1 . Businesses are finding more uses for virtual reality (VR) as the technology develops.
VR is no longer only for gaming or enjoyment. An American company called Blue Goji is using VR to improve one’s health by making exercise more fun.
Blue Goji has offices in Austin, the capital of Texas. The company showed its workout machine called the Infinity treadmill (跑步机) at the South by Southwest festival. A person using the treadmill wears a virtual reality headset when exercising. Before starting, the user is connected to a belt to prevent falls. Then, the user plays a VR game while running on the machine. The game can transport the user into the virtual world, where he or she can be racing against virtual people.
The cost of the hardware and the computer software program is $12,000. That means much for most people. But Kyra Constam of Blue Goji says the virtual reality treadmill is ideal for places where people go to exercise, like high-end gyms or recreation centers.
Recently, Leonardo Mattiazzi tested the Infinity treadmill. Mattiazzi said he had a strong feeling to actually get running and do something that pushed his limits. He said the experience was more interesting than running inside the gym without actually going anywhere.
Constam noted that a lot of VR experiences cause motion sickness (晕动病) because people are in motion during the game, but not moving in real life. But when the user is moving on the treadmill and in the game, the chances of motion sickness are reduced. She said there is generally a learning curve for VR. The first time users feel lost, but the more you do it, the more you get used to it.
After carefully studying the users experiences, Blue Goji plans to begin selling the Infinity treadmill to the public.
1. What are users most likely to do after running on the Infinity treadmill?A.Make more new friends. | B.Gain more useful skills. |
C.Be fonder of exercising. | D.Prefer playing computer games. |
A.Users can not run on it. | B.It is too expensive for most people. |
C.Users can race against anyone. | D.It can be bought in high-end gyms. |
A.Satisfied | B.Disappointed. |
C.Doubtful. | D.Indifferent. |
A.To promote a new company. |
B.To call on people to take more exercise. |
C.To introduce a new application of virtual reality. |
D.To discuss the relationship between life and modern technology. |
1.说明现象和理由;
2.提出建议。
注意:词数在80词左右(参考词汇:litter 乱扔垃圾 spit 吐痰)
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Hanfu has experienced large
During the Spring Festival, many performers and tourists in Luoyang, Henan province,
The sales of horse face skirts are rising. Caoxian county is one of the major hanfu production
Data from e-commerce platforms (电商平台) show a great increase in the search for hanfu since January. Among the various hanfu styles, the horse face skirt has become
Zhang Mingqiang, the general manager of a factory, expressed both happiness and concern due
4 . Scotland’s landscapes, history, and culture offer a great variety of experiences. This summer, join our unique ranger programs to discover Scotland like never before!
Young Clan’s Highland Games (June 4 to August 22)
A delightful experience for children! Test their skills in traditional Scottish games and compare their abilities to the historical legends of Scotland. No prior experience needed. Fun and educational, this program is flexible to fit your schedule. Meet at the Highland Folk Museum.
Wild Highlands Exploration (May 25 to September 3)
Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Perfect for families, this program offers guided hikes through scenic trails, wildlife spotting, and camping adventures. Learn about Scotland’s native wildlife and how to responsibly enjoy the natural environment. Gather at the Glencoe Visitor Centre.
Loch Ness Legends and Lore (June 8 to September 3)
At the world-famous Loch Ness, this program combines breathtaking views with captivating stories about the Loch’s history and the mysterious Nessie. Ideal for families and photography enthusiasts. Meet at the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition for this engaging talk.
Photography Workshops in the Isles (June 18 & July 11)
Enhance your photography skills in Scotland’s picturesque landscapes. Join our expert photographers for hands-on workshops.
6/18—Isle of Skye Sceneries: meet at the Old Man of Storr parking area.
7/11—Capturing the Aurora: meet at the Shetland Isles Observatory.
