-
Over the past few years, smart home tech has become more and more accessible and it's increasingly easy to find that you've bought a product that includes smart home features. So what does a modern smart home look like, and how can you start building one? You could get to start making your home smarter by the following gadgets.
Ecobee 4
*Measuring both occupancy and temperature, its sensors signal your Ecobee to automatically switch to the right mode.
*It only takes about 30 minutes, thanks to an easy-to-follow installation guide and an in-app step-by-step walkthrough.
*Easily adjust temperature using your voice with built-in Alexa or from wherever you are using your mobile devices.
Amazon Smart Plug
*Amazon Smart Plug works with Alexa to add voice control.
*Schedule lights, fans, and appliances to turn on and off automatically, or control them remotely when you're away.
*It's simple to set up and use. Plug in, open Alexa app, and start using your voice.
The Philips Hue White Smart Bulb
*It works with Amazon Alexa to support dimming through voice control.
*Schedule your own custom lighting scenes. Set the smart bulbs to turn on and off at a pre-set time.
*To install, simply screw(拧) the smart bulbs into your desired light location.
*Control smart-bulb-equipped lamps and overhead lights via the Philips Hue App.
August Smart Lock Pro
*It works with Alexa for voice control(Alexa device sold separately).
*Control keyless access. It locks automatically behind you, and unlocks as you approach.
*Install in about 10 minutes with just a screwdriver(螺丝刀).
1.What do the four gadgets have in common?
A. Useful Philips Hue App. B. Beautiful lighting scenes.
C. Easy installation and simple set-up. D. Pleasant temperature.
2.This passage is intended to ________.
A. introduce the gadgets of smart home B. provide advice for home decoration
C. compare the gadgets with others D. show the popularity of the gadgets
-
Over the past few years, smart home tech has become more and more accessible and it’s increasingly easy to find that you’ve bought a product that includes smart home features. So what does a modem smart home look like, and how can you start building one? You could get to start making your home smarter by the following gadgets.
Ecobee 4
* Measuring both occupancy and temperature, its sensors signal your Ecobee to automatically switch to the right mode.
* It only takes about 30 minutes. thanks to an easy-to-follow installation guide and an in-app step-by-step walkthrough.
* Easily adjust temperature using your voice with built-in Alexa or from wherever you are using your mobile devices.
Amazon Smart Plug
* Amazon Smart Plug works with Alexa to add voice control.
* Schedule lights, fans, and appliances to turn on and off automatically, or control them remotely when you’re away.
*It’s simple to set up and use. Plug in, open Alexa app, and start using your voice.
The Philips Hue White Smart Bulb
* It works with Amazon Alexa to support dimming through voice control.
* Schedule your own custom lighting scenes. Set the smart bulbs to turn on and off at a pre-set time.
To install, simply screw (拧) the smart bulbs into your desired light location.
* Control smart-bulb-equipped lamps and overhead lights via the Philips Hue App.
August Smart Lock Pro
* It works with Alexa for voice control (Alexa device sold separately).
* Control keyless access. It locks automatically behind you, and unlocks as you approach.
* Install in about 10 minutes with just a screwdriver (螺丝刀) .
1.What do the four gadgets have in common?
A. Useful Philips Hue App. B. Beautiful lighting scenes.
C. Easy installation and simple set-up. D. Pleasant temperature.
2.This passage is intended to ________.
A. introduce the gadgets of smart home B. provide advice for home decoration
C. compare the gadgets with others D. show the popularity of the gadgets
-
For the past two years I have been travelling and living abroad. Home has become more of a feeling than a place. I feel at home when I am with my family in London, but I also feel at home in Italy with friends I love. Home is no longer a picture of a house with a front door and some windows. It is more complicated than that.
This is one of the reasons that celebrating the new year has become very important for me. I do not care about "New Year’s resolutions(愿望)” - living abroad has made me constantly reconsider what kind of person I want to be and how I will live my life, so I don't feel the need to plan for change: I live for change.
New Year’s Eve has become my time to reconnect with the friends that makes me feel at home. Every year we try to reunite wherever we are and remember the time when we knew each other so well that we felt like a family. It is a moment to reconnect and get to know each other again. Last year, we travelled to a cottage in Ireland where we had no internet and no neighbours. In the middle of the countryside, away from our big and constantly changing lives, we were able to become like a little family again.
