High 2 · Reading series
Lesson 3 · A Rule That Made Sense Yesterday
Audio track 03
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Dear Student Council, our school rule says that students may not use phones anywhere inside the building. When the rule was written, teachers wanted to prevent secret photographs and interruptions during class. Those concerns still matter. However, the rule also stops students from opening the digital timetable, which the school itself now uses.
Last month a train delay changed our afternoon classes. A teacher placed the update online, but students in the hallway could not check it. Some rushed to the wrong room. The problem was small, yet it revealed a contradiction.
I am not asking for unlimited phone use. Could we test a narrower rule? Students could check school information in marked areas between lessons, while cameras and social media remained restricted. Teachers and students could review the trial after six weeks.
A rule deserves respect when its purpose is clear. It also deserves revision when the world around it changes. I hope we can discuss both the original concern and today's needs. Sincerely, Mei.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
学生会各位：
学校规定，学生在楼内任何地方都不能使用手机。制定这条规定时，老师们希望防止偷拍和课堂干扰。这些担忧至今仍有道理。然而，学校如今使用电子课表，现行规定也让学生无法在楼内打开它。
上个月，列车晚点使下午的课程发生变化。一位老师把更新放到了网上，但走廊里的学生不能查看，有些人匆忙跑去了错误的教室。事情不大，却暴露出规定与实际需要之间的矛盾。
我不是要求无限制地使用手机。能否试行一条范围更明确的规定？学生可在课间到指定区域查看学校信息，相机和社交媒体仍受限制。六周后，师生一起评估试行结果。
规定目的清楚时，值得尊重；周围情况改变时，也值得修订。我希望大家既讨论当初的顾虑，也讨论今天的需要。
美 敬上
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- prevent
- 防止；原规定旨在阻止偷拍。
- interruptions
- 干扰；课堂上使用手机可能造成。
- concerns
- 顾虑；安全与教学方面的担忧。
- revealed
- 暴露；列车晚点显示规定有矛盾。
- contradiction
- 矛盾；电子课表无法在楼内查看。
- unlimited
- 无限制的；并非写信者的要求。
- narrower
- 范围更窄的；建议只准查看校务信息。
- restricted
- 受限制的；相机与社交媒体仍不开放。
- revision
- 修订；外部条件变了需重新审视。
- original
- 最初的；不能忘记订立规定的理由。
Background notes (Chinese)
制度当初为防偷拍和课堂打扰而设，但学校后来又使用电子课表。写信者提出范围有限、时间可控的试行方案，并未要求完全解除限制。