Everywhere I look outside my home I see people busy on their high-tech devices, while driving, walking, shopping, even sitting in toilets. When connected electronically, they are away from physical reality.
People have been influenced to become technology addicted. One survey reported that "addicted" was the word most commonly used by people to describe their relationship to iPad and similar devices. One study found that people had a harder time resisting the allure(诱惑) of social media than they did for sleep, cigarettes and alcohol.
The main goal of technology companies is to get people to spend more money and time on their products, not to actually improve our quality of life. They have successfully created a cultural disease. Consumers willingly give up their freedom, money and time to catch up on the latest information, to keep pace with their peers or to appear modern.
I see people trapped in a pathological(病态的) relationship with time-sucking technology, where they serve technology more than technology serves them. I call this technology servitude(奴役). I am referring to a loss of personal freedom and independence because of uncontrolled consumption of many kinds of devices that eat up time and money.
What is a healthy use of technology devices? That is the vital question. Who is really in charge of my life? That is what people need to ask themselves if we are to have any chance of breaking up false beliefs about their use of technology. When we can live happily without using so much technology for a day or a week, then we can regain control and personal freedom, become the master of technology and discover what there is to enjoy in life free of technology. Mae West is famous for proclaiming the wisdom that "too much of a good thing is wonderful." But it's time to discover that it does not work for technology.
Richard Fernandez, an executive coach at Google acknowledged that "we can be swept away by our technologies." To break the grand digital connection people must consider how life long ago could be fantastic without today's overused technology.
1.From the passage, technology companies aim to _________.
A. attract people to buy their products B. provide the latest information
C. improve people's quality of life D. deal with cultural diseases
2.It can be inferred from this passage that people _________.
A. consider too much technology wonderful
B. have realized the harm of high-tech devices
C. can regain freedom without high-tech devices
D. may enjoy life better without overused technology
3.What's the author's attitude towards the overusing of high-tech devices?
A. Neutral(中立的). B. Skeptical(怀疑的).
C. Disapproving. D. Sympathetic.
The Netherlands on Monday introduced its first-ever "intelligent bicycle", fitted with electronic devices to help bring down the high accident rate among elderly cyclists in the bicycle-mad country.
Developed for the government by the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), the intelligent bicycle runs on electricity. A commercial-available bicycle is expected to be on the market in the next two years and should sell for between 1,700 to 3,200 euros per bicycle.
The devices on the bike are linked through an onboard computer with a vibrating(震动的) warning system fitted in the bicycle's saddle and handlebars to warn cyclists of the coming danger.
The saddle vibrates when other cyclists approach from behind, while the handlebars do the same when barriers appear ahead.
"Accidents often happen when cyclists look behind them or get a fright when they are passed at high speed," said Maurice Kwakkernaat, one of TNO's research scientists involved in the project. "The onboard system technology has already been at work in the car industry," he said.
"More and more elderly people are using a bicycle, not only for short distances, but also for longer distances," Dutch Environment and Infrastructure Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen told AFP. "This type of bicycle is truly needed in the Netherlands because it will help us bring down the number of elderly people who are injured every year and allow them to continue to enjoy cycling," she said.
In the Netherlands, bicycles outnumber the population of 17 million by at least one million and there are some 25,000 km of bicycle path in the country. Those statistics are set to grow as more and more people take to two-wheeled transport, leading to an increased risk of injury.
Last year, 184 cyclists died in the country, of which 124, or 67%, were older than 65, according to the Central Statistics Office. The year before, 200 cyclists died, the majority of victims also being elderly.
The current model weighs 25 kilograms but researchers are working on making the onboard systems smaller.
1.The "intelligent bicycle" is aimed to ________.
A. protect the environment B. help reduce traffic pressure
C. popularize the use of bicycles D. improve safety for elderly cyclists
2.Which part of the intelligent bicycle will vibrate when other cyclists approach it from behind?
