The human face is a remarkable piece of work. The astonishing variety of facial features helps people recognize each other and is vital to the formation of complex societies. So is the face’s ability to send emotional signals, whether through an unconscious red face or the artifice of a false smile. People spend much of their waking lives reading faces, for signs of attraction, hatred, trust and fraud. They also spend plenty of time trying to hide true feelings or intentions.
Technology is rapidly catching up with the human ability to read faces. In America facial recognition is used by churches to track worshippers’ attendance; in Britain, by retailers to spot past shoplifters. In China, it confirms the identities of ride-hailing drivers, permits tourists to enter attractions and lets people pay for things with a smile. Apple’s new iPhone is expected to use it to unlock the home screen.
Set against human skills, such applications might seem incremental(增值的). Some breakthroughs, such as flight or the Internet, obviously transform human abilities; facial recognition seems merely to encode(编码) them. Although faces are unique to individuals, they are also public, so technology does not, at first sight, interfere with something that is private. And yet the ability to record, store and analyze images of faces cheaply, quickly and on a vast scale promises one day to bring about fundamental changes to opinions of privacy, fairness and trust.
Start with privacy. One big difference between faces and other biometric data, such as fingerprints, is that they work at a distance. Anyone with a phone can take a picture for facial-recognition programs to use. Facebook's bank of facial images cannot be used by others, but the Silicon Valley giant could obtain pictures of visitors to a car showroom, say, and later use facial recognition to serve them ads for cars. Law-enforcement agencies now have a powerful weapon in their ability to track criminals, but at enormous potential cost to citizens’ privacy.
The face is not just a name-tag. It displays a lot of other information—and machines can read that, too. Again, that promises benefits. Some firms are analyzing faces to provide automated diagnoses of rare genetic conditions, far earlier than would otherwise be possible. Systems that measure emotion may give autistic(孤独症的) people a grasp of social signals they find difficult.
1.Which of the following statement about facial recognition is true according to the passage?
A. It is widely applied by Chinese in many fields.
B. It is applied to track worshippers by American churches.
C. It has been applied by Apple to unlock home screen.
D. It is applied to catch thieves by police.
2.What does the third paragraph mainly talk about?
A. Flight and the Internet surely transform human abilities.
B. Facial recognition will cause fundamental changes to minds.
C. Facial expressions are not only unique but also public.
D. Facial recognition has just the same effects as other breakthroughs.
3.From the last two paragraphs, we can infer that __________.
A. the face is superior to other biometric data
B. people can keep a balance between face and privacy
C. the face has shown many benefits especially in medicine
D. fingerprints is a powerful weapon in tracking criminals
4.What is the best title of the passage?
A. Human facial expressions B. Reading faces
C. Scientific breakthroughs D. Nowhere to hide
Kerala, India, has placed a tax on hamburgers, pizza and other fast food. The 14.5 percent tax will be added to foods at restaurants such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Burger King.
The tax is being called a “fat tax” because it adds cost to foods considered high in fat and calories. It is the first fast food tax enacted in India, where obesity levels are rising in the growing middle class.
Kerala’s Finance Minister Thomas Isaac suggested the tax after learning of similar measures in other countries. He hopes it will get people to choose to eat healthy food, which he said is “going out of fashion.”
Dr. Anoop Misra at New Delhi’s Fortis Hospital strongly supports the “fat tax” as a way to reduce the number of diabetes cases in young people.
A government finance official in central Gujarat says that the state is considering a similar 14.5 percent tax. “This idea can also be adopted in the state, as we also have high consumption of junk and unhealthy food,” the official said.
Critics of the tax say it probably will not stop people from buying fast food. IT engineer Gaurav Singh wants the government to focus on education and awareness instead of taxing fast food.
“The one food that is eaten widely in Kerala is the ‘paratha’, which is basically high in fat, high in refined(精制的) flour, and it is cheap. It can't be taxed because it is highly unorganized.”
Some doctors and health experts say the tax should also include other snack foods and sugary drinks sold across the country.
One fast food customer In New Dehli, Vijay Deoli believes the government should deal with more important issues. “First you have to clear up the air, the water, etc. This is a small thing.”
Others say the government should do more to bring attention to fast food and obesity rather than changing people's choices.
Many health experts agree that bringing attention to the issue is important. But Dr. Misra thinks education alone does not work.
He compared the tax to a law passed several years ago that got people to wear seat belts to avoid paying a fine. “Laws can change people’s habits.”
1.Why did Thomas Isaac introduce the “fat tax”?
A. To follow the latest trend in other countries.
B. To prevent young people from getting diabetes.
C. To encourage people to change their eating habits.
D. To control the development of fast food restaurants.
2.What’s Vijay Deoli’s attitude towards the “fat tax”?
A. Worried B. Opposed C. Surprised D. Suspicious
3.The example of wearing seat belts in the last paragraph is used to show the effect of ________.
