For those who are tired of doing the laundry, Samsung has found an answer: a washing machine that can tell you when your laundry is done via a smartphone app (application).
Strange though it may seem-"my wife already does that" was a common response among attendeesviewing the device when it was introduced at theConsumer Electronics Show (CES ) this weekSamsung is just one of many appliance makers racingto install(安装) a large number of Internet-connectedfeatures in machines in an effort to make them "smart" .
Last year, it was a refrigerator that tweeted. Thisyear,it's Wi-Fi-enabled laundry machines and fridgesthat can tell you when your groceries are going bad.
The washers and dryers, available starting in thespring, connect to any smartphone through adownloadable application. The phone can then beused as a remote control, so the machines can beturned on and off white their owner is at work or onthe bus.
Samsung says it's not just something new — theapp connection actually has some practical uses.
"If you started to dry clothes in the morning andforgot to take them out, you can go to your phoneand restart your dryer for the time when you comehome, so your clothes are refreshed and ready to go,"said spokesperson Amy Schmidt.
The company also says that with electricity rates(电价) varying depending on the time of day, morecontrol over when the machines are used can helpsave money.
Perhaps, but what they will probably reallyaccomplish is what all good technologies do-enablelaziness. Rather than getting up to check on whetherthe laundry is done, users will instead monitor it ontheir phones while watching TV. What can be inferred from the common responseof the attendees at the CES?
| A．The machine will be a big success. |
| B．Their wives like doing the laundry. |
| C．The machine is unrelated to their life. |
| D．This kind of technology is familiar to them. |
What can we learn about the new laundrymachines?
| A．They can tell you when your clothes need washing. |
| B．They can be controlled with a smartphone. |
| C．They are difficult to operate. |
| D．They are sold at a low price. |
We can conclude from Samsung's statementsthat ______.
| A．the app connection makes life easier |
| B．it is better to dry clothes in the morning |
| C．smartphones can shorten the drying time |
| D．we should refresh clothes back at home |
What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
| A．The laundry should be frequently checked. |
| B．Lazy people like using such machines. |
| C．Good technologies also cause problems. |
| D．Televisions may help do the laundry. |
One day I heard that one of my dear friends had lost his mother. This made me sad, for my friend was very close to his mother. He had been by her side as she traveled through her long and hard journey with cancer. At this time, many memories about my loved ones that had passed away came back to me. Finally these memories passed, but it was really sad to think that my friend would have to go through the pain. Three times I tried to write an email to my friend and three times words failed me. I am not the one that is often lost for words and I decided to have a sleep. Upon waking up，I could hardly wait for my computer to work；the words I needed were there. I was still left with a heavy heart although I had sent the email. They say that everything in this universe is balanced (平衡的) and indeed it is.
Three days later, I received his reply letter. I was happy to hear that he’d been admitted (被录取) to Cambridge University. It served as a gentle reminder for me that my friend would be okay and that life would go on. Everything in life is balanced；the lowest feelings change places with the highest feelings. Without the lows, we would never appreciate the highs. No matter how dark the clouds seem to be, sunshine is always there and you just wait for the opportunity to shine through.After the author learnt her friend had lost his mother, she ______.
| A．gave him some money |
| B．wrote an email to him |
| C．went to visit him |
| D．went on a journey with him |
What good news did the author’s friend receive?
| A．He received the author’s email. |
| B．He was told that life would go on. |
| C．He would go to Cambridge University. |
| D．His life would go back to normal again. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The author wrote four emails to her friend. |
| B．The mother of the author’s friend died of cancer. |
| C．The author’s friend is a teacher in Cambridge University. |
| D．The author became relaxed after sending the email. |
From the passage, we can learn that the author is ______.
| A．sincere and warm-hearted | B．proud and confident |
| C．serious and friendly | D．funny and responsible |
The author aims to tell us that ______.
| A．life is fair to everybody |
| B．time waits for no man |
| C．everyone has good and bad times in life |
| D．on sunny days it doesn’t often rain |
Most of us know about the Nobel Prize, especially the Nobel Peace Prize, but few of us know anything about the man who set them up. His name was Alfred Nobel. He was a great scientist and inventor himself. Besides, he had a big business. His business may surprise you. He made and sold explosives(炸药). His companies even made and sold weapons. Isn’t this something that surprises you? The man who made money from weapons should set up the Peace Prize?