A. The saddle. B. The wheels.
C. The handlebars. D. The onboard computer.
3.We can learn from the passage that ________.
A. the elderly ride bicycles wherever they go
B. the elderly are planning to give up cycling
C. the number of elderly cyclists is decreasing
D. the accident rate among elderly cyclists is high
Parkour
The word "parkour" comes from a French phrase roughly translated as "military obstacle course(军事障碍课程). At first glance, parkour looks like an extreme sport, and it certainly has many of the same qualities of an extreme sport. However, it is considered by many traceurs as more of an art and exercise, which allows for individual expression and also promotes inner strength and personal growth.
It introduces us to complete freedom from obstacles, and it is this freedom that makes parkour very appealing in strict control of modern society. It is a method that's available to us at any time to deal with the obstacles facing us, both mental and physical. No obstacle, no barrier can stop the traceur; they continue moving forward in spite of, and in harmony with these.
While parkour does allow for a great deal of originality, there are certain methods commonly used when practising it. The traceur chooses his/her own path through the environment to create unique and flowing movement, adapting to and using anything in this path. When many techniques or moves used to overcome obstacles are linked together in an efficient and continuous way, it is known as a "run." If you see someone that looks like they're running from the police, but there is no one running after, it's probably parkour.
This idea of the chase represents and expresses the movement of parkour quite well. In fact, it is the form of movement that our ancient ancestors may have used to hunt for food, or escape from animals on the plains of Africa. In adapting instantly to whatever comes forth without thinking about it, we naturally flow over and around all obstacles. In practicing parkour, we are reviving and developing that ancient instinct(本能).
The attitude behind parkour also combines the mentality of a child at play. That unlimited imagination and energy combined with a complete ignoring of social practices epitomizes(成为……的缩影) the traceur. Others look at a rail or wall and see a barrier; we look at it and see a launch pad. And hey, let's not forget that we do this because it's fun! The world is our jungle gym. Let's go play!
1.The underlined word in paragraph 1 means _______.
A. parkour participants B. fitness experts
C. sports psychologists D. extreme sports lovers
2.Paragraph 4 is written to _______.
A. show the way to develop ancient instinct
B. introduce the development of parkour
C. distinguish parkour from ancient instinct
D. explain the origin of parkour
3.People may show interest in parkour because _______.
A. they can get freed from routine activities and tasks
B. it helps them to do their job efficiently in future
C. they can develop both physically and mentally
D. it has its roots in their childhood experience
Bayfield Shopping Coupons(赠券)
1. Six Hours Free Parking If you spend $100 or more in our stores you will receive six hours of free parking. When you have spent $100 or more, just take this coupon and your receipts(收据) to the customer service desk on level 4. They will stamp your parking ticket to allow 6 hours of free parking. Offer here until November 14. |
2. Win a $1000 CD Collection Win your choice of $1000 worth of CDs from JB Music Store. Just buy any two CDs and your name will go into the competition. Select your own prize from our wide variety of rock, pop, jazz, and classical music. Competition ends November 14. Prize drawn on November 21. Check store for more information. |
3. Buy One, Get One Free Buy one shirt or tie at Daniel's Menswear, and get another shirt or tie of the same value free. Choose from any of our dress shirts and we will give you another one at no cost. Hurry! Offer ends November 14. Offer limited to one per customer. |
4. 10% Off Present this coupon at The Book Store to get a 10% discount on any books you buy. We have lots of books to choose from. Including children's books, novels, travel guides, and science works. You're sure to find something that you will enjoy. Shop now for Christmas. We have plenty of toys as gifts for you and avoid the rush! Offer here until November 14. |
5. Half-price Movie Tickets Buy any full-price movie ticket on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and you can buy a second ticket for a friend for only half-price. The latest movies are here, showing in one of our five theaters at Bayfield Shopping Centre. Offer here through December 1. Limit one per customer. |
6. Free Soft Drink Buy any meal for at least $6 at Mike's Cafe, and receive a free soft drink. We serve the best fast food in the Shopping Centre. Come in and try our delicious meals and our excellent service. You won't be disappointed! Free soft drink offer ends November 14. |
1.What are these ads for?
