Supermarkets are trying out new computers that make shopping carts more intelligent(具备智能的). They will help shoppers find paper cups or toilet soap, and keep a record of the bill.
The touch-screen devices(触摸屏装置) are on show at the Food Marketing Institute’s exhibition here this week, “These devices are able to create value and get you around the store quicker,” said Michael Alexander, manager of Springboard Retail Networks Inc., which makes a smart cart computer called the Concierge.
Canadian stores will test the Concierge in July. A similar device, IBM’s “Shopping Buddy”, has recently been test-marketed at Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts.
Neither device tells you how many fat grams or calories are in your cart, but they will flash you with items on sale. The idea is to make it easier for people to buy, not to have second thoughts that maybe you should put something back on the shelf.
“The whole model is driven by advertisers’ need to get in front of shoppers,” said Alexander. “They’re not watching 30-second TV ads anymore.”
People can use a home computer to make their shopping lists. Once at the store, a shopper can use a preferred customer card to start a system(系统) that will organize the trip around the store. If you’re looking for toothpicks, you type in the word or pick it from a list, and a map will appear on the screen showing where you are and where you can find them.
The device also keeps a record of what you buy. When you’re finished, the device figures out your bill. Then you go to the checker or place your card into a self-checkout stand and pay.
The new computerized shopping assistants don’t come cheap. The Buddy devices will cost the average store about $160,000, and the Concierge will cost stores about $500 for each device. The underlined word “they” (paragraph 1) refers to ______.
| A．supermarkets | B．shop assistants |
| C．shopping carts | D．shop managers |
Which of the following is the correct order of shopping with computerized shopping carts?
a. Start the system. b. Make a shopping list.
c. Find the things you want. d. Go to a self-checkout stand.
| A．abdc | B．bacd | C．acbd | D．bcad |
We can learn from the last paragraph that ______.
| A．intelligent shopping carts cost a large sum of money |
| B．the Concierge is cheaper than the Buddy devices |
| C．shop assistants with computer knowledge are well paid |
| D．average stores prefer the Concierge to the Buddy devices |
What might be the most suitable title for the text?
| A．New age for supermarkets |
| B．Concierge and Shopping Buddy |
| C．New computers make shopping carts smarter |
| D．Touch-screen devices make shopping enjoyable |
I will never forget what my old headmaster told me. Normally when you are only 15 years of age you do not remember most of the things that are preached by your teachers. But, this particular story is one such lesson that I will never forget. Every time I drift off course, I get reminded of this story.
It was a normal Monday morning at an assembly, and he was addressing the students on important things in life and about committing ourselves to what is important to us.
This is how the story went:
An old man lived in a certain part of London, and he would wake up every morning and go to the subway. He would get the train right to Central London, and then sit at the street corner and beg. He would do this every single day of his life. He sat at the same street corner and begged for almost 20 years.
His house was filthy, and a stench (恶臭) came out of the house and it smelled horrible. The neighbours could not stand the smell any more, so they summoned the police officers to clear the place. The officers knocked down the door and cleaned the house. There were small bags of money all over the house that he had collected over the years.
The police counted the money, and they soon realized that the old man was a millionaire. They waited outside his house in anticipation to share the good news with him. When he arrived home that evening, he was met by one of the officers who told him that there was no need for him to beg any more as he was a rich man now, a millionaire.
He said nothing at all. he went into his house and locked the door. The next morning he woke up as usual, went to the subway, got into the train, and sat at the street corner and continued to beg.
Obviously, this old man had no great plans, dreams or anything significant for his life. We learn nothing from this story other than staying focused on the things we enjoy doing, commitment(专心，敬业). We should remain true to our course, although it may mean committing ourselves to things that people around us would normally disapprove. Just keep it in mind that commitment attracts wealth. Why did the headmaster tell us the story?
| A．To enjoy ourselves. |
| B．To teach us how to make money. |
| C．To tell us the importance of commitment. |
| D．To tell us not to look down upon beggars. |
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
| A．The old man made a living by begging. |
| B．The old man was excited to be a millionaire. |
| C．The old man became a millionaire by begging every weekday. |
| D．The old man planned to become a millionaire. |
Why did the police officers clean the old man’s house?
| A．Because the old man hired them to. |
| B．Because they wanted to know how much money the old man had begged. |
| C．Because the old man wanted to live comfortably. |
| D．Because the neighbours could not stand the smell coming out of the old man’s house. |
CWU
The communication union
Head of Research
Salary:￡55.271
We are looking for a Head of Research to manage the CWU Research Department and Information Centre. You would be required to exercise control of all research work of the department and manage a team of three researchers and four support staff.
