A

 New Jersey Middle School Makes

 Students Go Phone­Free

 A middle school in Union County, New Jersey, is forcing its students to stay disconnected in class, by prohibiting cellphones. Maxson Middle School Principal Kevin Stansbury put forward the phone ban last week after he noticed some major issues in the school. “Our test scores were down, and discipline was up£¬” he says. According to him, students were too focused on their phones to pay attention to their lessons. So, he purchased Yondr pouches for the school.

 When students come into class each morning, they place their phones in the pouch, which is then locked tightly. So they have no access to phones at all. It can only be opened using a special device at the end of the day. The ban on mobile devices applies not just during class time but during breaks, with the only exceptions being in times of emergency or in cases of students who need such devices to help with disabilities.

 Eighth graders who spoke with News 12 New Jersey say that they noticed a change in a matter of hours. “It's just better for everyone because you'll understand how it feels to get more work done instead of distracting attention because of the phone£¬” says student Charlene V. “I was usually listening to music, but today I got to communicate with all my friends£¬” says student Desiree Duncan.

 The program was originally met with resistance from students and parents, so the process was not that smooth. But teachers and administrators say that the program will have a major impact. “Students were talking and laughing and there were no cellphones other than being carried in the pouches£¬” Stansbury says.

 Teacher Nia Cummings says she even noticed students bouncing ideas off each other in class. She says students used to throw in the towel quickly and just rely on their phones to look for answers. She says they now try to figure the answers out themselves. “Everyone is socializing and eating lunch together. That's what I wasn't seeing when phone usage was at its worst£¬” she adds.

 Maxson Middle School is currently the only one in the district to use these pouches. Kevin Stansbury also called on all the schools in the community that it's worth paying close attention to cellphone issues at secondary schools and taking action when necessary.

1£®Maxson Middle School put forward the phone ban because students ________.

A£®weren't focused on school work

B£®were always listening to music

C£®used phones to cheat on exams

D£®stopped talking with others

2£®What did the two eighth graders tell News 12 New Jersey?

A£®Opposition from students.

B£®Teamwork with friends.

C£®The daily routine at school.

D£®Effect of the program.

3£®According to Nia Cummings, what change has the phone ban brought?

A£®Students discuss more in class.

B£®Students finish their work on time.

C£®Students guess the answers themselves.

D£®Students check messages during the break.