1 . Frida Kahlo was one of the most influential Latin American figures of the 20th century. As the daughter of a German father and a Mexican mother, she was born on July 6, 1907. She grew up in Coyoacan, on the outskirts of Mexico City.
When she was seven, a viral disease called polio made her very sick, weakening the muscles in her right leg. While in school, Kahlo witnessed a number of bloody struggles between armed groups in Mexico City during the Mexican Revolution. It was essentially a fight for better living conditions for the disadvantaged. Because of her experiences in Mexico City, Kahlo became a strong supporter of peasants' rights. Later, in 1925, she was in a bus accident that broke her backbone, dislocated her shoulder, and caused other terrible injuries.
To relieve the boredom of recovery and to help deal with the pain and sadness of the accident, she began to paint. In her paintings, Kahlo really explored her identity. Her Work deals wither status as a woman, her mixed ancestry, her turbulent marriage to Mexican communist painter Diego Rivera, the pain of her injuries, and her commitment to revolutionary politics. Many people consider her paintings examples of surrealism, since much of what she painted was fantastical, but Kahlo never considered herself a surrealist. Kahlo's work is unique because she took the bright colors and dramatic symbolism of Mexican culture and combined them with traditions from European art.
In the most famous painting called "Two Fridas," she paints two versions of herself, one in traditional Mexican clothes and another in European clothes of an earlier century. A vein (静脉) connects the hearts of the two women, and blood is dripping out from one end. This was painted just after she and Rivera got divorced. If you look closely. you can see that the Mexican Kahlo holds a portrait of Rivera. Symbols such as the exposed hearts and stormy sky suggest the pain that Kahlo felt. Check out how one of the hearts is broken. and the other one's whole. She seems to be suggesting that Rivera only loved the Mexican part of hers.
In a lot of ways, Kahlo had an unhappy life. She died when she was only 47 years old. Her art is filled with sadness, but it also expresses pride in her Mexican heritage and the joy of being a woman.
1. What led Kahlo to support the rights of poor laborers?A.The fact that her father was a German migrant laborer. |
B.The time she spent working as a laborer during the 1920s. |
C.Her marriage to the Mexican nationalist painter Diego Rivera. |
D.Her experiences in Mexico City during the Mexican Revolution. |
A.①②③ | B.②①③ | C.②③① | D.③①② |
A.artistically well-matched | B.fantastic and extremely loving |
C.filled with dramatic ups and downs | D.very politically conscious |
A.They both focused on gender identity. | B.They both promoted socialist politics. |
C.They both contained dreamlike imagery | D.They both combined Mexican and European art. |
2 . Imagine sitting inside a windowless train that's shooting through a tube at twice the speed of an airplane. Your train has no wheels, produces no
Hyperloop developers plan to use the properties of magnets to float, stabilize, and drive the capsules or pods for hundreds of miles through
Supporters of the technology promote additional
Developers also say that hyperloop tubes would be
But not everyone is on board. Engineers have calculated that the high-speed vehicles will need to make much wider turns than currently envisioned, and otherwise they won't be
Hyperloop companies say they're
A.pollution | B.sound | C.energy | D.wind |
A.cleanest | B.lightest | C.latest | D.fastest |
A.adapted | B.exploited | C.embraced | D.developed |
A.totally hollow | B.nearly airless | C.steadily narrow | D.highly flexible |
A.advantages | B.costs | C.qualities | D.situations |
A.in constant demands | B.on strict timetables | C.in changeable states | D.on essential services |
A.cabins | B.lorries | C.tubes | D.vehicles |
A.fare | B.capacity | C.speed | D.comfort |
A.underground | B.parallel | C.elevated | D.shared |
A.However | B.Therefore | C.Beside | D.Otherwise |
A.available | B.economic | C.easy | D.safe |
A.force | B.air | C.heat | D.water |
A.most popular of | B.superior to | C.no better than | D.least profitable of |
A.addressing | B.causing | C.voicing | D.releasing |
A.ride | B.pilot | C.park | D.alert |
A.definitely;B.suffering;C.acceptance;D.discouraged;E. supposedly F.terms;G.optimism;H.sustained;I. punishing;J.favored;K.obstacle |
Happiness is not natural.It is a here human construct. A state of contentment(let alone happiness) is
Chasing happiness is like chasing an elusive ghost, but the positive thinking industry claims to know its secrets.Self-help was popularized by Norman Vincent Peale, a colorful American pastor,
Popular films and books are full of
The self-help genre is not a homegeneous beast, however. It is,in fact, ironie how self-help books on happiness and those on how to make it big in life are lumped together in the same bookshop shelves, given that many of the former tell us that caring too much about the latter is the main
The inevitable clash between mandatory
I believe that coming to
4 . I recently had the unique honor of returning to my university, as a guest lecturer, to talk about opinion and fact in news media and how to tell the two apart. During my class, I quizzed the students using 10 statements which they had to decide were either opinion or fact. Some students did a good job while others failed.
