds of the homes cats and dogs have a good relationship.
However, it wasn’t all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression(侵略,好斗) and fighting were found in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body languages are just different. For example, when a cat turns its head away it means aggression, while a dog doing the same means submission(顺从).
In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers found a surprising behavior. They are learning how to talk each other’s language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk “Dog”, and dogs can learn how to talk “Cat”.
What’s interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to become smarter. They can learn to read each other’s body languages, suggesting that the two may have more in common than was expected. Once familiar with each other’s body language, cats and dogs can play together, and enjoy sleeping together on the sofa.
The importance of this research on cats and dogs may go beyond pets — to people who don’t get along well, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even countries. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.
Some cats and dogs may fight when ________.

A.they are cold to each other
B.they look away from each other
C.they misunderstand each other’s body languages
D.they are introduced at an early age

What is found surprising about cats and dogs?

A.They eat and sleep together.
B.They watch each other’s behaviors.
C.They learn to speak each other’s language.
D.They know something from each other’s voices.

It is suggested in Paragraph 4 that cats and dogs ________.

A.have common interests
B.are less different than was thought
C.have a common body language
D.are not so smart as was expected

What can we human beings learn from cats and dogs?

A.We should learn to get along well with others.
B.We should know more about animals.
C.We should live in peace with animals.
D.We should learn more body languages.

This March is a busy month in Shanghai. There’s a lot to do. Here are the highlights.
Live Music - Late Night Jazz
Enjoy real American jazz from Herbie Davis, the famous trumpet player. He’s coming with his new 7-piece band, Herbie’s Heroes. Herbie is known to play well into the early hours, so don’t expect to get much sleep. This is Herbie’s third visit to Shanghai. The first two were sold out, so get your tickets quickly.
PLACE: The Jazz Club DATES: 15-23 March PRICE: ¥80,120 TIME: 10:00p.m. till late! TEL: 6466-8736
Scottish dancing
Take your partners and get ready to dance till you drop. Scottish dancing is fun and easy to learn. Instructors will demonstrate the dances. The live band, Gordon Stroppie and the Weefrees, are also excellent
PLACE: Jack Stein’s DATES: every Monday PRICE: Y60 including one drink TIME: 7:00 - ~0:00 p.m. TEL: 6402-1877
Exhibitions - Shanghai Museum
There are 120,000 pieces on show here. You can see the whole of Chinese history under one roof. It’s always interesting to visit, but doubly so at the moment with the Egyptian Tombs exhibition. There are lots of mummies and more gold than you’ve ever seen before. Let us know if you see a mummy move!
PLACE: Shanghai Museum PRICE: ¥30 (¥ 15 for students) TEL: 6888-6888 DATES: daily TIME: Monday - Friday 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. Weekends 9:00a.m. - 9:00p.m.
Dining - Sushi chef in town
Sushi is getting really big in Shanghai. In Japan, it’s become an art form. The most famous Sushi ‘artist’ is Yuki Kamura. She’s also one of the few female chefs in Japan. She’ll be at Sushi Scene all of this month.
PLACE: Sushi Scene in the Shanghai Hotel DATES: all month PRICE: ¥200 TIME: lunchtime TEL: 6690-3211
For a full listing of events, see our website.
Suppose you are going to attend an activity at 8: 00p. m. on Saturday, which one can you choose?

A.Live Music - Late Night Jazz B.Scottish dancing
C.Exhibitions - Shanghai Museum D.Dining - Sushi chef in town

Which of the following is true according to the advertisements?

A.Scottish dancing is so interesting and easy that it never tires you out.
B.The performance given by the American jazz band won’t last long.
C.Sushi is not popular in Shanghai as it is a kind of Japanese traditional food.
D.It is more interesting to visit Shanghai Museum for the exhibits from Egypt.

From the text we may learn that Kamura is _______.

