Educators today are more and more often heard to say that computer literacy is absolutely necessary for college students. Many even argue that each incoming freshman should have his or her own microcomputer. What advantages do computers offer the college students?
A few years ago, I stood in a small classroom just outside of New York City, watching a high schooler named Serena Stevenson answer math questions. An instructor read out numbers — 74,470, 70,809, 98,402 — and Stevenson added them in her head. For each question, she closed her eyes, and then the fingers of her right hand began to move. She answered most of the problems correctly.
The key to her success was an ancient technology called the abacus (算盘). Stevenson used a practice called “mental abacus”, imagining the abacus in her mind and then using her fingers to work through the problems.
From watching Stevenson, I knew that gaining skill at the abacus was more than a matter of counting beads, so I decided to sign up for an abacus course with my two daughters to see if we could also improve our math skills. I was one of the many who had some math doubts and I felt a touch of fear. My typical solution was avoidance, and if I had to calculate something like a percentage change, I would go online.
Then after a few abacus classes and a good amount of practice, math seemed a little less frightening. I didn’t become Euclid, the founder of geometry. But the practice brought my numerical fears down. This is a time-tested power of the abacus. Confidence grows easily in the device, and abacus students are less likely to be nervous about an upcoming math test, according to one study. Part of the reason, it seems, is that practice and outcomes appear to move in step.
My kids gained much as well. My youngest daughter could work out those math problems that once baffled her, while my older child brought her abacus to school to show it to her classmates and teacher. These were just small successes for them, but that was how they finally developed confidence.
1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To prove the difficulty of math. |
| B．To introduce the topic of the abacus. |
| C．To show the high intelligence of Stevenson. |
| D．To stress the importance of abacus learning. |
| A．He was weak in math. | B．He was good at computer. |
| C．He regarded math as useful. | D．He had a close relationship with kids. |
| A．Knowledge starts with practice. | B．It’s never too late to learn. |
| C．Faith can move mountains. | D．Practice makes perfect. |
| A．Bored. | B．Inspired. | C．Defeated. | D．Interested. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】A new book named You Are What You Wear, written by fashion blogger Fang Yimin, who has more than 30 million followers on social media, was released offline on May 14.
Fang, who’s widely known as Becky Li, talks about her experience and gives advice on “living beautifully” to readers in the book that she spent eight years writing. The book is a summary of 2,400 posts that Fang published in her blog on WeChat that she started in 2014, as well as the text of some public speeches, focusing on topics of common concern to modern women, such as “beauty quotient”, workplace survival, emotional management and self-growth.
Whether it is a fashion tip such as “finding your own style and details that affect your vibe”, or money management strategies such as “my moneymaking skills and a few things that changed my perception of money”, or self-management methods at work and in life such as “what entrepreneurship taught me, and how to overcome procrastination and learning to live with anxiety”, Fang’s insights at different stages of her life are incorporated in the book, which she hopes will inspire female readers while allowing them to explore their own hidden potential and pursue a better life.
| A．Fang writes that the pursuit of beauty is productive. |
| B．Fang writes that compared to the previous generations’ family-centered consumer attitudes, women today are becoming more and more conscious of their own needs. |
| C．She aims to capture the coziness of women’s homes and their lifestyles through the camera. |
| D．Fang shares her journey and tips from a woman’s perspective. |
| E．The length of life may be limited, but the depth and breadth can be expanded indefinitely. |
| F．It is because of their financial and emotional independence that women today are more concerned with self-improvement and self-fulfillment. |
【推荐2】Stained glass (彩色玻璃) artists create different designs by making cuts on the glass to “score” it and then breaking off the pattern that they want to use in the finished product. The most difficult cut in stained glass is called an inside cut. Basically, it’s a curved (弯曲的) line where you throw away the part inside of the curve. The problem with inside cuts is that the edges of the curve tend to break off when the pieces of scored glass are broken apart.