This year, we went to Barcelona. It was a very big change. We were surrounded by culture and life and joy. There were bars and parties. It was different, but one thing stayed very much the same-I felt at home again and we felt like a family again.
A lot of people feel that New Year’s Eve cannot live up to expectations. Ideas such as the "New Year's kiss" and "resolutions" create a lot of pressure for people to have a night to remember, a night that will change their lives and perhaps make the next year one worth living. I think those people are missing the point. If Christmas is about family, why can't New Year be about friends?
1.What does the underlined word "It" in Paragraph I probably mean?
A. Family. B. Living abroad.
C. Home. D. Staying with friends.
2.Why doesn't the author care about "New Year's resolutions"?
A. New Year’s resolutions cannot be reached.
B. His lifestyle makes him always ready for change.
C. It's meaningless to make any big changes in life.
D. Making New Year's resolutions creates much pressure.
3.What does the author try to convey through his experiences in Ireland and Barcelona?
A. Life is peaceful and enjoyable.
B. Living abroad is a happy experience.
C. Staying with friends makes one feel at home.
D. Travelling abroad enriches one's life experience.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. New Year's Celebration:How? B. True Friendship: What?
C. Living Abroad: Comfortable or Complicated? D. Change:Plan it or Make it?
-
Over the past decade, cheating—an act of academic dishonesty—has become more and more common.
The latest statistics shows more than two thirds of high school students admitted cheating on an exam last year, and—even more surprising—often the best students cheat to get to the top of their class—and they don’t think it is wrong. It’s not a big deal. Everybody is doing it.
It is a big deal! Cheating is basically wrong and must be punished.
If students easily get away with it, they might be encouraged to do it again. They won’t realize that this—in the broadest sense—is an attack on our society, which is based on values like honesty and fairness. The present spreading of cheating indicates a loss of those values and cannot be tolerated. An appropriate punishment for cheating incidents would make students aware of their misbehavior.
If no one were punished for cheating, who would ever study for an exam? Tons of papers would be lifted from websites, writing crib sheets would be more important than reviewing the subjects, and highly sophisticated cheating arts would be invented. Knowledge would only exist on the Internet and on cleverly created cheat sheets, but not in the minds of the students—a rather bad precondition to enrich our society wisely and intelligently.
Students have to learn that they have to learn. Only doing what’s right will bring them a feeling of pride and accomplishment and create self-confidence—the building blocks for a successful and satisfying life and a society that keeps its values.
1.What is more surprising is that ________.
A．cheating is very common in schools
B．over 2/3 of the students cheat last year
C．even the best students cheat on exams
D．teachers are not aware of the problems
2.How do they make the students realize their misbehavior?
A．By letting them getting away with it.
B．By telling them what is right.
C．By catching them on the spot.
D．By giving them some punishment.
3.How can students create self-confidence?
A．By knowing they have to learn.
B．By doing what is right.
C．By learning the right things.
D．By being punished when cheating.
4.What does the underlined word “lifted” mean?
A．taken B．removed C．copied D．written
-
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years, and it is assumed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in the future. Some of the world’s leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves.
London
London’s flood defences are getting older. Since 1982, the Thames Barrier(水闸)has protected the city from the threat of flooding, but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years. About 26 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions, by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not addressed.
There are 26 underground stations, 400 schools, 16 hospitals, an airport and 80 billion worth of property in London’s flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous.
Paris
Over a six week period in July and August 2003, more than 1 1,400—mainly elderly people—died in France from dehydration(脱水)and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave. Heat waves of similar intensity(强度)are expected every seven years by 2050, so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again?
One solution is to have air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes. But this is considered a short-term solution, as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions(排放).
In Paris the local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings such as the building “Flower Tower,” which uses a covering of bamboo to act as a natural air-conditioner.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth. It has a population of 18 million and is only 4 meters above sea level. Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century.
An estimated 250，000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption. China relies heavily on coal—fired power stations, but these emissions increase temperatures and, in turn, warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons.
1.What problem should be settled now in London?
A．How to protect the city’s property
B．Where to build its flood defences
C．How to use the Thames Barrier to protect the city
D．How to improve the function of the old flood defences
2.Which of the following measures can’t solve the heat wave disaster in Paris?
