Last summer, two nineteenth-century cottages were rescued from remote farm fields in Montana, to be moved to an Art Deco building in San Francisco. The houses were made of wood. These cottages once housed early settlers as they worked the dry Montana soil; now they hold Twitter engineers.
The cottages could be an example of the industry’ s odd love affair with “l(fā)ow technology,” a concept associated with the natural world, and with old-school craftsmanship (手藝) that exists long before the Internet era. Low technology is not virtual (虛擬的) —so, to take advantage of it, Internet companies have had to get creative. The rescued wood cottages, fitted by hand in the late eighteen-hundreds, are an obvious example, but Twitter’s designs lie on the extreme end. Other companies are using a broader interpretation (闡釋) of low technology that focuses on nature.
Amazon is building three glass spheres filled with trees, so that employees can “work and socialize in a more natural, park-like setting.” At Google’s office, an entire floor is carpeted in glass. Facebook’s second Menlo Park campus will have a rooftop park with a walking trail.
Olle Lundberg, the founder of Lundberg Design, has worked with many tech companies over the years. “We have lost the connection to the maker in our lives, and our tech engineers are the ones who feel impoverished (貧乏的) , because they’re surrounded by the digital world,” he says. “They’re looking for a way to regain their individual identity, and we’ve found that introducing real crafts is one way to do that.”
This craft based theory is rooted in history, William Morris, the English artist and writer, turned back to pre-industrial arts in the eighteen-sixties, just after the Industrial Revolution. The Arts and Crafts movement defined itself against machines. “Without creative human occupation, people became disconnected from life,” Morris said.
Research has shown that natural environments can restore(恢復(fù)) our mental capacities. In Japan, patients are encouraged to “forest-bathe,” taking walks through woods to lower their blood pressure.
These health benefits apply to the workplace as well. Rachel Kaplvin, a professor of environmental psychology, has spent years researching the restorative effects of natural environment. Her research found that workers with access to nature at the office—even simple views of trees and flowers—felt their jobs were less stressful and more satisfying. If low-tech offices can potentially nourish the brains and improve the mental health of employees then, fine, bring on the cottages.
【小題1】The writer mentions the two nineteenth-century cottages to show that ________.
A.Twitter is having a hard time |
B.old cottages are in need of protection |
C.early settlers once suffered from a dry climate in Montana |
D.Internet companies have rediscovered the benefits of low technology |
A.is related to nature | B.is out of date today |
C.consumes too much energy | D.exists in the virtual world |
A.have destroyed many pre-industrial arts |
B.have a tradition of valuing arts and crafts |
C.can become intelligent by learning history |
D.can regain their individual identity by using machines |
A.positive | B.defensive | C.cautious | D.doubtful |
A.Past Glories, Future Dreams |
B.The Virtual World, the Real Challenge |
C.High-tech Companies, Low-tech Offices |
D.The More Craftsmanship, the Less Creativity |
【小題1】D
【小題2】A
【小題3】B
【小題4】A
【小題5】C
解析試題分析:這篇短文講述的是關(guān)于現(xiàn)代科技公司運(yùn)用“大自然對(duì)人們創(chuàng)造力產(chǎn)生作用”的理念,積極創(chuàng)設(shè)原生態(tài)的辦公環(huán)境。這里提到的低科技指的是工業(yè)化之前的建造技術(shù),它更貼近自然。在自然的辦公環(huán)境下,職員們不會(huì)感到有壓力,對(duì)他們的健康是有好處的。
