Teachers and parents usually call attention to the pictures when they read storybooks to preschool children. But a new study tells that calling attention to the words and letters on the book may lead to better readers.

The two-year study compared (比较) children who were read to this way in class with children who were not. Those whose teachers most often discussed the words showed clearly higher skills in reading, spelling and understanding.

Shayne Piasta, a professor of teaching and learning at Ohio State University, says most preschool teachers would need only a small change in the way they teach. They already read storybooks in class. The only difference would be increased attention to the printed words.

Ms. Piasta says if you get children to pay attention to letters and words, it makes sense that they will do better at word spelling. But she says studies show that very few parents and teachers do this in a systematic (系统的) way.

They watched more than three hundred children aged four and five in classrooms in Ohio and Virginia. The children came from poor families and were poor in their language skills. They may become bad readers when they enter primary schools later.

Professor Justice says children’s language skills can be improved by discussing with him or her when you are reading a book to a child. There are different ways that adults can talk to children about the letters and words on the page. They can point to a word and discuss the shape of it with a finger. They can point out a word: “This is ‘dog’.” They can discuss the meaning of the word or how the words tell the story. And they can also show how words are written left to right in English.

49. What does the underlined phrase “it makes sense” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A. It can be understood and agreed.                     B. It is impossible to happen.       

C. It can be difficult to imagine and describe. D. It is surprising to see.

50. What can we infer from the passage?

A. Parents are more important than teachers for little children.

B. Teachers need to learn a lot to use the new teaching way.

C. It’s impossible for preschool children to understand words.

D. Skills are important to children’s reading development.

51. The writer wants to tell us that ____.

A. preschool children should have higher discussing skills

B. parents should make a plan to teach their children reading

C. teachers should help children pay attention to printed words

D. languages skills should be discussed with preschool children

Martin is a fifteen-year-old boy. He used to be a“problem child”, but a recent 46  with his mother changed his life. He didn’t use to give his mother many problems. 47, after his father’s death a few years ago, Martin’s life became 48 more difficult. His mother couldn’t afford to pay for her child’s education. To do this, she 49 work, and so was often not at home.
His mother looked after him as 50 as she could. Unfortunately, Martin still caused problems. He was not 51 in studying and he often got in to trouble. Luckily, his mother was very 52 and didn’t give up trying to help him. In the end, she 53 a difficult decision:to send him to a boys’boarding school. Martin hated it and used to cause a lot of trouble.
One day, he told his teacher he wanted to leave the school. The teacher said it was necessary for Martin to 54 with his mother. Martin called his mother, but to his 55, this phone call changed his life. “It was exactly 56 Ineeded, ”he said. “My mother helped me to understand how much she had given me. She also told me that even though my father was no longer with us, he was 57 me and would always take pride in every thing good I do. That’s when I decided to change. I realize that 58 my father died, I have been afraid of being alone, and have tried to make my mother pay more attention to me. ”
　　 Now Martin has 59 changed. He has been working hard and is now one of the best students in his class. How was he able to change?His mother’s 60 helped him to feel good about himself.

Martin is a fifteen-year-old boy. He used to be a“problem child”, but a recent? ???? with his mother changed his life. He didn’t use to give his mother many problems. ??? , after his father’s death a few years ago, Martin’s life became ???? more difficult. His mother couldn’t afford to pay for her child’s education. To do this, she ???? work, and so was often not at home.

His mother looked after him as ????? as she could. Unfortunately, Martin still caused problems. He was not ???? in studying and he often got in to trouble. Luckily, his mother was very ???? and didn’t give up trying to help him. In the end, she ???? a difficult decision:to send him to a boys’boarding school. Martin hated it and used to cause a lot of trouble.

One day, he told his teacher he wanted to leave the school. The teacher said it was necessary for Martin to ???? with his mother. Martin called his mother, but to his ???? , this phone call changed his life. “It was exactly ???? Ineeded, ”he said. “My mother helped me to understand how much she had given me. She also told me that even though my father was no longer with us, he was ???? me and would always take pride in every thing good I do. That’s when I decided to change. I realize that ???? my father died, I have been afraid of being alone, and have tried to make my mother pay more attention to me. ”

　　 Now Martin has ???? changed. He has been working hard and is now one of the best students in his class. How was he able to change?His mother’s???? helped him to feel good about himself.

1.A. conversation??? ?? B. report???? ?? C. survey???? ? D. speech

2.A. So?????????????? B. But??????? ? C. Therefore?? ? D. However

3.A. very??? ???????? B. many?????? ? C. much??????? D. too

4.A. could??????????? B. had to???? ??? C. should????? D. would

5.A. soon???????????? B. quickly??? ?? C. well??????? ? D. good

6.A. pleased????????? B. tired????? ??? C. bored?????? ? D. interested

7.A. worried????????? B. patient??? ??? C. careful???? ?? D. serious

8.A. made???????????? B. took?????? ?? C. got???????? D. thought

9.A. argue??????????? B. say??????? ? C. discuss???? ?? D. talk

10.A. surprised??????? B. surprising ??? C. surprise??? ?? D. surprises

11.A. which??????????? B. what?????? C. that??????? ?? D. how

12.A. seeing?????????? B. noticing?? ?? C. helping???? ?? D. watching

13.A. since??????????? B. before???? ?? C. after?????? ?? D. when

14.A. always?????????? B. hardly???? ?? C. really????? ?? D. just

15.A. advice?????????? B. love?????? ?? C. idea?????? ? D. decision