An advance in electronic publishing could make the ebook you are reading seem as dated as a silent film. Publishers hope to explore the growing success of ebooks by releasing versions with added soundtracks and musical accompaniments.
The noises in the first multimedia books released in Britain on Friday include rain hitting a window in a Sherlock Holmes tale. When the plot of a book reaches the most exciting part, background scores will create tension. In America, works by Shakespeare and Jane Austen have already been released with music and background noise so that, for example, readers can hear tea cups clinking in Mr. Darcy’s garden as they read Pride and Prejudice.
Supporters argue that sound effects are the next logical development for ebooks and will add excitement for younger readers. Critics, however, will argue that the noise will ruin the simple pleasure of having the imagination stimulated by reading.
Caroline Michel, chief executive of the literary agency, said the new generation of computer-literate readers was used to multiple sensory input. She said, “Young people have split computer screens where they may be watching television and replying to an email at the same time. If that’s what the market wants then we should respond to the market.”
Booktrack’s sound effects work by estimating the user’s reading speed. Each time you “turn” a page, the software reassesses where you have reached in the text and times the sounds to switch on accordingly. If the soundtrack becomes out of synch (同步), a click on any word will reset it.
Some authors fear that a soundtrack could destroy the peace and quiet of libraries and ruin the pleasure of reading. David Nicholls, author of One Day, the bestseller now released as a film, said, “This sounds like the opposite of reading. I have enough trouble reading an ebook because I’m constantly distracted by emails.”
Stuart MacBride, the crime writer whose novel Shatter the Bones was an ebook bestseller, sells 18% of his books as electronic downloads. He said, “If I’m reading, I will do the noise in my head. I don't need someone to tell me what tea cups clinking sounds like. That would irritate me.”
1.What’s the passage mainly about?
A.Opinions about ebooks with soundtracks.
B.Response to the need of the book market.
C.Reasons for traditional ebooks becoming outdated.
D.Suggestions on encouraging readers’ imagination.
2.What do publishers expect an ebook soundtrack to do?
A.Help to release an ebook as a film.
B.Make readers improve reading speed.
C.Add tension at a book’s exciting point.
D.Get readers familiar with the background.
3.What does the underlined sentences mean in Paragraph 6 ?
A.David enjoyed the pleasure of reading an ebook in the library.
B.Soundtrack would affect David’s concentration on reading an ebook.
C.David was constantly fascinated by checking emails when reading an ebook.
D.Soundtrack would destroy the content and characters of the story.
4.What do we know about Stuart MacBride?
A.He was a person who was easy to get irritated.
B.He didn’t like the clinking sounds of tea cups.
C.He was the most famous writer about crime stories.
D.He imagined sounds about the story when reading.
If you’ve spent any amount of time boating, fishing, or bird-watching at lakes and rivers, you have most likely seen fishes jumping out of the water. I have seen it many times. Certainly, fishes will exit water in desperate attempts to escape enemies. Dolphins take advantage of the behavior, forming a circle and catching the frightened fishes in midair. But just as we may run fast from fun or from fear, different emotions might motivate fishes to jump.
Mobula rays (蝠鲼) aren’t motivated by fear when they throw their impressive bodies — up to a seventeen-foot wingspan (the distance from the end of one wing to the end of the other) and a ton in weight — skyward in leap of up to ten feet. They do it in schools of hundreds. They usually land on their bellies, but sometimes they land on their backs. Some scientists think it might be a way of removing parasites (寄生虫). But I think that the rays are enjoying themselves.
In the clear waters of Florida’s Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, I watched several schools of fifty or more mullets(鲻鱼) moving in beautiful formation. Their well-built bodies were most evident when they leaped from the water. Most of the time I saw one or two leaps by a fish, but one made a series of seven. They usually land on their sides. Each jump was about a foot clear of the water and two to three feet in length.
Nobody knows for sure why the fish leaps. One idea is that they do it to take in oxygen. The idea is supported by the fact that mullets leap more when the water is lower in oxygen, but is challenged by the likelihood that jumping costs more energy than is gained by breathing air. It is hard to imagine they will feel any fresher when back in water.
Might these fishes also be leaping for fun? There is some new evidence. Gordon M. Burghardt recently published accounts of a dozen types of fishes leaping repeatedly, sometimes over floating objects — sticks, plants, sunning turtle — for no clear reason other than entertainment.
