You’ve got your fancy new suitcase and you’re ready to take it with you on your travels across the globe.
You get to the airport, quickly moving through the crowds on the uneven pavement, rushing to check in. Then, your heart sinks when you realize your new suitcase has got a serious case of the wobbles (摇晃).
Why does this happen?
Scientists from the Universite Paris-Diderot in France investigated this matter and published their findings in the science journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A. They also suggested some solutions to overcome this modern-day problem.
To learn more about the issue, they put a suitcase on a treadmill (跑步机) and observed what happened.
It was soon noted that the “wobble” was actually a result of repeated actions that caused the suitcase to sway from side to side. They discovered that if one of the wheels encountered an obstacle such as a small bump, it jumped into the air for just a moment and then banged back down to the ground. That second action caused the opposite wheel to lift off the ground and then to bang back down, causing the first to lift again and so on. This swaying increased as the luggage was pulled along.
“The suitcase is a fun way to tackle the problem, but the study would be the same for any trolley with two wheels or blades (桨叶),” Sylvain Courrech du Pont, lead author of the study, told BBC News. “So it will be the same for a caravan (大篷车) or maybe also for airplanes.”
Instead of slowing down when we see a rocky part of the path, the scientists recommended doing the exact opposite and speeding up. This is because going faster gives the wheels less time to rise and fall, preventing the case from swaying. They also said that reducing the angle of the suitcase by lowering its handle to the ground would help keep it steady.
“These findings could help researchers simulate and design better rolling suitcases and other pulled trolleys, such as towed trailers ,” Courrech du Pont added.
With these masterminds (智者) working on perfecting our suitcase problems, wobbly luggage may soon be a thing of history, leaving us to enjoy our travels.
1.The main purpose of the first two paragraphs is to ______.
A. show the importance of a good wheeled suitcase for travel
B. lead up to the wobbling problem of wheeled suitcases
C. describe how unstable wheeled suitcases can be
D. show that wobbling can cause wheeled suitcases to stop working
2.According to the scientists, when a suitcase meets with an obstacle, ______.
A. the swaying will stop for a moment
B. its two wheels will jump into the air at the same time
C. even a small obstacle can lead to a serious damage
D. there is a series of repeated actions leading to the swaying
3.What can be done to keep a suitcase steady on an uneven path according to the text?
A. Slow down. B. Pull the suitcase at a faster speed.
C. Raise the handle of the suitcase. D. Increase the angle of the suitcase.
4.According to the article, the findings could ______.
A. help improve the design of suitcases
B. solve the wobble of suitcases completely
C. be helpful in the advancement of treadmills
D. be used to develop blades for boats
Not all of George H.W. Bush’s extended family members were invited to his Washington D.C. memorial service.
Nearly a week after many paid their respects at the Washington National Cathedral, Sharon Bush, who was married to the 41st president’s son Neil from 1980 to 2003, told Page Six that she was allegedly unable to attend the funeral after she was told by her ex-husband’s secretary that there were not enough seats.
“I was going to take the train down. I wanted to pay my respects. But I paid my respects by raising three wonderful children during a 23-year marriage,” Sharon told the Outlet.
Neil and Sharon share three children: son Pierce and daughters Ashley and Lauren Bush Lauren, who gave a reading at the funeral, where the father of three attended with his second wife Maria Andrews, whom he wed in 2004.
While the D.C. memorial service was taking place, Sharon recalled having lunch with Lady Gaga’s mother Cynthia Germanotta and publishing heiress Anne Hearst.
Though she was snubbed from the funeral, Sharon shared photos on Instagram to honor her former father-in-law. “My girls Lauren and Ashley read scriptures at their grandfather’s funeral. I feel so proud of them. May he RIP.” The mother of three captioned a photo of Lauren and Ashley.
“May he RIP,” Sharon also posted on Instagram, speaking of their children’s upbringing. Sharon credited herself for raising them to be charitable and public servants. “I taught them everything they know about ‘points of light’ by taking them to soup kitchens and homeless shelters from the time they were 4 years old. I didn’t want them spoiled,” she said, referencing the public service nonprofit — Points of Light, for which her ex-husband serves as chairman of the board of directors. “I did this. Neil was never around. He was always traveling,” Sharon added.
1.Why was Sharon not invited to George H.W. Bush’s funeral?
A. Because she did not intend to attend.
B. Because she was not Neil’s current wife.
C. Because the cathedral can’t hold so many people.
D. Because she was busy with her children’s upbringing.
2.How did Sharon mourn for the passing away of her former father-in-law?
A. Through media interviews. B. By posting on a social medium.
C. By raising three grandchildren. D. By looking back on lunching with him.
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Sharon’s marriage lasted 30 years.
B. Neil and Sharon share three daughters.
C. Points of Light is a profit-making company.
D. Sharon’s girls attended their grandfather’s funeral.
4.What is Sharon’s attitude towards Neil’s performance of bringing up children?