【小題1】D細(xì)節(jié)理解題。作者提到兩個(gè)19世紀(jì)的村舍是為了表明什么?根據(jù)短文第二段中Low technology is not virtual (虛擬的) —so, to take advantage of it, Internet companies have had to get creative可知,低科技不是虛擬的,因此要充分的利用它,高科技公司需要有創(chuàng)造力。而短文開(kāi)頭提到的兩個(gè)19世紀(jì)的小村舍就是低科技技術(shù)下的產(chǎn)物,F(xiàn)代的高科技公司也需要用低科技的理念創(chuàng)設(shè)原生態(tài)的辦公室。故選D。
【小題2】A 推理判斷題。低科技被認(rèn)為是什么樣的事物?根據(jù)下文中作者給出的例子so that employees can “work and socialize in a more natural, park-like setting以及最后一段中Her research found that workers with access to nature at the office可以判斷出,低科技跟大自然有關(guān),即在一個(gè)天然的環(huán)境下,故選A。B選項(xiàng)意思是低科技已經(jīng)過(guò)時(shí)了,這不符合文意,現(xiàn)在很多高科技的公司都在打造低科技的辦公室,讓職員們更接近自然;C選項(xiàng)的意思是低科技消耗很多能源,其實(shí)正好相反,低科技的東西都是很天然的,不需要消耗很多能源;D選項(xiàng)的意思說(shuō)低科技是虛擬的,而短文短文中說(shuō)它并不是虛擬的,故與文意不符。故選A。
【小題3】B細(xì)節(jié)理解題。第五段主要是說(shuō)人類怎樣?根據(jù)這一段的第一句話This craft based theory is rooted in history, William Morris, the English artist and writer, turned back to pre-industrial arts in the eighteen-sixties可知,工藝基礎(chǔ)理論是有其歷史根源的,英國(guó)的藝術(shù)家、作家William Morris又回到了19世紀(jì)60年代的工業(yè)化之前的藝術(shù)。由此可知選B。
【小題4】A推理判斷題。作者對(duì)低科技的態(tài)度可以用哪一個(gè)詞來(lái)形容?A是積極的;B是辯護(hù)的;C是謹(jǐn)慎的;D是懷疑的。通過(guò)作者給出的這些例子可以看出,利用低科技建造的原生態(tài)辦公室對(duì)職員們的工作的積極性是有好處的。并且作者還引用了一項(xiàng)研究Research has shown that natural environments can restore(恢復(fù)) our mental capacities來(lái)說(shuō)明自然環(huán)境對(duì)我們精神上的有利影響。故選A,是積極的。
【小題5】C 主旨大意題。這篇短文中作者告訴我們低科技不是虛擬的,現(xiàn)代的高科技公司需要有創(chuàng)造力,所以要充分的利用以前的低科技技術(shù),創(chuàng)設(shè)更加原生態(tài)的辦公環(huán)境。故用High-tech Companies, Low-tech Offices作為題目是最合適的。
考點(diǎn):科普類短文閱讀。
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Human activity is not responsible for all water shortages (短缺). Drier climates are of course more likely to have droughts (干旱) than areas with more rainfall, but in any case, good management can help to make sure there is enough water to meet our basic needs .
Thinking about the way we use water every day can make a big difference, too. In the United States, a family of four can use 1.5 tons of water a day! This shows how much we depend on water to live, but there’s a lot we can do to lower the number.
You can take steps to save water in your home. To start with, use the same glass for your drinking water all day. Wash it only once a day. Run your dishwasher (洗碗機(jī)) only when it is full. Help your parents fix any leaks (裂縫) in your home. You can even help to keep our water supply clean by recycling batteries instead of throwing them away.
【小題1】Which of the following is most likely to lead to less groundwater?
A.Using river water. | B.Throwing batteries away. |
C.Paving parking lots. | D.Throwing rubbish into lakes. |
A.All water shortages are due to human behavior. |
B.It takes a lot of effort to meet our water needs. |
C.There is much we can do to reduce family size. |
D.The average family in America makes proper use of water. |
A.show us how to fix leaks at home |
B.tell us how to run a dishwasher |
C.prove what drinking glass is best for us |
D.suggest what we do to save water at home |
A.why paving roads reduces our water |
B.how much we depend on water to live |
C.why droughts occur more in dry climates |
D.how human activity affects our water supply |
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When you feel all these about the ball,you really see it.
With your skin,you can feel better.For example,your fingers can tell the difference between two coins in your pocket.You can feel a little drop of water on the back of your hand,too.
You can even feel sounds against your skin.Have you ever wanted to know why some people like very loud music? They must like to feel the sounds of music.
