A developer edition of Sony’s augmented reality smart glasses will go on sale in ten countries next month, the tech giant has announced.
Pre-orders for the SmartEyeglass, costing $840 (£620), are now being taken in the UK and Germany, with Japan and the US to follow shortly. The black-framed glasses are compatible (兼容的) with recent Android operating systems. Last month Google announced that it was withdrawing its smart glasses for redevelopment. Sony’s initial model will come with a software development kit to encourage people to design apps for it, the company said.
The glasses, which weigh 77g, contain an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, image and brightness sensors, 3-megapixel camera and a microphone. They also come with a controller, designed to be attached to clothing, which contains a speaker, touch sensor and the device’s battery. Text is displayed in front of the wearer in monochrome green.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook has been open about his dislike of glasses as a wearable device. “We always thought that glasses were not a smart move, from a point of view that people would not really want to wear them,” he told the New Yorker. “They were intrusive (闯入的), instead of pushing technology to the background, as we’ve always believed.”
Stuart Miles, founder of tech site Pocket-lint, said: “I think [Sony is] wasting their time, energy and effort.”
“Google Glass obviously needed a complete rethink... I can’t see how something thick-rimmed and more invasive-looking than Google Glass is going to catch on.
“People are keen on wearables like fitness bands and watches, but they care about their faces. Wearing something on your head is a lot stronger than wearing something on your arm,” he added. “The industry keeps pushing it but consumers just don’t want it.”
In which countries people can get the SmartEyeglass first?
| A．The US and Japan. | B．The US and the UK. |
| C．The UK and Japan. | D．Germany and the UK. |
The purpose of this passage is to __________.
| A．introduce an accelerometer developed by the Google company |
| B．tell the people that the SmartEyeglass will go on sale |
| C．people like the glasses very much |
| D．the SmartEyeglass is less than 840 yuan |
What can be inferred from what Stuart Miles said?
| A．He supports Sony’s efforts to develop the SmartEyeglass. |
| B．He cares more about his clothes and face. |
| C．He dislikes the SmartEyeglass. |
| D．He really wants to wear them. |
Choose the true statements according to the passage.
A. The glasses, which weigh more than 77g.
B. Tim Cook has been open about his dislike of glasses as a wearable device.
C. Last month Google announced that it was withdrawing its smart glasses for development.
When you grow up, could you imagine your parents choosing your husband or wife for you? Besides, can you imagine not setting eyes on him or her until your wedding day? This situation is common in India, the Middle East and many parts of Africa. Marriage customs around the world often differ from our own. We don’t realize that people in other places often get married in very different ways—and with different motives.
In many countries, marriage is a practical matter. A marriage provides a safe and stable home for the husband and wife. It also joins two families, which benefits the couple’s parents and makes them happy. Marriage also brings children, making sure the couple will be taken care of in old age. Because marriage is important for the whole family, some cultures don’t let young people choose whom to marry.
Just as there are many different reasons for marriage, there are also many different wedding rituals. Every culture has its own ways of bringing good luck to the happy couple. In a typical Western wedding, the bride seeks good luck by wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” Something old represents the past. Something new represents success in the future. Something borrowed reminds the bride she can get help from her friends and family. And something blue reminds her to be true to her husband.
In Poland, one wedding tradition is not only lucky, but also very practical. The wedding guests pin money to the bride’s dress while she is dancing. The money is meant to bring luck and to help the young couple build their new life. In Bermuda, the young couple plant a tree in the yard of their new home. Once they move in, they take good care of the tree and make it grow. The planting of the tree is a good metaphor（比喻） for marriage. A truly good marriage is something that grows with care.Which of the following statements does NOT support the idea “marriage is a practical matter”?
| A．The husband or wife may have a safe and stable home. |
| B．A marriage brings children to take care of the couple when they are old. |
| C．A marriage benefits both the couple’s families. |
| D．Parents have no duty to help their children get married. |
The underlined word “ritual” means .
| A．methods | B．ceremonies |
| C．behaviors | D．performances |
What can be the subject of this passage?
| A．People across the world get married in different ways and for different reasons. |
| B．Every culture had its own ways of bringing good luck to the young couple. |
| C．A truly good marriage is something that grows with care. |
| D．In many countries, marriage is a practical matter. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．Parents choose a husband or wife for their child in India. |
| B．In many countries, some cultures don’t let young people choose whom to marry. |
| C．In Bermuda, the wedding guests pin money to the bride’s dress while she is dancing. |
| D．Something blue reminds the bride to be true to her husband in western wedding. |
“Mind over matter” is an English saying meaning that we can control our bodies with our minds. Now scientists are finding increasing evidence that our mind can have a great effect on our physical health. Since our mind influences how we feel, it’s not true to say if someone is ill just because he feels ill.
The influence of the mind on how well we feel is the basis of what is known as the placebo effect. A placebo (which is Latin for “I shall please”) is a harmless, inactive substance. Patients are sometimes given placebo pills and begin to feel better because they believe that they have been given real drugs and expect to respond to them. The placebo effect is very strong: research on pain suggests that up to 30% of the effect of most painkillers is a placebo effect.
