My summer hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro, his GF ＆ thr 3 : -@ kids FTF. ILNY; its gr8.
Can you understand this sentence? If you can’t, don't feel too bad. The middle school teacher in England who received this as homework couldn’t either. This is Netspeak: the language of computerized（电脑化的）communication found on Internet or mobile phones. To newcomers, it can look like a completely foreign language. So, what is the "translation" of the sentence above? My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York; it’s great.
Schoolteachers and parents say this new form of writing is harming the English language. Increasing spelling and grammatical mistakes can be seen in students' writing. They fear the language could become corrupted (面目全非的).
Everyone should just relax, say linguists (语言学家). They believe Netspeak is in fact more of a good thing. David Crystal, from the University of Wales, argues that Netspeak and Internet create a new language use and the almost lost art of diary writing has been picked up again. Geoffrey Nunberg, from Stanford University, agrees. "People get better at writing by writing," he says, “Kids who are now doing text messaging and e-mail will write at least as well as, and possibly better than, their parents."
Linguist James Milroy says, for centuries, it is believed without exception（例外）that young people are harming the language. And you can bet your bottom dollar that when today's teenagers become tomorrow's parents, they too will think this way. Milroy argues that languages do not and cannot become “corrupted”, and that they simply change to meet the new needs.
However, Netspeakers do agree that it is important to teach young people how to speak and write Standard English. Cynthia Mcvey says, "I can understand Netspeak worries teachers and it's important that they get across to（沟通）their pupils that text messaging is for fun, but that learning to write proper English is a must for their future.”
Perhaps we should give teenagers a little more trust anyway. Erin, age 12, says, "I wouldn't use text language in my homework. Texting is just for fun."
【小题1】What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?

You either have it, or you don’t－a sense of direction. But why is it that some people could find their way across the Sahara without a map while others can lose themselves in the next street?

Scientists say we’re all born with a sense of direction, but it is not properly understood how it works. One theory is that people with a good sense of direction have simply worked harder at developing it. Research being carried out at Liverpool University supports this idea and suggests that if we don’t use it, we lose it.

“Children as young as seven have the ability to find their way around,” says Jim Martland, research director of the project. “However, if they are not allowed out alone or are taken everywhere by car, they never develop the skills.”

Jim Martland also emphasizes that young people should be taught certain skills to improve their sense of direction. He makes the following suggestions:

If you are using a map, turn it so that it relates to(与……有联系) the way you are facing.

If you leave your bike in a strange place, put it near something like a big stone or a tree－something easy to recognize. Note landmarks on the route as you go away from your bike. When you return, go back along the same route.

Simplify(简化) the way for finding your direction by using lines such as streets in a town, streams, or wells in the countryside to guide you. Count your steps so that you know how far you have gone and note any landmarks such as towerblocks or hills which can help to find out where you are.

Now you will never get lost again!

1.Children have the ability to find the way around when they are ______ years old.

A．5                B．6                C．7                D．8

2.Which of the following things cannot be used as landmarks?

A．Tower blocks.      B．Hills.             C．Wells.            D．Bikes.

3.What does the underlined word “emphasize” mean in the passage?

A．To give special importance to something.

B．To express thanks for somebody.

C．To understand or become aware of a fact.

D．To admire somebody.

4.Scientists believe that __________.

A．some babies are born with a sense of direction

B．people learn a sense of direction as they grow older

C．people never lose their sense of direction

D．everybody has a sense of direction from birth

5.What may be the best title of the passage?

A．A research on direction.

B．A sense of direction.

C．People’s ability of finding the way.

D．Scientists’ research on skills.

【小题1】Among the patients that poor girl was          ( terrible) ill.
【小题2】The old scientist devoted all her time she had to         (develop) the western parts of China.
【小题3】He has decided to have a party for his wife’s _______(forty) birthday.
【小题4】All the students _____________ (divide) into four groups and then they went on hiking with four teachers.
【小题5】An old man was found ___________ (die) in the street yesterday.
【小题6】The police believe these footprints are one of the _____________ (thief).
【小题7】You have no choice but _________(work) hard if you want to enter your ideal school.
【小题8】While my mother    (cook)dinner ,I got home.
【小题9】These comic books _______ are more or less worth reading. (it)
【小题10】The more he thought of it, ________________(excite) he felt.