Parents dearly hope their children learn to read well. They also hope their children learn to read quickly and easily, so that they’re ready for the demands put on them by school and the world.
Kids want to learn how to read, but they also crave entertainment, whether it’s quiet and passive or dynamic and interactive. The aims of the Story Reader line of electronic books are to entertain children and to introduce them to the process
of learning how to read in a gentle and enjoyable way. In this article, we’ll show you how Story Reader works and if it accomplishes that goal.
Story Reader is a compact, roughly 12-inch-by-12-inch plastic case (with a carrying handle ) that opens to reveal an actual book that fits snugly into the Reader itself. Story Reader’s core feature is that it "reads" the book aloud to a child as he follows along. The child turns the pages when prompted by the Story Reader or at his own pace.
Books have both text and illustrations. The electronic book responds to the child’s wishes. The Story Reader speaks the text for the current page. If the child turns back a few pages, the Reader recognizes that page and reads it again. Kids react well to this interactivity because it instills a sense of cuntrol over the story.
There are Three Story Reader Products
The basic Story Reader, introduced in 2003, is as described above and is intended for kids three years of age and older.
Each book has a small companion cartridge that slides into a port on the case and contains the audio encoded into its memory for the story.
The device has a volume control but no on/off switch--a deliberate choice so kids can simply open it up and begin reading. It takes four AAA batteries (or operates on household current with an optional adaptor) and retails for around $20.
Find out more information about the more than 60 titles at the Story Reader website.
Early in 2006, Publications International, Ltd.--Story Reader’s publisher--introduced My First Story Reader, designed for newborns to kids up to age three. As with the original, a narrator reads the story aloud, this time from a 12-page book made from a heavier paperstock that includes sound effects and music to enliven the experience.
My First Story Reader features two play modes, one with narration, the other that asks questions about the images on each page. The child can press any of three buttons to answer basic questions about shapes and colors. The last two pages of
each My First Story Reader book features a sing-along rhyming melody. My First Story Reader retails for about $20.
Late in 2006, Publications International introduced a video version of Story Reader called Story Reader Video Plus for kids up to the age of seven. Retailing for about $35, it combines a stand-alone Story Reader with an "Animated Story Mode"
that plays through your television and includes a "Learning Game Mode".
The Animated Story Mode works just as it sounds--when you connect it to your television through color-coded cables, the story appears on screen and changes as your child turns the pages. Kids get to the Learning Game Mode by turning to the
last page of the book. There, they can choose from five educational games. While it depends on the story, generally there are pattern games, memory games, and platform games. Similar to Nintendo games like Super Mario Brothers, in a platform game the child uses the included controller to guide him through the environment and conquer obstacles.
Story Reader Video Plus isn’t a video game, technically, and Publications International bills the Story Reader line more as electronic books than toys. This reassures many parents, and it’s why Story Reader is sold in bookstores and in the book section of major retailers.
What about the Educational Underpinnings of Story Reader?
Studies show an alarming decline in reading rates among all age groups in America, especially among the young.
Children are bombarded on a daily basis with multiple forms of entertainment that compete with traditional learning.
Kids naturally emulate the adults in their lives, and seeing their parents and other family members enjoy reading is a powerful motivator. Establishing and keeping a Read-At-Home Night helps families spend time together and helps form lifelong reading habits in children.
Here’s how you do it:
Set aside one night a week in your household and call it "Read-At-Home Hour"--or anything you prefer. Establish a time allotment that works for your family, for example, 30 minutes or an hour.
Minimize interruptions from the TV, computer, and video games--and turn on the telephone answering machine.
Choose one book for the entire family to read aloud together, or encourage individual family members to choose their own books to read quietly. Electronic books can work in this context, as well.
Finally, sit down, relax, and read.
注意：此部分試題請在答題卡1上作答;8-10題在答題卡1上。
1. The aims of the Story Reader line of electronic books are __
[A] to entertain and teach children
[B] to play with the child
[C] to ease the parents’ burden
[D] to ease the teachers’ burden
2. Story Reader’s key characteristic is that __
[A] it "reads" the book which the child likes
[B] it "reads" the book while the child plays
[C] it "reads" the book while the child follows along
[D] it "reads" the book while the parent works
3. Children __ are suitable users of the basic Story Reader.
[A] up to six months old [B] up to age one
[C] up to age two [D] up to age three
4. The basic Story Reader for sale is about __
[A] 12 dollars [B] 20 dollars [C] 35 dollars [D] 60 dollars
5. My First Story Reader is characteristic with
[A] two play modes [B] three play modes
[C] four play modes [D] five play modes
6. Story Reader Video Plus is a video version of Story Reader designed for __
[A] newborns to kids up to age three [B] newborns to kids up to age seven
[C] children up to the age of five [D] children up to the age of seven
7. How many games can children choose from the Animated Story Mode?
[A] four [B] five [C] six [D] seven
8. If the Story Reader speaks the text for the current page, but the child tums back a few pages, it will __________
9. Late in 2006, we can infer that there were Story Reader products___________.
10. Like Super Mario Brothers, children in a platform game use the included controllers to__________
答案：
1.A信息明示題。根據(jù)題干中的信息詞the aims of the Story Reader定位到文章第一個標題的第二段，第二句話中提到Story Reader的目的是娛樂孩子同時告訴他們?nèi)绾螌W習閱讀，故本題選A。
2.C信息明示題。根據(jù)題干中的信息詞key characteristic和Story Reader可定位到文章第一個標題的第三段，該段中提到其主要特點是：孩子看著Story Reader展示的書頁時，它能夠大聲為孩子朗讀，故本題選C。
3.D信息明示題。根據(jù)題干中的信息詞the basic Story Reader可定位到文章的第二個標題部分，該部分第一段第一句告知讀者，the basic Story Reader適用于3歲及3歲以上的兒童，故本題選D。
4.B信息明示題。根據(jù)題干中的信息詞the basic Story Reader可知應(yīng)定位到第二個標題，而在該部分第二段第二句就提到，這種產(chǎn)品定價為20美元，故本題選B。
5.A信息明示題。根據(jù)題干中的信息詞My First Story Reader和characteristic可定位到文章第二個標題，由該部分第四段第一句可知，My First Story Reader的特色是它有兩個播放模式，故本題選A。
6.D信息明示題。根據(jù)題干中的信息詞Story Reader Video Plus可定位到文章第二個標題，由該部分倒數(shù)第三段第一句可知，Story Reader Video Plus適用于7歲及以上兒童，故本題選D。
7.B信息明示題。根據(jù)題干中的信息詞the Animated Story Mode可定位到文章第二個標題，由該部分倒數(shù)第二段第三句可知，the Animated Story Mode有5個教育性的游戲，故本題選B。
8.recognizes that page and reads it again。信息明示題。根據(jù)題干中的信息詞Story Reader可定位到文章的第一個標題，由該部分的最后一段可知，Story Reader能夠識別當前書頁的變化，由此可以得出答案。
9.three。信息明示題。根據(jù)題干中的信息詞Story Reader products可定位到文章的第三個標題，由標題可知產(chǎn)品數(shù)目，再往下閱讀可知，2006年末是截止時間，由此可以得出答案。
10.guide them through the environment and conquer obstacles。信息明示題。根據(jù)題干信息詞Super Mario Brothers可定位到文章第二個標題，由該部分倒數(shù)第二段可知，兒童可以通過內(nèi)置控制器來引導(dǎo)自己通過游戲場景并且克服障礙，由此可以得出答案。
