San Francisco(People's Daily Online)-- Apple Inc. Tuesday introduced its mobile payment service Apple Pay alongside the company's iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California.
What apple does is to replace consumers' wallet with its cell phone. Apple said it hopes to speed up the checkout process, make credit-card payments more secure and ultimately, to replace physical wallets.
With the near-field communication technology, Apple's gadgets like iPhone and Apple watch can transmit a radio signal between the device and a receiver when the two are in an inch apart. "To pay, just hold your iPhone near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID. You don’t even have to look at the screen to know your payment information was successfully sent," Apple says on its official website.
Apple said that each transaction (交易)would be authorized(授权) with a one-time, unique number, creating a security code that it said is more secure than the one on the back of your credit card because cashiers wont see your name, card number or security code. The service will work with the three major payment networks —American Express, MasterCard and Visa —and Apple said that there are 220,000 merchant locations that accept these contactless payments.
When some applaud this disrupted service that will compete with Paypal and endanger other online payment companies, some others concern about its safety, especially when another retailer Home Depot confirmed a data opening yesterday and iCloud was reported exposing nude (裸体)pictures of celebrities (名人) a week ago.
Leo Zheng, a technology reporter in Silicon Valley said: "When Apple attracts consumers to put all their cards into one iPhone and promised the security, Jennifer Lawrence should say something."Which can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Apple announces mobile payment service to replace consumers' wallet. |
| B．Consumers can pay in cash through mobile phones. |
| C．Apple Inc. will introduce new models to the market. |
| D．Mobile payment will be popular soon. |
After reading the third paragraph, we know .
| A．Apple’s new products are popular |
| B．Apple can be used as an ID |
| C．Apple's gadgets can receive message easily |
| D．how Apple's gadgets work |
The attitude of the writer towards the mobile payment is .
| A．indifferent (冷漠的) | B．objective |
| C．skeptical | D．positive |
What could have happened to Jennifer Lawrence?
| A．She made great contributions to Apple. |
| B．She put all her cards into her iPhone. |
| C．Her nude pictures were spread online. |
| D．Her iPhone often broke down. |
It seems that all your friends’ names on MSN have added a little green “I’m” symbol overnight. If you ask what is going on, someone will tell you it’s a charity activity.
Though this charity program has not yet officially begun for Chinese users, this little green symbol has proven popular among Chinese Windows Live Messenger users.
Windows Live Messenger’s official blog announced on March 1 that Microsoft was beginning an “I’m” program in the United States. Every time someone starts a conversation using “I’m”, Microsoft shares a part of the program’s advertising income with nine organizations devoted to social causes. With every instant message a user sends, it helps deal with things one feels most interested in, including poverty, child protection, disease and worsening environment.
One only has to add a certain code next to one’s name for the organization one would like to support. “*red’u” is for the American Red Cross, “*bgca” is for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and “*unicef” stands for the American branch of UNICEF.
After a Chinese blogger named “hung” introduced this program on his blog on March 2, “I’m” entered the Internet in China with no actual support from Microsoft.
Beijing-based Youth Weekend reported that famous IT blogger Keso regarded this program’s rapid spread as a successful virus marketing case. He thinks that the success of the “I’m” program is because it’s spread by users without being a bother to others. This answers why “I’m” has spread so rapidly across the Internet like a virus with almost no advertisement.
However, Feng Jinhu from the press center for Microsoft China told Youth Weekend that the “I’m” project is only for Messenger users in the United States. Instant messages sent by Chinese users would not count.
This has not affected Chinese Messenger users’ interest in the little green symbol. These users hope their instant messages will actually contribute to charitable organizations someday.What’s the main idea of the third paragraph?
| A．The detail information about the “I’m” program. |
| B．Microsoft announced the beginning of the program. |
| C．The main purpose of the program. |
| D．How to take part in the program in China. |
What is the reason for the success of the “I’m” program according to Keso?
| A．It doesn’t bring other users trouble. | B．It is popular with the poor people. |
| C．It is supported by Microsoft. | D．It is advertised through the Internet. |
The following descriptions about the “I’m” program are correct EXCEPT _________.
| A．it became popular in China in a short time |
| B．Microsoft will support the charity activity for free |
| C．US MSN users who take part in the “I’m” program contribute to charity |
| D．it covers social problems such as poverty, child protection, etc. |
What should you do to take part in the “I’m” program?
| A．Send an email to Microsoft. |
| B．Add a little green “I’m” symbol before your MSN name. |
| C．Add the code of the organization you support next to your MSN name. |
| D．Fill in an application form in advance. |
From the passage, we can come to a conclusion that _________.
| A．“I’m” is a computer virus that will not be easily removed |
| B．Microsoft is active in advertising the program in China |
| C．modern technology is being used to raise money for charity |
| D．Chinese MSN users have no interest in the program |
Things to do this weekend
★Scottish Dance Party
The Bellingham Scottish Country Dancers, which holds such events, welcomes all ages and dance levels to attend tonight’s ceilidh (同乐会), which starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club. Dancers will be taught and snacks will be served. Admission is ＄7 for adults, ＄4 for students. Call 734-1295 or go to www.bellinghamscd.org for more information.
