Pedigree Matters Less
The Exciting Offer, a reality show
Two participants in particular have attracted a great deal of attention: Wang Xiao, who graduated with a master’s degree in law from Stanford University, and Ding Hui, who
Many Viewers imagined that Wang
You
Well, I hate to rain on your parade (泼冷水),
More importantly, no amount of prestige can make up for being an arrogant know-it-all.
In a word, respect is earned by becoming a worthy role model for others rather than through an excellent pedigree (历史).
2 . The Best Language for Math
What’s the best language for learning math? Hint: You’re not reading it.
Chinese, Japanese and Korean use simpler number words and express math concepts more clearly than English. The language gap is drawing growing attention as confusing English number words have been linked in several studies to weaker counting and arithmetic skill in children in English-speaking countries.
Chinese has just nine number words, while English has more than two dozen. The trouble starts at “11”. English has a unique word for the number, while Chinese (as well as Japanese and Korean, among other languages) have words that can be translated as “ten-one” – spoken with the “ten” first.
English number words over 10 don’t as clearly label place values. Number words for the teens reverse the order of the ones and “teens”, making it easy for children to confuse, say, 17 with 71. As a result, children working with English number words have a harder time doing multi-digit addition and subtraction (减法)
It also feels more natural for Chinese speakers than for English speakers to use the “make-a-ten” addition and subtraction strategy. When adding two numbers, students break down the numbers into parts and regroup them into tens and ones. For instance, 9 plus 5 becomes 9 plus 1 plus 4.
Now, you should feel lucky that you are learning math in China. Thanks to your mother tongue, all math problems just come less confusing and difficult to you!
A.So it’s not easy for English speakers to label place values clearly. |
B.The additional mental steps needed to solve problems cause more errors. |
C.Differences between Chinese and English, in particular, have been studied for decades. |
D.This method is a powerful tool for solving more advanced multi-digit addition and subtraction problems. |
E.Different languages indicate different ways of thinking, causing people to solve math problems differently. |
F.That makes it easier for children to understand the place value as well as making it clear that the number system is based on units of 10. |
3 . One of the roles of the Nobel Prize for literature is to shine a light on someone who has been less visible than they deserve. That role was
Unlike previous popular recipients living in Britain, he is not a
There is a(n)
He began and stuck to writing to
In this sense, Gurnah’s work, which
A.assumed | B.fulfilled | C.interpreted | D.handled |
A.household name | B.black horse | C.new face | D.walking dictionary |
A.demanded | B.tended | C.qualified | D.failed |
A.cast doubt on | B.shown sympathy for | C.taken any notice of | D.put trust in |
A.bridge | B.gulf | C.opposition | D.association |
A.illustration | B.definition | C.navigation | D.accusation |
A.prizing | B.initiating | C.fighting | D.escaping |
A.take care | B.take charge | C.make sense | D.make sure |
A.repeatedly | B.periodically | C.scarcely | D.accidentally |
A.bother with | B.contribute to | C.consist of | D.admit to |
A.spite | B.knowledge | C.empathy | D.necessity |
A.Obviously | B.Naturally | C.Consequently | D.Strikingly |
A.imposed | B.healed | C.received | D.examined |
A.psychological | B.geographical | C.ideological | D.demographical |
A.discounts | B.awards | C.spotlights | D.evaluates |
A. attracted | B. connecting | C. cooperation | D. course | E. implement |
F. original | G. perspective | H. solution | I. unique |
Jul 8, 2021 — On July 25, executive producers Ridley Scott and Kai Hsuing, along with director Kevin Macdonald will invite the global community to pick up cameras to create “Life In A Day 2022”.
