In the near future,we may be using our eyes to operate our smart-phones and tablets,even when it comes to playing popular games like Fruit Ninja.
The Gaze Group has been developing eye-controlled computer technology for nearly 20 years.But those devices have been firstly designed to help those with disabilities,and are very expensive.
“After a while,we figured out that probably the best way is to go for a mass-market way,” says Gaze’s Sune Alstrup Johansen.“where everybody would have this available."
Johansen and some of his colleagues have formed a new company,the Eye Tribe,which is hoping to develop the technology on a mass commercial level.
The technology works with the help of the computing device toward the user’s face. After making sure of the user’s eye movements,the technology is then able to easily find where a person’s eyes are moving,and then allow the eyes to control a cursor(光标).
“Our software can then determine the location of the eyes and know where you’re looking on the screen to make sure what you’re looking at,“reads an explanation on the Eye Tribe site.
There has been a gradual change toward hands-free technology in recent years, particularly in the gaming world.Recently Xbox released the Kinect device,which lets users control their Xbox and play certain games using only their hands,legs and voices. But still,most of these devices have been more of a gimmick than a practical way to use one’s hands to control a mobile device.Johansen said a replaceable filter(滤光器)would be a cheap,convenient way for most consumers.
And even as companies like The Eye Tribe work to create such a product for the average user, making the eye-controlled technology more accessible and less expensive will have similar benefits for physically disabled users.
For more articles on modern science,please CLICK here.Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?
A.An introduction of a new device. |
B.An introduction of smart-phones. |
C.An introduction of eye-controlling technology. |
D.An introduction of a new technology for the disabled. |
The underlined word“gimmick” probably means .
A.a trick | B.a way | C.a lie | D.a dream |
According to the passage,we can learn that .
A.the eye-controlling technology was first developed for the blind |
B.the present developing 0f the technology will bring no good |
C.there is no such a phone as we can use only with our eyes at present |
D.the eye-controlling technology is only intended for the disabled people |
This passage is probably taken from .
A.an experiment report | B.a science fiction |
C.a school textbook | D.a science website |
IS IT TIME TO GET - MP3
Your computer has been playing music for years, one CD at a time.Now hundreds of songs can be stored in your PC if they’re in the MP3 format.
What is it?
MP3 compresses (压缩) music into small computer—friendly files.You access MP3 music several ways: Tunes can be downloaded from websites that have converted (转变) vast music libraries into MP3.Or you can prerecorded CDs into your PC and convert songs in minutes into MP3.Once MP3 music is on your PC’s hard drive, you can play it through your computer’s speakers, “burn” it onto blank CDs or swap (交换) MP3 files with friends using e—mail.
How much?
Software needed to play and convert MP3 music is often free.It is preinstalled (预先安装)on most new computers or can be downloaded from many websites, including MP3, com.Some MP3 sites are free.Just type at around $50 and can hold hundreds of songs.A blank CD on which you can record music costs about a dollar.
Advantages
MP3 turns your home PC into a jukebox (自动唱机).Tiny MP3 players are the size of a deck of cards, making it easy to take hundreds of songs with you.
Disadvantages
You may find that music at many sites is limited.And some only allow you to listen rather than download offerings.Others let you download music that then can’t be copied to MP3 players.And a growing number of new CDs make it impossible to copy songs to a computer.How can you get Mp3 music?
A.By turning your home PC into jukebox. |
B.By taking you own music or songs with you. |
C.By copying songs to a PC through the speakers. |
D.By downloading from websites which have converted music libraries. |
Which is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Software needed to play and convert MP3 music is often free of charge. |
B.MP3 music can be “burned” onto bland CDs or swapped with friends by e-mail. |
C.MP3 music can be taken along while traveling. |
D.A greater number of new CDs make it possible to copy songs to a computer. |
How much will you pay for a MP3 player?
A.Free of charge | B.Free downloading |
C.At least fifty dollars | D.About a dollar |
What is the closest meaning of the underlined word “burn”?
A.Copy | B.Play | C.Store | D.Change |
If you go to Brisbane, Australia, you can easily get a small book called Discover Brisbane free.Here is something about banks on page 49:
ANZ Banking Group
Cnr.Greek & Queen Sts ………………………………………………238 3228
Bank of New Zealand
410 Queen Street…………………………………………………… 221 0411
Bank of Queensland
229 Elizabeth Street ………………………………………………… 229 3122
Commonwealth Banking Group
240 Queen Street …………………………………………………… 237 3111
National Australia Bank Ltd
225 Adelaide Street ………………………………………………… 221 6422
Westpac Banking Corp
260 Queen Street …………………………………………………… 227 2666
Banking hours are Mon.-Thu.9:30 am to 4 pm.Fri.9:30 am to 5 pm.All banks close Sat.Sun.& Public Holidays.You can find ANZ Banking Group on ________________.
A.Queen Street |
B.Elizabeth Street |
C.the corner of Greek Street and Queen Street |
D.the corner of Queen Street and Elizabeth Street |
_____________ seems to be the most important street in Brisbane.
A.Queen Street | B.Elizabeth Street |
C.Greek Street | D.Adelaide Street |
On Saturdays, you can go to _____________ to put your money in or take your money out.
A.ANZ Banking Group |
B.Bank of Queensland |
C.National Australia Bank Ltd |
D.none of the banks |
In Australia, the banks have their longest service hours on _____________.
A.public holidays | B.Fridays |
C.Saturdays | D.Sundays |
The famous movie star Audrey Hepburn has been honored as the most beautiful woman ever.She has natural beauty, character and figure, but there is something about Hepburn’s smile that is specially striking and beautiful.
Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium.After her parents divorced(离婚), Audrey went to London with her mother where she went to a private girl school.After the liberation, Audrey went to a ballet school in London and later began life as a model.She did well as a model until the film producers came calling.Discovered by a producer, she was given a small part in a European film in 1948.Later, she went to America to try her luck there.Audrey became popular in the US with her role in Roman Holiday in 1953.This film turned out to be a success and she won an Oscar for Best Actress.The film was followed by another similarly wonderful performance in the 1957 Funny Face.In 1959, she received yet another nomination(提名) for her role in Nun’s Story.Audrey reached the highest level when she played Holly Golightly in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961.For this she received another nomination.One of Audrey’s most wonderful roles was in the fine production of My Fair Lady in 1964.Her co—star Rex Harrison once was asked to name his favorite leading lady.Without hesitation, he replied, “Audrey Hpburn in My Fair Lady”.At the end of the sixties, Audrey decided to stop acting while she was on top.In 1988, Audrey became a special ambassador(大使) of UNICEF(联合国儿童基金会), helping children in Latin America and Africa, a position she kept until 1993.She was named in People magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.Her last film was Always in 1989.Audrey Hepburn died on January 20,1993, in Switzerland.
She had made a total of 31 high quality movies.Her style will always be remembered in the film history.What does the underlined word “striking” in paragraph 1 mean?
A.打击的 | B.显著的 | C.罢工的 | D.吸引人的 |
How many film names are mentioned in this passage?
A.four | B.five | C.six | D.seven |
Hepburn used to be a _________.
A.nurse | B.model | C.teacher | D.writer |
Which is the correct order according to Hepburn’s experiences?
a.decided to stop acting
b.given a small part in a European film
c.her parents divorced
d.named in People magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world
e.went to a ballet school in London
A.e-c-a-d-b | B.c-e-b-a-d |
C.c-b-e-a-d | D.c-e-a-b-d |
We often think of future.We often wonder what the world would be like in a hundred years' time.
Think of space, perhaps a permanent(永久的) station on the moon will have been set up.Perhaps people will be able to visit the moon as tourists.Cheap rockets for space travel will have been developed, permitting long journeys throughout the solar system(太阳系).When that time comes, people will be taking holidays in space and visiting other planets.Great progress will have been discovered for the most terrible of all diseases—cancer.Pollution is a problem we must solve.In a hundred years' time it will have been controlled.
All the world will have been developed—even Antarctica.There will be large cities in Antarctica.We already have supersonic(超音速的) flight, but in a hundred years' time we will have supersonic land travel as well.
We will have used up most of earth's land to build our cities, so floating cities will have been built.The Japanese already have plans for cities of this kind.And there will be cities under the sea.The first of these will have been completed.We will have developed __________ in a hundred years' time, permitting long journeys all over the solar system.
A.cheap rockets for space travel |
B.a plane for space travel |
C.a permanent spaceship |
D.a satellite for tourists |
Man will also have supersonic land travel ____________.
A.in a year's time |
B.about half a century later |
C.in the year 2050 |
D.about a century later |
The last paragraph mainly talks about _____________.
A.new ways of building cities |
B.the building of cities under the sea |
C.the building of floating cities in Japan |
D.the danger which earth's land will face |
The best title for the passage is ______________.
A.Travel in the Future | B.Future Life |
C.Where to Live in the Future | D.Space Travel |
David Beckham had a dream: to be the first English player to appear in four World Cups.
But now it appears that dream is over after a serious injury to his Achilles tendon(跟腱)which means he could be out of action for around six months. With this year's World Cup in South Africa only three months away, sadly Beckham looks set to miss out.
The injury happened while Beckham was playing for AC Milan against AC Chievo in the Italian league. After attempting to kick the ball he collapsed to the ground and hobbled off the pitch before being stretchered(被担架抬走)away.
It is not yet known whether he has completely severed(切断)his Achilles tendon or only torn it. The player has now flown to Finland for assessment and treatment by a knee specialist.
England manager Fabio Capello fears the worst for Beckham's World Cup chances.
"We have to wait for the results of the scan but it looks like he is out of the World Cup," he said in a statement. "I spoke with him after the game on Sunday night to offer my support.
"David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow."
Beckham's former manager at American club LA Galaxy, Alexei Lalas, echoed(共鸣)Capello's words of support:
"It is a horrible situation for Beckham. I know how much it meant to him to be in the World Cup and how important he was to the England team.
David Beckham is now 34 and some are asking whether this serious injury could mean his whole career is over.
Whatever happens, as one of football's best-known and popular players, Beckham will have no shortage of encouragement from fans around the world.
Some will remember Beckham's miraculous recovery from an Achilles injury in 2006, when he was back on the pitch after only eight weeks.
If he could repeat the same feat,in time for the World Cup it really would be the stuff of fairytales.
So, perhaps all is not lost. Optimists will take heart from Alexei Lalas' words:
"You never want to write off(排除)David Beckham as he has shown us his ability to bounce back(恢复原状)."What is the best title of the passage?
A.Beckham had a dream? |
B.Beckham—a great football player! |
C.The end for Beckham? |
D.World Cup in South Africa! |
What does the author mean by saying “missing it will be a big blow?”
A.Missing the World Cup will be a big success. |
B.Missing Beckham means a great failure. |
C.Missing Beckham means an important opportunity for the American club LA Galaxy. |
D.Missing the World Cup means a big disappointment for Beckham. |
We may infer from the passage that .
A.Beckham will definitely not be able to play football again |
B.Beckham was cured by a great knee specialist he found |
C.Beckham has his ability to bounce back |
D.Beckham is likely to miss the World Cup |
What do the underlined words “take heart” probably mean?
A.get disappointed | B.get help | C.get encouraged | D.get hurt |