Google, the Internet search and mapping company, has developed a car that can steer without a driver.
Sometimes the reality is stranger than science fiction: Google is road-testing cars that steer, stop and start without a human driver. The goal is to “help prevent traffic accidents, free up people’s time and reduce carbon emissions.” says Sebastian Thrun, who is the project leader for the driverless car, or Carbot.
By developing the car and the software that drives it, Google wants to change how people get from place to p1ace. Eric Schmidt, one of the company’s top officials, said, “Your car should drive itself. It just makes sense.”
So far, the driverless autos have gone about 140,000 miles on California roads without people taking over the driving. Many of the roads are very busy or full of curves that challenge human drivers. The autos’ software makes it possible to know speed limits, traffic patterns and road maps. The vehicles use radar, lasers and video cameras to find other cars and avoid people crossing streets.
There has only been one accident during the testing. And in that case, the Carbot was hit from behind by a human driver when Goog1e’s car was stopped at a red light. Engineers say the driverless cars are safer than autos with people behind the wheel because the computers react much more quickly than humans.
The Carbot is still in very early testing stages. Experts agree that it will be years before you will be able to buy one. But it is likely that one day you will be sitting in the driver’s seat of a driverless car. When the auto was first invented it was called a “horseless carriage”. Now it seems that it is time for the “driverless carriage” to be part of our 1ives.
1.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. An auto revolution is on its way.
B. Google has developed a driverless car.
C. The Carbot has passed its early testing stages.
D. Science fiction has turned into reality.
2.The driverless car is safer than an auto with people because _______.
A. it uses radar, lasers and video cameras
B. it knows speed limits, traffic patterns and road maps
C. the computer has a better sense of direction than drivers
D. the software responds to emergencies faster than a human driver
3.The advantage of the Carbot is that _______.
A. it can drive all by itself
B. it can avoid any traffic accident
C. it doesn’t pollute the environment
D. it is the most fashionable car nowadays
4.70. The author’s attitude towards the Carbot is _______.
A. unfriendly B. desperate C. critical D. optimistic
Market analysts in the United States have recently been quoted as saying that the biggest threat to the luxury (奢侈品) industry in the US is the tech industry. This is according to an article by fellow journalist Ashley Lutz. Her suggestion is sound. The main idea of her article is that products from Tiffany & Co. find their biggest competition not from other luxury brands but from companies like Apple. Lutz points out that luxury products are often only for “show,” while the attraction behind tech products is functionality.
You find few people in the United States today willing to purchase luxury goods at full price. It didn’t use to be that way. Luxury goods used to be actually exclusive. That meant you needed to travel to the right store to purchase them, and you didn’t even have the option of getting a deal.
Today, no one wants to pay full price for luxury goods. People have the unfortunate belief that fakes (赝品) somehow are equal to originals, and if you can’t get a deal on eBay, Amazon, or in an outlet store, purchasing a luxury product probably isn’t worth it. Luxury brands struggle to remain high-end (高档的) images despite the reality that the American consumer is motivated much more by discounts than they are by brand names or image.
Yet people stand in line to pay full price for a new product from Apple and crowds gather to hear about a new smart phone. While electronics are updating every day, people are purchasing technology at full prices much more than they are purchasing luxury goods. What are high-tech makers doing right that luxury makers are pitifully failing at?
Carefully looking at the situation, it would appear as if the Internet didn’t hurt the luxury industry, expectation from the consumers did. What people want these days more than anything is stuff that does something. They want cars that drive, shoes that are comfortable, games that are fun to play, screens that are beautiful to look at, tools that are useful, and entertainment that is entertaining. Little of that fits into what the luxury industry has typically offered with its status, image, and fine materials. The sad reality is that luxury products aren’t that luxury any more.
1.What does this passage mainly talk about?
A. Nobody likes luxury goods any more.
B. Luxury goods are of poor quality nowadays.
C. Tech products become the new “luxury goods”.
D. Iphones have taken the place of luxury products.
2.The underlined word “exclusive” in paragraph 2 means _______.
A. unique and with no bargain B. low in price
C. hard to find D. easy to sell
3.From paragraph 3 we can know that _______.
A. people have found that some luxury goods are fakes
B. people can buy luxury goods at a low price on eBay
C. luxury brands will give up high-end images
D. consumers prefer brand names to discounts
4.What do people pay most attention to nowadays?
A. The Internet service. B. The images of luxuries.
C. The function of products. D. The expectation from the consumers.
I stopped at a grocery store the other day because I was about to go on a long drive and I wanted to buy my favorite beverage for the trip. It wasn’t the store I normally go to, just one I passed along the way.
As I walked up to the entrance, I noticed a man and a boy who was about 10 or 12 years old standing at the front of the store. Customers walked past, as the man handed them half-sheets of white paper. I walked up to them with curiosity, wondering what cause they were representing. As I got closer, I saw that they had two carts starting to fill with groceries.
I said hello and the man greeted me and handed me one of the pieces of paper, explaining that they were collecting donations for the local food pantry. On the paper was a simple list of food items: peanut butter, noodles, pasta sauce, canned fruits and vegetables. It also included a short story about the boy and his efforts to collect food donations since the age of 8. I was really touched that someone so young would be so interested in helping others. I told him it was an awesome idea and that he should be proud of himself. He smiled.
Then, I went inside to get my drink. Unfortunately, the store didn’t have it in stock. But, I wasn’t upset, because by then I felt I had another mission. I went through the store, picking things from the list, then brought them back out to the boy and put them in the cart. I also gave the man the white sheet of paper back to reuse for another customer. They thanked me and offered me a treat (candy, I think) but I said to pass it on to someone else.
