Sitting on a chair all day in school can make anyone want to move around. So, more and more teachers are letting students have a ball. By sitting on exercise balls instead of chairs , teachers find students’ posture(姿势) and attention improve.

Dottie Pownall, a fifth-grade teacher in West Virginia, USA, has been using balls as chairs since December 2008. “The students love them”, she says. Pownall took a survey(调查) of her students. She found that 80% of the students thought sitting on the balls helped them pay more attention to what they were learning.

The teacher, Pisa Witt, felt so strongly about the use of balls as chairs, she started Witt Fitt. This company encourages the use of the balls. And the company educates not only teachers but also students on how to use them. “Our products are used in 24 states, three provinces in Canada, Puerto Rico (波多黎各) and Japan,” says Witt, “ Research shows that sitting on the balls makes them sit up straighter（直的）. You can slouch(低头垂肩地坐)on a ball,” says Witt, “but it feels bad.” Because the students are moving, their blood (血液) increases. That carries more oxygen( 氧气) to the brain , so the kids have more energy and can pay attention longer.

“Besides, they’re fun.” says Pownall.

1.What will happen if a student sits on a chair all day in school? The student will_________.

2.How long has Dottie Pownall used the balls?

3.In how many countries are the balls used as the students’ chairs?

4.Teachers choose balls instead of chairs because sitting on balls helps the kids _________.

5.Which is better for kids to study in class, sitting on a chair or sitting on a ball?

Sitting on a chair all day in school can make anyone want to move around. So, more and more teachers are letting students have a ball. By sitting on exercise balls instead of chairs , teachers find students’ posture(姿势) and attention improve.
Dottie Pownall, a fifth-grade teacher in West Virginia, USA, has been using balls as chairs since December 2008. “The students love them”, she says. Pownall took a survey(调查) of her students. She found that 80% of the students thought sitting on the balls helped them pay more attention to what they were learning.
The teacher, Pisa Witt, felt so strongly about the use of balls as chairs, she started Witt Fitt. This company encourages the use of the balls. And the company educates not only teachers but also students on how to use them. “Our products are used in 24 states, three provinces in Canada, Puerto Rico (波多黎各) and Japan,” says Witt, “ Research shows that sitting on the balls makes them sit up straighter（直的）. You can slouch(低头垂肩地坐)on a ball,” says Witt, “but it feels bad.” Because the students are moving, their blood (血液) increases. That carries more oxygen( 氧气) to the brain , so the kids have more energy and can pay attention longer.
“Besides, they’re fun.” says Pownall.
【小题1】What will happen if a student sits on a chair all day in school? The student will_________.

—How long has this bookstore been in business?
—_______ 1996.

If there is something that appears most frequently on Chinese dining tables, it is doufu—bean curd. Bean curd looks like soft cakes and it's made from dried soybeans. Bean curd used to be considered a favourite of the poor because of its low cost. Beans have high yields(产量) every year with their short growing period and suitability for various(各种各样) soil both dry and wet.

Historical records show bean curd was invented by Liu An, Prince of Huainan and uncle of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty(206BC—220AD). He had a dream of finding the pill for longevity(长寿). He travelled all over the country and found soybeans, which looked much the same as gold in terms of colour. He collected soybeans, put them in the water and crushed them into pulp(浆). It got solidified and became known as doufu. Although it's not able to keep longevity, it's really good for one's health with high protein and low fat.

With a long history, bean curd is rooted deep in Chinese culture. People eat more meat and fish than bean curd. But they are encouraged to have bean curd every once in a while for it's really good for health. Most Chinese people still keep bean curd as one of their favourite dishes.

1．Why was bean curd considered to be liked by the poor?

 A. It's easy to make.       B. It's easy to cook.

 C. It's cheap.            D. It's good for health.

2．Where can beans grow well?

 A. Only in wet soil.     B. In dry soil.

 C. In soft soil.         D. In any soil.

3．What appears more often on the dining table in poor areas?

 A. Meat.        B. Fish.        C. Eggs.      D. Bean curd.

4．Why did Liu An travel all over the country?

 A．He had a dream.

 B．He wanted to find something that could make people live longer.

 C．He wanted to invent bean curd.

 D．He wanted to find gold.

5．How long has bean curd been invented?

 A. It's about 1,700 years.

 B. It's less than 2,000 years.

 C. It's 500 years.

 D. It's more than 2,000 years.

 —How long has John been here? 

— Two years, _______ he still has no friends.

A. and            B. so             C. but           D. or