1.What can we say about the dolphins in Paragraph 1?
A.They have great escaping skills. B.They are easily frightened.
C.They are very clever. D.They love jumping.
2.What do the ray and the mullet have in common when jumping?
A.Both do it in groups. B.Both land on their bellies.
C.Both jump many feet out of water. D.Both make leaps one after the other.
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards the idea mentioned in Paragraph 4?
A.Anxious. B.Indifferent.
C.Approving. D.Questionable.
4.Why do fishes leap according to Gordon?
A.To remove parasites. B.To amuse themselves.
C.To take in more oxygen. D.To escape enemies.
One of the most important things that has happened to me occurred long before I was aware of it. As the story goes, I was three days old and Mom was singing “The Name Game” song to me: “Christine- Bo-Bean-Banana-Fanna-Fo-Feen.” By day four, I was given a new name — Christine-Bo-Bean, or just Bo-Bean to my mother. Now, I am Bo to her and close friends.
Why is this nickname so important to me? I once read a book with a passage about True Names which explains that when a person’s true name is spoken, she has a distinct aura (光环) around her. Although I have been Bo to my mother all my life, I recently discovered that my true name is not on my birth certificate; it’s the name that is as unique and memorable as I am.
People usually know me as Christine. They still see me as a quiet, bookish child. They don’t know who I am now. My most recent hopes, fears, goals, dreams and opinions escape their notice; it is easier to think of me as I was. In their minds, they have a box labeled “Christine” in which I fit neatly, and as Christine, I was content with the perfect packaging.
Those who call me Bo or Bo-Bean really know me. They remember who I was and realize I have changed. Bo is a tight squeeze in the old “Christine” boxes. The Bo I am is ever-changing, ever-growing and ever-learning.
When I was Christine, I was quiet, and easily scared. I feared groups, meeting new people and sharing my opinions. I was more comfortable with a book than my best friend. As Christine, I thought everyone was better than I was.
As Bo, I still love my books, but I want to discuss them. As Bo, my dream is to live where I can experience new things and meet new people. I dream about being alone on a stage lit by a single spotlight; I have that confidence now. I am equal to those I once saw as better than me.
A name shouldn’t make such a difference, but sometimes, when a person finds his or her True Name, they develop a new shine visible to friends, family and especially themselves.
I can’t always be Bo. Sometimes exposing myself is still scary and I feel too nervous; I want to hide in those old boxes. Mostly, however, I am ready for the world. So, just call me Bo.
1.When was the author given a nickname?
A.When she was three years old.
B.On the fourth day after she was born.
C.On the arrival of some close friends.
D.When mom first sang “ The Name Game”.
2.What do the people know about the author as Christine?
A.They think the author is active and crazy.
B.They care about the author’s most recent feelings.
C.They don’t realize the author has changed.
D.They don’t know the author has a new name.
3.What kind of person was the author in the past?
A.She showed no interest in reading.
B.She took pleasure in finding new things.
C.She loved reading and sharing books with friends.
D.She lacked confidence and preferred to be alone.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Bo — the True Name
B.A Unique Name
C.Remember the Past
D.The Meaning of Nickname
Auckland University Online Education — What to Expect
Most Auckland University (AU) online programs are 100 percent online so that students do not come to the school campus. Instead, AU has designed a media-rich, easy-to-use learning environment through a Learning Management System (LMS).
• Discipline
With disciplined work habits, you are likely to succeed as an online student. It is up to you to log on to your course and meet your own deadlines.
• Time Management
In order to earn competitive grades, plan on spending a minimum of 20-25 hours a week on each course. AU courses operate on a seven-week schedule, with start dates in January, March, May, July, September and November. Students are able to complete two courses per semester by taking one seven-week course at a time.
• Professional Connections
Many of the AU faculty who teach online have connections to industry, so the online learning environment ensures access to diverse expertise and practice. It includes an extensive network of professionals in a variety of industries.
“I work as an IT manager. And right from the very beginning, every class I took was relevant to what I was doing at work. The wide range of courses gave me a strong foundation for my career development.”
— Jim Heilman, Computer Information Systems graduate
• Technology
It goes without saying that technology plays a vital role in online learning. You will need a high-speed Internet connection and basic computer skills. For specifics, please click here to visit our Technology page.
1.How long does it take to complete one course?
