Thanks to software like Apple’s Siri or Micro...

Thanks to software like Apple’s Siri or Microsoft’s Cortana, it’s easier than ever to do something on our phone or computer. All we have to do is talk, and our favorite song starts playing a few seconds later.

But in the near future, asking our phone to play a song by using our voice will seem as old-fashioned as using CDs. That’s because US tech company Microsoft recently applied for a patent (专利) for a “brain control interface” (BCI), meaning that soon, we may be able to control our phone and computer with our thoughts.

BCI technology works by converting (转化) brain signals into computer commands, similar to how pressing a certain key on a keyboard is converted into an electrical signal.This technology isn’t brand new, however.

Last year, for example, it was reported that scientists were able to help a paralyzed man from the US, 53-year-old Bill Kochevar, to move again.To do this, Kochevar was fitted with BCI technology, as well as equipment to make his muscles move. After a few weeks of getting used to it, Kochevar was able to use his thoughts to “tell” the BCI to move his muscles, meaning he was able to feed himself for the first time in years.

Aside from helping disabled people, it’s hoped that BCI technology will improve the daily lives of other people too.

US social networking platform Facebook announced last year that it was working on BCI technology to help people type by using their brain.

By 2019, the company hopes to have created a system that will allow people to type up to 100 words per minute just by thinking about them. In turn, this could be used to offer live translation, from English to Chinese, for example.

However, many people are worried that technology that can read our thoughts will create privacy (隐私) issues, especially if social media companies are involved.

But Facebook researcher Regina Dugan said at a conference last year that the company has no interest in reading people’s random thoughts. “That might be more than any of us care to know. And it’s not something any of us should have a right to know,” she said.

1.What can BCI technology do?

A. It converts our voice into computer commands.

B. It offers a live translation service for people.

C. It allows our thoughts to control certain equipment.

D. It controls our brain signals with a computer.

2.How does Kochevar probably feel about BCI technology?

A. Disappointed.　　 B. Thankful.

C. Embarrassed.　　 D. Proud.

3.Who else could benefit from BCI technology besides disabled people, according to the article?

A. Bus drivers.　　 B. Medical workers.

C. Social media users.　　 D. Shop assistants.

4.Why are some people worried about BCI technology?

A. It might do harm to their health.

B. Their privacy might not be respected.

C. It might take away too many job opportunities.

D. The equipment may be too expensive for ordinary

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Cortana, Alexa ,Siri ,These are names of robotic voices that are often programmed on electronic tablets. They also become default (默认) identities for people with speech disorders who rely on technology to communicate. Now some speech scientists are developing personalized voices to reflect the broader diversity of the people who use them. To do it, they are tapping into a vast network of volunteers who are donating their voices to share with people who can’t speak.

The effort to build an international “Human Voicebank” has attracted more than 17,000 volunteers from 110 countries, including Priyanka Pandya, a 16-year-old from Columbia, Md., who plans to spend her winter vacation recording a string of sentences into her computer “To be able to give somebody the gift of voice, I think that’s really, really powerful,” she said.

“Everyone has a voice,” said Rupal Patel, founder of VocaliD, the company that started the voicebank. “Even people who are unable to speak have sounds that are unique to them.” Her company designs personalized voices by recording the unique sounds of the user, and then mixing them with 6 to 10 hours of recordings from a voice donor, matched by age, gender and region. The company is developing voices now for its first 100 customers.

Also, people’s voices change. The company is looking for donors who are willing to record their voices, and then record them again a few years later, as they get older.

Some of the first customers say they are happy with the results, John A. Gregoire was one of the first customers to receive a personalized voice from Vocalid last December. The voice came eight years after he developed ALS (肌萎缩侧索硬化症) and more than six years have passed since his voice became unintelligible to everyone except his wife and youngest son. “Having a distinctive voice is like getting something back that was stolen.” John said.

1.What can we know about the voicebank?

A.It collects all kinds of voices.

B.It gains strong public support.

C.It helps to recognize special voices.

