苹果平板电脑比迪士尼麦当劳更受欢迎
Apple’s iPad has been a huge hit among children, with its easiness to use interface and innovative apps.
In fact, researchers say the astonishing rise of the iPad means that it has now overtaken household names such as McDonalds and Disney to become the number one brand among American 6-12 -year -olds.
The annual study, conducted by leading youth and family research firm Smarty Pants, ranks more than 250 brands each year. “iPad’s number one status among kids represents the summit of the ‘tablet takeover’ —a movement from shared screens and TV network dominance to planned content on personal devices,” said Wynne Tyree, president of Smarty Pants. “Kids increasingly turn to iPad for games, TV shows, videos, books, homework help and communicating with friends and family.”
In the firm’s 2014 study, Apple’s iPad went ahead of kid brands such as McDonald’s, Toys'R’Us, Nickelodeon, and Disney. Kids see the iPad as the all-in-one digital tool, giving them a unique sense of independence, the researchers say.
Tyree notes that iPad’s march to the top has been dramatic. “In just five years, the iPad has risen from ranking 109th to being kids’ favorite brand. Early on, it captured the hearts of tweens and middle and upper class families, but iPad is now an indispensable part of childhood for the masses.”
On the study iPad was tops with a weighted score of 898 out of 1000. Disney came at 858, Google’s YouTube 852, McDonald’s 839, iPhone 830 and Apple 829.
Digital entertainment overall is seeing an increase among kids and families, with brands such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, Android, and Samsung posting noteworthy increases in the study, a measure of kids’ awareness, popularity, and love for a brand. Along with iPad, these devices and services provide entertainment that is “always on.”
Offering seemingly endless options, tablets and digital content providers are meeting contemporary kids’ needs – with fun and connectivity never more than a tap away.
本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写，禁止复制和任何商业用途，版权所有，侵权必究！
1.What is the “tablet takeover” movement according to the passage?
A In the movement everyone owns an iPad.
B It refers to the shift from watching TV together to using an iPad separately.
C In the movement people become more independent in entertainment.
D In the movement people receive more information from an iPad than from TV.
解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据文章第三段a movement from shared screens and TV network dominance to planned content on personal devices可知，这里的“平板电脑普及”运动指的是人们从一起看电视到各自用平板电脑获取信息的变化过程。
2.What makes an iPad appealing to the kids?
A An iPad helps the kids build up stronger relationships with their parents.
B An iPad can develop the kids’ reading skills.
C With an iPad, the kids can become a better learner.
D They can watch TV shows using an iPad.
解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据文章第三段Kids increasingly turn to iPad for games, TV shows, videos, books, homework help and communicating with friends and family可知，孩子们喜欢玩平板电脑是因为他们可以用平板电脑玩游戏，看电视，看视频，读电子书，做作业，与朋友和家人交流。故选D。
3.What does the underlined word most probably mean in the fifth paragraph?
A Necessary.
B Impossible.
C Expensive.
D Unforgettable.
解析：选A。A 猜测词义题。根据前文kids’ favorite brand及文章开头的huge hit判断，indispensable在此处意为“不可割舍的，必备的”。
4.What is the correct ranking according to scores from the study of Smarty Pants?
A Disney—YouTube—Apple—iPhone—iPad—McDonald’s.
B iPad—Disney—YouTube—McDonald’s—iPhone—Apple.
C iPhone—Disney—iPad—McDonald—YouTube—Apple.
D iPad—Apple—iPhone—McDonald’s—Disney—YouTube.
解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据文章第六段得分可知，从高到低依次是：苹果直板电脑，迪士尼乐园，YouTube, 麦当劳快餐，苹果手机，苹果电脑。
5.What can we infer from the passage?
A Apple’s iPad can develop the kids’ creativity.
B Tablet and digital providers can never meet the kids’ needs.
C An iPad can provide the kids with most entertainment.
D An iPad’s fun and connection to the Internet attracts the kids most.
解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据文章最后一段…kids’ needs…with fun and connectivity never more than a tap away可知，时下孩子们对数码产品的要求是好玩、容易上网。由此判断，苹果直板电脑对孩子们有很强的吸引力是因为具备了这两个特点。