1 . Yasuda is 95 years old. Looking for easier ways to search the Web and send email, he bought Apple’s iPad. The company has sold 3.27 million iPads since they entered the market in April. Although it’s impossible to know with certainty how many seniors (老年人) are buying them, evidence suggests that it’s a hit with seniors.
The iPad’s intuitive interface (直观界面) makes it attractive to seniors around the world, says Takahiro Miura, a researcher at the University of Tokyou. “The iPad is a good tool for seniors because it’s very easy to use,” he says. Unlike the PC, it doesn’t require former knowledge.”
James Cordwell, a researcher in London, says the iPad’s popularity with seniors is helping Apple reach beyond its traditional base of young customers. “The world’s population, especially in developed markets, is getting older. It’s probably a market where Apple has least entered,” Cordwell says. Senior users are a key source of growth for them in the future.
Seniors make. up about 22 percent of the population in Japan. They may prove that seniors are willing to accept the iPad. Besides the customer group under 30, they spend more than any other group in the country, according to a report. Motoo Kitamura, 78, a former gas salesman, bought an iPad to help him communicate with his 2-year-old grandson and prevent him from experiencing some of the mental problems that sometimes come with getting older. “Trying new things like that is good mental exercise,” he says.
1. The underlined part “a hit” in Paragraph 1 probably means .A.a sudden attack |
B.a heavy burden |
C.very familiar |
D.quite popular |
A.It has intuitive interface. |
B.It is easy to operate. |
C.People can use it as a way to do mental exercise. |
D.Beginners can use it without similar experiences. |
A.The traditional customers of Apples products are usually the young. |
B.People above thirty are Apples largest customer group in Japan. |
C.Seniors will soon grow into Apples largest customer group. |
D.Seniors in Japan are fond of buying latest hi-tech products. |
A.iPad influencing the customer group. |
B.iPad leading Apple to seniors. |
C.iPad’s arrival causing Japanese to think. |
D.iPad beating the traditional PC. |
2 . It is widely acknowledged that cities with some kind of functioning ecosystems make for better place for humans to live. More plants and animals in cities make for happier, healthier people.
A study conducted on green spaces in Sheffield, England, for instance, revealed that the greater the biodiversity (生物多样性), the greater the psychological well-being(健康) of the city’s citizens. In Paris, researchers found that getting citizens to take part in day-long activities involving urban wildlife opened their eyes to the natural world for a time, at least.
Few cities have been associated with urban ecology for as long as Berlin. “Slow economic recovery after the Second World War meant that reconstruction would take a long time. This provide local ecologist with the ideal conditions to develop an ambitious ecological research program in the bombed-out wastelands of West Berlin,” said Jens Lachmund, a sociologist at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands.
The pioneering work in Berlin had several consequences, especially the formation of significant natural spaces within the city, such as the Sudgelande Nature. “Berlin has indeed benefited a lot from being a case study in urban ecology,” said Lachmund.
The recent research conducted by Mark Goddard, a biologist at the University of Leeds, and his colleagues confirmed the importance of natural space within an urban setting. Goddard and his team conducted a striking global analysis of bird and plant diversity, quantifying the influence of urbanization on levels of biodiversity around the world. “Functioning urban ecosystems will be extremely important to human health and well-being,” said Goddard.
Cities take up just 3% of the land surface area, yet according to the most recent figure from the United Nations, some 3.6 billion people (just over 50% of the global population) now live in urban areas. By 2050, this figure is expected to rise to 6.3 billion. Without animals and plants to keep us company, it is a dark future.
1. The findings in Paragraph 2 are mentioned to explain the link between .A.Citizens and their well-being |
B.green spaces and urban wildlife |
C.urban ecology and citizens’ well-being |
D.functioning ecosystems and the natural word |
A.Cautious. |
B.Admiring. |
C.Uncaring. |
D.Negative. |
A.the negative effect of over population. |
B.the importance of urban ecosystems. |
C.the serious problems of city life. |
D.the rapid growth of urban areas. |
A.Should cities be for animals and plants too? |
B.Should Berlin have more natural spaces? |
C.Should more people live in urban areas? |
D.Should the global population be controlled now? |
3 . I first discovered Cafe Gratitude several months ago. My friend Heather invited me to
When Ryland came over to my
more
What a rewarding and meaningful experience! And I’ve since learned that Café Gratitude
A.attend | B.accompany | C.involve | D.join in |
A.even | B.ever | C.seldom | D.just |
A.looking | B.testing | C.planning | D.studying |
A.space | B.time | C.order | D.place |
A.Without | B.Despite | C.In terms of | D.Regardless of |
A.reached | B.shook | C.clapped | D.stuck |
A.either | B.as well as | C.also | D.too |
A.project | B.seat | C.friendship | D.honesty |
A.for | B.as | C.if | D.before |
A.actions | B.dreams | C.hurries | D.delays |
A.looking on | B.insisting on | C.going on | D.agreeing on |
A.company | B.table | C.house | D.car |
A.suitable | B.ready | C.eager | D.longing |
A.simple | B.full | C.urgent | D.regular |
A.hotels | B.schools | C.clubs | D.restaurants |
A.lesson | B.note | C.message | D.lecture |
A.meeting | B.performance | C.act | D.vacation |
A.practice | B.reviews | C.trains | D.concludes |
A.explanation | B.appreciation | C.consideration | D.application |
A.surprised | B.returned | C.led | D.held |