D.It offers people personalized voices free.

2.What does the example of John A. Gregoire stress?

A. Customers' desire for personalized voices.

B.VocaliD's efforts to develop personalized voices.

C.Customers'satisfaction with personalized voices.

D.VocaliD's success in designing personalized voices.

3.What does the underlined word “unintelligible” mean in the last paragraph?

A.Unclear. B.Soft.

C.Incomplete. D.Rough.

4.What is the main idea of the text?

A.Volunteers donate their voices to VocaliD.

B.Vocalic is devoted to building a voicebank.

C.The Human Voicebank wins fame among people with speech.

D.The Human Voicebank helps people with speech problems.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

If you are a fruit grower — or would like to become one — take advantage of Apple Day to see what’s around. It’s called Apple Day but in practice it’s more like Apple Month. The day itself is on October 21, but since it has caught on, events now spread out over most of October around Britain.

Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples. To people who are used to the limited choice of apples such as Golden Delicious and Royal Gala in supermarkets, it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence, such as Decio which was grown by the Romans. Although it doesn’t taste of anything special, it’s still worth a try, as is the knobbly(多疙瘩的) Cat’s Head which is more of a curiosity than anything else.

There are also varieties developed to suit specific local conditions. One of the very best varieties for eating quality is Orleans Reinette, but you’ll need a warm, sheltered place with perfect soil to grow it, so it’s a pipe dream for most apple lovers who fall for it.

At the events, you can meet expert growers and discuss which ones will best suit your conditions, and because these are family affairs, children are well catered for with apple-themed fun and games.

Apple Days are being held at all sorts of places with an interest in fruit, including stately gardens and commercial orchards(果园). If you want to have a real orchard experience, try visiting the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent.

1.What can people do at the apple events?

A. Attend experts’ lectures．

B. Visit fruit-loving families．

C. Plant fruit trees in an orchard．

D. Taste many kinds of apples．

2.What can we learn about Decio?

A. It is a new variety．　

B. It has a strange look．

C. It is rarely seen now．

D. It has a special taste．

3.What does the underlined phrase ＂a pipe dream＂ in Paragraph 3 mean?

A. A practical idea．

B. A vain hope．

C. A brilliant plan．

D. A selfish desire．

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A. To show how to grow apples．

B. To introduce an apple festival．

C. To help people select apples．

D. To promote apple research．

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

阅读理解。

If you are a fruit grower — or would like to become one — take advantage of Apple Day to see what’s around. It’s called Apple Day but in practice it’s more like Apple Month. The day itself is on October 21, but since it has caught on, events now spread out over most of October around Britain.

Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples. To people who are used to the limited choice of apples such as Golden Delicious and Royal Gala in supermarkets, it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence, such as Decio which was grown by the Romans. Although it doesn’t taste of anything special, it’s still worth a try, as is the knobbly(多疙瘩的) Cat’s Head which is more of a curiosity than anything else.

There are also varieties developed to suit specific local conditions. One of the very best varieties for eating quality is Orleans Reinette, but you’ll need a warm, sheltered place with perfect soil to grow it, so it’s a pipe dream for most apple lovers who fall for it.

At the events, you can meet expert growers and discuss which ones will best suit your conditions, and because these are family affairs, children are well catered for with apple-themed fun and games.

Apple Days are being held at all sorts of places with an interest in fruit, including stately gardens and commercial orchards(果园). If you want to have a real orchard experience, try visiting the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent.

1. What can people do at the apple events?

A. Attend experts’ lectures．

B. Visit fruit-loving families．

C. Plant fruit trees in an orchard．

D. Taste many kinds of apples．

2. What can we learn about Decio?

A. It is a new variety．

B. It has a strange look．

C. It is rarely seen now．

D. It has a special taste．

3. What does the underlined phrase ＂a pipe dream＂ in Paragraph 3 mean?

A. A practical idea．　　　　 B. A vain hope．

C. A brilliant plan．　　　　 D. A selfish desire．

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A. To show how to grow apples．

B. To introduce an apple festival．

C. To help people select apples．

D. To promote apple research．

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Three Apple engineers and three Microsoft employees are traveling by train to a conference. The Microsoft engineers each buy tickets but the Apple engineers buy only a ________ ticket.

