A UK supermarket has become the first in the world to let shoppers pay using just the veins (纹理)in their fingertips. Customers at the Costcutter Store, at Brunel University in London, can now pay using their unique vein pattern to identify themselves.
The firm behind the technology, Sthaler, has said it is in "serious talks" with other major UK supermarkets to adopt hi-tech finger vein scanners at pay points across thousands of stores. It works by using infrared(红外线)to scan people's finger veins and then links this unique biometric map to their bank cards. Customers' bank details are then stored with payment provider Worldpay and in the same way you can store your card details when shopping online. Shoppers can then turn up to the supermarket with nothing on them but their own hands and use them to make payments in just three seconds.
Previous studies have found fingerprint recognition, used widely on mobile phones, is likely to be hacked and can be copied even from fingerprint left on phone screens. But Sthaler claims vein technology is the most secure biometric identification method as it cannot be copied or stolen. The technology uses an infrared light to create a detailed map of the vein pattern in your finger. It requires the person to be alive, meaning in the unlikely event a criminal hacks(非法侵入)off someone's finger, it would not work.
Sthaler said it takes just one minute to sign up to the system firstly and, after that, it takes just seconds to place your finger in a scanner each time you reach the supermarket checkout. Simon Binns, commercial director of Sthaler, told the Daily Telegraph, ''This makes payments so much easier for customers. There are no known occurrences where this security has been broken. ''
1.Which supermarket in the world can now use the vein-recognition technology?
A.Grocery stores in London.
B.Thousands of stores in the UK.
C.University supermarkets in the UK.
D.Costcutter Store at Brunel University in London.
2.What message does Sthaler intend to convey according to Paragraph 3?
A.The system is safe. B.Hacker attacks are unlikely.
C.Vein patterns can be copied. D.The technology is convenient.
3.What should customers do before using the system?
A.Copy the fingerprint. B.Protect against hacking.
C.Contact the supermarket. D.Register on the system.
4.What do we know about the vein-recognition system?
A.It has been hacked.
B.It will be adopted by more shops.
C.Its company is optimistic about it.
D.Its technology needs further improvement.
If someone is crying in an attempt to fake sorrow, we say they are shedding “crocodile tears”. But how and why did we start relating insincere displays of feelings to crocodiles?
The origin may have become popular around the 14th century when a bestseller, The Voyage and Travel of Sir John Mandeville, referenced a kind of snake who drops tears while eating their human victims.
In the centuries since, crying crocodiles have been related to fake sorrow. The expression has been used as a story to teach sincere regret, by Shakespeare and, more recently, by media mocking tearful politicians or murder suspects.
In 2007, University of Florida zoologist Kent Vliet actually proved that the animals do drop tears while snacking. But because crocodiles eat while in the water—making a study of their meal-time tears difficult—he studied their close relatives, alligators, who might dine on dry land. Out of the seven he filmed eating at a Florida alligator park, five teared up before, during, and after eating.
Vliet’s theory is that when the animals enthusiastically hit their jaws, the movement forces air through the crocodiles’ sinuses and finally empties tears into their eyes. Their eyes not only water but can bubble, as Vliet witnessed at the alligator park, where some even teared up in expectation of their meal of chicks and other food.
Vliet was asked to investigate the biology behind this phenomenon by Malcolm Shaner, a doctor, about why facial palsy sufferers cry when they chew. Findings suggest that this is similar to the case of crocodiles.
1.What does “crocodile tears” express?
A.False sadness. B.Sincere apology.
C.Untrue suffering. D.Faithful concern.
2.Who has studied humans’ shedding tears while chewing?
A.John Mandeville. B.Shakespeare.
C.Kent Vliet. D.Malcolm Shaner.
3.What's the meaning of the underlined word “mocking” in Paragraph 3?
A.Teasing. B.Reporting. C.Fooling. D.Comforting.
4.What's the author's purpose in writing the passage?
A.To describe the physical appearance of crocodiles.
B.To give a biological explanation of crocodile tears.
C.To clarify a misunderstanding of political leaders.
D.To introduce results of research on human feelings.
Carl Jones' love for animals began in his childhood. As a boy, he rescued injured wild creatures. In the 1970s, when the 24-year-old biologist learned that the Mauritius kestrel(红隼) is dying out, he decided to do his part.
He arrived on the island in an age of extinction. Even his employers of BirdLife International instructed him to “pull out elegantly” and leave the kestrel-saving to Mauritius government officials. That actually meant closing it down, because the Mauritians didn’t have the resources or ability.