A.Seven weeks. B.One semester.
C.Several months. D.At least 20-25 hours.
2.What is the purpose of mentioning Jim Heilman?
A.To recognize an excellent graduate.
B.To set a good example to other learners.
C.To prove benefits of professional connections.
D.To show effective methods of online learning.
3.Where is the text probably taken from?
A.A course brochure. B.A college website.
C.An academic magazine. D.A local newspaper.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
It was time to go home.“Remember to work on your class speeches for homework,”Miss Walker called, as everyone started talking and packing their school bags. Jenny felt sick. She hated having to read aloud in class. She was sure everyone got really bored listening to her. Once, when Jenny was reading out her holiday diary, Lee was even looking at his watch, a silver and blue one which seemed just magical.
Jenny watched Lee walk ahead of her as they left school. He seemed so clever, and he had a certain sort of shining confidence. He was just one of those people who were good at everything. Jenny sighed. As she turned the corner, she saw Lee’s watch lying right in the middle of the path.
Jenny knew she should just pick it up and return it to him, but she didn’t want to run after him. Jenny bent down quickly, picked up the watch and ran home. On arriving home, Jenny put it on almost without thinking. She was surprised it fitted so well. She walked to the mirror and started practicing her speech. Words just flooded out of her.“I’m going to talk about swimming. I have been lucky. I’ve won lots of competitions. But when I’m in a race, I’m not really thinking about winning. I’m just loving the feeling of being in the water…”Jenny laughed with excitement. She walked across the room. She suddenly seemed to have a certain sort of confidence. Turning back to the mirror, Jenny saw a flash of light from the watch in the glass. The flashes of silver seemed almost magical. So maybe Lee’s watch really DID have something magic about it.
The next day, as the lesson began, Miss Walker asked who was going to be brave and go first. Nobody moved. Jenny slowly raised her arm. Before Miss Walker could say anything, there was a shout from behind.“She’s stolen my watch!”Lee said angrily,“It went missing at school yesterday.”
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
Everybody was fixing their eyes on Jenny, waiting for an explanation. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
At that time, Miss Walker smiled and asked the class to listen to Jenny’s speech first. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Last year I ruined my summer vacation by bringing along a modern convenience: the iPad.
Instead of looking at nature, I _______ my e-mail. Instead of reading great novels, I stuck to reading _______ newspapers each morning. And that was the problem: I was acting _______ I were still in the office. My body was on vacation but my _______ wasn’t.
So this year I made up my mind to try something _______: getting away from the Internet. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, _______ I’m not good at self-control. But I was _______. I started by _______ the iPad to my wife. Then, a stroke of luck: The mobile phone _______ at our cabin was worse than in the past. I was ________, forced to carry out my plan. Largely ________ from e-mail and my favorite newspaper websites, I had little way to ________ the world. I had no ________ but to do what I had planned to do all along: read books.
With determination and the strong support of my wife, I succeeded in my vacation struggle ________ the Internet. I finally ________ that it was me, of course, not the iPad, that was the ________.
I knew I had ________ when we passed a Starbucks and my wife asked if I wanted to stop to use the Wi-Fi. “Don’t need it,” I said. ________, as we return to work, a test begins: Can I __________ when I’m back at work? I don’t plan to ________ my iPad completely. But I hope to resist the temptation(抵抗诱惑) to use it every five minutes.
1.A.received B.selected C.checked D.removed
2.A.online B.informal C.local D.traditional
3.A.so that B.as if C.now that D.even though
4.A.opinion B.identity C.mind D.curiosity
5.A.attractive B.logical C.magical D.different
6.A.since B.unless C.though D.so
7.A.excited B.shocked C.frightened D.determined
8.A.showing B.handing C.sending D.introducing
9.A.quality B.design C.signal D.technology
10.A.trapped B.ignored C.injured D.persuaded
11.A.taken out B.pulled down C.cut off D.carried away
12.A.rely on B.connect to C.help with D.look at
13.A.method B.goal C.trick D.choice
14.A.against B.for C.on D.to
15.A.expected B.realized C.permitted D.suggested
16.A.puzzle B.sign C.evidence D.problem
17.A.won B.forgotten C.suffered D.recovered
18.A.Somehow B.Anyway C.However D.Therefore
19.A.survive B.change C.escape D.continue
20.A.take apart B.give up C.turn to D.care about
