Japan's biggest airline is betting that the future of travel isn't traveling at all. For the last month, a married couple has been interacting with a robot—called an Avatar—that's controlled by their daughter hundreds of miles away. Made by ANA Holdings Inc., it looks like a vacuum cleaner with an iPad attached. But the screen displays the daughter's face as they chat, and its wheels let her move about the house as though she's really there.
“Virtual travel” is nothing new,of course.Storytellers, travel writers and artists have been stimulating the senses of armchair tourists for centuries. It's only in recent decades that frequent, safe travel has become available to the non- wealthy.
Yet even as the world's middle classes climb out of the armchair and into economy-class seat, there are signs of a post-travel society emerging. Concerns about environmental sustainability cause loss to airlines which release much carbon. And the aging of abundant societies is both restricting physical travel and creating demand for alternative ways to experience the world. For the travel industry, virtual reality offers an attractive response to these trends.
Of course, new technologies encourage far-out claims. ANA doesn't plan to start selling Avatars until next year. Profits, too, will probably be difficult to make: By one estimate, the global market for this kind of technology will be worth only about $300 million by 2023. By contrast, ANA's traditional travel business brought in more than $19 billion last year.
But if the business value for virtual vacations is still weak, the market for technologies that bridge physical distances between families and coworkers seems likely to only expand. ANA's robots may not replace its airplanes any time soon, but they ll almost certainly be a part of travel's high-tech future.
1.Why does the author use the example of a couple interacting with a robot?
A.To show the Japanese are crazy about travel.
B.To indicate virtual travel begins to enter people's real life.
C.To show the couple are very enthusiastic over robots.
D.To express the close relationship between the couple and their daughter.
2.Which of the following is the possible reason for virtual travel's appearance?
A.Storytellers, travel writers and artists have been using it for centuries.
B.Frequent and safe travel has become available to the ordinary people.
C.People are worried about the air pollution caused by airlines.
D.More and more people lose interest in travel.
3.What can we learn about Avatars from the last two paragraphs?
A.They will be put on the market soon.
B.They will bring ANA a lot of money,
C.They will replace ANA's airplanes soon.
D.They are almost unavoidable in travel's future.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Your Next Travel May Be Virtual
B.Easy Travel in the Future
C.Virtual Travel Benefits
D.Air Travel Disappearing
In life，once on a path，we tend to follow it，for better or worse.What's sad is that even if it's the latter，we often accept it anyway because we are so used to the way things are that wed don't even recognize that they could be different This is a phenomenon psychologist call functional fixedness.
This classic experiment will give you an idea of how it works and a sense of whether you may have fallen into the same trap: People are given a box of tacks (大头钉) and some matches and asked to find a way to attach a candle to a wall so that it burns properly.
Typically, the subjects try tacking the candle to the wall or lighting it to fix it with melted wax. The psychologists had, of course, arranged it so that neither of these obvious approaches would work. The tacks are too short, and the paraffin (石蜡) doesn't stick to the wall. So how can you complete the task? The successful technique is to use the tack box as a candle-holder. You empty it, tack it to the wall. and stand the candle inside it. To think of that, you have to look beyond the box's usual role as a receptacle just for tacks and re-imagine it serving an entirely new purpose. That is difficult because we all suffer to one degree or another from functional fixedness.
The inability to think in new ways affects people in every corner of society. The political theorist Hannah Arendt coined the phrase“frozen thoughts”to describe deeply held ideas that we no longer question but should. In Arendt's eyes, the self- content reliance on such accepted “truths”also made people blind to ideas that didn't fit their worldview, even when there was plenty of evidence for them.
Frozen thinking has nothing to do with intelligence, she said,“It can be found in highly intelligent people.”
1.What does the underlined word“it”in paragraph 2 refer to?
A.The experiment. B.Functional fixedness.
C.The path. D.The thinking.
2.Which way is hard to think of to complete the task?
A.Tacking the candle to the wall.
B.Fixing the candle with melted wax.
C.Using the tack box as a candle-holder.
D.Lighting the candle to stand it.
3.Which of the following statements will Hannah Arendt agree with?
A.People should question.
B.We should be used to the way things are.
C.People shouldn't accept the idea that doesn't fit their worldview.
D.The smarter people are，the more open to the new things they are.
4.What's the passage mainly about?
A.An interesting experiment
B.A psychological phenomenon.
C.A theory to be proved.
D.The opinion of Hannah Arendt.
Movie theaters around the world have closed during the coronations outbreak. Fortunately, there's never been a better time to catch up on classic old movies. Below, read our picks for best travel movies:
‘Thelma and Louise'(1991)
“Thelma and Louise,” is a tale of female friendship, and the screen is dominated by the film's two lead females. The pals from small-town Arkansas hit the road on a weekend quest in search of fun and freedom from their jobs and their boredom.
Filmed in California and Utah, with the best Grand Canyon scenes filmed south of Dead Horse Point State Park, “Thelma and Louise”is a good option if you have never been out West or if you have and eager to return.
