A new app is trying to make it simpler to help you react to photos and videos that your friends post online---it’s using AI to capture（捕捉） your facial expressions and automatically translate them into a range of emoji（表情符号） faces.
Polygram, which is free and available only for the iPhone for now, is a social app that lets you share things like photos, videos, and messages.
Unlike on Facebook, though, where you have a small range of pre-set reactions to choose from beyond clicking a little thumbs-up icon（图标）, Polygram uses a neural（神经的） network that runs locally on the phone to figure out if you’re smiling, bored, embarrassed, surprised, etc.
Marcin Kemiec, one of Polygram ‘s founders, says the app’s AI works by capturing your face with the front-facing camera on the phone and analyzing the images as quickly as possible, rather than just looking at specific points on the face like your eyes and nose. This is done directly on the phone, using the iPhone’s picture processing unit, he says.
When you look at a post in the app, you see a small yellow emoji on the bottom of the display, its expression changing along with your real one.
There’s a slight delay—20 milliseconds, which is just hard to notice—between what you’re expressing on your face and what shows up in the app. The app records your responses in a little log of emoji on the side of the screen, along with those of others who’ve already looked at the same post.
The app is meant to appeal to those who really care about how they’re understood on social media. Users can see a record of the emoji reactions to each photo or video they post to the app, as well as details about who looked at the post, how long they looked at it, and where they’re located.
Eventually, the founders say, they may release software tools that let other developers come up with their own applications for the technology.
1.As a new social app, which characteristic of Polygram is true?
A. It is cheap and available only for the iPhone for now.
B. It eventually transfers emoji faces to facial expressions automatically.
C. It specializes in a neural network that runs originally on your phone.
D. It needs to choose from many reactions that have been set previously.
2.Those who ________will be obviously attracted by this new app.
A. are new technology fans
B. are addicted to new iPhones
C. have a great passion for emoji
D. are concerned about self-evaluation
3.What’s the purpose of the passage?
A. To promote and sell a new software.
B. To introduce to us a new and popular app.
C. To reveal the significance of a new technology.
D. To inform us of the popularity of a new app.
Petrol and diesel cars may still dominate（影响） our roads, but their days are numbered. A recent university study found that current electric cars could be used for 87 per cent of daily car journeys in the US. That figure could rise to 98 per cent by 2020.
One hurdle to the widespread adoption of electric cars has been “range anxiety”---drivers’ concerns about running out of juice on a journey. While petrol stations are conveniently located across national road systems, the necessary network of electric charging stations is still being developed. In fact, charging points are becoming increasingly common throughout the USA.
Attitudes towards electric vehicles have changed quite considerably over the last few years. Not that long ago, electric cars met with distrust, and their high price tags drove customers away. Thanks to improvements in battery capacity, recharging times, performance and price, the current generation of electric cars is starting to persuade critics. Plug –in cars will soon give internal combustion engine models a run for their money.
As well as advancements on the road, electric vehicles are taking to the sea and sky. Electric boats are among the oldest electric vehicles, having enjoyed several decades of popularity from the late 19th to the early 20th century before petrol-powered outboard motors took over. Now, the global drive for renewable energy sources is bringing electric boats back. Steps towards electric planes are also being made, with Airbus and NASA among the organizations developing and testing battery-powered planes. The experiments could soon make commercial electric flight a reality.
Electric vehicles do not produce any emissions. Were the US to act on the study’s findings and replace 87 percent of its cars with electric vehicles, it would reduce the national demand for petrol by 61 per cent. However, because of the production processes and the generation of electricity required to charge these vehicles, they cannot claim to be completely emission-free. Even so, as many countries continue to increase their use of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles will become even cleaner.
1.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
A. My Dream Car B. History of Electric Cars
C. Problems with Petrol Cars D. Driving into the Future
2.The underlined word “hurdle” in Paragraph 2 means ________.
A. aim B. barrier
C. consequence D. step
3.In the past, why did many people refuse to buy the electric cars according to the passage?
A. They were not good value. B. They were very poorly made.
C. They were not widely promoted D. They couldn’t travel at a high speed.
4.What is the function of Paragraph 4?
A. To introduce the history of electric vehicles.
B. To explain why the world needs more electric cars.
C. To show why more people have interest in electric cars
D. To describe different ways electric vehicles can be used.
One day when I was 12, my mother gave me an order: I was to walk to the public library, and borrow at least one book for the summer. This was one more weapon for her to defeat my strange problem—inability to read.
In the library, I found my way into the “Children’s Room”. I sat down on the floor and pulled a few books off the shelf at random. The cover of a book caught my eye. It presented a picture of a beagle. I had recently had a beagle, the first and only animal companion I ever had as a child. He was my “secret sharer”, but one morning, he was gone, given away to someone who had the space and the money to care for him. I never forgot my beagle.
There on the book’s cover was a beagle which looked identical(相同的) to my dog. I ran my fingers over the picture of the dog on the cover. My eyes ran across the title, Amos: the Beagle with a Plan. Unknowingly, I had read the title. Without opening the book, I borrowed it from the library for the summer.