The person appointed would be expected to carry out research work of a strategic nature across the range of businesses in which the CWU has or seeks membership and to contribute to the strategic thinking and direction of the union as a whole.
You will need: proven line management skills, especially in managing and motivating a team; good research skills, holding a good degree in a related subject or other similar experience; a high level of mathematical and calculating skills; the ability to produce high quality work under pressure; a commitment to and knowledge of the trade union movement and social democratic politics; and knowledge and/ or experience of the postal and/ or telecommunications industry.
To apply, please request an application pack by emailing hr@cwu.org or by telephoning HR( Human Resources ) on 020 8971 7482. When applying please state your source.
Closing Date for Applications: 4th August 2010
Anticipated interview date: 17th August 2010
No agencies pleaseIn which column of a newspaper could we find this advertisement?
| A．Arts. |
| B．Sales. |
| C．Jobs. |
| D．News. |
One of the duties of the person to be appointed is .
| A．taking charge of research work. |
| B．seeking membership for the trade union. |
| C．managing a team of three or four members. |
| D．running a telecommunications company. |
If you want to apply for this position, you can do all EXCEPT .
| A．ask an agency for an application form. |
| B．dial 020 8971 7482 for more information. |
| C．email hr@cwu.org for an application pack. |
| D．send in your application before 4th August 2010 |
Which of the following applicants is most likely to be employed?
| A．A school teacher with a master’s degree. |
| B．A university graduate majoring in computer science. |
| C．A director from a research centre with a master’s degree. |
| D．A clerk from a telecommunications company. |
Andy rode slowly on his way to school, day-dreaming about the fishing trip that his father had promised him. He was so busy dreaming about all the fish he would catch that he was unaware of everything else around him.
He rode along until a strange sound drew him to the present. He came to a stop and looked curiously up to the heavens. What he saw shocked and terrified him. A huge swarm of bees filled the sky like a black cloud and the buzzing mass seemed to be heading angrily towards him.
With no time to waste, Andy sped off in the opposite direction, riding furiously—but without knowing how to escape the swarm. With a rapidly beating heart and his legs pumping furiously, he sped down the rough road. As the bees came closer, his panic increased. Andy knew that he was sensitive to bee stings(蜇). The last sting had landed him in hospital—and that was only one bee sting! He had been forced to stay in bed for two whole days. Suddenly, his father’s words came to him. “When you are in a tight situation, don’t panic. Use your brain and think your way out of it.”
On a nearby hill, he could see smoke waving slowly skywards from the chimney of the Nelson family home. “Bees don’t like smoke,” he thought. “They couldn’t get into the house.” Andy raced towards the Nelson house, but the bees were gaining ground. Andy knew he could not reach the house in time. He estimated that the bees would catch up with him soon.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted a small dam used by Mr. Nelson to irrigate his vegetable garden. Off his bike and into the cool water he lived, disappearing below the surface and away from the savage insects. After holding his breath for as long as he could, Andy came up for air and noticed the bees had gone. Dragging himself out of the dam, he struggled up the hilly slope and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Nelson took him inside and rang his mother.
“You’ll really need that fishing break to help you recover,” laughed his mother with relief. “Thank goodness you didn’t panic!” But Andy did not hear her. He was dreaming once again of the fish he would catch tomorrow.Why did Andy fail to notice the swarm of bees earlier?
| A．He was riding to school. |
| B．He was listening to a strange sound. |
| C．He was going fishing with his father. |
| D．He was lost in the thought of the fishing trip. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the swarm of bees in the passage?
| A．They crowded like a black cloud. |
| B．They shocked and terrified Andy. |
| C．They tried to attack Andy in a mass. |
| D．They made Andy stay in hospital for two days. |
How did Andy avoid the bees in the end?
| A．He asked Mr. Nelson for help. |
| B．He did himself under the water. |
| C．He rushed into the Nelson house. |
| D．He rode off in the opposite direction. |
Which of the following can best describe Andy’s escape from the bees?
| A．No pains, no gains. |
| B．Once bitten, twice shy. |
| C．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| D．In time of danger, one’s mind works fast. |
One trip for their Jack Russell terrier in a plane’s cargo hold was enough to convince Alysa Binder and Dan Wiesel that owners needed a better option to get their pets from one city to another.
