Smart phones that react to your moods and televisions that can tell it’s you who’s watching are in your future as Intel Corporation’s top technology expert sets his sights on context-aware computing.
Chief technology officer Justin Rattner showed how personal devices will one day offer advice. “How can we change the relationship so we think of these devices not as devices but as assistants or even companions?” he asked.
Handheld devices could combine already common geographic location technology with data from microphones, cameras, heart and body monitors and even brain scans to offer their owners advice that today only a friend or relative could give.
“Imagine a device that uses a variety of sensors to determine what you are doing at an instant, from being asleep in your bed to being out for a run with a friend, ” Rattner said, “Future devices will constantly learn about who you are, how you live, work and play.’’
Rattner also demonstrated a television remote control that figures out who is holding it based on how it is held, and then learns the viewer’s entertainment preferences.
As the world leader for decades in microchips for servers and desktop computers, Intel is hurrying to catch up in the profitable market for smart phones like Apple’s iPhone and Research in Motion’s Blackberry.
Telephones with e-mail, global positioning and media players are pointing the way to a future where ever more functions are packed into ever smaller mobile devices.
The smart phone industry, including technology giants like LG and Samsung, is likely to sell 270 million phones this year and grow 25 percent in 2011, according to market research company IDC.
“I think you can expect to see features that support context-aware computing starting to appear in Intel products in the near future,” Rattner said.
But analysts say Intel faces an uphill battle getting its microchips into new phones as Nvidia, Marvell and Qualcomm have already made headway with cheap, lower-power processors based on designs by ARM Holdings.
Rattner recognized that questions about privacy and people’s willingness to be intimate with their computers will have to be settled before the future generation of smart phones he described takes off.
“If you think identity threat is a problem today, imagine when your whole context is readily available on the Net.”, he said.
小題1:The future smart phones can do all of the following except _______.

A．giving responses to the moods of the owners

B．giving proposals like assistants or companions

C．offering advice to their owners’ friends or relatives

D．telling the phone holders or carriers where they are

小題2:Which of the following are smart phones according to the passage?

A．iPhone and Blackberry	B．LG and Samsung
C．Marvell and Qualcomm	D．Nvidia and ARM Holdings

小題3:From the passage we can infer that _______.

A．Intel Corporation has become the world leader in the smar tphone market

B．Intel Corporation has fallen behind in the profitable market for smart phones

C．more functions packed into mobile phones will make mobile devices larger

D．the smart phone industry is likely to grow 25 percent in the year of 2011

小題4:The best title for the passage is likely to be _______.

A．Smart phones and Televisions	B．Context-aware Computing
C．Personalized Televisions	D．Personalized Smart phones

You can improve your child’s hearing memory considerably（在很大程度上）. Once his hearing memory has been greatly improved, he'll be able to use and remember what he listens to in class. The success of these suggestions depends upon your ability to use your child’s natural desire to get involved in games he finds simple and fun.
A good way to begin is to read aloud a sentence from a book suitable for your child's reading age. Then ask your youngster to repeat the sentence back to you correctly. Next, reread the sentence, leaving out a particular word. See if your child can identify the word you left out. At the beginning use only simple sentences. Gradually, increase the length of the sentences. Make sure you don’t rush things along too quickly, or your child may become discouraged and tired of the game.
Take your child shopping with you often. He’s to remember a list of items you want to buy in the supermarket. First , ask him to remember only a few things. Then, as he shows increased ability to remember, make the list longer and longer. Praise him often and warmly when he shows increased ability to remember things. He'll become proud of his ‘good’ memory and will happily play the game.
Encourage your child to learn easy and short poems. As his ability to do this becomes stronger, encourage him to remember longer poems. Do the same with songs.
小題1:The suggestions will be successful if____.

A．you find simple and funny games for your child

B．you can stimulate（激發(fā)）your child’s interest in the activity

C．you force your child to get involved in more practice

D．you improve your own hearing memory first

小題2:The purpose of asking your child to repeat what you say is __.

A．to practice his pronunciation

B．to develop his reading skills

C．to help him remember what he hears

D．to play a simple game he may find fun

小題3:The third paragraph mainly talks about ___.

A．a(chǎn)nother way to improve your child’s hearing memory

B．how you should take you child shopping with you

C．how to remember the items you want to buy

D．the way you help your child do shopping

小題4:The last sentence ‘Do the same with songs’ means you should encourage your child to learn and remember ___.

A．songs in the same way as he does with poems.

B．poems in the same way as he does with songs

C．the poems and songs which are similar in meaning

D．those songs that have the same meaning as poems

小題5:Who are the supposed readers of this passage?

