Pupils remember more and behave better when 3D images are used in lessons, research suggests. They are quicker to learn and absorb new concepts, and display higher levels of concentration.
Professor Anne Bamford, of the University of the Arts, London, studied the effectiveness of 3D content in 15 schools across seven countries, including the UK. Pupils in 3D classes could remember more than those in the 2D classes after four weeks, improving test scores by an average 17 percent compared with eight percent for 2D lessons. They gave more detailed answers to the tasks and were more likely to think in 3D, using hand gestures and mime (模仿动作) to answer the test questions successfully.
The teachers commented that the pupils in the 3D groups had deeper understanding, increased attention span, more motivation and higher engagement in the lessons.
Children are used to 3D with the rise of computer games that use the technology—90 percent of those in the study had seen a 3D film. Schools would need 3D-enabled projectors（投影仪）, laptops with good picture capabilities, 3D software and glasses for children to introduce animations (动作) into classrooms.
But Danny Nicholson, an educationist, said the technology would be impractical to use in schools and could be costly. He said, “While I think the idea of 3D technology is very interesting, I worry that 3D is a bit of an expensive gimmick (小玩意儿). There are a few cases where a true 3D image might help, but most of the time, good 2D models that can be moved , would be just so effective.”
In Colorado, the US, one school district is already in the process of having 1,000 3D projectors fixed in classrooms. And the University of Caledonia, which carries out scientific research into the Lake Tabon Basin, has used 3D presentations with Grade Six pupils. Those who watched the 3D presentations were more engaged and reported a general increase in their interest in science compared with students who watched the 2D version.Danny Nicholson tends to think that .
| A．many pupils prefer 2D models |
| B．3D is a bit expensive for some schools |
| C．true 3D images would not help in classes |
| D．3D technology has a bright future in classes |
What can we learn from the last paragraph?
| A．3D classes will soon be given in one school district in Colorado. |
| B．Teachers will use the 3D technology through specific training. |
| C．Many pupils are now more interested in science than before. |
| D．3D technology will replace 2D models in the future. |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．2D models are always more effective than 3D images. |
| B．The differences between 3D and 2D images. |
| C．How schools can make full use of 3D technology. |
| D．Pupils behave better when 3D images are used in classes. |
Welcome to Adventu
re land!
Everyone loves Adventure land! The Parks and Exhibitions were built for you to explore(探索), enjoy, and admire their wonders. Every visit will be an unforgettable experience. You will go away enriched, longing to come back. What are you going to do this time?
The Travel Pavilion
Explore places you have never been to before, and experience different ways of life. Visit the Amazon jungle(丛林)village, the Turkish market, the Thai floating market, the Berber mountain house and others. Talk to the people there who will tell you about their lives and things they make. You can try making a carpet, making nets, fishing…
The Future Tower
This exhibition shows how progress will touch our lives. It allows us to look into the future and explore the cities of the next century and the way we’ll be living then. Spend some time in our space station and climb into our simulator(模拟装置)for the Journey to Mars!
The Nature Park
This is not really one park but several.
In the Safari Park you can drive among African animals in one of our Range Cruisers: see lions, giraffes, elephants in the wild. Move on to the Ocean Park to watch the dolphins and whales. And then there is still the Aviary to see…
The Pyramid
This is the center of Adventure land. Run out of film, need some postcards and stamps? For all these things and many more, visit our underground shopping center. Come here for information and ideas too.The Travel Pavilion is built to help visitors _______.
| A．learn how to make things such as fishing nets |
| B．realize the importance of travelling |
| C．learn something about different places in the world |
| D．become familiar with mountain countries |
If you are interested in knowing about what people’s life will be, you may visit _______.
| A．the Safari Park | B．the Travel Pavilion |
| C．the Future Tower | D．the Pyramid |
If you want to get a souvenir（纪念品）to take home, where will you most likely go?
| A．The Pyramid. | B．The Future Tower. |
| C． The Nature Park. | D．The Travel Pavilion. |
Zoe Cha
mbers was a successful PR (Public Relations) consultant (顾问) and life was going well—she had a great job, a beautiful flat and a busy social life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. “The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through,” she said. “After everything I’d done for the company, they dismissed me by text
! I was so angry and I just didn’t feel like looking for another job. I hated everything about the city and my life.”
Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in northwest Wales. Zoë jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later, she is still on the farm.
“The moment I arrived at Kathy’s farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay,”said Zoe.“Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless.”
Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. “It’s a hard life, physically very tiring,” she says.“In London I was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all I need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy’s wonderful dinners.”
Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been teaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing—watching a lamb being born is unbelievable, she says,“It’s one of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had. I could never go back to city life now.” When she worked as a PR consultant in London, Zoë thought she lived a life.
| A．meaningless | B．tough | C．boring | D．satisfying |
The most important reason why Zoe went to visit Kathy’s farm is that .
| A．Kathy persuaded her to do so | B．Zoe lost her job as a PR consultant |
| C．Zoe got tired of the city life | D．Zoe loved Wales more than London |
How does Zoe feel about the country life according to the passage?
| A．Physically tiring but rewarding. | B．Romantic and peaceful. |
| C．Mentally exhausting but healthy. | D．Tiresome and troublesome |
Which of the following is closest to the main idea of the passage?
| A．A friend in need is a friend indeed. | B．A misfortune may turn out a blessing. |
| C．Kill two birds with one stone. | D．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
On March 5, 2009, Michael Jackson stood in front of crowds of fans．Before screaming fans, he pronounced with pumping arms: "This is it!"
A 
few months later, Jackson was dead．With the late pop star’s return to radio, television and the cultural events, Forbes judges that Jackson has made $90 million since his death June 25．This figure is based on his royalties（版税） from album sales, radio play, rights to his name and royalties from his stock in the Sony/ATV music catalog （编目权）．
Jackson's music was his most easily-seen source in the last months．“Nothing increases the value of an artist than death ．．．an untimely death,” says Barry Massarsky, a music industry economist．
The music's immediate value was clear．Since June, Jackson has sold more than 5．9 million albums in the U．S．and another 4．5 million overseas．In the first weeks after his death, there were 5．6 million single downloads across North America, Europe and Australia．Jackson recently has three of the top 20 best-selling albums of the year in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan．His 2003 hits album Number Ones is the best seller of the year, beating Taylor Swift's Fearless．
More than 500,000 Jackson ringtones and 100,000 music videos were sold．In the week following his death, songs by The Jackson 5, The Jacksons and Michael were played over 100,000 times on the radio, according to Nielsen BDS．
Jackson's estate（遗产）will likely see more money by the end of this year, as it has rights to some of the profits from This Is It as well as the two-di
sc album of the same name．The estate will share 90% of the film profits with AEG．
Ticket sales from an exhibit opening in London will also contribute a likely profit．Hundreds of Jackson's personal belongings－his L．A．Rolls Royce etc－will remain on show for three months at the O2 Arena for fans willing to shell out $25 for a view．
The pop singer bought ATV Publishing, for $47．5 million in 1985．Ten years later, he sold the catalog to Sony for $95 million and took a 50% stock in Sony/ATV, which is now worth about $1．7 to $2 billion．So he still owned half the Sony/ATV catalog at his death．
Jackson's future earning potential is based on his stock in valuable music as well as the value of his image（肖像）．As many musicians, actors and artists before him, Jackson's fame could have a long tail on the market with allowable products, advertising and entertainment events．What do Barry Massarsky’s words in Paragraph 3 imply?
