The real point of human nature lies in the social bonds that we make through family, friendships, professional associations and local communities. These bonds produce a sense of common purpose and values, in which groups of people seek hard and enjoy together the things that are for the common good: a sound education, a pleasant environment to live in, a healthy population. This is what the heart of the gift economy (经济) is.
In the past, American companies operating in Japan found it difficult to attract Japanese people, even though, compared with Japanese employers, they offered more generous wages, shorter work hours and better promotion chances. But these were traditionally not so important to the employees, who did not think of their services as being ‘bought’. Rather, they felt they were entering into a long-term—“gift exchange” —relationship with their employer, which was of mutual (相互) benefit.
This relationship had many aspects. At its most basic it related the simple exchange of physical gifts. For example, if the employee got married, the company sent a gift. Another company gift which is popular among Japanese employees is the yearly company vacation. On these organized weekends co-workers share dormitories, eat together and visit the same attractions, largely at the company’s expense. For their part, the main gift given by the employees to their company is their hard work and this is why each Japanese employee gives such great attention to accuracy, and quality in their work. Even the simplest tasks are carried out with extraordinary care.
Now, neighborhood groups use online networks to share tools and skills. Someone who needs a long ladder to repair their roof does not need to go out and buy one; they simply put a message up on the neighborhood discussion board and soon a neighbor will offer theirs. Via the Internet, knowledge and advice can be shared on almost everything, from how a nuclear reactor works to how to plan your holiday. The gift economy is going through a booming time.
1.What is the key point of the gift economy?
A.People’s working hard. B.People’s similar social status.
C.Sharing social interests. D.Accepting social bonds.
2.Why did the Japanese show little interest in American companies?
A.The companies offered them low salaries.
B.They were difficult to get a better position.
C.The companies provided shorter vacations.
D.They didn’t want to sell their services.
3.What does the yearly company vacation inspire Japanese employees to do?
A.Contribute themselves to the company.
B.Exchange physical gifts with each other.
C.Spend less money while talking vacations.
D.Organize more effective weekend parties.
4.What can we infer about the gift economy from the last paragraph?
A.It is changing the Internet services. B.It benefits greatly from the Internet.
C.It is better accepted on the Internet. D.It booms the Internet development.
A popular restaurant in Tokyo is employing disabled people to work as waiting staff. But, instead of taking orders or clearing tables themselves, the staff of the Dawn ver. β café, whose name was inspired by a cartoon called Time of Eve, where robots and humans co-exist as equals, command a team of robots from their homes.
The remote-controlled OriHime-D robots (ODRs) were developed by Kentaro Ory Yoshifuji, CEO of the Ory Labs. The robots are 1.2 metres tall and have white faces that look like Japanese Noh masks. They send video and audio (音频) back to their controllers, and they are able to direct them from home by using a smartphone or tablet.
Five ODRs were used in the cafe,and they were controlled by a team of 10 people,with various health problems,such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Even people with very limited mobility are able to communicate with and control ODRs. Ory Labs has created a video showing how a man who is only able to move his eyes can still operate the robot, and another where a man in a hospital bed gets an OriHime-D to hand a cup of coffee to another person.
Yoshifuji has an impressive record as an inventor with an interest in using technology for good deeds. Between the ages of 10 and 14 he did not attend school due to poor health and went on to represent Japan in the 2005 Intel Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), with a project designed to improve the mobility of wheelchairs. It was the years he spent missing out on school that led to the development of OriHime,which he sees as a way to help people overcome misfortune and disability to actively participate in society.
1.What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.The disabled. B.Video and audio.
C.Japanese Noh masks. D.ODRs.
2.Which of the following can best describe ODRs?
A.They are expensive. B.They are user-friendly.
C.They need improving. D.They can work as nurses.
3.What can we infer about Yoshifuji?
A.He invented ODRs initially to help himself.
B.He didn’t go to school because of ODRs.
C.He developed ODRs at a young age.
D.He attended ISEF to present ODRs.
4.What’s the best title for the text?
A.Café Is Run by the Disabled Remotely
B.Robots Help the Disabled Automatically
C.Café Becomes Known for Robot Servers
D.Robot Waiters Are Operated by the Disabled
In 1848 gold was found in California. Thousands of people rushed there to get some. Many people liked living there. But there wasn’t a whole lot between California (CA) and Missouri (MO), where the nearest trains ran. The train line to California wasn’t finished until 1869.
In I860 and 1861, the Pony Express was the fastest way to get news to and from the West. The trail that they rode was around 2000 miles long. It took most people weeks or months to ride that far. The Pony Express could make the trip in just ten days. Those speeds were unheard of at the time. So how did they do it? Well, they had a good system.
The Pony Express had 184 stations along the trail. The stations were around ten miles apart. This is about how far a horse could run at a gallop (疾驰) before tiring. The rider would switch to a new horse at each station. He would only take his mail pouch (邮袋) with him. Every 75-100 miles, the rider would get to a home station. At each home station, riders would rest. The mail never stopped moving, even while the horses and riders rested.
