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Do Cyber Schools Make the Grade?
Students in Caldwell, Idaho, can attend class in their pajamas!
At Vallivue Virtual Academy, courses are taught online. Students work at home with parents, who serve as learning coaches. A certified teacher oversees the students' progress.
The cyber school was launched as a free option for students in kindergarten through grade 8 who have trouble succeeding in the district's traditional public school. Supporters of the program say that virtual learning can help students work at their own pace. If students struggle with subjects, they can take those courses online and spend more time on them. Valerie VanSelous, a teacher from Hopewell Township, N.J・，agrees. "Teachers, students, and parents need to accept new technology and not be afraid of it. Offering different teaching aids just might be the key to unlocking a student' s potential. "
Some also believe that attending virtual school can prepare students for college and for work after graduation. "We need to be responsible for working on our own,” says Angela Goscilo, a senior from Pound Ridge, N.Y. "We need to develop technology skills that will help us in whatever we do. Getting an early start is a good idea."
Not everyone gives cyber schools a passing grade， however. Some educators argue that online learning makes it hard for students to make friends. Payton Mcdonough, 13, a seventh grader from Glencoe, m., agrees. " I don't know how I could sit at a computer all day without actually interacting with my peers and teachers," he says.
In addition, virtual schools don’t have enough structure. Students who take online courses can set their own schedules, which will cause problems for students who have trouble staying motivated.
Many parents also feel that cyber schools put unrealistic time demands on them because they have to oversee their kids' daily work. Many of them have full-time jobs. How are they going to run their children's education, excel in their jobs, and take care of their other responsibilities at home?
1.What is the cyber school intended for?
A.Reducing the time students spend online.
B.Helping those who struggle in traditional schools.
C.Allowing teachers to work at their own pace.
D.Encouraging students to learn about technology.
2.What does the underlined sentence mean in paragraph 5?
A.Not everyone approves of cyber schools.
B.Not everyone has attended a cyber school.
C.Not everyone has given cyber schools a test.
D.Not everyone cares about students in cyber schools.
3.How do working parents feel about overseeing their kids' daily work?
A.It's worthwhile.
B.It's unnecessary.
C.It's demanding.
D.It's discouraging.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Students in Caldwell can attend class at home every day.
B.There are various arguments for and against virtual schools.
C.It's important for students to learn to work in the virtual world.
D.Cyber schools are better than traditional schools in many ways.
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Students in Caldwell, Idaho, can attend class in their pajamas(睡衣)! At Vallivue Virtual Academy, courses are taught online. Students work at home with parents, who serve as learning coaches. A certified teacher _____ the students’ progress.
The cyber school was _____ as a free option for students in kindergarten through grade 8 who have trouble succeeding in the district’s _____ public school. Supporters of the program say that virtual schools help students avoid the social pressures that can _____ with learning. In addition, supporters argue, online courses provide kids with more focused _____ and course options than they can get in a typical school.
Not everyone gives cyber schools a passing grade, however. Some educators argue that online learning makes it hard for students to make friends. Many parents also feel that cyber schools put _____ time demands on them because they have to oversee their kids’ daily work.
Technology can benefit education, but it shouldn’t _____ education. Students who go to virtual schools will miss many of the benefits of being in a real school.
If kids attend school online, they will miss out on important social _____. Payton Mcdonough, 13, a seventh grader from Glencoe, Ill., agrees. “I don’t know how I could sit at a computer all day without _____ interacting with my peers and teachers,” he says.
In addition, virtual schools don’t have enough structure. Students who take online courses can set their own schedules, which will cause problems for students who have trouble staying _____.
Furthermore, online schooling puts stress on parents because they have to _____ what their kids do at home. Many parents have full–time jobs. How are they going to run their children’s education, _____ in their jobs, and take care of their other responsibilities at home?
Virtual schools will make it harder for students to learn and will put too much pressure on parents.
Virtual learning does not need to replace classroom learning _____, but it can help students work at their own pace. If students struggle with subjects, they can take those courses online and spend more time on them. Virtual schools can also offer students much more _____ schedules. Students often handle extracurricular activities, sports, and schoolwork, and cyber schools could help them manage everything.
