Question

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 2012, just 15% of the most1.5 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 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) writing, learning issues or poor motor skills. Educators often point to this factor in support of keyboarding.

1.What is the author concerned about after 2012 Sat exams?

A. Keyboarding. B. Shorthand.

C. Handwriting. D. Block letters.

2.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

3.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

C. it doesn’t take much to teach better handwriting skills

D. the culture is turning from the written word to the typed one

4.According to the author, when is a perfect time to learn handwriting?

A. Kindergarten. B. Primary school.

C. High school. D. College.

5.What is the author’s attitude towards this debate?

A. Devotion. B. Encouragement.

C. Critical. D. Objective.

 

Answer 1

1.C

2.A

3.C

4.B

5.D

【解析】

试题分析：文章介绍因为电脑键盘的，现在很多学生不会书写，所以书写应该引起关注，学生学习书写是可以带来很多好处的，最后提出有的学生因为种种原因不能写字可以使用键盘。

1.判断题。从第一段的句子：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.可知在150万学生中只有15%的学生是手写的，应该引起作者对手写的担心。选C

2.理解题。从第五段的句子：Handwritten documents are more valuable to researchers, historians say, because their authenticity (真实性）can be confirmed. 可知作者想证明手写的文稿更加珍贵。选A

3.理解题。从倒数第二段的句子：It doesn't take much to teach better handwriting skills.可知作者认为教学生书写不需要花费多少精力，后面用Handwriting Without Tears举例。选C

4.判断题。从倒数第三段的句子：Several academic studies have found that good handwriting skills at a young age can help children express their thoughts better-a lifelong benefit. 可知作者认为学生应该从小就学习书写，就是从小学开始。选B

5.。作者先是提出问题：书写应该引起关注，后面说为什么学生应该学习书写，最后提出有的学生因为种种原因不能写字可以使用键盘，所以他是客观的陈述事实。选D

考点：考查教育类短文