Just over 20 years ago, IBM introduced the PC jr. Derided as awkward and underpowered, the PC jr. never caught on with kids or parents. But then again, IBM didn't have the Mouse behind it.
Backed by a posse of Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto, the Walt Disney Co. is looking to do what IBM never could: successfully market a computer system designed specifically for kids. The Disney Dream Desk PC ($600) and its complementary big-eared, 14.1-inch monitor ($300) are aimed at kids ranging from 6 to 12 years old. But even though the system is embellished with images of Mickey and software featuring Donald Duck and Goofy, the Dream Desk is more than a toy.
Using Microsoft Windows XP, the Disney system is based on an Intel Celeron D processor and comes with a 40-gigabyte hard drive plus a combination CD burner and DVD player--serious enough hardware to manage games or homework. As an added feature, there's a stylus that sits in a cradle built into the keyboard. The stylus is a more comfortable pointing device than a mouse for little hands, and it also lets children create their own digital sketches.
Teaching tool. On the software side, Disney has included a trio of creativity programs called Disney Flix, Pix, and Mix that lets kids create their own movies, add Disney characters to digital pictures, and compose music. For parents worried about the World Wild Web, Disney has included a ContentProtect program that prevents curious tykes from visiting sites you'd rather they not view. And if you suspect they are using the Net more for games than research, the program will even track your children's surfing and report back to you.
By and large, the Disney system succeeds with the Dream Desk. Design elements like the monitor's mouseketeer ears, which conceal speakers, certainly grabbed my 22-month-old daughter's attention. But while she may have enjoyed "playing with Mickey," parents may wonder if computers for kids are a help or hindrance when it comes to learning. "The danger is that people tend to replace actual human instruction with these computers," says Reid Lyon, chief of the Child Development and Behavior Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health. According to Lyon, computers are a fine tool to help kids learn--as long as there's parental participation.
Parents looking for educational titles on the Dream Desk will have to shop elsewhere. Furthermore, the total system price is about $150 more than comparably equipped plain-Jane PC s, and some elements of the Disney PC could be improved. Making the LCD monitor touch sensitive would be a nice addition for kids, as would a clear cover to protect the screen from sticky little fingers. In addition, some parents may bridle at the brazen commercialism of having a large orange button on the system's keyboard that takes kids directly to Disney's $9.95-a-month Toontown online game.
On the other hand, what parent hasn't succumbed to a son or daughter's desire for a SpongeBob toy, Spiderman lunchbox, or Dora backpack? And while this PC may have big ears, it's not just some Mickey Mouse computer.
1. How can the Walt Disney Co. make a computer system popular with the kids?
[A]The images of the Walt Disney Co. are deeply rooted in kids’ heart.
[B]The Dream Desk is just like a super toy.
[C]The computer system is designed specifically for kids.
[D]Kids can use the computer system for games and doing homework.
2. Which of the following is not the description of the Dream Desk?
[A]Learning and playing are perfectly combined in this computer system.
[B]The hardware is enough for the use of a kid.
[C]The software takes the kids’ needs and parents’ worry into consideration.
[D]The Dream Desk decorated with the image of Mickey catches the kids’ eyes.
3. How can the parents take full advantage of the computer in the learning of their kids?
[A]Not allowing the kids to visit the inappropriate web sites.
[B]Using the computer to arouse kids’ interest in learning.
[C]Fully exploring the potential function of the computer.
[D]Working together with their kids.
4. Which of the following is not true according to Paragraph 6?
[A]The Dream Desk does not have price advantage.
[B]The Dream Desk has been equipped with sensitive LCD monitor and a clear cover.
[C]Some parents have offensive feelings toward the orange button indicating commercialism.
[D]The computer system fails to cater for all the parents.
5. What can we learn from the last paragraph?
[A]The big ears make this PC look like a big toy that many kids long for.
[B]Parents always try their best to satisfy their kids’ needs.
[C]Parents find it difficult to refuse to buy their kids such toys as Mickey Mouse computer.
[D]Mickey Mouse computer is a computer, rather than a toy.
答案：CADBC
篇章剖析
本文详细介绍了由华特迪斯尼公司推出的专为孩子设计的米老鼠电脑。第一段指出IBM电脑未在孩子和家长中流行起来；第二段指出华特迪斯尼公司正期望做IBM永远不可能做的事：成功地销售专门为孩子设计的计算机系统“迪斯尼梦想台式个人电脑”；第三段指出这款电脑的配置；第四段指出这款电脑的教学功能；第五段指出电脑如何较好地履行其学习工具共能；第六段指出“梦想电脑”的一些不足之处；最后一段指出父母很难拒绝为他们的孩子购买这一看似大玩具的电脑。
词汇注释
deride [di5raid] vt. (及物动词) 嘲笑，愚弄，以轻蔑的态度说话或对待
awkward[5C:kwEd] adj. (手脚)不灵巧的;不熟练的；(动作或表情)笨拙的; 难看的; 粗野的；不协调的；没有风度的；不好使用的; 使人感到麻烦的; 难应付的, 棘手的；困难的, 危险的
underpowered [9QndE`paJEd] adj. 动力不足的，由动力不足的发动机驱动的
catch on vt. vi. 抓牢，理解；[口]投合人心, 受人欢迎，流行；变得风行
posse [5pCsi] n. 武装队；一队(警察)；(临时组织起来的)一群人；[口]乌合之众, 暴徒；可能性；潜在力
look to v. 期望；看似将要；许诺做
embellish [Im5belIF] vt. 美化；装饰；加细节；润色；
The door of the old church was embellished with decorations. 老教堂的门是用雕饰美化的。
Goofy高飞，迪斯尼卡通中既笨拙、多言、好奇又善良角色迪斯尼卡通人物，以宫廷骑士长官的身份出现在影片中。
trio .[6triou] n. 三个(或人)一组，三件套
tyke (也作tike) [taik] n. 小孩子，尤指小男孩
by and large adv. 大体上, 基本上
succeed with vi. 在...上获得成功
hindrance [5hindrEns] n. 妨害, 障碍, 干扰, 延[停]滞；障碍物, 起妨碍作用的人[物]；
comparable [5kCmpErEbl] adj. 可相比(with); 比得上的(to)；类似的；可供比较的，相对照的；相对等的
bridle [5braidl] at vi. 轻视，瞧不起
brazen [5breIz(E)n] adj. 声音响而刺耳的；厚颜无耻的
succumb [sE5kQm] vi. (常与to连用) (向强大力量或向强烈欲望)屈服，屈从；服从
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