1 . Read the post from Paul on the “Answers 4U” website.

Read what Sarah writes in reply to Paul.


1. What problem does Paul have?

A．He worries about his career life.	B．He considers himself not creative.
C．He has difficulty understanding things.	D．He will fail his course however hard he works.

2. What can we learn from Sarah’s reply?

A．She doesn’t get why Paul is afraid.

B．She believes each question has the right answer.

C．She thinks people should often reflect on their ideas.

D．She thinks people should think freely without fear of judgement.

3. From the passage we know that ________.

A．Paul and Sarah are strangers	B．Paul and Sarah have the same idea
C．Paul and Sarah are college classmates	D．Paul and Sarah are from the same place

2 . Young students are often considered “digital natives,” with technology integrated into every aspect of their lives. While this can be an advantage in some situations, research has shown that the impact is not entirely positive—the Internet allows them to quickly find information at the cost of significant distraction in class. Without being attentive, students will be incapable of processing information, which means they’re not going to be able to understand, analyse, criticise and come to some decision about the information.

When students can’t seem to focus, a common idea among teachers is that short is good. Many teachers simply cut lessons into smaller pieces. Some teachers begin classes with mindfulness exercises when students need to concentrate. However, it turns out that any sort of “tech breaks” could counteract the desires to come back to study.

Some teachers also choose to “meet students where they are” on platforms like YouTube. A 2018 study from Pearson found that students tended to stay away from physical books, preferring video as a source of information second only to teachers. By meeting students where they already engage and create, teachers can better catch attention.

However, while some educators are welcoming technology in the classroom, multiple studies have shown more traditional classrooms can be more successful. A 2014 study found taking notes in longhand helped students withhold information better than using a laptop. Researchers also point out switching between short teaching pieces too quickly could take valuable comprehension from the students. Students need time to engage with a topic before moving on.

Even many tech advocates find value in traditional methods and suggest an integrated learning. They agree teachers’ authority remains vital and the face-to-face interaction between students and teachers is still the primary component in the classroom. Technology will be favoured only when it improves a lesson in ways that are impossible offline.

Success is no longer about knowing the most. Instead, it’s the ability to think critically and creatively, the very skills that digital media weakens by lowering attention spans. If you think of people who became successful in the tech world, it wasn’t because they could code; it was because they could think. Digital natives will continue to eagerly adopt new media. Teachers have no choice but to upgrade themselves, not only to ensure students can access and take advantage of new technologies, but to educate students to succeed in a world constantly trying to distract them.

1. What result has technology brought to students?

A．It urges them to process information.

B．It prevents them obtaining information.

C．It ruins their possible classroom distraction.

D．It damages their ability to digest information.

2. What does the underlined word “counteract” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Maintain.

B．Motivate.

C．Reduce.

D．Replace.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Direct instruction takes priority in lessons.

B．Digital resources will weaken offline learning.

C．Small lessons can engage students in learning.

D．Laptop noting helps students gain knowledge better.

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Students need to learn to get rid of social media.

B．Teachers should progress to educate the young generation.

C．The benefits of technology on education outweigh its harm.

D．Traditional methods are favoured by both teachers and students.

3 . It was an unexpected call for Aranza Delgado from the shelter, Peewee’s Pet Adoption World, 800 miles away in Texas. She was so pleasantly ________ when learning her dog “Puppies” was picked up by a passerby after it went missing four years ago. Since he was ________, the shelter called the chip company and got the name and telephone number of his ________.

However, Aranza had a limited window of time, and could only come to pick up Puppies one week later. Ernie Cochran, a volunteer of the shelter, replied that they were more than ________ to provide the dog with a place to stay for several more days.

“If we can get a dog back to his family, it’s a wonderful thing,” thought Ernie. Ernie and the other locals teamed up with a plan to get Puppies back home as ________ as possible.

“Everybody has been amazing, from the shelter to the people who are helping me transport Puppies,” Aranza told Kris News. She was happy to be ________ with her old friend soon. “I didn’t ________ how friendly everybody in Texas was and how helpful they’ve been. I’ve had a lot of ________. Actually, the lady that I’ve been in contact with is picking Puppies up tomorrow and she’s going to ________ him overnight and then will send him back home.”

Although she may never completely know what Puppies went through during the four years, Aranza hopes that her story ________ the kindness of Texans.

1.

A．surprised

B．encouraged

C．informed

D．amused

2.

A．found

B．adopted

C．chipped

D．abandoned

3.

A．owner

B．shelter

C．rescuer

D．center

4.

A．grateful

B．willing

C．excited

D．patient

5.

A．recently

B．secretly

C．early

D．urgently

6.

A．connected

B．reunited

C．associated

D．concerned

7.

A．understand

B．forget

C．admit

D．realize

8.

A．requests

B．troubles

C．regrets

D．messages

9.

A．leave

B．keep

C．feed

D．see

10.

A．repays

B．deserves

C．inspires

D．highlights

4 . How to Study More Effectively

No matter whether you are preparing for some specific course, a professional degree, or an entrance exam, it’s important to maximize study time and improve the efficiency of study.

    1     You can use a calendar, an app, or a pinboard time table to draft a schedule that works best for you. Include the study time, sleep, and the socializing time in the schedule. Make sure you give yourself more time than you think you need, especially if it’s a subject you struggle with.

You can also cut your study time into short sessions. Your most productive studying typically occurs within the first 25 to 30 minutes of hitting books, so try to study in 30 minutes, and take a 5—10 minute break, so that you are able to absorb and consolidate the information.     2    

Studying isn’t only spending hours and hours on list of what you think will be on an exam or quiz.     3     This can be done through a six-step approach: remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and creating. You should focus on a method that will help you achieve a higher level of learning. The higher levels of learning focus on asking questions such as what if, how and why rather than where, what and who.

    4     Research shows that being tested is not only useful in evaluating how well you have learned something but also valuable for avoiding future mistakes. Answering questions unsuccessfully can help you understand concepts better. If your professor offers you practice exams, take them home and learn from them. Understand why you got certain questions wrong and others right.     5     Force each other to expand answers in order to understand the material better.

Following the suggestions to study more effectively will mean shorter and more efficient study sessions, and eventually, better grades!

A．You can quiz yourself whenever possible.

B．Effective studying starts with the right attitude.

C．It is important to study in a smart way and go the extra mile.

D．Study with friends or classmates and question each other on the material.

E．You are more likely to do well before a quiz when you have time to review.

F．Creating a schedule is the first and most important thing to maximize your study time.

G．This is why a certain balance should be made and studying time should be cut into shorter sessions.