Four years ago, we asked ourselves: what if we could create a shopping experience with no waiting in lines and no checkout? Or could we create a physical store where customers could simply take what they want and go? Our answer to those questions is Amazon Go, where you could experience the idea of “just walk out shopping”.
Amazon Go is a new kind of store with no checkout required. We created the world’s most advanced shopping technology, so you never have to wait in line. With our “just walk out shopping” experience, simply use the Amazon Go app to enter the store, take the products you want, and go! No lines, no checkout.
Our checkout-free shopping experience is made possible by the same types of technologies used in self-driving cars: computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning. Our “just walk out technology” automatically detects(探测) when products are taken from or returned to the shelves and keeps track of them in your virtual cart(购物车). When you’re done shopping, you can just leave the store. Shortly after, we’ll charge your Amazon account and send you a receipt.
We offer delicious ready-to-eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options made fresh every day by our on-site chefs and favorite local kitchens and bakeries. Our choice of foodstuff is from bread and milk to cheeses and locally made chocolates. You’ll find well-known brands we love, plus special finds we’re excited to introduce to customers. For a quick home-cooked dinner, pick up one of our chef-designed Amazon Meal Kits, and you can make a meal for two in about 30 minutes.
Our 1,800-square-foot shopping space is conveniently compact (紧凑的), so busy customers can get in and out fast. It is located at 2131, 7th Ave, Seattle, WA, on the corner of 7th Avenue and Blanchard Street. All you need is an Amazon account(账户), a supported smartphone, and the free Amazon Go app.
Amazon Go is now only open to Amazon workers in our testing program, and will be open to the public soon.
1.From the passage, we can learn that Amazon Go ___________.
A.sells all kinds of goods B.is open to the public
C.is a checkout-free store D.uses unknown technologies
2.What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 3?
A.When Amazon Go charges. B.How Amazon Go works.
C.Where Amazon Go lies. D.What Amazon Go sells.
3.Customers pay for the products from Amazon Go by ___________.
A.using their Amazon accounts B.walking out of the store
C.scanning smartphones when leaving D.paying cash at the counter
4.The main purpose of the passage is to ___________.
A.tell people of the shopping experience B.advise people to work for Amazon
C.inform people of a new concept store D.encourage people to shop online
Many of us feel uneasy when someone stands too close to us, talks to us too loudly or makes eye contact(接触) with us for too long. But have you ever wondered why those things make you uncomfortable?
It’s all about personal peace, which means not only an imaginary space around the body, but also the space around all the senses. People feel that their space is being violated(侵犯) when they meet with an unwelcome sound, smell or look. This is probably why a man on a crowded bus shouting into his mobile phone or a woman next to you putting on strong perfume(香水) makes you feel angry.
Whether people have had a stronger wish to protect their personal space in recent times is hard to say. Yet studies of airlines show that people have a strong desire(渴望) to have space to themselves. In a survey by TripAdvisor, a travel website, people said that if they had to pay more for some extra service, they would rather have larger seats than extra food.
Although people may need their personal space, some hardly realize it. For example, people on a bus who hold newspapers in front of their faces to read in fact keep a distance from strangers.
Go and watch a library table. You will notice that one of the corner seats will usually be taken first, because they are the farthest way. What if someone sits opposite to you? Maybe you will pile up books as if to make a wall.
Preference(偏好) for personal space are different from culture to culture. Scientists have found that Americans generally prefer more personal space than people from other cultures. In Latin(拉丁人的) cultures, however, people are more comfortable standing close to each other.
1.The writer mainly _________ in this article.
A.tells us how to achieve personal space
B.explains why people need personal space
C.introduces some knowledge about personal space
D.argues for the importance of keeping personal space
2.Who might feel his personal space is safe according to the passage?
A.A person who has to sit next to a lady putting on strong perfume.
B.A person who has been watched by a stranger for a long time.
C.A person who hears strange noises when reading at home.
D.A Latin boy who is chatting with a friend sitting close to him.
3.What can we know from the survey by TripAdvisor?
A.People need a smaller personal space in recent times than before.
B.People have a strong desire for personal space in recent times.
C.There are not enough seats on the plane to meet people’s needs.
D.Food service is better provided than seats on the plane.
4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The space around the body is more needed than that around all the senses.
B.If you hold newspapers on the bus, your personal space won’t be violated.
C.People usually choose the corner seats first in a library for personal space.
D.Different cultures share the same preferences for personal space.
