The iPhone, the iPad: each of Apple’s products sounds cool and has become a fad(一时的风尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i” —and many other brands are following suit. The BBC’s iPlayer —which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet —adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear —popular in the US and UK—that plays music and video is called “iTeddy”.
A slimmed-down version of London’s Independent newspaper was launched last week under the name “i”.
In general, single-letter prefixes(前缀) have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came to use..
Most “i” products are targeted at young people and considering the major readers of Independent’s “i”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.
But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i”. Why not use “a”, “b”, or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language Center at King’s College. London, “i” works because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBC Magazines.” Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition,” he says.
“However, thanks to Apple, the term is now associated with portability(轻便),” adds Thorne.
Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason.
Along with “Google” and “blog”, readers of BBC Magazines voted “i” as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.
But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the trend inevitably disappeared.
( ) 1.. People use iPlayer to .
A. listen to music B. make a call
C. watch TV programs online D. read newspapers
( ) 2.. We can infer that the Independent’s “i” is aimed at .
A. young readers B. old readers C. fashionable women D. engineers
( ) 3.. The underlined word “ambiguous” means .
A. popular B. uncertain C. definite D. unique
( ) 4.. Nowadays, the “i” term often reminds people of the products which are .
A. portable B. environmentally friendly C. advanced D. recyclable
( ) 5... The writer suggests that .
A. “i” products are often of a high quality
B. the popularity of “i” products may not last long
C. the letter “b” replaces letter “i” to name the products
D. iTeddy is a live bear
Brownie and Spotty were neighbor dogs who met every day to play together. Like pairs of dogs you 36 find in most any neighborhood, these two loved each other and played 37 so often that they had worn a path through the grass of the field between their own houses.
One evening, Brownie’s family 38 that Brownie hadn’t returned home. They went looking for him with no 39 .Brownie didn’t appear the next day, and, despite their 40 to find him, by the next week he was still missing.
Curiously, Spotty 41 at Brownie’s house alone, barking. Busy with their own lives, they just ignored(不理睬)the 42 little neighbor dog.
Finally, one morning Spotty 43 to take “no” for an answer. Spotty followed Ted about, barking strongly, then running towards a nearby wood, as if to say “ 44 me! It’s urgent!”
Finally, Ted followed the anxious Spotty. The little dog led the man to a 45 spot a half mile from the house. There Ted found his beloved Brownie 46 , one of his hind legs stuck in a steel leg hold trap. Horrified, Ted now wished he’d taken Spotty’s earlier requirement 47 .Then Ted noticed something quite remarkable.
Spotty had done more than simply 48 Brownie’s human owner to his trapped friend. In a circle around the 49 dog. Ted found some dog food---which was later 50 as the remains of every meal Spotty had been fed that 516 !
Spotty had been visiting Brownie 52 , in a single-minded quest to keep his friend alive by offering his own comfort. Spotty had obviously stayed with Brownie to protect him from being hurt, snuggling(依偎) with him at night to keep him 53 and touching him gently with its nose to keep his spirits up.
Brownie’s leg was treated by a veterinarian and he re-covered. For many years afterward, the two 54 watched the faithful friends frolicking(嬉戏) 55 chasing each other down that well-worn path between their houses.
( ) 1... A. must B. should C. can D. need
( ) 2.. A. together B. wildly C. separately D. happily
( ) 3.. A. watched B. heard C. feared D. noticed
( ) 4.. A. hope B. success C. failure D. information
( ) 5.. A. wishes B. demands C. efforts D. worries
( ) 6.. A. showed up B. showed off C. turned out D. turned off
( ) 7.. A. nervous B. eager C. angry D. clever
( ) 8.. A. decided B. refused C. wanted D. pretended
( ) 9... A. Love B. Hit C. Forgive D. Follow
( ) 10... A. beautiful B. distant C. wild D. clean
( ) 11.. A. alive B. dead C. brave D. sleepy
( ) 12.. A. immediately B. seriously C. directly D. honestly
( ) 13.. A. asked B. ordered C. informed D. led
( ) 14.. A. injured B. defeated C. fightened D. worried
( ) 15... A. regarded B. determined C. recognized D. showed
( ) 16... A. month B. day C. evening D. week
( ) 17.. A. particularly B. regularly C. usually D. especially
( ) 18.. A. fearless B. well C. warm D. hopeful
( ) 19.. A. families B. parents C. neighbours D. friends
( ) 20.. A. but B. or C. so D. and
Whether you believe it or not, it is that causes your illness.
A．due to your overweight B．because you are overweight
C．you are overweight D．your being overweight
— no means shall we let out the secret.
—No, no case shall we.
A. In; in B. By; with C. In; by D. By; in
No matter how much money you have, it can not a healthy body.
A. match B. fit C. defeat D. compare
This March Japan was struck by earthquake, from ______ impacts the people are still suffering．
A．what B．which C．whose D．that
