Your glasses may someday replace your smartphone, and some New Yorkers are ready for the switch. Some in the city can't wait to try them on and use the maps and GPS that the futuristic eyewear is likely to include.
“ I'd use it if I were hanging out with friends at 3 a. m. and going to the [bar and wanted to see what was open,” said Walter Choo, 40, of Fort Greene.
The smartphone-like glasses will likely come out this year and cost between $250 and $600, the Times said, possibly including a variation of augmented(增强的) reality, a technology already available on smartphones and tablets (平板电脑) that overlays information onto the screen about one's surroundings. So, for example, if you were walking down a street, indicators would pop up showing you the nearest coffee shop or directions could be plotted out and come into view right on the sidewalk in front of you.
“ As far as a mainstream consumer product, this just isn't something anybody needs,” said Sam Biddle, who writes for Gizmodo.com. “ We're accustomed to having one thing in our pocket to do all these things,” he added, “and the average consumer isn't gonna be able to afford another device (装置) that's hundreds and hundreds of dollars.”
9to5Google publisher Seth Weintraub, who has been reporting on the smartphone-like glasses since late last year, said he is confident that this type of wearable device will eventually be as common as smartphones.
“It's just like smartphones 10 years ago,” Weintraub said. “A few people started getting emails on their phones, and people thought that was crazy. Same kind of thing. We see people bending their heads to look at their smartphones, and it's unnatural,” he said. “ There's gonna be improvements to that, and this a step there.”
One of the possible functions of the smartphone-like glasses is to ____.
A.program the opening hours of a bar |
B.supply you with a picture of the future |
C.provide information about your surroundings |
D.update the maps and GPS in your smartphones |
The underlined phrase "pop up" in the third paragraph probably means " ____".
A.develop rapidly |
B.get round quickly |
C.appear immediately |
D.go over automatically |
According to Sam Biddle, the smartphone-like glasses are ____.
A.necessary for teenagers |
B.attractive to New Yorkers |
C.available to people worldwide |
D.expensive for average consumers |
We can learn from the last two paragraphs that the smartphone-like glasses ____.
A.may have a potential market |
B.are as common as smartphones |
C.are popular among young adults |
D.will be improved by a new technology |
On his bench in Madison Square Soapy moved uneasily, and he realized the fact that the time had come for him to provide against the coming winter.
The winter ambitions of Soapy were not of the highest. In them there were no dreams of Mediterranean voyages or blue Southern skies. Three months on the Island was what his soul desired. Three months of assured board and bed and good company, safe from north winds seemed to Soapy the most desirable thing.
Just as the more fortunate New Yorkers had bought their tickets to Palm Beach each winter, Soapy had made his arrangements for his annual journey to the Island. And now the time had come.
There were many institutions of charity in New York where he might receive lodging and food, but to Soapy’s proud spirit the gifts of charity were undesirable. You must pay in humiliation of spirit for everything received at the hands of mercy. So it was better to be a guest of the law.
Soapy, having decided to go to the Island, at once set about accomplishing his desire. He left his bench and went up Broadway. He stopped at the door of a glittering cafe. He was shaven and his coat was decent. If he could reach a table in the restaurant, the portion of him that would show above the table would raise no doubt in the waiter’s mind. A roasted duck, with a bottle of wine, a cigar and a cup of coffee would be enough. Such a dinner would make him happy, for the journey to his winter refuge.
But as Soapy entered the restaurant door, the head waiter’s eye fell upon his shabby trousers and old shoes. Strong hands pushed him in silence and haste out into the street.
Some other way of entering the desirable refuge must be found.
At a corner of Sixth Avenue Soapy took a stone and sent it through the glass of a glittering shop window. People came running around the corner, a policeman at the head of them. Soapy stood still, with his hands in his pockets, and smiled at the sight of the policeman.
“Where is the man that has done that?” asked the policeman.
“Don’t you think that I have had something to do with it?” said Soapy, friendly.
The policeman paid no attention to Soapy. Men who break windows don’t remain to speak with policemen. They run away. He saw a man running and rushed after him, stick in hand. Soapy, disgusted, walked along, twice unsuccessful.