So if it is so powerful, why don’t doctors use it today?
According to Dr Persaud, they really do. “All these things like seeing a doctor, going to a hospital, and being scanned(扫描) have a very strong placebo effect,” he says.According to the first paragraph, if you feel ill.
| A．you don’t need to see a doctor |
| B．it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re physically ill |
| C．you are in good condition |
| D．it is obvious that you suffer from a serious disease |
The English saying “mind over matter” means that .
| A．a sound mind is less important than a good health |
| B．our mind has a strong effect on our body |
| C．our physical health has nothing to do with our mind |
| D．mental health mainly depends on our physical health |
According to the passage, placebos .
| A．may make patients feel worse |
| B．are not effective pills |
| C．are not real drugs |
| D．can relieve all kinds of pains |
From the passage it can be seen that there will be no placebo effect if a patient .
| A．is dressed in white | B．has a physical exam |
| C．takes placebo pills | D．sees a doctor |
“If it rings one more time, I’ll hang up,” Amy thought hopefully, as she waited for someone to answer. Apologizing wasn’t an easy thing to do.
“Hello,” a woman’s voice said. There was no backing out now.
“May I speak to Missy, please?”
“Just a minute.”
In much less than a minute, Missy was on the phone. “Hi, who’s calling?” asked the cheerful voice.
“It’s Amy. I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry about what I said to you. I didn’t really mean it.” Amy paused, trying to think of what to say next.
“Thank you, Amy. No hard feelings.”
“Missy, you’re a very nice person. You’re a lot nicer than I am!”
Missy laughed. “You’re not so bad, Amy. By the way, I’ve got some great news. Mr.Grumbell said that you were the only candidate for class president. He talked me into being a candidate, too. Isn’t that cool?”
Amy didn’t think the news was cool. Missy was very popular; she’d get a lot of votes. Fortunately, Amy was in a gracious(亲切的) mood. “You’ll be a tough opponent（对手）, Missy,” she said. “May the best woman win.”
“Thanks, Amy,” Missy replied. “But you might even win.”
Amy had to laugh. “Hey, I’m the one who’s supposed to make comments like that!” Amy called Missy on the phone to .
| A．tell her that she was happy |
| B．tell her she needed a help |
| C．apologize to her |
| D．ask her to run for president |
Amy was hoping that no one would answer the phone because .
| A．she was too tired to talk |
| B．she felt uncomfortable when making apologies |
| C．she was afraid she had dialed the wrong number |
| D．she was wearing pajamas |
Missy let Amy know that she wanted something that Amy wanted. What was it?
| A．She wanted to have the most friends. |
| B．She wanted her own telephone. |
| C．She wanted mushrooms on her pizza. |
| D．She wanted to be class president. |
Ogilvie the detective arrived. Both the Duke and Duchess were extremely nervous.
The Duchess went to the door herself. The detective’s piggy eyes surveyed her. His gaze moved on to sweep the spacious, well-decorated room, and the Duke.
“Pretty neat set-up you’ve got.”Ogilvie said slowly.
The Duchess said sharply, “Imagine you didn’t come here to discuss the decoration.”
“No, Madame. I like nice things, though. Like that expensive car of yours. The one you keep here in the hotel.”
“In what way does our car concern you?”The Duchess had sat in a straight-backed chair.
“Now,” he said.“You two were in the hit-and-run.”
She met his eyes directly. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play games, lady. You saw the newspapers. There’s been plenty on radio, too.” Ogilvie’s words spat forth with sudden strength. “You listen to me. This city’s mad — everybody. When they find who killed that kid and her mother, and run away, what will they do? Now I know what I know, and if I do what by rights I should, there’ll be police here. But I come to you first, so you could tell your side of it to me.” The piggy eyes blinked, then hardened. “If you want it the other way, just say so.”
The Duchess—three centuries and a half of in-born pride behind her—did not give in easily. Springing to her feet with great anger, gray-green eyes burning, she faced the detective straightly. Her tone would have frightened anyone who knew her well. “You unspeakable blackguard! How dare you!”
Ogilvie said nothing. But the Duke cut in, “It's no go, old girl, I’m afraid. It was a good try.” Facing Ogilvie, he said, “What you accuse us of is true. I was driving the car and killed the little girl.”
“That’s more like it,” Ogilvie said, “now we’re getting somewhere.”
The Duchess sank back into her chair. She asked, “What is it you know?”
“I’ll tell you, I got a curious nature. You and your wife drove home, you were driving, after a drink. Last night I saw you come in—through the basement, looking shaken, the pair of you. I got wondering why. Like I said, I got a curious nature.”
The Duchess breathed, “Go on.”
“Late last night the word was out about the hit-and-run. I went over the garage and took a quiet look at your car. On your car you got a damaged headlight. There’s plenty of blood.”