A．Children.

B．Parents.

C．Teachers.

D．Psychologists.

Centerville High School Essay Contest  “Write All About It”
Calling All Aspiring Authors—Centerville High School Essay Contest
◇Rules
1．Students are asked to present essays of 500 to 700 words of their own work. Any essay containing material plagiarized(剽竊) from another source will be disqualified（取消資格）.
2．Manuscripts should be typed double－spaced，with the student's name，address，and grade level on a separate sheet of paper.
3．Essays must be turned in by 4∶00 p.m. on November 30.They can be brought to Mrs. Elton in Rom 104 or to Mr. Markham in the school library.
◇Essay－Writing Tips
1．Catch your readers' interests—Your opening should immediately pull your readers into your essay. Asking a question or starting with an story，quotation，or surprising statement is a good way to do this.
2．Create a picture—Use active words that show your readers what is happening. Instead of telling your readers vaguely that “the room was disordered”，paint a picture using active verbs and lively adjectives.
3．Have a purpose—Well－written essays do more than just describe an incident or express a viewpoint，and they also communicate a message.
4．Check for mistakes—Read your paper over to check for mistakes. Ask another student to read your paper and make suggestions. Another pair of eyes will often spot a mistake you've overlooked.
5．Format your essay—Neatly type your essay on white paper. Choose an attractive cover for submission. The computer lab will be open after school from 3∶15 to 4∶45 p．m. each day this month so that students can use the computers.
◇Prizes
Winning essays will be published in the Centerville Times. Every contestant(選手)will also receive a free pass to enter one school activity or athletic game this year.
First Prize：　　　$150
Second Prize:    Dictionary and thesaurus
Third Prize:     Pen set and journal
Special thanks to the Centerville Writers' Association for the prizes to help encourage our aspiring authors. Good luck to all contestants.
小題1:The first writing tip given is mostly about________.

A．the use of quotations and stories in an essay

B．using active verbs and lively adjectives

C．how a student should begin an essay

D．how to submit your essays

小題2:Information in the passage suggests that________.

A．the essay contest has been carefully planned

B．the students of the school are all athletic lovers

C．most essay contestants have published their work previously

D．Mr. Markham is an English teacher at Centerville High School

小題3:The prize section of the poster is included in order to________.

A．show organizations how to donate prizes

B．inform teachers of the prizes available

C．persuade students to enter the essay contest

D．convince students to buy the local newspaper

小題4:Thanks are given to the Centerville Writers' Association because it has________.

A．offered to judge the contest

B．prepared the essay－writing tips

C．organized the essay contest

D．donated prizes for the contest

小題5:What do we know by inference from the passage?

A．The computer lab usually closes at 4∶15 p.m. each day.

B．Winning essays will be published in the Centerville Times.

C．Every contestant will benefit from the essay contest.

D．The essay contest is held annually at Centerville High School.

Because earthquakes happen without warning, it’s important to take measures now to prepare. Because you don’t know where you will be when an earthquake happens, prepare some supplies for your home, workplace, and car.
　　1. Water
　　A person needs at least 1/2 gallon(加侖) of water daily just for drinking. Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day and be prepared for a 72-hour period. It is suggested that you buy bottled water. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need to use it. Also, do check the “use by” date.
　　2. Food
　　It’s always a practical idea to keep a supply of non-perishable(不易腐爛的) food on hand. Have an enough supply of canned food, powdered milk, dried fruits, non-salted nuts and canned juices for at least 72 hours.
　　3. Torch(手電筒) and spare batteries (電池)
　　Keep a torch beside your bed, at your place of work, and in your car. Do not use matches or candles after an earthquake until you are sure that no gas leaks(泄露).Prepare a battery-powered radio and spare batteries. Most telephones will be out of order, so radios will be your best source of information.
　　4. Clothes
　　If you live in a cold place, you must think about warmth. You might not have heat after an earthquake. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies.
小題1:Why should people prepare themselves for an earthquake?

A．Because earthquakes can be known before they happen.

B．Because earthquakes take place without warning.

C．Because earthquakes usually take place in the neighborhood.

D．Because it’s people’s daily work to prepare the earthquakes.

小題2:You should prepare all of the following except ______.

A．powdered milk

B．fresh vegetables

C．dried fruits

D．canned juices

小題3:According to the article we know that ______.

A．we need to prepare some supplies only at home

B．a(chǎn) telephone is the most important prepared thing

C．a(chǎn)fter earthquakes you’d better use torch first but not matches

D．clothes are used to protect your head

小題4:If you live in a cold place, you should prepare _______.

