How many times a day do you check your email? When you wake up? Before bed? A dozen times in between? The technology that was supposed to make our lives simple has taken up too much time. The average young man spends more than seven hours a day using technological devices(设备), with an additional hour just text-messaging friends.

The advantage of technological devices is connectedness: email lets us respond on the go, and we are in touch with more people during more hours of the day than at any other time in history. But is it possible that we’re lonelier than ever, too? That’s what MIT professor Sherry Turkle observes in her new book, Alone Together, which clearly describes our changing relationship with technology.

For Turkle, the biggest worry is the effect the weak connections have on our development. Technology isn’t offering us the lives we want to live. “We’re texting people at a distance,” says Turkle, “We’re using lifeless objects to convince ourselves that even when we’re alone, we feel together. And then when we’re with each other, we put ourselves in situations where we are alone—always on our mobile devices. It’s what I call a perfect storm of confusion about what’s important in our human connections.”

Moreover, communicating online is not equal to face-to-face communication. Online, you can ignore others’ feelings. In a text message, you can avoid eye contact. A number of studies have found that this generation of young people is less sympathetic(有同情心的)than ever. “That doesn’t lead to disaster,” says Turkle, “but the disadvantages still cannot be ignored.”

1.From the first paragraph we can learn that_________.

A. email checking helps people wake up early

B. people communicate mainly by text-messaging now

C. technological device production has been simplified

D. using technological devices costs young men much time

2.What is Sherry Turkle’s biggest worry?

A. Technology may make human connections confusing

B. Technology can’t help people remove loneliness

C. Technology may make people’s lives hard

D. Technology keeps people together

3.What is the author’s attitude to the influence of technology on people’s life?

A. Positive B. Negative

C. Hopeless D. Uncertain

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. Technology brings many conveniences to people’s lives

B. Young men spend too much time on technological devices

C. Technology also brings people some disadvantages

D. Sherry Turkle observes people’s changing relationship with technology

My husband and I used to live in the city.But we often faced a lot of problems there.There was a lot of late?night noise.It was difficult to find parking.And the rent of the apartment was high.Finally,my husband and I decided to move to the suburb outside Boston.

We started looking for our new home.It turned out that many other people were also moving to the suburbs and it wasn’t easy to find a nice house there.Finally we went to see a small and dark house.It needed a lot of work.But it was well built and it was on a street where we could walk to Starbucks,restaurants and bus stops.Well,before I knew it,we had made an offer and the house became ours.

On our first night in the house I cried for five hours.I thought we had made the wrong decision and I wanted to go back to the city—the house was smelly and old.And many families and old people lived around it.But after thinking of the problems we had when we were living in the city,I calmed down.Besides,our new home wasn’t that bad,after all.I had a driveway of my own.There were three big bedrooms and a backyard for my dog.Oh,how lovely the sound of nothing was.I changed the house inch by inch and it became a very comfortable home.

We have been in our house for over two years until now and it’s the best move we have ever made.While I’m glad I can drive into the city in fifteen minutes and enjoy all it has offered,I’m always happy to return home.

1.Why did the writer and her husband move to the suburb?

A. They found jobs there.

B. They could only afford a small house.

C. They dreamed of living in the country.

D. They no longer liked living in the city.

2.On the first night in the house,the writer .

A. was too excited

B. felt scared living there

C. regretted moving there at first

D. was moved to tears by its quietness

3.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 show about the house?

A. It was lovely.

B. It was really quiet.

C. It had nothing in it.

D. It has beautiful sound.

4.We can learn from the passage that the writer .

A. hates driving to the city

B. is afraid of returning home

C. loves living in the suburbs now

D. cannot wait to go back to the city

How to Get Organized

No one likes staying disorganized, so if disorganization is crowding your life and as a result you’re feeling frustrated, then it’s time to get organized. Organization takes time, but when you get into the habit of it, life becomes so much easier! 1.

1. Keep A List Of Things To Do

2.. Rather, they keep a list of things to do and then they check them off once they get done. Let making a list to do be your new habit.

2. Never Put Things Off

Procrastination is typical of those who are irresponsible and careless. 3., They do not want to put things off. They would rather stay up late and do what they are supposed to do.

3. Quit Multitasking

You are an organized person only if you do not let the stuff around you arranged in stages. 4.. Do it, and then move on to the next one.

4. Involve Other People

Organized people do not do it all alone. They try to involve others usually their wives or husbands, for support. Another good thing about this is that such couples usually manage to raise disciplined and responsible children.

5.5.

First things first! What are your priorities? Do not waste your time trying to do 156 things. Spend your time and energy on something that is worth it. smaller things can wait. The things that are essential should always be done.

A. Priorities Rule.

B. Avoid Getting Tacked

C. It only takes a week to start a habit

D. Organized people do everything on time

E. Many people struggle with disorganization

F. Organized people do not keep things in head

G. Stay focused and concentrated on one task only

On a sunny day, Linda and Jack were to try the new boat on the river.Linda jumped out of bed excitedly, got dressed quickly and woke up her brother Jack.

After ____ Linda and Jack arrived at the riverbank and ____ the new blue boat waiting for them.They got into the boat and packed their picnic under the ____.Linda started the engine and ____ they went into the wide, brown and unknown ____ of the river.

Suddenly, they found the boat sounded ____ round a bend in the river.On the distant sandbank they saw a long dark creature ____ in the sun. It opened one eye at them and then suddenly disappeared into the ____.

“What was that?” shouted Jack.

“It looked like a crocodile to me!” said Linda.“We’d better be ____.”Just as they came round the next ____, the engine ____ and came to a stop.Linda ____ to start the engine again. But it wouldn’t start. They were ____.

“Let’s get the wooden oars,” said Jack. “Maybe we can  ____ the boat free.

They tried but failed.

“We’re stuck on a sandbank,” said Linda. “We’ll just have to sit here having our ____ and wait for the water to ____.”

“It’s boring!” said Jack.

Suddenly, they felt the boat move .It moved slowly off the sandbank. And the engine started again. Just at the same time they noticed a black ________ by the boatside and in no time it disappeared in the brown water ahead.

They ________ their journey down the river. It was so exciting .

At noon they saw a small river _________ the main river. It wasn’t on the map . “Let’s ________   there!” said Linda.

The boat turned and went into the smaller channel .On both sides grew thick unknown trees.

1.A. meal B. lunch C. dinner D. breakfast

2.A. realized B. discovered C. found D. thought

3.A. sun B. seat C. fire D. bank

4.A. away B. around C. on D. up

5.A. water B. flood C. flow D. position

6.A. smoothly B. normally C. badly D. hardly

7.A. walking B. laying C. lying D. sleeping

8.A. sands B. woods C. air D. water

9.A. serious B. brave C. careful D. slow

10.A. bend B. river C. animal D. boat

11.A. put out B. broke down C. gave in D. got off

12.A. planned B. managed C. tried D. intended

13.A. stuck B. delayed C. stopped D. kept

14.A. expect B. give C. use D. push

15.A. rest B. picnic C. sightseeing D. fun

16.A. fall B. come C. rise D. run

17.A. snake B. figure C. shade D. fish

18.A. gave up B. started C. ended D. went on

19.A. leading  off B. separating from C. dividing into D. leaving for

20.A. observe B. watch C. explore D. play

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