On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant for people with large appetites and modest purses. Soapy entered this place without difficulty. He sat at a table and ate beefsteak and pie. And then he told the waiter he had no money.
“Go and call a cop,” said Soapy. “And don’t keep a gentleman waiting.”
“No cop for you,” said the waiter. “Hey!”
Then Soapy found himself lying upon his left ear on the pavement. He arose with difficulty, and beat the dust from his clothes. Arrest seemed a rosy dream. The Island seemed far away.
After another unsuccessful attempt to be arrested for harassing a young woman, Soapy went further toward the district of theatres.
When he saw a policeman standing in front of a glittering theatre, he thought of “disorderly conduct”. On the sidewalk Soapy began to sing drunken songs at the top of his voice. He danced, cried, and otherwise disturbed the peace.
The policeman turned his back to Soapy, and said to a citizen, “It is one of the Yale boys celebrating their football victory. Noisy, but no harm.”
Sadly, Soapy stopped his useless singing and dancing. The Island seemed unattainable. He buttoned his thin coat against the north wind.
In a cigar store he saw a well-dressed man who had set his silk umbrella by the door. Soapy entered the store, took the umbrella, and went out with it slowly. The man with the cigar followed hastily.
“My umbrella,” he said.
“Oh, is it?” said Soapy. “Well, why don’t you call a policeman? I took your umbrella! Why don’t you call a cop? There stands one on the corner.”
The umbrella owner slowed his steps. Soapy did likewise. The policeman looked at them curiously.
“Of course,” said the umbrella man, “well, you know how these mistakes occur…if it’s your umbrella I hope you’ll excuse me – I picked it up this morning in a restaurant – if it’s yours, I hope you’ll…”
“Of course it’s mine,” said Soapy.
The ex-umbrella man retreated. The policeman hurried to help a well-dressed woman across the street.
Soapy threw the umbrella angrily. He was angry with the men who wear helmets and carry clubs. They seemed to regard him as a king who could do no wrong.
At last Soapy stopped before an old church on a quiet corner. Through one window a soft light glowed, where, the organist played a Sunday anthem. For there came to Soapy’s ears sweet music that caught and held him at the iron fence.
The moon was shining; cars and pedestrians were few; birds twittered sleepily under the roof. And the anthem that the organist played cemented Soapy to the iron fence, for he had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends.
The influence of the music and the old church produced a sudden and wonderful change in Soapy’s soul. He thought of his degraded days, dead hopes and wrecked faculties.
And also in a moment a strong impulse moved him to battle with his desperate fate. He would pull himself out of this pit; he would make a man of himself again. Those sweet notes had set up a revolution in him. Tomorrow he would be somebody in the world. He would…
Soapy felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a policeman.
“What are you doing here?”
“Nothing.”
“Then come along,” said the policeman.
“Three months on the Island,” said the Judge the next morning.Soapy regarded the Island as his winter ambition because _____.
A.he wanted to go on Mediterranean voyages and enjoy blue Southern skies |
B.he wanted to spend the cold winter somewhere warm other than New York |
C.he wanted to be put into prison to survive the coming winter |
D.he wanted to buy a ticket to the Island to spend the cold winter |
Which of the following is the reason for Soapy’s not turning to charity?
A.His pride gets in the way. |
B.What the institutions of charity offer isn’t what Soapy needs. |
C.He wants to be a citizen who obeys the law. |
D.The institutions of charity are not located on the island. |
How many times did Soapy try to accomplish his desire?
A.4. | B.5. | C.6. | D.7. |
From the passage, we can see what the two restaurants have in common is that _____.
A.they are both fancy upper class restaurants |
B.neither of them served Soapy |
C.they both drove Soapy out of the restaurant after he finished his meal |
D.neither of them called cops |
Hearing the Sunday anthem at the church, Soapy _____.
A.was reminded of his good old days and wanted to play the anthem again |
B.was reminded of his unaccomplished ambition and was determined to get to the Island |
C.was reminded of his disgraceful past and determined to transform himself |
D.was reminded of his rosy dream and wished to realize it |
By ending the story this way, the author means to _____.