★All-ages Showcase
Vincent Blackshadow is among the performers at an all-ages concert at 8 tonight at the Old Foundry. The High School Band Showcase is organized by Whatcom All-Ages Arts and Music (WhAAM), a community organization founded with the aim of providing a safe all-ages music and arts place. Admission is ＄5. Call 201-7408 or visit www.myspace.com/whaam for details.
★A Touch of Shakespeare
Hans Altweis and Jennifer Sue Johnson star in the Seattle Shakespeare Company’s performance of a part of Shakespeare’s play, Othello, in Russ Banham’s adaptation (改编) that draws upon (利用) the magic realism of Latin American culture. The play runs Sept. 5 through Sept. 8 at the Seattle Center House. Tickets are from ＄18 --＄30. Call (206) 733-8222 or go to www.seatttleshakespeare.org for more information.
★Hike Around Squires Lake
Enjoy views from Alger Alp, followed by a hike around Squires Lake. This hike is easy. Meet organizers at the foot of Alger Alp at 10 a.m. To get to Squires lake, take Interstate 5 south to Lake Samish exit 242, then go east for 0.7 mile on Old Highway 99. The hike is free. Information: www.mountbakerclub.org.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Photography. | B．Sports. | C．Arts. | D．Dance. |
According to the passage, which of the following is free?
| A．Hike Around Squires Lake. | B．All-ages Showcase. |
| C．Scottish Dance Party. | D．A Touch of Shakespeare. |
Which of the following websites can offer more information about Othello?
| A．www.mountbakerclub.org. | B．www.bellinghamscd.org. |
| C．www.myspace.com/whaam. | D．www.seatttleshakespeare.org. |
If you want to enjoy music and only have ＄5, which of the following can you go to?
| A．Scottish Dance Party. | B．All-ages Showcase. |
| C．A Touch of Shakespeare. | D．Hike Around Squires Lake. |
According to the passage, we can know that__________.
| A．both the old and the young can go to Scottish Dance Party |
| B．calling 201-7408 can help you know more about a hike |
| C．it takes a lot of time to reach Squires Lake |
| D．Hans Altweis is a famous writer |
Lee Ann Laraway has polio (小儿麻痹症) and is not able to move very much. Most things are out of reach for her. Jeannie, a Labrador retriever, acts as her arms and legs. Jeannie understands 72 or more different commands. On a shopping trip, she can get money for Lee Ann at the bank or candies at the store. She can pay the cashier (收银员) and get change back. Jeannie brings things to Lee Ann and puts them in her lap.
Jeannie was trained at a place called Canine Companions for Independence, located on twelve acres of land in Santa Rosa (California). The land was donated (捐赠) by the cartoonist Charles Shultz. “We train four different types of dogs here,” said Ken Kirsh, a dog trainer there. “Hearing dogs, service dogs, skilled companion dogs, and facility dogs.”
Trainers work with Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers for hours a day, but not every dog is good enough to be a working dog.
The work is a serious business. Hearing dogs warn their owners of sounds like ringing telephones and doorbells. Other dogs work with disabled patients like eight-year-old Noah Habib who communicates with a special computer. He likes it when people come to ask him about his dog. His father says, “People are really interested in the dog and will come over and ask to pet her and play with her, and ask about what she does, and these are people that normally might not approach us and want to talk to Noah.”
When Lee Ann Laraway comes home with Jeannie and her goods, Jeannie helps her open the door. “You can train a dog to do a lot of things.” said Lee Ann.According to this passage, we can know that Jeannie is Lee Ann’s.
| A．servant | B．daughter | C．dog | D．mother |
Jeannie can help Lee Ann do all the following things EXCEPT___________.
| A．go to the bank to get money |
| B．pay for what Lee Ann buys in the shop |
| C．bring things home |
| D．do some cooking at home |
People want to talk to Noah mainly because .
| A．he is good at training dogs |
| B．he is not only honest but also lovely |
| C．they want to play with his dog |
| D．they want to ask him for help |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．Dogs are helpful to people | B．Four kinds of dogs |
| C．Jeannie, a very clever dog | D．How to train working dogs |
What kind of dogs are not trained in the center?
| A．Dogs that warn their owners of sounds like doorbells. |
| B．Dogs that help their blind owners cross over a road. |
| C．Dogs that open the door for their owners. |
| D．Dogs that work with children who have polio. |
In 1933 an unknown American called Clarence Nash went to see the filmmaker Walt Disney. He had an unusual voice and he wanted to work in Disney’s cartoon film for children. When Walt Disney heard Nash’s voice, he said “Stop! That’s our duck!”
