Does handwriting have a practical use today? Do we really need it? Many educators say yes．

Handwriting is important because research shows that when children are taught how to do it，they are also being taught how to learn and how to express themselves．Students with fluent（流畅的）handwriting produce better homework and get higher grades，a new study by Professor Steve Graham shows．

Handwriting is a basic skill of learning，expert Emily Knapton says．She believes，“When kids have trouble with handwriting，it affects all their subjects．Spelling becomes a problem；maths becomes a problem，too．Both of the subjects will be much easier for these kids to learn if their handwriting is improved．”

Fluency and speed of handwriting are very important．Graham's study has also shown that from kindergarten（幼儿园）through the fourth grade，kids think and write at the same time．If they have to struggle to remember how to spell the words，their ability to express themselves will suffer．Stephen Pevely，a professor of education says，“From the writing speed of primary school students，we can know the quality and quantity of their writing in middle school．”

Predictions of handwriting's end didn't begin with the computer；they date back to the introduction of the Remington typewriter in 1873．But for at least a generation（一代人），handwriting has seemed much less important．Now，supported by new research，educators are trying to bring back its special importance into the classroom．

1．Many educators agree that handwriting ________ today．

A．is not necessary                       B．is unimportant

C．has a practical use                       D．is useless

2．Graham's study shows that students with fluent handwriting probably have ________．

A．lower grades                           B．worse homework and grades

C．good reading skills                        D．better homework and grades

3．When a student has good handwriting，his spelling and maths will be ________．

A．much easier        B．much harder      C．great fun          D．a problem

4．The underlined word "suffer" in the passage means “________”．

A．be strongly influenced                        B．be deeply moved

C．be badly affected                         D．be seriously hurt

5．Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

A．Kids' handwriting has a good effect on their learning．

B．Handwriting helps improve kids' performance in all their subjects．

C．Students should try to improve the fluency of their handwriting．

D．Handwriting came to an end after the typewriter appeared．

阅读理解

阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。

　　How would you like to teach yourself, rather than have teachers? According to the UK's Department of Education and Skills, students will teach themselves in the schools of the future. This means that there will be no more problems such as finding enough teachers.

　　Estelle Morris, the UK Education Secretary opened the 2002 Educational Technology Conference in London recently. She presented a video showing a computer-generated model of the school of tomorrow. Greater use of computer technology and classroom assistants will help students develop their own way of learning, Morris said. She added that this is a more exciting, as well as more interesting way of learning. At the same time, teachers will be “freed from their traditional role as the source of all knowledge.” Children of all abilities will “form the curriculum around their individual needs.” They will “learn in their own time, at their own speed and in their own environment”.

　　At home or at school, they will follow their learning programmes by looking at online libraries and watching lessons by world-class teachers and subject experts. Instead of going on field trips, students will use virtual reality. If they don't understand something, they can ask other students “take part in virtual communities with learners with similar needs. They will hand in their work electronically to be auto-market”.

　　The classroom of the future is fast becoming a reality. And the Department of Education will soon produce a guide to help schools adapt buildings for new technology. These ideas are based on the UK government's plan to create an education system that provides students to develop their individual skills at secondary school level.

　　Morris said that enabling students to follow study programmes to their own needs means that, in a class of 15-year-olds, some could be starting university learning while others were still learning to read and write.

　　A spokesman for the UK's National Association of Head Teachers said, “Nothing can change the fact that today's students need to be taught by a qualified, skilled and enthusiastic teaching force, and they need that now.”

1．According to the UK's Department of Education and Skills, the school of the future will ________.

[　　]

A．cause more problems such as not being able to find enough teachers

B．set no homework and no tests for students

C．make good use of computer technology and classroom assistants

D．enable students to learn by themselves without teachers' help

2．If students do not understand something, they can ________.

[　　]

A．go on a field trip

B．go to ask their teachers to help them

C．send e-mails to ask for teachers' help

D．have a look at other learners' homework

3．Which of the following is not mentioned in the article?

[　　]

A．The classroom of the future will become a reality soon.

B．Students can get higher marks by using computer technology.

C．Students can learn in their own way by following study programmes.

D．Students need a skilled and motivated teaching force.

4．The UK government plans to set an education system that ________.

[　　]

A．provides students with a basic knowledge from the beginning

B．gives students more knowledge at primary school level

C．enables 15-year-old students to go to university

D．helps students to learn to read and write at secondary school level