A Pew Research poll conducted among Americans in 2018 showed that only 26 percent of adults could identify the five factual statements, and only 35 percent could identify the five opinion statements.
This is possibly because, according to a recent report by the RAND Corporation — a non-profit, non-partisan think-tank based on Los Angeles — “US-based journalism has gradually shifted away from objective news and offers more opinion-based content that appeals to emotion and relies heavily on argumentation and advocacy.”
Their study looked at US news reporting over a 28-year period and found that “journalism in the US has become more subjective and consists less of the detailed event or context-based reporting that used to characterize news coverage,” according to Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior political scientist and lead author of the report.
This will probably come as a surprise to no one, or at least no one outside the United States where subjective and emotive reporting has clearly hampered the population’s ability to separate fact and opinion and deal with each with a healthy amount of skepticism.
So, what is opinion?
Opinion is someone’s subjective belief or view that cannot be proven as fact. Opinion will often feature adjectives like amazing, perfect, unbeatable, dreadful, grotesque, embarrassing.
As an opinion writer myself, you’ll often see those kinds of words here in my column, but since my weekly rants are clearly not news reports, you know to take whatever I say just as an opinion and form your own opinion if you so desire.
Here’s an example of an opinion-based statement: “Wes Anderson is an amazing filmmaker.” There’s no way of proving that statement as fact, because it’s subjective.
What is fact?
Fact is an objective statement or account of something real which can be proven. Factual accounts should not include adjectives like amazing, perfect, unbeatable, dreadful, grotesque or embarrassing. Here’s an example: “Wes Anderson won the Silver Bear for Best Director in 2018.”
Sound easy? Well, it really is, apart from the fact that news media in-the United States often purposefully or subconsciously mix opinion and fact, effectively blurring the line between the two so much that now many Americans can’t tell the difference.
Spotting deception
You can improve your news reading skills by keeping an eye out for the common markers of opinion in news reporting. The easiest is to look for adjectives, which are usually always markers of opinion and will sometimes be hidden inside news reporting to nefariously affect the reader’s understanding.
Here’s a quick example using a headline: “Impressive crowd of 10,000 turn out for march.” Can you see the adjective in that headline? The word “impressive” is the writer’s own opinion mixed in with a factual statement about the number of people who turned out for a march. By using that adjective, the writer is pushing you to see the march as a success and to feel that the cause behind the march has a lot of public support. That isn’t necessarily the case, and similarly a writer with another opinion could pen this headline: “Only 10,000 turn out for march.” See the difference?
Improve your news eye
I hope this short foray into a tiny aspect of news media has helped a little and that now you’re just a little bit more apt at separating fact from, well, fiction. In today’s world, that skill is more important than ever.
1. Which of the following statements about US-based journalism is true?A.It is characterized by the detailed event or context-based reporting. |
B.It fails to appeal to people’s emotion when reporting news events. |
C.It results in people’s inability to distinguish facts from opinions. |
D.It helps to cultivate a healthy amount of skepticism in people. |
A.Turning to opinion writers for help. |
B.Looking for specific adjectives. |
C.Reading as much news as possible. |
D.Figuring out the hidden meaning. |
①Increasing the federal minimum wage to US$15 an hour is essential for the health of the US economy.
