In the age of the keyboard,some people seem to think handwriting lessons are on the way out.

    Steve Graham, a literacy professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, has been hearing about the death of handwriting for the past fifteen years. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} He said, "If the results of a survey we have published this year are accurate,it is being taught by about ninety percent of teachers in grades one to three."

    Ninety percent of teachers also say their are required to teach handwriting. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Professor Graham says one study published this year found that about three out of every four teachers say they are not prepared to teach handwriting. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}others teach it for sixty to seventy minutes a day.

    Many adults remember learning that way—by copying letters over and over again. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Many experts also think handwriting should not be taught by itself. Instead ,they say it should be used as a way to get students to express ideas. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Teachers commonly report that about one-fourth of their students have poor handwriting.Some people might think handwriting is not important anymore because of computers and voice recognition（辨认）programs.

A.After all,that is why we write.

B.Nowadays teachers pay more and more attention to their students' writing.

C.So is it still being taught?

D.But who cares if people know how to write well?

E.But studies have yet to answer the question of how well they are teaching it.

F.Today's thinking is that short periods of practice are better.

G.He says some teachers teach handwriting for ten or fifteen minutes a day.

    The cultures of the East and the West really distinguish each other a lot. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    The origin of the eastern cultures is mainly from two countries: China and India. Both of the two cultures are developed by rivers—the Yellow River in China and the Hindu River in India. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

When the two mother rivers gave birth to the Eastern culture, another famous culture was brought up on the Mesopotamian Plain-the Mesopotamian Civilization. This civilization later on developed into the cultures of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Like the Chinese culture, the European culture also crossed waters. When the British settled down in America, their culture went with them over, the Atlantic Ocean. So the American culture doesn't distinguish from the European culture a lot.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Take the language system for example. In the East, most languages belong to the pictographic language while the Western languages are mostly based on the Latin system. Other causes like human race difference counts as well. But what's more, due to the far distance and the steep areas between the East and West, the two cultures seldom communicate until recent centuries. So they grew up totally in their own ways with almost no-interference (干扰)from the other.

The differences are everywhere. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But different cultures make the world of 21st century more colorful. The cultural gap should not be the obstacle to the civilization of human being. It ought to be the motivation of our going farther.

    Reasons Why Physical Education is Important in School

    Are you looking for information about the importance of physical education in schools and why it should be emphasized? Do you want a healthy active lifestyle for your kids? Then this article can help you convince your kids that exercising and participation especially in school PE classes are important.

     It's a link to good health.

     {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It's only in physical education classrooms that students learn the value of taking care of themselves through proper healthy eating and regular exercise.

    It's preventive measure against diseases.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Without any forms of diet management and control with the numerous processed foods students intake every day, a student's health can easily be at risk of many diseases. Physical education in schools is a preventive measure to teach students the value of regular exercise.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Physical health allows students to function even better in classrooms. A good cardiovascular(心血管的) system developing from regular exercise promotes excellent blood and oxygen circulation. This means more nutrients circulate throughout the body which includes the brain. This circulation produces longer attention time during classes allowing longer concentration and better absorption.

     It builds self-esteem

    Students who are active in physical activities like basketball, volleyball and running are more confident with themselves according to most social school studies.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} In school, the physical education program introduces these sport activities to students allowing them to make choices of which sport areas they want to get involved in.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Most physical education programs are holistic. The program allows students to interact together to a common goal, that is, to win and excel physically. It not only brings out the competitive sides of students working with both body and mind but also promotes sportsmanship.

    It promotes a physically active lifestyle.

    The purpose of physical education is to instill（逐渐灌输） in students, at an early age, the value of self-preservation and choosing a lifestyle that is good for both the mind and body.

