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If you’re looking to buy a gift for your children, why not keep up with the trend and get the best hoverboard?
What is a Hoverboard?
A hoverboard is a two-wheeled personal transportation device. It’s electrical, portable and became highly popular in 2015 in reference to a popular 1980’s movie. Typically, this self-balancing device operates like a powered skateboard.
How Does a Hoverboard Work?
The device may have many designs, but the mechanism itself isn’t complicated. Basically, a standard hoverboard contains:
•Battery: stores the electrical power. Almost all hoverboards use a high-watt lithium-ion battery.
•Gyroscope (one for each wheel): allows riders to tilt (倾斜) the hoverboard while maintaining balance and adjusting their direction.
•Motor (one in each wheel): provides the power to the wheels to keep the rider balanced and upright.
•Logic board: functions as the hoverboard brain. It processes data — your speed, tilt, etc. — and sends information to the motors. This unit controls the power of the board so riders can adjust their speed.
All the above components work together to control the power and tilt of the hoverboards so the rider is balanced, upright and moving at a controlled speed.
Why Buy a Hoverboard?
Undoubtedly, hoverboards are cool. You’ve probably seen kids riding one around the house. They’re a phenomenon and everybody wants in. So, why deny your kids and prevent them from being part of this trend?
Where is a hoverboard legal?
Despite their wild popularity, hoverboards have yet to become “street-legal”. Currently, some places prohibit anyone under 16 from using these devices, and hoverboards are banned in academic institutions and public places, like campus buildings, parks, shopping malls and subway stations. Some places have also put speed limits on the devices and restricted their use to bike paths. However, open areas — including your yard — are free of these restrictions.
1.The logic board of a hoverboard can ______.
A.store electricity
B.power the wheels
C.send information to the riders
D.receive data and give command
2.According to the passage, a hoverboard can be used ______.
A.on campus B.in parks
C.on bike paths D.in shopping malls
3.What is the main purpose of this passage?
A.To evaluate a gift’s quality.
B.To recommend a gift choice.
C.To compare new hoverboard models.
D.To clarify functions of the latest hoverboards.
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If you are looking for something fun and educational to do in Maryland,why not visit the Maryland Science Center?It is located at 601 Light Street,Baltimore,MD 21230.The ticket prices vary depending on ages,groups and the exhibits you choose.
Introduction
The Maryland Science Center is basically a museum,but it gives everyone a chance to learn through experience and play,rather than just glance at an exhibit.
Activities
You can learn about various topics,including outer space,the human body,dinosaurs,electricity,marine（海洋的）biology,energy,and much more.You can also take part in the interactive activities,such as racing bubbles,digging for dinosaur fossils,using puzzle pieces to construct cars,and so much more.
The Davis Planetarium（天文馆）
At the Davis Planetarium,you can lie back in a chair and look at the stars while still inside the Science Center. The stars will appear on the ceiling of the theatre as you watch them.
There are different shows to catch at the Davis Planetarium.You can learn about the galaxy and astronomy during the Dark Matters show.Learn about the stars and planets during the Sky Live show.The One World One Sky show allows children to explore the stars.The Live from the Sun show will teach you all about the hot sun.
The Kids Room
For children,they can't miss the Kids Room.They will be able to play in a water area,construct dams and water towers,push buttons,ring doorbells,build with blocks,and more,and definitely they will learn a lot.In addition,there is also an area for kids of two years old and under,where they can crawl,walk and explore safely with soft toys.
1.What do we know about the Maryland Science Center?
A. It charges different prices for parents and Children.
B. It is regarded as the most popular museum in Maryland.
C. It is a museum where there are many famous exhibitions.
D. It is mainly designed for children and their families to play together.
2.Which activity is not available in the Maryland Science Center?
A. Taking part in bubble competitions.
B. Learning the structure of the human body.
C. Watching famous science fiction films.
D. Gaining knowledge of marine creatures.
3.If you want to know why the sun shines,which show should you choose?
A. Dark Matters. B. Live from the Sun.
C. One World One Sky. D. Sky Live.
4.What can we learn about the Kids Room from the passage?
A. It is designed for parents who have children.
B. It provides a good opportunity for parents to relax.
C. Children there need to be accompanied by their parents.
D. It is a good place for children to learn and play at the same time.
5.Where is the passage most probably taken from?
A. A newspaper. B. A science journal.
C. A marketing report. D. A travel brochure（小册子）.
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You are careful with your money: you collect all kinds of coupons; look for group-buy deals if you eat out; you don't buy clothes unless in a sale. Does all this make you a wise consumer?