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The bottoms of our feet can feel things,too.You know this when you walk on warm sand,cool grass or a bad floor.All feel different under your feet.
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A.you will have a strange feeling |
B.you will learn how to reach out |
C.you can tell the difference between them |
D.you can tell what colors they are |
A.try them on first |
B.put their right hand on them |
C.just has a look |
D.feel and touch them |
A.The things are used by people,too. |
B.People are used to the things. |
C.People know how to use the things. |
D.The things are easy to feel. |
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【小題1】 According to the passage, deserts are mostly made up of _______.
A.clay | B.rock |
C.stones | D.sand |
A.brave | B.cruel |
C.strange | D.kind |
A.it rains in spring only |
B.there is some rain, but far from enough |
C.it rains for a short time every month |
D.the rainfall is just enough for the plants |
A.only inside the oases |
B.only outside the oases |
C.both inside and outside the oases |
D.in places with regular rainfalls |
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C.is impossible in deserts | D.in deserts is much better now |
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【小題1】What have researchers found out about the influence of parents and the school on children's intelligence?
A.Parents have greater influence than the school. |
B.The school plays a greater role than parents. |
C.Parents and the school have the equal power. |
D.Neither parents nor the school has any influence. |
A.it is with the help of the teachers that children have an understanding of language |
B.curiosity is formed after the children enter school |
C.children's learning patterns are developed at the early age |
D.only the school can give children the opportunity to make achievements |
A.Moral education. | B.Language education. |
C.Physical education. | D.Science education. |
A.they usually push the children to read at home |
B.they only teach them after they enter school |
C.they teach them in a wrong way at home |
D.they were told by educators not to teach their children |
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What do you use to get around town? A car? A bike? Your feet ? perhaps you should try a segway!
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On older models, direction was controlled by a twist grip(扭轉(zhuǎn)把手)on the left handlebar. This varies the speeds between the two motors, and a decrease in the speed of the left wheel would turn the Segway to the left . With newer models you simply lean to the left or right. Meanwhile, a gyroscope (陀螺儀)detects your movements and prevents the machine from falling over. The Segway has a maximum speed of 19 km per hour and a range of about 38 km. after that, you need to plug it and recharge the battery.
Segways are used for a variety of purposes. People with mobility problems can now enjoy walks in the country with their friends and family. Some golfers see them as an alternative to the golf cart . And dog owners now have an easier way to take the dog to the park. A few police forces use Segways, too. They allow officers to move quickly while maintaining contact with the public. They’re also becoming a common sight on airport . However, the most popular use is in tourism , particularly for city tours . Visit any major tourist city in summer, sit outside a cafe for a while and there’s a good chance you’ll see a group of tourists passing on Segways.
【小題1】How do you turn to the left on a Segway of the new model?
A.Lean to the left | B.Adjust the twist grip |
C.Press the left bar | D.Control the gyroscope |
A.Less than 19 km | B.About 19 km |
C.About 38 km | D.Over 45 km |
A.families | B.golfers |
C.police | D.tourists |
A.Introduction→Ways of application→ structure→Principle of operation |
B.Introduction→ Principle of operation→Structure →Ways of application |
C.Introduction → Structure → Principle of operation →ways of application |
D.Structure→ Introduction→Principle of operation→Ways of application |
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The study suggests that the ways that people use and live in their homes have been largely ignored by existing efforts to improve energy efficiency (效率),which instead focus on architectural and technological developments.
‘Technology is going to assist but it is not going to do everything,’explains Katy Janda, a UKERC senior researcher,‘consumption patterns of building users can defeat the most careful design. ’In other words,old habits die hard, even in the best-designed eco-home.
Another part of the problem is information. Households and bill-payers don’t have the knowledge they need to change their energy-use habits. Without specific information,it’s hard to estimate the costs and benefits of making different choices. Feedback (反饋) facilities, like smart meters and energy monitors,could help bridge this information gap by helping people see how changing their behaviour directly affects their energy use; some studies have shown that households can achieve up to 15 percent energy savings using smart meters.
