A recent study led by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has found a clear link between the color of a taxi and its accident rate. An analysis of 36 months of detailed taxi, driver and accident data from two fleets of yellow and blue taxis in Singapore suggested that yellow taxis have fewer accidents than blue taxis. The higher visibility (能见度) of yellow makes it less difficult for drivers to avoid getting into accidents with yellow taxis, leading to a lower accident rate.
The study was led by Prof Ho. To test whether there was a relationship between the color of a taxi and the number of accidents the taxi had, the research team analysed data collected by the largest taxi company in Singapore. The researchers found that yellow taxis have about 6. 1 fewer accidents per 1,000 taxis per month.
They also studied the economic effect of changing the color of the entire fleet of taxis to yellow. The Singapore taxi company involved in the study owns about 16,700 taxis in a ratio(比例) of one yellow to three blue taxis. If a commercial decision is made to switch from blue to yellow taxis, 76.6 fewer accidents will occur per month or 917 fewer accidents per year.
Assuming an average repair cost of $1,000 per car and a downtime of six days, the color of all taxis to yellow could produce an annual saving of $ 2 million.
“We are eager to continue to validate (证实) the findings of our study by looking at the use of yellow in other types of public transport, such as school buses. For example, we hope to compare the accident rates of yellow school buses against those of other colors to find out if yellow is indeed a safer color for school buses. Besides, we’re also interested to look at private-hire vehicles and do a comparison of the accident rates of vehicles that are of different colors.” Explained Prof Ho.
1.Why do yellow taxis result in fewer accidents?
A. Because yellow can be seen more easily.
B. Because yellow signals a warning of danger.
C. Because drivers tend to be more careful in yellow taxis.
D. Because people act more quickly in yellow surroundings.
2.What’s Prof Ho’s study based on?
A. Physical risks taxi passengers experience.
B. The economic effect of changing taxi color.
C. Data from Singapore’s largest taxi company.
D. Personal reports from taxi drivers worldwide.
3.What do Prof Ho’s words in the last paragraph suggest?
A. School buses should be painted yellow.
B. Their findings are worth popularizing.
C. Their study will be furthered.
D. Yellow should be widely used in public transport.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Caution: yellow taxis ahead B. Safer to ride in yellow taxis
C. Why are yellow taxis preferred? D. How can colors help prevent accidents?
Many shopping malls now have special areas that offer shoppers their first chance to experience “VR technology”. You may have entered one out of curiosity, or you may think it is just another piece of useless technology. Whatever your opinion, VR, or virtual (虚拟的) reality, is going to become a big part of our lives very soon.
2016 saw the introduction of many fancy products in the world of VR, including
Microsoft’s HoloLens and Samsung’s Gear VR. All of them offer an exciting look at the new realities and opportunities that VR brings. These, however, are the early days of a technology that is expected to go from strength to strength. And 2017 looks like it is going to be the year in which VR technology really takes off.
For a start, using VR will become more normal in 2017. Microsoft and Intel have already discussed their plans for simpler and less expensive VR headsets.
“The idea of VR will stop being a sci-fi (science-fiction) idea, and instead it will turn into an industry of real products used as ways to show off imagination.” Said Andrew, a designer at US VR Company, Survios. It is also expected that VR products will play a part in more common and real-life fields like fashion and film. For example, to enjoy the atmosphere and energy of the front row experience at a fashion show, fans will no longer have to go along in the flesh. Instead people will be able to enjoy the experience by just wearing a VR headset at home.
You can also expect VR mirrors and fitting-rooms sooner rather than later.”This is an especially good opportunity for brands looking to offer very personalized experiences.” Said Roy De Young from US-based marketing agency, PMX.
As time goes on, there will be less discussion about whether people will accept VR technology. It will simply be a discussion of when.
1.Why do many shopping malls have areas for VR experiences?
A. To collect shoppers’opinions.
B. To meet the demands of shoppers.
C. To introduce the new technology to shoppers.
D. To entertain shoppers with new technology.
2.What does the underlined phrase “in the flesh” mean?
A. In time B. In person
C. In line D. In order
3.What can we know about VR products from the passage?
A. They are not expensive at present.
B. They will meet more personal demands.
C. They are being used almost everywhere.
D. They won’t be accepted for many years.
4.What may be the best title for the passage?
A. VR Meets Our Life Goal B. VR Mirrors Are Coming
C. VR Takes over Fashion D. VR Is Becoming Real
Although being famous might sound like a dream coming true, today’s stars, feeling like zoo animals, face pressures that few of us can imagine. They are at the center of much of the world’s attention. Paparazzi (狗仔队) camp outside their homes, cameras ready. Tabloids (小报) publish thrilling stories about their personal lives. Just imagine not being able to do anything without being photographed or interrupted for a signature!
