Restaurants in Europe, the United States and Japan are testing technology to let diners order their food direct from a screen at their table instead of depending on a fellow human being to note their choice.
Besides cutting costs, companies that sell the “e-menus” argue the bytes-for-bites way has a new value that can attract younger customers, and various photographs of steaks and gooey desserts attract diners to order more. It also could extend the TV dinner. How about a computer game dinner?
“It's about impulse-buying,” said Adi Chitayat, Conceptic’s CEO. “If a person starts looking at pictures of chocolate cake, the chances are he'll order it.” Frame, a restaurant in Tel Aviv with the system, is said to have its sales on tables with the e-menu increased by about 11% . Customers often call ahead to reserve (预定)spots equipped with screens, manager Natalie Edry told Reporters.
At one of the e-menu tables, IT worker Gil Uriel and his young family were enthusiastic as they checked out pictures of the dishes on offer and squabbled(争吵)overdesserts. “It’s more visual,” says Uriel, as his children clicked away furiously on a games function between courses. “We can still choose, we can still argue —but it’s much easier when we can all see it.”
1.The following are the advantages of “restaurants with” EXCEPT that .
A.eating in them is more comfortable
B.the restaurants can save a lot of money
C.they can attract more youngsters to the restaurants
D.customers can see the pictures of their ordered foods
2.The underlined word “impulse—buying” in the 3rd paragraph means .
A.having no idea in buying things
B.being uninterested in buying things
C.having no patience in buying things
D.being encouraged in buying things
3.According to the last paragraph, we know that .
A.customers feel little interest in the e-menus
B.e-menus only attract a small number of customers
C.it still takes time for e-menus to be widely accepted
D.restaurants of this kind are refused by customers
4.This passage might be taken from .
A.a food guide B.a website
C.a traveling magazine D.classic advertisements
Prison Break is a huge hit thanks to its handsome star, Wentworth Miller. His character, Michael Scofield, is the engine that drives the show.
Having committed a crime to get into prison and break out with his innocent brother, Michael Scofield is one of the most interesting personalities on TV today. But what about the man behind the character?
Miller,35, is a hard guy to figure out. He does not come from a normal background and has never lived his life in a typical way.
Miller didn’t take direct path to fame and fortune. He graduated from Princeton University in 1995, not with a degree in theatre of film, but in English. He didn’t even act when he was in college. His only performance experience was in his university’s singing group. Yet , at graduation Miller still decided to make the move to Hollywood.
Miller has always been different. Although he is American, he was in Britain when his father was studying there. His family background is also a special mix of cultures. “My father is black and my mother is white. That means I have always been caught in the middle. I could be either one, which can make you feel out of place,” Miller says.
Following his unusual path, Miller did not start trying out for films and TV shows when he
first went to Hollywood. Instead, he worked as a lowly production assistant. Not what you would expect from a Princeton graduate. However, it all paid off for Miller in the end.
In 2002, Miller played a role in the drama Dinotopia(《恐龙帝国》). He starred as a thoughtful and shy man. Producers remembered his performance when they were casting Prison Break two years later. With a golden globe nomination(提名)and another season of Prison Break on his resume, Miller seems ready to take over all of Hollywood.
1.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.Michael Scofield in Prison Break .
B.Hollywood’s recent big hit—Prison Break.
C.Miller’s unusual path to fame and fortune.
D.The man who will take over all of the world.
2.The writer thinks “Miller is a hard guy to figure out” because .
A.it’s difficult to tell him from others
B.he is a shy man and hard to cooperate with
C.he always has ideas hard for people to understand
D.his family background and life experience are very special
3.Which is the closest in meaning to the underlined sentence “it all paid off for Miller in the end”?
A.Miller put a lot of extra work for his final success.
B.Miller gained fame and fortune at last with his first film.
C.Miller finally succeeded even if he has been in low position.
D.Miller managed to pay off his debts with his small income in the end.
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE about Miller?
A.He is chosen to play the Michael Scofield due to his interesting personality.
B.His performance in Dinotopia makes some contributions to his success.
C.He has the same experience with the character Michael Scofield.
D.He is angry about his being born into a mixed-cultural family.
There’s been a lot of talk about white-and-blue collar workers, and you may have even heard of gold collar workers, but lately a new color of collar is making its way into China’s urban vernacular(土话)—green. Green collars say no when work is life and life is work. They choose to get out of the fast lane(车道), and explore new ways of living “green”.