Despite various difficulties, Jones holds the belief that all species are savable and humans need to live closely with other species. He has done so all his life and developed his hands-on approach to saving species.
Jones challenges the classic conservation wisdom that we must first understand the reasons for a species, decline and restore its habitat. Instead, he argues that scientists must identify the limiting factors on a species' population—food, nesting sites, competition, killing, disease—with practical fieldwork. “If there's a shortage of food, you will start feeding. If there's a shortage of nesting sites, you will put up nesting boxes. You don't need endless PhD students studying a species for 20 years. ” Conservation science, he argues, is often too remote. “Do you sit back and monitor a sick patient or do you treat them and see what works? A lot of species have been studied to extinction. ”
In Mauritius, Jones has preserved many plant species and nine animals. Without Carl Jones, the world might have lost the Mauritius kestrel, the pink pigeon and more.
1.What did BirdLife International want Carl Jones to do?
A.Live closely with other species. B.Do his part in an age of distinction.
C.Co-operate with the local government. D.Give up his decision to save the Mauritius kestrel.
2.What's Carl Jones’ approach to saving species?
A.Working on specific factors. B.Getting necessary resources.
C.Analyzing reasons for a species' decline. D.Following the classic conservation wisdom.
3.When it comes to saving endangered species, what's Carl Jones' opinion on studying them?
A.It's a waste of time. B.It's an impractical approach.
C.It should be done in remote areas. D.It takes highly educated personnel.
4.What can we infer about Carl Jones' work?
A.It is based on abundant research. B.It has produced beneficial results.
C.It received the government’ support. D.It is against the basic laws of fieldwork.
Many famous churches as listed below have a long religious history, inventive architecture and dedicated craftsmanship.
Sagrada Familia
This church located in Barcelona, Spain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site(世界文化遗址). It is a Roman Catholic Church planned by architect Antoni Gaudi and its construction began in 1882. However, it remains incomplete till today. This is mainly because of its huge size and the process to return the earliest construction to its original condition would never end. A tour of the whole church would take about a week.
Saint Basil’s Cathedral
This famous church is located in Moscow, the capital of Russia and marks the exact center of the city. It was completed in 1561 under the rule of Ivan the Terrible and has a very colorful architecture unusual for a church. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is perhaps one of the most famous churches in the world because it appears in many movies.
Westminster Abbey
This famous church is in London and is one of the iconic(标志性的) buildings in the country. It was built in the 10th century and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Thames River and Westminster Palace are both located near the Abbey and the Gothic(哥特式的) architecture draws many tourists each year. Westminster Abbey is also the place for important events of the royal family.
Church of the Nativity
This church is located in Bethlehem, Palestine and is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. Its construction was started 327AD and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This church, however, does not see many tourists because of the ongoing conflict in Palestine.
1.What's the common character of the churches?
A.They're Gothic architectures. B.They are located in city centers.
C.They are UNESCO world heritage sites. D.They are visited by many tourists every year.
2.Which church has the longest history?
A.Sagrada Familia. B.Saint Basil’s Cathedral.
C.Westminster Abbey. D.Church of the Nativity.
3.Why is Sagrada Familia still incomplete?
A.Its construction didn't start until recently. B.Repair is needed before completing it.
C.Early buildings will be pulled down. D.People want to make it larger and larger.
假设你叫李华, 最近在某英文购物网站上购买了一双鞋子，但出现了以下表格里的问题。请给网站写一封投诉信, 包括以下内容：
| 申购情况 | 实际情况 |
颜色 | 黑色 | 白色 |
号码 | 9 | 8.5 |
到货日期 | 10月18日 | 10月28日 |
1. 写信的目的；
2. 投诉内容：申购情况；实际情况;
3. 要求：重新邮寄或退款；
4. 询问：若寄回, 谁承担寄费?
Dear Sir/ Madam,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误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(Λ)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，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。
On a snowy winter night，a bus with 45 passenger had an accident because the slippery road. And all of them were trapping in the bus and what was worse，the bus ran out of gas and it is very cold in it. They could do nothing but to wait for help. A man who lived nearby saw what had happened. He and some villagers manage to open the door and helped all of whom out of the bus. He took them to his home but offered them food and water and even some warm clothes for children. They spent two days in his home and finally help came. All of them were thankfully for his kind help.