In 2010, “Life In A Day” brought the online community together for a massive feature film project that
Exactly 12 years after the
On a single day, Saturday, July 25, people around the world are invited to film their day. Maybe you’ll be filming from home, or maybe you’re in a part of the world where you’re figuring out how to move forward in a different place. Maybe you’re
The final feature film will be edited over the
While only a small number of the submitted clips will make it into the movie, the filmmakers hope the filming day itself becomes a significant day of global participation. The “Life In A Day 2022” project celebrates the importance of everyone’s coming together in a moment of equal worldwide
5 . This Is How Scandinavia Got Great
Almost everybody admires the Nordic model. Countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland have high economic productivity, high social equality, high social trust and high levels of personal happiness.
Nordic nations were ethnically homogeneous(同质的) in 1800, when they were dirt poor. Their economic growth took off just after 1870, way before their welfare states were established.
The 19th-century Nordic elites did something we haven’t been able to do in our country recently. They realized that if their countries were to prosper they had to create truly successful “folk schools” for the least educated among them. They realized that they were going to have to make lifelong learning a part of the natural fabric of society.
Today, Americans often think of schooling as the transmission of specialized skill sets — the student can read, do math and recite the facts of biology.
The Nordic educators worked hard to cultivate each student’s sense of connection to the nation. Before the 19th century, most Europeans identified themselves in local and not national terms.
That educational push seems to have had a lasting influence on the culture. Whether in Stockholm or Minneapolis, Scandinavians have a tendency to joke about the way their sense of responsibility is always nagging at them. They have the lowest rates of corruption in the world. They have a distinctive sense of the relationship between personal freedom and communal responsibility.
A.Bildung is the way that the individual matures and takes upon him or herself ever bigger academic responsibility. |
B.What really launched the Nordic nations was generations of phenomenal educational policy. |
C.Bildung is designed to change the way students see the world. |
D.But the Nordic curriculum conveyed to students a pride in, say, their Danish history, folklore and heritage. |
E.They look at education differently than we do. |
F.The Nordic educators also worked hard to develop the student’s internal awareness. |
6 . There's a loud bang, and then it starts: A battery of an electric car is on fire in the test tunnel. A video of the test impressively shows the energy stored in such batteries: meter-long flames flee in disorder and produce enormous amounts of thick, black smoke. The visibility in the previously brightly lit tunnel section quickly approaches zero. After a few minutes, ashes have spread throughout the room.
"In our experiment we were considering in particular private and public operators of small and large underground or multi-storey car parks," says project leader Lars Derek Mellert,"all these existing underground structures are being used to an increasing extent by electric cars. And the operators ask themselves: “
“
A.The pollutants emitted by a burning vehicle have always been dangerous |
B.What on earth causes Lithium batteries to catch fire |
C.Even the fire brigades do not have to learn anything new on the basis of the tests |
D.The acid can possibly result in death, while its effects may delay after exposure |
E.But in the three tests in the tunnel the concentrations remained far below critical levels |
F.What will happen if such a car catches fire |
7 . Explore some of New Zealand's best skiing & snowboarding field. Whatever your ability, Cardrona has the snow for you!
The 2018 winter season runs from June 16 — October 14,2018.
Half Day & 1 Day lift passes are split into Peak & Off Peak pricing:
Peak — July, August & September Off Peak — June & October
2018 Single Day Ski Passes | Half Day* Off Peak | Half Day* Peak | 1 Day Off Peak | 1 Day Peak | 1 Day Learner | 1 Lift |
Adult | $80 | $85 | $99 | $115 | $65 | $35 |
Child | $45 | $50 | $50 | $60 | $42 | $25 |
Student | $70 | $75 | $85 | $95 | $65 | $35 |
Senior | N/A | N/A | $75 | $85 | $65 | $35 |
* Half day passes: 8.30am — 12.30pm morning, 12.30 — 4pm afternoon
* Rocky Mountain Super Pass holders must book lodging with Cardrona to be eligible for free day passes. Please email reservations@cardrona.com with an accommodation booking request & the lift ticket benefit request.
What pass am I eligible for? Read our lift pass age definitions below to find out.
* Multi passes are valid for both consecutive & non-consecutive days & can be used any time throughout the 2018 winter season at Cardrona only.