A. education B. regulations C. people’s choices D. people’s awareness
SCOTTISH DANCING IT'S FUN IT'S GOOD EXERCISE ＊We have classes for dancers of all abilities. ＊Previous experience is not essential. ＊All you need to bring is a pair of soft shoes and enthusiasm. ＊Classes are held in a number of places and at different times. ＊We guarantee you a warm welcome. |
THE RENAISSANCE SINGER New singers are invited to join our choir, formed in 1993, to perform a wide variety of music in Cambridge. We meet every Wednesday evening from 7. 30—9. 30pm, and this term we are rehearsing for a special concert with audience participation on Saturday 1st December. An ability to sight-read and previous experience in choral singing is desirable, although not essential. |
DRAWING WITH COLOUR An intensive workshop for beginners. Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October This unusual workshop offers instruction in effective ways to draw in colour. Activities will include study of light and shade and ways to express mood and emotion in colour. The small class(12 students) assures maximum attention for each student. Professional quality materials are included in the fee of￡95. |
WORLD CULTURE DAY Brazilian Street Percussion(打击乐) 2.30—4.30 Samba percussion workshop. Lift your spirits with the taste of carnival! It doesn’t matter whether you’re experienced musician or a complete beginner, you’ll be creating complex amazing rhythms in no time. African Storytelling 3.45—4.45 The magical African story-telling tradition of narration, poetry and proverbs(mainly from Ghana and Nigeria). An event for all the family. |
1.Which activity promises rapid progress?
A. SCOTTISH DANCING B. THE RENAISSANCE SINGER
C. DRAWING WITH COLOUR D. WORLD CULTURE DAY
2.If you go to the activity DRAWING WITH COLOUR, ________.
A. individual guidance will be provided B. you will get materials free of charge
C. some relevant skills will be required D. it will help put you in a good mood
根据黑布林文本阅读，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
1.What is the relationship between Dr Jekyll and Mr Utterson?
A. Distant relatives B. Client and lawyer C. Doctor and patient D. Master and servant
2.Dr Lanyon stopped all contact with Dr Jekyll because___________.
A. he disapproved of Jekyll’s will
B. he was jealous of the success of Jekyll’s experiments
C. he was shocked when he realized that Hyde was a part of Jekyll
D. he had an argument with Jekyll about scientific beliefs
3.Judging from the look and voice, Hyde is considered all of the following EXCEPT _______.
A. mysterious B. mischievous C. unfriendly D. unpleasant
4.What kind of story is The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde?
A. Romance B. Adventure C. War D. Mystery
5.Which of the following is NOT the theme to the story?
A. The reflection of personal behavior B. The importance of reputation
C. The duality of human nature D. The battle of good against evil
It was March 15, 2012. My two brothers were out in the driveway shooting around when they suddenly screamed,“ The sky! The sky! It's green!” My dad _______ turned on the TV news. There was a tornado heading towards Dexter. I quickly ran up the stairs and seized my most _______ items that I felt I needed. My mom was piling clothing up in the basement to make a fort(堡垒) to _______ us. My dad was still upstairs watching the news. He usually never comes down when there’s a bad _______. As my ears heard a loud “pop”, I looked up to see my dad _______ full speed down into the basement swiftly _______ the door behind him to join us.
I for a brief moment thought that I was going to _______. When the tornado was going by it sounded like a heavy train was tearing through our _______.
Everything started to settle. My dad made his way back up the stairs to see what the damage was. The ceiling(天花板) had fallen down. Everywhere I _______all I could see was pure destruction. In that moment I felt __________, I had no idea what to do, and I didn’ t know what was happening or what the situation was. All I could think about was that my home was __________ going to be the same again.
This was the event that caused my family to have a(n) __________ on how lucky we were to be alive and together. Although the tornado wasn’t one that was that deadly we felt extremely __________ to be alive. This moment was a scary and life-changing situation, something that I never thought I would have to experience. It just made me think how I should be __________ for everything that I am able to have because you never know what __________ can throw at you, especially when you least expect it.
1.A. immediately B. secretly C. recently D. strangely
2.A. harmless B. attractive C. precious D. familiar
3.A. persuade B. protect C. please D. prevent
4.A. fire B. earthquake C. storm D. drought
5.A. coming B. driving C. falling D. flying
6.A. hitting B. closing C. painting D. touching
7.A. begin B. return C. escape D. die
8.A. office B. house C. hospital D. library
9.A. traveled B. remembered C. looked D. hated
10.A. awkward B. defeated C. interested D. amazed
11.A. never B. ever C. still D. just
12.A. realization B. conclusion C. imagination D. suggestion
13.A. lonely B. calm C. brave D. lucky
14.A. grateful B. regretful C. curious D. generous
15.A. dream B. passion C. work D. life
—He is a very hard-working student.
— ________. As far as I know, he often burns the midnight oil.
A. You can say that again B. Absolutely not C. Heaven knows. D. Not exactly