As the artist talked about inside cuts, he said, “The glass will break into pieces if you try to cut too much off at once. The best way to do an inside cut is to slice off smaller curves piece-by-piece. In fact, it’s not just the best way to do it, but it’s the only way to do it.”
How many times do you try to make a big change and cut the entire piece at once? We convince ourselves that we can do this all the time. We’ll commit to transforming our diet overnight or we get inspired to launch a business in a weekend or we finally get motivated to work out and push ourselves to the edge of burning out.
Why not approach your goals and dreams like a stained glass artist? Starting by slicing a shallow curve and breaking a small piece off, you cut a slightly deeper curve and break that off until you have your full inside cut. By slowly cutting deeper and deeper curves, you prevent the glass from breaking as it changes shape.
Of course, change isn’t easy — no matter how you do it. Slow gains are boring, but if we keep making small improvements, then pretty soon we will end up with a beautiful masterpiece on our hands instead of a bunch of broken pieces.
1. Why is an inside cut believed to be most difficult?| A．It needs a one-and-only design. |
| B．It calls for nothing but inspiration. |
| C．The edges of the curve break easily. |
| D．The glass inside the curve is easily broken. |
| A．Being too eager to make improvements. |
| B．Being too worried about the final outcome. |
| C．Trying to make a complete change all at once. |
| D．Trying to focus on progress instead of achievements. |
| A．Moving forward with a clear aim. |
| B．Starting slow and improving little by little. |
| C．Developing a new habit with great determination. |
| D．Handling something major first and ignore the minor part. |
| A．To show his love of stained glass. |
| B．To introduce the skill of an inside cut. |
| C．To appreciate designs of stained glass artists. |
| D．To share his opinions on how to make a change. |
【推荐3】My nephew came for a visit one hot,July weekend. I persuaded him to stay inside by joining him in a Nintendo game. After being mercilessly defeated by a more experienced player,I suggested that we relax for a while. He slipped out of the room and I caught a few moments of peace and quiet.
"Look,Alice," he said enthusiastically as he ran over to the chair where I was recovering." I found a kite. Could we go outside and fly it?"
Glancing out of a nearby window,I noticed there was not a breeze(微风). "T' m sorry, Tripper," I said, sad to see his disappointed eyes, but thankful for the short period of rest from more activities. "The wind is not blowing today.The kite won't fly."
The determined 10-year-old replied. "I think it's windy enough.I can get it to fly," he answered,as he hurried out through the back door.I peeked(窥视)through the curtains to watch determination in action.Up and down the yard he ran, pulling the kite attached to a small length of string.The plastic kite, proudly displaying a picture of Batman, remained about shoulder level. He ran back and forth, as hard as his ten-year-old legs would carry him, looking back hopefully at the kite trailing behind. After about ten minutes of unsuccessful determination, he came back in.
I asked, "How did it go?" "Fine, "he said," I got it to fly some." As he walked past me to return the kite to the closet shelf, I heard him say under his breath, "I guess I'll have to wait for the wind.”
At that moment I heard another voice speak to my heart. "Alice, sometimes you are just like that. You want to do it your way instead of waiting for the wind." And the voice was right. We usually want to use our own efforts to accomplish what we want to do. We wait for the wind only after we have done all we can and have exhausted our own strength. We must learn how to rely on Him in the first place!
1. Why did the writer refuse to fly the kite with his nephew that day?| A．Because he preferred to relax himself. |
| B．Because he was not good at flying kites. |
| C．Because he wanted to stay peaceful and quiet. |
| D．Because he found the weather was not suitable. |
| A．Tripper was unwilling to admit defeat. |
| B．Tripper felt unhappy and hopeless. |
| C．Tripper was hesitant to try it again. |
| D．Tripper lost interest in flying the kite. |
| A．Naughty and active. |
| B．Determined and insistent. |
| C．Brave and bright. |
| D．Weak and sensitive. |
| A．Fly a Kite in Life |
| B．Try Your Best |
| C．Wait for the Wind |
| D．Determine to Succeed |
【推荐1】“I’m sorry,” the bank teller said. “Your check has bounced (拒付).” Her words took a moment to sink in. This year had brought so much pain. A divorce (离婚), losing my house, then the loss of my job right before the holidays… and now the check for my car insurance had bounced!
