The practice of students endlessly copying letters and sentences from a blackboard is a thing of the past. With the coming of new technologies like computers and smartphone, writing by hand has become something of nostalgic (怀旧的)skill. However, while today’s educators are using more and more technology in their teaching, many believe basic handwriting skills are still necessary for students to be successful---both in school and in life.

Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, says it’s important to continue teaching handwriting and help children acquire the skill of writing by hand.

Berninger and her colleagues conducted a study that looked at the ability of students to complete various writing tasks---both on a computer and by hand. The study, published in 2009, found that when writing with a pen and paper, participants wrote longer essays and more complete sentences and had a faster word production rate.

In a more recent study, Berninger looked at what role spelling plays in a student’s writing skills and found that how well children spell is tied to know well they can write. “Spelling makes some of the thinking parts of the brain active which helps us access our vocabulary, word meaning and concepts. It is allowing our written language to connect with ideas.” Berninger said.

Spelling helps students translate ideas into words in their mind first and then to transcribe “those words in the mind written symbols on paper or keyboard and screen,” the study said. Seeing the words in the “mind’s eye” helps children not only to turn their ideas into words, says Berninger, but also to spot spelling mistakes when they write the words down and to correct then over time.

“In our computer age, some people believe that we don’t have to teach spelling because we have spell checks,” she said. “But until a child has a functional spelling ability of about a fifth grade level, they won’t have the knowledge to choose the correct spelling among the options given by the computer.”

1.What makes writing by hand a thing of the past?

A. The absence of blackboard in classroom

B. The use of new technologies in teaching.

C. The lack of practice in handwriting.

D. The popular use of smartphones.

2.Berninger’s study published in 2009 ___________.

A. focused on the difference between writing by hand and on a computer.

B. indicated that students prefer to write with a pen and paper.

C. found that good essays are made up of long sentences.

D. discussed the importance of writing speed.

3.Which of the following best shows the role of spelling?

A. Spelling improves one’s memory of words.

B. Spelling ability is closely related to writing ability.

C. Spelling benefits the translation from words into ideas.

D. Spelling slows down finding exact words to express ideas.

4.What does “mind’s eye” in paragraph 5 mean?

A. Window. B. Soul

C. Picture. D. Imagination.

5.What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?

A. Computers can help people with their choice of words.

B. Spell checks can take the place of spelling teaching.

C. Handwriting still has a place in today’s classrooms.

D. Functional spelling ability develops fast in the fifth grade.

根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

If you are like most international students, you are probably pretty comfortable reading and writing in English, but not as comfortable with listening and speaking in the language. 1.

Make friends with American students. Many international students end up making friends with a lot of — or only — other international students. 2. Hanging out with natives not only naturally pushes you to improve your spoken English, but also helps you pick up cultural and social information.

Learn from American friends. Tell your American friends that you are trying to improve your listening and speaking skills, and would like them to help you. If you pronounce a word incorrectly, or misuse an idiom, you want them to tell you. 3.

Increase your knowledge. 4. If you have known about the topics that are likely to be discussed in conversation, you have a much better chance of understanding people when they talk, and of being able to express yourself well.

5. If you have to explain something to someone, you have a strong desire to pronounce everything as well as you can, and find other ways to explain yourself. Finally, this becomes a good habit. Many people have asked me how I learned to speak English fluently, and I think it is because of my being a math teacher in college for years.

A. I don’t think this is a good idea.

B. You will learn much faster this way.

C. If possible, become a teacher at your school.

D. It’s a win-win opportunity for international students.

E. Read books, keep up with news and watch popular shows and movies.

F. It’s a good way to make some extra cash while improving your English.

G. Below are some tips to help you to improve your conversational skills.

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