A. Physical education plays a vital role in students' development and growth.

B. It's a program for muscle strength and fitness.

C. It's probably because of the dedication made to a sport that brings out the best in students.

D. It develops cooperation, teamwork and sportsmanship.

E. The value of physical fitness cannot be overstated too much.

F. It promotes academic learning.

G. Many doctors today agree that obesity is a serious health risk.

    Time is the most valuable thing that mankind has.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Many people try to manage their time. They arrange information and tips in order to effectively do so.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Time can be managed easily by finding out what is important and arranging these things in the order of importance. In this way you know your direction before making any plans and do not waste time and energy unnecessarily.

    Now comes the next question.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} The answer is that you need to find out what steps you need to take and what you want to do. Then you know much time to spend for each thing. These steps are like goals.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Not having them is like walking blindly in a dark room, trying to find the door.

    Time management also demands a set schedule that works best for you. In this way you will be able to arrange your tasks based on their importance and finish them. In this way you will not waste your time in beating around the bush.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}There are lots of things that we need to do in short time. Therefore, having good itme management skills is at the top of the list of things we all need.

A. We all live in a fast-paced world now.

B. Using every passing second effectively can benefit us.

C. Could you divide your time equally while doing your work?

D. How do you manage time and what type of information is needed to do so?

E. Setting goals is the most important part of time management.

F. Managing time is not that hard.

G. The aim of time management is to give us a feeling of satisfaction.

    Some people make you feel comfortable when they are around. You spend an hour with them and feel as if you have known them half your life.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Here are several skills that good talkers have. If you follow the skills, they'll help you put people at their ease, and make friends with them quickly.

    First of all, good talkers ask questions. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}One well-known businesswoman says, "At business lunches, I always ask people what they did that morning. It's a common question, but it will get things going." From there you can move on to other matters—sometimes to really personal questions. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Second, once good talkers have asked questions, they listen to the answers. This point seems clear, but it isn't. Your questions should have a point and help to tell what sort of person you are talking to. And to find out, you really have to listen carefully and attentively.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If someone sticks to one topic, you can take it as a fact that he's really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to words, but to tones of voice. If the voice sounds dull, then, it's time for you to change the subject. Finally, good talkers know well how to deal with the occasion of parting. If you're saying goodbye, you may give him a firm handshake and say, "I've really enjoyed meeting you."{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Let people know what you feel, and they may walk away feeling as if they've known you half their life.

A. Real listening at least means some things.

B. You can become a popular person.

C. Almost anyone, no matter how shy he is, will answer a question.

D. And how he answers will let you know how far you can go.

E. If you want to see that person again, don't keep it a secret.

F. It's polite to listen to others with a smile.

G. These people have something in common.

    We usually don't mind when people call us by positive nicknames. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But when people call us by cruel nicknames, it can be difficult to get them to stop. So what should you do?

    Ask your friends to stop. Maybe you tripped (绊倒) over your feet a few times, and your friends started calling you klutz, thinking that you don't really mind. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Leave a nicknames behind. Sometimes, life gives us a chance to start fresh. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you're moving from elementary school to middle school, let your friends know that: A new year has begun and you don't want to go by your old nickname.

    I ignore those who call you by a nickname. If the kids calling you by a bad nickname aren't your friends, you should do your best to ignore them. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It may be hard to pretend that it doesn't hurt, but if you get angry or obviously upset, it will just encourage them to use the nickname all the time.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Remember that if you have a bad nickname now  you probably won't be stuck with it. Just look at Elvis Presley! When he first started singing on stage, he wiggled (摆动) his hips so much that cruel critics and the audience nicknamed him Elvis The Pelvis. He never stopped wiggling. People soon found it impossible to ignore his talent and began to call him The King of Rock & Roll.

A. If it does bother you, tell them.

B. Believe that things will change.

C. If the kids refuse to stop, talk to your teacher.

D. It feels good when these nicknames are repeated.

E. Although words can be hurtful, they can't change who you really are.

F. The chance can be a good time to get rid of a nickname that you don't like.

G. If you act like they aren't hurting you, they'll eventually get bored and stop.