Toys for KidsFrom wooden blocks to electronic...

Best Toys for Kids

From wooden blocks to electronic games, the best toys for kids make their young users think and dream while building useful skills. Of course，they’re also tons of fun!

1. Educational Toys

Many of the best toys for kids combine learning and fun. The GeoSafari Talking Globe provides interactive geography games in a fun electronic format(格式). It was named to Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys List in 2006. Professor Noggin’s History of the United States is a fun and informative card game that made FamilyFun. com’s Toy of the Year list.

2. Pretend Play

Kids love to pretend, and the best toys for kids can spark their imaginations and lead to hours of fun. The Real Projects Workshop was a grand prize winner in the 2006 FamilyFun. com Toy of the Year Awards. With this pretend workshop kids can play with realistic tools while building projects out of foam “wood”. Dora’s Talking Kitchen won “Girl Toy of the Year” in the 2006 Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Awards.

3. Stuffed Animals

Every kid needs a cuddly (可抱的) friend. Kids may ask for stuffed animals based on popular television and movie characters, but teddy bears, stuffed dogs, and other plush figures that haven’t appeared on-screen will have long-lasting appeal. For a unique twist on stuffed animals, the Lil’ Luvables Fluffy Factory lets kids stuff their own teddy bears. It was a Toy of the Year grand prize winner at FamilyFun. com.

4. Games

Games promote cooperation while encouraging everything from memory skills to exercise. Hullabaloo, from the makers of Cranium, won “Best Game” honors in the 2006 Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Awards. The game gets kids moving and laughing as they follow instructions from the game’s audio console.

1.How can kids benefit from educational toys?

A.They can improve their studies.

B.They can enjoy geography games.

C.They can be active in doing homework.

D.They can gain knowledge while playing.

2.What prize did Dora’s Talking Kitchen win?

A.Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys List in 2006. B.Girl Toy of the Year.

C.Toy of the Year. D.Best Game.

3.Which toys can develop kids’ team spirit?

A.Educational Toys. B.Pretend Play.

C.Games. D.Stuffed Animals.

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Toys for Kids

From wooden blocks to electronic games, the best toys for kids make their young users think and dream while building useful skills. Of course, they’re also tons of fun!

●Educational Toys

Many of the best toys for kids combine learning and fun. The GeoSafari Talking Globe provides interactive geography games in a fun electronic format. It was named to Dr.Toy’s Best Classic Toys List in 2016. Professor Noggin’s History of the United States is a fun and informative card game that made FamilyFun. com’s Toy of the Year list.

●Pretend Play

Kids love to pretend, and the best toys for kids can spark their imaginations and lead to hours of fun. The Real Projects Workshop was a grand prize winner in the 2016 FamilyFun.com Toy of the Year awards. With this pretend workshop kids can play with realistic tools while building projects out of foam “wood”. Dora’s Talking Kitchen won “Girl Toy of the Year” in the 2016 Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Awards.

●Stuffed（填充的）Animals

Every kid needs a cuddly (可抱的) friend. Kids may ask for stuffed animals based on popular television and movie characters, but teddy bears, stuffed dogs, and other plush figures that haven’t appeared on-screen will have long-lasting appeal. For a unique twist on stuffed animals, the Lil’ Luvables Fluffy Factory lets kids stuff their own teddy bears. It was a Toy of the Year grand prize winner at FamilyFun.com.

●Games

Games promote cooperation while encouraging everything from memory skills to exercise. Hullabaloo, from the makers of Cranium, won “Best Game” honors in the 2016 Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Awards. The game gets kids moving and laughing as they follow instructions from the game’s audio console.

1.How can kids benefit from the educational toys?

A. They can improve their personalities.

B. They can enjoy geography games.

C. They can be active in doing homework.

D. They can gain knowledge while playing.

2.How many kinds of toys won the grand prize in FamilyFun.com Toy of the Year awards?

A. Only one.　　 B. Two.

C. Three.　　 D. Four.

3.Which toys can develop kids’ team spirit?

A. Educational.　　 B. Pretend play.

C. Stuffed animals.　　 D. Games.

4.How can kids play with the toys made by the Lil’ Luvables Fluffy Factory?

