Each of Apple’s products such as the iPhone and the iPad sounds cool and has become a fashion. Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i”, and many other brands are following suit. The BBC iPlayer, which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet, used the title in 2008. A lovely bear-popular in the US and the UK-that plays music and video is called iTeddy. A simplified version of The Independent was launched in 2010 under the name i.
In general, single-letter prefixes (前缀) have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came into use.
Most “i” products are aimed at young people and considering the major readers of The Independent’s sister paper “I”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.
But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i”. Why not use “a”, “b”, or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, former Director of the Language Centre at King’s College London, “i” works because its meaning has become unclear. “When Apple uses ‘i’, no one knows whether it means the Internet, information, individual or interactive,” Thorne told BBC Magazines. “Even when Apple created the iPad, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition,” he said.
“However, thanks to Apple, the term is now connected with portability (轻便),” added Thorne.
Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western world is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and they love personalized products for this reason.
Along with “Google” and “blog”, readers of BBC Magazines voted “i” as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.
But as history shows, people grow tired of fashion. From the 1900s to the 1990s products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was connected with all things advanced and modern.
However, as we entered the new century, the trend unavoidably disappeared.
1. Why do people use iPlayer?| A．To listen to music. | B．To make a call. |
| C．To read newspapers. | D．To watch TV programs online. |
| A．Engineers. | B．Fashionable women. |
| C．Young readers. | D．Old readers. |
| A．“i” products are often of high quality. |
| B．Actually nobody likes products with “2000”. |
| C．Fashion is closely connected with time. |
| D．The popularity of “i” products may not last long. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】A survey of 1,000 people showed that an incredible 60 percent of workers ate at their desks every day while two thirds take 30 minutes or less for lunch. This means they are working an extra 180 hours a year—equal to 16 eight-hour days. Even when staffs do manage to leave their desks, they are usually on business with nearly a quarter admitting to regularly using the time to catch up with professional contacts.
An academic expert in the science of workplaces said employees were putting their health at risk by refusing to take a lunch break. Dr Tissington, Associate Dean of Business Partnerships at Aston University, said people feel “under pressure” at work, with many spending long hours at their desks, “tapping away at keyboards, staring at screens and sitting with bad posture in awkward positions.”
He said it was important for workers to take regular breaks, get up, move and walk around a bit. “Resting, or taking a break in the middle of the day helps to clear out the mind and prepares us for a productive afternoon,” he said. “The feeling of guilt for taking lunch breaks is a subject that is concerning and probably requires proper investigation,” he added.
Dr. Tissington mentioned he makes sure to get away from his desk at lunchtime and deliberately chooses to get lunch from different places—changing his route to get there. “This has the added benefit of exercise,” he explained,” and, working in a large organization, it gives me the opportunity to meet different colleagues along the way.”
Office workers had admitted to sacrificing their lunch breaks to further their careers. PR assistant Tammy Phillips, 24, said he hadn’t taken a lunch break since past two years. “The way I view it is that I can get on with work when it’s quieter at lunch time and it never hurts your career for the bosses to see you at your desk when your colleagues swan out for a sandwich,” he said.
“The competition for jobs now is so fierce that I’ve known friends who have quit smoking because they don’t want to be seen to go out for a cigarette during the day.”
1. We can learn from the first paragraph that ________.| A．workers want to escape from their work |
| B．many workers do not take a full lunch break |
| C．different workers have different lunch breaks |
| D．most workers are not permitted to have a full lunch break |
| A．He enjoys physical exercise. |
| B．He feels guilty at taking lunch breaks. |
| C．He likes to stay away from his colleagues. |
| D．He takes different routes to have lunch purposely. |
| A．Time for Having a Lunch Break |
| B．An Increasingly Popular Working Style |
| C．Lunch Skippers Work Extra 16 Days Yearly |
| D．Giving up a Lunch Break: Risk Your Health |
【推荐2】We are having a debate about this topic:Forget Cyclists, Pedestrians Are Real
Danger. Here are some letters from our readers.
