When we think of a generation gap we usually think of conflicting tastes in music, or pastimes. But now the generation gap is handwriting. After one teacher in Tennessee discovered that she had students who couldn’t read the assignments she was writing on the board, she posted it on the Internet saying handwriting should be taught in schools.
Opponents claim that handwriting has become out of time in our modern world. Typed words have become a primary form of communication. Once a practical skill, handwriting is no longer used by the vast majority of Americans. It is no longer taught in schools, and some claim that the time that it would take to teach it could be put to better use, for instance, by teaching the technical skills.
But even in today’s world there are still plenty of reasons to pick up a pen and apply it to paper. Many American institutions still require original signatures, for instance, signing for a registered letter and buying a house. And original signatures are much more difficult to forge（伪造）than their digital counterparts. There is also strong evidence that writing by hand is good for the mind. It activates a different part of the brain, and improves fine moving skills in young children. People also tend to remember what they write by hand more than what they type, and the process of writing by hand has been shown to stimulate ideas. Not only that, studies have shown that kids who write by hand learn to read and spell earlier than those who don’t. Not to mention, handwriting is pleasing, as is evidenced by the fact that no one has ever typed a love letter. And handwriting remains popular as an art form.
Yes we live in a modern world, but we live in a modern world that is based on fundamental values.
1.What did the teacher find in her class?
A. Her students had a big generation gap with her.
B. Her handwriting was too terrible to understand.
C. Some students could not recognize her handwriting on the blackboard.
D. Some students’ handwriting on the blackboard was too difficult to tell.
2.Why do some people agree to teach handwriting in school?
A. Handwriting is very easy to remember.
B. Handwriting is beneficial to the brain.
C. Handwriting can help one buy a house.
D. Handwriting is an art form out of time.
3.What can we infer from the passage?
A. What people write by hand is not easy to fake.
B. Lovers often write love letters to each other.
C. Handwriting is unnecessary in our modern society.
D. Technical skills are more important than handwriting.
4.What is the authors attitude towards teaching handwriting in school?
A. Opposed. B. Objective.
C. Unconcerned. D. Supportive.
One of the best student cities: Boston
Boston, Massachusetts is the unofficial student capital of the United States. The greater Boston area contains some of the most famous universities in the world，including Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). With their reputation attracting some of the brightest students from around the globe, the heart of New England is young, energetic and active.
Best spots
The Fenway area — home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team — attracts students from nearby schools. On game days, the neighborhood’s many sports bars are packed with college students.
The Harvard Square is also a popular gathering spot for Harvard and MIT students, with several restaurants serving up affordable and tasty food.
Student activities
Boston’s most popular college events are the universities’ annual music festivals — like Yardfest at Harvard and Spring Fling at Tufts University — during which big-name stars perform free concerts before the spring semester ends.
The Berklee College of Music, which attracts top international talent and counts the band Passion Pit among its alumni (男校友), often organizes free student performances in such picture-perfect locations as the Boston Harbor National Park. The free-to-watch boating races on the Charles River are also well-attended on fair-weather race days, when students cheer on their classmates.
Student discounts
The Museum of Fine Arts, one of Boston ’ s leading cultural institutions, is free for students carrying ID from one of the many schools in the city and the museum’s special exhibits and film screenings are discounted for students.
The historic Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the New England Aquarium offer discounts for all university students, while admission to Harvard’s museum is free for Harvard students and discounted for all other college kids. Even movie theatres like Regal Cinemas Fenway and AMC Loews Boston Common cut students a discount.
1.The underlined part “the heart of New England” in paragraph one refers to .
A. Boston B. Massachusetts
C. Harvard D. the MIT
2.The Fenway area most probably attracts students who have interest in .
A. food B. sports
C. music D. science
3.We learn from the text that the Berklee College of Music .
A. often gives free performances
B. often invites big stars to perform
C. organises performances along the Charles River
D. attracts talented teachers such as the Passion Pit members
4.Which of the following is free for students carrying ID from one of the schools in Boston?
A. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
B. The New England Aquarium.
C. The Museum of Fine Arts.
D. Regal Cinemas Fenway.
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good man,” she said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice (临终医院). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter (计价器).
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Nothing,” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
1.The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to _____.
A. show she was familiar with the city
B. see some places for the last time
C. let the driver earn more money
D. reach the destination on time
2.The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he _____.
A. wanted to do her a favor
B. shut off the meter by mistake
C. had received her payment in advance
D. was in a hurry to take other passengers
3.What can we learn from the story?
A. Giving is always a pleasure.
B. People should respect each other.
C. An act of kindness can bring people great joy.
D. People should learn to appreciate others’ concern.
Mi Teleferico, Bolivia
Crossing the Bolivian capital of La Paz, the Teleferico is both the highest and longest city cable-car system on the planet. Built to relieve the city’s extreme road traffic, the three lines of this "subway in the sky" spirit the city’s 2.3 million citizens. At an altitude of 3,700 metres, you' ll feel the thrill of flying as you’re smoothly carried over entire neighborhoods and business districts—all for a ticket price that' s less than a dollar.
Everest Flights, Nepal
It is no easy work to climb the Everest, a mountain second to none at an altitude of 8 ,848 metres. Most of us know that we'll never move along the Hillary Step and overcome this mountain. Fortunately, a number of local airlines operating out of Kathmandu’s small domestic airport offer a glimpse of this glory for about a hundred dollars. In a few hours, you'll get into the heart of the Himalayas, getting close enough to snap a few fantastic photos from your window seat before circling back. No oxygen tank required !
Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
With select routes that lead through Banff and Jasper national parks as well as Lake Louise, Rocky Mountaineer provides a best opportunity to spot the wildlife of western Canada, including elk, bighorn sheep, and possibly even bears of the black, brown, and grayish variety. Rocky Mountaineer' s multi-day journeys include
breakfasts and lunches prepared by world-class chefs, B.C. wines, and an invitation to sit back, relax, and let the Rockies come to you.
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, South Africa
Few places in the world have appeal like Table Mountain, the flat-topped monolith( 独石) that serves as the backdrop for most tourists' photos— and memories—of Cape Town. Completed back in 1929, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway carries nearly one million sightseers to the summit every year,rising roughly 1,000 metres in fewer than five minutes.
1.The Teleferico was built to .
A. offer amazing views
B. draw tourists worldwide
C. reduce traffic pressure
D. promote its economy
2.What is special about Mt. Everest?
A. It requires no skills to climb it.
B. It ’s the highest mountain worldwide.
C. It has several local airlines.
D. It's the best place for taking photos.
3.Which of the following would you prefer to see the wildlife?
A. Mi Teleferico.
B. Everest Flights.
C. Rocky Mountaineer.
D. Table Mountain.
4.What can we infer about the four places mentioned in the passage?
A. They cost much money.
B. They all offer mountain rides.
C. They have fancy hotels.
D. They are all within Americas.
听一段材料，回答以下小题。
1.According to the speaker, what is Jen like?
A. Strict but loving. B. New and talented. C. Friendly and funny.
2.Which award did Luisa win?
A. Best Hairdresser. B. Employee of the Year. C. Best Customer Service.
3.How long has Dina worked in the salon?
A. Three months. B. Two years. C. Seven years.
4.What is true about the awards?
A. The awards have different prizes.
B. The winners will get extra vacation days.
C. A total of $1200 was given out.
听一段材料，回答以下小题。
1.What event are the speakers attending?
A. A dinner party. B. A wedding. C. An anniversary celebration.
2.What does the woman want most right now?
A. To dance. B. To eat something. C. To change her clothes.
3.What did the man eat when he first arrived?
A. Some cheese. B. Fish and rice. C. Some cake.
4.According to the woman, what probably cost a lot of money?
A. The flowers. B. Jennie’s clothes. C. Matt’s tie.