A. They can stuff the toys by themselves.

B. They can play board games with the toys.

C. They can treat the toys as bears.

D. They can interact with the toys.

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Children are losing the ability to play properly because they are being given too many toys and games, according to new research.

The studies show that children, especially those under five, are often overwhelmed and actually play less than those with fewer toys. It may even harm their development. The studies show that giving children too many toys or toys of the wrong type can actually be doing them harm. They get overwhelmed and cannot concentrate on anything long enough to learn from it.

The conclusions have been backed up by British research looking at children with relatively fewer toys, whose parents spend more time reading, singing or playing with them. It showed such children surpass(胜过) youngsters from richer backgrounds, even those who could use computers.

Some parents notice the ill effect early. Orhan Ismail, a researcher saw a change for the worse in Cameron, his 10-month-old son, after he was given a lot of toys last Christmas.

Ismail said, “ If there are too many toys in front of him, he will just keep flitting around them and then end up going off and finding something like a slipper to play with. Now we just get out one or two toys and hide the rest in a box.”

Alexander and her husband also decided to limit the toys their 6 daughters play with. She believed many toys restrict children’s imaginations. She said, “ A Barbie can only work as a Barbie. But a cardboard box can become anything. The only limitations are in the child’s mind.”

Experts hesitate to put a figure on the number of toys children should have, but many believe two dozen is enough for children of preschool age.

1. In the writer’s opinion, a Barbie _____.

A. can attract more attention from children than a cardboard box

B. can work more than a Barbie

C. may become anything else such as a cardboard

D. may keep children from further imaginations

2. Which of the following is TRUE about toys given to children?

A. too many toys will help children develop wide interests.

B. One or two toys at a time will help children concentrate.

C. Only wrong types of toys do harm to children.

D. The proper number of toys given to the children depends on their ages.

3. It may NOT be a good idea to ____.

A. spend more time reading or playing with children

B. choose right types of toys for children

C. ask experts for the exact number of necessary toys

D. put out one or two toys and hide the rest

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

A simple wooden box attached to 8-year-old Alex Benitez-Alvarez’s walker made it easier for the boy to carry school supplies and allowed him to do more things on his own.

“Now if he wants to go to the library and get a book out, he can.” said Tommy Johnson, one of three high school students who helped Benitez-Alvarez.

Their idea came from an engineering project that pairs young engineers with people from local special education programs. Engineering teams from Shakopee East and West junior high schools designed models of several devices to make their disabled partners’ lives easier. Some of the simplest ideas were the most useful, such as an adjustable chair to help a child put his or her shoes on. They also came up with special building blocks that can help blind babies learn by touch.

In an education system driven by exams, engineering teacher TJ Hendrickson said the project gave students the chance to create something they could actually see for themselves. “Students stopped worrying about their grades and started worrying about failing their clients,said Hendrickson, a teacher at Shakopee West Junior High.

Group projects encourage teamwork and motivate students differently from independent projects. In this case, the project also taught a much-needed lesson in developing people skills. The meetings also helped engineers add special touches to their finished products. Benitez-Alvarez, who loves soccer, got the Minnesota United logo and a soccer ball printed on his wooden storage box.

The project encouraged students with special needs to describe their physical disabilities while also teaching engineers about the struggles of living with a disability.

“Everyone in the world should do this.” said Stephanie Betley, a teacher at Shakopee who hopes to see the project spread to other schools. “It’s for someone else rather than yourself.”

1.What was the purpose of the engineering project?

A. To show how special education helps disabled kids

B. To try out engineering knowledge learned in class.

C. To improve the life of disabled kids.

D. To provide jobs to a group of young engineers.

2.How did the project influence the engineers in Hendrickson's opinion?

A. It helped them pass their exams more easily.

B. It caused them more stress than their exams.

C. It helped them put their knowledge into use.

D. It improved their communication skills.

3.What did Betley think of the engineering project?

A. It did a lot of good to people in need of help.

B. It reminded people not to look down on the disabled.

C. It made more students interested in engineering.

D. It reminded people to care more about themselves.

4.What is the best title of the passage?

A. Practice makes perfect　　 B. Helping others out

C. Living with a disability　　 D. Challenging oneself

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The crossing was blocked by many trucks and buses,           made it impossible for us to go to work on time.