Let's do the math first: you walk into a coffee shop and see two deals for a cup of coffee. The first deal offers 33 percent extra coffee. The second takes 33 percent off the regular price. What's the better deal? Well, they are about the same, you'd think. And you'd be wrong. The deals appear to be equal, but in fact, they are different. Here's the math: Let's say the standard coffee is 10 yuan and let's divide the amount of coffee into three portions(部分). That makes about 3.3 yuan per portion, The first deal gets you 4 portions for 10 yuan (2.5 yuan per portion) and the second gets you 3 portions of coffee for 6.6 yuan (2.2 yuan per portion) and is therefore a better deal.
In a new study published by the Journal of Marketing, participants were asked the same question, and most of them chose the first deal, the Atlantic website reported. Why? Because getting something extra for free feels better than getting the same for less. The applications of this view into consumer psychology(心理) are huge. Instead of offering direct discounts, shops offer larger sizes or free samples.
According to the study, the reason why these marketing tricks work is that consumers don't really know how much anything should cost, so we rely on parts of our brains that aren't strictly quantitative.
There are some traps we should be aware of when shopping. First of all, we are heavily influenced by the first number. Suppose you are shopping in Hong Kong. You walk into Hermes, and you see a 100,000 yuan bag. "That's crazy." You shake your head and leave. The next shop is Gucci, a handbag here costs 25,000 yuan. The price is still high, but compared to the 100,000 yuan price tag you just committed to your memory, this is a steal. Stores often use the price difference to set consumers' expectation.
Another trap we often fall to Is that we are not really sure what things are worth. And so we use clues(暗示) to tell us what we ought to pay for them. US economist Dan Ariely has done an experiment to prove this. According to the Atlantic, Ariely pretended he was giving a lecture on poetry. He told one group of students that the tickets cost money and another group that they would be paid to attend. Then he informed both groups that thelecture was free. The first group was anxious to attend, believing they were getting something of value for free. The second group mostly declined, believing they were being forced to volunteer for the same event without reward.
What's a lecture on poetry by an economist worth? The students had no idea. That's the point. Do we really know what a shirt is worth ? What about a cup of coffee? What's the worth of a life insurance.policy? Who knows? Most of us don't. As a result, our shopping brain uses only what is knowable: visual(祝觉的) clues, invited emotions, comparisons, and a sense of bargain. We are not stupid. We are just easily influenced.
1.The first paragraph of the passage is intended to________
A．ask a question B．introduce a topic
C．give some examples D．describe a phenomenon
2.The writer takes the math for example in Paragraph 2 to show. _.
A．consumers usually fall into marketing traps
B．consumers' expectation is difficult to predict
C．consumers' purchasing power is always changing
D．consumers rely on their own judgment when shopping
3.What consumer psychology is mentioned in the passage?
A．The first number has little influence on which item should be bought.
B．Consumers never use visual clues to decide how much should be paid.
C．Getting something extra for free is better than getting the same for less.
D．Consumers never rely on parts of the brains that aren't strictly quantitative.
4.According to the passage, shops use the following tricks to make more profits EXCEPT.
A．showing price differences B．offering larger sizes
C．providing free samples D．giving direct discounts
5.What can we know from US economist Dan Ariely's experiment?
A．Ariely's free lecture enjoyed popularity among students.
B．The students actually didn't know what the lecture was worth.
C．The second group was willing to be volunteers without reward.
D．The first group was eager to find out the value of Ariely's lecture.
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— Why not buy a second-hand car first if you don't have enough money for a new one?
— That's a good .
A. saying B. question C. suggestion D. account
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Why not create new memories to share with your children? Remember as a kid how thrilled you were to spend quality time outdoors with your family? Together in the fresh air, playing catch, fishing on a boat or building sand castles, you hoped that these loving, fun-filled moments would last forever. Here are 4 ways to create memorable experiences with your kids this summer.
Hit the beach
Pack your bathing suits, sun cream and towels — a beach bound adventure offers warm memories for all family members. Remember swimming in warm water at the shoreline, playing among the sands, and diving into the refreshing surf after a game of beach volleyball? You can recreate these happy experiences.
Play Street Hockey(曲棍球)
The best thing about summer street hockey is that loved ones of all skill levels can join in for an afternoon of physical activity, outdoor fun and competition. Channel your inner Sidney Crosby or Hayley Wickenheiser and see who can score the most goals.
