Google announced new features to make devices smarter and more useful to open its yearly developers' conference. The announcements came at Google's I/O 2018 conference in Mountain View, California.
Google Duplex
"So what you're going to hear is the Google Assistant actually calling a real barber’s to schedule the appointment for you.
Hello, how can I help you?
Hi, I'm calling to book a woman's haircut for a client. I'm looking for something on May 3rd.
Sure, give me one second.
Mm-hmmm.
That was a real call you just heard."
Google Chief Pichai said the demonstration was the result of the company's research and development over many years in the areas of natural language, deep learning and text-to-speech. Google calls the technology Duplex. The idea is to create machines that sound and act more human-like in interactions with people.
Continued Conversation
Another new feature related to Assistant is called Continued Conversation. Until now, users have had to say "Hey Google" each time they asked a question or wanted help. But now, a user can issue more than one command – such as a follow-up question – for up to eight seconds, and Assistant will answer.
Gmail Smart Compose
The latest new tool for Gmail is an auto-complete feature called Smart Compose. It uses AI to suggest ways to finish sentences as they are written. For example, "I haven't seen you" might be auto-completed to "I haven't seen you in a while and I hope you're doing well."
Digital Wellbeing
Google says it recognizes many users are trying to find the right balance in life with technology. Sometimes they would like to break away from their devices to be able to spend time "on better things." New features with this in mind can help users prevent overuse of technology.
A Dashboard will provide users detailed information about how much time they are spending on which parts of their device. When the device is placed face down, a new feature will put the device on hold and silence it so the user can center on other things. A Wind Down Mode feature can let users enter the time they want to go to bed. At that time, the device will again go silent and the front of the device will dim to help users disconnect before bed.
1.What does the small dialogue mean in Google Duplex?
A. Google Chief Pichai calls his assistant to arrange an appointment for him.
B. Google’s digital assistant sets a haircut appointment for someone all by itself.
C. An assistant in Google sets a haircut appointment for a woman.
D. That wasn’t a real call the receiver had heard.
2.What can we learn about Digital Wellbeing?
A. It can find the right balance in work.
B. It may automatically go silent while the screen is still bright.
C. It can tell how much time is being spent on parts of the device.
D. When one feature is operating long enough, a new one will disappear.
3.If you are poor in writing compositions, you probably like________.
A. Continued Conversation B. Google Maps - Augmented Reality
C. Google Duplex D. Gmail Smart Compose
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.When will the race be held this year?
A. On May 11th. B. On May 23rd. C. On May 24th.
2.Where does the race start?
A. At the football ground.
B. On the north side of the park.
C. At the main entrance of the park.
3.What can every runner get?
A. A T-shirt. B. A water bottle. C. A pair of running shoes.
4.Who can run in the race free of charge?
A. Children under 8 years of age.
B. Children between 8 and 15 years of age.
C. Adults registering in advance.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why did Mel Flynn become interested in diving?
A. To learn more about sea animals.
B. To join a group of teenagers.
C. To help with her parents’ research.
2.How old was Mel Flynn when she started diving?
A. 7. B. 10. C. 12.
3.What did Mel Flynn do to stay safe underwater?
A. She always kept close to other divers.
B. She didn’t go deeper than seven meters.
C. She stayed away from dangerous fish.
4.Why does Mel Flynn like working with the scientists?
A. She can earn money from it.
B. She can gain valuable experience.
C. She can get a good job through it.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why doesn’t the man want to go downtown at first?
A. He has nothing to do downtown.
B. He has a math class to take.
C. He plans to study.
2.What’s Gilson’s?
A. A supermarket. B. A watch repair shop. C. A parking lot.
3.What do we know about the woman?
A. She will be busy with her work.
B. She is leaving in several hours.
C. She will pick up the man’s watch.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What are the speakers discussing?
A. A school activity. B. An art teacher. C. A. painting.
2.How does the woman feel about her work?
A. Dissatisfied. B. Pleased. C. Bored.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where is the man?
A. At an airport. B. At a company. C. At a hotel.
2.What does the woman ask the man to do?
A. Collect his luggage right away.
B. Hold a sign with his name on it.
C. Wait for someone else to pick him up.