Leaving the bank, I wondered what I would do. My unemployment (失业) checks were delayed, and everything seemed to be piling up. How long could I last without money? How I missed my parents in the faraway Los Angeles.
December in Michigan meant it was not only dark, but cold and snowy. Despite (尽管) that, I had an urge to take a walk on my favorite trail. Being cold and dark also meant there was a good chance no one else would be out, so I decided to go.
On the trail, I was grateful for sounds of rushing water coming from the little river. They covered my soft sobs while I walked. Tonight, it all felt like too much to bear.
Eventually, when my tears dried up, I headed home. Approaching my apartment (公寓) door, I noticed something bulky hanging on it. Probably another bill, I thought. While I struggled with my boots, I could see a card with my name on it through the clear plastic bag. Reaching in, I took out a very small, white envelope. Inside the envelope was a beautiful card with no name written on it, but it was stuffed with gift cards --- hundreds of dollars of gift cards that could meet my urgent needs!
I was in shock and awe. The timing of this amazing anonymous (匿名的) gift, arriving at exactly the right moment, was almost too much to comprehend. Again, I began crying, but now they were tears of joy. I felt so loved.
I would go to Los Angeles tomorrow!
1. What happened to the author?| A．Something was wrong with her divorce. |
| B．She didn’t succeed if finding a new job. |
| C．Something was wrong with her check. |
| D．She had to sell her car for lack of money. |
| A．in spring | B．in summer |
| C．in autumn | D．in winter |
| A．Her parents. | B．The bank teller. |
| C．Her friend. | D．Her former husband. |
| A．Crazy, sad, calm, joyful. |
| B．Disappointed, moved, surprised, grateful. |
| C．Disappointed, sad, surprised, warm. |
| D．Angry, crazy, calm, grateful. |
【推荐2】Last week, at a construction site near Austin, Texas, workers heard the cries of a puppy（小狗）. They went around the construction site trying to figure out where these cries were coming from. They figured the puppy was trapped somewhere. Then they realized it was actually coming from the sky. High above their heads, a puppy was flying through the air-in the claws of a hawk（鹰）. At that very moment, the bird suddenly let go and the tiny screaming puppy-no older than 6 weeks old-fell to them.
Aside from a few minor. wounds on his head, the puppy was surprisingly unhurt. The workers quickly brought him to a medical clinic, and from there, the puppy found his way into the care of the Austin Animal Center. "We don’t know where he came, from-whether he was born as a stray（流浪狗）or whether he was in a home and got out, ” Olohan, communications director for the Austin Animal Center, explains.
The paratrooper got a new name that came naturally: He would be called Tony Hawk. Considering his tininess-not much bigger than a mouse-Tony Hawk probably seemed like a good idea to a hungry hawk. Tony Hawk’s fears calmed down soon after he found himself on the ground, mostly because he found a foster home to ease him into his new life. In a month or so, he will be looking for a forever home.
Olohan thinks he won’t wait long. "We’ ve had plenty of interest, tons of applications for him,"she says. "He’s certainly not going to have a problem finding a home. "So a tiny puppy without a past found himself free from the claws-thanks to the warm, caring hands that will help him shape a brand-new future.
1. What happened to the little puppy?| A．He fell from a building. | B．He was caught by a hawk. |
| C．He was trapped somewhere. | D．He was seriously wounded. . |
| A．They took him to medical care. | B．They found a foster home for him. |
| C．They protected him from bird attack. | D．They got some information about his past. |
| A．A stray. | B．A mouse. | C．The hawk. | D．The puppy. |
| A．He is very fierce. | B．He will be adopted soon. |
| C．He has adapted to new life. | D．He faces a lot of problems. |
【推荐3】When I was young, I loved visiting the library near my home. I read anything there, from comic books to classic novels. I made up stories, but I never thought about writing one down. They were usually daydreams, or continuations of books I had read, or stories about characters on television.