Camp
Sleep under the stars, cook on a campfire and swim in a stream — camping in the great outdoors is a sure way to have wonderful family memories. Some campsites offer equipment such as full bathrooms, showers and sleeping bags. For more information visit Parks Canada’s website.
Take a Road Trip
Traveling along the highway with the windows down, wind rushing through your hair and the radio turned up loud enough for you to sing along. Who didn’t love a summertime journey in the backseat of their parents’ car as a kid? This summer, give your kids a taste of what you enjoyed at their age. Take a family road trip exploring together.
1.Who is the text intended for?
A. Teachers. B. Coaches. C. Parents. D. Players.
2.“Hit the Beach” can help you do the following things except ________.
A. swimming in the deep sea
B. building sand castles
C. diving into the refreshing surf
D. playing beach volleyball
3.If you enjoy sleeping under the stars with your kids, ________ is your best choice.
A. "Play Street Hockey"
B. "Take a Road Trip"
C. "Camp"
D. "Hit the Beach"
4.What does the author suggest doing for taking the road trip?
A. Taking along enough food.
B. Bringing sleeping bags.
C. Packing your sun cream.
D. Sing along to music.
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Not sure what gift to get your loved ones? Think technology! You may even find something special for yourself!
Mini Quadcopter
Would you like to have a flying toy, but lack space to fly one? Consider a Mini Quadcopter that is small enough to fit inside your hand. This Mini Quadcopter can be controlled to fly in any direction with its remote control. The Mini Quadcopter is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $39.95.
Selfie Toaster
Does your sweetie like taking selfies and eating toast? Well, why not combine the two with the Selfie Toaster? The Selfie Toaster crates an image on the piece of toast so you can smile at yourself every morning. The Selfie Toaster is available from Etsy for $10.95.
Amazon Echo
Give the knowledge of the world with the Amazon Echo.
The advice can answer questions, tell you about weather conditions, tell jokes, play music and more. The Echo also acts as a Bluetooth speaker so you can connect your phone and listen to your favorite songs. The Echo is available from Amazon for $179.
Indoor Snowfall Light
Get into the spirit of the holiday season in your home with the Indoor Snowfall Light. The light shows snowflake shapes in your room to give you the feeling of a winter snowfall. You can control the speed of the snowfall, unlike the real whether. The Indoor Snowfall Light is available from Sharper Image for $59.99.
1.Who may be most interested in a Mini Quadcopter?
A. Drivers. B. Children.
C. Teachers. D. Housewives.
2.What’s the function of a Selfie Toaster?
A. It keeps your food fresh. B. It helps order your food.
C. It makes your picture prettier. D. It puts your image on your food.
3.You will need an Amazon Echo when you are ________.
A. at a meeting B. in the classroom
C. on a long trip D. having an interview
4.Which website is probably visited most at Christmas?
A. Etsy. B. Amazon.
C. Sharper Image. D. Hammacher Schlemmer.
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If you can’t wait until the summer for your sunshine fix，why not fly off on a winter break? Here are some great deals for all budgets．
1．ST LUCIA
The beachside resort(度假胜地)of St James’s Club in Morgan Bay is fairly quiet—the local market is nearly 5kin away—but it has six bars，six restaurants and four outdoor pools. There are plenty of watersports，you can travel through the rainforest，go on a jeep trip or enjoy dolphin-Spot-ting. Average temperature in March is 27℃．
THE DEAL：A seven-night stay with flights from Gatwick for 1，429pp．From March 1.
2．GOA
With an average February temperature of 26℃，scenic Goa makes for a warm winter get away. In the village of Arpora，the Resorte Marinha Dourada is a 10-minute walk from the clear beach—the hotel provides transfers for guests．Alternatively，relax by the outdoor pool and have a drink at one of the hotel’s two bars. A visit to Arpora’s lively Saturday night market is also recommended. Go bird-watching，beating on the lake，or fishing．
THE DEAL：10 nights’ bed and breakfast with flights from Manchester for 1，157pp．From February 18.
3．DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Bayahibe is a beautiful fishing village on the shores of the Caribbean and it is also the Dominican Republic’s premier scuba-diving destination．There are around 20 dive sites just off its coast. Enjoy golf，spas，watersports and large outdoor pools．If you simply want to relax，the Catalonia Gran Dominicus hotel is right on a pure white sandy beach，complete with palm trees. With average February temperature of 28℃，it’s the perfect escape．
THE DEAL：A seven-night stay with Gatwick flights for 1，403pp. From February 20.
