阅读理解。 The computer makes doing schoolwork easier tor me than it was tor my mom and dad. For example, when writing book reports and stories,I use Microsoft Word instead of a pen and paper. That way, after my teacher edits my work, I can go back and make revisions without having to rewrite the whole thing. And Microsoft Word has a spell check! I use it all the time. For English class, we're reading The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton. As a pre-reading assignment (作业), my teacher asked us to research teenage groups on the Intemet. I tried Google, Encarta, and Yahoo first, and finally found an article on Time. com. For a geography assignment on the United States, I used Encarta to learn about the Mississippi River. I needed to find out how deep the river is, how its widths and depths are different,what states it runs through, and what kinds of fish live in it. I used the information to show how the geography of a country influences its economy (经济). For example,the river's trade paths,the number of fish caught in it,and the tourists it attracts directly influence Southemers' jobs and incomes (收入). I never go to the library to do research. It takes too much time. Since I live in New York City and both my parents work,getting to the library isn't always easy. For a big assignment or research project, I used to stay at the library to read,or sign out whatever books or magazines I needed. Now being able to find the information in my own living room makes everything a lot simpler. Online dictionaries and encyclopedias (百科全书) also save time. Sometimes, I think the computer spoils young people because it's so easy-at least physically. But computers are not like television, which does the thinking for you. You still have to use your mind. I prefer using a computer. Easy, fun, and fast. 1. Does the computer make doing schoolwork harder for the writer? ______________________________________________________ 2. What does the writer use when he wr tes book reports and stories? ______________________________________________________ 3. How does the wr ter complete a big assignment or research project? ______________________________________________________ 4. What does the underlined word 'spoils' mean in English? ______________________________________________________ 5. What's the ran idea of this passage? ______________________________________________________