Teachers and parents usually call attention to the pictures when they read storybooks to preschool children. But a new study tells that calling attention to the words and letters on the book may lead to better readers.

The two-year study compared (比较) children who were read to this way in class with children who were not. Those whose teachers most often discussed the words showed clearly higher skills in reading, spelling and understanding.

Shayne Piasta, a professor of teaching and learning at Ohio State University, says most preschool teachers would need only a small change in the way they teach. They already read storybooks in class. The only difference would be increased attention to the printed words.

Ms. Piasta says if you get children to pay attention to letters and words, it makes sense that they will do better at word spelling. But she says studies show that very few parents and teachers do this in a systematic (系统的) way.

They watched more than three hundred children aged four and five in classrooms in Ohio and Virginia. The children came from poor families and were poor in their language skills. They may become bad readers when they enter primary schools later.

Professor Justice says children’s language skills can be improved by discussing with him or her when you are reading a book to a child. There are different ways that adults can talk to children about the letters and words on the page. They can point to a word and discuss the shape of it with a finger. They can point out a word: “This is ‘dog’.” They can discuss the meaning of the word or how the words tell the story. And they can also show how words are written left to right in English.

49. What does the underlined phrase “it makes sense” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A. It can be understood and agreed.                     B. It is impossible to happen.       

C. It can be difficult to imagine and describe. D. It is surprising to see.

50. What can we infer from the passage?

A. Parents are more important than teachers for little children.

B. Teachers need to learn a lot to use the new teaching way.

C. It’s impossible for preschool children to understand words.

D. Skills are important to children’s reading development.

51. The writer wants to tell us that ____.

A. preschool children should have higher discussing skills

B. parents should make a plan to teach their children reading

C. teachers should help children pay attention to printed words

D. languages skills should be discussed with preschool children

I’m Alfred. I was born with a problem in my backbone and mobility(行走能力）was a big challenge, but thanks to my teachers and friends, my school life was excellent.
My friends and I used to sit together and have lots of fun. Whenever we got a free period, we used to start shouting or play games. I would take part in all competitions, such as poetry writing, story writing and painting and all activities like Teachers’ Day or anybody’s birthday and had much fun.
My English teacher was very tall. The moment she would enter the class, we would all sit quiet and open the books. She would encourage me by giving me important assignments and also morning news to read during the assembly. She would come down and hear my English debate(辩论), which made me participate in all debate competitions.
The same was true of my biology and science teacher. She was very nice and sweet. She would always give me extra information on the biology project. I could not go to the lab for the practicals (lessons or exams in science, cooking etc. in which you have to do or make something yourself rather than write or read about it), so she would bring the lab down and help me with the biology and science practicals and would give me excellent marks.
My friends made me monitor and the naughty boys listen to me. My friends used to help me with my notes if I was absent. My teachers always gave me important project work and I felt proud when they patted me on the back after I finished it quickly and correctly.
I was never shouted at or made fun of or scolded(批评) by any of my friends and teachers. Today I saw the terrible punishments given to students on television news. I felt very sad.
I really want to express my love and thanks to all my wonderful teachers and friends, without whom my school life would not have been so excellent and unforgettable. I really pray to God that each child in the world is blessed with caring teachers and wants to attend school every day.
【小题1】Alfred’s problem in his backbone _________ .

A．made him have fewer friends than others

B．prevented him enjoying an excellent school life

C．left him feeling down all the time in his life

D．made it impossible for him to move freely

【小题2】How many Alfred’s teachers are mentioned in the passage?

A．One.

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Four.

【小题3】Alfred tried to do the following EXCEPT _________.

A．play games during a free period with his friends

B．take part in all competitions and all activities

C．go to the school lab to do the practicals

D．complete his project work quickly and correctly

【小题4】The underlined part “patted me on the back” is closest in meaning to “_________”.

A．scolded and hit me	B．encouraged and praised me
C．touched my backbone	D．made me calm down

【小题5】By writing the passage, Alfred aims to __________.

A．tell us how lucky a boy student he was

B．express his thanks to his teachers and friends

C．get understanding and care from more people

D．show us his great school achievements

I’m Alfred. I was born with a problem in my backbone and mobility(行走能力）was a big challenge, but thanks to my teachers and friends, my school life was excellent.