A.show that one always gets what he/she wants with enough efforts |
B.make a contrast and criticize the sick society |
C.surprise readers by proving justice was done after all |
D.put a tragic end to Soapy’s life and show his sympathy for Soapy |
Attractions in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N. Carroll Street on Madison's Capitol Square
Discover Wisconsin's history and culture on four floors of exhibits. Open for public program.
Admission is free.Open the second day of a week through Saturday, 900 a.m.400 p.m.Swiss Historical Village
612 Seventh Ave., New Glares
The Swiss Historical Village offers a delightful look at pioneer life in America's heartland. 14 buildings in the village give a full picture of everyday life in the nineteenth century Midwest.
Tue.Fri., May 1st October 31st, 1000 a.m.400 p.m. Admission is $20.
(608)5272317 www.__swisshistoricalvillage.com
Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café
6858 Paoli Rd., Paoli, WI
One of the largest collections of fine arts and crafts in Wisconsin. Over 5000 sq. ft. of exhibition space in a historic creamery. While visiting, enjoy a wonderfully prepared lunch at our café overlooking the Sugar River. Just minutes from Madison!
Gallery open Tue.Sun., 1000 a.m.500 p.m. Café open Wed. Sat., 1100 a.m.300 p.m.
Sun. brunch with wine, 1000 a.m.300 p.m. (608)8456600__www.__artisangal.__com
Christopher Columbus Museum
239 Whitney St., Columbus
Worldclass exhibit—2000 quality souvenirs marking Chicago's 1893 World Columbian Exhibition. Tour buses are always welcome.
Open daily, 815 a. m.400 p.m.(920)6231992 www.__columbusantiquemall.__comWhich of the following is on Capitol Square?
A.Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B.Swiss Historical Village. |
C.Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café. | D.Christopher Columbus Museum. |
Where can you go for a visit on Monday?
A.Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B.Swiss Historical Village. |
C.Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café. | D.Christopher Columbus Museum. |
Where can visitors have lunch?
A.At Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B.At Swiss Historical Village. |
C.At Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café. | D.At Christopher Columbus Museum. |
A funny thing happened on the way to the communications revolution: we stopped talking to one another.
I was walking in the park with a friend recently, and his cell phone rang, interrupting our conversation. There we were walking and talking on a beautiful sunny day and... I became invisible, absent from the conversation. The telephone used to connect you to the absent. Now it makes people sitting next to you feel absent. Why is it that the more connected we get, the more disconnected I feel? Every advance in communications technology is a tragedy to the closeness of human interaction(互动). With email and instant messaging over the internet, we can now communicate without seeing or talking to one another. With voice mail, you can conduct entire conversations without ever reaching anyone. If my mom has a question, I just leave the answer on her machine.
As almost every contact we can imagine between human beings gets automated(自动化), the alienation index(疏远指数) goes up. You can't even call a person to get the phone number of another person any more. Directory assistance is almost always fully automated.
I am not against modern technology. I own a cell phone, an ATM card, a voice mail system, and an email account. Giving them up isn't wise... they're a great help to us. It's some of their possible consequences that make me feel uneasy.
More and more. I find myself hiding behind email to do a job meant for conversation. Or being relieved that voice mail picked up because I didn't really have time to talk. The industry devoted to helping me keep in touch is making me lonelier ...or at least facilitating my antisocial instincts.
So I've put myself on technology restriction: no instant messaging with people who live near me, no cell phoning in the presence of friends, no letting the voice mail pick up when I'm at home.Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
A.The Advance of Communications Technology |
B.The Consequences of modern Technology |
C.The Story of Communications Revolution |
D.The Automation of Modern Communications |
The sentence “Now it makes people sitting next to you feel absent” means that ________.
A.the people sitting beside you have to go away to receive a phone call |
B.you can hardly get in touch with the people sitting beside you |
C.modern technology makes it hard for people to have a face-to-face talk |
D.people can now go to work without going to the office |
The writer feels that the use of modern communications is ________.
