Mobile phones are an important business tool for farmers in rural areas.But they also put a valuable educational tool in their hands.
The University of Illinois in the United States has a project called SAWBO—Scientific Animations Without Borders.It produces educational videos that can be downloaded to cell phones.The goal is to help people in developing countries improve their lives.
One video shows farmers how to make a natural insecticide from neem seeds to prevent insect damage to crops.The process starts with sorting and drying the neem fruits.Then let the fruit dry in the sun for about three or four days, until they become brown.Using a mortar(碾槌) and stick, the fruits are slightly pounded to remove the shells from the fruits without breaking the seed inside.
The videos use computer animation(动画).Some of the animated characters are a little funny looking-like a farmer with a long nose.But the subjects are serious, including a health video on preventing cholera(霍乱).Team member Francisco Seufferheld says the information in the videos is meant to be quickly understood.He says, “The information is digested in such a way that in two minutes, we can transmit a complex idea.”
The researchers tested the seven-minute video on seven mobile phones.They wanted to see if people would share the video using Bluetooth wireless technology.With Bluetooth, files can be passed to a nearby phone even if neither phone is connected to the internet.As a result, in one month, the video had spread to one hundred eighteen people in fifty different villages." This is just incredible impact," said Francisco Seufferheld.
The team has made a few videos so far.These are available in a total of eighty languages, dialects and accents.Professor Barry Pittendrigh says there are plans for more videos later this year.
小题1:What is the text mainly about?
A.A best-selling mobile phone
B.A valuable educational project for farmers
C.United States support for developing countries
D.A new type of scientist –farmer relationship小题2:The SAWBO program is introduced in order to ____.
A.raise farmers’ standard of living
B.do some research on mobile phones
C.develop farmers’ practical skills
D.help farmers prevent insect damage to crops小题3:The biggest advantage of the program is that it______.
A.includes health video on preventing cholera
B.can be passed to farmers using Bluetooth technology
C.can be used to sort and dry the neem fruits
D.is easy for farmers to understand小题4:Which of the following words can best take the place of the word “ pound” in the 3rd paragraph?
A.moved
B.beat
C.picked
D.cut
小题1:B
小题2:A
小题3:D
小题4:B
本文是关于一个利用手机来帮助偏远地区农民的教育计划。
小题1:B 主旨大意题。根据文章第二段has a project called SAWBO—Scientific Animations Without Borders.It produces educational videos that can be downloaded to cell phones.说明本文是关于一个利用手机来帮助偏远地区农民的教育计划。
小题2:A 细节题。根据文章第二段最后一句The goal is to help people in developing countries improve their lives.说明A正确。
小题3:D 细节题。根据第四段最后两行The information is digested in such a way that in two minutes, we can transmit a complex idea.” 说明他们利用动画等各种手段让复杂的观点很容易就被农民所理解。故D正确。
小题4:B 猜测词义题。Using a mortar(碾槌) and stick, the fruits are slightly pounded to remove the shells from the fruits without breaking the seed inside.说明用木棒等轻轻敲打作物,核就会出来而且没有损伤。故这里的pound同beat意义一样。故B正确。