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Many people traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada last week for the 50th Consumer Electronics Show, or CES. The show is said to have the largest collection of new electronic devices in the world.

The show had many examples of “smart home” devices. “Smart home” technology is designed to make life easier for people by letting computers control many things inside our homes. One such device actually begins working outside the home, when someone arrives and rings the doorbell.

“When someone comes to your front door and rings the doorbell, the light can turn on immediately. I get a notification when I’m halfway around the world that someone came, and I can start talking to the person who’s at my front door, and I can say, ‘Oh, here let me let you in,’ I can unlock the door for them very easily.” Said Vivint, a smart home service provider.

One electronics maker launched a device that lets people see and interact with their animals when they are away. The device, from Petcube, lets you remotely watch and talk to your pet through a personal device, according to a company official. It can even give the pet a treat—if you approve and order it.

For heating or cooling, there is a smart thermostat. This device can also send you a message if a big storm causes leaks of flooding. “We’re trying to catch it with just a few drips before it becomes a real big problem,” said Mike Sale of iDevices.

A concern for many homeowners is the possibility that someone else might find a way to attack these smart home devices. An official from Vivint said his company is sure that only owners of the home can gain use of information on the devices. Warren Katz from iDevices said his company employs engineers from the defense industry to help prevent hacking.

1.What can be learned about the show?

A. It created much attraction to consumers.

B. It has been held in Las Vegas many times.

C. It only exhibited smart home devices.

D. It is the largest show ever held.

2.What’s the purpose of Paragraph 3?

A. To explain how to answer the door.

B. To illustrate a smart home device.

C. To tell a story about nice devices.

D. To introduce a home service provider.

3.What may happen in the future according to the given examples?

A. Computers may replace human workers one day.

B. A stranger can come into your house even if you’re out.

C. The house can repair for itself if a storm causes damage.

D. You can take good care of your animals while you’re away.

4.What can be inferred about the smart home device from the last paragraph?

A. Information on the devices is easy to get.

B. Many of the devices are not available now.

C. Homeowners are concerned about its operation.

D. Its safety can be guaranteed at present.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

We give toys to kids who otherwise wouldn’t have them. Load bags with canned foods for the hungry. Make donations to those who need it. This time of year, it seems, we focus more on doing good and being good. Certainly, that’s not a bad thing.

Researchers at the University of California say that kindness, and related qualities like sympathy and compassion are actually a form of self preservation. Those who give more, get more. The most generous among us have greater influence and are more popular. Whereas, the unkind and unhelpful are more likely to be away from us. After all, it stands to reason, that if I’m paddling your lifeboat, you’ll keep me afloat a little longer.

So, is kindness motivated by our real concern for others or are we do-gooders because it makes us look good and shores up our position in the society? Probably both. Most of us really enjoy helping others. It makes us feel good, connected, happy and that makes for a more satisfying life. But, it doesn’t hurt that we also receive other rewards—status, cooperation, influence—that will help us survive and become successful.

Despite all the benefits, I tend most often toward kindness only when it’s convenient. That doesn’t mean I have bad manners. I say “my pleasure” and “thank — you”. I hold the door open for passengers. But, I could be kinder, more often. Sometimes I’m stopped from doing good by just how to do it. Sometimes, I’m just not thinking enough about others to recognize the need. Sometimes, I’m plain, a little selfish.

I’m working to be more aware of those around me. To slow down and move with patience and purpose on the freeway. To be more kind. My acts of kindness aren’t complex or flashy—I’m not the type. They aren’t expensive—I’m too cheap. But those things aren’t required. You don’t have to feel guilty that your kind gesture wasn’t as big as building a school in Africa. Kindness can be a small, simple act and still make an extremely large impact. Notice a need and then consciously offer a bit of yourself.

1.What do the researchers believe about kindness?

A. It is a behavior for self-protection and survival.

B. It reflects the generosity of human nature.

C. It advocates doing good or being good.

D. It makes people more and more selfish.

2.The third paragraph mainly explains why kindness is 　　　　 .

A. a quality of sympathy　　 B. a concern for others

C. a win-win quality　　 D. an approach to donate

3.When will the author stop doing good according to Para 4?

A. When someone says he is selfish.

B. When he doesn’t know others’ needs.

C. When he is enjoying a satisfying life.

D. When someone has bad manners.

4.From the author’s point of view, kindness 　　　　 .