■ Yes, many cyclists behave dangerously. Many drivers are disrespectful of cyclists. But pedestrians are probably the worst offenders. People of all ages happily walk along the pavement with eyes and hands glued to the mobile phone, quite unaware of what is going on around them. They may even do the same thing while crossing a road at a pedestrian crossing or elsewhere. The rest of us have to evade (避让)them or just stand still to wait for the unavoidable collision. The real problem is that some pedestrians seem to be, at least for the moment, in worlds of their own that are, to them, much more important than the welfare of others. —Michael Horan ■ Cyclists jump on and off pavements （which are meant for pedestrians）, ride at speed along the pavements, and think they have a special right to go through traffic lights when they are on red. I was almost knocked down recently by a cyclist riding on the pavement when there was a cycle lane right next to him. Other road users, including horse riders, manage to obey the rules so why not cyclists? It’s about time they were registered and insured, so when they do hit a pedestrian or a vehicle, or cause an accident, at least they can be treated and there might be an opportunity to claim compensation. —JML ■ I loved the letter from Bob Brooks about cyclists {Viewpoints, May 29}. I am afraid they seem to think they own the roads. I was walking across Altrincham Road one morning when a cyclist went round me and on being asked what he was doing he shouted at me. The government built a cycle lane on the road but it is hardly used. The police do nothing. What a laugh they are! The cyclists should all have to be made to use the cycle lanes and wear helmets, fluorescent （发荧光的）jackets and lights at night and in the morning. They should pay some sort of tax and be fined for not wearing them. —Carol Harvey Write to Viewpoints of the newspaper. |
| A．drivers should be polite to cyclists |
| B．road accidents can actually be avoided |
| C．walking while using phones hurts one’s eyes |
| D．some pedestrians are a threat to road safety |
| A．Cyclists should be fined for laughing at policemen |
| B．Cyclists should be provided with enough roads |
| C．Cyclists should be asked to ride on their own lanes |
| D．Cyclists should be made to pay less tax for cycling |
| A．increased awareness of road rules | B．ways to improve road facilities |
| C．measures to punish road offenses | D．the real source of road danger |
【推荐3】Many people who work in London prefer to live outside it, and to go in to their offices and schools every day by train, car or bus, even though this means they have to get up early in the morning and reach home late in the evening.
One advantage of living outside London is that the houses are cheaper. Even a small flat in London without a garden costs quite a lot to rent. With the same money, one can get a little house in the country with a garden of one’s own.
Then, in the country, one can rest from the noise and hurry of the town. Even though one has to get up earlier and spend more time on trains or buses, one can sleep better at night. Besides, during weekends and on summer evenings, one can enjoy the fresh, clean air of the country. If one likes gardens, one can spend one’s free time digging, planting, watering, and doing the hundred and one other jobs which are needed in a garden. Then, when the flowers and vegetables come up, one has the reward of one who has shared the secret of Nature.
Some people, however, take no interest in country things: for them, happiness lies in the town, with its cinemas and theatres, beautiful shops and busy streets, dance-halls and restaurants. Such people would feel that their life was not worth living if they had to live it outside London. An occasional walk in one of the parks and a fortnight’s (two weeks) visit to the sea every summer is all the country they want: the rest they are quite prepared to leave to those who are glad to get away from London every night.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?| A．Some people who work in the country prefer to live in the city |
| B．Some people who work in the city prefer to live in the country |
| C．Those who live in London wake up early and get home late |
| D．Those who live in London must travel by train, car or bus every day |
| A．a small house with a garden in London |
| B．a large house with a garden in the country |
| C．a small flat with a garden in the country |
| D．a small house with a garden in the country |
| A．one can’t sleep so well as in the city | B．one has to spend more time on transport |
| C．one has to spend a long time in the garden | D．one is likely to be poorer |
| A．spend all of their time in the town | B．feel their life is not worth living |
| C．enjoy cinemas, shops and crowds | D．share the secret of Nature |
| A．the rest of their time | B．the rest of the people |
| C．the rest of the country | D．the rest of the parks and sea |
【推荐1】Now, a new study has uncovered a simple physical rule that governs ant rafts (蚂蚁筏): shrink and expand. The discovery could one day lead to the design of robots that work in groups.
Individually, ants are not as smart as people think, but collectively, they can form very smart and flexible organizations. For example, after storms in the southeastern United States, fire ants form giant floating rafts to survive rough waters.
Researchers used mathematical models to work out the mechanics behind these floating rafts. They found that the faster the ants on a raft moved, the more the raft expanded outwards, often forming long stretches. This behavior is automatic in nature and does not require any central decision making.
The researchers also conducted experiments to uncover the secrets of the ant raft. They put thousands of fire ants in a bucket of water with a plastic stick in the middle, and they waited.
What they eventually saw was that rafts started to form, and instead of these structures staying the same shape over time, they kept shrinking and expanding until they formed dense colonies. Sometimes the ants spread out like pancake batter (面糊) on a frying pan, and sometimes they shrank to form bridges. Each ant raft was made up of two layers. At the bottom, structural ants stuck together to form a base. Above them was a second layer of ants, which were free to walk on top of other ants. Over a period of time, ants climbed from the bottom to the top.
When they let the game play out, researchers found simulated (模拟的) ant rafts behaved like they were in the real world. The more the ants walked, the more likely they were to form long stretches stretching out from the raft, like people gathering for the exit in a crowded stadium.
