Whether you love happy endings or a dark reality in TV dramas,you could soon be able to decide what you get. Netflix,the TV-streaming company behind hit shows such as The Crown and House Of Cards,is working on ways to give viewers control of key plot decisions.
Some of the storylines will be simple and linear,like the Choose Your Own Adventure books that many grew up with.For example,viewers might decide whether a prisoner in the drama Orange Is The New Black joins a gang (黑帮) or not.
The technology could also potentially be used to allow Princess Margaret to marry Peter Townsend in The Crown,instead of having her relationship with the divorcee (离婚者) blocked by the Establishment.Other storylines will be much more complex,allowing viewers to connect plot points in a variety of ways using their TV remotes.
A source said,"We're doing work on branch narratives (叙事) so you are actually making choices as you watch. All the content will be there,and then people will have to get through it in different ways.We'll see how it plays out. It's an experiment.We'll see if it gets much success.For creators,it's a new field."
Actors would film numerous alternate plot segments (片段) in advance,letting viewers choose which route to take through the story.Netflix will run a trial with choose-your-own-adventure shows for children later this year, based on an established character.If they are successful,it will use the format for TV programmes aimed at adults. Netflix president Reed Hastings confirmed that the company is working on interactive shows,saying,"Once you have got interactivity,you can try anything."
At least five million UK households are thought to be signed up to Netflix,and it is challenging traditional broadcasters.Earlier this year,BBC boss Lord Hall promised to reinvent the iPlayer so that it overtakes Netflix as a destination in its own right,rather than a catch-up service.
1.How will viewers connect plot points?
A. By using their TV remotes.
B. By taking part in TV programs.
C. By interacting with actors or actresses.
D. By participating in filming plot segments.
2.Why will Netflix run choose-your-own-adventure shows for children?
A. To attempt to create another hit show.
B. To compete with traditional broadcasters.
C. To attract as many children viewers as possible.
D. To test whether their creative ideas are successful.
3.What's Reed Hastings' attitude to interactive shows?
A. Confident. B. Doubtful.
C. Negative. D. Worried.
4.What's the author's purpose of writing this text?
A. To advertise for Netflix company.
B. To recommend some English hit shows.
C. To predict future development in filming.
D. To introduce the latest technology in TV dramas.
From his own version of Kim Kardashian's "Internet-breaking" picture to rocking the "Leia Buns"look,Mark Udovitch,28,hopes his celebrity impersonations (名人模仿) will help raise money for cancer patients.
Dressed in a garbage bag,black cleaning gloves and a plastic bag tie,the recreation (娱乐) of Kim Kardashion's picture is one of Mark's favorite celebrity impersonations.
Game of Throne characters are also a popular choice,and the radiation doctor has cosplayed (角色扮演) many famous figures.Mark says the reaction to the pictures has been positive,with a lot of laugh from his co-workers."I have gotten a very positive response from many other radiation doctors,who privately message me,saying how much respect they have for me,"he said.
But while the radiation doctor is having fun with his wild and strange creations,the cause behind it is sad.A patient once told him she was more devastated about losing her hair than surgery.It was at that moment that Mark decided to stop getting haircuts and start growing his hair.The radiation doctor will shave his hair off in a "Dry July Shave Off" and donate it to make false hair for cancer patients.
Mark recalled,"Over the course of 2.5 years,my mates have been absolutely belting me with comments about who I look like with my long hair.I took a photo of me impersonating Scott Stapp,the lead singer of Creed,as a joke last year and posted it on Facebook.It got 150+ likes,which is large for me since I am not very social media savvy(懂行的).Since that image got so much notice that I wonder how many celebrities I could actually impersonate in the lead.Shaving my head may be used as a means of raising awareness."
1.What does the underlined word "devastated" in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. Curious. B. Upset.
C. Cautious. D. Alarmed.
2.How did Mark's co-workers react to the photos?
A. They made fun of the photos. B. They didn't care about the photos.
C. They thought highly of the photos. D. They thought the photos strange.
3.Why did Mark impersonate Scott Stapp at first?
A. To do it for pleasure. B. To amuse his colleagues.
C. To show off his talent online. D. To raise money for cancer patients.
4.What's probably the best title for the text?
A. Dry July Shave Off B. A Kind and Humorous Doctor
C. Celebrity Impersonations D. Doctor's Impersonations for Patients
A report by the US' Open Syllabus Project found that the most read books among US college students in the past year were books like The Republic by ancient Greek philosopher Plato and The Clash of Civilizations by US political scientist Samuel Huntington.And according to reports by Chinese college libraries,the most popular books among Chinese students are novels like Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils by Chinese author Jin Yong.