“How are three people going to travel on only one ________?” asks a Microsoft employee. “Watch and you’ll see,” answers an Apple engineer.

They all board the train. The Microsoft employees take their ________ but all three Apple engineers cram(拥挤) into a restroom and close the door behind them.

________ after the train has departed, the conductor comes around ________ tickets. He knocks on the restroom door and says, “Ticket, please.” The door opens just a crack and an arm ________, ticket in hand. The ________ takes it and moves on. The Microsoft employees see this and agree it is quite a ________ idea.

So after the conference, the Microsoft employees decide to ________ the Apple engineers (as they always do) on the return trip and save some ________. When they get to the station, they buy one ticket. To their ________, the Apple engineers don’t buy any ticket at all.

“How are you going to travel without a ticket?” asks one ________ Microsoft employee. “Watch and you’ll see,” answers an Apple engineer.

When they board the train, the Microsoft employees cram into a ________ and the Apple engineers cram into another one nearby. The train departs. Soon one of the Apple engineers _______ his restroom and walks over to where the Microsoft employees are ________.

He knocks on the door and says, “Ticket, please...”

1.A. cheap　　 B. single　　 C. return　　 D. special

2.A. ticket　　 B. route　　 C. means　　 D. railroad

3.A. routes　　 B. chances　　 C. turns　 D. seats

4.A. Directly　 B. Shortly　　 C. Nearly　 D. Quickly

5.A. examining B. receiving C. collecting D. delivering

6.A. appears　　 B. sticks　 C. holds　　 D. rises

7.A. employee　 B. policeman C. conductor　　 D. engineer

8.A. strange　　 B. foolish　 C. awful　　 D. clever

9.A. learn　　 B. copy　　 C. accept　　 D. watch

10.A. money　　 B. time　　 C. energy　　 D. space

11.A. excitementB. agreement C. disappointmentD. astonishment

12.A. touched　　 B. puzzled　 C. frightened　 D. delighted

13.A. bedroom　　 B. sitting-room　 C. restroom D. dining-room

14.A. enters　　 B. crosses　　 C. leaves　　 D. reaches

15.A. hiding　　 B. sitting　 C. traveling　 D. enjoying

高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

NEW YORK—Microsoft on Monday made another effort to challenge Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android in the exploding smartphone market—launching a wireless operating system，Windows Phone 7.

Consumers will consider it“always delightful and thoroughly mine，”Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said at a launch event. Ballmer said last year that Microsoft had“screwed up”with its Windows Mobile operating system.For example，it failed to keep up with touch-screen innovations that make iPhones and Android phones easy to use.

Microsoft fell from third to fourth place in market share this year，behind BlackBerry，iPhone and Android. Only 10.8% of smartphone owners used Microsoft’s system in August，down from 18% last December.

But Windows Phone 7 is“a total departure from anything they’ve done”.Microsoft says it sought to simplify common activities. For example，you can instantly take a picture with a phone’s camera by pushing a button on the device. You don’t have to first awaken it from its sleep mode and launch the camera application. You also can program the phones to automatically upload photos to Facebook or other social network sites in a couple of seconds. Users can easily work with Microsoft Office contact and calendar information as well as documents created in Microsoft’s Word，Excel and PowerPoint.

The phones will not show videos built on Adobe’s Flash platform，widely used by services including YouTube and Hulu.

AT&T will offer the first Windows Phone 7 smartphone，the Samsung Focus，on Nov.8.Soon after，it will have the LG Quantum and HTC Surround. Each will cost S|  199.99 with a two-year service contract. T-Mobile will have two Windows Phone 7 models out for the holiday shopping season：the HTC HD7 and Dell Venue Pro. It did not say how much they’ll cost.