‘Grand Budapest Hotel' (2014)
It's one of the most satisfying films of director Wes Anderson all works. Set in a luxury ski resort in the fictional East European Republic of Zubrowka in the 1930s, the plot is supported by a murder investigation filled with stolen art, prison escapes and a secret concierge (看门人) society.
Though the hotel doesn't actually exist, much of the film was shot in the beautiful German town of Goerlitz, famed for its medieval streets.
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'(200)
When Harry Potter runs through a column at King's Cross railway station in London to get to Platform 9 3/4, we know it isn't real. And yet we want to visit.
The movie's locations are inspired by real places, as graduates of English private schools will tell you: rushing down narrow old streets to visit tea houses and sandwich shops, discovering books that are hundreds of years old.
‘The Trip to Italy' (2014)
In this film, you're on an extraordinary road trip along with two old friends. The route is from Piedmont via Rome to Amalfi, back to Naples and finally the tony island of Capri. Retracing the footsteps of romantic poets Byron and Shelley, they drive a Mini Cooper through the breathtaking country and alongside stiff seaside cliffs.
1.If you are interested in the scenery of American west, which film can you choose to watch?
A.Thelma and Louise. B.Grand Budapest Hotel.
C.Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. D.The Trip to Italy.
2.Which place mentioned in the films can't be found in real life?
A.Goerlitz. B.Grand Budapest Hotel.
C.Capri. D.Dead Horse Point State Park.
3.Why does the author write this passage?
A.To introduce some places to travel.
B.To introduce the newly released films.
C.To recommend some travel movies to watch.
D.To show the attractive scenery mentioned in the films.
请阅读下面有关我国短视频收入的柱状图及相关文字，按照要求写一篇150 词左右的文章。
The short video industry experienced explosive growth in 2018，with its market value reaching 11.8 billion yuan，up 110 percent. It is estimated that the figure will hit 35 billion yuan by 2020.
There are several ways for short video posters to make a profit：from advertisements，virtual gifts sent by fans which can be converted into cash，selling products online or charging viewers for the content.
Some of the main video sharing platforms such as Douyin，also known as TikTok，and Kuaishou have launched campaigns cooperating with local governments to help some rural residents out of poverty. In the past year，over 16 million vloggers gained income on Kuaishou， of which 3.4 million people came from areas in poverty but with rich resources.
（写作内容）
1. 用约 30 个单词概述柱状图信息的主要内容；
2. 短视频流行的原因有哪些，简要谈谈你的看法（原因不少于两点）；
3. 谈谈你对如何规范短视频的建议。
（写作要求）
1. 写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句；
2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称；
3. 不必写标题。
（评分标准）
内容完整，语言规范，语篇连贯，词数适当。
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
请阅读下面短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意：请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。每个空格只填一个单词。
Social anxiety is a type of anxiety problem. People with social anxiety can usually interact easily with family and a few close friends. Instead of enjoying social activities, they might fear them and avoid some of them altogether. Like other anxieties, it is a fear reaction to something that isn’t actually dangerous, although the body and mind react as if the danger is real. Because the physical sensations that go with the response are real and sometimes quite strong the danger seems real. With social anxiety, a person’s fears and concerns are focused on the social performance whether it’s a major class presentation or small talk at the lockers. People tend to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable about being noticed or judged by others.
Social anxiety might prevent someone from chatting with friends in the lunchroom, joining an after-school club, going to a party, or asking someone on a date. It might keep a person from volunteering an answer in class, reading aloud, or giving a presentation. It might prevent someone from acting the school play, being in the talent show, trying out for a team, or joining in a service project. It also prevents them from making the normal, everyday mistakes that help people improve their skills still further.
Social anxiety develops because the genetic features from parents and other relatives can influence how the brain senses and controls anxiety, shyness, nervousness, and stress reactions. Meanwhile, some people are born with a shy character and tend to be cautious and sensitive in new situations and prefer what’s familiar. Naturally a person’s shy character can be influenced by what he or she learns from role models. If parents or others react by overprotecting a child who is shy, the child won’t have a chance to get used to new situations and new people. If people born with a cautious nature have stressful experiences, social anxiety can make them even more cautious and shy. Feeling pressured to interact in ways they don’t feel ready for, being criticized or insulted, or having other fears and worries can make it more likely for a shy or fearful person to develop social anxiety.
Sometimes, but not always, medicines that reduce anxiety are used as part of the treatment. Family or friends are especially important and the right support from a few key people can help those with social anxiety gather the courage to go outside their comfort zone and try something new. Dealing with social anxiety takes patience, courage to face fears and try new things, and the willingness to practice.