Social science research has added a further dimension (方面),suggesting that individuals’behaviour in the home can be personal and cannot be predicted 一 whether people throw open their windows rather than turn down the thermostat (恒溫器) , for example.
Janda argues that education is the key. She calls for a focused programme to teach people about buildings and their own behaviour in them.
【小題1】As to energy use, the new research from UKERC stresses the importance of________.
A. zero-carbon homes | B.the behaviour of building users |
C. sustainable building design | D.the reduction of carbon emissions |
A.the ways | B.their homes |
C. developments | D.existing efforts |
A. The importance of changing building users, habits. |
B. The necessity of making a careful building design. |
C. The variety of consumption patterns of building users. |
D. The role of technology in improving energy efficiency. |
A. can be bridged by feedback facilities |
B. affects the study on energy monitors |
C. brings about problems for smart meters |
D. will be caused by building users’ old habits |
A. The social science research is to be furthered. |
B. The education programme is under discussion. |
C. The behaviour of building users is unpredictable. |
D. The behaviour preference of building users is similar. |
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For the first time, researchers have discovered that some plants can kill insects in order to get additional nutrients. New research shows that they catch and kill small insects with their own sticky hairs near the roots and then absorb nutrients through their roots when the insects are killed and fall to the ground.
Professor Mark Chase, of Kew and Queen Mary, University of London, said: “The cultivated (改良的) tomatoes and potatoes still have the hairs. Tomatoes in particular are covered with these sticky hairs. They do trap small insects on a regular basis. They do kill insects.”
The number of these carnivorous plants is thought to have came up to 50 percent and many of them have until now been wrongly regarded as among the most harmless plants. Among them are species of petunia(矮牽牛), some special tobacco plants and cabbages, some varieties of potatoes and tomatoes, etc. Researchers at Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, which carried out the study, now believe there are hundreds more killer plants than previously realized.
It is thought that the technique was developed in the wild to get necessary nutrients in poor quality soil and even various plants grown in your vegetable garden still have the ability.
The researchers, publishing their finding in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, said: “We may be surrounded by many more murderous plants than we think.” “We are accustomed to thinking of plants as being immobile and harmless, and there is something deeply frightening about the thought of meateating plants,” they added.
【小題1】Tomatoes and potatoes kill insects to ________.
A.get more sticky hairs |
B.make themselves grow better |
C.make their roots stronger |
D.a(chǎn)void falling down to the ground |
A.fastgrowing | B.harmless |
C.insectkilling | D.nutritious |
A.evolution of species |
B.helps from other garden plants |
C.a(chǎn)rtificial cultivation |
D.nutrients preserved in rich soil |
A.a(chǎn) student book | B.a(chǎn) science fiction |
C.a(chǎn) scientific repot | D.a(chǎn) bulletin board |
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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源: 題型:閱讀理解
If you think English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?
According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter. This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.
The study also found the earlier people learn a second language, the greater the effect is.
A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London(UCL), took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of“early bilinguals(通兩種語(yǔ)言的人)”, who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners.
Scans showed that grey matter density in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference was.
“Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,”said the scientists.
It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn.
Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills.
“Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible,”he said,“You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”
The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of 2 and 34. Reading, writing and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the earlier they started to learn, the better.“Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,”explained the scientists.
【小題1】What does the underlined part“grey matter”(in paragraph 2) refer to?
A.Grey hair. | B.Material of the brain. |
C.Intelligence. | D.Difficult situations. |
A.change one’s brain completely |
B.improve one’s maths skills |
C.make one smarter than others |
D.increase the ability to learn |
A.the researchers from UCL did another study in Italy |
B.a(chǎn) similar study was done on native Italian speakers who learn English as a second language |
C.the research done on the Italians showed a totally different result |
D.it will be easier for one to travel around the world by learning a second language |
A.Learning a second language can help improve your brain power. |
B.You should learn a second language in English that is not your native language. |
C.If you want to learn a second language, you should do it at a certain age. |
D.The research done by the researchers from UCL is very successful. |
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