The duck was the now-famous Donald Duck, who first appeared in 1934 in the film The Wise Little Hen. Donald lived in an old houseboat(水上住家) and wore his sailor jacket and hat. Later that year he became a star after an eight-minute Mickey Mouse film. The cinema audience liked him because he was lazy and greedy, and because he lost his temper very quickly. And they loved his voice when he became angry with Mickey’s eight nephews. Soon Donald was more popular than Mickey Mouse himself, probably because he wasn’t a goody-goody like Mickey.
In the 1930s, 40s and 50s Donald and his friends Mickey, Goofy and Pluto made hundreds of Disney cartoons. He also made educational films about the place of the USA in the world, and safety in the home. Then in 1966 Donald Duck and his voice disappeared---there were no more new cartoons.
Clarence Nash died in February, 1985. But today’s children can still see the old cartoons on television and hear that famous voice.Who made Donald Duck film?
| A．Mickey Mouse | B．Clarence Nash | C．Walt Disney | D．Pluto |
When did Donald Duck become popular?
| A．In 1933 | B．In 1934 | C．In 1966 | D．In 1930 |
Where do today’s children see Donald Duck?
| A．In new film | B．At the cinema | C．On television | D．At concerts |
The underlined word “goody-goody” in the second paragraph means a person who __________ .
| A．likes to appear to be faultless in behavior |
| B．likes to appear to be faulty in behavior |
| C．dislikes to appear to be faultless in behavior |
| D．dislikes to be faulty in behavior |
What’s the main idea of the second paragraph?
| A． Donald’s lovely voice. |
| B．A brief introduction of Donald. |
| C． Donald’s temper. |
| D．Donald Duck and Clarence Nash. |
Beijing opera or Peking opera （Pinyin: Jīngjù） is a form of Chinese opera which arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century．The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China．Major performance troupes （剧团，戏班子） are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north，and Shanghai in the south．The art form is also enjoyed in Taiwan，and has spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Beijing opera features four main types of performers．Performing troupes often have several of each variety，as well as numerous secondary and tertiary performers．With their elaborate （认真的，精心的） and colorful costumes，performers are the only focal points on Beijing opera's characteristically small stage．They make use of the skills of speech，song，dance，and combat in movements that are symbolic and suggestive，rather than realistic．Above all else，the skill of performers is evaluated according to the beauty of their movements．Performers also hold a variety of stylistic conventions that help audiences navigate the plot of the production．The layers of meaning within each movement must be expressed in time with music．The music of Beijing opera can be divided into the Xipi and Erhuang styles．Melodies include arias （唱腔），fixed-tune melodies，and percussion patterns．The repertoire of Beijing opera includes over 1,400 works，which are based on Chinese history，folklore，and，increasingly，contemporary life.
In recent years，Beijing opera has attempted numerous reforms in response to sagging audience numbers．These reforms，which include improving performance quality，adapting new performance elements，and performing new and original plays，have met with mixed success．Some Western works have been adopted as new plays，but a lack of funding and an adverse political climate have left Beijing opera's fate uncertain as the form enters the 21st century．How long has Beijing Opera become a popular art form?
| A．About one and a half centuries. |
| B．More than two centuries. |
| C．More than one century. |
| D．About half a century. |
How many art forms of Beijing Opera at present?
| A．Two including Beijing and Tianjin，and Shanghai in the south. |
| B．Two including Beijing and Tianjin in the north. |
| C．Three including Beijing and Tianjin，and Shanghai in the south and Taiwan. |
| D．Five including Beijing and Tianjin，and Shanghai in the south，Taiwan，US and |
What are the features of the performers’ movements of Beijing Opera?
| A．Elaborate. | B．Colourful. |
| C．Realistic . | D．Representative. |
Which of the followings is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Performers can take different stylistic traditions in the plays. |
| B．The standard to estimate a performer is the amount of his/her movements. |
| C．It’s necessary to keep movements along the music in time. |
| D．The content of Beijing Opera is plentiful but much fixed. |
What will be the future of the Beijing Opera?
| A．Very bright. | B．Certainly good. |
| C．Much uncertain. | D．More popular. |