My son loves video games very much. He spends hours every day playing video games in his room. Is there any redeeming（补偿的）educational value to video games? Some seem like they could help him learn strategy. But I worry others may be too violent or numb（使麻木）his mind.

Cecilia

Some games may improve kids’ hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. Games that require kids to actually move or manipulate（操纵）the game through their own physical movement can even get sedentary kids moving, though not as much as they could if they actually played outside or participated in sports or other outdoor acuities. Others, though, don’t have such benefits, and violent video games have been shown that they might increase kid’s aggressive behavior.

Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is actually self-control.

The American academy of Pediatrics(AAP) recommends that kids should spend no more than 2 hours each day on screen time, including watching TV or movies, or playing computer or video games. So consider setting limits at least that strict to keep game playing from affecting their schoolwork, household responsibilities, and the physical activity your son needs very day.

Make sure that he’s playing games which are suitable for his age group. All video games are rated and labeled by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. Steer clear of（避开）any rated “M” for mature. Those are for ages 17 and older and can contain heavy-duty violence, strong language, and sexual content.

Try to keep the video game console（游戏机控制板）in a common area of the house, not your son’s room. That way you can catch any inappropriate content in the games he’s playing, and he’ll be in a position to interact with others in the house while he’s playing.

Make sure your son has appealing alternatives, too, such as sports, activities, opportunities to socialize with peers; and downtime to be creative. If you continue to have concerns about his video game activity, talk with your doctor.

Reviewed by：Mary L. Gavin, MD

1.What is the opinion of Mary L. Gavin about playing video games?

A．Whether it’s beneficial or harmful depends on what the video games are.

B．It always improves kids’ hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills.

C．It will make kids more violent and increase their aggressive behavior.

D．Kids should give it up and put their hearts fully into their schoolwork.

2.The underlined word “sedentary” in the first paragraph of the answer letter is the nearest in meaning to “______”.

A．unhealthy         B．lively             C．bright            D．inactive

3.According to Mary L. Gavin, which of the following is encouraged to do by parents?

A．Keep the video game console out of their house.

B．Allow their children to play only such video games as rated “M”

C．Let kids play video games as much as possible if it doesn’t affect their lessons.

D．Help their children develop other healthy hobbies such as sports and painting.

4.Which is the best title of this passage?

A．Should children play video games?

B．Kids’ playing video games is harmful.

C．Is playing video games good for kids?

D．Help children choose video games.

 

A
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice(临终医院). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter(计价器).
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said,” I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto e tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
【小题1】The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to ______.

A．show she was familiar with the city	B．see some places for the last time
C．let the driver earn more money	D．reach the destination on time

【小题2】The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he ______.

A．wanted to do her a favor	B．shut off the meter by mistake
C．had received her payment in advance	D．was in a hurry to take other passengers

【小题3】What can we learn from the story?

A．Giving is always a pleasure.	B．People should respect each other.
C．An act of kindness can bring people great joy.
D．People should learn to appreciate others’ concern.

Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice(临终医院). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter(计价器).
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said,” I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
【小题1】 The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to ______.

A．show she was familiar with the city	B．see some places for the last time
C．let the driver earn more money	D．reach the destination on time

【小题2】The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he ______.

A．wanted to do her a favor

B．shut off the meter by mistake

C．had received her payment in advance

D．was in a hurry to take other passengers

【小题3】What can we learn from the story?

A．Giving is always a pleasure.

B．People should respect each other.

C．An act of kindness can bring people great joy.

D．People should learn to appreciate others’ concern.

When Dave was eighteen, he bought a second-hand car for ￡200 so that he could travel to and from work more  36  than by bus. It worked quite well for a few years, but it got so old, and it was costing him 37  much in repairs, that he decided that he had better 38  it.

He asked among his friends to see if anyone was  39  to buy a cheap car, but they all knew that it was falling to pieces, so  40  of them had any desire to buy it.

Dave’s friend Sam saw that he was  41 when they met one evening, and said, “What’s  42 , Dave?” Dave told him, and Sam answered, “Well, what about advertising(登广告) it in the paper? You may  43  more for it in that way than the cost of the advertisement!” Thinking that Sam’s  44  was reasonable, he put an advertisement in an evening paper, which read: “For sale: small car,  45  very little gas, only two owners. Bargain at ￡50.”

For two days after the advertisement first appeared, there was no  46. But then on the Saturday evening he had an enquiry (咨询). A man rang up and said he would like to  47  him about the car. “All right.” Dave said, feeling happy. He asked the man whether ten o’clock the next morning would be 48  or not. “Fine,” the man said, “and I’ll  49  my wife. We want to go for a ride in it to50  it.”

The next morning, at a quarter to ten, Dave parked the car in the square outside his front door,  51 to wait there for the people who had 52  his advertisement. Even Dave had to  53  that the car really looked like a wreck (残破的车). Then, soon after he had got the car as  54  as it could be, a police car stopped just behind him and a policeman got out. He looked at Dave’s car and then said, “Have you reported this  55  to us yet, sir?”

36．A.directly                 B.safely         C.easily        D.properly       

37．A.too                          B.so                   C.such          D.very

38．A.keep                     B.sell                    C.repair         D.throw

39．A.generous             B.willing         C.lucky            D.ashamed       

40．A.some                  B.neither              C.none               D.most

41．A.delighted            B.calm                  C.sad                 D.astonished

42．Aon                           B.that                   C.up               D.it

43．A.learn        B.miss                    C.find                 D.get   

44．A.advice              B.message           C.request             D.description

45．A.loses                    B.has                   C.spends        D.uses 

46．A.doubt               B.help                  C.answer           D.trouble

47．A.see                       B.tell                    C.agree             D.call

48．A.exact                    B.early                 C.suitable              D.late

49．A.follow                B.meet                 C.bring       D.introduce

50．A.get            B.recognize          C.test              D.admire  

51．A.meaning               B.happening C.turning              D.failing

52．A.read                     B.answered    C.inserted               D.placed

53．A.admit                    B.forget     C.show                D.disagree

54．A.admit                    B.fast           C.clean                    D.light

55．A.bargain                B.sale              C.result          D.accident