Children can spend hours a day looking at computer screens and other digital devices(數(shù)碼設(shè)備). Some eye doctors say this leads to an increase in “computer vision syndrome(電腦視力綜合癥).”

Nathan Bonilla-Warford is an optometrist（驗(yàn)光師）in Tampa, Florida. He has seen an increase in problems in children. “A lot more children come into the office either because their parents have noticed that they have headaches or red or watery eyes or discomfort, or because their nearsightedness appears to be increasing and they’re worried,” he says.

Dr. Bonilla-Warford says part of the problem is that children may be more likely to pay no attention to early warning signs than adults. “Even if their eyes start to feel uncomfortable or they start to get a headache, they’re less likely to tell their parents, because they don’t want to have the game or the computer or whatever taken away,” he explains.

He says another part of the problem is that people blink（眨眼）less often when they use digital devices. He says, “A person who uses an electronic device blinks about one third as much as we normally do in everyday life. And so that can result in the front part of the eye drying and not staying protected like normal.”

Eye doctors offer suggestions like following which is known as the 20/20/20 rule. That means every twenty minutes look away twenty feet or more for at least twenty seconds from whatever device you’re using.

Other suggestions include putting more distance between you and the device and using good lighting. Of course, another way is to spend less time looking at screens. Many experts say children should spend no more than two hours a day using digital devices—with no screen time for children under two.

But not all eye doctors have noticed an increase in problems in children. Dr. David Hunter, from Children’s Hospital Boston, has not seen an increase in his practice. “While it is possible to develop fatigue looking at screens for a long period of time, there’s certainly no proof that it actually causes any damage（傷害）to the eyes.” he says.

1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Dr. Bonilla-Warford thinks using computers causes nearsightedness.

B．People keep their eyes protected against drying by blinking normally.

C．Children under two can watch TV for less than two hours a day.

D．Dr. David Hunter says headache causes an increase in eye problems.

2.What does the underlined word “fatigue” mean?

A．Interest.

B．Ability.

C．Tiredness.

D．Difficulty.

3.What can be the best title for the passage?

A．Looking at Screen: Two Hours or More

B．How Can Children Use Their Eyes Properly

C．Using Digital Devices: Advantages and Disadvantages

D．How Much Screen Time Is Too Much for Children

 

 

It’s not easy to be an astronaut’s son．Everybody expects you to be special or perfect. I often wonder how my father ever had a son like me. I mean he’s so special and so good at everything he does. Even in middle school he was class president and captain of the football team.

Well，to be honest，I often dream about being some kind of hero or doing something special—like saving a child from a burning building or discovering a new star. I was daydreaming at school one morning when my teacher said there would be a Father’s Day writing competition for the whole schoo1. “I hope we have a winner right here in my class.”

When I got home，I started to think about what to write. My father is an astronaut. No, I wouldn’t start like that．That was the way others saw him．How did I see my father? Hmm.

I saw him sitting with me in the dark when I had a terrible dream．I remembered how he hugged me for hours when my dog Spotty was killed by a car．Yes，these were the things I was going to write．To me，he wasn’t just a world—famous astronaut．He was my dad．

My parents and I went to school on Thursday night. There were so many people in the big hall! My dad looked at me, and I shrugged(聳肩).

The third prize was announced and it was not me. I was relieved(釋然)and disappointed at the same time. The second prize was announced. It was me.

I went up to the stage and read what I had written，“My father’s son”. When I finished, the people stood up and cheered. I saw my father blowing his nose. Tears were running down my mother's face.  Dad cleared his throat and put his hand on my shoulder. “Son, this is the proudest moment of my life.’’

    It was the proudest moment of my life, too. Maybe I’ll never be a great hero or win a Nobel Prize, but it was enough just to be my father’s son.

 根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，選最佳擇答案,并在答題卡上按要求作答。

1.The writer felt it        to be the son of a famous person．

    A．1ucky    B．natural    C．hard         D．pleasant

2.In order to      the writer would like to save a child from a burning building．

    A．become an astronaut            B．become a class president

    C．become a school team captain     D．become a great hero

3.．What did the boy probably write in his composition?

    A．A lot of special things he had done．

    B．The story of his father as an astronaut．

    C．The unforgettable time he spent with his father．

    D．The experiences his father had in middle school．

4.．The writer felt proud when he           ．

    A．got a prize in a writing competition           B．won a Nobel Prize

    C．saved a child from a burning building         D．discovered a new star

5.What is the best title for the passage?

    A．My daydream.                        B．My father’s son.

    C．My famous father.                    D．My happy family.

 

In my life, I have received many gifts from my mother. The most important was my life. However, there’s another special gift I will never forget.

When I grew up, I left home and got a job in South America. One day , a call came from my brother, “Something is wrong with Mom. She’s forgetful (健忘). She thinks we’re hiding (藏) you from her…”

I got back home at once. It was clear that she would not be able to stay in the house alone.

For nearly 4 years I stayed with my mother and we had fun. We even planted some vegetables together in the garden. It was not easy for me. I had to stop working. When I had to leave , I had to ask someone to look after her or drive her to my brother’s.