Finally, attending virtual school can prepare students for college and for work after _____. “We need to be responsible for working on our own,” says Angela Goscilo, a senior from Pound Ridge, N.Y. “We need to develop technology skills that will help us in whatever we do. Getting an early start is a good idea.”
1.A. oversees B. suspected C. admitted D. predicted
2.A. tolerated B. launched C. undergone D. transformed
3.A. virtual B. superior C. traditional D. specialized
4.A. agree B. put up C. go D. interfere
5.A. attention B. definition C. foundation D. instruction
6.A. unlimited B. uncivilized C. unrealistic D. unaffected
7.A. turn to B. take over C. take in D. make up
8.A. interactions B. education C. occupation D. identification
9.A. actually B. presently C. naturally D. logically
10.A. examined B. motivated C. exhausted D. represented
11.A. compliment B. award C. supervise D. tempt
12.A. negotiate B. innovate C. control D. excel
13.A. entirely B. partially C. regularly D. purposely
14.A. sustainable B. flexible C. relevant D. optimistic
15.A. school B. study C. graduation D. education
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In the town of Swedesboro, New Jersey, 5th grade students are determined to make 2,000 paper cranes (纸鹤) by the end of the school year. Their _______ is to put smiles on kids’ faces.
The idea of _______ the paper cranes started when their _______, Tara Milward, read them the story Sadako and the One Thousand Paper Cranes in class. Sadako was _______ with leukemia (白血病) at a very young age. She _______ folding the paper cranes along with her family and friends, _______ this was a symbol of hope for Sadako to get _______ one day.
The students of Harker School wanted to _______ Sadako’s story. They began buying paper,_______ paper cranes, and decided to make 2,000! They want to send the ________ 1,000 cranes to Hiroshima, Japan where Sadako lived. The next 1,000 cranes are ________ to a local hospital. Wherever a paper crane is made, the students are ________ that something so simple can help someone ________ hope.
They are so devoted to the ________ that they work on it in every minute of their ________ time to help them towards their big goal of 2,000 paper cranes. To achieve their ________ goal, all of the students are coming together and working very ________. They are eager to spread the hope to their friends and families, also a ________ of this extraordinary project.
The students are ________ by Sadako’s story and are making their impossible dream come true. They hope to make a ________ around the globe to show that everyone can make the world a better place.
1.A. goal B. class C. reward D. worry
2.A. selling B. finding C. making D. collecting
3.A. friend B. teacher C. parent D. patient
4.A. covered B. occupied C. equipped D. diagnosed
5.A. minded B. began C. remembered D. continued
6.A. if B. so C. because D. though
7.A. kinder B. cleaner C. older D. better
8.A. take part in B. make use of C. come up with D. thing highly of
9.A. receiving B. adding C. folding D. packing
10.A. first B. last C. best D. most
11.A. returning B. turning C. flying D. going
12.A. tired B. amazed C. frightened D. bored
13.A. keep up B. break up C. give up D. turn up
14.A. visit B. chance C. study D. cause
15.A. lost B. rare C. spare D. whole
16.A. usual B. common C. early D. famous
17.A. hard B. gradually C. fluently D. ahead
18.A. help B. change C. part D. test
19.A. rewarded B. ashamed C. disturbed D. inspired
20.A. travel B. difference C. research D. speech
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More and more public schools in America make it a rule that students must finish a certain amount of community service1.they are allowed to graduate from high school.They work on projects like making the environment better or2. (feed) homeless people.
Many school systems in the United States now ask students3.(do) some kinds of community service as part of their studies.Students involved in service projects help4.(they) as well as their communities.They learn about the needs of people and aid5.(organize).For this reason,holidays6.(become) the prime period for volunteer work so far.Volunteers get no pay,but experts point out that it is7.excellent opportunity to learn and practice new skills.