②Health care costs per person in the US are the highest in the developed world.
③Immigrants who are in the US illegally have some rights under the Constitution.
④Democracy is the greatest form of government.
⑤Immigrants who are in the US illegally are a very big problem for the country today.
⑥President Barack Obama was born in the United States.
A.①②③ | B.④⑤⑥ | C.②③⑥ | D.①⑤⑥ |
A.To attract more readers for his column. |
B.To call for joint efforts by news agencies to cooperate. |
C.To warn the danger of lack of news reading skills. |
D.To provide advice on how to distinguish facts from opinions. |
5 . Many early approaches to language technology — and particularly translation — get
Nearly all language technologies began to get a lot better with the application of
Thanks to the growing power of processors, falling prices for data storage and, most crucially, the explosion in available data, this approach eventually
The final advance, which began only about five years ago, came with the arrival of deep learning through digital neural networks (DNNS). These are often claimed to have qualities similar to those of the
Almost by chance, DNN researchers discovered that the graphical processing units (GPUs)
A.buried | B.engaged | C.absorbed | D.stuck |
A.essence | B.persuasion | C.origin | D.practice |
A.consideration | B.thought | C.promise | D.exposure |
A.laid off | B.lagged behind | C.broke down | D.died out |
A.experimental | B.statistical | C.financial | D.instructional |
A.What’s more | B.In other words | C.For example | D.By contrast |
A.sense | B.deal | C.effort | D.guess |
A.came into being | B.bore fruit | C.took effect | D.caught up |
A.permission | B.license | C.access | D.reference |
A.human brain | B.information technology | C.computer programming | D.artificial intelligence |
A.Therefore | B.However | C.Likewise | D.Indeed |
A.meaning | B.quality | C.purpose | D.basis |
A.adapted | B.used | C.claimed | D.suited |
A.changeable | B.liable | C.desirable | D.usable |
A.put out | B.worked out | C.watched out | D.pointed out |
Living in the countryside?
Rolling hills and endless green pastures — those images are easy to conjure when thinking of the peaceful country lifestyle.
When lockdowns descended upon many countries across the world during the pandemic, social media seemed to be dominated by pictures of cottages and village life. So, why is living in the countryside becoming a modern fantasy — and are there benefits to considering a slower pace of life?
It makes sense that some people would want to give up the crowded and noisy city streets for the perceived tranquility of the traditional country life — especially during an event like a pandemic. The lockdowns and extensive periods of working from home have given people time to think about what they want from life. But it’s not just about having a greener place to look at out your window.
There is more evidence that relates to the benefits of rural living. Villages aren’t normally subject to the stop-go traffic we see in city centres, the buses fighting with taxis for dominance, or metro systems with trains that scream from one station to the next. In short, there’s less air pollution in your country retreat — a thing which increases the chances of developing respiratory conditions or heart disease. You also get more opportunities to take long walks and see the sights, meaning you can get more exercise. Less noise, more walks and better air can also lead to less stress and an increased life expectancy, according to studies such as one conducted by the British government in 2012.
However, there are some things that need to be considered.
Weather can be a large drawback when it comes to moving to the countryside. In some parts of the country, the winters bring blizzards and the spring brings torrential rains and flooding.
Living .far from the hustle and bustle of the city means that some, people may feel isolated or even lonely. And as people get older, life far from doctors or public transport could become a bit of a challenge.
So, if you’re considering a change of pace and moving to a picturesque village, there is a range of pros and cons to consider before taking the plunge.
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Mutton’s Not Just a Winter Delicacy Anymore
Winter is often deemed the best season to eat mutton, but that is not the case in Shanghai.