Your lift pass will be stored on an electronic RFID pass. To make the most of your clever pass, activate your personal profile online. Once you' re logged into your profile you can:
·Top up your card with lift passes, rental gear, lift & rental packages and lessons.
·Keep track of your on-slope stats at Cardrona (days spent, run count, activities taken, etc. )
Definitions for Lift Passes:
Student: 18+yrs enrolled full time (minimum 32 weeks in a calendar year)with a New Zealand or Australian tertiary institution. Student ID & proof of full time status (letter from institution) is required. ID card must be in English & include a valid expiry date.
Child: Currently attending school, 6-17yrs inclusive. Kids under 6 ski for free in winter, & kids under 9 bike for free in summer! Photo ID will be required.
Senior: 65-74yrs of age. Photo ID will be required.
Under 6yrs &75 Years+: Under 6yrs & over 75yrs, as at June 1, 2018, ski for free. Please collect a complimentary lift pass from the ticket office. Photo ID will be required.
1. After activation of your online profile, what can you do to maximize the value of your pass?A.You can open up the online account of your clever pass. |
B.You can store your lift pass on an electronic RFID pass. |
C.You can monitor what activities you have done at Cardrona. |
D.You can participate in most tutor lessons without any charge. |
A.Cardrona is only open to those who are skilled at snowing or skiing. |
B.Anyone with Rocky Mountain Super Pass can have free access to Cardrona. |
C.Those with 1 Day Off Peak pass are entitled to ski at Cardrona on Oct. 24th |
D.One can get in Cardrona from 8.30 am to 4 pm with 1 Day Peak pass. |
A.$295. | B.$275. | C.$320. | D.$270. |
8 . Switzerland is surrounded by three of Europe’s major—and most populous—countries: France, Germany and Italy. For thousands of years, the region has been a busy trade
Switzerland is a popular place to do business, a center of education and a favorite travel destination. At the heart of this success story lies a stable political system. The county has not gone through any major political changes since the foundation of the federal state inn 1848. This has created space for economic, social and artistic development. Federalism, the successful integration of different cultures, and the mechanisms of direct democracy are all means to increase the
Political stability is also
Stability, a well-developed sense of service and discretion, and a strong currency have turned Switzerland into a leading financial center. From a historical
In terms of income, assets and per capita gross national product. Switzerland ranks among the top in the world.
The
All these factors make Switzerland a safe country with a low crime rate. The Swiss
A.business | B.partner | C.route | D.channel |
A.boasts | B.brags | C.occupies | D.claims |
A.networks | B.links | C.planes | D.tourBys |
A.welfare | B.consciousness | C.participation | D.obligation |
A.complication | B.diversity | C.liberation | D.simplicity |
A.manageable | B.negligible | C.expandable | D.exhaustible |
A.undermined | B.eliminated | C.underrated | D.expressed |
A.Crimes | B.Strikes | C.Accidents | D.Appeals |
A.Thanks to | B.Contrary to | C.In combination with | D.In case of |
A.argument | B.perspective | C.attitude | D.stance |
A.few | B.boundless | C.abundant | D.nonexistent |
A.exceeding | B.variable | C.resulting | D.unbelievable |
A.By contrast | B.To sum up | C.As a rule | D.Put differently |
A.value | B.deny | C.consider | D.suspect |
A.Tie | B.Contribute | C.Add | D.Adjust |
9 . “Is data the new oil?” asked advocates of big data back in 2012 in Forbes magazine. By 2016, with the rise of big data’s fast-growing cousin deep learning, we had become more certain: “Data is the new oil,” stated Fortune magazine.
Amazon’s Neil Lawrence has a slightly different comparison: Data is coal. Not coal today, though, but coal in the early days of the 18th century, when Thomas Newcomen invented the steam engine. Newcomen built his device to pump water out of the southwest’s rich tin (锡) mines.
