1 . Don’t you want to talk less and smile more? That seems to be Amazon’s vision for the future of the smart home. According to the company, talking to their devices is just a temporary stage. Next, their gadgets (小玩意) will just know what we want and do it for us without a single command. To plot this route, the consumer tech giant showed off a series of new gadgets at its annual hardware event in September, 2020.
This vision of a smart home has been the road map for home automation for decades. A true smart home doesn’t just react to commands, it can foresee what will happen and take action accordingly. This could include lights switching on when you arrive home, heating turning off when the house is empty, or security drones (无人机) activating when somebody breaks in. Amazon says it’s ready for this domestic revolution, even if it’s still a few decades off.
Connectivity is the guarantee of a true smart home. The updated Echo smart speaker line that was recently displayed doesn’t just have a showy new look, it comes with a suite of tech to keep everything connected. This extended network, which will be launched in the US in later 2021, is designed to support expanding the smart home out to the smart garden and the smart driveway and beyond to the smart neighbourhood.
At the event, Amazon also showed off an actual robot. The Ring Always Home Cam ($ 250, coming in 2021) was perhaps the most fancy offering from the event, and certainly raised a fair number of eyebrows. At roughly 13cm high, the Always Home Cam is a drone with a camera. It rises up from its docking station and flies on pre-set paths. If a security event is detected, it will send warnings to your phone.
Ultimately, a true smart home won’t just rely on voice commands or drones. The less aggressive tech such as sensors, computer vision, and AI will work together to respond to our needs without violating our privacy. But, as Limp says, the true smart home “is a long-term vision, and there’s still lots to be done to make that a reality”.
1. According to Amazon’s vision, a true smart home ______.| A．is already available to the consumers last September |
| B．will be active and predictive |
| C．will be limited to indoor activities |
| D．can only act at its owner’s request |
| A．it only connects things in one’s own home | B．it is necessity for a true smart home |
| C．it has an attractive new look | D．it enjoys great popularity |
| A．Call the police. | B．Detect invaders. | C．Send messages | D．Take photos. |
| A．Introducing the company of Amazon. |
| B．Advertising the benefits of the smart home. |
| C．Talking about how Echo smart speaker line works. |
| D．What the true smart home is like and some related gadgets. |
2 . When ads for the Netflix show Stranger Things first appeared in 2016, the shinning, colorful font (字体) that spelled out the title told viewers exactly what they could expect. Hollywood has long known this marketing trick. And in a crowded marketplace, many mainstream consumer brands have placed more focus on fonts as a crucial part of their marketing.
When Southwest Airlines upgraded its brand in 2014, it changed its font and logo as part of the project.
The company wanted to create the image of an airline that cared about customer loyalty. So, Southwest changed its Helvetica font to a thicker, custom﹣made Southwest Sans font, which also added a tricolor (三色的) heart to the logo. All these changes were meant to convey a softer, friendlier tone.
A survey of Southwest customers showed that 95 percent found the new identity appealing. "We've definitely seen an increase in bookings." said Helen Limpitlaw at Southwest Airlines. "We're in a very competitive world and we're trying to avoid that sameness."
The right fonts can help brands stand out in a competitive market. However, they need to know whom they are targeting and what they want to say. Monster Beverage is a good example. In 2002, it rolled out its Monster Energy drink logo, featuring three neon﹣green claw marks in the shape of an "M" on a black background. The eye﹣catching logo and colors connected with fans of sports, who were exactly its target customers. Now, 17 years later, Monster's logo remains valuable and recognizable.
It is not always wise of legacy companies (老牌公司) to make changes in fonts and logo. When the clothing retailer Gap changed its iconic spire-like font to Helvetica as part of a 2010 rebrand, customers pushed back hard. "The new logo lost all the personality the original mark had acquired over the years," said Matt See, senior art director at a branding and communications firm. "And it was released without explanation. It felt like no thought was put into it." The company ultimately switched back to its original logo.
Experts recommended that companies conduct plenty of surveys before making a change to their logos. Done right, fonts allow brands to show their human side and personality, which can then connect with consumers emotionally.