The annual mutton festival began today in Zhuanghang Town, Fengxian District,
Running until August 22, the festival features tasting and cooking events
The history of eating mutton in sanfu,
Mutton braised in soy sauce and plain boiled mutton are popular in Zhuanghang during the festival. A must-have accompaniment to mutton is shaojiu (a Chinese rice spirit); the tradition of tasting mutton with shaojiu is listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Shanghai.
Mutton has a reputation for its tender taste, marbled texture, rich flavors and thick soup. According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, goat meat, like beef and lamb, is considered a “hot” food and thus
But for hundreds of years, the people of Zhuanghang town in Fengxian district
Li Yingchun, boss of a local goat meat restaurant in Zhuanghang, claims that his restaurant receives 8,000 to 10,000 customers on average every weekday. The number
The Fengxian District Culture and Tourism Bureau said it is with the help of the traditional festival which caters to the travel, dining, entertaining and leisure demand of tourists
8 . AI In the Future Workplace
Artificial Intelligence is making its way into business. As our special report this week explains, firms of all types are exploiting AI to forecast demand, hire workers and deal with customers. In 2017 companies spent around $22 billion on AI-related mergers and acquisitions, about 26 times more than in 2015. The McKinsey Global Institute, a think-tank within a consultancy, claims that just applying AI to marketing, sales and supply chains could create economic value, including profits and efficiencies, of $2.7 billion over the next 20 years.
Such forecasts fuel anxiety as well as hope. Start with the benefits. AI ought to improve productivity. Humanyze collects data from employees' calendars and e-mails to work out, say, whether office layouts favor teamwork.
Yet AI's benefits will come with many potential drawbacks. Algorithms (计算程序) may not be free of the prejudices of their programmers.
A.They can also have unintended consequences. |
B.Some people are better placed than others to stop employers going too far. |
C.These numbers are so impressive that we can't help feeling afraid of the power of AI. |
D.However, some small companies may not have enough money to be equipped with AI technology. |
E.Slack, a workplace messaging app, helps managers assess how quickly employees accomplish tasks. |
F.Google's boss has gone so far as to declare that AI will do more for humanity than fire or electricity. |
9 . Unlike so-called basic emotions such as sadness, fear and anger, guilt emerges a little later, in line with a child's growing grasp of social and moral standards. Children aren't born knowing how to say “I'm sorry”; rather, they learn over time that such statements appease parents and friends—and their own consciences. This is why researchers generally regard so-called moral guilt, in the right amount, to be a good thing.
In the popular imagination, of course, guilt still gets a bad reputation. It is deeply uncomfortable—it's the emotional equivalent of wearing a jacket stuffed with stones. Yet this understanding is outdated. “There has been a kind of revival or a rethinking about what role guilt can serve”, says Amrisha Vaish, a psychology researcher at the University of Virginia, adding that this revival is part of a larger recognition that emotions aren't binary-feelings that may be advantageous in one context may be harmful in another. Jealousy and anger, for example, may have evolved to alert us to important inequalities. Too much happiness can be destructive.
And guilt, by prompting us to think more deeply about our own goodness, can encourage humans to make up for errors and fix relationships. Guilt, in other words, can help hold a cooperative species together. It is a kind of social glue.
Viewed in this light, guilt is an opportunity. Work by Tina Malti, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto, suggests that guilt may compensate for an emotional deficiency. In a number of studies, Malti and others have shown that guilt and sympathy may represent different pathways to cooperation and sharing. Some kids who are low in sympathy may make up for that shortfall by experiencing more guilt, which can control their disgusting behaviors. And vice versa: high sympathy can substitute for low guilt.
In a 2014 study, for example, Malti looked at 244 children. Using caregiver assessments and the children's self-observations, she rated each child's overall sympathy level and his or her tendency to feel negative emotions after moral wrongdoings. Then the kids were handed chocolate coins, and given a chance to share them with an anonymous child. For the low-sympathy kids, how much they shared appeared to turn on how likely they were to feel guilty. The ones more likely to feel guilty tended to share more, even though they hadn't magically become more sympathetic to the other children.
“That's good news,” Malti says. “We can be prosocial because we caused harm and we feel regret.”
