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These inventions are making the world a better, smarter, and in some cases, a little more fun.
Easy-On Shoes
This year, Nike came out with their solution: the Flyease. The basketball shoe can be tied with only one hand. The idea for it came from ＂opening and closing a door,＂ says Tobie Hatfield, the shoe’s inventor. A pair of Nike Flyease shoes sells for $130.
Bionic Ears (仿生耳)
If you’re tired of loud noise, you have two choices: cover your ears or leave. But what if you could turn off or lower the sound, just as you would on a TV? That’s the promise of the Here Active Listening system. The Bionic Ears are connected with a smartphone app. Users can pick which sounds they don’t want. They are priced at $249.
A Virtual Pencil and Paper
In the 450 years or so since its invention, the pencil has become so common; it’s easy to forget how great a technology it is. It writes darker when you press harder. Its marks can be erased. It’s difficult to copy the way it works. That’s what makes Apple’s latest effort so different. The Apple Pencil allows users to draw, paint, or write on a screen, just as they would on a sheet of paper. The Apple Pencil goes for $99.
The Artiphon
Having a hard time choosing an instrument (乐器)? You might want to try the Artiphon. It can imitate (模仿) dozens of instruments—not just how they sound but also how they’re played. It can be like a guitar. It can be like a piano. The Artiphon is priced at $399.
1.Matthew, a student with a disability of one arm, most probably chooses .
A. Easy-On Shoes B. Bionic Ears
C. A Virtual Pencil and Paper D. Be Creative
2.How much will you most probably pay if you are a music fan who is tired of loud noise?
A. $ 229. B. $ 339. C. $ 498. D. $ 648.
3.What is the author’s purpose of writing this passage?
A. To introduce some problem-solving apps.
B. To call on more students to love inventing.
C. To share ways of making inventions.
D. To introduce some coolest inventions.
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Reading makes you a smarter, better leader. But if you’ve been following the latest science, you’ll also know that studies have shown regularly picking up a book might increase your empathy (共鸣) and protect you from feeling lonely, hopeless or suffering from dementia (痴 呆) in later life. But obviously, that’s not the end of the list. New research has discovered yet another benefit of being a reader who focuses one’s mind on reading.
After following those surveyed based on more than 3,500 adults over age 50 for 12 years, the team from Yale University behind the research found that those who read books for 3.5 hours a week were 23 percent less likely to die. Reading for less than 3.5 hours a week lowered participants’ (参加者) risk of death by 17 percent. Put another way, picking up an interesting book could earn you about an extra two years.
It’s worth noticing that the researchers were looking exactly at time spent in reading books, rather than newspapers, magazines, or online media, and that this difference is important for the observed advantages of reading. “We found that reading books provided a greater advantage than reading newspapers or magazines,” said Avni Bavishi of the Yale School of Public Health. “This effect is likely because books attract the readers’ mind more — providing more cognitive (认知的) advantages, and therefore increasing the lifespan (寿命). In short, deep slow reading rather than reading quickly and carelessly is best.”
So how long should you be reading for, and what sort of titles should you pick up? While more reading seems to be better, the researchers suggest that anything more than
30 minutes a day will be likely to do good to you. As for what exactly to read, the researchers can’t yet offer much advice beyond making time for actual books, though they pointed out this was a promising way to future research.
1.What’s the purpose of the author’s writing the first paragraph?
A. To tell the importance of modern science.
B. To explain the reasons for forming good habits.
C. To show the benefits of reading.
D. To list some painful sufferings.
2.What is the finding of the research of Yale University?
A. Reading can build one’s confidence.
B. Reading might make one feel safe.
C. Reading should be done regularly.
D. Reading could help one live longer.
3.Why is it better to read books instead of newspapers or magazines?
A. It improves the readers’ abilities to know about things.
B. It helps the readers to get more interested in the stories.
C. It makes the readers think of their own past experiences.
D. It offers the readers different practical skills of reading.
4.What will the future research focus on?
A. Reading methods. B. Reading materials.
C. Reading abilities. D. Reading purposes.
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How to Make the World a Better Place
When you think about people who have made the world a better place, you probably think of famous scientists or great leaders. That is not all the truth. 1. An act of kindness can bring a smile to a person’s face even if only for a moment.
