Smartphones are our constant companions. For many of us, their glowing screens are a ubiquitous (十分普遍的) presence, drawing us in with endless distractions. They are in our hands as soon as we wake, and command our attention until the final moments before we fall asleep.
Steve Jobs would not approve.
In 2007, Jobs took the stage and introduced the world to the iPhone. If you watch the full speech, you will be surprised by how he imagined our relationship should be with this iconic invention. This vision is so different from the way most of us use these devices now.
In his remarks, Jobs spent an extended amount of time demonstrating how the device utilized (应用) the touch screen before detailing the many ways Apple engineers had improved the age-old process of making phone calls. It’s the best iPod we’ve ever made,” Jobs exclaimed at one point. “The killer app is making calls,” he later added. Both lines drew thunderous applause.
The presentation confirms that Jobs imagined a simpler iPhone experience than the one we actually have more than a decade later. For example, there was no App Store when the iPhone was first introduced, and this was by design. Jobs was convinced that the phone’s carefully-designed native features were enough. He did not seek to completely change the rhythm of users’ daily lives. He simply wanted to take experiences we had already found important－listening to music, placing calls, generating directions－and make them better.
The minimalist (简约主义者) vision for the iPhone Jobs offered in 2007 is unrecognizable today－and that is a shame.
Under what I call the “constant companion model,” we now see our smartphones as always-on portals (通道) to information. We have become so used to it over the past decade that it is easy to forget the novelty (新奇之处) of the device. It seems increasingly clear to me that Jobs probably got it right from the very beginning: Many of us would be better-off returning to his original minimalist vision for our phones.
Practically speaking, to be a minimalist smartphone user means only using your device for a small number of features that do things of value to you. Otherwise, you simply put it away outside of these activities. This approach dethrones (废黜) this device from the position of a constant companion down to a luxury object, such as a fancy bike, that gives you great pleasure when you use it but does not dominate your entire day.
Early in his 2007 keynote, Jobs said, “Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone.” What he didn’t add, however, was the follow-up promise: “Tomorrow we’re going to reinvent your life.” The smartphone is fantastic, but it was never meant to be the foundation for a new form of existence.
If you return this innovation to its original role, you will get more out of both your phone and your life.
1.The underlined word “it” in the last but two paragraphs probably refers to .
A.information B.the smartphone
C.the always-on portal D.the constant companion model
2.According to Steve Jobs, what was the main selling point of Apple’s first iPhone?
A.It allowed the users to have access to the internet.
B.It was actually an iPod that could make phone calls.
C.It was installed with applications by third-party developers.
D.It could fulfill people’s desire to multitask in their daily lives.
3.According to the article, a minimalist smartphone user tends to .
A.expect to reinvent his life with the device
B.buy the latest model of iPhone and see it as a luxury
C.remove all the unnecessary applications from the device
D.spend more time working than playing with his device
4.The author’s purpose in writing the article is to .
A.tell readers why Steve Job created the iPhone
B.remind readers not to be addicted to their smartphones
C.show readers that smartphones can greatly change our lives
D.encourage readers to block internet access on their smartphones
Professor Stephen Hawking recently came out with a serious warning for people. While at the Starmus Festival, a festival in Trondheim, Norway, celebrating science and the arts, Hawking warned people that the human race is in serious danger.
Hawking criticized President Donald Trump for denying climate change. Then the physicist warned the audience, “I am not denying the importance of fighting climate change and global warming, unlike Donald Trump, who may just have taken the most serious, and wrong, decision on climate change this world has seen.”
Hawking proposed that the leading countries should send astronauts to the Moon before 2020 to restart a movement of more exploration in space. BBC reported that Hawking suggested that we “build a lunar base in 30 years’ time and send people to Mars by 2025.”
According to BBC, Professor Hawking said, “Spreading out into space will completely change the future of humanity.” He continued, “I hope it would unite competitive nations in a single goal, to face the common challenge for us all.” The physicist shared more ideas to motivate the younger generation to continue exploring space. Hawking stated, “a new and ambitious space program would excite (young people), and stimulate interest in other areas, such as astrophysics and cosmology.”
Hawking also revealed his vision for other forms of energy that could move us to a new planet. He warned the audience, “The Earth is under threat from so many areas that it is difficult for me to be positive.” He continued, “Our natural resources are being drained, at an alarming rate. We have given our planet the disastrous gifts of climate change, rising temperatures, reduction of the polar ice caps, deforestation, and decimation (大量毁灭) of animal species. We can be ignorant, unthinking lot (人).”