According to the statistics,more than 60% of young Americans have participated8.different kinds of community service,such as cooking for homeless people,or painting old buildings,etc.Some students like to do their volunteer work in9.(centre) parts of America,but the majority of teens prefer to do it in their hometowns.Tom,a 16-year-old middle school student in California,often10.(do) community service in a local hospital.He works 16 hours every week either receiving calls at the information desk,or helping push patients back to their wards.
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The new sixth-grade teacher, Sava, is like most teachers in schools. This morning, she is calling the attendance list and asking the students in the back of the room to be quiet. Sava 1. (smile) at the students and looks happy. Sava doesn’t really look different from other teachers, 2. she is. Sava is a robot. She is remote controlled 3. a person through a camera inside the robot. Although Sava is not ready to be a real teacher, the children enjoy her visits.
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All the books donated by the students from urban schools are said ________ to the students in the earthquake-stricken areas the other day.
A. to have been sent B. being sent
C. having been sent D. to be sent
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Some students from Grade 9 ____ do some ____ for the old.
| A．volunteered to; clean | B．volunteered; cleaning |
| C．volunteered to; cleaning | D．volunteered; clean |
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After the September 11 terrorist attacks, some high schools in America wanted the students to pledge allegiance（宣誓效忠） to the flag. Is it necessary or not? Let’s see how the kids think of this requirement.
Lea Mouallem, Marymount High School
I believe that saying the Pledge of Allegiance is a way of reminding our country that no matter what happens, we are united. I don’t think our president wants us to go and join the army now, but he wants to tell us that we will be able to overcome the disaster as a whole nation that is working together.
Harry Chin, 15, Culver City High School
I am not for the Pledge of Allegiance and I am not against the Pledge of Allegiance because I just say it so many times that it loses meaning. I say it every day at school in the second period. It doesn’t mean anything any more.
David Tran, 15, Warren High School.
The Pledge of Allegiance is another sign of country. We should have some respect to it. In many schools, we don’t say the Pledge every morning-we just stand up and let the National anthem ring through the silence. We said the Pledge of Allegiance on Sept. 12.
Danny Maryanor, 16, Santa Monica High School
I wonder why we were suddenly asked to recite the Pledge when many of us stopped after elementary school; and the Pledge was recited before the play of “Ode to Joy” （欢乐颂）with recorders. This was not to express patriotism（爱国主义）, or even to remember those who lost their lives on Sept. 11.
I feel I cannot support a nation that in this time of crisis looks outward for revenge（报复）instead of inward for peace. Perhaps we should think more about our problems.
1．Saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag first appeared in American schools_______.
A．after Sept. 11, 2000 B．before Sept. 11, 2001
C．on Sept. 11, 2001 D．after Sept. 11, 2001
2．Who were for the Pledge of Allegiance?
A．Lea Mouallem; David Tran B．Harry Chin; Danny Maryanor
C．Lea Mouallem; Danny Maryanor D．Harry Chin; David Tran
3．Which of the following is TRUE?
A．Harry Chin thought the government required them to join the army.
B．Lea Mouallem thought the Pledge of Allegiance of no meaning.
C．Danny Maryanor felt the terrorist attacks happened partly because of America’s own problem.
D．The Pledge of Allegiance is of another country.
4．According to the passage, it can be imagined that___________.
A．all high school students say yes to the Pledge of Allegiance.
B．all high school students say no to the Pledge of Allegiance.
C．all kids don’t agree to the requirement of saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
D．all high schools will require their students to pledge allegiance to the flag.
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In 1999,twelve percent of public elementary schools in the United States required students to wear uniforms. Just three years later,the amount was almost double that.
A study of six big-city Ohio public schools showed students who were required to wear uniforms had improved graduation,behavior and attendance rates.Academic performance was unchanged.
Some high schools in Texas have also joined in the movement.Yet studies find mixed results from requiring uniforms.And some schools have turned away from such policies.
Supporters believe dressing the same creates a better learning environment and safer schools.The school district in Long Beach,California,was the first in the country to require uniforms in all elementary and middle schools.The example helped build national interest in uniforms as a way to deal with school violence and improve learning.
