In February, FEDEX launched a robot capable of replacing a pizza delivery driver by bringing food right to your door, which indicates more companies may soon automate (使自动化) not only processes, but full business lines.
These types of moves could be disastrous to work. Between 1987 and 2017, manufacturing output grew 80 percent, but the number of workers dropped dramatically. This hit cities hard, leading to shrinking populations and the wide difference between urban places we see now. Numerous studies show that automation isn’t equally affecting the workforce across all sectors. While it has negatively impacted a portion of the economy, it has helped to lift up other sectors, such as computer science and health care.
The real question is how you counteract inequality.
To start with, we should train people with the skills they need. To minimize job losses and embrace positive changes, we need to focus on the great value humans bring to the table. Jobs requiring soft skills like time management, active listening, cooperation, and judgment and decision-making, and jobs that are in high-touch industries are much less likely to be automated.
We must make joint efforts to strengthen and fix the holes in the safety net. While the 2020 presidential candidates are starting a conversation about how to accomplish this, cities are already leading by experimenting with basic income, passing higher minimum wage laws, carrying out paid family leave and driving policy solutions that support workers and families.
In the end robots won’t take all the jobs, but they might take yours. What we do about it, though, is up to us.
1.What will possibly happen if companies use robots in full business lines?
A. There will be a sharp drop in manufacturing output.
B. There will be a shrink in population across China.
C. The negative impacts will outweigh the positive ones.
D. The workforce in various fields may be affected differently.
2.Which of the following is more likely to be automated?
A. Bringing dishes to the table in a restaurant.
B. Helping to manage one’s time efficiently.
C. Communicating effectively with co-workers.
D. Helping make the right judgement and decision.
3.How is Paragraph 5 developed?
A. By providing data. B. By giving examples.
C. By comparison. D. By analyzing.
4.What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?
A. It is up to us whatever we do with the robots.
B. It is up to us what jobs the robots will replace.
C. We need to adapt ourselves to the changes accordingly.
D. We have the confidence that robots will replace no jobs.
I attended a writer’s group to get feedback on my book. But there were so many people there that the discussion was limited. After getting home, my 13-year-old son asked me to read one chapter to him. So I read the chapter about spending my pocket money as a nine-year-old child.
The story took place at a lunch counter, where I dreamed of ordering a banana split. Colorful balloons were hung above the counter and a sign said “Pop a balloon and pay 1 cent to 63 cents for a banana split!” As I was given only 50 cents for cleaning the doghouse, I didn’t dare to ask my parents for any more pocket money without doing more work or risk asking anyone else. So I kept my wish to myself.
Frankie listened carefully, as I read the final sentences of the chapter, “I watched as others selected a balloon to pop and dreamed about the opportunity to take my chance. But it never happened.”
The next morning, Frankie led me to the kitchen. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The table was covered in a pile of balloons. Frankie handed me 50 cents and a fork. “Pop one!” he urged. With tears in my eyes, I broke one. A piece of paper fell out of the balloon.
“What does it say?” Frankie asked. “Fifty cents,” I whispered, too moved to speak loudly. Frankie asked, “Well, do you have 50 cents?” I handed him the money. “OK!” Then Frankie pulled out a banana split from the refrigerator.
I hugged Frankie hard. We took turns popping the other balloons until I finally got the 1-cent balloon. It was a long-time coming, but worth the wait.
It hit me that the first step in making any wish come true is giving it a voice.
1.The author read the chapter to Frankie because .
A. she wanted to get feedback from Frankie
B. Frankie asked the author to read it to him
C. she was used to telling a bedtime story to him
D. Frankie had a strong desire for knowledge
2.What can we infer about the author from the second paragraph?
A. She spent money wisely when she was a kid.
B. She had enough money to do whatever she liked.
C. She earned her pocket money by doing housework.
D. She had no close friends to share her secret wish.
3.Seeing what Frankie did for her, the author felt .
A. comfortable and happy B. puzzled and excited
C. awkward and satisfied D. surprised and grateful
4.The author learned that .