According to psychologist Christina Villareal, celebrities—famous people—worry constantly about their public appearance. Eventually, they start to lose track of who they really are, seeing themselves the way their fans imagine them, not as the persons they were before everyone knew their names. “Over time,” Villareal says, “they feel separated and alone.”
The phenomenon of tracking celebrities has been around for ages. In the 4th century B.C. , painters followed Alexander the Great into battle, hoping to picture his victories for his admirers. When Charles Dickens visited America in the 19th century, his sold-out readings attracted thousands of fans, leading him to complain (抱怨) about his lack of privacy. Tabloids of the 1920s and 1930s ran articles about film-stars in much the same way that modern tabloids and websites do.
Being a public figure today, however, is a lot more difficult than it used to be. Superstars cannot move about without worrying about photographers with modern cameras. When they say soomething silly or do something ridiculous, there is always the Internet to spread the news in minutes and keep their “story” alive forever.
If fame is so troublesome, why aren’t all celebrities running away from it? The answer is that there are still ways to deal with it. Some stars stay calm by surrounding themselves with trusted friends and family or by escaping to remote places away from big cities. They focus not on how famous the are but on what they love to do or whatever made them famous in the first place.
Sometimes a few celebrities can get a little justice. Still, even stars who enjoy full justice often complain about how hard their lives are. They are tired of being famous already.
1.It can be learned from the passage that stars today________.
A. can no longer have their privacy protected
B. are often misunderstood by the public
C. spend too much on their public appearance
D. care little about how they have come into fame
2.What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?
A. Great heroes of the past were generally admired.
B. The problem faced by celebrities has a long history.
C. Well-known actors are usually targets of tabloids.
D. Works of popular writers often have a lot of readers.
3.What makes it much harder to be a celebrity today?
A. Huge population of fans. B. Inadequate social recognition.
C. Lack of favorable chances. D. Availability of modern media.
4.What is the author’s attitude toward modern celebrity?
A. Sincere. B. Skeptical.
C. Sympathetic. D. Disapproving.
Waiting For You
Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy Street Cambridge MA
(1) Art Study Center Open Hours
Through December 21, the Art Study Center will hold special open hours on Mondays, from 1 pm to 4 pm. The Art Study Center is located on Level 4. Please be prepared to present a photo ID. The workers will charge you 25 cents for access. Level 4 will check bags, coats, umbrellas, and any food or drink. Do remember to put things in the lockers on Level 1.
(2) Student Guide Tour
These tours, designed and led by Harvard students from a range of scientific groups, focus on animals and plant life. They provide visitors a unique view into learning about creatures. Please meet in the Calderwood Courtyard, in front of the digital screens between the shop and the admissions desk. Free with museums admission. Tours are limited to 15 people; no registration required. Tours are offered every Tuesday and Friday at 2 pm, and every Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm. Note that there will be no tours on Friday, November 27 or Saturday, November 28, because of the Thanks-giving break.
(3) Art Study Center
The public is welcome to visit the museums’ Art Study Center. However, you need to show the tickets. The tickets’ details:
$ 15 Adults
$ 13 Seniors (65+)
$ 10 Non-Harvard students (18+)
Free Harvard faculty, students, and staff (plus one guest)
Free Youth under 18
Free Cambridge residents (proof of residency required)
1.What should the visitors know about the activities?
A. Any adult needs a $15 ticket to visit the Art Study Center.
B. Any Harvard staff can visit the Art Study Center with a friend for free.
C. Visitors can join the Student Guide Tour on Sunday mornings.
D. A group of 20 visitors should gather together to join the Student Guide Tour.
2.Which information can be found in the text?
A. One can take hotdogs to Level 4.
B. The Art Study Center will hold special tours on Tuesday and Friday at 2 pm.
C. The Art Study Center needs registration.
D. No ticket is required for the Student Guide Tour.
3.The Student Guide Tour might be led by students good at___________.
A. art B. literature
C. science D. politics
针对部分学生乱花钱的现象，你们班级召开了“节省用钱”的主题班会。假设你是班长，请在结束时对班会内容进行总结，要点如下：
1．省钱的重要性；
2．省钱的建议；
3．提出倡议。
注意：1.短文的开头已给出，但不计入总词数;
2.词数120左右；
3.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
We have just had a class meeting on the topic— saving money.
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有十处语言错误，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（∧），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，并在其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。
As is well﹣known that birds are our friends. However, the large number of birds are killed for food every year, that really causes more and more people to be worried. The other day I was walking in the woods while a shot was heard．Heard the shot，the birds in the trees flew in all directions．A bird was badly injured and looked sadly．Finding the bird injured，so I decided to take them home．At home I take good care of it．When it recovered，I returned it to the woods．I hope something should done to protect birds from being killed．
