【推荐1】Using a computer used to mean clicking at a mouse. Then it meant tapping on a touchscreen. Increasingly, it means simply speaking. A smartphone’s voice assistant processes 25 billion requests a month.

One group, though, has been left behind. The World Health Organisation counts 430 million people as deaf or hard of hearing. Many use sign languages to communicate. Normally, they cannot use those languages to talk to computers.     1    

People have tried to teach computers to understand sign languages. There have been plenty of claims of breakthroughs in recent years. So-called solutions range from special gloves that capture the wearer’s finger movements to software that detects distinct hand shapes.     2     In practical contexts, no case of feasibility is evident. Deaf people are more than ever disassociated from digital community.

It is easy to see why. Gloves are similar to body-worn cameras. Both require users to adapt to the needs of hearing people. Hand-shape recognition, while useful, cannot by itself handle the full complexity of sign languages. Some projects have been complimented as offering cheap alternatives to human interpreters in places like hospitals, police stations or classrooms.     3    

But things are improving. Research groups, which increasingly include deaf scientists, are asking how technology can best serve deaf people’s interests. Students of sign languages are compiling databases, known as corpora, full of examples of how the sign languages are used. Programmers are trying to turn them into useful products.

As with spoken languages, sign languages possess their own grammar, idioms and dialects. Again like spoken languages, the hard-and-fast rules of grammar books do not really capture the subtleties of everyday usage. Single signs can be shorthand for complex ideas. Like speakers, signers often take shortcuts, such as representing two-handed signs with a single hand.     4     Therefore, ways to get them easily across are vital to true understanding and communication.

A．They are criticized for somewhat sacrificing formality for conveniences.

B．These solutions, despite certain disadvantages, serve, in a way, as answers to the deaf people’s urgent needs.

C．They face the risk of being excluded from the digitalization that is taking over everyday life.

D．However, the cost of even small errors can be very high.

E．Correctly interpreting all these is much harder than recognizing spoken syllables or written letters.

F．They have won applause while isolating the very people for whom they are designed.

【推荐3】New apps provide more sources of information and bring convenience. Here are some of the newest free apps. If you are interested, download them to your smartphone!

iEDU It allows students to search for iEDU advising center information, where you can discover new educational information, aid, opportunities and advice.	Indie Shuffle It allows you to look through lesser-known artists’ music. You can save songs or artists you like and find bands with similar sounds.
BrainPOP BrainPOP mixes learning and technology in a fun and simple way. It is free and teaches you something new in English every day.	Todoist It is a time saver, an app helping you manage your time, add a task and even assign tasks to other people who need a quick reminder!

1. Who is iEDU mainly intended for?

A．Workers.

B．Doctors.

C．Students.

D．Drivers.

2. What will you choose to download if you are a music lover?

A．iEDU.

B．Indie Shuffle.

C．BrainPOP.

D．Todoist.

3. BrainPOP mixes learning and technology in a(n) _______ way.

A．interesting

B．boring

C．difficult

D．cheap

4. Todoist can help you do the following things EXCEPT ________.

A．add a task	B．manage your time
C．assign tasks to others	D．teach you English

【推荐1】Welcome to Biscayne National Park

Biscayne is not very far from the lights and excitement of downtown Miami. But it has a very different atmosphere from the big city. Established as a national monument in 1968, Biscayne National Park includes the northern part of the world-famous Florida Keys which are low-lying islands or reefs.

Biscayne National Park

If you enjoy water, Biscayne is the park for you. You will find the threatened huge, gentle West Indian manatee, the less gentle American crocodile, several kinds of sea turtles and over 500 species of fish. Four ecosystems come together here, which is what makes the park so diverse. The blending ecosystems create ”edge communities.“

Human history

Human history at Biscayne begins more than 10, 000 years ago. Scientists say evidence of the area’s earliest people is mostly underwater now and learn about these people by examining the hills of shells they left behind. As the population grew, it divided into separate cultures. The groups began making pottery and created trade networks. These Native Americans are called the Tequesta. The Tequesta depended on the rich food source of the sea to survive. They were not centered on farming and had more time than other natives for art and religion. The reefs and rough waters made it difficult for early explorers resulting in more than 50 shipwrecks. Scuba divers today can explore six of them.

Exploring the park

Many visitors to Biscayne National Park choose to explore underwater. Guides lead snorkeling and scuba diving trips. At Boca Chita Key, visitors can explore a lighthouse, a symbol of Biscayne National Park built in the 1930s. But visitors to Biscayne National Park probably are not there to see skyscrapers and city lights. The beauty in Biscayne is quiet waters, rustling mangroves.

1. What is the feature of the ecosystem in the Biscayne National Park?

A．The different species of the animals.	B．The mixed biological communities.
C．The low-lying islands or reefs.	D．The clear and warm waters.

2. What can we know from the last two paragraphs?

A．Human history dates back to more than 50, 000 years ago.

B．The Native Americans prefer farming to fishing.

C．Biscayne is a paradise for the water sports enthusiasts.

D．Scuba divers today are to see skyscrapers and city lights.

3. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A personal diary.

B．geography textbook.

C．A A travel magazine.

D．A book review.

【推荐3】Long pull is impractical for short breaks, which is why many look for a local getaway this fall. Explore the East End for the day or spend the night, there is plenty of fun to be had on Long Island this season.

Brew Crew Cycle

For a different way to explore the growing local brewery and pub scene during weekends, try this pedal-powered tour where groups ride a 14-person bike between locations. Come Halloween weekend, riders can wear costumes and take part in trick-or-treating on Oct. 30-31.   

Garden of Eve

Gear up for family fun at Garden of Eve in Riverhead. It will have festive weekend gatherings through Halloween that includes family-friendly fun like unlimited hay rides, a hay tower, pedal karts and farm animals to see. It also has an adults-only beer garden, where guests over 21 years of age can try craft beer and purchase local wines.

Preview at The Chequit

The "Preview" at The Chequit opens mid-September. The restaurant is serving American food and every wine on the menu is native to Long Island. The space is suitable for evening drinks during the week and then an all-day menu Saturdays and Sundays.

Memory Motel   

The Memory Motel has been a summer standard for years, and its warm-weather success has led the spot to be open all year. Open Thursdays through Sundays, DJs will spin Friday and Saturday nights, and a pool table has been added for the offseason months. Holidays will also see special events, and a Halloween party.

1. What is probably the major concern for travelers who go to the East End this fall?

A．Security.

B．Comfort.

C．Distance.

D．Accommodation.

2. Which place best suits people who like to spend the holiday with their family?

A．Preview at The Chequit.	B．Garden of Eve.
C．Brew Crew Cycle.	D．Memory Motel.

3. What is special about Memory Motel?

A．It has Halloween celebrations.	B．It provides local wine.
C．It is open all year around.	D．It has special events during weekends.