Though Alfred Nobel had a lot of money from weapons, he hated war. He hoped that there would be no war in the world. He was one of the richest in Europe. When he died in 1896, he left behind him a lot of money and his famous will. According to his will, most of his money was placed in a fund(基金). He wanted the interest(利润) from the fund to be used as prizes every year. We know them as the Nobel Prizes. The Nobel Prizes are international. Alfred Nobel wanted the winners to be chosen for their work, not the country they came from.
Alfred Nobel had given his whole life to his studies and work and to the benefits of mankind. He made money all by his own efforts, but he left the world share his wealth. His inventions and wealth stay with the world for ever.Alfred Nobel did the following EXCEPT ______________
| A．choosing the winners of Nobel Prize |
| B．making and selling weapons |
| C．setting up the Nobel Prize |
| D．making and selling explosives |
Nobel wanted to set up the Nobel Peace Prize because _____.
| A．he made enough money |
| B．he hated war |
| C．he wanted to get more interest from the fund |
| D．he liked to live in a peaceful world |
Nobel Prizes come from _____.
| A．all Nobel’s money in the fund |
| B．all Nobel’s money in his company |
| C．all the interest from the fund |
| D．some of the interest in the fund |
Nobel was a (an) _____ person in the world.
| A．interesting | B．unselfish | C．cold-hearted | D．richest |
Which statement of the following is Right according to the passage?
| A．Nobel set up his company to sell clothes. |
| B．Most of Nobel’s money was used for the world Wars. |
| C．Nobel Prizes are only for some people from some special countries. |
| D．Nobel worked hard in his life and saved lots of money for the world to share. |
A World of Color
No matter where you go, colors are everywhere! And while the colors may be the same, their meanings change depending on the country.
| Colors |
Different Meanings |
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| Green |
Green means “hope” in Ecuador. In the U.S., it’s a symbol of money and concern for the environment. |
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| Purple |
Purple is worn by kings and queens in Europe, while in Thailand, it’s worn by women whose husbands have died. |
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Black |
Black is the traditional color of mourning(哀悼) in the West. But on the Pacific islands of Melanesia, it’s a symbol of beauty and speed. |
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White |
White is considered a pure color and is worn at weddings in America. In parts of Asia, however, white is worn to funerals(葬礼) as a sign of winter, when everything is dead. |
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Red |
Red means “beautiful” in Russia, but in South Africa, it’s the color of mourning. In the United States, a bride would be criticized(批评) for wearing a red gown. In India or China, though, brides often wear red as a symbol of good fortune. |
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Colors mean different things in different countries. No matter what the meaning is, color adds interest to our lives and makes them brighter.In the US if you prefer the color_____, it will probably show that you are concerned about the environment.
| A．green | B．purple | C．black | D．white |
How many colors mentioned in the passage can be used as a sign of mourning?
| A．Five. | B．Four. | C．Three. | D．Two. |
If a bride is wearing a red gown in the wedding, she must come from_____.
| A．Thailand | B．America | C．India | D．South Africa |
Which is true according to the passage?
| A．White stands for purity in China. |
| B．An American bride will wear a red gown on the wedding. |
| C．Black is a symbol of beauty and speed in the west. |
| D．Purple is worn by kings and queens in Europe |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．All the colors have different meanings in different countries. |
| B．From country to country, people view colors differently. |
| C．All the brides from China prefer to wear white gowns. |
| D．White is considered a pure color and often worn to funerals. |
Thousands of puffins(海鹦) live in Maine and on islands in the Gulf of Maine. But the puffins may be in danger. Last summer, the percentage of laid eggs that successfully produced baby puffins took a dive. Scientists also found a decline in the average body weight of the adult and baby puffins on Machias Seal Island, home to the area’s largest colony. Over the winter, dozens of the seabirds from the region were found dead, likely from starvation.
What’s causing the puffin trouble? Scientists think it may be a shortage of food. With ocean temperatures rising, fish populations have moved around. Normally, puffins’ primary food source is herring, a type of fish. A lack of herring in the area could be causing the problem.