Give away your money. 2.For example, if you want to help hungry children, you can try to find an international organization that provides food for those in poor areas. Every cent you give away will mean a lot.
Help a stranger. Your small actions can brighten the day of others. Hold the door for someone whose hands are full. Help the blind cross the street. 3.The key is expecting nothing in return for your acts of kindness.
Care about those you know. Show the people close to you how much you care about them. Tell them they mean a lot to you. Make a beautiful gift for a friend. Take your husband to his favorite fun place if he has had a hard week. 4.
Be grateful to others. Have you had good service in a restaurant? Thank the waiter Do you have very good neighbor who is always there when you need her? Tell her how much you appreciate her being in your life.
5.If a friend needs skills in a certain area, offer your advice. Perhaps she is struggling to set up computer, and you know how to do that. Offer whatever ability you have, but always remember to be polite.
A. Share your knowledge.
B. Keep walking forward.
C. Small steps, not big ones.
D. Give your seat on the bus to an old man.
E. Choose charity that has meaning for you.
F. Tell your children how much they mean to you.
G. Ordinary people like you and me can also help a lot.
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“Mr. Mandela has spent 67 years making the world a better place. We’re asking you for 67 minutes”. Nelson Mandela turns 91 on the 18th of July, and the call has gone out for people everywhere to celebrate his birthday and the global launch of Mandela Day by acting on the idea that each person has the power to change the world.
The call by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and its sister organizations for the creation of an official global Mandela Day is gaining great support. It is to be celebrated on the 18th of July every year－Mandela’s birthday.
“The celebration of Mandela Day aims to call on people to recognize their power and devote 67 minutes to making an imprint (印记) and helping change the world around them for the better”, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said at the launch of the campaign in April.
“Nelson Mandela has been making an imprint on the world for 67 years, beginning in 1942 when he first started to fight for the human rights of every South African. He has set a good example to the world. ”
Mandela said at the time of the launch that he would be honoured if such a day can serve to bring together people around the world to fight poverty and improve peace.
Former US president Bill Clinton said Mandela’s example showed that the power of public kindness does not require public office, but a well-placed heart and a determined mind .
South African President Jacob Zuma said it would give people in South Africa and all over the world the opportunity to do something good to help others. Let us wholeheartedly support Mandela Day and encourage the world to join us in this wonderful campaign.
1.The underlined word “launch” in the first paragraph can be replaced by“________”.
A．celebration B．creation C．realization D. activity
2.The aim of setting up Mandela Day is to ________.
A．celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday
B．improve the international position of South Africa
C．encourage people to fight poverty
D．call on people to make the world a much better place
3.It can be inferred from the passage that Bill Clinton and Jacob Zuma________
A．do not support some ideas of Nelson Mandela
B．were too busy to attend Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday celebration
C．think highly of the contribution Nelson Mandela has made to the world
D．disagree with the idea of setting up a global Mandela Day
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Nelson Mandela began to fight for the human rights in 1942.
B．It took 67 minutes to celebrate Mandela’s birthday.
C．Presidents form all around the world will attend the celebration.
D．The Nelson Mandela Foundation made 18th July Mandela Day.
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Some amazing people _______ our world for the better in the past 100 years.
A．change B．are changing C．have changed D．had changed
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Surfing the Internet for fun will make you a better employee, according to an Australian study.
The University of Melbourne study shows that people who use the Internet for their own reasons at work are about 9 percent more productive than those who do not. Study author Brent Coker said, “Surfing the Internet at times helps increase an employee’s attention.”
“People need to relax for a bit to get back their attention,” Coker said on the university’s website. “Having a short break, such as a quick surfing of the Internet, helps the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total Internet attention for a day’s work, and as a result, increases productivity(生产效率),”he said.
According to the study of 300 workers, 70 percent of people who use the Internet at work surf the Internet for their own reasons during office hours. Among the most popular surfing activities are searching for information about products, reading online news, playing online games and watching videos. “Firms spend a lot of money on software to block their employees from watching video, using social networking sites or shopping online,” said Coker. “That’s not always a good idea.”
However, Coker said the study looked at people who surfed the Internet in moderation (适度), or were on the Internet for less than 20 percent of their total time in the office. “Those who spend too much time surfing the Internet will have a lower productivity than those without,” he said.
1.What does the University of Melbourne study mainly show?