4．SOUTH AFRICA
February is summer in South Africa，with average temperatures in the mid-20s℃. If you fancy chilling out in the sunshine，the Southern Sun Waterfront hotel has a large outdoor poo1. But it is also in the heart of the city，which makes it easy to explore its many historic attractions. Take a cable car ride up Table Mountain，or a short boat trip to Robben Island，where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner.
THE DEAL：10 nights for 1，662pp，with Heathrow flights. From February 18.
1.If you are only available in March，which resort should you choose?
A．ST LUCIA B．GOA
C．DOMINICAN REPUBLIC D．SOUTH AFRICA
2.What’s the price for the deal including underwater exploration?
A．￡1，429pp． B．￡1，157pp．
C．￡1，403pp． D．￡1，662pp.
3.What do these resorts have in common?
A．The same average temperature．
B．The outdoor pools.
C．The local markets．
D．The clear beaches．
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Why you shouldn’t punish your kids for lying
Getting your children to stop lying is challenging. There are many influences (TV, movies, video games and some great books) in which lies are common. Children see parents lie to others, if only to be polite. Most parents add to that with tales about the lives and activities of Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, or to lessen fears. 1.
The most common reactions to children who lie are explaining why it is wrong and punishment. 2. Here are three better tools supported by research to use instead.
PRAISE: You could ask your child to say something that happened at school that is true. When your child obeys, praise him enthusiastically. Be specific: 3. and give your child a hug or a high five. Aim for one or two interactions (互动) like this a day. If you happen to “catch” your child in a lie, say something like, “That is not true and could get you in trouble outside of the home.”
MODEL: Explicitly tell the truth. This could be about something that happened when you were a child or something that happened during the day. It need not be dramatic. Another option is to play a game at dinner. Each person tells one thing that was true that day. Again, give a little praise to the child who normally lies if she plays along.
DECREASE PUNISHMENT AND MORALIZING: They are unlikely to change behavior or develop the conduct you want.4. Rather, use very mild punishment (light scolding, short loss of privilege, a brief time-out). More severe punishments (shouting, taking away something for a week, hitting) are not more effective in actually changing the frequency of lying.
5. Usually they can be dropped by then. It is unlikely that lying will be completely removed, but with the right encouragement, k can be dramatically lessened.
A. It is not what that is, but about practice.
B. As ways of changing behavior, these are ineffective.
C. That does not mean ignoring, lying or letting it go.
D. “That was great! You told me what happened just like I asked. Wow!”
E. Try these procedures for two to three weeks and see where you are.
F. “You did a good job, but what you said was not what I’d like to know!”
G. Parents do this out of love, but for some children, lying can become a problem.
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Why you shouldn’t punish your kids for lying
Getting your children to stop lying is challenging. There are many influences (TV, movies, video games and some great books) in which lies are common. Children see parents lie to others, if only to be polite. Most parents add to that with tales about the lives and activities of Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, or to lessen fears. 1.
The most common reactions to children who lie are explaining why it is wrong and punishment.2. Here are three better tools supported by research to use instead.
PRAISE: You could ask your child to say something that happened at school that is true. When your child obeys, praise him enthusiastically. Be specific:3. and give your child a hug or a high five. Aim for one or two interactions (互动) like this a day. If you happen to “catch” your child in a lie, say something like, “That is not true and could get you in trouble outside of the home.”
MODEL: Explicitly tell the truth. This could be about something that happened when you were a child or something that happened during the day. It need not be dramatic. Another option is to play a game at dinner. Each person tells one thing that was true that day. Again, give a little praise to the child who normally lies if she plays along.
DECREASE PUNISHMENT AND MORALIZING: They are unlikely to change behavior or develop the conduct you want.4. Rather, use very mild punishment (light scolding, short loss of privilege, a brief time-out). More severe punishments (shouting, taking away something for a week, hitting) are not more effective in actually changing the frequency of lying.
5. Usually they can be dropped by then. It is unlikely that lying will be completely removed, but with the right encouragement, k can be dramatically lessened.
A. It is not what that is, but about practice.
B. As ways of changing behavior, these are ineffective.
C. That does not mean ignoring, lying or letting t go.
D. “That was great! You told me what happened just like I asked. Wow!”
E. Try these procedures for two to three weeks and see where you are.
F. “You did a good job, but what you said was not what I’d like to know!”
G. Parents do this out of love, but for some children, lying can become a problem.
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--- I want to make a kite for my son..
---____ You can easily buy one in the market.
A. Why not? B. Good idea! C. Why bother? D. No way!