1. The function of Para 1 is________.| A．to introduce the topic |
| B．to promote the Netflix show |
| C．to show the background |
| D．to present the unevenly shaded font |
| A．it deleted its tricolor heart logo |
| B．it conveyed a strong and cooperative tone |
| C．it drew on its experience gained from the real life |
| D．it chose a special font that reflected its personality as a brand |
| A．a company should think twice before rebranding itself |
| B．there is no need for a legacy company to upgrade its brand |
| C．a company should ignore customers' advice when it comes to rebranding |
| D．it's possible for a company to attract new customers by changing its logo |
| A．Fonts should avoid the sameness. |
| B．Fonts matter in upgrading the brand. |
| C．Changes of fonts are out of date. |
| D．Companies need to change fonts. |
3 . Tips on Presentation Skills
Even with a snappy (漂亮的)opening, after 10 minutes, most audiences will lose 75 percent of their listening capacity.
Effective speakers understand that wandering presentations are impossible to understand and are guaranteed to lose an audience. Behind every powerful speech is a solid outline matching with the goal of the presentation. One basic structure is an “open,body and close” approach.
Nonverbal communication, such as dress and gestures,can dramatically influence the acceptance of a presentation. A speaker's dress should match his audience and the significance of the event. For example, a speaker presenting to a corporate audience should wear a suit. Dress specifics will vary from speaker to speaker, but the key is choosing clothes that enhance(增加),not distract,from the message.
| A．If used correctly,technology can help keep audience's interest. |
| B．This can't happen if a speaker is too worried about his/her own reaction. |
| C．If the goal is to inform,information may be structured by cause and effect |
| D．Voice tone and speed are well-known topics when it comes to presentation skills. |
| E．It means a speaker must work throughout the speech to draw listeners into the presentation. |
| F．Message acceptance is a two-way communication process and requires audience agreement. |
| G．And keep movement close to the body to ensure gestures are emphasizing key points but not distracting from the message. |
4 . CHINA'S FOUR GREAT NOVELS
China's Four Great Novels came out in the 14th to 18th centuries during the Ming（1368﹣1644）and Qing（1644﹣1911）Dynasties， concurrent with the European Renaissance ﹣ which popularized the use of everyday language in Chinese literature. Professor Andrew Plaks， in his book Four Masterworks of the Ming and Qing Novel， observes that these fictional works used popular storytelling styles to increase societal norms and juxtaposed （把…并列）them against a set of flawed characters in order to raise serious questions about heroism， selfhood， and love.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Luo Guanzhong （1330﹣1400）
Chinese literature's first chapter﹣based novel which draws from the historic power struggle between the Three Kingdoms of Wei， Shu， and Wu （220﹣280）.
Sample line： "The long divided must unite， the long united must divide； thus it has ever been."
Western similarity： Game of Thrones
Journey to the West
Wu Cheng'en （1500﹣1582）
Most widely told story of the four， it is a fictionalized account of the real pilgrimage（朝圣）to India of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang （602﹣664）.
Sample line： "Heaven and earth were once a chaotic whole， borderless and shapeless， without any beings whatsoever."
Western similarity： The Lord of the Rings and Don Quixote （《唐•吉诃德》）
Water Margin
Shi Nai'an （1296﹣1370）
A work of controversial authorship based on the true story of the bandit Song Jiang and his 36 rebels in the late years of North Song Dynasty（960﹣1127）.
Sample line："It's easier to draw a tiger than to sketch its bones；it's easier to know someone's look than the contents of his heart."
Western similarity： Robin Hood
Dream of the Red Chamber
Cao Xueqin （1715﹣1763）
Semi﹣biographical work，on the basis of author's personal experience，with over 600 named characters，about the decline of Qing Dynasty society. Sold over 100 million copies.
Sample line： Pages full of idle words； penned with hot and bitter tears； all men call the author fool；none his secret message hears.
Western similarity： Shakespeare with a dose of Jane Austen.