As I walked back to my car, the boy’s well-intentioned spirit stuck with me. How inspiring to encounter a young boy with a resolve to do good deeds, and the courage to act on it. It made my day!
1.What do we know from the passage?
A. The author wasn’t a regular customer to the store.
B. The store was owned by the man and the boy.
C. The store didn’t deal in drinks.
D. The author refused their treat because he didn’t need it.
2.What does the author mainly want to tell readers in paragraph 4?
A. He didn’t get his drink
B. He carried out another mission.
C. He got thanks and was offered a treat
D. He wasn’t upset though not getting his drink.
3.What’s the best title for the passage?
A. A Day for a Boy. B. A Young Boy’s Determination.
C. An Inspiring Boy. D. A Young Boy’s Groceries.
4.We can infer from the description of the author that the boy is _______.
A. noble-minded B. hard-working
C. well-educated D. open-minded
Museums in Texas
Depot Museum And Children’s Discovery Center
The museum is in the depot’s waiting room and office. The warehouse is a hands-on learning center. See the 1908 “Arnold Outhouse”, log cabin, doctor’s office, dogtrot cabin, oil derrick, cotton gin, print shop, and syrup mill.
Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri. and 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sat.
Admission charge.
Address: 514 N. High St. in the restored 1901 Missouri Pacific Railroad depot, Henderson
Phone: 903/657-4303
Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum
It is designed to preserve, collect, operate and interpret a collection of autos and auto transportation equipment. Library and archive collection available.
Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat. and 1–5 p.m. Sun.
Admission charge.
Address: 217 Laurel St., Texarkana
Phone: 903/938-9201
Jefferson Historical Society Museum
Find four floors of documents and antiques, including mementos of pioneer days, early steamboat commerce and antebellum society. See paintings and sculpture from the D.D. Feldman collection. It also has an outstanding doll collection.
Open 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. daily.
Admission charge.
Address: Old Federal Building, Austin and Market streets, Jefferson
Phone: 903/665-2775
The Woodlands Children’s Museum
The museum provides hands-on, interactive exhibits designed to immerse children and adults in play that stimulates curiosity and provides opportunities for learning in a nurturing environment.
Open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tue.–Sat. and noon–5 p.m. Sun.
Admission charge.
Address: 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, the Woodlands
Phone: 281/465-0955
1.What do the four museums have in common?
A. They all have a long history. B. They all charge for admission.
C. They all provide hands-on programmes. D. They are all in the same city.
2.If you are free on Sunday afternoons, you may visit the following museums except _______.
A. Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum
B. The Woodlands Children’s Museum
C. Jefferson Historical Society Museum
D. Depot Museum And Children’s Discovery Center
3.Which of the following is not true according to the advertisement?
A. Interactive exhibits are offered in the Woodlands Children’s Museum.
B. Dolls are on display in Depot Museum And Children’s Discovery Center.
C. Paintings and sculpture can be seen in Jefferson Historical Society Museum.
D. You can read and borrow books in Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum.
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
In the era of high-tech today, face-to-face conversation is dying.
The New York Times published an article recently that shows great 36 for the “death of conversation”. It 37 that while technology such as cell phones, e-mails, and Internet posting makes us feel more 38 than ever, they’re also driving us away from people around us.
Users get final connectivity 39 the price of 40 face-to-face conversation. Sherry Turkle, author of the article in The New York Times says people are 41 to a different way of being “alone together”.
Actually, 42 text messages or writing micro-blogs allows us to 43 thoughts. But bits and pieces of online cannot 44 a “real conversation.” Lan Guo, 19, a freshman English major from Changsha University, said that she would like to hear people’s tone of voice and see their faces in a conversation. “The give and take of 45 in a conversation sharpens our minds.” she said. She also mentions that 46 ourselves in mobile technology reduces our chance of starting conversations with strangers and 47 people.
Turkle mentioned the popular 48 of “I share, therefore I am.” among this generation. Liu Xuan, a young writer from Taiwan and psychology graduate from Harvard University, thinks it’s an attitude 49 by most young people. They are 50 busy creating or polishing their online persona (网络人格) that they forget how to live a 51 life.
However, experts remind us that it’s 52 to blame mobile technology. Chen Chen, a sociology expert at China Youth & Children Research Center, points out that 53 is still owners of tools who’re avoiding personal contact. We take advantage of these devices to hide ourselves from others. Texting messages or calling may be a(n) 54 to avoid contact with others, such as having eye contact. “Only by strengthening conversation can we understand each other. 55 throwing away the mobile phones is not a solution.” she said.
1.A. regret B. respect C. anger D. support
2.A. advises B. speaks C. suggests D. talks
3.A. received B. connected C. shared D. separated
4.A. with B. for C. in D. at
5.A. having B. risking C. sacrificing D. continuing
6.A. related B. committed C. limited D. accustomed
7.A. sending B. getting C. reading D. taking
8.A. change B. exchange C. explain D. develop
9.A. indicate B. replace C. cover D. involve
10.A. ideas B. letters C. chances D. gifts
11.A. imagining B. joining C. burying D. attaching
12.A. interviewing B. introducing C. recognizing D. meeting
13.A. feeling B. concept C. image D.truth
14.A. adapted B. confirmed C. handled D. adopted
15.A. so B. too C. very D. quite
16.A. real B. colorful C. daily D. meaningful
17.A. important B. necessary C. unfair D. uncomfortable
18.A. that B. this C. it D. one
19.A. problem B. excuse C. strategy D. explanation
20.A. Eventually B. Hardly C. Approximately D. Simply
It was in the dining hall _______ was located behind the teaching building _______ I met her for the first time.
A. where; that B. that; where C. which; that D. that; which