1. What do we know about Young Clan’s Highland Games?A.It combines education and pleasure. | B.It requires previous experience. |
C.It offers scenic views. | D.It tests athletic skills. |
A.Offering guided hikes. | B.Enhancing photography skills. |
C.Being most suitable for families. | D.Learning about traditional Scottish games. |
A.To offer a variety of sport activities. | B.To provide natural and cultural experiences. |
C.To focus on historical landmarks. | D.To teach about wildlife conservation. |
1.时间管理的重要性;2.分享具体方法;
注意:1.不得透露个人及学校信息;2.词数100左右;3.可以适当增加细节,使行文连贯。
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First presented in 1953 and presented
Chinese writer Hai Ya’s The Space-Time Painter won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette. He became the third Chinese writer
The Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist went to Chinese digital artist Zhao Enzhe, a longtime cover artist for Science Fiction World magazine.
Commenting
7 . Have you ever fallen asleep in class? There’s no need to be ashamed about dozing off in class. Studies have shown that people can only stay completely focused on something for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Sleep the night before your class.
Students who doze in class often missed sleep the night before.
Most people have experienced the well-known “food coma” after eating a large meal, which results in a feeling of heaviness that drains your energy. This is particularly true if you eat certain foods, such as a meal that is high in carbohydrates.
Drink plenty of water, and bring some to class too.
Your blood concentration thickens due to a lack of fluid, resulting in the reduction of plasma (血浆) in the blood, which in turn makes your heart work harder to supply oxygen and nutrients to the body. Increase your water intake by consciously taking sips of water throughout the day.
Take notes.
Keep your attention on what’s going on in class by taking notes as the teacher gives the lecture. Taking notes is an effective way to stay awake in class.
A.Avoid eating a large meal before class. |
B.Consume less carbohydrates. |
C.It forces you to maintain activity in your mind. |
D.Unfortunately, many class instructors are totally unaware to this learning process. |
E.Furthermore, prevent dehydration (脱水) and make sure you’re bringing water with you to class. |
F.Getting enough sleep is your first line of defense for staying awake in class. |
G.It’s necessary to make the full use of class time to improve academic performance. |
8 . As awareness of climate change grows, so does the desire to do something about it. But the scale of the problems it causes—from wildfires to melting glaciers to droughts—can seem utterly overwhelming. It can be hard to make a connection between our everyday lives and the survival of polar bears, let alone how we as individuals can help turn the situation around.
One way to gain a quantifiable understanding of the impacts of our actions, for good and bad, is through what is known as a carbon footprint. But while the concept is gaining traction, it is not always fully understood. According to Mike Berners-Lee, a professor at Lancaster University in the UK and author of The Carbon Footprint of Everything, it is “the sum total of all the greenhouse gas emissions that had to take place in order for a product to be produced or for an activity to take place.”
What steps a person can take to reduce their personal footprint the most of course depends on the kind of lifestyle they presently live, and the same actions are not equally effective for everyone. Berners-Lee notes that, “for some people, flying may be 10 percent of their footprint, for some people it’s zero, and for some it’s such a huge number that it should be the only thing they should be thinking about.”
It isn’t easy to calculate a carbon footprint and it has been claimed that the earliest such calculator appeared in 2004 as part of the “Beyond Petroleum” campaign of oil giant BP—a fact that causes some observers to criticize the pressure to reduce personal carbon footprints as a “sham” to “promote the slant that climate change is not the fault of an oil giant, but that of individuals.”
“I would say personal carbon footprint calculators are a useful tool to assess the impact of your immediate actions.” Berners-Lee says. “But what’s much more important than your personal carbon footprint is your climate shadow, which aims to paint a picture of the full sum of one’s choices and the impact they have on the planet. For example, how you vote, where you work, how you invest your money, and how much you talk about climate change.
1. What does the underlined word “traction” in paragraph 2 probably mean?A.attention | B.insight | C.control | D.power |
A.By presenting a fact | B.By making a comparison |
C.By clarifying a concept | D.By giving suggestions |
A.unclear | B.favorable | C.indifferent | D.disapproving |
A.Tools are more important than choices. | B.Only individuals are responsible for climate change. |
C.Climate shadow covers a broad range of actions. | D.Calculating carbon footprint is the most effective. |
9 . In the house where I grew up, we had a room we called the library. It wasn’t a real library, of course, it was just a small room dominated by a television set. But there were bookshelves built into all four walls, and hundreds of book — hardback books of many colors — surrounded us in that room. The books, collected by my parents and grandparents throughout their lifetimes, were a part of my childhood.
