Wouldn't it be wonderful to travel to a foreign country without having to worry about the headache of communicating in a different language?
In a recent Wall Street journal article, technology policy expert Alec Ross argued that, within a decade or so. We’ll be able to communicate with one another via small earpieces with built-in microphones. That's because technological progress is extremely rapid. It’s only a matter of time. Indeed, some parents are so convinced that this technology is imminent that they're wondering if their kids should even learn a second language.
It's true that an increase in the quantity and accuracy of the data loaded into computers will make them cleverer at translating "No es bueno dormir mucho" as "It's not good to sleep too much. " Replacing a word with its equivalent (同义词) in the target language is actually the "easy part of a translator's job". But even this seems to be a discouraging task for computers.
It’s so difficult for computers because translation doesn't-or shouldn’t-involve simply translating words, sentences or paragraphs. Rather, it’s about translating meaning. And in order to infer meaning from a specific expression, humans have to interpret a mass of information at the same time.
Think about all the related clues that go into understanding an expression: volume, gesture, situation, and even your culture. All are likely to convey as much meaning as the words you use.
Therefore, we should be very skeptical of a machine that is unable to interpret the world around us. If people from different cultures can offend each other without realizing it, how can we expect a machine to do better? Unless engineers actually find a way to breathe a soul into a computer, undoubtedly when it comes to conveying and interpreting meaning using a natural language, a machine will never fully take our place.
1.What does the underlined word "imminent" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Ready.B. Approaching.C. Helpful.D. Advanced.
2.Why is it hard for computers to replace a word with its equivalent?
A. Their data is not adequate enough.
B, The real meaning of words can vary.
C. Their accuracy needs big improvement.
D, A soul hasn't been breathed in them.
3.What view does the author hold about translation?
A. Proper translation can be tough for humans.
B. Slight distinctions matter little in translation.
C. Some machines will interpret our world properly.
D. Cultures deserve more attention than words used.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A. An Expert's Precise Prediction
B. The Complexity of Translation
C. Who Will Be a Better Translator
D. Will Language Barrier Actually Fall
I remember the first time I got on a horse. When I was a little boy aged two, my mom agreed to let me take a short ride and that was it! From then on, I drove my parents crazy Begging for a horse.
When I was four, I had Mutism, in which children stop speaking in certain social situations. I went days, weeks months without a sound at school. At most, I might quietly whisper to a friend. I suffered silently through school until I was ten when a psychologist had an idea. He asked me what I wanted more than anything else in the world. He explained I was going to be given an opportunity to work for that. And I was permitted to whisper the answer in my mother's ear, "A horse."
I was to get a pony, but I had to live up to my end of the bargain. I had a chart of weekly tasks I had to accomplish. I had to answer the phone five times per week, something I had never done before. I had to say one word to my teacher at school and the list went on. For a child with Mutism, saying one word to someone can be like climbing Mount Qomolangma. I did everything that was asked of me and the day came. His name was Sequoia, whom I fell in love with immediately. When I was in Sequoia's presence, I forgot all about my problems and felt strong and secure.
I am a fully participating member of society these days. My horses and I made it through a master’s degree. I may have made it otherwise, but I’m not sure. I feel I owe my life to the horses and I try to give it back to them every day. They have given me the best gift I could ever imagine, my life.
1.What was the situation like when the author was four?
A. He didn't say a word at all.
B. He learned how to ride a horse.
C. He found his classmates unfriendly.
D. He had difficulty in communicating.
2.What can we infer about the author from Paragraph 3?
A. He completed some tasks easily.
B. He pushed himself extremely hard.
C. He fell in love with Sequoia gradually.
D. He found the psychologist's idea ineffective.
3.What is the author's purpose in writing the text?
A. To share his unfortunate childhood.
B. To give tips on how to cure Mutism.
C. To show his deep gratefulness to horses.
D. To inspire kids struggling against Mutism.
Everyday Food
by Martha Stewart
No matter how busy you are, at the end of the day you want meals that are easy to prepare. And you want lots of choices and variations. You'll find all of that in this book:
250 simple recipes for delicious meals that bring freshness and nutrition.
Paperback, published by Random House,$16.79
Zeroes
by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti
New York Times bestselling author Scott Westerfeld teams up with Margo Lanagan and
Deborah Biancotti in the book about six teenagers with amazing abilities. These teenagers have powers that set them apart. They can do things ordinary people can't.
Paperback, published by Simon&Schuster,$12.99
Mrghty Jack
by Ben Hatke
Jaek dislikes summer. But he's got a good reason: summer is when his single mom takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his sister, Maddy. It's lots of responsibility, and it’s boring, too, because Maddy doesn’t talk. Ever. But one day, at the market, Maddy does talk to tell Jack to trade their mom's car for a box of mysterious seeds. It's the best mistake Jack has ever made.
Hardcover, published by First Second,$14.15
Only Daughter
by Anna Snoekstra
She's caught stealing. She’s homeless and on the run. But she happens to look the same as a girl who went missing a decade ago, Rebecca Winter. She assumes Rebecca’s identity, using it as a way out. Little does she know her new life as Rebecca is itself a prison and it looks like a killer might be after her.
Kindle edition, published by Harlequin Enterprises,$8.88
1.Who wrote a book to help you cook a meal?
A. Martha Stewart.
B. Anna Snoekstra.
C. Ben Hatke.
D. Scott Westerfeld.
2.How much should readers pay for a story about a boy's amazing experience?
A.$8.88B$12. 99C.$14. 15D.$16. 79
3.How is Zeroes different from the rest books?
A. It tells a story.
B. It's in paperback.
C. It's quite popular.
D. It's a co-written book.
4.What do we know about Only Daughter?
A. Its heroine enjoys her life on the run.
B. Its heroine lives with a false identity.
C. It provides different kinds of editions.
D. It is written by Harlequin Enterprises.
近年来，很多父母选择陪伴孩子读书学习，陪读已成为一种普遍现象。请你根据以下要点写一篇短文，内容应包括：
1．简要描述陪读现象；2．分析父母陪读的原因（2至3个）；3．发表你对此的看法。
注意：词数120词左右。
Should Our Parents Accompany Us in Studying at School?
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处，每处错误仅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（∧）,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。
I have planned an autumn outing for my class next week, and I’m writing to ask your permission.
First, the place where we’ve decided to visit — the Forest Park is not far away from the city. We can take a bus and ride a bike to get there. Second, the trip would provide us with a great opportunity to get close to the nature. Third, we need to spare some time to take some physical exercises. Some teachers as well as Mr Wang is going to join us to make sure of our safe.
We are all looking forward to receive your permission. We will appreciate you if you can kindly give us an immediate reply.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
My interest in Chinese food started years ago, when I was a young reporter for the Washington Post. Our office wasn’t far from Chinatown, 1. I found some very good Chinese restaurants.
That was the first time that I 2. (notice) the fresh taste of the meat and vegetables of Chinese food. When I learned more about the food, I began to understand why 3. has this special feature.
Many years ago, China had 4. energy crisis because it lost much of its wood due to over population and poor management of its forests. This 5. (lose) was very bad for the country, of course, but it turned out to be very good for the food. Wood became very expensive and hard to get, so the Chinese had to either find a substitute for their 6. (value) wood, or learn how to use it better. There weren’t any substitutes so people found ways to economize.
In order to economize in cooking, they had to use very little wood. So they started cutting their meat and vegetables 7. small pieces before they put them in the hot oil. That way, the food cooked 8. (fast) and they saved more fuel. The food 9. (prepare) in this way kept its fresh flavor — and it’s this flavor 10. attracts people from other countries to the art of Chinese cooking.