1.What is the main idea of paragraph 4？

2.What does the underlined phrase“screwed up”in the 2^nd paragraph probably mean？

3.Which of the following phones will NOT use Windows Phone 7 operating system？

4.Why did Microsoft see a drop in market share last year？

5.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage？

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Microsoft PowerPoint is the world’s most common presentation tool. It emerged from software company Forethought Inc in the 1980s. Bob Gaskins was the man behind it.

“I knew in the early 80s that there were as many as a billion, a thousand million presentation slides being made per year just in America,” Gaskins says，“ but they were all made by hand and almost nobody was using computers to do them.

“It was clear to me that here was a huge application worth billions and billions of dollars a year that could be done on computers as soon as there was a revolution in the kinds of computers that we had.”

Gaskins was onto something, but it was a hard sell at the time. The software wouldn’t run on any existing personal computers. Anyone wanting to use it had to buy a new machine. Even so, people bought personal computers for the first time in order to be able to use PowerPoint, says Wired magazine journalist Russell Davies.

Davies explains that before PowerPoint, people used slides to convey information to groups --- but anyone creating a presentation had to send away to get their materials made. It took a long time to do, was difficult to make changes and because it was so expensive, only the most senior people in an organisation got to do it.

“ PowerPoint，” Davies says，“made it possible for everyone in an organisation to stand up and say their piece.”

PowerPoint has helped turn us all into presenters --- but it’ s also been accused of over-simplifying ideas and distracting (干扰)us from clear thinking.

Sarah Kaplan is a management professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. She has noticed that, rather than people asking for new analysis or insights in meetings, they were asking for more PowerPoint slides.

Kaplan says that some CEOS, such as Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, have banned its use. “He felt, and I think many people feel, that PowerPoint became such an object of the process that they lost the ideas inside of it and that is the risk.”

1.What drove Bob Gaskins to develop PowerPoint?

A.His personal needs at the office.

B.The support from Forethought Inc.

C.The great potential market demand.

D.His interest in science and technology.

2.What was the problem with Bob Gaskin’s PowerPoint in the 1980s?

A.It was very expensive.

B.It was very difficult to use.

C.It couldn’t t be used on old computers.

D.It couldn’t satisfy young people’s needs.

3.What might be Russell Davies’s attitude to PowerPoint?

A.Critical. B.Appreciative. C.Cautious. D.Contradictory.

4.Why does Jeff Bezos ban the use of PowerPoint?

A.It fails to solve practical problems.

B.It fails to convey messages effectively.

C.It makes something valuable unavailable.

D.It results in creative thinking getting ignored.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

请阅读下列应用文及相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。

以下是一些电子产品的介绍：

A. Microsoft Office: This computer software package provides you with everything for your business or study needs. Whether you need to write a report, do your business accounts, design a web page or stay in touch through email, Office can do it 'all and much more. Cost $740

B. Motorola L7i mobile phone: Web enabled phone that allows you to surf the net anywhere anytime, with 2 mega pixel camera built in for photo and video. 1 GB memory to store large music and movie files. Cost $530

C. Lenovo laptop computer X61: This ultra-portable notebook is ideal for mobile users such as travellers and businessmen because it is lightweight (only 1 kilo) and offers extremely long battery life (up to 8 hours before recharging is necessary). Cost $1,200

D.  Supersonic MP4 Player: Multimedia player is just what you need to stay entertained wherever you go. Use the 1.5-inch screen as a video player or to play games. With 15GB of storage you can also store and listen to thousands of your favourite songs with just tile click of a button. Cost $140

E. Nintendo Game Boy: This portable video game system allows you to have fun wherever you are. With thousands of different games available to play on this system you are sure to never get bored. Cost $240

F. Sony Thinline Digital TV: This TV provides the crystal clear picture you expect from Sony and is only 2 cm thick. Has 120GB built in memory allowing you to record and store hundreds of hours of your favourite programmes with just the touch of a button. Cost: $3,500

下面是关于一些商店的简介，请匹配商店与它所销售的产品：

1.One-Stop Computer Centre: We are specialists in Dell and Samsung computers, offering a full range of desktops and notebooks for these two brands. We also stock a huge selection of computer softwares including all Microsoft, Sun Microsystems and Adobe applications.

