Children at a school in Italy have today begun an experiment to replace all their books with personal computers. The pupils involved will each be given a special laptop that contains their entire courses. Until today, the Don Milani di Rivoli elementary school in central Turin was like any other. Children turned up, got out their books and pens and began the process of learning. But now, in what's being described as a unique experiment, 60 fifth-grade pupils and a number of third-graders, will start using computers only. The mini-laptops, which run Windows software, all have a full curriculum programmed into them. The pupils will use the computers to do all their reading and writing. Security systems within the laptops mean the children's access to the Internet is strictly controlled. The machines weigh less than a kilogram, can be dropped from a height of 1.5 metres and are waterproof. Instead of spending 700 dollars a year on books, the laptops, built by the Italian company Olidata, cost less than 400 dollars. One of the teachers involved in the scheme says that, for the first time, schools will be able to verify in a scientific way how a computer alone can improve the learning process. The experiment, which has the backing of parents, is due to last a year. In other countries, such a programme is also being carried out. Venezuela is ordering one million low cost laptops for its school children. The machines will be based on the Intel Classmate laptop that has been designed for school children. Many see the deal as a blow for the One Laptop Per Child organization that has also been introducing its child- friendly machine to developing nations. The pupils use the laptop to _ in class. A) learn their lessons as an aid B) have a course named computer studies C) surf the Internet mainly to find information D) do what they used to do with books and pens
D
Experts do not really know when people began keeping fish as pets. But they say that people have been interested in fish for thousands of years. Some say the ancient Sumerians were the first civilization to keep fish in ponds more than four thousand years ago. The Chinese kept and studied carp and goldfish more than one thousand years ago. The ancient Romans kept eels as pets. And the Greek philosopher Aristotle made what is believed to be the first known study of sea life, including sharks and dolphins. Keeping fish at home in small water tanks called _ is extremely popular today. And everyone seems to enjoy visiting huge public aquariums that have opened around the world. By the middle of the eighteen hundreds, science had shown that plants, fish and other sea creatures could survive together under water. So it was no longer necessary to change the water in a tank for the fish to live there. This led to the building of the first public aquariums. The first aquariums opened in London, England in 1853. in the next fifteen years, other aquariums opened in Europe and the United States. By 1928, there were about forty-five public aquariums. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has been recognized as the first aquarium in the United States and it shows visitors the underwater life in the bay. The Georgia Aquarium opening in 2005 says it is the largest in the world. It has more than one hundred thousand sea animals in thirty million liters of water including two whale sharks---the world's largest fish. Another aquarium re-opened in 2005 in Camden, New Jersey. The Adventure Aquarium first opened in 1992. It spent about fifty million dollars expanding its building and improving its exhibits. Aquariums provide the public with many chances to experience life under the sea. They can be found in most areas of the world. People might even want to start an aquarium at home and join the millions of people around the world who keep fish as pets. The passage is written mainly _ . A) to tell people the importance of keeping fish as pets B) to explain why people want to visit aquariums C) to let people know the development of the aquariums D) to describe different aquariums
C
(Q).
How to Fight Winter Blue Winter's short days are more than cold. For many people, winter depression, the most common type of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is as much a part of the season as hats and scarves. Winter serious SAD sufferers may need medical treatment. Those feeling a little blue can help themselves by sticking to a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips: Pace yourself. Don't expect to do everything you normally can. Set a realistic schedule. Don't listen to negative thinking, like blaming yourself or expecting to fail. Get involved in activities that make you feel good or feel like you've achieved something. For example, play table tennis or badminton. If you are feeling depressed, you may feel like staying away from friends. Yet this is a time when friends' support can be helpful. Call them regularly. Remember, the more we put off calling or visiting a friend, the harder it is to rebuild a friendship. Think clearly about what's wrong or right. Instead of giving in to vague feelings of sadness, look at your problems objectively. Break down problems into specific issues that you can work on. Regular exercise helps to prevent and . Eat well. Studies show that a healthy diet can help to maintain (keep) a healthy body and mind. The vitamins, minerals and micro--nutrients found in balanced diet may help our bodies to produce feel-good hormones . Foods containing chemicals to help produce feel-good hormones include bananas, turkey, nuts and seeds. Eat at least five pieces of fruit and vegetables every day. P.S. Symptoms of SAD: No interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy. Increased need for sleep. A change in eating habits, especially an appetite for sweet or starchy foods. Weight gain A heavy feeling in the arms or legs A drop in energy level Difficulty in concentrating Overly emotional Avoidance of friends and social situations Frequent feelings of guilt Long-term feelings of hopelessness, and physical problems, such as headaches The passage includes the following except _ . A) the earlier we meet friends, the easier it is to rebuild a friendship B) if we give in to unclear feelings of sadness, we'll be caught in the SAD C) playing table tennis helps us achieve whatever we want D) feel--good hormones from a balanced diet can help a healthy body
(A).
C