A.satisfying | B.encouraging | C.disappointing | D.embarrassing |
The passage implies that ________.
A.modern technology is bridging the people |
B.modern technology is separating the people |
C.modern technology is developing too fast |
D.modern technology is interrupting our communication |
Having one of those days or weeks when everything seems to annoy you? Even if you do nothing about it, your bad mood(心情) will probably go away after some time. But with a little effort, you can forget it much faster—often within a day or two.
Walk it off
Exercise is the most popular bad mood buster. A person who's in a bad mood has low energy and high tension. Taking a fast ten-minute walk, or doing some quick exercises can do wonders towards changing the bad mood.
Tune it out
Listening to your favorite music for a while can also make tension go away quickly, because music starts connection with past positive experiences we've had.
Give yourself a paper talk
Stop and listen to what's on your mind. Bad moods are often started by too many negative thoughts. Write them all down on paper, the pessimistic(悲观的) messages you've been giving yourself, and then give optimistic answers. (“I still don't have a job.” vs “I have two interviews next week.”)
Reduce your stress
Relaxation techniques are wonderful moodlifters. These include deep breathing, stretching and visualizing(想像), all of which sound complicated(复杂的) but aren't. One easy way to visualize: close your eyes and picture a favorite place, such as the beach. Another simple way to distress is to make a todo list. One reason for being in a bad mood is feeling you have no options. By taking control over certain areas, you realize you're not helpless. You can make changes in your mood and life.
Avoid things that won't improve your mood
TV may not help much: you need to increase your energy level and stimulate(刺激) your mind—something that the TV show “Neighbors” won't do. And before you reach for that piece of cake and coffee, think about how mood and food are linked. Sugar and caffeine contribute to depressed moods. The better choice? Research shows that carbohydrates, such as potatoes and pasta(面食), produce calming effects in people who have a desire for them.Which of the following may help us stop a bad mood?
A.Doing nothing about it |
B.Exercising and enjoying music. |
C.Writing down negative thoughts |
D.Talking about it with neighbors. |
Why is it suggested that you close your eyes and picture the beach?
A.It helps remove bad mood. |
B.It brings us a new technique. |
C.It is not complicated to do so. |
D.It is an area to be easily controlled. |
TV may not improve your mood because it ________.
A.shows what happens around you | B.does not energize you |
C.reminds you of eating and drinking | D.produces a calming effect |
Which would be the best title for this passage?
A.Energy Level and Stress | B.How to Beat a Bad Mood |
C.Bad Mood and Our Life | D.How to Control Your Feeling |
As you grow rapidly through your teenage years,you will experience a lot of changes.The changes may seem difficult and they may seem to happen quickly.Don't panic!You will deal successfully with them!You are a young adult now!
With more responsibility,you will find more freedom to make your own choices.This is a time to be well informed about your choices so that you can make healthy balanced decisions that will help shape your future.You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do.Both situations are fine!Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you.
Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices.You will probably want to be independent.But try not to shut your family out of your life.You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself.Your family have been with you since you came into this world.
It is also perfectly natural in this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family.Choose your friends wisely.A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens.
This period is part of the life cycle.There are some people who will be with you throughout life's journey and there will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways.Leaving school can be hard.The reality is that you may not ever see all of your classmates again.
You are a young adult.It is your life.No one can live it for you.The choices that you make from now on will be your choices.So making the right choices will be important to you.Life is for living.Enjoy your life wisely!The best title for this passage would be ________.
A.The Choices in Life | B.The Key to Success |
C.Say Goodbye to the Past | D.Becoming a Young Adult |
Who do the underlined words“some people”(Paragraph 5)probably mean?
A.your parents | B.your deskmates | C.true friends | D.your relatives |
The author thinks teenage years are ________.
A.a period of complete freedom |
B.too hard for young people to get through |
C.an important time for the young to make the right choices |
D.a very important period for young students to leave their parents |
Who is the passage mainly written for?
A.Teenagers | B.Teachers | C.Young parents | D.Adults |