One day my son came to visit. He flipped (快速换台) the channels and stopped on a show. “This one’s cool,” he said. Being a good mother who considers good conversations with children important, I decided to watch the show.
I found “Highlander” in the listings, set the recorder, and watched an episode. The show raised questions about what the roles could and couldn’t do. So I visited CompuServe forums (论坛). I found one about the show and discovered the world of fan fiction (同人小说). Meanwhile, I discovered one author who caught my attention.
We got in touch via email, she connected me with some of her friends, and I did some beta reading for them. However, not being a writer didn’t mean I wasn’t a good reader. I definitely used all my English skills to polish their stories.
Then, one day, I decided to see what would happen if I tried to write a story. After I finished it, I posted it to one of the fan fiction forums. I got positive feedback (反馈), and like any good puppy, I kept trying to please them.
Eventually, I found another writing group called iVillage, and thought I’d try writing some original fiction, just to see if I could. I recalled an exercise, where people were supposed to write a “hook” in under 200 words. I sent mine in, and got lots of “Wow, what happens next?” comments. So, I kept writing. That was how I finished my first book.
I became a writer by mistake and I don’t think I’ll go back to needlepoint (刺绣).
1. What do we know about the author when she was young?| A．She showed a gift for writing. | B．She was very fond of reading. |
| C．She dreamed of becoming a writer. | D．She liked telling others stories she made up. |
| A．Her son strongly recommended it. |
| B．She regarded it as a source of inspiration. |
| C．She wanted to have something to talk about with her son. |
| D．Something funny about the show attracted her attention. |
| A．She raised many questions about the fan fiction. | B．She decided to write some new stories. |
| C．She tried to improve her English skills. | D．She came across a group of authors. |
| A．She has developed a new hobby. | B．She is too busy to do any needlework. |
| C．She doesn’t like needlepoint any more. | D．She wishes to have her own writing group. |
【推荐1】We have met, but just not in person. I work in the bank and I usually do my work over the phone and computer. This lady is a borrower of my bank, one of the people I serve. We have had several conversations about her borrowings. She is neither a woman that is of my mother’s age, nor a grandmotherly type of client, because men or women of that age are always very loving and they remind me what I should do. This woman is of my age.
We have never met in person. She lives in New Jersey and I live in California. Her borrowings turned out great, and I didn’t worry even a little bit. To be honest, I think I just worked normally to finish my service. But every couple of months, she would email me a little note, telling me how I made a difference to her life, and how thankful she was for what I had done. I never expected that.
I have a busy and stressful job. Every day, I meet many people and I offer the same service to them. I also keep a working relationship, with many. No one has done that for me. I don’t think I have done something different or helped her much. She just used her time and the most shining part in her heart to send me emails. I saw the beauty inside her.
Everyone can be tired and lonely right now. The same is true of the woman. Take a moment in your day to do one little nice thing for somebody, even if it’s for someone you do not know. You can make a little difference to their life and also to yours. It feds good to say I feel a little love today and that I find myself showing it to somebody else.
1. What can we know about the author and the woman?| A．The woman was bad at managing her money. |
| B．They usually discussed their work face to face. |
| C．The author got some useful advice from the woman. |
| D．They knew each other through the banking business. |
| A．Funny. | B．Unnecessary. |
| C．Surprising. | D．Embarrassing. |
| A．He did something special for the woman’s borrowings. |
| B．The woman was a sincere and thoughtful stranger. |
| C．He was able and responsible in his work. |
| D．The woman felt tired and lonely in life. |
| A．Be friendly to our workmates. |
| B．Create a plan to be a better self. |
| C．Take some time to think about life. |
| D．Pass on kindness to those around us. |
【推荐2】Mark Twain was a great writer. He was from the USA. He was born in 1835. He was also a famous speaker. He was famous for his sense of humor(幽默). Many people liked to listen to him talk because he liked to tell some interesting stories to make people laugh all the time.
