August has always been difficult for me. It is the time when I realize that the books my English teacher assigned to me are not going to read themselves and that I have a difficult month in front of me.

You might think that I don’t want to spend my summer reading, but that’s not the problem: I love reading. On the first day of my summer holidays this year, I went to the library and got “A Gathering of Old Men” by African-American writer Ernest Gaines. I enjoyed it very much. I read all the magazines that my parents subscribe to and spend about 30 minutes every day with the morning paper. So why do I hate summer reading for school? Because the books on summer reading lists are often slow-going and just uninviting. Teachers and librarians don’t understand that summer reading can be entertaining as well as educational. They choose books that a friend of my mother’s calls “spinach books”: good for you, but not much fun to take in. Every summer, I read them, hate them and get bitter about the experience.

This bitterness started three years ago when I was about to begin high school. As preparation, my English teacher told me to read “The Age of Innocence” by American author Edith Wharton. I’m sure there are many people who enjoyed “The Age of Innocence”—some might even say it’s their favorite book.

But I don’t think any of these people read it as a 14-year-old boy on his summer vacation.

“The Age of Innocence” is the story of a forbidden romance in New York 100 years ago. At 14, my only experience with romance was my love for baseball. I couldn’t imagine being in love, much less being in love in 1900. “The Age of Innocence” was totally different to my life.

Most of my required summer reading has been like that—books written in a style that plays up the adjectives and plays down the verbs. I guess teachers don’t think exciting plots make for “good literature”. To me, though, a good writer describes events and characters in a way that makes the reader want to know what happens next.

If I were making up a summer reading list, it would include “The Friends of Eddie Coyle” by George V. Higgins, “The Right Stuff” by Tom Wolfe, and “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer. These are all books that have literary value but, just as important, can also entertain kids on vacation. If the teachers could stand a little fun in the books they assign, my Augusts would be a lot more enjoyable.

1.The author thinks he will have a difficult August because _______.

A. he doesn’t like reading in summer vacation

B. he is to read the books boring and not right for kids

C. he hates the English teacher assigning homework

D. he hates August

2.What can make students interested in August reading ought to be ______.

A. romantic                                 B. out of date

C. entertaining and educational         D. pure

3.The author listed such books as “The Friends of Eddie Coyle” because he thinks ______.

A. they can change his opinion

B. he can learn a lot more from them

C. they are of literary value, and enjoyable

D. he has to do as teachers tell him to

4.In the opinion of the author of this passage, a good writer should be _______.

A. one who describes events and characters in different ways

B. one who is full of imagination

C. one who is learned

D. one who uses a way of describing that makes the reader wish to know what to happen next

5.Which of the following could be the best title of this passage?

A. Why Can’t Teachers Set Us Fun Books?

B. I Don’t Like Reading on the Vacation

C. Teachers, Don’t Set Us Any Reading Assignments

D. Teachers, Set Us Free

 

August has always been difficult for me. It is the time when I realize that the books my English teacher assigned to me are not going to read themselves and that I have a difficult month in front of me.

You might think that I don’t want to spend my summer reading, but that’s not the problem: I love reading. On the first day of my summer holiday this year, I went to the library and got A Gathering of Old Men by African-American writer Ernest Gaines. I enjoyed it very much. I read all the magazines that my parents subscribe to(订阅) and spend about 30 minutes every day with the morning paper.

So why do I hate summer reading for school? Because the books on summer reading lists are often slow-going and just uninviting(不吸引人的) .Teachers and librarians don’t understand that summer reading can be entertaining as well as educational.

They choose books that a friend of my mother’s calls “spinach books”: good for you, but not much fun to take in. Every summer, I read them, hate them and get bitter about the experience.

This bitterness started three years ago when I was about to begin high school. As preparation, my English teacher told me to read The Age of Innocence(《纯真年代》)  by American author Edith Wharton. I’m sure there are many people who enjoyed The Age of Innocence —some might even say it’s their favorite book.

But I don’t think any of these people read it as 14-year-old boy on his summer vacation.

The Age of Innocence is the story of a forbidden romance in New York 100 years ago. At 14,my only experience with romance was my love for baseball. I couldn’t imagine being in love, much less being in love in 1900.The Age of Innocence was totally different to my life.

Most of my required summer reading has been like that—books written in a style that plays up the adjectives and plays down the verbs. I guess teachers don’t think exciting plots make for “good literature”. To me, though, a good writer describes events and characters in a way that makes the reader want to know what happens next.

If I were making up a summer reading list, it would include The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V.Higgins, The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe, and Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. These are all books that have literary value but, just as important, can also entertain kids on vacation. If the teachers could stand a little fun in the books they assign, my Augusts would be a lot more enjoyable.