If you need to relax and want to head overseas, you can think of these four off-peak travel destinations to visit.
Portugal
With rich culture and history, Portugal continues to be one of the most affordable European destinations. Head to this beautiful capital city of Lisbon to attend the festivals and fairs, visit some 12th-century buildings, and stay at one of the newer hotels in the main city district. The Hotel Teatro is a four-star restaurant, and average nightly rates are under $ 150 a night.
Hotel Teatro
Porto, Portugal
+351 220 409 620
Aruba
Set your sights on Aruba for an unforgettable Caribbean holiday. You can get special offers from one of the larger beach resorts here. Some of the chain hotels, including Marriott and Radisson, offer discounts on spa relaxations. The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is offering a Super Saver Spring Rate at just $309 per night.
Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa
Palm Beach, Aruba
800-967-9033
Oaxaca
Escape to southern Mexico to explore the historic colonial city and learn about the region’s traditions, culture, and colorful history. Oaxaca plays host to several cultural festivals and is a great place to just relax. A seven-night stay at the Camino Real Oaxaca is just $207 per night for a deluxe single or double room.
Camino Real Oaxaca
Centro, 68000
01 951 501 6100
Turkey
Another place to have some local culture is Istanbul, Turkey. Stay at a destination that will put you within easy reach of famous sites like the Topkapi Palace. The Modern Sultan Hotel is a deluxe hotel located in the heart of the historic district. Average nightly rates for the bed and breakfast package are just under $ 120 per night.
Modern Sultan Hotel
Istanbul, Turkey
+90 212 520 00 53
1.What can we learn about Portugal?
A.Lisbon is a small town in Portugal.
B.A trip to Portugal is relatively cheap.
C.The Hotel Teatro is outside the city of Lisbon.
D.Most houses in Portugal date back to the 12th century.
2.If you want to enjoy the beautiful sea, you can go to _________.
A.Lisbon B.Oaxaca C.Istanbul D.Aruba
3.How much should you pay if you have a seven-night stay in a deluxe single room at the Camino Real Oaxaca?
A.207 dollars. B.840 dollars. C.1, 449 dollars. D.2, 163 dollars.
Bringing art to life
The famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso once said “Every child is an artist. The problem he has is _________ to remain an artist once he grows up.”
This is both encouraging and discouraging. The fact that we were all _________ to be artists is certainly exciting, and yet the reality has _________ that remaining one is a task that many of us have failed. _________, some people have seen the problem and want to solve it.
Western educators have suggested that we introduce the concept（概念） of “STEAM" _________“ STEM” traditional “core majors” including science, technology,___________, and math-——since the “A” which stands for “arts”, is just as _____________. And on April 11, China's Ministry of Education issued（宣布） a guideline. Colleges and universities are required to _________ more art related courses and students need to earn a _________ number of art credits in order to graduate.
These efforts came after many scientific studies had found that ______________ education helps students develop self-confidence and teamwork skills, ____________ habits of mind such as problem solving and critical thinking, according to The Washington Post.
It's true that ____________ of these skills target（面向） specific（具体） jobs. But as former US ballet dancer Damian Woetzel told The Atlantic, the ____________ of art is “to give kids the tools to become adults who are ____________, adaptable（有适应能力的）, and expressive—able to have their eyes , ears and senses alive”.
And we can now see how we lost track(轨道) of our born “artist self” on our way to growing up: We __________ to keep our abilities to see, hear and feel, and became blind, deaf and insensitive adults.
1.A.what B.which C.that D.how
2.A.birth B.born C.bear D.bring
3.A.presented B.improved C.seemed D.proved
4.A.Sadly B.Finally C.Luckily D.Unluckily
5.A.instead of B.with C.or D.and
6.A.electronic B.engineering C.entertainment D.education
7.A.useless B.harmful C.important D.different
8.A.play B.join C.know D.provide
9.A.certain B.suitable C.terrible D.large
10.A.science B.math C.art D.technology
11.A.as well as B.with C.and D.including
12.A.all B.none C.each D.neither
13.A.result B.reason C.cause D.purpose
14.A.strong B.honest C.creative D.patient
15.A.succeeded B.failed C.managed D.hope
— Hi, Jack. We will go on an outing this weekend. Would you like to join us?
—__________. That’s the last thing in the world I ever want to do.
A.It depends B.With pleasure C.It’s up to you D.No, thanks
There is_________ little food that_________ many people died of hunger.
A.so; such B.such; so C.so; so D.such; such