A.a cook B.a waitress C.an instructor D.an artist

He met her at a party. She was outstanding; many guys were after her, but nobody paid any attention to him. After the party, he invited her for coffee. She was surprised, so as not to appear rude, she went along.
As they sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything and she felt uncomfortable. Suddenly, he asked the waiter, “Could you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee."
They stared at him. He turned red, but when the salt came, he put it in his coffee and drank. Curious, she asked, "Why salt with coffee?" He explained, "When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea. I liked playing on the sea.I could feel it salty, like salty coffee. Now every time I drink it, I think of my childhood and my hometown. I miss it and my parents, who are still there."
She was deeply moved. A man who can admit that he's homesick must love his home and care about his family. He must be responsible. She talked too, about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was the start to their love story.
They continued to date. She found that he met all her requirements. He was tolerant, kind, warm and careful. And to think she would have missed the catch if not for the salty coffee! So they married and lived happily together. And every time she made coffee for him, she put in some salt, the way he liked it.
After 40 years, he passed away and left her a letter which said:
My dearest, please forgive my life-long lie. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous that I asked for salt instead of sugar. It was hard for me to ask for a change, so I just went ahead. I never thought that we would hit it off. Many times, I tried to tell you the truth, but I was afraid that it would ruin everything.
Sweetheart, I don't exactly like salty coffee. But as it mattered so much to you, I've learnt to enjoy it. Having you with me was my greatest happiness. If I could live a second time, I hope we can be together again, even if it means that I have to drink salty coffee for the rest of my life.
Why the man asked for some salt?

A.Because he missed his hometown and his family.
B.Because he want to catch the attention of the lady.
C.Because he was nervous.
D.Because he liked the taste of salty coffee.

What can be inferred from the passage?

A.The man liked to drink a cup of salty coffee.
B.The man was good at making a lie.
C.The man missed his family very much.
D.The man loved the lady very much.

The best title for the passage might be _____.

A.a life-long lie B.salty coffee
C.a mistake for love D.a homesick man

Cut off from society

You're on your way to school as usual when suddenly an invisible barrier appears out of nowhere, trapping you underneath it and isolating you from the outside world. What do you do?
This is the scary experience the residents of a fictional town called Chester’s Mill are going through in the US TV series Under the Dome. Based on famous US author Stephen King’s 2009 best-selling novel, the show has become “the highest-rated summer show in 21 years” since debuting (首播) on June 24, reported the New York Post.
The series begins with the dome (穹顶) making its alarming appearance. As the earth trembles and birds take off, an enormous, invisible barrier slices down, cutting the town off from the rest of the world.
The residents quickly realize they are trapped, probably for quite some time. Families are separated, emergency services are unreachable and water, food and fuel are strictly limited.
There is no way out or in. But who or what is responsible? Nobody knows. Thus, the residents are at the mercy of unknown forces and their internal conflicts.
While it provides an enjoyable TV thrill ride, the movie’s science fiction is closely linked with reality.
“Not only is it worrying, suspenseful (悬疑的) and full of splendid special effects, but it has big thoughts about environmentalism and the future of the commented The Denver Post planet,”
As King himself explained to The Telegraph: “The dome is a microcosm (微观世界) of life. We all live under the dome. We live on this little blue planet and so far as we know that’s all we’ve got,” he said. “The resources that we’ve got are the resources that we’ve got; they’re limited.”
But the show explores many themes in addition to environmental destruction. It also shows “how quickly the social order we take for granted can disappear when people are isolated and afraid”, said the Los Angeles Times.
It is “a science-fiction social study”, said The Washington Post. “Once the people of Chester’s Mill realize they are indefinitely trapped without means of food supply, outside communication and power, their polite sense of small-town, American civilization begins to fall apart.”
The underlined word “isolating” in the first paragraph probably means _______.

A.separating B.protecting
C.discouraging D.distinguishing

In the TV series Under the Dome, _______.
A.the dome, which appears out of nowhere, doesn’t have huge effects on the residents’ lives
B.it takes a long time for residents to realize they are trapped by the invisible dome
C.because of the dome, the residents in the small town become more united and helpful D.not knowing what has D.happened, the residents feel helpless against unknown forces
Why is the TV series closely linked with reality according to the article?

A.Because it is suspenseful and uses splendid special effects to reflect modern life.
B.Because it gets us to think about the future of the earth and the importance of environmental protection.
C.Because it attaches great importance to following the social order even in frightening situations.
D.Because the residents in the TV series live almost the same life as ordinary Americans do.

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