1. The author thinks he/she will have a difficult August because __________.

A. he/she doesn’t like reading in summer vacation

B. he/she is to read the books, boring and not right for kids

C. he/she hates the English teacher assigning homework

D. he/she hates August

2. What can make student interested in August reading ought to be __________.

A. romantic

B. out of date

C. entertaining and educational

D. pure

3. The author listed such books as The Friends of Eddie Coyle because he/she thinks __________.

A. they can change his/her opinion

B. he/she can learn a lot more from them

C. they are of literary value and enjoyable

D. he/she has to do as teachers tell

4. In the opinion of the author of this passage, a good writer should be__________.

A. one who describes events and characters in different ways

B. one who uses a way of describing that makes the reader wish to know what to happen next

C. one who is learned

D. one who is full of imagination

5. The best title of this passage should be__________.

A. Why Can’t Teacher Set Us Books that Are Fun?

B. I Don’t Like Reading on the Vacation

C. Teachers, don’t Set Us Any Reading Assignments

D. Teachers, Set Us Free

 

August has always been difficult for me. It is the time when I realize that the books my English teacher assigned to me are not going to read themselves and that I have a difficult month in front of me.

You might think that I don’t want to spend my summer reading, but that’s not the problem: I love reading. On the first day of my summer holiday this year, I went to the library and got A Gathering of Old Men by African-American writer Ernest Gaines. I enjoyed it very much. I read all the magazines that my parents subscribe to(订阅) and spend about 30 minutes every day with the morning paper.

So why do I hate summer reading for school? Because the books on summer reading lists are often slow-going and just uninviting(不吸引人的) .Teachers and librarians don’t understand that summer reading can be entertaining as well as educational.

They choose books that a friend of my mother’s calls “spinach books”: good for you, but not much fun to take in. Every summer, I read them, hate them and get bitter about the experience.

This bitterness started three years ago when I was about to begin high school. As preparation, my English teacher told me to read The Age of Innocence(《纯真年代》)  by American author Edith Wharton. I’m sure there are many people who enjoyed The Age of Innocence —some might even say it’s their favorite book.

But I don’t think any of these people read it as 14-year-old boy on his summer vacation.

The Age of Innocence is the story of a forbidden romance in New York 100 years ago. At 14,my only experience with romance was my love for baseball. I couldn’t imagine being in love, much less being in love in 1900.The Age of Innocence was totally different to my life.

Most of my required summer reading has been like that—books written in a style that plays up the adjectives and plays down the verbs. I guess teachers don’t think exciting plots make for “good literature”. To me, though, a good writer describes events and characters in a way that makes the reader want to know what happens next.

If I were making up a summer reading list, it would include The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V.Higgins, The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe, and Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. These are all books that have literary value but, just as important, can also entertain kids on vacation. If the teachers could stand a little fun in the books they assign, my Augusts would be a lot more enjoyable.

1. The author thinks he/she will have a difficult August because __________.

A. he/she doesn’t like reading in summer vacation

B. he/she is to read the books, boring and not right for kids

C. he/she hates the English teacher assigning homework

D. he/she hates August

2. What can make student interested in August reading ought to be __________.

A. romantic

B. out of date

C. entertaining and educational

D. pure

3. The author listed such books as The Friends of Eddie Coyle because he/she thinks __________.

A. they can change his/her opinion

B. he/she can learn a lot more from them

C. they are of literary value and enjoyable

D. he/she has to do as teachers tell

4. In the opinion of the author of this passage, a good writer should be__________.

A. one who describes events and characters in different ways

B. one who uses a way of describing that makes the reader wish to know what to happen next

C. one who is learned

D. one who is full of imagination

5. The best title of this passage should be__________.

A. Why Can’t Teacher Set Us Books that Are Fun?

B. I Don’t Like Reading on the Vacation

C. Teachers, don’t Set Us Any Reading Assignments

D. Teachers, Set Us Free

 