A. can be something simple and practical

B. should be something impressive

C. starts from some grand and heroic actions

D. is a matter of awareness in cooperation

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

A new study says electronic toys are not helping babies learn.

"Even if companies are marketing them as educational, they're not teaching the babies anything at this time," said Anna Sosa the study's author.

Researchers listened to audio(声音的) recordings of parents playing with their babies aged 10 months to 16 months. The researchers compared the experiences when the children played with electronic toys, traditional toys such as blocks, or when the children looked at books. What they found is that parents talked less with their babies when the babies played with electronic toys.

Why is this important? Research shows that how quickly children develop language is often based on what they hear from parents. When the infants played with electronic toys, parents said little to their children. But with traditional toys, such as blocks, parents shared the names and descriptions of the animals, colors and shapes as their children played. There was even more information given by parents as their babies looked at the pictures in books.

Of course, there is no need for parents to throw out electronic toys, but they should look at their infants’ play with such toys as entertainment, not a learning experience.

Toy Industry Association spokeswoman Adrienne Appell responded to the study. She said it is important that parents make time to play with their children. "Playing is a way that kids can learn so much, not only cognitive(认知的) skills, but social and developmental skills," she said. She added that play should be balanced, including time for just "make believe" activities, as well as traditional and electronic toys.

1.What’s Anna Sosa’s attitude towards companies claiming that their toys are educational?

A. supportive　　 B. indifferent　　 C. uninterested　　 D. doubtful

2.We can learn from the text that babies in the research ________.

A. liked traditional toys better than electronic toys

B. interact less with their parents when playing with electronic toys

C. talked little with their parents when playing with electronic toys

D. listened to audio recordings of their parents

3.Children develop language more quickly when their parents ________.

A. read them picture books often　　 B. teach them how to speak

C. buy them a lot of toys　　 D. throw away their electronic toys

4.According to Adrienne Appell, playing ________.

A. can’t take the place of learning

B. shouldn’t take most of children’s time

C. is good to children’s overall development

D. can’t develop children’s cognitive skills

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

A new study says electronic toys are not helping babies learn.

"Even if companies are marketing them as educational, they're not teaching the babies anything at this time," said Anna Sosa the study's author.

Researchers listened to audio(声音的)recordings of parents playing with their babies aged 10 months to 16 months. The researchers compared the experiences when the children played with electronic toys, traditional toys such as blocks, or when the children looked at books. What they found is that parents talked less with their babies when the babies played with electronic toys.

Why is this important? Research shows that how quickly children develop language is often based on what they hear from parents. When the infants played with electronic toys, parents said little to their children. But with traditional toys, such as blocks, parents shared the names and descriptions of the animals, colors and shapes as their children played. There was even more information given by parents as their babies looked at the pictures in books.

Of course, there is no need for parents to throw out electronic toys, but they should look at their infants’ play with such toys as entertainment, not a learning experience.

Toy Industry Association spokeswoman Adrienne Appell responded to the study. She said it is important that parents make time to play with their children. "Playing is a way that kids can learn so much, not only cognitive(认知的) skills, but social and developmental skills," she said. She added that play should be balanced, including time for just "make believe" activities, as well as traditional and electronic toys.

1.What’s Anna Sosa’s attitude towards companies claiming that their toys are educational?

A. supportive　　　 　 B. doubtful

C. uninterested　　　　 D. indifferent

2. We can learn from the text that babies in the research __________.

A. interact less with their parents when playing with electronic toys

B. liked traditional toys better than electronic toys

C. talked little with their parents when playing with electronic toys

D. listened to audio recordings of their parents

3.Children develop language more quickly when their parents __________.

A. buy them a lot of toys

B. teach them how to speak

C. read them picture books often

D. throw away their electronic toys

4. According to Adrienne Appell, playing __________.

A. can’t take the place of learning

B. shouldn’t take most of children’s time

C. can’t develop children’s cognitive skills

D. is good to children’s overall development

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

They are volunteers for the Olympic Games, and they　 　　　　　 everybody to obey the traffic regulations.

A．adapt to　　　　 B．attend to　　　　　 C．apply to　　　　　　 D．appeal to

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析