Butterfish from the south have become more abundant in the Gulf of Maine and could be a new food source for birds. But Steve Kress says butterfish may be too big and round for baby puffins to swallow.
Puffins spend most of their lives at sea. They come ashore to breed each spring and return to the ocean in August. The chicks swim to sea about 40 days after hatching. Puffin populations stretch across the North Atlantic, from Maine to northern Russia.
Maine’s puffin population has been at risk in the past. In the 1800s, they were hunted for their food, eggs and feathers. By 1901, only one pair of puffins remained in the state. Thanks to the help of local lighthouse keepers and seabird restoration programs, the state’s puffin population has been restored to more than 2,000 birds.
Scientists aren’t sure what will happen to the Gulf of Maine’s puffins. The birds may move further north. Kress says he hopes the Gulf population will sustain itself and then he continued. “You never know what climate change will bring,” Kress said. “Historically fish could move out and more southerly fish could move in, and puffins may adapt to the new fish. Only they will know how the story will unfold.”The underlined phrase “took a dive” means _______.
| A．increased | B．arose | C．reduced | D．changed |
In the scientists’ opinion, ________ is contributing to the puffin trouble.
| A．a lack of herring | B．environmental pollution |
| C．the increase of birds | D．the huge size of butterfish |
It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
| A．Maine’s puffin once nearly became extinct |
| B．Maine’s puffins’ eggs were of high prices |
| C．baby puffins grew up quickly |
| D．the number of Maine’s puffins is worrying |
Judging from Kress’s words in the last paragraph, we know ________.
| A．climate change matters little |
| B．there is cause for concern |
| C．the new fish won’t harm puffins |
| D．puffins may move to the south |
How is the second paragraph mainly developed?
| A．By giving examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following time order. | D．By asking questions |
Many cities have subways and underground public transportation to take locals and tourists alike rapidly around the city．However, there’s something different about riding a London subway．It may not look different, but the historical value of one of England’s most popular forms of transportation is enough to make riding the subway a must when visiting London．With a little under 100 different stations, the subway can take you almost anywhere you need to go．
Riding a London subway, a person from other countries will notice one major difference: in London, people do not look at each other．In fact, eye contact is avoided at all times．That’s not rudeness―people are just too busy to bother looking．
Busy doing what, you ask? Well, they’re certainly not using the time for a moment of quiet thinking．Nor are they reading a book．New technology has replaced quiet habits．Today the only acceptable form of book on the London underground is an e-book．
Apple must earn a fortune from London commuters（使用月票上下班者）．Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, over 40,000―yes, that’s 40,000 “apps” have been designed．
Commuters love them because they are the perfect time-fillers．One “app”, called iShoot, is a game that features tanks．Another one, Tube Exits, tells passengers where to sit on the train to be closest to the exit of their destination．iSteam clouds the iPhone screen when you breathe into the microphone．You can then write in the “steam” on your phone screen．
For those without an iPhone, another Apple product, the iPod, may be the distraction（消遣）of choice．It’s not just teenagers who “plug in” to their music－iPods are a popular way to pass the time for all ages．
And if games, e-books and music aren’t enough to keep you occupied, then perhaps you would prefer a film? The development of palm DVD technology means many commuters watch their favorite TV shows or films on the way to work．With all these distractions, it’s amazing that people still remember to get off the train．People in London do not make eye contact on the subway because ______．
| A．they are going to work and have no time to communicate with each other |
| B．they love reading books and do not want to be disturbed |
| C．they feel sleepy because of getting up early |
| D．they are busy playing games, reading e-books, listening to music or watching films |
The underlined word “apps” in the fourth paragraph means ______．
| A．computers | B．programs downloaded for the iPhone |
| C．computer companies | D．fortune from London commuters |
Those who want to save time to reach where they go can download ______ to their iPhones．
| A．iShoot | B．Tube Exits | C．iSteam | D．iPod |
The main idea of the passage is that ______．
| A．London commuters are unfriendly to strangers |
| B．Apple has earned a lot of money from selling 40,000 apps |
| C．technology is changing how London commuters spend their traveling time |
| D．riding a London subway is a must when visiting London |
The aim to write the passage is to ______.
| A．praise | B．doubt | C．blame | D．state |
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