Living green doesn’t mean someone is working as an environmentalist, biologist or scientist. Instead it is more of a lifestyle choice. A typical green collar is well educated like a white-collar but physically tough like a blue-collar, likely born in the 70s or 80s of the last century and living in one of China’s big cities, with a monthly income well above 5,000 yuan (about US $700).
The life of a green collar may go something like this; Turn off the mobile phone after work, eat only healthy food rich in vitamins, go on hikes every weekend, and like to help the underprivileged.
Green collars even have their own club. In Beijing, the Green Collar Club is for people who share a “be happy, healthy and helpful” spirit. The club often holds charity parties and uses the donations for environmental protection and poverty relief(摆脱贫困)projects in China.
“They are successful in their careers, but do not miss the pleasures in life. They have a lot of money, but do not fall slave to it.” said Zuo Shiguang, one of the founding members of the club.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A.Differences between white-and-blue collars and green collars.
B.The increasing awareness of environmental protection.
C.New trends of life in China’s big cities.
D.The lifestyle of green collars.
2.Green collars will after work.
A.prefer to be left alone
B.have fun with old friends
C.think nothing about work and more
D.do a lot of extra work at home
3.What ’s Zuo Shiguang’s attitude towards green collars?
A.Appreciative. B.Doubtful. C.Negative. D.Neutral.
4.The underlined part “the underprivileged” probably refers to those who are .
A.in heavy polluted areas B.in faraway places
C.in a poor state of education D.in unfavourable conditions
One day at the day care centre(日间托儿所)I watched a mother try to pick up her daughter. The girl wanted to go to McDonald’s. The mother replied, “Susie, not tonight. Maybe we can go tomorrow.”. Susie 16 dropped to the floor, kicking and screaming. “I want to …”
Her mother tried to 17 Susie’s tantrum(发脾气). Finally her mother 18 . I was surprised that we could have almost anything we wanted by throwing a tantrum.
That day my mother 19 me up early because we were going to a department to do the shopping for 20 Day. I was excited to see a toy telephone. Looking lovingly 21 at my mother, I asked, “Can I have that telephone?”
She replied, “Baby, not now, but 22 you are a good girl, maybe Santa Clause will 23 you.” “But Mama, I want that telephone right now,” I said. My mother’s eyes 24 and her hand tightened(紧握)on mine. “Becky, you 25 have that telephone today, and if you 26 you can have a spanking(打屁股).”
We were standing in the long 27 ,and I knew from my experience that it was now or 28 . So I lay down on the ground and began screaming, “I want that telephone.” Tired Christmas 29 looked as my mother calmly said, “Becky, you’d better get up by the 30 of three or else.” “One…Two…Three.” But I was 31 in full tantrum. Then she lay down beside me on the 32
and began screaming, “I want a new car, I want some jewellery, I want…”
33 , I stood up. “Mama, stop, Mama, get up,” I tearfully 34 .
She stood up. The others waiting began to laugh. The next thirty minutes was complete 35 for me. Then one parent said to me with a smile, “I bet you’ll never try that again”.
1. A.heavily B.immediately C.directly D.hopelessly
2. A.cover B.free C.resist D.stop
3. A.gave in B.gave off C.gave out D.gave up
4. A.carried B.picked C.held D.sent
5. A.Mother’s B.Children’s C.Christmas D.National
6. A.down B.up C.over D.out
7. A.if B.unless C.until D.while
8. A.praise B.believe C.love D.help
9. A.opened B.closed C.narrowed D.shone
10. A.won’t B.daren’t C.mustn’t D.can’t
11. A.lie B.risk C.scream D.steal
12. A.line B.street C.row D.passage
13. A.never B.ever C.later D.then
14. A.managers B.sellers C.families D.shoppers
15. A.noise B.count C.voice D.word
16. A.again B.even C.still D.more
17. A.bench B.mat C.counter D.floor
18. A.Frightened B.Satisfied C.Embarrassed D.Amused
19. A.begged B.resigned C.explained D.promised
20. A.luck B.discomfort C.complaint D.anger
Having been in hospital for two months, he was going to catch up with his classmates.
A.it was no way B.it was no point
C.there was no way D.there was no point
No one could their tears while watching the moving performances.
A.take back B.put back C.draw back D.hold back