A. People who surf the Internet are good employees.
B. Not everyone surfs the Internet for fun during office hours.
C. Surfing the Internet for fun during office hours increases productivity.
D. The Internet is becoming more and more important in people’s life.
2. According to Paragraph 3, Brent Coker would most probably agree that______.
A. the longer a person’s mind rests ,the better attention he will have
B. surfing the Internet is the best way to increase productivity
C. workers should have a long break during office hours
D. Workers should let their minds rest now and then
3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as one of the most popular surfing activities?
A. Watching videos. B. Reading online news.
C. Reading online novels D. Playing online games.
4.The underlined word “block” in Paragrap4 means “_____”.
A. prevent B. cycle C. burst D. breathe
5.What can we infer form the last paragraph?
A. Spending too much time surfing the Internet reduces productivity.
B. Those who never surf the Internet have the lowest productivity.
C. Most people don’t surf the Internet in moderation during office hours.
D. People should spend as little time as possible surfing the Internet.
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Surfing the Internet for fun will make you a better employee, according to an Australian study.
The University of Melbourne study shows that people who use the Internet for their own reasons at work are about 9 percent more productive than those who do not. Study author Brent Coker said, “Surfing the Internet at times helps increase an employee’s attention.”
“People need to relax for a bit to get back their attention,” Coker said on the university’s website. “Having a short break, such as a quick surfing of the Internet, helps the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total Internet attention for a day’s work, and as a result, increases productivity(生产效率),”he said.
According to the study of 300 workers, 70 percent of people who use the Internet at work surf the Internet for their own reasons during office hours. Among the most popular surfing activities are searching for information about products, reading online news, playing online games and watching videos. “Firms spend a lot of money on software to block their employees from watching video, using social networking sites or shopping online,” said Coker. “That’s not always a good idea.”
However, Coker said the study looked at people who surfed the Internet in moderation (适度), or were on the Internet for less than 20 percent of their total time in the office. “Those who spend too much time surfing the Internet will have a lower productivity than those without,” he said.
1. What does the University of Melbourne study mainly show?
A. People who surf the Internet are good employees.
B. Not everyone surfs the Internet for fun during office hours.
C. Surfing the Internet for fun during office hours increases productivity.
D. The Internet is becoming more and more important in people’s life.
2.According to Paragraph 3, Brent Coker would most probably agree that______.
A. the longer a person’s mind rests ,the better attention he will have
B. surfing the Internet is the best way to increase productivity
C. workers should have a long break during office hours
D. Workers should let their minds rest now and then
3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as one of the most popular surfing activities?
A. Watching videos. B. Reading online news.
C. Reading online novels D. Playing online games.
4.The underlined word “block” in Paragrap4 means “_____”.
A. prevent B. cycle C. burst D. breathe
5.What can we infer form the last paragraph?
A. Spending too much time surfing the Internet reduces productivity.
B. Those who never surf the Internet have the lowest productivity.
C. Most people don’t surf the Internet in moderation during office hours.
D. People should spend as little time as possible surfing the Internet.
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If you ______ it to the airport on time, you had better set off immediately.
A.make B.will make C.are to make D.are making
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______ careful you are, ______ mistakes you will make.
| A．The less; the better | B．The more; the fewer |
| C．The fewer; the richer | D．The more ; the poorer |
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Switzerland is the world’s most famous watchmaker,1.makes it little surprise that2.(it) people are the most punctual in the world. For them, being on time is not only a nice thing to do, but it’s a strict3.(believe) that they build almost every aspect of their lives on.
According to the BBC, everything in Switzerland, from trains and buses4.personal meetings, is on time. If someone says they are meeting you at 3 pm, they5.not be there at 2:55 or 3:05 - just 3 pm. It shows “a deep expression of respect for other people”, US writer Eric Weiner, who6.(recent) traveled to Switzerland, wrote for BBC News. “A punctual person is a 7.(consider) one. By showing up on time for everything, a Swiss person is expressing he values your time and, by extension, he values you.”
This valuable quality of Swiss people8.(report) to originate from the country’s mountain areas. Due to poor weather, people had to plant and harvest crops exactly on time,9.they would have nothing to eat.
However, being punctual also has its problems. Since everybody has their lunch at exactly 12 and takes their coffee break at 4 pm, elevators and coffee shops all tend10.(be) full at the same time.