It can be hard to encourage families of preschoolers to turn off the TV，but there are plenty of highquality shows that promote learning and positive relationships rather than violence，researchers noted.
“Although clearly kids watch too much，what’s more worrying is that they watch poor quality shows，” said Dr Christakis，the lead researcher on the new study from the University of Washington in Seattle.His former survey of parents of threeto fiveyearold children showed the kids often watched violent cartoons and movies that are “totally inappropriate”．
For their study，he and his colleagues randomly divide 565 preschoolers into two groups.In one group，parents recorded notes about kids’ normal TV viewing，without receiving any guidelines to reduce or change those habits.In the other group，researchers made visits and calls and sent monthly newsletters encouraging parents to replace violent TV with educational programming.After six and 12 months，parents reported their kid’s angry，aggressive or anxious behaviors on a questionnaire.At both time points，children in the TV intervention (干预) program had slightly fewer problems than those in the comparison group.Boys in lowincome families seemed to benefit most from the change in programming，the researchers found.
“The point is，this is something that is as effective as other things we do to try to guide behavior in children，and it’s fairly simple，” Christakis said.
Another study published in Pediatrics found the more TV kids and teens watched，the more likely they were to have a crime or other problems in society.Children may imitate violence they see—or more time in front of the TV could simply mean less communication with peers and families，and worse performance in school.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids watch no more than one to two hours of highquality programming each day.Researchers agreed parents should be mindful of what exactly their young kids are watching on TV as well.“It’s not just about turning the TV off，it’s about changing the channel，” Christakis said. What is the positive effect of highquality TV shows on kids?
| A．Good learning results and relationships. |
| B．Being affected by violence. |
| C．Spending less time on TV programming. |
| D．Encouraging them to turn on the TV. |
For Christakis，what is more concerning?
| A．Kids watching too much TV. |
| B．TV shows being of poor quality. |
| C．Kids watching too many cartoons. |
| D．Parents receiving no guidelines. |
We can learn from the survey mentioned in Para.3 that________.
| A．Children don’t like being disturbed while watching TV |
| B．Preschoolers seems to like newsletters more than TV |
| C．Poor children prefer to watch educational programming |
| D．Kids watching highquality programs have fewer problems |
Christakis thought the effect of educational programming on children’s behaviour was________.
| A．unclear | B．slight |
| C．obvious | D．great |
According to the researchers，________.
| A．getting preschoolers away from TV is difficult |
| B．shows on TV in America are full of violence |
| C．parents should communicate more with their kids |
| D．parents should keep an eye on what kids watch on TV |
Miss sending letters? Try Lettrs! This new service brings back the art of letter writing by marrying it to the Internet.
Lettrs, a new site, is attempting to bring back the old-fashioned idea of letter writing by providing a space that feels a little bit like a writing desk.
Of course, there’ll be purists who say that to truly enjoy letter writing you must do it on fancy letter paper and envelope in the mail is part of the fun. And if you’re into that sort of thing, go for it. But I can’t be the only one who is now so much faster at typing that writing by hand is painfully slow. Nor can I be the only one who likes to write on a whim (一时兴起) when I’m going to be on a crowded train or airplane, both of which are situations where writing on the computer is far easier.
The site tries, pretty seriously, to approximate(接近) what it’s like to have your very own writing desk and paper to choose from (which comes in various prints and colors) as well as corresponding（通信）types of prints and cursive writing (草写体) that come out on your screen as you write. There’s also a “desk drawer” for letters you’ve already sent, a “fridge” to post letters publicly, a “kitchen counter” for letters you have just received, and “shoebox” to store your letters in.
And if you need inspiration there are even old-style letters that are great examples of the kind of correspondence people used to send. Lettrs is such a great idea, because you get the best parts of communicating online (typing rather than writing, the speed, no lost mail, and it’s free! ) with the nice parts of a letter－the sense of sitting down to write, quietly, to one person in a meaningful way.