1. The underlined word “appease” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to “_________”.A.content | B.disappoint | C.amuse | D.distract |
A.general impression of guilt being overestimated |
B.incorrect idea about the nature and function of guilt |
C.out-of date belief of guilt being their primary burden |
D.long-held prejudice against those who often feel guilty |
A.It's necessary to ensure kids feel guilty about their wrongdoings. |
B.Regretful kids need to be given a chance to correct their behaviors. |
C.Feeling guilty has the power to make kids become more sympathetic |
D.The highest guilt could possibly be found in kids with the lowest sympathy. |
A.Guilt vs Sympathy | B.Good News for Guilty People |
C.Don't feel Guilty About Your Guilt | D.What Lies Underneath Your Guilt |
Price: $349
Staying focused on the road while glancing at your smart-phone or sat nav for directions can be a distraction. That's why Hudly has created its transparent heads-up display to keep your journey information right in your sight-line. Paired wirelessly with your smart-phone, this 6.2-inch display allows you to view the road and its vibrant directions simultaneously. Also equipped with light sensors, this heads-up display will automatically adapt its visibility to suit your environment.
Roav VIVA
Price: $130
Bring Alexa along for the ride with this plug-in speaker from Anker. Paired with your smart-phone, VIVA can make calls, stream music and provide audio navigation with simple voice commands. Plugged straight into your vehicle's power outlet, this travel-size companion comes equipped with two USB ports so you and your passengers can charge smart devices on the go.
ZUS Smart Tire Safety Monitor
Price: $159.98
Keeping your tires at the correct pressure is of vital importance to not only staying safe on the roads, but to maintain low fuel consumption. With the ZUS smart safety monitors by Nonda, you receive real-time alerts if your tires are leaking air or in need of a refill. Taking only minutes to install, these high-tech dust caps simply screw on each tire and give you feedback on how each tire is performing, recording a detailed history of pressure changes over time.
GOFAR
Price: $149
Open a window into your vehicle's health with GOFAR. By simply plugging the GUFAR adapter into your ear's computer, receive real-time information about any mechanical problems or performance information sent straight to your smart-phone. In the same way a Formula I driver monitors their fuel efficiency on the track, the GOFAR Ray keeps you up to date on how you consume fuel with the simple dashboard light array. If you're hitting the gas too hard, the GOFAR Ray will illuminate red to let you know you're wasting fuel and green when you're driving optimally.
Automatic connected car assistant
Price: from $99.99
If you want to get to know your car inside out, then the Automatic connected car assistant is the perfect addition to your vehicle. By simply plugging the compact diagnostic device into the vehicle, a whole host of information about your car is available at your fingertips. Using the Automatic app, this driving assistant can give detailed diagnostics about maintenance issues and performance alongside crash alerts, your vehicle's real-time location and roadside assistance.
Jabra Freeway
Price: $99.99
If your car isn't Bluetooth connected, then Jabra Freeway is a great gadget to listen to high-quality sound and answer and make calls at the touch of a button or through voice activation. With three built-in speakers, Freeway offers impressive surround sound. However, if you prefer your vehicle's speakers, the built-in FM transmitter will connect your smart-phone straight to the car's internal sound system. Equipped with a motion sensor, Freeway will always sense when you get into the car and automatically connect to your smart-phone.
1. Mary, a green-hand driver, wants to know the overall health of her second-hand car and to ensure road safety and timely help if anything happens. What's the best product for her?A.GOFAR | B.Hudly wireless |
C.Automatic connected car assistant | D.Zus Smart Tire Safety Monitor |
A.Both are equipped with motion sensors and USB ports. |
B.Both can make calls, stream music and provide navigation. |
C.Both can be operated with voice activation and button touch. |
D.Both can be smart-phone connected and voice controlled. |
① Hudley wireless ②Roav VIVA ③ GOFAR
④ Jabra Freeway ⑤ Zus Smart Tire Safety Monitor ⑥ Automated connected car assistant
A.②③ | B.③⑤ | C.④⑤ | D.⑤⑥ |