Under the shade of a brush, I started to read about Amos. I read very, very slowly with difficulty. Though pages were turned slowly, I got the main idea of the story about a dog who, like mine, had been separated from his family and who finally found his way back home. That dog was my dog, and I was the little boy in the book. At the end of the story, my mind continued the final scene of reunion, on and on, until my own lost dog and I were, in my mind, running together
My mother’s call returned me to the real world. I suddenly realized something: I had read a book, and I had loved reading that book. Everyone knew I could not read. But I had read it. Books could be incredibly wonderful and I was going to read them.
I never told my mother about my “miraculous(奇迹)” experience that summer, but she saw a slow but remarkable improvement in my classroom performance during the next year. And years later, she was proud that her son had read thousands of books, was awarded a PhD in literature, and authored his own books, articles, poetry and fiction. The power of the words has held.
1.The author’s mother told him to borrow a book in order to ________.
A. encourage him to do more walking B. let him spend a meaningful summer
C. help cure him of his reading problem D. make him learn more about weapons
2.The book caught the author’s eye because________.
A. it reminded him of his own dog
B. he found its title easy to understand
C. it contained pretty pictures of animals
D. he liked children’s stories very much
3.Why could the author manage to read the book through?
A. He was forced by his mother to read it.
B. He identified with（对某事有同感） the story in the book.
C. The book told the story of his pet dog.
D. The happy ending of the story attracted him.
4.Which one could be the best title of the passage?
A. My Passion for Reading B. Mum’s Strict Order
C. Reunion with My Beagle. D. The Charm of a Book.
While your competitors are still waiting for the water to warm up, you could be giving your dragon boat season a jumpstart with a paddling vacation in Orlando, Florida. Spring camp is suitable for all ages and levels, perfect for those looking for a break from the ordinary ( or cold) days while enjoying the sport of dragon boat with like-minded people.
The 2018 Florida Training Camp promises to be a week of fun and fitness on and off the water. Register as a team, small group or individual, with customizable(可定制的) add-ons for those looking to give an edge to their personal performance.
The week will close out on Saturday with a camp BBQ and a racing regatta! Opening festivities begin on the evening of Sunday April 15th with camp check-in. Training begins on Monday April 16th and ends on Saturday April 21st.
GWN FLORIDA TRAINING CAMP
Dates: Monday April 16th to Saturday April 21st, 2018
Price: $395, $370 before January 19th, 2018
Features include:
Daily schedule
Twice daily dragon boat training sessions
Daily video analysis
Individual help(twice weekly)
Additional daily group sessions
Camp-sponsored socials
CUSTOMIZE YOUR CAMP EXPERIENCE
The optifons outlined below are available during the week of camp and can be booked as an add-on. Add-ons can be included in your initial registration or purchased at a later time through the online registration system.
OPTION 1: High Performance Program
Cost: $75
If you want to learn how to move your boat faster, then the High Performance Program is for you! This option consists of three progressive one-hour sessions completely focused on racing techniques, strategies, and drills, with the goal of increasing your overall speed.
Option 2: Coaching Community Dragon Boat (Level1)
Cost: $175
This course is intended for anyone interested in entry-level coaching. Expect the material included in the course to cover safety, ethics(道德) in coaching, coach-athlete communication, basic dragon boat techniques, basic physiological requirements of dragon boat racing, race and practice planning, plus more.
1.According to the passage, ___________in the camp.
A. you will enjoy a BBQ at the opening B. you need to be over 18
C. you should have some dragon boat skills D. you can have fun on land
2.How much does the camp with Option 1 cost if you pay at the end of 2017?
A. $370 B. $395
C. $ 445 D. $470
3.We can learn from the passage that ___________.
A. Option 1 includes a three-hour session
B. add-ons can be bought during registration
C. Option 2 is for those fond of advanced coaching
D. video analysis is covered in the coaching course
4.The purpose of the passage is to ______________.
A. recommend an upcoming training camp
B. introduce the options in a training camp
C. provide ideas about how to spend a vacation
D. offer advice on how to win in dragon boat races
假定你是李华，你的笔友林涛来信说，因学习忙、锻炼少，最近经常生病，影响学习。请根据提示写一封英文回信。
要点包括：
1.锻炼的重要性；
2.锻炼有利学习；
3.提出锻炼建议。
要求：1. 100词左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Lin Tao,
Sorry to hear that you have been sick for days and hope you are better now.___________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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Sincerely yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同学写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误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：把多余的词用斜线（\）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 Sam,
Thank you for your concern. Well, I’m now taking the once-a-year college entrance examination. We are scheduled to attend the exam on June 7th and 8th, on the first day of that Chinese and math will be test, the second day physics, chemistry, biology and English. Over the past ten months, they have been busy in preparing this examination. Besides listen to teachers carefully in class, we often work deeply into the night. Therefore, I believe it I can succeed. At first, I felt a little bit nervous but soon I calmed down because I came to realize that Chinese and math was very easy and English is my favorite subjects. So I suppose I can get the good marks which will enable me to enter my ideal college. Best wishes!
Yours,
Li Xia
