Question

The computer keyboard helped kill shorthand—a system of rapid handwriting, and now it’s threatening to finish off handwriting as a whole. When handwritten essays were introduced on the SAT exams for the class of 2012, just 15% of the most1.5 million students wrote their answers in cursive(草寫字母). The rest? Block letters.

And those college hopefuls are just the first edge of a wave of US students who no longer get much handwriting instructions in the primary grades, frequently 10 minutes a day or less. As a result, more and more students struggle to read and write cursive.

At Keene Mill Elementary School in Springfield, all their poems and stories are typed. Children in Fairfax County schools are taught keyboarding beginning in kindergarten. Older students who never mastered handwriting say it doesn’t affect their grades.

There are those who say the culture is at a crossing, turning from the written word to the typed one. If handwriting becomes a lost form of communication, does it matter?

It was at University Virginia that researchers recently discovered a previously unknown poem by Robert, written in his unique script. Handwritten documents are more valuable to researchers, historians say, because their authenticity(真實性) can be confirmed. Students also find them more fascinating.

The loss of handwriting also may be  a cognitive(認知的) opportunity missed. Several academic studies have found that good handwriting skills at a young age can help children express their thoughts better—a lifelong benefit.

It doesn’t take much to teach better handwriting skills. At some schools in Prince George’s County, elementary school students use a program called Handwriting Without Tears for 15 minutes a day. They learn the correct formation of manuscript letters through second grade, and cursive letters in third grade.

There are always going to be some kids who struggle with handwriting because of their particular neurological(神經系統的) writing, learning issues or poor motor skills. Educators often point to this factor in support of keyboarding.

1.What is the author concerned about after 2012 Sat exams?

A. Keyboarding.      B. Shorthand.      C. Handwriting.     D. Block letters.

2.A poem by Robert mentioned in the passage is used to ____________.

A. prove how valuable handwriting is          

B. explain what a famous poet he is

C. show how unique his poem is        

D. stress how fascinating the documents are

3.The example of Handwriting Without Tears helps to argue that _____________. 

A. the schools are responsible for the loss of handwriting

B. the loss of handwriting is a cognitive opportunity missed

C. it doesn’t take much to teach better handwriting skills

D. the culture is turning from the written word to the typed one

4.According to the author, when is a perfect time to learn handwriting?

A. Kindergarten.                 B. Primary school.       

C. High school.                  D. College.

5.What is the author’s attitude towards this debate? 

A. Devotion.       B. Encouragement.        C. Critical.        D. Objective. 

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.C

2.A

3.C

4.B

5.D

【解析】

試題分析：文章介紹因為電腦鍵盤的，現在很多學生不會書寫，所以書寫應該引起關注，學生學習書寫是可以帶來很多好處的，最后提出有的學生因為種種原因不能寫字可以使用鍵盤。

1.推理題：根據第一段中“When handwritten essays were introduced on the SAT exams for the class of 2011, just 15% of the most 1.5 million students wrote their answers in cursive (草寫字母）.The rest? Block letters”可知在150萬學生中只有15%的學生是手寫的，應該引起作者對手寫的擔心。故選C。

2.細節題：根據第五段中“ Handwritten documents are more valuable to researchers, historians say, because their authenticity(真實性) can be confirmed ” 可知作者想證明手寫的文稿更加珍貴。故選A。

3.細節題：根據倒數第二段中“It doesn't take much to teach better handwriting skills.”可知作者認為教學生書寫不需要花費多少精力，后面用Handwriting Without Tears舉例。故選C。

4.推理題：根據倒數第三段中“Several academic studies have found that good handwriting skills at a young age can help children express their thoughts better-a lifelong benefit.”可知作者認為學生應該從小就學習書寫，就是從小學開始。故選B。

5.推理題：作者先是提出問題：書寫應該引起關注，后面說為什么學生應該學習書寫，最后提出有的學生因為種種原因不能寫字可以使用鍵盤，所以他是客觀的陳述事實。故選D。

考點：考查教育類閱讀