Who would you write to?How does Lettrs work according to the text?
| A．By providing real paper for letter writers. |
| B．By making room for people to write letters. |
| C．By supplying writing desks to letter writers. |
| D．By combining letter writing with the Internet. |
It can be inferred from the text that the author_________.
| A．is one of the purists |
| B．prefers writing to typing |
| C．always hopes to get paper letters |
| D．likes using Lettrs to write letters |
A Lettrs user can find a newly received letter in or on a“_________”.
| A．desk drawer | B．fridge |
| C．kitchen counter | D．shoebox |
What is the main purpose of the author writing the text?
| A．To advise readers to use Lettrs. |
| B．To tell readers how to write letters. |
| C．To persuade readers to write letters. |
| D．To show the advantage of the Internet. |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．An old art of letter writing. |
| B．A new service of letter writing. |
| C．The advantages of letter writing. |
| D．The development of letter writing. |
Countless people long to make a difference this holiday season, yet they don’t realize that opportunities to make a difference are everywhere. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Organize a blank drive
It is cold outside, but imagine how thousands of homeless people may feel without a home of their own, or even a blanket to keep them from the cold. Organize a blank drive for your local homeless, and ask around for donations!
Practice random acts of kindness
I’ll never forget the time when I went to pay for my Dr. Pepper, but the server resisted, saying my bill was paid by an anonymous (匿名的) guest. It’s this random act of kindness that restores my faith in humanity. Bless someone by paying for their drink at Starbucks, or praising them! If you live somewhere where it snows, shovel your neighbor’s snow out of their driveway for them! Whether it is as simple as praise or as complex as paying the bill, you’ll never know how far your impact will reach.
Say thank you
Just a simple thank-you can make somebody’s day, especially if they feel like their work is never noticed. Cultivate（培养）a smile on their face by being sincere and grateful for all that they do.
Use your talents to help the community
The best way to show your appreciation for people is by using the talents and skills you have to bless others. For me, I love to coordinate（协调）events and write , and so my way of reaching out to the community is through writing articles and creating awareness about problems we face today. If you can bake, make some delicious cookies for people to enjoy! If you can knit, put your talents to use by making clothes for children in foster care. Any talent can be used to help the community in meaningful ways.
Wish you a happy, healthy and helpful holiday season.If you join a blank drive, you can _________.
| A．collect donations for the homeless people |
| B．bring a blanket to go on a trip |
| C．buy a home for homeless people |
| D．keep yourself from the cold |
How did the author restore his faith in humanity?
| A．He helps others | B．He often blessed others |
| C．He got help from others | D．He got praised by others |
The underlined phrase “make somebody’s day” is to_________.
| A．make someone feel grateful all day |
| B．do something unnoticed by people |
| C．make someone feel good all day |
| D．help someone to solve problems |
What is the author’s talent?
| A．Sewing | B．Writing |
| C．Baking | D．Knitting |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Make a Difference in Your Holiday Season |
| B．Make the Best of Talent |
| C．Enjoy Your Holiday Season |
| D．Help Others in Need |
A typical lion tamer（驯兽师）in people’s mind is an entertainer holding a whip( 鞭) at a chair. The whip gets all of the attention, but it’s mostly for show. In reality, it’s the chair that does the important work. When a lion tamer holds a chair in front of the lion’s face, the lion tries to focus on all four legs of the chair at the same time. With its focus divided, the lion becomes confused and is unsure about what to do next. When faced with so many options, the lion chooses to freeze and wait instead of attacking the man holding the chair.
How often do you find yourself in the same position as the lion? How often do you have something you want to achieve (e.g. lose weight, start a business, travel more)—only to end up confused by all of the options in front of you and never make progress?
This upsets me to no end because while all the experts are busy debating about which option is best, the people who want to improve their lives are left confused by all of the conflicting information. The end result is that we feel like we can’t focus or that we’re focused on the wrong things, and so we take less action, make less progress, and stay the same when we could be improving.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Anytime you find the world waving a chair in your face, remember this: All you need to do is focus on one thing. You just need to get started. Starting before you feel ready is one of the habits of successful people. If you have somewhere you want to go, something you want to accomplish, someone you want to become…take immediate action. If you’re clear about where you want to go, the rest of the world will either help you get there or get out of the way.Why does the lion tamer use a chair?
| A．To entertain the audience. |
| B．To show off his skills. |
| C．To get ready for a fight. |
| D．To trick the lion. |
In what sense are people similar to a lion facing a chair?