On Tuesday, the first flight for the husband-and-wife team’s Pet Airways, the first-ever all-pet airline, took off from Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY.
All commercial airlines allow a limited number of small pets to fly in the cabin. Others must travel as checked bags or in the cargo hold — a dark and sometimes dangerous place where temperatures can vary wildly.
Binder and Wiesel used their consulting backgrounds and business savvy to start Pet Airways in 2005. The last four years have been spent designing their fleet of five planes according to new four-legged requirements, dealing with FAA regulations and setting up airport schedules.
The two say they’re overwhelmed with the response. Flights on Pet Airways are already booked up for the next two months.
Pet Airways will fly a pet between five major cities—New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. The $250 one-way fare is comparable to pet fees at the largest US airlines.
For owners the big difference is service. Dogs and cats will fly in the main cabin of a Suburban Air Freight plane, retooled and lined with carriers in place of seats. Pets (about 50 on each flight) will be escorted to the plane by attendants that will check on the animals every 15 minutes during flight. The pets are also given pre-boarding walks and bathroom breaks. And at each of the five airports it serves, the company has created a “Pet Lounge” for future fliers to wait and sniff before flights.
A trip from New York to Los Angeles, for example, will take about 24 hours. On that route, pets will stop in Chicago, have a bathroom break, play time, dinner, and bunk for the night before finishing the trip the next day.
Amanda Hickey of Portland, Ore. is one of the new airline’s first customers. Her seven-year-old terrier-pinscher mix Mardi and two-year-old puggle Penny are taking their first flight soon.
Hickey said the service was a welcome alternative to flying her dogs in cargo when she transplants them from her soon-to-be Denver home to Chicago to stay while she and her fiance travel to Aruba to get married.
“For a little bit more money, I have peace of mind, ” she said.Jack Russell is probably ______.
| A．a baby |
| B．a little boy |
| C．a pet |
| D．the couple’s child |
Which would be the best title of the passage?
| A．The first-ever all-pet airline hits skies |
| B．A better option to get their pets from one city to another |
| C．Flights on Pet Airways |
| D．Alysa Binder and Dan Wiesel |
What does the underlined word “savvy” in the fourth paragraph probably mean?
| A．Fund. |
| B．Information. |
| C．Knowledge. |
| D．Mind. |
A project named “UK schools welcome pandas from China” was launched Thursday in preparation for two pandas, which would join the Edinburgh Zoo in the coming weeks. 
“The arrival of these rare and much loved pandas will attract a great deal of interest in China and Britain, ” Liu Xiaoming, Chinese ambassador to Britain, said at a ceremony in London during which the project was launched.
The project, including a panda drawing competition for British students, a bilingual speech contest on pandas or Chinese culture for middle school students, and the launching of the panda-themed website “Panda Pals”, would help British students learn more about China.
“Panda Pals” would also work together with BBC’s program “Blue Peter” on a possible initiative(倡议) to name the pandas. The winner of the drawing competition, along with his or her parents, would be awarded a trip to China and visit the pandas’ hometown in China’s Sichuan Province.
Liu said the project would draw more attention to cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Britain. He added that in many aspects, the project was symbolic of a closer partnership between the two countries.
The pandas, which were on loan from China, were arriving in Edinburgh by the end of the year of 2011, making them the first pandas to live in Britain in 17 years. The project “UK schools welcome pandas from China” was carried out ____.
| A．to welcome Chinese ambassador to Britain |
| B．to prepare for a panda pair |
| C．in preparation for Chinese students |
| D．to draw more attention to Chinese culture |
The project consists of the following items EXCEPT _____.
| A．a panda drawing competition for Chinese students |
| B．a bilingual speech contest on pandas |
| C．Chinese culture for middle school students |
| D．the setting up of the website “Panda Pals” |
What can we infer about the two pandas from the text?
| A．They were living in Edinburgh by the end of 2011. |
| B．They were rare and loved. |
| C．They would be the first to live in Britain. |
| D．They would return to China in the future. |
Which one can be the best title for the text?
| A．A project to welcome a panda pair |
| B．A ceremony to launch the project |
| C．A panda pair to be rare and loved |
| D．A closer partnership between China and Britain |