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.What is the author concerned about after 2011 SAT exams?
| A．Keyboarding. | B．Shorthand |
| C．Handwriting. | D．Block letters. |
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 |
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 |
According to the author, when is a perfect time to learn handwriting?
| A．Kindergarten. | B．Primary school. | C．High school. | D．College. |
What is the author’s attitude towards this debate?
| A．Devotion. | B．Encouragement. | C．critical. | D．Objective. |
.Can you imagine your doctor warning that taking a bath could be unhealthy? In the early 1800s, many doctors thought that bathtubs(浴缸) could carry diseases, so they advised against their use. The advice wasn’t based on personal experience, because few of the doctors owned bathtubs. The White House did not even have a bathtub until 1851.
In the 19th century, only one home out of six had a bathroom. A child took only one bath a week. On Saturday nights, children all lined up for their turns to wash in a wooden bathtub in the kitchen. Mothers had to boil the water on the stove and carry it over to fill the bathtub. It’s no wonder that children could not jump into a bathtub as they do today.
When the first bathtubs were introduced, even their makers weren’t sure whether the new fashion would last. They advertised their products as water containers that “could be used as bathing tubs”.
The bathtub became popular in America shortly after World War I. By then most middle-class families had indoor taps. At first most bathtubs were made of wood, but as the popularity of the product increased, so did the creativity of bathtub makers. Before porcelain(瓷) bathtubs there were rubber ones like the plastic swimming pools kids use today. In the past few years owners often invited guests to see them. They told their friends how wonderful baths in these bathtubs could be.
Now doctors no longer warn that bathtubs carry diseases. Instead, they tell their patients about the benefits of frequent bathing in the bathtubs. Maybe one of the best reasons why doctors encourage frequent trips to the bathtub is that bathed patients smell better!
47. Many doctors in the past were against using bathtubs because ______.
A. they didn’t have their own bathtubs
B. they thought bathtubs could carry diseases.
C. the children might hurt themselves in the bathtubs
D. bathtubs were too expensive for the common families
48. Why couldn’t children jump into a tub in the 19th century as they do today?
A. It was unhealthy to do so. B. The bathtubs were not enough.
C. Mothers were always busy. D. The bathtubs were made of wood.
49. Which of the following is true according to the text?
A. Some different materials can be used to make bathtubs.
B. In the 19th century only one home out of seven had a bathroom.
C. The bathtub became popular when they were introduced to the market.
D. Children prefer the bathtubs made of plastic to those made of porcelain.
50. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ______.
A. all the doctors have bathtubs in their homes
B. the doctors have realized the advantages of bathtubs
C. the doctors will make lots of money by advertising bathtubs
D. the patients should take a bath before going to see a doctor
If your mother wants to tell you something, she uses words. Birds cannot talk as we do. But some birds can make sounds to warn their young of danger. They have their own way to make the young birds do certain things.
The jackdaw is a kind of blackbirds that lives in Europe. Jackdaws live together in flocks（群）.Young jackdaws do not know their enemies. When an older jackdaw sees a dog, it makes a loud rattling（格格响的）sound. The younger birds know this sound means an enemy is nearby. The sound warns them to know their enemies.
If a young jackdaw is in a dangerous place, a jackdaw parent flies over him from behind. The parent bird flies low over the young bird’s back. The parent’s tail feathers（羽毛） move quickly from side to side. It is trying to say,“Follow me.”At the same time, the parent calls out,“Ｋey-aw,”key-aw.”The parent means,“Ｆly home with me.”The young bird then follows the older one home. Young jackdaws do not have to learn what certain sounds mean. They know the meaning of these sounds form the time they hatch（孵出）.
72．The jackdaw lives in .
A．Europe B．Australia C．America D．Africa
73．Which of the following does this story lead you to believe?
A．All animal parents can talk to their young.
B．Dogs are the most dangerous enemies for jackdaws.
C．Young jackdaws know the meaning of their parents’ sound when they grow older.
D．Some birds can give certain information to one another.
74．Parent jackdaw can use their tail feathers to .
A．ask their young to follow them B．play a game with the young
C．tell the meal time D．give a warning of a fire
75．This story tells much about .
A．the danger of jackdaws
B．ways in which mother can talk to their children
C．the way jackdaws warn their young of danger
D．how the jackdaw are living
76．When an old jackdaw sees a dog, it .
A．calls out,“Follow me.” B．makes a loud sound
C．flies away D．fights the dog
History books tell us that the city of Rome was set up in 152 B.C..It’s a fact, however, that by
100 A.D., Rome was the center of a big empire（帝国）.It was from Syria in the east to Spain in the west, from Britain in the north to Africa in the south. All or part of 27 of today’s countries were included in the Roman Empire. All of their people were ruled by one government, that of Rome. All educated people spoke the same language, Latin. And one of the empire’s outposts（前哨）was called Londinium. This unimportant town would later become London, England, and the center of another empire.