1. Which novel is released in the Qing Dynasty？| A．Romance of the Three Kingdoms. |
| B．Journey to the West. |
| C．Water Margin. |
| D．Dream of the Red Chamber. |
| A．Robin Hood. |
| B．Game of Thrones. |
| C．Don Quixote. |
| D．Shakespeare with a dose of Jane Austen. |
| A．They are all concerned with the personal heroism. |
| B．Each sample line is the main idea of each novel. |
| C．The four novels more or less draw from true stories. |
| D．The four novels are all related to the authors' lives. |
Chang'e-5 was a landmark space mission for China, as it was the first time that our country
Behind this mission
Zhou Chengyu has attracted attention from the press and public because of her achievements,
6 . When I was 6, my 14-year-old brother brought me to the local BMX track to ride in a kid's bike race. The hill out of the starting gate looked so scary and
I turned pro at 15, the youngest woman with a professional title in the United States, which is
BMX is an extreme sport in which strength and balance are key, so I
At the Olympics in Rio I was
| A．puzzling | B．complex | C．thick | D．steep |
| A．experiment | B．choice | C．try | D．visit |
| A．managed | B．continued | C．selected | D．intended |
| A．opposed | B．quit | C．resigned | D．loved |
| A．significant | B．vital | C．impossible | D．normal |
| A．amateurishly | B．professionally | C．toughly | D．firmly |
| A．train | B．pursue | C．explore | D．purchase |
| A．turn out | B．take out | C．block out | D．work out |
| A．next to | B．in line with | C．ahead of | D．in addition to |
| A．chasing | B．promoting | C．forgetting | D．spreading |
| A．feeling | B．ability | C．possibility | D．preparation |
| A．physical | B．mental | C．traditional | D．medical |
| A．action | B．activity | C．voice | D．noise |
| A．determined to | B．qualified for | C．focused on | D．occupied with |
| A．decisions | B．comments | C．mistakes | D．sacrifices |
| A．delay | B．beat | C．encourage | D．annoy |
| A．relied | B．ruined | C．recognized | D．required |
| A．proud | B．regretful | C．ashamed | D．disappointed |
| A．inspire | B．force | C．recommend | D．promise |
| A．angle | B．condusion | C．stage | D．potential |
“The number of children according to National Health Service (NHS) with serious mental health problems
It is warned
NHS figures revealed that the number of youngsters
Dr Bernadka Dubicka said, “Landmark occasions in the lives of these young people will be lost. This adds to a perfect storm of a mental health crisis, meaning children may not get
She also wrote in the Daily Telegraph that half of the college's child psychiatrists have reported a surge in
Dr Dubicka added, “The school closures, cancelled exams and empty lecture halls
8 . While on a recent family vacation, 10-year-old Haylee was swimming carefree in the ocean waves. Suddenly, the young girl found herself
Her mother was walking along the
The mother instinctively
Kevin, who was also at the beach
“If it weren't for him coming to grab my daughter from me, there was no way we both would have made it," said the mother
After returning home, the mother and daughter could not stop thinking of the
They offered to contribute to Kevin's coming
| A．freely | B．helplessly | C．curiously | D．willingly |
| A．board | B．road | C．beach | D．street |
| A．doubted | B．remembered | C．argued | D．knew |
| A．came | B．rode | C．swam | D．walked |
| A．dropped | B．occupied | C．engaged | D．caught |
| A．touching | B．enveloping | C．abandoning | D．changing |
| A．motorboat | B．seaweed | C．wind | D．current |
| A．vacationing | B．working | C．hesitating | D．waiting |
| A．recognized | B．thought | C．spotted | D．approached |
| A．laughed | B．sprang | C．climbed | D．divided |
| A．getting to | B．turning to | C．appealing to | D．responding to |
| A．whispering | B．struggling | C．applauding | D．quarreling |
| A．safely | B．eagerly | C．quietly | D．casually |
| A．modestly | B．strictly | C．rudely | D．gratefully |
| A．diligent | B．generous | C．selfless | D．handsome |
| A．online | B．overseas | C．aboard | D．outside |
| A．satisfaction | B．appreciation | C．anger | D．regret |
| A．assistant | B．customer | C．neighbor | D．hero |
| A．reconnected | B．charged | C．cooperated | D．discussed |
| A．election | B．competition | C．wedding | D．camp |
9 . Some people must carefully pay attention to everything they put in their mouths in order to control their weight. By contrast, others can eat French fries to their hearts' content and achieve the same result. How do some people manage never to gain weight?