| A．Jackson died at the time as expected． |
| B．Only at death can an artist become famous． |
| C．Jackson became more famous at death than when he was alive． |
| D．Jackson’s unexpected death raised his value as an artist immediately． |
All the fol
lowing is true EXCEPT that _____．
A．“This is it” is the last concert that Jackson gave
B．Jackson has sold 10．4 million albums since June
C．Jackson’s L．A．Rolls Royce is now for show and will finally be sold
D．Jackson’s stock in music and his image will keep on earning money in the futureWhat can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Jackson’s album Number Ones beat Taylor Swift’s Fearless in 2003． |
| B．Taylor Swift’s Fearless is the second best seller of music albums of 2009． |
| C．AEG takes in more film profits from “This is it” than Jackson’s estate． |
| D．More Jackson’s music videos were sold than his ringtones right after his death． |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Why Michael Jackson’s music is so popular all over the world． |
| B．How Michael Jackson has earned $90 million in the months since his death． |
| C．What Michael Jackson's future earning potential is based on． |
| D．How much Michael Jackson earned in the first few months after his death． |
Massachusetts （美国一州名） became the first state in the nation to ban the dumping （倾倒;抛弃） of electronic equipment such as computer monitors and television sets．It means people there can no longer put computer monitors, TV sets and other devices containing glass picture tubes out on the street for pickup by garbage cleaners．
Official said much of this equipment is loaded with poisonous heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury．These poisonous heavy metals could go into groundwater or be released （释放） into the air．
The Boston Globe reports the state has set up a system to recycle techno-garbage at state expense through community recycling centers．
Robin Ingenthron of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection said the state has been trying to get its electronics-recycling program in place ‘before the future wave of electronics hits’．The National Safety Council estimates some 300 million computers will enter the nation’s waste system in the next few years．
In addition, millions of people will be getting rid of their old television sets．New high-quality digital televisions and new rules will make old TV sets no longer in use over the next several years．The word ‘techno-garbage’ in the 3rd paragraph probably means ________．
| A．all kinds of dirty things | B．deserted TV sets |
| C．heavy metals | D．used electronic equipment |
Which is NOT a reason that
the state enforces （强制执行） a ban on electronic equipment dumping?
| A．This kind of garbage is poisonous． |
| B．Recycling systems are not working well． |
| C．The poisonous heavy metals can go to the underground water and the air． |
| D．There will be much more electronic garbage soon． |
According to the last paragraph many people will be dumping their TV sets because ________．
| A．they are broken | B．they are poisonous |
| C．new TV standards have come out | D．people will be tired of them |
The passage tells us chiefly about __________．
| A．forbidding of a certain type of garbage dumping |
| B．new problems of environmental protection |
| C．household problems raised by computers and TV sets |
| D．the handling of garbage |
For a 400-year-old art form, operas had a bad fame: overweight actresses singing the words which are hard to understand in one of those romance languages you were supposed to learn in high school. And with tickets costing as much as $ 145 a performance, opera goers also have a certain appearance in people’s mind: rich, well-dressed and old.
But now opera companies around the country are loosening their ties and kicking off their shoes in an attempt to bring the opera to the audience. It needs to keep it alive, the young and not-so-rich.
Opera producers have found that to attract this crowd, they need to make the opera closer to common people. That means no formal suits, old-styled theatre or band-breaking ticket prices. And because young people don’t or won’t come to the opera, companies are bringing the opera to them, giving performances in such unusual places as parks, lib
raries and public schools.
The Houston Grand Opera’s choice is the public library, where it performs “mobile operas”, shortened versions (剧本) of child-friendly operas. This summer’s production is Hansel & Gretel. By performing smaller versions of large productions, producers are able to make people interest
ed while keeping costs at a reasonable level. The San Francisco Opera, which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is staging Cinderella free of charge, keeping costs down by employing students from its Young Artists’ Training Program.Which is the main idea of this passage?
| A．Opera is famous for its long history. |
| B．Opera is only for rich people. |
| C．Opera companies are trying to keep opera alive. |
| D．Young people are not interested in opera. |
The underlined part in paragraph 2 means ______.
| A．breaking up the old rules | B．changing the formal suits |
| C．making the audience at ease | D．advertising themselves |
Opera companies prefer to perform smaller versions because.
| A．they can be performed in public libraries |
| B．short versions are easy to perform |
| C．it is hard to find long versions |
| D．they can make people interested |
The San Francisco Opera Company employs student actors in order to ______.
| A．attract young people | B．reduce the cost |
| C．celebrate its 75th anniversary | D．make Cinderella popular |
What can you infer from the passage?
| A．The tickets for operas are very expensive at present. |
| B．Operas are performed in a difficult language difficult to understand. |
C．Operas are not so popular an art form today. |
| D．Students enjoy performing operas very much. |