A. Unconcerned. B. Appreciative.
C. Dissatisfied. D. Positive.
When Huang Lizhi took her first class in African sociology at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa in February, her professor asked her and her classmates what impresses them most when it comes to Africa.
Unexpectedly, Huang, 31, found that words like “poverty” and “safari” – negative words that were often associated with the continent in media reports – were the kind of terms her African classmates didn’t want to hear. Instead, they preferred to hear the question answered in this way: “Africa is the cradle of humankind” and “Africans are passionate and generous”.
Apparently, there are some misunderstandings between us. It’s true that with incidents like the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa and the emergence (出现) of pirates off the coast of Somalia hitting the news, it’s easy for us to keep forgetting that Africa has one of the world’s oldest civilizations – Egypt, born by the world’s longest river, the Nile. The proof is in the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza, which are both popular among tourists. And the tombs of ancient Egypt have also become endless sources for the literature and film industries.
When it comes to the natural environment of Africa, our misunderstandings are only bigger. But the truth is that instead of being extremely hot all year and covered by desert, the continent has large areas of savannas (稀树草原) where lions, giraffes and zebras live, the snowcapped Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain in Africa – and even thick forest on the island of Madagascar.These misunderstandings are one of the reasons why the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was held on Sept 3 and 4 – to understand each other better.
Indeed, only by visiting Africa herself did Huang see the convenient living conditions, the amazing natural beauty and the friendly people.In her eyes, her classmates were as hopeful about the future of their own countries as they were about Africa as a whole, and they were quick to demonstrate both their strong will and activity. “At that moment, I knew exactly what they wanted – they wanted their culture to be respected.”
1.Which of the following best explains “cradle ” underlined in paragraph 2?
A. A small bed for babies.
B. A basket to hold something.
C. A place for people to relax themselves.
D. A place where something important began.
2.What can we infer about Africa according to the passage ?
A. It is very hot all the year round. B. It’s not a safe continent to live in
C. It’s different from what we imagine. D. It is bound to have a bright future
3.Which of the following would Huang agree with ?
A. To see is to believe B. Think twice before you do
C. A miss is as good as a mile D. Don’t judge a person by his appearance
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Valuing a Culture. B. Understanding Africa.
C. Paying a Visit to Africa. D. Discovering a Continent.
Let’s catch a glimpse of the latest inventions this year.
Parallels lets you use desktop apps on your phone
You'd think most applications would have created a mobile app by now — but many companies still use desktop apps exclusively. Now Parallels Access lets you access them on your smartphone. All you need to do is download the app, then connect Parallels' Applification™ to your computer, so you can access important files and other apps with a single click. You can easily use your apps in full-screen mode, using intuitive(直观的) touch controls to work faster than before.
Usually,Parallels Access is $19.99, but you can get it now for $9.99.
Take your lighting to the next level with this smart switch
You probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your home’s lighting, but it’s important: the way that you control your lighting affects the environment (and your electric bill).
This WiFi wall switch is controlled via a companion app on your smartphone, so you can control connected lights or ceiling fans from anywhere.
Usually, the Meross WiFi Wall Light Switch costs $45.99, but right now it’s on sale for $39.99 .
Shoot beautifully clear videos with this smartphone gimbal
If you're interested in shooting professional-quality videos and photos, you don't have to spend a fortune to take a beautifully composed shot: just use this Rigiet Smartphone Gimbal instead.
A gimbal is a support for your camera (in this case, your smartphone) that allows it to pivot（移动）, and automatically detect and adjust to the position that you want to film in. Unlike any other camera hardware you might own, this one comes with its own accompanying app.
Usually, this Rigiet Smartphone Gimbal is $269, but you can get it now for $109.99.
1.What do these products have in common?
A. They save us energy.
B. They make us work faster than before.
C. They make our life easier and more comfortable.
D. We have to download their apps before they are used.
2.Which product gives you the best discount?
A. The Rigiet Smartphone Gimbal. B. The Meross WiFi Wall Light Switch.
C. .The Parallels Access. D. The Desktop Apps.
3.In which section can we see the article in a newspaper?
A. Education. B. Science.
C. Society. D. Culture.
假如你是高三学生李华，面对学习方面的挑战，你们班很多同学感到压力很大。针对以上情况，为了帮助大家摆脱烦恼，英语课上，老师让同学们先用英语进行讨论，然后用英语写一篇发言稿。
发言要点如下: 1.你的看法；
2.你的建议；
3.你的倡议。
注意:1.词数:100左右，发言稿的第一句已给出，不记入总词汇；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Nowadays, we students feel stressed facing challenges from studies.
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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10 处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。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(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下画一横线，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l1处起)不计分。
My school life in the Britain is significantly different. The school day is nearly 5.5 hours short than that in China. Students there are friendly and focus their studies. With his help, I have adapted to the life soon and make lots of new friends. I feel so luckily to be able to participate in class discussion, that I've learn a lot about local culture. I enjoy the report for the teachers and teachers and the country. Besides I have learnt many skill about completing my projects. My experience is amazed and enjoyable because of my wonderful host family, my friends or the teachers.