The professor warned the audience that doing nothing would lead nowhere. He said, “If we succeed, we will send a probe (航天探测器) to Alpha Centauri within the lifetime of some of you alive today. It is clear we are entering a new space age. We are standing at the threshold (起点) of a new era. Human colonization and moving to other planets is no longer science fiction, and it can be science fact.” Hawking advised the audience to move to other worlds because we are running out of space.
1.According to Hawking, what is the first step for humans to spread out into space?
A.To build a lunar base.
B.To send people to Mars.
C.To send astronauts to the Moon.
D.To change the future of humanity.
2.What does the underlined phrase “a single goal” in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A.Spreading out into space.
B.Facing the common challenge of humans.
C.Stimulating young people’s interest in other areas.
D.Motivating the younger generation to explore space.
3.The underlined word “drained” in Paragraph 5 can be replaced by “ _____ ”.
A.speeded up B.stored
C.used up D.explored
4.What is Hawking’s attitude towards the Earth’s future?
A.Worried. B.Confused.
C.Positive. D.Indifferent.
5.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A.To warn the audience that humans are in danger.
B.To predict what will happen to the earth in future.
C.To stress that humans are entering a new space age.
D.To encourage the audience to move to other planets.
6.The reason why humans must leave earth soon is that .
A.the Earth is under threat and the human race is in serious danger
B.a new and ambitious space program would excite young people
C.astronauts have found a better world in the space than the Earth
D.humans have found other forms of energy to move to a new planet
The killdeer, a small bird known for its high-pitched ( 声调高的) call, could lead to the cancellation of one of Canada’ biggest music festivals.
The first hint of trouble for Ottawa’s Bluesfest, an outdoor festival that draws around 300,000 people each year, came last week after workers at the site found one of the birds.
It had laid four eggs nearby, effectively claiming the main stage area as its nesting ground. “This is one of the most challenging problems we’ve been presented with, but we feel we can work through this,” said Mark Monahan, executive director of the festival.
“Anything that changes the schedule has a major effect, so we’re taking it very seriously.” The discovery meant that government officials rushed to protect the nest and the eggs, hiring a security guard to watch over them 24 hours a day. Environmentalists were also brought in.
“We don’t know when the eggs might hatch,” said Monahan. What is known is that the young killdeer will likely leave the nest soon after they are hatched, leading many to hope that the eggs hatch in the next day or so.
The festival is now seeking permission from Environment Canada to relocate the nest some 50 meters away or take it to a wildlife center.
Moving the nest would also ensure the bird and its young would be protected during the festival’s 11-day run, said Monahan. It’s highly likely that the festival’s thousands of attendees would cause huge problems for the bird and its eggs.
Monahan was confident that the festival would go on as planned, however.
“Most of the people we’re working with are looking for a positive solution,” Monahan said. “There is no one saying that the festival can’t go on.”
As news of the dilemma spread, it left residents divided. Some supported the bird, saying that moving the nest might result in the eggs being abandoned.
Others expressed annoyance that protecting the eggs of the small bird, which is widespread across North America, was risking an annual festival that contributes millions of dollars to the local economy.
The killdeer’s tendency to build its nest in open fields or flat areas has caused issues in other areas of the US: earlier this year, construction on a health center in Wisconsin was temporarily stopped after a killdeer and its four eggs were discovered.
1.What can we learn about Bluesfest?
A.It is the first music festival in Canada.
B.It is an important event for music lovers.
C.It is a music festival held every two years.
D.It is a challenging outdoor activity in Ottawa.
2.What was especially challenging for Bluesfest this year?
A.Pressure from the government.
B.Disagreements with the public.
C.The need to protect the bird’s eggs.
D.The lack of experience in hosting the event.
3.How did the festival plan to deal with the problem?
A.Move the nest to another place.
B.Ask government officials for help.
C.Seek advice from environmentalists.
D.Hire security guards to protect the eggs.
4.What was Monahan’s attitude toward hosting the festival?
A.Negative. B.Positive.
C.Unsure. D.Indifferent.
5.The underlined word “dilemma” is closest in meaning to “ ”.
A.a difficult situation
B.an extreme situation
C.a dangerous situation
D.an encouraging situation
Active Challenge
Weight loss camp for girls aged 13-18 in Canada
Active Challenge is a weight loss program specially for young women. The burden of being overweight is heavier than just the extra pounds. We use outdoor adventures to challenge the girls, to give them something to draw strength from.
