I love my iPhone---it’s my little connection to the larger world that can go anywhere with me. I also love my computer, as it stores all of my writing and thoughts. Though I love these devices(装置) of technology, I know that there are times when I need to move away from them and truly communicate with others.
I teach history in a high school. My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes(主题) and ideas. Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and share their ideas with each other in the classroom. I have a rule---no computers, iPads, phones, etc. When students were told my rule before class, some of them were not happy at all.
Most students think that my reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology. There’s a bit of truth to that. Some students believe that I am anti-technology. There’s no truth in that at all. I love technology and try to keep up with it so I can relate to my students.
The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversations. Interruptions(打断) by technology often break concentration and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas. I want students to dig deep within themselves for ideas. I want them to push each other to think differently and to make connections between the course material and the class discussion.
I’ve been teaching my history class in this way for many years and students realize that with deep conversation, they learn at a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom.
I’m not saying that I won’t ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a really good reason for the change. A few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too sweet to give up.
【小题1】What’s the second paragraph mainly about?

A．The reasons why students should use computers or iPads in class.

B．The advantages of using cell phones and computers in the classroom.

C．What the writer is trying to do and what rule has been made in class.

D．A new learning style that the teacher enjoys using in history class.

【小题2】According to the writer, the use of technology in the classroom may _____.

A．improve teaching and offer more help

B．allow students to get on well with each other

C．help students concentrate on what they learn

D．keep students from making deep conversations

【小题3】What can we infer from the passage?

A．The teacher will carry on the success in the future.

B．The teacher will have to cancel the rule in class.

C．Some students will be punished according to the rule.

D．More and more students will be absent in history class.

Chris is not a traditional explorer --- he usually works in an office for a large organization. However, Chris' job can be just as exciting and dangerous as being an explorer.
Chris works for MSF, an organization also known as .Doctors Without Borders. Since1971, MSF has sent trained doctors all over the world to help people who have suffered from disasters, such as wars and illnesses. Chris is a doctor from France who has traveled to many places to organize programs that help people.
At the moment, over 27,000 trained doctors have taken part in MSF projects. The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. All kinds of doctors can volunteer for MSF. They need to be ready to go almost anywhere in the world and, of course, they should face difficulties. Most of MSF's work is in Africa. When MSF chooses a doctor for a task, they have to go for at least six months. When doctors have completed a few tasks, they might be sent on an emergency task following a disaster, such as an earthquake.
But why would doctors leave a comfortable life and a good pay to join MSF? According to Chris, the experience they have is a great help in their life. What's more, just like the explorers of the past, they need to keep an open mind and learn to get on well with the people they meet. One thing that they can say at the end of any task is that they have made a real difference to people’s lives.
【小题1】 What may MSF's work be like?

A．Tiring and boring.

B．Exciting and dangerous.

C．Relaxing and colorful.

D．Peaceful and comfortable.

【小题2】As a volunteer doctor for MSF, he or she should     .

A．have worked in Africa for six months

B．have been sent on an emergency task

C．be ready to work for a task for at least half a year

D．have suffered from wars, illnesses or other disasters

【小题3】. Why would doctors like to join MSF?

A．Because they can get a good pay.

B．Because they can have a comfortable life.

C．Because they can help others and get experience.

D．Because they can travel abroad with their families.

【小题4】 What is the main idea of this passage?

A．Chris is a doctor who has organized programs to help people.

B．MSF received the Nobel Peace Prize for helping poor countries.

C．Volunteer doctors make a real difference to their own lives in MSF.

D．MSF offers medical help to people who have suffered from disasters.

 

Most students think my reasons for this rule include negative experiences in the past when students made wrong use of technology. There’s a bit of truth to that. I’ve seldom had students make wrong use of technology in my classes; however, I have been e-mailed by students while they were in other teachers’ classrooms.

Some students think that I am anti-technology. There’s no truth in that at all. As I noted above, I love technology and try to keep up with it.

The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversations. Interruptions (中断) by technology often break students’ thoughts and make them depend too much on outside information for ideas. I want students to dig deep in themselves for ideas. I want them to push each other to think differently and to make connections between the course material and the class discussion.