This is considered by many to be one of the reasons why Chinese students are sometimes not as good at critical thinking or observing global perspectives (视野) as US students—they read too many bestseller novels.
"By reading texts in history/social studies,science,and other subjects,students build a foundation of knowledge in these fields that will also give them the background to be better readers in all areas,"Robert Pondiscio,vice president of the Core Knowledge Foundation in the US told Th.e Washington Post.
According to China Youth.Daily,there are usually five stages when it comes to reading,with popular novels at the bottom.More advanced readers normally go on to read classic fictional literature,history and philosophy,or books with critical ideas.
We spend hours,days or even weeks on a book,so it's only natural that we want to learn something useful in return for our efforts.Many see reading as an investment (投资) in themselves.But this practical view of literature and the thought that history and philosophy books are superior to novels are not agreed by everyone.After all,what they offer are two different kinds of satisfaction.While the former provides knowledge,the latter brings emotional experiences."Fiction and poetry are medicines,"UK writer Jeanette Winterson once wrote."What they heal is the rupture (裂痕) reality makes on the imagination."
1.What are the most popular books among Chinese students?
A. Philosophy books. B. Bestseller novels.
C. History books. D. Books with critical ideas.
2.What do Chinese students lack compared with US students?
A. Careful observation. B. Vast stores of knowledge.
C. Practical use of knowledge. D. Critical thinking.
3.Which of the following does Jeanette Winterson probably agree with?
A. People read books to learn something useful.
B. Imagination is not so important as knowledge.
C. History and philosophy books are superior to novels.
D. Novels can bring necessary emotional experiences.
If you've been to Europe a few times already,chances are that you've hit all the big destinations: London, Paris, Rome,Berlin.On your next trip you can either visit those same cities a second time,or instead you can take a chance and walk the streets of some cities that are a little bit smaller,a little bit less famous,but still full of European grace and charm.Here are four European cities to visit that you probably haven't been to yet.
Besancon,France
This hidden French city has had a long reputation for being a well-kept secret.It can be at once sleepy with few tourists but abundant galleries,restaurants,and a wonderful Beaux Arts museum whose collection is second only to the Louvre.The city is wound by the River Doubs and also touts (吹捧) its own UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Citadel,home to several small museums and a zoo.
Seville,Spain
For the tourist who is already tired of Barcelona and Madrid,Seville offers a different take (意见) on Spain. Located on the Southern coast,it keeps beautiful signs of the long period of Moorish rule,nowhere more than in the Alcázar palace building,just one of the city's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.Seville has over a dozen museums, tropical parkland,and probably the best tapas (餐前小吃) culture in all of Spain.
Ghent,Belgium
Ghent is a city that looks like it should be the setting for a fairy tale. All of the typical Belgium features abound here-waffles and beer.Every year from Saturday before July 21,Ghent hosts a ten-day festival.This music and theater festival draws almost 2 million visitors,as the city streets transform into performance spaces for performers,buskers (街头艺人) and musicians.
Palermo,Italy
Palermo is the capital city of Sicily,the southern island off the coast of mainland Italy.The city has an ancient history,and the various cultures that have controlled the island through the years have all left their marks on it. You can see winding street markets,antique (古玩) fairs,and open air nightclubs here.
1.Where can visitors enjoy art collections quietly?
A. Besancon. B. Barcelona.
C. Ghent. D. Palermo.
2.What can visitors do in Seville,Spain?
A. Visit antique fairs and clubs.
B. Enjoy a colorful nightlife.
C. Explore over 20 museums.
D. Hunt for Moorish influences.
3.Which country should a music and theater lover choose to visit?
A. France. B. Spain.
C. Belgium. D. Italy.
4.What do the four European cities have in common?
A. They were once ruled by various rulers.
B. They are less famous but worth a visit.
C. Visitors can enjoy seeing performances.
D. They're all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
假定你是李华，你在某英文网站看到一个关于“Food ＆ Culture”的征文活动。请根据下表内容提示写一篇短文。
中国饺子与文化 | |
历史 | 大约1,500年 |
文化习俗 | 新年食物，家庭团聚，好运象征 |
做法 | 蒸、煎、煮等 |
注意：
1.词数120左右，题目已为你写好；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Chinese Dumplings and Culture
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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。每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：在错的词下划一横线，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11处起）不计分。
Dear classmates,
It is a pleasure for I to have a chance to make a short speech today. Recently I had found that some of our classmates study late into the night and do not spare some time to take a rest during the day either. They often cannot help fall asleep in class. And some classmates seldom have breakfast, that is also a bad habit and will surely do harm to our health.
In my opinion, it is extreme important for us to have enough sleep and a proper diet. We must learn to make a use of our time, and only in this way can we keep fit or study well. I wonder if you agree me.