Research on fire ants will hopefully help understand how simple rules can be written to instruct robot show to interact with others to achieve targeted group responses.
1. What plays an important role in the size of ant rafts?| A．The speed of ants. | B．The central decision. |
| C．The division of labor. | D．The number of ants. |
| A．Size | B．Function. | C．Shape. | D．Formation. |
| A．Education. | B．Society. | C．Technology. | D．Environment. |
【推荐2】Even with the most recent advances in medicine, your beloved cat won’t live forever, but will it someday be possible to revive your cat with cloning?
On December 22, 2001, scientists at Texas A & M University announced the birth of CC, the world’s first cloned cat. CC has the same DNA blueprint as her genetic mother, Rainbow. But a closer view in color reveals they don’t actually look identical. Rainbow has a lot of orange in her fur while CC has no orange coloring at all.
So why the difference in appearance? A clone is never actually identical and the most obvious difference is coat color. The orange coat color gene in cats is randomly activated in some clusters (簇) of skin cells. When activated, the skin cells produce orange fur, otherwise they would produce black fur.
But physical appearance was just the start of the differences seen between Rainbow and CC. Personality is where the largest gaps to emerge, since a lot of factors greatly change behavioral development. These influences start in the womb (子宫) with factors as simple as nutrition. Kittens of mothers who lack nutrition delay in crawling, eye opening, climbing and playing. Once the youngsters are born, their environment becomes even more diverse and differences become more obvious. As expected, social contact with the mother during the first four weeks is essential to normal emotional development. Those lacking this contact are unusually fearful of other cats and people. They’re also slow in thinking and show difficulty learning.
The difference in personality between CC and Rainbow were clear. Rainbow was reserved while CC was curious and outgoing. When CC was five, she had three kittens “the natural way”. She died when she was 18 years old, three years longer than the average life span of a cat.
The take home message with CC is that cloning will not revive your pet. Instead, you would be more likely to get something that looked similar to your beloved pet but that acted quite differently, or your clone could even end up looking like a complete stranger.
1. Why does CC look different from Rainbow?| A．Certain gene of CC was inactivated. |
| B．CC didn’t get enough nutrition. |
| C．Their DNA blueprints were different. |
| D．CC had little social contact with Rainbow. |
| A．The physical differences between CC and Rainbow. |
| B．The important role nutrition plays in behavioral development. |
| C．Factors contributing to CC and Rainbow’s different personalities. |
| D．The importance of social contact to emotional development. |
| A．She had a quiet and reserved personality. |
| B．She has nothing in common with Rainbow. |
| C．She was cloned for commercial use. |
| D．She lived a long life. |
| A．It is realistic. | B．It’s understandable. |
| C．It’s unwise. | D．It’s harmful. |
【推荐3】Welcome to Haida Heritage Centre
The Haida Heritage Centre has become an award-winning cultural tourist attraction on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia's northwest coast.It protects Haida culture by showing our traditions and beliefs, encouraging artistic expression and serving as a keeper of all that we are.The Haida Heritage Centre is a place for the Haida voice to be heard.
Upcoming Events
6th Annual Art auction(拍卖)& Fundraiser
November 16, 2019, 6-10 p.m.
Skidegate Community hall
Admission Rates:$30.00- Contributing Artists & Seniors
$40.00-Public
6th Annual Kay Christmas
December 8,2019
Come and celebrate the holiday season with kids' games and holiday movies.Santa may also show up for some pictures!
Admission Rates: Adult: $16.00
Senior: $15.00
Children 6-12: $5.00
Children under 5 Free
Transportation
Air Canada
Daily flight from Vancouver International Airport to Sandspit.Then take the BC Ferries(轮渡)across to Skidegate Landing.The Haida Heritage Centre is a 10-minute walk from Skidegate Landing.
Pacific Coastal Airlines
Daily service from Vancouver's South Terminal to Masset during the summer and service three times a week during the winter season.To reach the Haida Heritage Centre, it is a 1-hour-30-minute drive to Skidegate from Masset.
BC Ferries
A.six-hour ferry ride from the city of Prince Rupert to Skidegate Landing 2-3 times a week.Reservations are a must.
1. Which is the least likely purpose of founding the Haida Heritage Centre?| A．To develop Haida arts. | B．To preserve Haida culture. |
| C．To sell Haida traditional products. | D．To show Haida traditions and beliefs. |
| A．$32.00. | B．$35.00. |
| C．$36.00 | D．$37.00 |
| A．BC.Ferries. | B．Pacific Coastal airlines. |
| C．Air Canada. | D．Vancouver's South Termine. |
