In a 2005 survey of 2,500 schoolchildren in six cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, it was found that about 77% of them were short of sleep. Should school hours be cut? In a new survey taken by the China Daily website, almost 70% of the 1,133 people online agreed with cutting school hours, while 22% disagreed and 10% gave no answer.

Liu Xing (12-year-old, 6-grade student): I get up at 5:50 every school day, have breakfast at 6:15, leave home at 6:30 and, after a 30-minute bus ride, arrive at school at 7:00, a full hour before lessons start. Besides, I spend my weekends taking classes in math and English, as well as learning to play the piano.

Wang Qun (Liu Xing’s mother): My son is still not doing enough to win a place at a top high school, as it is so competitive (竞争的). They want students with good English and math and also special skills.

“Craig” (netizen (网民)): The best way for children to learn is through play. Through play, they can develop their characters, learn to be independent (独立的) and improve all kinds of skills.

“Skylark” (netizen): Young parents have little time to play with their children, so letting them go home early is not a good idea. I think schools should have more activities for children after class.

Qi Zhen (high school teacher): People might take some time to accept shorter school hours. It will also take time to change people’s traditional mind that going to college is the only way to a good job.

1. The China Daily website took a new survey to ________.

A. see how many schoolchildren are short of sleep

B. see what people think of cutting school hours

C. give schoolchildren more time to play

D. help Liu Xing with his math and English study

2. ________probably disagree with shorter school hours.

A. Wang Qun and “Skylark”                  B. Liu Xing and “Craig”

C. Liu Xing and “Skylark”                 D. “Craig” and Qi Zhen

3. When do Liu Xing’s school lessons start?

  A. At 7:00.                              B. At 7:30.

C. At 8:00.                              D. We don’t know.

4. Which is NOT true about Wang Qun?

A. She wants her son to have many kinds of skills.

B. She has little time to play with her son every day.

C. She believes a happy childhood means a failed adulthood (成年).

D. She’s quite sure her son will be able to get into a top high school.

5. What can we learn from Qi Zhen’s words?

  A. Schools should have more activities for children after class.

  B. All the schools will take shorter school hours soon.

  C. There’ll be a long way to go to change people’s traditional mind.

  D. Through play children can develop well in different ways.

“When can I get a cell phone?” The answer is when your parents think you need one, though many kids seem to be getting them around age 12 or 13. Some younger kids may have them because their parents see it as a matter of safety and convenience. For example, a kid can call mom and dad when sports practice is over. And a cell phone can give kids almost instant access(快捷通道) to their parents if something goes wrong or they need help. It can give parents quick access to their kids so they can check on them and make sure they’re OK.

If you do get a cell phone, make some rules with your parents, such as how many minutes you’re allowed to spend on the phone, when you can use your phone, when the phone must be turned off, and what you will do if someone calls you too often, and so on.

You’ll also have to learn to take care of the phone in your life. Keep it charged(充电) and store it in the safe place so it doesn’t get lost. And whatever you do, don’t use it in the bathroom. I know someone who dropped her phone in the toilet! 

1.Parents buy cell phones for their kids because ___________.

2.The author of the passage ___________.

3.Which of the following is true?

4.Who is the passage most probably written by?

5. Which might not be a rule for kids with a cell phone?