The problem, as Lawrence said, was that the pump was rather more useful to those who had a lot of coal than those who didn’t: it was good, but not good enough to be able to buy enough coal in to run it. That was so true that the first of Newcomen’s steam engines wasn’t built in a tin mine, but in coal works near Dudley.
So why is data coal? The problem is similar: there are a lot of Newcomen in the world of deep learning. New companies are coming up with revolutionary new ways to train machines to do impressive tasks, from reconstructing facial data from images to learning the writing style of an individual user to better predict which word they are going to type in a sentence. And yet, like Newcomen, their innovations are so much more useful to the people who actually have large amounts of raw material to work from.
But there is an ending to the story: 69 years later, James Watt made a nice change to the Newcomen steam engine, adding a condenser (冷凝器) to the design. That change, Lawrence said, “made the steam engine much more efficient, and that’s what triggered the industrial revolution.”
Whether data is oil or coal, then, there’s another way the comparison holds up: a lot of work is going into trying to make sure we can do more, with less.
“If you look at all the areas where deep learning is successful, they’re all areas where there’s lots of data,” points out Lawrence. That’s great if you want to classify images of cats, but less helpful if you want to use deep learning to diagnose rare illnesses. “It’s generally considered unacceptable to force people to become sick in order to acquire data.”
It’s not as impressive as teaching a computer to play a game better than any human alive, but “data efficiency” is a vital step if deep learning is to move away from simply taking in large amounts of data and giving out the best correlations (关联) possible.
1. The first of Newcomen’s steam engines wasn’t built in a tin mine because________.A.its operation required a lot of coal | B.it would lose its function in a tin mine |
C.it was in greater demand in coal works | D.the rich mines required more advanced aids |
A.Reconstructing facial data. | B.Predicting a word in a sentence. |
C.Classifying images of cats. | D.Diagnosing rare diseases. |
A.Watt’s condenser helped the steam engine consume less coal. |
B.Data involving patients is often collected through immoral ways. |
C.Teaching machines to learn is a vital step towards data efficiency. |
D.Thomas Newcomen’s steam engine had revolutionary applications. |
A.acquiring data is as complex as mining for coal |
B.a change is required to make more out of less data |
C.data is the new fuel to start an information revolution |
D.a larger amount of data is needed to accomplish something |
10 . SPORTS EVENTS
BASKETBALL Central Sports Center, ★City Road All Stars vs. Rockets, Sat. 8:30 p.m., $12 ★Northerners vs. Tigers, Sun. noon, $10 | LAWN BOWLS Tans Town B.C ●Tans Town vs. White Vale Sun. 9:00 a.m. Wake Hill B.C ●Wake Hill vs. Colls, Sat. 2:00 p.m. |
BUSHWALKING ◆Meet at Wanda Station, Sat. 9:00 a.m. sharp for hour. ◆Walk to Canary Mountains $5, ph 5432868 ◆Meet at Westley Station, Sun. 9:00 a.m. Sharp for full day ◆Walk to Wombat Valley $5, ph 3416384. Bring your own lunch | FOOTBALL St. Martins Sports Center ▼Martins vs. Doonsberg, Sat. 2:00 p.m. $8 ▼Eastside Central vs. Light Hill, Sun 2:00 p.m. $8 ▼Neil Park Recreation Center Neil Park vs. Robinson, Sat. 2:00 p.m. $11 ▼Essen vs. Springwood, Sun. 2:00 p.m. $11 |
A.Martins vs. Doonsberg and Wake Hill vs. Colls. |
B.Northerners vs. Tigers and Eastside Central vs. Light Hill. |
C.Essen vs. Springwood and Eastside Central vs. Light Hill. |
D.Neil Park vs. Robinson and Northerners vs. Tigers. |
A.Martins vs. Doonsberg | B.Eastside Central vs. Light Hill |
C.All Stars vs. Rockets | D.Neil Park vs. Robinson |
A.Sat 8:30 | B.Sun noon | C.Sat 2:00 p.m. | D.Sun 2:00 p.m. |