We have noticed our life becoming a little easier these days. Now, when you go to a certain shopping mall, you can enjoy its free WiFi there. When you want to take a taxi, you can book one with your phone. In fact, all these can be seen as the basic parts of a smart city.
The idea of a smart city was brought up by US company IBM in 2010.Gernally, a smart city is a city that uses digital(数字的) technologies such as the Internet to improve city planning, save money and resources, and make our life convenient. How smart can a city be? Here are great examples that we can learn from.
In 2009, Dubuque became the first smart city in the US. The city used smart water meters to take the place of traditional water meters. They can examine water waste and leakage(泄露) and send data to let the house owner know. The same system is used for other city resources like electricity and natural gas. This way, people know how they use their resources and are glad to help reduce waste.
Santander in Spain also gives us a look at the future. If people point a phone toward a nearby bus stop, the phone quickly shows all bus lines that serve the stop as well as their arrival times. The government organized a research team and provided an App that collects data on almost everything: light, temperature, and the movements of cars and people. Opening the APP near a supermarket provides immediate information on special offers.
1.A smart city improves city planning, save money and resources and makes our life convenient by ______.
A.using a robot. B.the government. C.using digital technologies. D.working hard
2.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A.An English Company first raised the idea of a smart city.
B.Digital technologies are used in smart cities.
C.A smart city is mainly made up of free WiFi and phones.
D.A smart city is still an idea and hasn’t come into being.
3.Compared to traditional water meters, smart water meters do better in ______.
A.cleaning water. B.supplying water. C.saving water. D.producing water.
4.The example of Santander shows the use of smart system in aspects EXCEPT _____.
A.health care. B.business. C.traffic controlling. D.public transportation.
5.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.Digital technologies help improve city planning.
B.Smart cities will make our future life better and smarter.
C.Smart cities are very common in both Dubuque and Santander.
D.Spain and the US take the leading position in building smart cities.
Learning how to behave at the dinner table is my biggest challenge. As you can imagine, things are very different from the way they are at home. For example, you are not supposed to put your bread on your plate. You are supposed to put it on the table! I thought that was very strange at first, but now I’m used to it. Another example is that you are not supposed to eat anything with your hands except bread, not even fruit. You have to cut it up and eat it with a fork. It’s impolite to say you are full. If you don’t want any more food, you should say，“That’s delicious.”Also, you’re not supposed to put your elbows on the table. I have to say that I find it difficult to remember everything, but I’m gradually getting used to it. I don't find French customs so strange any more.
根据短文内容，判断句子的正误，正确填T 错误填F。
1.You are not supposed to put your bread on your plate.
2.Now I’m used to putting my bread on the table.
3.You are supposed to eat anything with your hands except bread.
4.It’s impolite to say you are full.
5.I still find French customs so strange.
Nowadays, running is becoming more and more popular. Many people don’t have enough time to play a team sport, so they start going running _________. In the past, running in the street was seen as a bit _________, but things are changing. Now, a lot of people go out running in their spare time. Some people run to lose weight while others run _________to keep fit. Scientists say that along with cycling and swimming, running is a good way to keep fit.
One of the most popular running events is the marathon(马拉松). Every year in April, the London marathon takes place. The race covers a fantastic way in which _________ pass lots of the famous places like the London Eye and Big Ben. Interestingly, marathon running used to be seen as a hard sport, but now even people who are very unfit _________marathons every year! It’s not that marathons have got _________, but it’s that people have become more interested in running.
Sadly, running is often quite _________ among young people at school. Years ago, in some schools when it rained or it was _________ wet to play ball games, children had to do running instead. Now that running has become more popular, hopefully more young people will _______.All you need is a pair of __________.So let’s enjoy running!
1.A.though B.however C.instead D.instead of
2.A.handsome B.silly C.lovely D.beautiful
3.A.badly B.hardly C.suddenly D.simply
4.A.visitors B.runners C.swimmers D.scientists
5.A.take part in B.look out of C.stay away from D.take care of
6.A.busier B.further C.shorter D.easier
7.A.comfortable B.unpopular C.exciting D.important
8.A.very B.much C.too D.enough
9.A.cut it off B.find it out C.turn it on D.take it up
10.A.glasses B.gloves C.shoes D.eyes
If you exercise every day, you will form a good habit by degrees. And finally, you will make it.
A.Loudly B.quickly C.gradually D.quietly
— Could you tell me tomorrow?
—It will be rainy.
A.what will the weather be like
B.what the weather will be like
C.when will the weather be rainy
D.when the weather will be rainy
—I hear that Lucy’s mother is a teacher in our school.
— Yes, look, the woman ______ is teaching over there is her mother.
A.whom B.who C.what D.which