It was tough to ride for the Pony Express. Each rider had to weigh less than 125 pounds. Speed was the key. Most of the riders were teenage boys. They rode at a fast pace for up to 100 miles a day. If there were an emergency, one might have to ride 200 miles in a day.
The Pony Express filled an important role for a time, but it did not last. The Civil War started in April of 1861. On October 24th, 1861, the first telegraph line to California was finished. This linked them to the rest of the country. People could send messages in an instant. Two days later the Pony Express closed.
1.Which happened first?
A.The Pony Express was started. B.The American Civil War broke out.
C.The train line to California was finished. D.Settlers rushed to California to find gold.
2.How long did it take the Pony Express to send mail from CA to MO?
A.About 24 hours. B.About ten days.
C.About twenty days. D.About one month.
3.What would a rider do at the home station?
A.Give his mail to a new rider. B.Rest a while and go on riding.
C.Collect new mail for customers. D.Feed the horse and check the mail.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A.To prove communication industry develops rapidly.
B.To explain why horses were used to deliver mail.
C.To describe the I860 - 1861E Fastest Mail Service.
D.To tell the brave stories of the Pony Express.
KIMBOLTON, CAMBRIDGESHIRE (K&C); ￡274,995 Lying in the popular town of Kimbolton, this modern house has got an entrance hall and a downstairs cloakroom. On the ground floor, there is a kitchen with breakfast room and a dining room. It has got a study and a playroom. On the first floor there is a living room and the master bedroom with a shower room. On the top floor, there are two bedrooms and the family bathroom and you can enjoy the scenery outside. There is a drive and a double garage to the front and large rear (后面) garden. |
BRAMPTON, CUMBRIA(B&C); ￡399,995 Lyingon Pipers Lane in Brampton, this classic cottage has got two floors. On the ground floor, there is a kitchen with a breakfast room. There is also a sitting room, a dining room and a cloakroom. On the first floor, there are four bedrooms and a family bathroom. There are gardens to the front and rear and a garage with a drive to the side. |
GODMANCHESTER, CAMBRIDGESHIRE (G&C); ￡152,500 Lying in the heart of Godmanchester, this house has got three storeys. On the ground floor, there is a kitchen with a dining area and a sitting room with a fireplace. On the first floor there are two double bedrooms and a family bathroom. There is a master bedroom with a shower room on the top floor. There is a rear garden and a storage shed. |
LITTLE PAXTON, CAMBRIDGESHIRE (L&C); ￡149,995 Set on the banks of the River Ouse, this modem flat has got an open-plan accommodation with dining, living and kitchen area. There is a balcony with views over the river. There are two double bedrooms with separate bathrooms. There is a parking lot on the basement. |
1.What can we know about K&C?
A.It has three storeys in total. B.It lies near a river with a rear garden.
C.Of the four it’s the 3rd most expensive. D.On its top floor, people can overlook the city.
2.What do B&C and G&C have in common?
A.A double garage on the ground floor. B.A sitting room on the ground floor.
C.A cloakroom beside the bedrooms. D.A garden to the front of the house.
3.Which house has an underground parking garage?
A.K&C B.B&C
C.G&C D.L&C
阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇60词左右的内容概要。
Not all education can and should happen within the classroom. Sometimes, traveling is the best form of education, as students can get a number of personal and educational benefits from travel. From learning about other cultures first-hand to seeing where historical events took place with their own eyes, educational travel gives students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of art, science, history, and culture in many ways.
Educational becomes a whole new experience when students can see lots of tools and equipment for themselves by traveling to different places. The tools and equipment could be used by scientists decades or even centuries ago to make discoveries that make our modern world possible. Educational travel brings the materials off the pages and into reality, allowing students to connect themselves with them in a more meaningful way.
No matter where students go, it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll find some kind of food that is unique to that place or done better than anywhere else. If someone gets Chicago-style pizza in Chicago, they’re going to have a different tasting experience than they would if they were getting the same type of thing in, say, Texas. At the same time, getting chili in Texas would be a whole different experience from getting chili in New York or Chicago. Students can learn a lot about a culture by what they eat on a daily basis and what they consider a special meal, so it’s good to take a taste of the local food and learn through all of the senses.
Being away from family, home, and familiar ground is a courageous and independent adventure in its own right. Educational travel provides that opportunity to allow students to open their minds regarding how they choose to live life, which can be extraordinarily helpful in preparing students for college and adulthood. Traveling – with the combined social skills and perspectives(视角) it teaches – really allows students to better understand how they can operate on their own.
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假定你是李华，得知外教Mr. Smith喜欢中国传统文化，想邀请他到你家过端午节。请给他写一封信，内容包括：
1. 时间；
2. 一同过节的家人；
3. 活动。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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