A. it is important to express one’s wishes
B. it is comforting to have a kid around
C. experiences in childhood affect us later in life
D. wishes can come true by just voicing them
World’s best beaches: 2018 TripAdvisor award winners
NO. 1 Clearwater Beach
It lies in America, about a forty-minute drive west of Tampa. It impresses travelers with two and a half miles of sugar-white sand, crystal-clear waters and gentle Gulf wind. The beach offers calm, shallow water, making it an ideal playground for tourists.
*Bargain hotel nearby: Pier House 60 Marina Hotel, from $293 per night (double bed)
*Airfare: As low as $71 round-trip from ORD (Chicago) to TPA (Tampa)
No. 2 Siesta Beach
Just south of Sarasota, Siesta Beach on Siesta Key is known for its eight-mile stretch of sugar-fine, quartz-white sand. It’s also a great spot for kids to collect seashells and sand dollars.
*Bargain hotel nearby: Tropical Beach Resorts, from $295 per might (double bed)
*Airfare: As low as $238 round-trip from EWR (Newark) to
SRQ (Sarasota)
No. 3 Ka’anapali Beach
Among the most visited beach in West Maui, this area is a popular spot for quiet relaxation or water sports. It’s also famous for the daily cliff diving ceremony off of the beach’s northernmost cliffs known as Black Rock.
*Bargain hotel nearby: Lahaina Shores Beach Resort, from
$289 per night (double bed)
*Airfare: As low as $382 round-trip from SFO (San Francisco) to OGG (Kahului)
No. 4 South Beach
People watching is a great pastime in Miami’s South Beach, which draws celebrities and models. Travelers love the wide, fine, white sand-covered beaches as well as the surrounding area, known for wild nightlife and excellent restaurants.
*Bargain hotel nearby: Room Mate Lord Balfour, from $264 per night (double bed)
*Great airfare: As low as $107 round-trip from LGA (New York) to MIA (Miami)
1.How much may they pay at least if Mr. and Mrs. Smith from Chicago visit a beach?
A. $364 B. $435
C. $579 D. $657
2.Siesta Beach is different from other three beaches in that .
A. tourists enjoy an exciting sport
B. fine sugar-white sand covers it
C. children have more great fun
D. many famous persons visit it
3.Charlie is eager to meet his favourite movie star, which beach would you recommend?
A. Clearwater Beach. B. Siesta Beach.
C. Ka’anapali Beach. D. South Beach.
假设你是李华，你的美国笔友Dick对中国的传统文化很感兴趣。他打算近期到中国具有文化底蕴的地方旅游。请你给他写封电子邮件，推荐几个他可能感兴趣的景点。内容包括：
1.推荐地点；
2. 推荐理由；
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Dick,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文, 请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误, 每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加： 在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧), 并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除： 把多余的词用斜线(﹨)画掉。
修改： 在错的词下画一横线, 并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2. 只允许修改10处, 多者(从第11处起)不计分。
I always dream life in the future. What will it be like?
Perhaps some people will go to a moon for a holiday, and some people may live under the sea and in space. Beside, probably there'll be more educational program on the Internet. And therefore, students will be able to study at home instead of go to school every day. What's more, maybe in the future each family will have a robot, that will be able to do whatever it is told, such as going to shopping, doing housework and so on.
With the breakthrough of technology, I believe that their life will certainly become easier, happy and more colorful.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
There is a wonderful story about Jimmy Durante, 1.is one of the great singers in the twentieth century. One day, when 2.（ask）to be part of a show for some old World War II soldiers, Jimmy said he could afford only a few minutes and 3. he would come if they wouldn’t mind his singing one short song and immediately leaving for his next appointment. Of course, the show’s director agreed happily.
But when Jimmy got on stage, something 4. (surprise) happened. He went through the short song and then stayed. The applause grew louder and louder and he kept staying. Pretty soon, he had been on stage5. fifteen, twenty, and then thirty minutes. One of his assistants behind the stage stopped him and said, “I thought you had to go after a few minutes. What happened?” Jimmy answered, “I did have to go, but I can show you the reason6. I stayed. You can see for yourself if you look at the front row.” In the front row 7. (be) two men, both of 8. had lost an arm in the war. 9. had lost his right arm and the other had lost his left. Together, they were able to clap, and that was exactly10. they were doing, loudly and cheerfully.