“Oh, my God!”A hand to her face, the Duchess turned away.
Her husband asked, “What do you suggest?”
The fat man rubbed his hands together, “Like I said, I come to hear your side of it.”
The Duke said desperately, “What can I possibly say? You know what happened. You’d better call the police.”
“There’s no way bringing back the kid nor her mother. Besides, what they’d do to you, Duke, you wouldn’t like it at all. I was hoping,” Ogilvie said, “that you could suggest something.”
The Duke said uncertainly, “I don’t understand.”
“I understand,” the Duchess said. “You want money. You came here to blackmail(讹诈) us.”
The house detective shrugged(耸肩). “Whatever names you call things, they don’t matter to me. All I come for is to help you people out of trouble. But I’ve got to live too.”
“You’d accept money to keep silent about what you know?”
“I think so.”
“How much do you want?”
The piggy eyes blinked.“Ten thousand dollars.”
“What would we receive in return?”
The fat man seemed puzzled. “Like I said, I keep quiet about what I know.”
“No.” The statement was clear. “We will not pay you.”
Ogilvie’s round face reddened, “Now listen, lady....”
She cut him off. “I won’t listen. Instead, you will listen to me. We won’t pay you $10,000. But we will pay you $25,000. In return, you will drive our car north.”
“$25,000,” she repeated. “$10,000 now. $15,000 more when you meet us in Chicago.”
The fat man’s piggy eyes were focused upon hers. The silence hung. Then, he gave the slightest of nods.The Duke and Duchess were extremely nervous because they ________.
| A．knew the detective would harm them |
| B．were afraid to meet a stranger at night |
| C．thought the detective would search them |
| D．had just got involved in a traffic accident |
By saying “This city’s mad—everybody” Ogilvie wanted to ________.
| A．frighten the Duke and his wife |
| B．ask for money for the victims |
| C．show concern for the couple |
| D．punish the law-breakers himself |
In the eyes of the Duke and Duchess, Ogilvie was _____________.
| A．professional, brave but dirty |
| B．smart, sensitive and helpful |
| C．greedy, tough but flexible |
| D．honest, clever and reliable |
Which of the sentences from Ogilvie defeated the Duchess completely?
| A．“Now, you two were in the hit-and-run.” |
| B．“On your car you got a damaged headlight. There’s plenty of blood.” |
| C．“Now I know what I know, and if I do what by rights I should, there’ll be police here.” |
| D．“Last night I saw you come in—through the basement, looking shaken, the pair of you.” |
The Duchess finally succeeded in ________.
| A．protecting their inborn pride |
| B．turning the disadvantage into a chance |
| C．make friends with the detective |
| D．rejecting the detective’s blackmail |
The practice of students endlessly copying letters and sentences from a blackboard is a thing of the past. With the coming of new technologies like computers and smartphones, writing by hand has become something of nostalgic (怀旧的) skill. However, while today’s educators are using more and more technology in their teaching, many believe basic handwriting skills are still necessary for students to be successful—both in school and in life.
Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, says it’s important to continue teaching handwriting and help children acquire the skill of writing by hand.
Berninger and her colleagues conducted a study that looked at the ability of students to complete various writing tasks—both on a computer and by hand. The study, published in 2009, found that when writing with a pen and paper, participants wrote longer essays and more complete sentences and had a faster word production rate.
In a more recent study, Berninger looked at what role spelling plays in a student’s writing skills and found that how well children spell is tied to how well they can write. “Spelling makes some of the thinking parts of the brain active, which helps us access our vocabulary, word meaning and concepts. It is allowing our written language to connect with ideas.” Berninger said.
Spelling helps students translate ideas into words in their mind first and then to transcribe (转换) “those words in the mind written symbols on paper or keyboard and screen,” the study said. Seeing the words in the “mind’s eye” helps children not only to turn their ideas into words, says Berninger, but also to spot spelling mistakes when they write the words down and to correct them over time.
“In our computer age, some people believe that we don’t have to teach spelling because we have spell checks,” she said. “But until a child has a functional spelling ability of about a fifth grade level, they won’t have the knowledge to choose the correct spelling among the options given by the computer.”What makes writing by hand a thing of the past?
| A．The popular use of smartphones. |
| B．The absence of blackboard in classrooms. |
| C．The lack of practice in handwriting. |
| D．The use of new technologies in teaching. |
Berninger’s study published in 2009 _________.
| A．discussed the importance of writing speed |
| B．found that good essays are made up of long sentences |
| C．indicated that students prefer to write with a pen and paper |
| D．focused on the difference between writing by hand and on a computer |
What does “mind’s eye” in Paragraph 5 mean?
| A．Imagination. | B．Soul. | C．Picture. | D．Window. |
What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?
| A．Handwriting still has a place in today’s classrooms. |
| B．Spell checks can take the place of spelling teaching. |
| C．Computers can help people with their choice of words. |
| D．Functional spelling ability develops fast in the fifth grade. |