题目内容
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.
"Who ever 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Some praise the technology as a way to save schools' money, replace outdated books and better engage students.Others say most schools don't have the resources to join in, or they question the quality of open-source content.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 liniversities 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"The textbooks are outdated, as far as I'm concerned, and there's no reason why our schools should have our students pull around these old-fashioned and heavy and expensive books,"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."
1.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
2.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
3.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
4.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.
BBDD
Dash of Hope
"Dash" is a symbol which represents every day we've spent alive on earth. Therefore, how you spend your "dash" is important.
Recently I 36 about a little girl named Hope. After learning more about her life, I couldn't help but feel it was not by 37 , nor happenstance(意外事件), that she had been named "Hope". The strong feeling of sympathy and generosity 38 in her young heart made a lasting impression on me and countless others. 39 I never had the opportunity to meet her, I wish I had. It seems as though she was wise beyond her tender years and very, very special.
Hope was a twelve-year-old girl who was 40 a "wish" in early December 2010 by the "Make-A-Wish" Foundation after being 41 that she had a rare type of bone cancer. However, when she found out that more than 150 42 in her area were waiting for their wishes to be achieved , she unselfishly used her wish to 43 that those children have their wishes granted. She also asked that it be done 44 January 16, 2011. Unfortunately, however, the organization informed her that her 45 request could not be granted as the funds were simply 46 . They calculated that they would need to raise more than one 47 dollars in thirty days in order to grant her wish. 48 , but not discouraged, she turned her disappointment into an enthusiasm that inspired caring 49 to take up helping grant the wishes of the other children, and eventually 50 as well. Newspaper columnists and reporters for radio and TV stations 51 the story of this caring young girl who had 52 the hearts of so many and as word spread, the community was challenged. Committees were fanned and schools, corporations and various organizations assisted in 53 money to help make Hope's dream come true.
Her efforts were not in vain as they continue to help others, not only 54 , but spiritually and emotionally as well. At the gathering to celebrate her life, "A Celebration of Hope" on January 16, 2011 , the 55 was made that they had indeed received donations totaling more than one million dollars. Her wish had been granted!
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The clock struck eleven at night. The whole house was quiet. Everyone was in bed except me. Under the strong light,I looked sadly before me at a huge pile of that troublesome stuff(东西) they call “books”。
I was going to have my examination the next day. “When can I go to bed?” I asked myself. I didn’t answer,In fact I dared not.
The clock struck twelve. “ Oh,dear!” I cried. “Ten more books to read before I can go to bed!” We pupils are the most wretched creatures(生物) in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He did not have to work so hard when he was a boy.
The clock struck one. I was quite desperate(绝望的)now. I forgot all I had learned. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed,“Oh,God,please help me pass the exam tomorrow. I do promise to work hard afterwards,Amen.” My eyes were so heavy that I could hardly open them. A few minutes later,with my head on the desk,I fell asleep.
【小题1】The underlined word “wretched”in Paragraph 3 probably means _______ .
A.very happy. | B.disappointed. |
C.very unhappy. | D.hopeful. |
A.it was too late at night. |
B.he was very tired. |
C.his eye lids were so heavy that he couldn’t keep them open. |
D.he hadn’t studied hard before the examination. |
A.He went to a church to pray again. |
B.He passed the exam by sheer luck. |
C.He failed in the exam. |
D.He was punished by his teacher. |
A.The Night Before the Examination. |
B.Working Far into the Night. |
C.A Slow Student. |
D.Going Over My Lessons. |
America has been experiencing the longest economic increase in its history. Incomes have risen, unemployment has fallen, and cities such as New York are bursting with new office buildings.
But just a short walk from Manhattan’s skyscrapers, George Brown sits on the side-walk, cooking a lunch of rice and bits of fish over a can of cooking fuel.
Brown is homeless——one of the 2.3 million people in the US who end up on the street.
During the day, Brown collects aluminum cans and sells them for five cents a piece. At night, he sleeps on the street.