| A．They feel puzzled over choices. |
| B．They hold on to the wrong things. |
| C．They find it hard to make changes. |
| D．They have to do something for show |
What is the author’s attitude towards the expert mentioned in Paragraph3?
| A．Tolerant. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Respectful. | D．Supportive. |
When the world is “waving a chair in your face”, you’re advised to _____
| A．wait for a better chance |
| B．break your old habits |
| C．make a quick decision |
| D．ask for clear guidance |
EDGEWOOD — Every morning at Dixie Heights High School, customers pour into a special experiment: the district’s first coffee shop run mostly by students with special learning needs.
Well before classes start, students and teachers order Lattes, Cappuccinos and Hot Chocolates. Then, during the first period, teachers call in orders on their room phones, and students make deliveries.
By closing time at 9.20 a.m., the shop usually sells 90 drinks.
“Whoever made the chi tea, Ms. Schatzman says it was good,” Christy McKinley, a second year student, announced recently, after hanging up with the teacher.
The shop is called the Dixie PIT, which stands for Power in Transition. Although some of the students are not disabled, many are, and the PIT helps them prepare for life after high school.
They learn not only how to run a coffee shop but also how to deal with their affairs. They keep a timecard and receive paychecks, which they keep in check registers.
Special-education teachers Kim Chevalier and Sue Casey introduced the Dixie PIT from a similar program at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Georgia.
Not that it was easy. Chevalier’s first problem to overcome was product-related. Should schools be selling coffee? What about sugar content?
Kenton County Food Service Director Ginger Gray helped. She made sure all the drinks, which use non-fat milk, fell within nutrition (营养) guidelines.
The whole school has joined in to help.
Teachers agreed to give up their lounge (休息室) in the mornings. Art students painted the name of the shop on the wall. Business students designed the paychecks. The basketball team helped pay for cups.What is the text mainly about?
| A．A special educational program. |
| B．A best-selling coffee. |
| C．Government support for schools. |
| D．A new type of teacher-student relationship. |
The Dixie PIT program was introduced in order to_________．
| A．raise money for school affairs |
| B．develop students’ practical skills |
| C．do some research on nutrition |
| D．supply teachers with drinks |
How did Christy McKinley know Ms. Schatzman’s opinion of the chi tea?
| A．She met her in the shop. |
| B．She heard her telling others. |
| C．She went to her office to deliver the tea. |
| D．She talked to her on the phone. |
We know from the text that Ginger Gray ___________ ．
| A．manages the Dixie P1T program in Kenton County |
| B．teaches at Dixie Heights High School |
| C．sees that the drinks meet health standards |
| D．owns the school’s coffee shop |
Mauritius, an island country, lies 1, 200 miles off the southeastern coast of Africa, and just east of Madagascar, another African island country, which is larger by far than Mauritius. It covers 788 square miles and has a population of 1, 100, 000, about 750, 000 Indians, 300, 000 Clioers, 30, 000 Chinese and 20, 000 Whites included. They are living together peacefully.
The country can be divided into many parts with different climates all because of its special terrains（地形）. In the center there are volcanoes several thousand feet high, and 90 percent of its arable land is covered with sugarcane.
There were no people living on the island before the Dutch landed on it in 1638. The Dutch abandoned it in 1710, and five years later, the French came and succeeded in planting sugarcane there. It was conquered by Britain in 1810.
Mauritius was extremely poor when it declared its independence in 1968. In the past ten years, obvious economic prosperity（繁荣）has shown itself in this island country.The underlined words “abandoned it” in third paragraph means______ .
| A．took its place | B．left for it |
| C．gave it up | D．held it out |
The right order that shows the history of Mauritius should be .
a. seized by the French
b. became its master
c. ruled by the Dutch
d. conquered by the British
| A．b, a, c, d | B．c, a, d, b |
| C．d, c, a, b | D．a, c, d, b |
According to the passage all of the following statements are true except .
| A．Arable land covers 90 percent of the country’ s total area |
| B．It was the rule of foreigners that made the Mauritius people live in poverty |
| C．More than half of Mauritius population are Indians |
| D．Britain ruled the island longer than French and Holland |