I have been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the evaluations (评价) show student satisfaction with the environment that I create. Students realize with deep conversation and difficult tasks, they learn at a deeper level – a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom.

I am not saying that I won’t ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a really good reason for the change, I will continue my plan. A few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too sweet to give up.

1.The writer’s rule for his History Matters class is ____.

A. discussing historical ideas deeply         

B. studying and discussing the materials

C. leaving technology out of the classroom  

D. making right use of technology in class

2.The word “negative” in Paragraph 3 means ____.

A. similar            B. unforgettable         C. special         D. unpleasant

3.What can we know from the passage?

A. Students make right use of technology in other teachers’ classes.

B. The classroom is one of the good places to have deep conversations.

C. The writer encourages students to agree with others after discussion.

D. Students are unhappy with the writer’s way of teaching history.

4.The writer wants to tell us that ____.

A. technology has different influences in different classes in college

B. technology makes it difficult to have true communication in class

C. history classes can help students to develop their deep thinking

D. it is time for him to give up his teaching method in history class

 

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容，回答下列问题。
Save water, save lives
A BOTTLE of water may not seem like much to you, but it can save the day for people who live in drought-hit (遭受旱灾) areas in China.
In the past few months, some places in southwest China experienced a serious drought. In Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou and Chongqing, there has been very little rain since last autumn. Crops died, the land cracked, and wells (井) and rivers dried up. More than 20 million people are having difficulty finding safe drinking water.
After learning about the drought, many people around the country helped by giving water, money and other resources.
Last week, China asked every member of the Communist Youth League (团员) and Young Pioneers (少先队员) to give one bottle of water to the drought-hit area. Students in primary schools and middle schools quickly joined the activity.
“A bottle of water isn’t much, but thousands of bottles will be of great use,” said Zhang Zihao, a middle school student at Tongling No 1 Middle School in Anhui.
In Yuhua Primary School in Xi’an, 900 students bought over 100 bottles of water with their pocket money. They also wrote their wishes on the bottles.
The serious drought has also made students realize the importance of saving water.
Students from Nanshan Middle School in Huizhou in Guangdong went on the street to tell people to take part in water-saving activities.
“I heard that some children in drought-hit areas don’t have enough drinking water. They have to drink muddy (泥泞的) water. I feel really sad about that,” said one student. “I decided to take a shower twice a week instead of every day to save water.” he said.
【小题1】Why did a serious drought happen in Southwest China?
                                                                       
【小题2】What does the underlined（划线的）word “cracked” probably mean in Chinese?
                                                                       
【小题3】What did people do after learning about the drought?
                                                                       
【小题4】Is a bottle of water helpful for the people in drought-hit areas?
                                                                       
【小题5】What can you learn from the passage?
                                                                       

A few years ago, Dave Stirling had the idea of selling CDs over the Internet. The business he started from his home in Ohio, the USA, now sells 500,000 CDs a year and has made him into a millionaire(百万富翁)at the age of 24.

“I could see that this was the future of shopping,” says Stirling. “Why should you pay $15 for a CD and spend the time and the money getting into the store and parking your car? You can have the same CD for half of the price by clicking(敲击)on your computer. And we can find any CD you want and bring it to your door in 24 hours!” 

According to Stirling, this is the only beginning, “I believe that one day we’ll do our shopping over the net: it’s easier, quicker and cheaper. Shops and supermarkets will be the past.” 

1.Dave Stiring started his business from______.

A. his home     B. his company      C. the office       D. the country

2.How has Stirling become so rich?

A. By making ice cream.         B. By making advertisements.

C. By selling ideas to others. D. By selling CDs over the Internet.

3.If you pay $15 for a CD in the store, how much should you pay for it over the net?

A.$15.      B.$12.      C.$7.5.         D.$30.

4.By shopping over the net, you won’t_____.

A. spend the time and the money     B. drive your car any more

C. click on your computer           D. get into the store by yourself

5. What can we learn from the passage?

A. More than half of the Americans prefer to shop over the net.

B. Shops and supermarkets will be the past in the future.

C. Some people don’t like to go shopping over the Internet.

D. It’s easier, quicker and more expensive to do our shopping over the net.