阅读理解

Stephen Hawking is one of the most famous scientists in the world. He was born in 1942. He's a famous scientist and expert on space and time. Stephen is trying to find the answers to some very big questions, such as: how did the universe begin? How will it end? These questions are very hard for us to understand. But they are very important and can tell us many things about the universe.

Stephen studied Maths and science when he was a student at university. Then, at the age of twenty-one, he became sick. He was so young, but the doctors said to his family, “He has only two more years to live.” As a matter of fact, the doctors were wrong — he didn't die. He can't walk now but he uses a wheelchair. He can't feed himself and get in or out of bed himself. But he refuses to give in. He talks with the help of a computer. After Oxford, Stephen went to Cambridge University. Three years later, in 1965, he became a Doctor of Philosophy.

Because of his serious health problem, it was difficult for him to draw diagrams (图表) or write. So he started to think in pictures. With this new way of thinking, he became one of the most famous scientists in the world. In 1981, he met the Pope (教皇) in Rome. They talked about his ideas. Then in 1988, he wrote his first important book, A Brief History of Time. It was sold more than 5.5 million copies in 33 different languages. He was once invited to China. He impressed us with his self-confidence and humorous conversation.

    When I was a university teacher in Ningbo, I told my students that it would be wise to keep their smartphones in their backpacks. They were young adults. I didn't want to take their phones， nor could I shout at them. You can guess what happened.

    Some students were polite, using their phones between activities. Others would rudely text their friends during lessons, sometimes even while I talked to them. One young woman, K, openly played a game at her desk with earphones!

    Why did such a situation appear? I began to think my class was boring (probably true!) and that my students hated me (I could understand). But what could I do? I couldn't fail every student. Maybe I was just a boring teacher.

    With all the recent talk about banning(禁止) smartphones at schools, you might think I'm in favor. I'm actually not so sure. This technology isn't going away. Teachers probably need to change as much as students.

    I designed activities to let them use pens and paper, and moving around the room to talk to classmates. It kind of worked! I also found ways to use their phones. Things like research, translation and creative projects. I found that my students worked hardest on these activities.

Phones might not be the biggest problem. Once, walking at school, I saw K standing alone in the dark. I could see her face, lit up by her mobile game. Maybe smart phone addiction (上瘾) at school is a sign of loneliness or a boring teacher.

Dear Cheng Xiaoyu,

    I'm Betty White. I'm from Boston, America. My parents are "teachers at Harvard University(哈佛大学). My brother Dave and I are students at Dale School. I'm in Class One Grade Five. Dave is in Class One Grade Six. Dave likes English and I like PE(体育). After school, I play basketball with Dave at Harvard University. I know your name from "the Internet(因特网). I want to be your friend. My telephone number is 654 098.

Yours,

Betty

From ancient times to today, poets have been seen as well-educated. and full of feelings. Can you 1 that a miner(矿工), born in a mountain village with only a high school diploma(文凭), doing the2 and most dangerous work in a mine, could write moving poems?

 Chen Nianxi was born in the mountains of Shaanxi Province.3 by newspapers and literary journals(文学期刊), Chen wrote his first poem in high school. After high school, Chen farmed and got married. To make a 4 for the whole family, he took up mining, which paid quite well. For more than 15 years, he worked hard during the day, while reading and writing poems at night.

 Accidents took the lives of some miners, as well as the hearing in Chen' s right5 . Darkness, fear and 6 filled his work as a miner. His 7 in the mines has brought a lot of ideas and inspiration(灵感) for his poetry creation. Several of his well-received books have come out so far.

 Although the heavy 8 of life weighed on him, Chen's poems have a feeling of hope and strength. He writes about labor, loving labor and living a life filled with love,9 us that no matter how hard life gets, we shouldn't forget our dreams. He also hopes that his work will help modern people open 10 minds to the lives. of others.

11 , poets are often thought to have an easy life, but Chen Nianxi' s story shows. us that even those in.12 jobs can have rich inner worlds. His love for poems never13 even in the face of great difficulties. Through his words,14 can feel the heat of the mine, the tiredness after a long day's work, and the15 for a better life.