Though the ways of teaching have come a long way, the ways of communicating between teachers and students are almost the same. But now, a European country is trying to change that by building schools that have no classrooms, no subject lessons and best of all, no grades.
The idea behind the special school is that children are creative. And researchers also think that kids’ learning and ideas are as important as those of the CEO of Google, so why not give them a similar environment? Kids may be successful in such an environment.
To make kids more creative, the schools are built with special learning areas instead of traditional classrooms. And even the lessons are taught in a special way, with mobile phones and computers.
There is no “right” or “wrong” kind of education. The school believes that everything is a learning experience, whether it is about a serious science project or making a movie inside the school’s recording studio.
One of the special schools opened in August, 2011. It has five learning areas. The Cave is a secluded place where students fix their attention on individual (个人的) projects without being bothered (打扰). The Lab is a place where students can do all kinds of experiments and test their ideas. Kids can work in groups in the same projects in The Camp Fire. The Show Off is where kids can show their inventions. And if the kids need a rest, they can visit The Watering Hole, which has all kinds of fun activities.
Sounds great? And the coolest thing is that the school is free! I hope more schools like this will appear in the world!
【小题1】What is the idea behind the special school?

Are you carrying too much on your back at school? You’re not alone. Back experts(专家) in the USA are worried about that young students are having back and neck problems because they are carrying too much in their backpacks .
“It hurts my back when I run,” said Ebelin Reyes, a student in Virginia. “It’s hard to get up the stairs with my backpack because it’s too heavy.” Students have to carry heavy backpacks on their backs for a whole week’s study. Ebelin is one of them. They have   regular(固定的)backpacks with two straps(带子) to carry them, but a number of students with heavy loads(负担) have switched to rolling backpacks. The backpacks have wheels and can roll on the ground. Shirley Park’s backpack weighs 10 kilos, and she said, “I’ll change to a rolling backpack because I am starting to have back pain.”
How much is too much? Experts say that students should carry no more than 10% to 15% of their own body weight. A few students have had a good idea to lighten(减轻) the load: less homework.
Doctor’s suggestions:
Lighten the load. Take home only the books the students need that day.
(2) Wide straps are better. They can send out weight over your shoulders (肩)and be sure to wear backpacks with two straps.
(3) The heaviest things should be packed closest to the back.
(4) Bend(弯曲) both knees when you pick up the pack, don’t just bend over the waist(腰).
【小题1】The main idea of the passage is about _______.

Are you carrying too much on your back at school? You’re not alone. Back experts(专家) in the USA are worried about that young students are having back and neck problems because they are carrying too much in their backpacks .

“It hurts my back when I run,” said Ebelin Reyes, a student in Virginia. “It’s hard to get up the stairs with my backpack because it’s too heavy.” Students have to carry heavy backpacks on their backs for a whole week’s study. Ebelin is one of them. They have   regular(固定的)backpacks with two straps(带子) to carry them, but a number of students with heavy loads(负担) have switched to rolling backpacks. The backpacks have wheels and can roll on the ground. Shirley Park’s backpack weighs 10 kilos, and she said, “I’ll change to a rolling backpack because I am starting to have back pain.”

How much is too much? Experts say that students should carry no more than 10% to 15% of their own body weight. A few students have had a good idea to lighten(减轻) the load: less homework.

Doctor’s suggestions:

Lighten the load. Take home only the books the students need that day.

(2) Wide straps are better. They can send out weight over your shoulders (肩)and be sure to wear backpacks with two straps.

(3) The heaviest things should be packed closest to the back.

(4) Bend(弯曲) both knees when you pick up the pack, don’t just bend over the waist(腰).

1.The main idea of the passage is about _______.

A．the problems made by rolling backpacks

B．the advantage of backpacks

C．the best backpacks for students

D．how to lighten students’ backpacks

2.From what Ebelin Reyes and Shirley Park said, we know______.

A．students like to carry heavy backpacks

B．students have to do a lot of homework

C．backpacks with wheels are bad for students

D．students have no time to play because of heavy backpacks

3.The underlined word “switch to” means______.

A．use for           B．turn to            C．catch up          D．begin to use

4.According to the experts, it’s better for a student of 40 kilos to carry a backpack of ____ at most.

A．10 kilos           B．8 kilos            C．6 kilos            D．7 kilos

5.If students follow the doctor’s suggestions, they______.

A．may do less homework

B．may feel their backpacks are lighter

C．can learn how to enjoy themselves

D．will know why to wear heavy backpacks