A．Putting up new types of buildings with a covering of bamboo
B．Having air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes
C．Forbidding the city to build“Flower Tower”
D．Encouraging architects to design new types of buildings
3.The major threats to Shanghai are________．
A．increasing population and coal-fired power stations
B．rising sea levels and typhoons
C．extremely high temperature and rising sea levels
D．extra demands on energy consumption and typhoons
4.The purpose of the passage is________．
A．to tell us how to protect the big cities
B．to give advice on how to defend natural disasters
C．to explain what causes flood and heat waves
D．to warn us of the increasing natural disasters in big cities
5.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A．Big Cities Facing Big Disasters
B．Big Disasters in the Future
C．The Increase of Natural Disasters
D．Solutions to Natural Disasters
-
For the past two years I have been travelling and living abroad. ______ has become more of a feeling than a place. I feel at home ______I am with my family in London, but I _____feel at home in Italy with friends I ____ , or in Spain with my partner. Home is no longer a picture of a ______with a front door and some windows. It is more _____than that.
This is one of the reasons that ______the New Year has become very important for me. New Year’s Eve has become my time to reconnect with the________that make me feel at home. Every year we try to reunite, no matter where the world has _______us, and remember a time when we knew each other so______that we felt like a family. It is a moment to reconnect and get to______each other again. Last year, we ______to a cottage(村舍)in Ireland______ we had no Internet and no neighbours. In the middle of the______, away from our big and constantly changing lives, we were able to become like a little______again.
This year, we went to Barcelona. It was a very big change. We were ______by culture and joy. There were bars and parties. It was_______, but one thing stayed much the same---I felt at home and we felt like a family________.
Two hours into 2017, I realized that I was______enough to be with people who didn’t mind and just wanted to ______the first day of the New Year with me even if it was on a sofa watching TV!
1.A. Mind B. Life C. Home D. Advice
2.A. since B. until C. before D. when
3.A. also B. either C. never D. ever
4.A. meet B. love C. help D. touch
5.A. temple B. tower C. house D. castle
6.A. interesting B. wealthy C. difficult D. complicated
7.A. celebrating B. decorating C. congratulating D. making
8.A. classmates B. friends C. relatives D. workers
9.A. invited B. brought C. taken D. attracted
10.A. seriously B. easily C. closely D. well
11.A. notice B. hear C. know D. find
12.A. travelled B. led C. belonged D. submitted
13.A. how B. why C. where D. which
14.A. city B. countryside C. capital D. river
15.A. organization B. team C. group D. family
16.A. refused B. surrounded C. buried D. connected
17.A. different B. grateful C. normal D. lost
18.A. already B. yet C. just D. again
19.A. wrong B. lucky C. clever D. cool
20.A. spend B. pass C. admire D. approach
-
阅读下面材料， 在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Over the past ten years I 1.(travel)abroad and home has become more of a feeling 2. a place. So 3. is important that I can celebrate the new year with the loved ones. New Year’s Eve has become the only time to reconnect with my friends which makes me feel at home. Every year we try 4.(unite)wherever we are and remember the time when we knew each other. 5., a lot of people feel that New Year’s Eve can’t live up to 6.(expect). Ideas such as the New Year’s kiss and resolutions create much pressure for people to have 7. night to remember, 8.will change their lives and perhaps make the next year worth 9.(live). I think those people are missing the point. 10.Christmas is about family, why can’t New Year be about friends?
-
在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。
Over the past few years, square dance 1. (become) a more and more popular exercise, especially among senior citizens. They often dance in the open areas in community. However, many 2. (resident) who live around are annoyed by the loud music. For example, students 3. (prepare) for important exams are 4. (deep) affected.
People may have different opinions on this issue. Some people think 5. is necessary for senior citizens to give up the hobby for the good of most people, 6. others argue that senior citizens have the right 7.（do）something they like in public places. They are both right to some extent. 8. my opinion, the authorities, instead of forcing senior citizens to stop dancing, should do something to meet everybody’s requirements. For example, they can supply some buses which can transport senior citizens to a place 9.there are few apartments around. Besides, local communities can also organize leisure activities that little noise 10. (create).
In short, there are always some good ideas that can meet the needs of people. After all, everybody has the right to live a happy and fulfilled life.
-
Over the past few decades, more and more countries have opened up the markets, increasingly transforming the world economy into one free-flowing global market. The question is：Is economic globalization 50 for all?