Because you’ll be losing weight alongside young women just like you, you’ll find no one laughing at you and you’ll help each other. At Active Challenge you’ll make lifelong friends with young women of your own age and learn to love new adventurous activities.
Unlike any other weight loss program, Active Challenge is designed so you’ll lose weight and have the strategies (策略) and skills to keep the weight off forever. Active Challenge does not put you on a diet. We follow the Canada Food Guide to healthy eating and exercise appropriate portion (一份) control. We help you develop healthy habits.
The staff at Active Challenge combine experienced outdoor adventure professionals with highly qualified clinicians. All of us are absolutely devoted to helping you achieve lasting behavioral change and weight loss. Most of all, we are devoted to having a great time doing it.
Pre-Camp: Upon registration (注册) in Active Challenge, a registration package will be
sent out to you with forms to be completed before camping as well as program preparation materials, an introduction to Active Challenge and pre-program personal challenging assignments (任务) to get you on your way toward a healthier self.
Post-Camp: Our post program is designed to keep you focused and remind you of the goals that you set during the camp. After the camp ends we will send you home with your personal meal and exercise plan and keep in touch with you for a full three months through letters, emails and phone calls, tracking your progress and giving you strategies and support.
1.Outdoor adventurous activities are held for girls _____.
A.to follow a good diet
B.to lose weight quickly
C.to build up their health
D.to make them stronger
2.How will girls feel about the atmosphere at Active Challenge?
A.Lonely but safe.
B.Cold but exciting.
C.Friendly and supportive.
D.Competitive and challenging.
3.After registration, girls_____.
A.should go to buy the program preparation materials
B.will be informed how to get prepared for the program
C.should learn some skills and strategies to lose weight
D.will have to finish some challenging assignments at home
4.The post-camp help will last_____.
A.until the end of November
B.until the beginning of the next year
C.until girls achieve success in their lives
D.until girls can keep their weight off forever
5.What is the main purpose of the text?
A.To explain why Active Challenge is popular.
B.To share skills and strategies of losing weight.
C.To show how important losing weight is.
D.To invite girls to join in Active Challenge.
There’s a program for middle schools called Treps that teaches kids about business and product development. The students are given the task to learn to _______ products on their own, and at the end of the program the school gym is _______ up like a trade show where all the kids get to sell the products. They each get a_______, make signs and dress up a little. The school gym is open to the public and_______ a crowd.
Some of the kids there _______have a crowd at their stand, because the products made by themselves are unique and interesting. But there are some other kids, with _________that aren’t very good, just don’t stand out, aren’t getting attention. At first, they stand there with a _______ face but later you can see the _______in their eyes because everyone walks by the stands uninterested. I always think it _______to visit the stands of those kids, buy something, and ________ them for how hard they must have worked on it. Just the confirmation that someone likes what they make and notices their effort can________ them. I usually bring $100 to this event merely for this __________. As the night goes on, ________ they still haven’t sold much, I will send my daughter over there to buy something from them.
The other day, as an education expert, I was________ with some parents about this. They asked me why I encouraged the kids who made terrible products, saying “________ confirmation means they won’t learn anything”. I told them, “These kids know their products aren’t a________ , but that doesn’t mean they should________. It takes courage to________ there and try to sell their products. If nobody buys anything, or nobody________ their effort, they will probably quit next time.” Hearing these, all the parents agreed.
A little encouragement can go a long way and sometimes a small lie can be a big________ in the right direction.
1.A.introduce B.deliver C.design D.pack
2.A.turned B.rolled C.put D.set
3.A.guide B.shelter C.stand D.cottage
4.A.meets B.promotes C.inspires D.draws
5.A.always B.never C.seldom D.again
6.A.creations B.targets C.situations D.signs
7.A.angry B.curious C.cheerful D.serious
8.A.disappointment B.excitement C.misunderstanding D.expectation
9.A.enough B.simple C.strange D.necessary
10.A.allow B.reward C.praise D.command
11.A.shake B.value C.teach D.encourage
12.A.concern B.purpose C.trial D.experience
13.A.if B.though C.unless D.before
14.A.agreeing B.dealing C.discussing D.comparing
15.A.constant B.false C.direct D.selfish
16.A.challenge B.hit C.contribution D.standard
17.A.fall in B.slip away C.shout out D.give up
18.A.stand up B.step forward C.back away D.work out
19.A.needs B.appreciates C.announces D.stresses
20.A.burden B.experiment C.push D.mind
I knew a lot about the subject already, but her talk was interesting _____
A.besides B.otherwise C.nevertheless D.moreover