A. Food you can order for delivery. B. Places to go on vacation.
C. Special offers at a shopping center. D. Things on sale in a big store.
2.Which of the following is true according to the ads?
A. Spending $50 means 3 hours of free parking.
B. One person can buy 4 tickets for the price of three.
C. After buying two CDs, you can get another two CDs for free.
D. At Mike's Café, people can get a free drink after spending $6.
3.We can know from this passage that ________.
A. there is more than one theatre in the center
B. if you buy a book there, you may pay less than half the price
C. you may get a free one if you buy a shirt, or a tie, or a pair of shoes
D. you won't get a free soft drink unless you spend more than 10 dollars on the meal
When I was young at school, I loved to talk, a characteristic not always appreciated by Miss Jordan, my tenth-grade English teacher.
She was a teacher no one wanted because she was so ______. She stood about five-foot-five, was very thin and wore her hair pulled back in a way that gave her a horsy ______. She wore those half-circular reading glasses. Whenever she got upset, she would lower her head and look at you over the top of her glasses.
One day in her class I was busy talking. I didn’t ______ she had stopped teaching and was ______ straight at me. “Young lady, I would like to see you after school.”
Later Miss Jordan ______ in a low, but very firm voice that showed she expected me to listen when she was talking. For ______ she told me to write a thousand-word essay on education and its effect on the economy. She wanted it in by the following Wednesday.
Well, I met my deadline. I was ______. It was a good paper. And I expected a sign of ______ from her. The next day in class,______, she was looking at me over her glasses. She called me forward and ______ my paper. “Go back and rewrite,” she said. “Remember, each paragraph is supposed to begin with a topic sentence.” When she gave my paper back a second time, she ______ the grammar. The third time, the spelling. The fourth time, it was punctuation. The fifth, it wasn’t neat enough. I was ______!
The sixth time, I rewrote the whole paper ______, in ink, leaving generous space. When she saw it, she removed her glasses and smiled She finally ______ the paper. After that, I put the whole thing out of my ______.
Two or three months passed. One day Miss Jordan came into the class and said to us: Class, do you still ______ an essay contest held citywide? They’ve announced the ______. I am happy to inform you that Mary has won third prize in the essay contest ‘On the Impact of Education on the Economy’.”
I was amazed and ______. It was the first time I had ever won a prize. Years later, I told a reporter that story, and my comments — including my unfriendly ______ of Miss Jordan’s appearance. Miss Jordan wrote me, and said that her appearance wasn’t what was important. What was important was the ______ I had learnt. When I wrote and rewrote that paper for her, I began to learn how to discipline myself.
1.A. open-minded B. strict C. careful D. cold-hearted
2.A. look B. shape C. style D. character
3.A. guess B. believe C. imagine D. realize
4.A. waving B. laughing C. staring D. running
5.A. complained B. whispered C. explained D. apologized
6.A. objection B. motivation C. punishment D. encouragement
7.A. confident B. concerned C. nervous D. helpful
8.A. suggestion B. praise C. comment D. respect
9.A. otherwise B. moreover C. however D. therefore
10.A. changed B. tore C. opened D. returned
11.A. mastered B. corrected C. taught D. identified
12.A. relieved B. grateful C. relaxed D. sick
13.A. carelessly B. eagerly C. quickly D. slowly
14.A. published B. accepted C. finished D. studied
15.A. mind B. list C. question D. sight
16.A. remember B. enter C. expect D. organize
17.A. plans B. winners C. participants D. names
18.A. curious B. anxious C. thrilled D. enthusiastic
19.A. conclusion B. reaction C. recommendation D. description
20.A. lesson B. meaning C. skill D. result
I have to see the doctor because I ________ a lot lately.
A. have been coughing B. had coughed
C. coughed D. cough