When it became clear that she was near the end, family memebers were called to come to say their good byes. For 3 weeks my sister and I just sat with Mom, took long walks and spent some real time with each other. My sister and I were both with Mom when she was passing away (去世), holding her hands and telling her how much we loved her. At the end of life, my mother gave me the gift of time with my sister in a way we would never have given ourselves.

1.The writer knew there was something wrong with her mother________.

A．by giving her mother a call	B．when she stayed with her mother
C．from her brother’s call	D．by talking with her doctor

2.The writer spent 4 years _______.

A．working hard	B．planning vegetables
C．building a garden	D．looking after her mother

3.The writer’s family memebers were called _________.

A．to say good bye to Mother

B．to take care fo Mother

C．to help Mother do some housework

D．to have a family get -together

4.From the passage, we know___________.

A．the writer didn’t get on well with her sister

B．the writer was kind and loved her mother

C．the writer’s mother didn’t like her sister

D．the wrter’s brother hid her from her mother

5.What’s the best title for this passage?

A．The most important gift	B．A special gift
C．A happy family	D．My dear mother

 

 

Farmer John and Farmer Bob were neighbours. For more than 30 years, they had been getting along very well.

Then their good relationship broke. It began with a small thing, then bitter words, and then weeks of silence. One morning Farmer John woke up to find a stream between the two farms. “It must be Bob,” John thought.

Then one day there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a carpenter(木匠) standing at the doorway.

“I’m looking for a few days’ work,” the carpenter said.

 “I do have a job for you,” John said. “Look across the stream at that farm. That’s my neighbour Bob. He dug a stream between the two farms. I want you to build a fence—an 8-foot fence. I don’t want to see his place or his face any more. I don’t have such a neighbour!”The carpenter said, “I think I know what to do, sir, and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.” Farmer John helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide. There was no fence there at all!

    It was a bridge! And the neighbour, Bob, was coming across, with his hand outstretched(伸出). “Hi, John! You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!”

 Then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hands. “I’m terribly sorry for what I have said and done. We should be good to each other.” said Farmer Bob. Then they turned to see the carpenter, who was ready to go. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I have a lot of other jobs for you,” said Farmer John. “I’d love to stay,” the carpenter said, “but I have more bridges to build.”

1.What does the sentence “You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!” mean?

A. John was great to build this bridge.

B. John was not good at building bridges.

C. John was foolish to build such a bridge.

D. John should build the bridge earlier.

2.What do you think of the carpenter?

A. Shy.         B. Wise.        C. Proud.         D. Careless.

3.What is the best title for the passage?

 A. What a Big Fence!            B. A Strong Bridge.

C. Three Kind Men              D. A Fence or a Bridge ?             

 

Four years ago my sweet mom went to be with her Lord. She did it her way.

 I got the call at work, and I headed home quickly. Mom and Dad lived on a small farm that they had owned since I was seven. I hated going there every weekend. There was nothing for a young girl to do but watch the one station on the old TV set, if the weather allowed reception（接收）.

 My mom, on the other hand, loved the peace and quiet of the land and loved to work in the garden among her flowers and vegetables. The place was simple, with no indoor plumbing or heat. We had a big wood stove in the kitchen that did its best to heat the little farmhouse, but it always seemed cold and too quiet to me.

 In the evenings, my mom and I would sit for hours singing in the little kitchen. I sang the melody and Mom harmonized. Her favorite song was "Moon River" and we sang it over and over. Mom told me stories about how when I was a little girl, I could sing before I could talk. She loved to tell how my playpen（嬰兒圈欄）sat in the kitchen next to the radio and there was one song I particularly loved called "Ivory Tower".

As time passed, I had my own children and went to visit the farm every week or two. The kids loved the farm and the tractor rides with my dad. Me, well, I still hated the silence of the farm. While my mom loved to sit at her kitchen table and look out at her garden and flowers and retell all the old stories, I missed the hustle and bustle（喧鬧）of my life at home. But I sat there listening quietly as she reminisced.

Now, I sat back in the silence and the silence was deafening so I finally leaned over to turn on an old radio. Music always comforted me.

My heart skipped a beat. "Moon River" was playing on the radio. I sat there stunned, with a tear running down my cheek, as I listened to every familiar note.

Then the radio announcer of this oldie station came on. "Here's one we haven't heard in a while," and an unfamiliar song began. I began to cry harder as I heard the words sung over the airwaves. “Come down, come down from your Ivory Tower...”.

1.The writer didn’t like staying in the farm for the following reasons EXCEPT that

    ________.

A. it was too cold and quiet

B. she could only sing one song on the small farm

C. there was nothing more that could make her excited

D. The place was simple, with no indoor plumbing or heat

2.From the first paragraph, we know that the writer’s mother ________.

    A. passed away four years ago

 B. left the small farm with Lord

C. left for Lord to live her own way

    D. preferred to be with Lord

3.The underlined word reminisced in the fifth paragraph probably means ________.

A. recalled       B. comforted       C. shouted        D. sighed

4.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage _______.

A. The writer was able to sing before she could speak.

B. The writer preferred to live a busy life in the city.

C. The writer was still quite familiar with the song "Ivory Tower".

D. The writer treasured all her childhood memories in the small farmhouse.

5.Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? _______

A. Cherish life                      B. My happy childhood

C. Our small farmhouse               D. Mom’s music