The Roman Empire came to an end about 1500 years ago. Yet in some ways it is still with us. Take the letters you are reading, for example, English, like many other languages, uses the Roman alphabet（字母）while also borrowing many words. The laws of many European countries are based on ancient Roman laws. Roman ruins are seen throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. In some places, Roman roads and water courses are still in use. To this day, and European in North Africa is likely to be called“Roumi”—Roman. Even modern place names are often after Ancient Rome. Both Greece and Germany have the names given by the Romans rather than the names that their own people first called them.
67．The most northern part of the Roman Empire was .
A．Spain B．Africa C．Syria D．Britain
68．The main idea of paragraph 2 is that Roman culture is .
A．dead and gone B．based completely on language
C．still part of the present D．unimportant to history
69．In the days of the Empire, the Roman government was probably .
A．strong B．divided C．weak D．poor
70．What happened first?
A．Londinium was an outpost B．The Roman Empire fell apart
C．The city of Rome was founded D．London became the center of an empire
71．Which of the following is not true?
A．In Europe people still use Roman names in some places.
B．Londinium became the center of an empire after Roman Empire fell apart.
C．We may see some remaining parts of Roman Empire in North Africa.
D．In Europe 27 countries had the same laws.
The thing was a hot one! A farmer had shot two wolves on purpose. He had seen the wolves on his farm and decided to get them before they caused trouble. He knew wolves were a kind of protected animals. However, he also knew most of his neighbors would shoot wolves, too. Shortly after the farmer skinned（剥皮）the wolves, problems began. It seemed that someone didn’t like the idea of killing wolves after all. The officials had arrived. Out-of-town reporters got hold of the story. And now the farmer was on trial（审判）for his killing of the wolves.
62．“The thing was a hot one!”means .
A．“The thing makes people hot.” B．“The thing draws much attention.”
C．“The thing was against the law.” D．“The thing changes the weather.”
63．The farmer did the thing because .
A．he didn’t know about the law
B．his neighbor would do the same thing
C．he was afraid the wolves would cause trouble
D．the wolves entered his farm
64．Wolves should according to this passage.
A．be protected B．not cause trouble
C．be killed if they cause trouble D．not enter places where people live
65．Which of the following is not true?
A．The story was soon known in other places.
B．Someone didn’t want wolves to be killed so the farmer was on trial.
C．The farmer was guilty（有罪）of his killing.
D．The local government took measures for the thing.
66．The best title for this passage is .
A．Don’t be Against Laws B．Protecting Animals
C．Animals Should Live in the Wild D．A Serious Social Problem
One day Mrs. Perry said to her husband,“Jack, there is a meeting of our ladies’ club at Mrs. Young’s house at lunch time today. And I want to go to it. I’ll leave you some food for your lunch. Is that all right?”
“Oh, yes,” her husband answered,“that’s quite all right. What are you going to leave for my lunch?”
“This tin of fish.” Mrs. Perry said.“And there are some cold boiled potatoes and some beans here, too.”
“Good,” Mr. Perry answered. “I’ll have a good lunch.”
So Mrs. Perry went to her meeting. All the ladies had lunch at Mrs. Young’s house , and at three o’clock she came home.
“Was your fish nice?”asked she.
“Yes, but my feet are hurting,”he answered.
“Why are they hurting?”
“Well, the words on the tin were Open the tin and stand in hot water for five minutes.”
57．Mrs. Perry went to the meeting because .
A．she had something to do with the ladies’ club
B．she was a member of the ladies’ club
C．she wanted to join the club
D．she was a friend of Mrs. Young’s
58．Mrs. Perry left home some food for Jack’s lunch because .
A．she didn’t cooking B．Jack knew nothing about cooking
C．she wanted Jack to have a good time D．she wanted to go to the meeting very much
59．Which of the following is not true?
A．Mrs. Perry arrived at Mrs. Young’s before lunch
B．Mr. Perry had a good lunch
C．Mrs. Perry wanted to test her husband
D．Mr. Perry liked fish
60．Jack had his feet hurt .
A．when he was opening the tin B．when he was helping himself to the fish
C．before he opened the tin D．after he opened the tin
61．“Open the tin and stand in hot water for five minutes”means .
A．you should open the tin and stand in hot water for 5 minutes
B．you should open the tin but not stand in hot water for 5 minutes
C．you should not open the tin but stand in hot water for 5 minutes
D．you should open the tin and let is stand in hot water for 5 minutes