“I have been on the street about eight or nine years, something like that,” said the 62-year-old former construction worker.
Brown admits he had problems with alcohol and has smoked cocaine. But he said he still wants a more stable housing arrangement. He could afford it just with the money he earns by collecting cans and small pieces of metal, if only truly low-income housing were available.
However, he sees no hope of finding affordable housing in New York.
With the strong economy and unemployment down, beautiful housing is being built to meet demand.
A US report shows rents in New York City rose more than 27 per cent, from $549 to $700 a month.
One of the side effects of the strong economy is that rents have been going up.
The majority of people who experience homelessness really just need some affordable housing help.
But few housing companies are building for the poor. Many small apartments in the city now rent for $1,500 a month or more.
Brown, the homeless New Yorker, said he has a daughter who lives in the city but he rarely sees her. She is angry about his drinking and won’t allow it in her house.
Smiling, he said he also has seven grandchildren whom he’d like to see more often. “All I’ve got to do is clean up my act,” he said.
【小题1】What kind of life does George Brown lead?
A.Stable. | B.Dangerous. | C.Hard. | D.Comfortable. |
A.America is short of housing companies |
B.the poor can’t benefit from the increasing economy |
C.poor people in America will become rich |
D.housing companies will build more houses for the poor |
A. remove my cans B kick my bad habits
C. make a lot of money D. see my grandchildren
【小题4】Which part of a newspaper is the passage possibly taken from?
A.Society. | B.Science. | C.Arts. | D.Business. |
Eating a diet high in processed food(加工食品)increases the risk of depression,research suggests.What's more,peopie who ate plenty of vegetables,fruit and fish actually had a lower risk of depression,the University College London team found.
Data on diet among 3,500 middle-aged civil servants(公务员)were compared with their emotional state five years later,a British journal reported.They split the participants into two types of diet--those who ate a diet largely based on whole food,which inc!udes lots of fruit, vegetables and fish,and those who ate a mainly processed food diet,such as sweetened desserts,fried food,processed meat,refined grains and high fat dairy products After accounting for factors such as gender,age,education,physical activity,smoking habits and chronic(慢性的) diseases,they found a significant difference in the future depression risk with the different diets.
Those who ate the most wholefood had a 26% lower risk of future depression than those who ate the least wholefood.By contrast,people with a diet high in processed food had a 58% higher risk of depression than those who ate a diet low in processed foods.
Study author Dr. Archana SinghManoux pointed out there was a chance the finding could be explained by fl lifestyle factor they had not accounted for.
There was a paper showing a Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of depression,but the problem with that is if you live in Britain,the likelihood(可能性)of you eating a Mediterranean diet is not very high.
Dr.Andrew McCulloeh,chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation,said,this study adds to an existing body of solid research that shows the strong links between what we eat and our mental health.
He added people's diets were becoming increasingly unhealthy.The UK population is consuming less nutritious,fresh produce and more saturated(含饱和脂肪酸的)fats and sugars.
【小题1】The text is mainly about .
A.the increasingly unhealthy diet of the UK population |
B.the link between processed food and depression |
C.the relationship between physical and mental health |
D.fl healthy diet largely based on wholefood |
A.They are of different ages from young to old. |
B.They have been eating fl less heal thy diet these years. |
C.Most of them prefer wholefood to processed food. |
D.Those who ate wholefood generally were happier in the long term. |
A.It is difficult for most British people to have a Mediterranean diet. |
B.The Mediterranean diet is the most healthy in the world. |
C.Many studies have been done on the Mediterranean diet before. |
D.The Mediterranean diet is not good for depression. |
A.our diets are closely related to our mental health |
B.the present study needs more facts and other information |
C.the UK population will become ill in the near future |
D.more saturated fats and sugars should be taken in |
A.To tell people what a healthy diet actually is. |
B.To prove people’s diets are increasingly unhealthy. |
C.To encourage people to cut down on proceased food. |
D.To introduce some experts on the research team. |