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
难句突破
1．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.
主体句式：Making … would be a nice addition for kids …
结构分析：现在分词结构“making the LCD monitor touch sensitive”做本句的主语；连词“as”的意思是“如同，正如”；动词短语“protect … from”的意思是“保护…使不遭受”。本句使用的是虚拟语气，“would be”暗示与现在事实相反。
句子译文：对孩子而言，正如使用屏保可以保护屏幕不被小孩子粘乎乎的小手弄脏一样，把液晶显示器做得触摸起来很敏感或许是个很好的附加功能。
2．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?
主体句式：what parent hasn't succumbed to …desire …?
结构分析：“what”的意思是“what kind of ”，“succumb to”的意思是“(向强大力量或向强烈欲望)屈服，屈从；服从”。本句的意思是“All parents succumb to a son or daughter's desire for a SpongeBob toy, Spiderman lunchbox, or Dora backpack”。
句子译文：什么样的父母会不满足儿子或女儿想得到一件“海绵波波”玩具、一个蜘蛛侠餐盒或多拉背包的愿望呢？
题目分析
1．答案为C，属推理判断题。从文章中我们知道这款电脑是专为孩子量身打造的，独特的米老鼠外形，设置的功能等都是专为孩子考虑的，因此也深受孩子的喜爱。
2. 答案为A，属事实细节题。句子“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.”表达了家长为孩子在电脑玩与学方面的担忧，暗示了电脑在玩与学方面并不是一个完美的结合。
3. 答案为D，属事实细节题。原文对应信息是“According to Lyon, computers are a fine tool to help kids learn--as long as there's parental participation.”。
4. 答案为B，属事实细节题。做对本题的关键是对句子“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.”的正确理解。这个句子使用的是虚拟语气，表示的是与现在事实相反的状况。这个句子是对前一句“some elements of the Disney PC could be improved.”的补充说明。选项A在文中对应的信息是“the total system price is about $150 more than comparably equipped plain-Jane PC s”；选项C对应的信息是“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.”，“bridle at”的意思是“轻视，瞧不起”；正因为有的父母瞧不起这种厚颜无耻的重商主义，选项D也是正确的。
5. 答案为C，属推理判断题。本题的关键是要理解句子“what parent hasn't succumbed to a son or daughter's desire for a SpongeBob toy, Spiderman lunchbox, or Dora backpack?”的含义。这句话的意思是“什么样的父母会不满足儿子或女儿想得到一件“海绵波波”玩具、一个蜘蛛侠餐盒或多拉背包的愿望呢？”，言外之意是父母都会满足孩子想要玩具的心愿。因为这种电脑配有“大耳朵”，所以它也是一个大玩具，而不只是一台米老鼠计算机了。这样，做父母的也就很难拒绝孩子想要一个大玩具计算机的愿望了。
参考译文
20多年前，IBM公司推出了初级个人电脑。这种电脑被人们嘲讽为笨拙而且动力不足，从未在小孩或父母中间流行起来。但IBM当时并没有在机子上配上“米老鼠”。
在米老鼠、米妮和普路托等一批卡通形象的支持下，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”(售价600美元)及其专门配备的长着大耳朵的14.1英寸显示器(售价300美元)瞄准的目标是6到12岁的孩子。但是，即使该系统用米老鼠形象加以装饰并配有唐老鸭和高飞的软件，但是“梦想台式电脑”再也不是一件纯粹的玩具了。
迪斯尼公司的这个系统是以英特尔赛扬处理器为基础的，使用的是微软XP视窗，配有一个40GB硬盘驱动器和组合式CD刻录机和DVD播放器——这种硬件配置用以玩游戏或做家庭作业足矣。新增加的设备有：装在键盘内的内置支架上的指示笔。对孩子的小手来说，指示笔是一个比鼠标更舒适的指向设备，它还可以使孩子们创作出他们自己的数字素描画。
教学工具。至于软件部分，迪斯尼公司安装了三合一创造性程序，称为“迪斯尼Flix，Pix和Mix”。这个程序可让小孩创造他们自己的电影、把迪斯尼人物添加到数字式图片中，以及作曲。由于父母对全球互联网(也有人称“万维网”)表示担忧，所以迪斯尼公司配置了“网络内容保护”程序。该程序可以防止好奇心强的孩子浏览你不想让他们看的网站。而且如果你怀疑孩子上网是为了玩游戏而不是为了学习，该程序甚至可以跟踪孩子的上网情况，并向你报告他们的上网记录。
迪斯尼公司的系统基本上在“梦想电脑”上获得了成功。像显示器上可以隐蔽说话者身份的“滑鼠”(mouseketeer)耳朵这样的设计元件肯定会吸引我22 个月大的女儿的注意力。但当她沉迷于“玩米老鼠”时，做父母的也许会问：电脑对孩子的学习到底是一种帮助呢还是一种阻碍因素？设在全国健康研究院的儿童健康和人类发展研究所儿童发展和行为研究分所所长里德•利昂说：“危险的情况是，人们倾向于用电脑替换真人指导。”据利昂说，只要父母亲参与孩子的电脑活动，电脑是帮助孩子学习的一种绝好工具。
在“梦想电脑”上寻找教育标题的父母必须到别处采购。再者，该系统的总价比有类似配置的普通Jane个人电脑大约贵150美元，而且迪斯尼个人电脑的有些元件还可以改进。对孩子而言，正如使用屏保可以保护屏幕不被小孩子粘乎乎的小手弄脏一样，把液晶显示器做得触摸起来很敏感或许是个很好的附加功能。还有，在系统键盘上装一个橙色大按钮对有些父母来说感觉真是厚颜无耻的重商主义(这个按钮可以使孩子们直接登陆到每月要花费9.95美元的 “Toontown”网络游戏)，这正是他们所瞧不起的。
另一方面，什么样的父母会不满足儿子或女儿想得到一件“海绵波波”玩具、一个蜘蛛侠餐盒或多拉背包的愿望呢？既然这种个人电脑配有“大耳朵”，那么它就不只是一台米老鼠计算机了。