Social Anxiety | |
Passage outline | Supporting details |
Some 1. involved with social anxiety | ● Seldom get in touch with 2.. ● Wrongly react to something without danger in fact because of strong physical sensations. ● Pay too much attention to others’ 3., feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable. |
Influences on people | ● To make people feel lonely or disappointed over missed opportunities for 4.and fun. ● To avoid getting the most out of school. ● To miss a chance to share their talents and learn new5.. |
6.of developing social anxiety | ● Have something to do with a person’s biological factors. ● Naturally get influenced by the 7.from role models especially parents. ● Live a life with stressful and worrying 8.or events. |
Ways to overcome social anxiety | ● Go to 9.according to the condition of illness. ● Try to be 10.by family or friends and look for a new life. ● Keep patient, courageous and willing to practice. |
A few weeks ago, a 71-year-old man pulled his car to the roadside in Northwest Portland and stopped. He rolled down the window, turned off the engine and stared at a house.
The place, distinguished by three gables, is partially hidden by hedges and trees. Most people who pass by would never notice it. And if they did give it a glance, they’d probably think it’s a nice house in a nice neighborhood. Nothing more.
The house, in the 2500 block of Northwest Westover Road, is known as the Bessie & Louis Tarpley House. Built in 1907, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The current owner is Barbee Lyon, 79.
He and his first wife took possession in 1975. When they divorced, he bought out her share.
A retired lawyer, Lyon learned Louis Tarpley, the home’s first owner, had also been a Portland lawyer. Setbacks in Tarpley’s life led to the house auction(拍卖) in the late 1920s.
“I’m only the fifth owner of the home,” Lyon said. A previous owner was Frank Masco.
He and his wife, Esther, and their nine children had lived across town in a tiny house needing constant repairs. In the mid-1950s, the elder Masco wanted to move to a bigger house and one closer to work. A docker ( 码 头 工 人 ), he was on-call 24 hours a day and had to quickly get to the Willamette River docks.
He found a home on Westover Road. At the time, many people wanted to live in new construction in the suburbs. The Westover house was offered at a deep discount.
And later the family moved on several times, finally living in Vancouver.
One Sunday in July 2019, Charley Masco drove to Portland for an appointment at a computer store.
When it ended, he traveled the familiar route to Westover Road, pulled over and looked at that home.
He decided to do something bold. He got out of his car and walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. He waited. No response. Nervous, he thought it was a mistake to do this and considered turning around and walking back to his car.
Barbee Lyon opened the door and saw a stranger.
“I’m not selling anything,” Masco said quickly. “I just want you to know I once lived here.” Lyon opened the door wide.
“Come in.”
And for the first time since 1966, Masco stepped into his childhood home.
Every room looked as Masco had remembered it: The built-in china hutch in the dining room, the hanging lights above the table and, in the kitchen, a massive wood-burning stove where his mother used to cook family meals. It was as if he had walked into his own museum.
Lyon told Masco he’d never done major structural remodeling, which meant Masco knew his way around the home.
It was as if he had never left.
There, on the top floor, was the window he and his siblings quietly opened to sneak out at night and return before their parents knew they were gone. The loft where friends daydreamed about the future. The living room – no TV ever allowed – where the family gathered to share music, play cards or just talk with each other.
Then they all walked to the basement.
In the far corner, Masco saw his father’s old wooden workbench. And above it, baby food jars.
Masco had forgotten about them.
He explained that his father had nailed lids from the jars to a rafter, filling the glass with different size screws, nuts and bolts, and then screwing the jars back into the lids to give him easy access while working.
Masco thought about his father, his mother and three of his siblings who have died. He thought about his father, tinkering in the basement, while his mother was in the kitchen preparing dinner.
He thought about the 71-year-old man he was and the boy he had once been.
Kruse, Lyon’s wife, reached up and unscrewed a jar. She handed it to Masco, believing it belonged to this stranger.
Masco thanked her.
He clutched the small bottle to his chest. “My dad,” he said quietly. “This is my dad.”
1.Why did Charley Masco come to visit the Westover house?
A.He wanted to review his past and hold memories.
B.He attempted to buy back his childhood house.
C.His friend invited him to be a guest at his newly-bought house.
D.He came to the house where his father lived to seek roots.
2.What made Frank Masco decide to buy the house?
A.The house’s owner had been a Portland lawyer.
B.The house was auctioned at a very low price.
C.He desired to improve his family’s living conditions.
D.The house was equipped with a basement.
3.What do we know about Barbee Lyon?
A.He bought the house from Louis Tarpley.
B.He took possession of the house at about 35.
C.He lived in the house with his first wife Kruse.
D.He disliked being disturbed by strangers.
4.Why did Charley Masco feel nervous when he rang the doorbell?
A.He knew the house owner was a bad-tempered man.
B.He thought it was improper to pay an unexpected visit.
C.He might not hold back his feelings when he went in.
D.He feared the house owner would take him for a salesman.
5.After Masco entered the house, he found that _.
A.every room was not as he had remembered it
B.the house had experienced great structural changes
C.the childhood home was where his heart was
D.he couldn’t recall anything about baby food jars
6.What can be a suitable title for the passage?
A.Collision of Two Hearts B.Experiences of Two Families
C.An Unexpected Meeting D.The Harbour of the Heart
