閱讀理解

A

Teens and younger children are reading a lot less for fun， according to a Common Sense Media report published Monday.

While the decline over the past decade is steep for teen readers， some data in the report shows that reading remains a big part of many childrens lives， and indicates how parents might help encourage more reading.

According to the reports key findings， “the proportion （比例） who say they ‘hardly ever read for fun has gone from 8 percent of 13-year-olds and 9 percent of 17-year-olds in 1984 to 22 percent and 27 percent respectively today.”

The report data shows that pleasure reading levels for younger children， ages 2—8， remain largely the same. But the amount of time spent in reading each session has declined， from closer to an hour or more to closer to a half hour per session.

When it comes to technology and reading， the report does little to counsel （建議） parents looking for data about the effect of e-readers and tablets on reading. It does point out that many parents still limit electronic reading， mainly due to concerns about increased screen time.

The most hopeful data shared in the report shows clear evidence of parents serving as examples and important guides for their kids when it comes to reading. Data shows that kids and teens who do read frequently， compared to infrequent readers， have more books in the home， more books purchased for them， parents who read more often， and parents who set aside time for them to read.

As the end of school approaches， and school vacation reading lists loom （逼近） ahead， parents might take this chance to step in and make their own summer reading list and plan a family trip to the library or bookstore.

1. What is the Common Sense Media report probably about？

A. Childrens reading habits.

B. Quality of childrens books.

C. Parent-child relationships.

D. Childrens after-class activities.

2. Which paragraph best supports the idea “children are reading a lot less for fun”？

A. Paragraph 2. B. Paragraph 3.

C. Paragraph 4. D. Paragraph 5.

3. Why do many parents limit electronic reading？

A. E-books are expensive.

B. It could be a waste of time.

C. E-books are of poor quality.

D. It may harm childrens health.

4. How should parents encourage their children to read more？

A. Act as role models for them.

B. Tell them to write book reports.

C. Set up reading groups for them.

D. Talk with their reading class teachers.

B

Reading poems is not exactly an everyday activity for most people. In fact， many people never read a poem once they get out of high school.

It is worth reminding ourselves that this has not always been the case in America. In the nineteenth century， a usual American activity was to sit around the fireside in the evening and read poems aloud. It is true that there was no television at the time， or movie theaters， or the Internet， to provide diversion. However， poems were a source of pleasure， of self-education， of connection to other people or to the world beyond ones own community. Reading them was a social act as well as an individual one， and perhaps even more social than individual. Writing poems to share with friends and relations was， like reading poems by the fireside， another way in which poetry has a place in everyday life.

How did things change？ Why are most Americans no longer comfortable with poetry， and why do most people today think that a poem has nothing to tell them and that they can do well without poems？

There are， I believe， three culprits （原因）： poets， teachers， and we ourselves. Of these， the least important is the third： the world surrounding the poem has betrayed us more than we have betrayed the poem. Early in the twentieth century， poetry in English headed into directions unfavorable to the reading of poetry. Readers decided that poems were not for the fireside or the easy chair at night， and that they belonged where other difficult-to-read things belonged.

Poets failed the readers， so did teachers. They want their students to know something about the skills of a poem; they want their students to see that poems mean something. Yet what usually occurs when teachers push these concerns on their high school students is that young people decide poems are unpleasant crossword puzzles.

5. What does the underlined word “diversion” in Paragraph 2 most probably mean？

A. Concentration. B. Amusement.

C. Change. D. Stories.

6. Why is reading poems thought to be a social act in the 19th century in America？

A. It was a source of pleasure.

B. It built a link among people.

C. It helped unite a community.

D. It was a source of self-education.

7. What is the main cause of the great gap between readers and poetry according to the author？

A. Poems have become difficult to understand.

B. Readers are poorly educated in high school.

C. Readers are becoming less interested in poetry.

D. TV and the Internet are more attractive than poetry.

8. What is the reason for many people seldom reading poetry according to the last paragraph？

A. The difficulty meanings of poems.

B. The skills used in writing poems.

C. The way poems are taught in school.

D. The students wrong ideas about poetry.

閱讀七選五

How to Test Best

Its back to school， which means its back to tests. It might also mean its back to being very stressed out.? Here are some simple ways to prepare thoroughly for tests.

Schedule study time.

Trying to do all studying the night before a test makes it impossible to master all the material.? Instead， prepare for a test by scheduling study time each day several days before.

Use your time wisely.

Before studying， clear your desk so you can concentrate. Also， make sure you have all the supplies you need to study so you dont lose focus.

Get a snack， take a bathroom break or play a quick computer game when it feels as if your brain is about to explode.

Form a study group.

Studying with a parent or friends can help you understand the material better and to learn from one another. Have every person or pair take a part of the material， and come up with questions to quiz the group.

Have everyone take turns as the group leader who will assign （分配） the material， and make sure that conversation stays on what is being studied.

Dont forget last-minute preparation.

Have your sharpened pencils and other things in your bag ready the night before the test. Its important to get a good nights sleep and then eat a healthy breakfast the next morning.? ? ? ? ?Follow the instructions above， and you will find tests easier than ever.

A. Keep the group small.

B. Stay cool before the test.

C. It doesnt have to be this way.

D. This will help you store important information.

E. While studying， be sure to make regular short breaks.

F. This way， both your mind and body are fully prepared.

G. It will also make you tired and stressed out on the day

of the test.

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