Findings in Long Beach suggested that the policy resulted in fewer behavior problems and better attendance. But researcher Viktoria,who has looked at those findings,says they were based only on opinions about the effects of uniforms.
She says other steps taken at the same time to improve schools in Long Beach and statewide could have influenced the findings.The district (the area marked by government) increased punishments for misbehavior.And California passed a law to reduce class sizes.
In Florida,for example,researcher Sharon found that uniforms seemed to improve behavior and reduce violence. In Texas,Eloise found fewer discipline problems among students required to wear uniforms,but no effect on attendance.
Sociologist David has studied school uniform policies since1998.He collected the reports in the book.In his own study,he found that reading and mathematics performance dropped after a school in Pennsylvania（宾夕法尼亚州）required uniforms.
Political and community pressures may persuade schools to go to uniforms to improve learning.But David and others believe there is not enough evidence of a direct relationship.In fact,he says requiring uniforms may even increase discipline problems.
1.Which of the following researchers are NOT supporters of school uniform policies?
A. Viktoria and Sharon. B. Sharon and David.
C. Eloise and Sharon. D. Viktoria and David.
2.The underlined word “misbehavior” in the sixth paragraph probably means ________.
A. serious crime B. bad performance
C. absence for class D. action against wearing uniforms
3.What can we infer from the passage?
A. More work is needed to get better information about uniform’s effect.
B. The number of schools requiring uniforms in the U.S.will become less sharply.
C. Wearing uniforms has little to do with behavior and learning.
D. Politicians and communities won’t vote for uniform policies.
4.What’s the main idea of this passage?
A. More and more students are required to wear uniforms in the U.S.
B. Wearing uniforms contributes to good academic performance.
C. Researchers in the U.S.argue for school uniform policies.
D. Evidence for school uniform polices in the U.S.is seen as weak.
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In June,2007,a group of students from eight high schools in Winnipeg,the capital of Canada’s Manitoba province,will begin test-launching(试发射)a satellite the size of a Rubik’s cube.
The one-kilogram Win-Cube satellite,named for its home city and its shape,will be put into low orbit.Once in space,it can perform for a few months or up to several years,communicating information that could help find the early signs of earthquakes.
There are 80 similar satellite projects worldwide,but this is the first high-school based program of its kind in Canada.30 Manitoba high school students are having a hand in designing and building the satellite,in cooperation with aerospace(航空航天的)experts and 10 students from the University of Manitoba,and with support from two other organizations.
The Win-Cube project is not something that goes on a piece of paper,it is real-world engineering,allowing high school students to have an opportunity to learn more about the exciting world of engineering through their participation in this challenging program.It is also taken as a wonderful example of the unique partnerships within Manitoba.Designing,building and lauching a satellite with high-school participation will bring this world-class educational project into reality and Manitoba closer to space.
“These Manitoba high school students deserve congratulations for their enthusiasm, innovation(创新)，and a strong love for discovery,”said Education,Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson.“We want to make science more relevant(相关的),interesting and attractive to high school students by showing them how classroom studies can relate to practical experience in the workplace or,in this case,in space,”Bjornson added.
The Win-Cube program is mainly aimed at inspiring a strong desire for discovery on the part of the students.It also shows Manitoba’s devotion to research and innovation and the development of a skilled workforce—all important drivers of knowledge-based economic growth.
1.According to the passage,the Win-Cube satellite is_______.
A.named after Manitoba and its shape
B.intended for international communication
C.designed like a Rubik’s cube both in shape and size
D.challenged by university students around the world
2.According to Mr.Bjornson,_______.
A.those Manitoba high school students are worth praising
B.the study of space can be practically made in classroom
C.Manitoba high schools are famous for the sutdy of space
D.scientific research is too far away from high school students
3.The primary purpose of the project is to_______.
A.find the early signs of earthquakes
B.relate studies to practical experience
C.help high school students study real-world engineering
D.inspire a strong desire for discovery among the students
4.The best title for this passage may be_______.
A.Manitoba School B.Win-Cube Program
C.Space Cooperation D.Satellite Launching