Social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, a famous scientist has warned．Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans （幅度）, encourage instant satisfaction and make children more self-centered．
Warnings from neuroscientist （神经系统科学家） Susan Greenfield will disturb the millions whose social lives depend on surfing their favorite websites each day．But they will strike a chord （弦） with parents and teachers who complain that many teenagers lack the ability to communicate or concentrate away from their screens．
More than 150 million use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, share photographs and videos and post regular updates of their movements and thoughts．A further six million have signed up to Twitter, the "micro-blogging" service that lets users exchange text messages about themselves．But while the sites are popular and extremely profitable, a growing number of psychologists and neuroscientists believe they may be doing more harm than good．
Baroness Tarot, an Oxford University neuroscientist believes repeated exposure could rewire the brain．Computer games and fast-paced TV shows were also a factor, she said．"My fear is that these technologies are weakening the brain to the state of small children who are attracted by buzzing noises and bright lights, who have a small attention span and live for the moment．" "I often wonder whether real conversation in real time may eventually give way to these easier and faster screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages on the supermarket shelf," she said．
Psychologists have also argued that digital technology is changing the way we think．They point out that students no longer need to plan their term papers before starting to write—thanks to word processors they can edit as they go along．
A study by the Broadcaster Audience Board found teenagers now spend seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen．Educational psychologist Jane Healy believes children should be kept away from computer games until they are seven．Most games only excite the "flight or fight" areas of the brain, rather than the areas responsible reasoning．
Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, said: "We are seeing children's brain development damaged because they don't engage in the activity they have engaged in for thousands of years．I'm not against technology and computers．But before they start social networking, they need to learn to make real relationships with people．"
【小题1】.
According to the passage, social networking websites might _____．

A．make young users more selfish

B．lengthen young users' attention span

C．encourage young users constant satisfaction

D．help young users communicate better with their families

【小题2】.
A neuroscientist may worry that sites like Facebook may ______．

A．help children learn to make real relationships with people in society

B．encourage students not to plan their term papers before starting to write

C．disturb those whose social lives depend on surfing their favorite websites

D．make real conversation in real time give way to easier and faster screen dialogue

【小题3】.
From the passage we can infer that _____．

A．Baroness Tarot agrees websites cause small children's small attention span

B．Jane Healy believes computer games can do good to children's reasoning

C．Susan Greenfield's warnings have been brought to wide public attention

D．Sue Palmer's book Toxic Childhood discusses the development of networking

【小题4】.
What is the purpose of this passage?

A．To tell us the conflict between neuroscientists and psychologists on websites．

B．To present some negative opinions on social networking websites．

C．To offer advice on the problem of brain damage caused by social networking．

D．To analyse how social networking websites cause damage in the brains of teenagers．

Social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, a famous scientist has warned．Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans （幅度）, encourage instant satisfaction and make children more self-centered．

   Warnings from neuroscientist （神经系统科学家） Susan Greenfield will disturb the millions whose social lives depend on surfing their favorite websites each day．But they will strike a chord （弦） with parents and teachers who complain that many teenagers lack the ability to communicate or concentrate away from their screens．

    More than 150 million use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, share photographs and videos and post regular updates of their movements and thoughts．A further six million have signed up to Twitter, the "micro-blogging" service that lets users exchange text messages about themselves．But while the sites are popular and extremely profitable, a growing number of psychologists and neuroscientists believe they may be doing more harm than good．

    Baroness Tarot, an Oxford University neuroscientist believes repeated exposure could rewire the brain．Computer games and fast-paced TV shows were also a factor, she said．"My fear is that these technologies are weakening the brain to the state of small children who are attracted by buzzing noises and bright lights, who have a small attention span and live for the moment．" "I often wonder whether real conversation in real time may eventually give way to these easier and faster screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages on the supermarket shelf," she said．

    Psychologists have also argued that digital technology is changing the way we think．They point out that students no longer need to plan their term papers before starting to write—thanks to word processors they can edit as they go along．

    A study by the Broadcaster Audience Board found teenagers now spend seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen．Educational psychologist Jane Healy believes children should be kept away from computer games until they are seven．Most games only excite the "flight or fight" areas of the brain, rather than the areas responsible reasoning．

    Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, said: "We are seeing children's brain development damaged because they don't engage in the activity they have engaged in for thousands of years．I'm not against technology and computers．But before they start social networking, they need to learn to make real relationships with people．"

1..

According to the passage, social networking websites might _____．

    A．make young users more selfish       

B．lengthen young users' attention span

    C．encourage young users constant satisfaction

    D．help young users communicate better with their families

2..

A neuroscientist may worry that sites like Facebook may ______．

    A．help children learn to make real relationships with people in society

    B．encourage students not to plan their term papers before starting to write

    C．disturb those whose social lives depend on surfing their favorite websites

    D．make real conversation in real time give way to easier and faster screen dialogue

3..

From the passage we can infer that _____．

    A．Baroness Tarot agrees websites cause small children's small attention span

    B．Jane Healy believes computer games can do good to children's reasoning

    C．Susan Greenfield's warnings have been brought to wide public attention

    D．Sue Palmer's book Toxic Childhood discusses the development of networking

4..

What is the purpose of this passage?

    A．To tell us the conflict between neuroscientists and psychologists on websites．

    B．To present some negative opinions on social networking websites．

    C．To offer advice on the problem of brain damage caused by social networking．

    D．To analyse how social networking websites cause damage in the brains of teenagers．