But in the 1970s, I’m noticing a worrying trend: a move away from books. American homes might soon lack dedicated spaces for libraries, and hardcover books, once symbols of enduring thought and wisdom, may become endangered.
A friend who owns a bookstore in a college town tells me he struggles to sell hardback books; paperbacks, though easier to sell, still disappoint him. Students, once seen with books, now carry music records. Reading seems to be giving way to listening. Recent observations support this shift: the University of Illinois reported that a significant portion of freshmen have reading skills no better than an average eighth grader, with many of these students having been top performers in high school.
University professors note that even college graduates struggle with reading and writing. The cultural impact of this change is evident. A successful fiction book might sell a mere 3,000 copies, while a music album by a new band, Boston, has sold millions. This reflects our passive consumption era, where listening to music or watching shows requires little active engagement, unlike reading a book, which demands effort and intent.
In the past, reading was a fundamental part of life, but now, in the era of fast information access, books are losing their significant place. Today’s young Americans are more likely to read a disposable paperback than to cherish and reread a hardcover. In a society that values speed and convenience, the book for keeping and rereading is a weighty dinosaur.
1. What trend in the 1970s does the author find concerning?A.The rise of paperback books. | B.The increase in television watching. |
C.The struggle to sell hardback books. | D.The decline in book reading and interest in libraries. |
A.They may have difficulty in reading and writing. | B.They read more hardbacks than paperbacks. |
C.They are buying more books than music records. | D.They are more likely to engage in demanding work. |
A.A valuable resource. | B.A popular trend. |
C.An outdated relic. | D.A new innovation. |
A.Library: A Valuable Place | B.Books: An Endangered Species? |
C.Reading Makes People Wise | D.Hardcovers Are Symbols of Wisdom |
10 . When Darrell Langworthy was growing up, Thanksgiving meant 30 neighbors sharing a potluck meal in the family driveway.
“My parents worked at a golf course. They’d invite all the workers to Thanksgiving dinner. They would never turn anybody away,” he says. “If there was a kid in the neighborhood who needed dinner, he got it.” It has become an essential part of their family life. Today, Langworthy carries on the tradition at his restaurant in Colchester, Vermont, where a combination of barbecue and community service has made Mark BBQ a hot spot.
Colchester is a small town on the shores of Lake Champlain, just north of Burlington. Locals know Mark BBQ for its brisket burgers, pulled-pork sandwiches and Tex-Mex meatloaf.
For many, Mark BBQ is also a stop on the road to recovery. Enter: Recovery Kitchen, a programme that brings former addicts into the kitchen to build service industry skills. The effort was inspired by manager Casey DeGuise, who arrived with a troubled history and even more determination.
“He had been turned down for 35 jobs,” Langworthy says. “We said ‘Let’s take a chance,’ and he’s never let me down.”
Langworthy knows that a little help can go a long way. “I had a time when I was definitely drinking too much,” he recalls. Now, he offers to others the support he once needed. He keeps a cooler by Mark BBQ’s front door with free food for anyone who wants it. But his favorite pastime is still watching full plates turn to dirty dishes.
“If we can pay the bills and staff, we’re happy,” says Langworthy. “If we can help the community, we’re happier.” So far, Darrell Langworthy has handed out more than 170,000 free meals.
1. What’s the tradition of the Langworthy family?A.To invite people in his community to Thanksgiving dinner. |
B.To work at a golf course like his parents. |
C.To start a programme called Enter: Recovery Kitchen. |
D.To have a family reunion on Thanksgiving Day. |
A.It serves tasty and countless food. | B.It offers job chances for people. |
C.It combines BBQ and community service. | D.It lies on the shores of Lake Champlain. |
A.Adventurous and responsible | B.Generous and empathetic |
C.Cooperative and productive | D.Ambitious and demanding |
A.Action speaks louder than words. | B.Many hands make light work. |
C.Loving is a thing that grows. | D.Devotion makes the world a better place. |