One day Mark Twain was going to a small town because of his writing. Before he was going to leave, one of his friends said to him that there were always a lot of mosquitoes (蚊子) in the town and told him that he’d better not go there. Mark Twain waved (摇动) his hand and said, “It doesn’t matter. The mosquitoes are no relatives of mine. I don’t think they will come to visit me.”
After he arrived in the town, Mark Twain stayed in a small hotel near the station. He went into his room, but when he was just about to have a rest, quite a few mosquitoes flew about him. The waiters felt very sorry about that. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Mark Twain. There are too many mosquitoes in our town.” One of them said to him.
Mark Twain, however, made a joke, saying to the waiter, “The mosquitoes are very clever. They know my room number. They didn’t come into the wrong room.” What he said made all the people present laugh heartily.
But that night Mark Twain slept well. Do you know why? That was because all the waiters in the hotel were driving the mosquitoes away for him during the whole night.
1. That day Mark Twain went to the town ________.| A．to see one of his friends |
| B．because he wanted to do something there for his writing |
| C．because he was told there were a lot of mosquitoes there |
| D．to see one of his relatives |
| A．they did something wrong to Mark Twain |
| B．their hotel was too small |
| C．the room was not very clean |
| D．there were quite a few mosquitoes in Mark Twain’s room |
| A．the mosquitoes were very clever and they didn’t come into the wrong room |
| B．the mosquitoes knew Mark Twain’s room number |
| C．Mark Twain gave the waiters some nice presents |
| D．Mark Twain made a joke |
| A．no mosquitoes troubled Mark Twain in the night |
| B．the owner of the hotel asked Mark Twain to go to another hotel |
| C．Mark Twain didn’t have a good rest that night |
| D．there were not mosquitoes in the hotel any longer |
| A．people there were familiar with Mark Twain |
| B．Mark Twain was popular with the people |
| C．Mark Twain’s friend was sorry about his travel |
| D．Mark Twain asked the waiters to drive the mosquitoes |
The leading role of the experiment was an old man. With a small bag in one hand and a large case in the other， the old man appeared in a cold winter morning in the bustling（繁忙的） subway station. He was so old that he couldn’t carry the heavy case up the stairs. Standing in front of the steps, he looked helpless.
Something good happened finally. At 9 o'clock, a kind man showed up, he offered to carry the case for the old man and walked up the stairs with him, at 9：25, another man helped …
Within six hours，the old man walked up the stairs for 25 times，among which he was helped for 23 times.
What’s more，two ladies tried to help the old man—one in the front and the other in the back. They carried the case up the stairs for him. The most noteworthy thing was that another old man tried to help too.
When these kind people were asked why they helped the stranger，they all said “ It’s just the right thing to do,” “I always help people as long as I can” ,or “it’s not a big thing, and I just want to help”.
We often see negative news about fake falling and blackmailing or scheming (阴谋)and cunning. But this experiment brought sheer warmth into our heart.
1. Why did China UnionPay carry out the experiment?
| A．To find out whether strangers need help when they are in trouble. |
| B．To find out whether someone can help those who want to help others. |
| C．To find out whether strangers can be helped when they are in danger. |
| D．To find out whether someone can help strangers who are in need of help. |
| A．He lived a hard and miserable life. |
| B．He helped to do the experiment. |
| C．He was too weak to carry the case upstairs. |
| D．He left after being helped by another old man. |
| A．most of the passers-by helped the old man |
| B．even a disabled girl helped the old man |
| C．another old man also helped the old man |
| D．one lady carried the old man on her back |
| A．What warms us most is that helping others is grateful in our society. |
| B．What people gain is that they will be rewarded for helping others in China. |
| C．What strikes us is that China UnionPay really did a successful experiment. |
| D．What impresses us is that most people help others really by nature. |