According to the World Bank, one of its chief supporters, economic globalization has helped reduce 51 in a large number of developing countries. It quotes one study that shows increased wealth 52 to improved education and longer life in twenty-four developing countries as a result of integration (融合) of local economies into the world economy. Home to some three billion people, these twenty-four countries have seen incomes 53 at an average rate of five percent—compared to two percent in developed countries.
Those who 54 globalization claim that economies in developing countries will benefit from new opportunities for small and home-based businesses. 55, small farmers in Brazil who produce nuts that would originally have sold only in 56 open-air markets can now promote their goods worldwide by the Internet.
Critics take a different view, believing that economic globalization is actually 57 the gap between the rich and poor. A study carried out by the U.N.-sponsored World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization shows that only a few developing countries have actually 58 from integration into the world economy and that the poor, the uneducated, unskilled workers, and native peoples have been left behind. 59, they maintain that globalization may eventually threaten emerging businesses. For example, Indian craftsmen who currently seem to benefit from globalization because they are able to 60 their products may soon face fierce competition that could put them out of 61. When large-scale manufacturers start to produce the same goods, or when superstores like Wal-Mart move in, these small businesses will not be able to 62 and will be crowded out.
One thing is certain about globalization—there is no 63. Advances in technology combined with more open policies have already created an interconnected world. The 64 now is finding a way to create a kind of globalization that works for the benefit of all. (347 words)
1. A．possible B．smooth C．good D．easy
2. A．crime B．poverty C．conflict D．population
3. A．contributing B．responding C．turning D．owing
4. A．remain B．drop C．shift D．increase
5. A．doubt B．define C．advocate D．ignore
6. A．In addition B．For instance C．In other words D．All in all
7. A．mature B．new C．local D．foreign
8. A．finding B．exploring C．bridging D．widening
9. A．suffered B．profited C．learned D．withdrawn
10. A．Furthermore B．Therefore C．However D．Otherwise
11. A．consume B．deliver C．export D．advertise
12. A．trouble B．business C．power D．mind
13. A．keep up B．come in C．go around D．help out
14. A．taking off B．getting along C．holding out D．turning back
15. A．agreement B．prediction C．outcome D．challenge
-
Believe it or not, the size of the human brain has become smaller over the past 20,000 years. Scientists argue over whether this means we are becoming more or less intelligent as a species.
“I’d call that a major downsizing in an evolutionary eye blink (眨眼),” John Hawks told Discover magazine.
Why is the brain becoming smaller?
There are different theories to explain it. One is that tens of thousands of years ago, before the decline began, to survive in cold and dangerous conditions, humans needed a stronger and larger body and therefore, a larger head. Also they had to chew the tough meat of rabbits, foxes and horses. As conditions improved, the brain stopped growing, according to supporters of this theory.
Another theory comes from a recent study by David Geary and Drew Bailey. They found that brain size decreased as population density(密度) increased.
“As complex societies appeared, the brain became smaller because people did not have to be as smart to stay alive.” Geary told AFP.
But smaller brain size does not necessarily mean that modern humans are less smart than their ancestors. “Modern humans simply developed different, more complex forms of intelligence,” said Brian Hare.
Hare’s studies focus on two types of great apes: chimpanzees and bonobos. Both are much like humans, but are physically quite different from one another. The bonobo has a smaller brain than the chimpanzee, and is also much less aggressive and more tolerant.
“When it comes to working out a problem,” Hare said, “chimpanzees are much less likely to accomplish it if it involves working together. Not so with bonobos.”
The smaller brain in modern humans may be evidence that we can cooperate,” Hare told the US National Public Radio.
1.Which of the following words can be used to replace the underlined word in Paragraph 2?
A. speed B. increase
C. decline D. change
2.We can learn from the passage that ____________.
A. the size of human brain has something to do with many factors
B. the brain size increases because of the increase of population density
C. the abilities of the bonobos and the chimpanzees are almost the same
D. modern humans can certainly do teamwork better than other species
3.According to Brian Hare, _____________.
A. bonobos are much likely to cooperate better than chimpanzees
B. chimpanzees tend to work well with others
C. modern humans are less smart their ancestors
D. small brains are certainly connected with intelligent beings
4.Which of following is probably the best title of the passage?
A. Bonobo or Chimpanzee—Which Smarter?
B. Smaller Brain--Less Intelligent?
C. Human and Animal—More Intelligent?
D. Human Brain-Why Downsizing?