完形填空

　　Most people give little thought to the pens they write with, especially since the printers in modern homes and offices mean that very 　　1　　things are handwritten．All too often, people buy a pen based only on 　　2　　, and wonder why they are not satisfied 　　3　　, they begin to use it, However, buying a pen that you'll enjoy is not 　　4　　 if you keep the following in wond．

　　First of all, a pen should fit comfortably in your hand and be 　　5　　 to use．The thickness of the pen is the most important characteristic(特征)　　6　　 comfort．Having a small hand and thick fingers, you may be comfortable with a thin pen．If you have a 　　7　　 hand and thicker fingers,you may 　　8　　 a fatter pen．The length of a pen can 　　9　　 influence comfort．A pen that is too 　　10　　 can easily feel top-heavy and unstable．

　　Then, the writing point of the pen should 　　11　　 the ink to flow evenly(均匀的)while that pen remains in touch with the paper 　　12　　 will make it possibly for you to creat a 　　13　　 line of writing．The point should also be sensitive enough to 　　14　　 ink from running when the pen is lifted．A point that does not block the 　　15　　 may leave drops of ink, 　　16　　 you pick the pen up and put it down again．

　　　　17　　, the pen should make a thick, dark line．Fine-line pens may 　　18　　 bad handwriting, but fine, delicate lines do not command 　　19　　 next to printed text, as, 　　20　　, a singnature on a printed letter．A broader line, on the other hand, gives an impression of confidence and authority(权威)．

阅读理解

　　Win a trip to the OREGON COAST-Dare to Explore the Pacific Ocean．Build the biggest sand castle on the beach．Search tide pools for sea life．Watch the bright orange sunset over the ocean．Whether you've been to the Pacific Ocean before or have only closed your eyes and imagined it, we want to know how you would explore the Oregon Coast if you had the chance to go this summer．

　　JUDGING

　　1．Clear relationship between the Essay and the Drawing 40％

　　2．Creativity and skill in design and form of the Drawing 40％

　　3．Expression of the passion to draw and explore 10％

　　4．Journalistic quality, tidy nature and overall quality of the Essay 10％

　　PRIZE

　　By entering, you will have the chance to win an all expense paid trip to the ORECON COAST．Activities will include：kite flying, studying beautiful sea creatures, searching for sea life in a boat, science exploration at a science center and roasting over a beach campfire．

　　Who may enter：The competition is 0pen to kids aged 6－14．

　　TERM：Entries(参赛作品)must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2009．

　　How to enter

　　Surf travelogue．com/kids to download and print out an entry form．

　　Be sure to mark whether you have or have not been to the Pacific Ocean in山e form．Create a drawing of the Pacific Ocean on a piece of paper using a pen or paints．

　　Write an article of 100 words or less to explain why you want to go, what you think you would see and what you would explore if you have never been to the Pacific Ocean, or describe your favorite memories from your last visit．

　　Send to Dare to Explore the Pacific Ocean．NG1145 14th street NW．Washington D．C．20036

阅读理解

　　As computers become all the more popular in China, Chinese people are increasingly relying on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters．But if they use the computer too much, they may end up forgetting the exact strokes(笔画)of each Chinese character when writing on paper．Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more．

　　Do you write by hand more or type more?In Beijing, students start using a computer as early as primary school．And computer dependence is more wide-spread among university students．Almost all their assignments and essays are typed on a computer．

　　All the students interviewed say they usually use a computer．

　　It's faster and easier to correct if using a computer．And that's why computers are being applied more and more often to modern education．But when people are taking stock in computers increasingly, problems appear．

　　“When I'm writing with a pen, I find I often can't remember how to write a character, though I feel I'm familiar with it．”

　　“I'm not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper．”

　　Many students don't feel this is something to worry about．Now that it's more convenient and efficient to write on a computer, why bother to handwrite?

　　Many educators think differently．Shi Liwei , the headmaster of a famous primary school in the capital said“Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic(审美的)value．But those characters typed with computer keyboards only maintain their practical value．All the artistic beauty of the characters is lost．And handwriting contains the writer's emotion．Through one's handwriting, people can get to know one's thinking and personality．Beautiful writing will give people a better first impression of them．”

　　To encourage students to handwrite more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing classes compulsory(必修的)and in universities, some professors are asking students to turn in their homework and essays written by hand．