2. Joe's Discount Electronics: Joe guarantees to provide you with the cheapest electronic products anywhere in the city. We may not have famous name brands but if you are looking for a reliable TV, mobile phone, MP4 player at unbeatable prices then Joe's is the place for you.

3. The Digital Warehouse: We're the city's leading electronic games store, offering the latest systems from Microsoft (Xbox), Sony (PlayStation 3) and Nintendo (Wii, Game Boy). We also offer a huge selection of games for each system, and if we don't have we will order it for you.

4.HiFi House: If you're looking for a new music system or the latest in television technology then we are for you. Get honest and reliable advice from our sales team on the right products for you. We only sell quality brands so your satisfaction is guaranteed.

5.The Mobile King: Are you 'always on the move? Do you need to take your work with you wherever you go? Is your back sore from carrying around your old heavy laptop computer? Then come to us to get the lightest and most powerful laptop computers from brand names such as Toshiba, Sony and Lenovo.

高三英语信息匹配简单题查看答案及解析

请阅读下列应用文及相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。

以下是一些电子产品的介绍：

A．Microsoft Office: This computer software package provides you with everything for your business or study needs．Whether you need to write a report, do your business accounts, design a web page or stay in touch through email, Office can do it 'all and much more．Cost $740

B．Motorola L7i mobile phone: Web enabled phone that allows you to surf the net anywhere anytime, with 2 mega pixel camera built in for photo and video．1 GB memory to store large music and movie files．Cost $530

C．Lenovo laptop computer X61: This ultra-portable notebook is ideal for mobile users such as travellers and businessmen because it is lightweight (only 1 kilo） and offers extremely long battery life (up to 8 hours before recharging is necessary）．Cost $1,200

D． Supersonic MP4 Player: Multimedia player is just what you need to stay entertained wherever you go．Use the 1.5-inch screen as a video player or to play games．With 15GB of storage you can also store and listen to thousands of your favourite songs with just tile click of a button．Cost $140

E．Nintendo Game Boy: This portable video game system allows you to have fun wherever you are．With thousands of different games available to play on this system you are sure to never get bored．Cost $240

F．Sony Thinline Digital TV: This TV provides the crystal clear picture you expect from Sony and is only 2 cm thick．Has 120GB built in memory allowing you to record and store hundreds of hours of your favourite programmes with just the touch of a button．Cost: $3,500

下面是关于一些商店的简介，请匹配商店与它所销售的产品：

1.One-Stop Computer Centre: We are specialists in Dell and Samsung computers, offering a full range of desktops and notebooks for these two brands．We also stock a huge selection of computer softwares including all Microsoft, Sun Microsystems and Adobe applications.

2.Joe's Discount Electronics: Joe guarantees to provide you with the cheapest electronic products anywhere in the city．We may not have famous name brands but if you are looking for a reliable TV, mobile phone, MP4 player at unbeatable prices then Joe's is the place for you.

3.The Digital Warehouse: We're the city's leading electronic games store, offering the latest systems from Microsoft (Xbox）, Sony (PlayStation 3） and Nintendo (Wii, Game Boy）．We also offer a huge selection of games for each system, and if we don't have we will order it for you.

4.HiFi House: If you're looking for a new music system or the latest in television technology then we are for you．Get honest and reliable advice from our sales team on the right products for you．We only sell quality brands so your satisfaction is guaranteed．

5.The Mobile King: Are you 'always on the move? Do you need to take your work with you wherever you go? Is your back sore from carrying around your old heavy laptop computer? Then come to us to get the lightest and most powerful laptop computers from brand names such as Toshiba, Sony and Lenovo．

高三英语信息匹配困难题查看答案及解析

36. --- I don’t know whether I should accept the invitation to join Microsoft or get my master degree first.

---- Don’t hesitate _______ will you get such an opportunity.

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析