My friends and I used to sit together and have lots of fun. Whenever we got a free period, we used to start shouting or play games. I would take part in all competitions, such as poetry writing, story writing and painting and all activities like Teachers’ Day or anybody’s birthday and had much fun.

My English teacher was very tall. The moment she would enter the class, we would all sit quiet and open the books. She would encourage me by giving me important assignments and also morning news to read during the assembly. She would come down and hear my English debate(辩论), which made me participate in all debate competitions.

The same was true of my biology and science teacher. She was very nice and sweet. She would always give me extra information on the biology project. I could not go to the lab for the practicals (lessons or exams in science, cooking etc. in which you have to do or make something yourself rather than write or read about it), so she would bring the lab down and help me with the biology and science practicals and would give me excellent marks.

My friends made me monitor and the naughty boys listen to me. My friends used to help me with my notes if I was absent. My teachers always gave me important project work and I felt proud when they patted me on the back after I finished it quickly and correctly.

I was never shouted at or made fun of or scolded(批评) by any of my friends and teachers. Today I saw the terrible punishments given to students on television news. I felt very sad.

I really want to express my love and thanks to all my wonderful teachers and friends, without whom my school life would not have been so excellent and unforgettable. I really pray to God that each child in the world is blessed with caring teachers and wants to attend school every day.

1.Alfred’s problem in his backbone _________ .

A．made him have fewer friends than others

B．prevented him enjoying an excellent school life

C．left him feeling down all the time in his life

D．made it impossible for him to move freely

2.How many Alfred’s teachers are mentioned in the passage?

A．One.             B．Two.              C．Three.            D．Four.

3.Alfred tried to do the following EXCEPT _________.

A．play games during a free period with his friends

B．take part in all competitions and all activities

C．go to the school lab to do the practicals

D．complete his project work quickly and correctly

4.The underlined part “patted me on the back” is closest in meaning to “_________”.

A．scolded and hit me                      B．encouraged and praised me

C．touched my backbone                    D．made me calm down

5.By writing the passage, Alfred aims to __________.

A．tell us how lucky a boy student he was

B．express his thanks to his teachers and friends

C．get understanding and care from more people

D．show us his great school achievements

 

Dear editor, My English teacher is very strict (严厉)with us. Several days ago, when we were having class, Tom asked me a question. But she thought we were speaking in class. She asked us to stand at the back of the classroom for a few minutes. This made me uncomfortable. After that, I feel nervous in her class, so I don’t like her class. However, I really want to learn English well. What should I do? Yours, Mike

 

Dear Mike, I am sorry you are having difficulty with your English class. Every teacher wants his or her students to study hard especially in class. So I think you should have a talk with your English teacher and tell her what you were doing with Tom that day. If she knows your worries, maybe she will help you with your English. And she will be pleased to hear you want to learn English well. I believe when students are not trying as hard as they can, a teacher is forced（被迫）to take actions. Yours, Editor

【小题1】What’s wrong with Mike?

A．He meets trouble with his parents.

B．He doesn’t know how to get on well with his classmates.

C．He has a hard time with his English class.

D．He is always speaking in class.

【小题2】What happened in that English class?

A．Mike couldn’t answer the question. So the teacher asked him to stand.

B．Mike had an argument with Tom about the question.

C．Tom asked Mike a question, and the teacher thought they were speaking.

D．Mike felt uncomfortable because he was ill.

【小题3】In the editor’s opinion, why did the English teacher punish(惩罚) Mike?

A．Because the English teacher didn’t think Mike was studying hard in class.

B．Because Mike answered the question wrong.

C．Because Mike was bad at English.

D．Because Mike had a fight with other students.

【小题4】What does the underlined phrase“ take actions” mean in Chinese?

A．采取行动

B．参加活动

C．帮助

D．表演

【小题5】What can we learn from the letters?

A．Mike wants to have a talk with his English teacher.

B．Mike wants the editor to say something to his English teacher.

C．The editor gave Mike some advice, but it didn’t work.

D．Mike dislikes English classes now, but he wants to learn English well.