1 . The world has seen many inventions. While most people are proud of those associate with their names, there are things making inventors feel the other way.
The pop-up (弹出) advert, by Ethan Zuckerman
Pop-up ads are convenient for those who are interested, but most people get annoyed when they are on computers. They may contain computer viruses. Just as we would blame the inventor, the man humbly accepted his invention isn’t one of the best. In his essay, Zuckerman wrote about the most hateful thing, “I wrote the code to launch the window and run an ad in it.”
The emoticon, by Scott E. Fahlman
Emoticons began to occupy screens crazily in 2011 and gained great popularity, especially with young men. It had been four years since Fahlman first used a “smiley face” in a computer message. He created the emoticon as a joke marker. But things are different. “It has gone to places I don’t approve of,” he complained to The Wall Street Journal in 2013. “It shouldn’t have been created.”
The office cubicle (隔间), by Bob Propst
In 1968, Bob Propst came up with the idea office cubicles, something that “would build a futuristic and tidy office style with no real walls or doors and provide a more comfortable environment”. But the man has come to hate what he has invented, as Propst recalled to Fortune at age 80, “They’ve changed and just become cubicles”.
The K-Cup, by John Sylvan
It seems everyone has a Keurig coffee maker for K-Cups. John Sylvan invented the K-Cup, aimed at facilitating office life of white-collar workers. Now it’s common in houses and companies. However, the single-serve plastic coffee cups aren’t eco-friendly. “I feel bad sometimes that I ever did it”, Sylvan admits. But! Good news for Mr. Sylvan: Keuring now offers varieties of recyclable K-Cups.
1. When was the emoticon invented?| A．In 2007. | B．In 2009. | C．In 2011. | D．In 2013. |
| A．The pop-up advert. | B．The emoticon. | C．The office cubicle. | D．The K-Cup. |
| A．They benefit human life greatly. |
| B．Their creators are blamed by the public. |
| C．Their inventors feel regretful. |
| D．They are very popular with young people. |
This was it.
Today was the day.
Finally, she would be able to see her again.
It’d been five long years. Her university days now felt like a lifetime ago. When Jennifer thought back to it, she didn’t like the girl she had been then, but when she thought about Yui Fay, that discomfort disappeared and her whole life lit up.
She couldn’t be more excited. She kept imagining their meeting – how they would run towards each other, hugging and talking of the old times. As she imagined, happiness spread through her body.
It was time to get dressed. As she was struggling about what to wear, she spotted a red summer dress, which she wore that night in Barcelona. She would never forget that night five years before. After a hard week at university, Yui Fay and she spontaneously (心血来潮地) bought bus tickets to Barcelona. They slept on the bus and then spent the whole day exploring the city. In the evening, they met these fun young guys and spent the whole night singing and dancing. Every day with Yui Fay was fun.
After university Yui Fay went back to China where she took over her family’s business, while Jennifer took the job in an office. They promised to keep in contact. But then life happened. The occasional calls faded with time and they had not talked for over two years. Yet, of all her friends, Yui Fay was still the one she felt the closest to. She knew all her fears, dreams, and her wildest stories. She knew that if something happened, Yui Fay would be there for her no matter what. And vice versa. Some friendships just survive the passage of time.
Yet the idea of meeting her was also terrifying. What if…? The idea was too hard to put into words. What if the person she was so fond of was no longer? What if this dinner turned out to be nothing more than a meeting between two boring businesswomen?
At that moment, her cellphone rang.
注意：
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Jennifer took up her phone and looked at the screen.
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Just then, someone was coming towards Jennifer.
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