"Perception, one of the most important factors, has nothing to do with the body type because our personal feeling is always wrong. We often feel that some people who eat more don't put on weight. Actually? those who appear to eat whatever they like without gaining weight aren't eating more than the rest of us," said professor Kathleen Melanson. "For example, your friend who eats ice cream on a daily basis might eat less at another meal- or snack less throughout the rest of the day.”
“Physical activity can also make a difference, but it doesn't have to be a gym workout. There's little evidence to suggest that—without exercise-some people were born to burn significantly more calories than others," said Dr Ines Barroso, a researcher at the University of Cambridge. But there may be physical differences that allow some people to naturally control the number of calories they consume without exercising much self-regulation.
A lot of nervous system signals and hormones （激素）that circulate in our blood interact to tell us when we're hungry or full. This is called the appetite regulatory system, and it may be more sensitive in some people than others, Melanson said. One important hormone involved in this system is leptin （瘦素）.It helps regulate how much food we want to eat over longer periods of time, not just for our next meal. So a person with a more sensitive system might go back for seconds and thirds at a party, then feel full for the next few days and eat less.
Genetics can also play a role in a person's tendency to gain or lose weight. Researchers have identified over 250 different regions of DNA that are associated with obesity, according to a 2019 study published in PLOS Genetics.
1. What does the underlined word “Perception" in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Connection. | B．Sense. | C．Defense. | D．Reduction. |
| A．It makes people usually feel hungry. |
| B．It helps people have a better appetite. |
| C．It helps people regulate their food intake. |
| D．It makes people more sensitive to the flavour of food. |
| A．Weight problems can be avoided. |
| B．Losing weight is equally difficult for everyone. |
| C．Some people may be born to have weight problems. |
| D．Genes can be completely changed to avoid weight problems. |
| A．To share some ideas about how to lose weight. |
| B．To explain why some people never gain weight. |
| C．To advise people to control their daily diet strictly. |
| D．To call for people to pay attention to healthy eating. |
10 . A Four-day Trip to Italy
Day 1: Bologna
A full day to explore one of Italy's most undervalued but beautiful cities, including the Cathedral San Petronio's observatory; Palazzo Archiginnasio and Anatomical Theatre. Welcome to the talk “Vital Forces: Soul, Mind and Body in the Human and Animal Worlds" from Andrew Spira and dinner with wine at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Florence
In the company of Andrew Spira, a full day of exploration of this wonderful city includes the Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica; Pazzi Chapel and monument to Galileo in Santa Croce; and Galileo Science Museum. A lecture from David Wootton.
Day 3: Florence
During your final full day in Florence? Andrew will guide you around the Cathedral Museum—a wonderful experience due to the amazing housing of the Cathedrals treasures including works by Michelangelo, Brunelleschi and the original Gates of Paradise. A lecture from David Wootton.
Day 4: Bologna then depart
On the last day, there is a morning visit to the “off the beaten track” Museum of Communication and well transport you to Bologna airport. You have to pay your own fare home after you get off the plane. You are welcome to spend additional time in Bologna and our operating partner Travel Edition can help you with additional nights accommodation visits and alternate travel arrangements.
Highlights:
Price: £ 1,825
The main things to visit: From astronomic, architectural, medical and mathematical perspectives, during the trip, you'll look at the wonderful collections, buildings and churches that show the rich knowledge of the Renaissance while enjoying these beautiful cities.
To book: call UK+44(0) 207 251 0045 or email us
The guide: Andrew Spira, a historian
1. What can visitors do on Day 1?| A．Visit a monument. | B．Visit the city museum. |
| C．Enjoy a meal with wine. | D．Enjoy Michelangelo's works. |
| A．Touring Bologna. | B．Going to the theater. |
| C．Visiting a nature museum. | D．Attending a lecture. |
| A．It is guided by a historian. | B．It offers free transport and meals. |
| C．It requires booking online in advance. | D．It is aimed to teach visitors about modern architecture. |
