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 most 1.5 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: 本文为议论文，属于社会文化类。电脑键盘的出现及使用改变了传统的手写模式。人们越来越淡化手写文化，然而手写文对研究者们更有价值，因为可以确认它的真实性，而且年轻时掌握好的手写技能有助于帮助儿童更好地表达他们的想法。

1.。细节理解题。由文章第一段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 most 1.5 million students wrote their answers in cursive(草写字母). 可以看出作者在考试后关注的是手写体，故选C。

2.推理判断题。由文章第五段Handwritten documents are more valuable to researchers, historians say, because their authenticity(真实性) can be confirmed.可以推断出提到该诗的目的是为了证明手写文的价值，故选A。

3. 细节理解题。由文章倒数第二段第一句可知，故选C。

4. 推理判断题。由文章第六段Several academic studies have found that good handwriting skills at a young age can help children express their thoughts better—a lifelong benefit.

及倒数第二段They learn the correct formation of manuscript letters through second grade, and cursive letters in third grade.可以推断出最好的学习手写的时间是小学时期，故选B。

5.观点态度题。本文客观介绍了人们的普遍做法及研究者和历史学家的发现，因此作者对该话题的态度是客观的，故选D。A 奉献，忠诚，热爱；B 鼓励；C 批判的。

考点：考查社会文化类短文阅读。