A．some warm clothes and bedding supplies	B．some hot water
C．some batteries	D．some torches

A simple piece of clothesline hangs between some environmentally friendly Americans and their neighbors．
On one side stand those who see clothes dryers （干衣機(jī)） as a waste of energy and a major polluter of the environment．As a result, they are turning to clotheslines as part of the “what-I-can-do environmentalism．”
On the other side are people who are against drying clothes outside, arguing that clotheslines are unpleasant to look at．They have persuaded Homeowners Associations （HOAs） access the U．S．to ban outdoor clotheslines, because clothesline drying also tends to lower home value in the neighborhood．
This has led to a Right-to-Dry Movement that is calling for laws to be passed to protect people’s right to use clotheslines．So far, only three states have laws to protect clothesline．Right-to-Dry supporters argue that there should be more．
Matt Reck, 37, is the kind of eco-conscious（有生態(tài)意識(shí)的）person who feeds his trees with bathwater and reuses water drops from his air conditioners to water plants．His family also uses a clothesline．But on July 9, 2007, the HOA in Wake Forest, North Carolina, told him that a dissatisfied neighbor had telephoned them about his clothesline．The Recks paid no attention to the warning and still dried their clothes on a line in the yard．“Many people say they are environmentally friendly but they don’t take matters into their own hands,” says Reck．The local HOA has decided not to take any action, unless more neighbors come to them．
North Carolina lawmakers are saying that banning clotheslines is not the right thing to do．But HOAs and housing businesses believe that clothesline drying reminds people of poor neighborhoods．They worry that if buyers think their future neighbors can’t even afford dryers, housing prices will fall．
Environmentalists say such worries are not necessary, and in view of global warming, that idea needs to change．As they say, “The clothesline is beautiful．Hanging clothes outside should be encouraged．We all have to do at least something to slow down the process of global warming．”
小題1:One of the reasons why supporters of clothes dryers are trying to ban clothesline drying is that ______．

A．clothes dryers are more efficient

B．clothesline drying reduces home value

C．clothes dryers are energy-saving

D．clothesline drying is not allowed in most U．S．states

小題2:Who are in favor of clothesline drying?

A．Housing businesses.

B．Environmentalists．

C．Homeowners Associations．

D．Reck’s dissatisfied neighbors．

小題3:What is mainly discussed in the text?

A．Clothesline drying: a way to save energy and money．

B．Clothesline drying: a lost art rediscovered．

C．Opposite opinions on clothesline drying．

D．Different varieties of clotheslines．

Vending machines （投幣式自動(dòng)售貨機(jī)） are found in 16% of U．S．elementary schools, 52% of middle schools and 88% of high schools．About 22% of students in grades 1 through 12 buy food in vending machines each day—and those purchases added an average of 253 calories to their diets, according to a new study in the September issue of the Journal of School Health．
Just to be clear, those were not 253 calories' worth of tofu, yogurt or carrot．The most popular vending machine items included soft drinks, candy, chips, crackers, cookies, cakes and ice cream．On the plus side （好的方面）, kids also bought low-fat milk, fruit juice and even fruit, the study found．
But the eventual effect on kids' diets was not good．Those who bought from vending machines ate an average of 156 grams of sugar per day, compared with 146 grams for those who abstained （節(jié)制）．They also consumed less fiber, iron and vitamin B．
One silver lining: Vending machine customers ate 4% less sodium （鈉） than other students--an average of 3,287 milligrams per day compared with 3,436 mg for those who didn't buy from vending machines．That's probably because the extra snacks made kids too full to eat as much at mealtimes, when dishes are especially Salty．In any event, kids should eat no more than 1,200 to 1,500 mg of sodium each day, according to the Mayo Clinic．Even for adults, the government recommends a daily limit of 2,300 mg．
Overall, vending machines in school appear to be a threat to children's health．The researchers calculated that all that snacking adds up to about14 extra pounds per child per school year．For some students this might be a serious contributor to weight issues．The study was based on data collected from 2,309 children nationwide for the third School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study, which was
conducted by the U．S．Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service．
小題1:The students using vending machines take in less of all the following EXCEPT ．

A．sugar

B．fiber

C．vitamin

D．iron

小題2:The underlined words “One silver lining” mean “      ”．

A．a(chǎn) discouraging condition at present

B．a(chǎn) bright side of a difficult situation

C．a(chǎn)n urgent warning from health experts

D．a(chǎn)n increasing concern from the public

小題3:Why do kids buying food from vending machines take less salt probably?

A．They prefer less salty food．

B．They have formed healthy eating habits．

C．They eat less food at mealtimes．

D．They take less junk food as snacks．

小題4:What's the purpose of the text?

A．To teach children a balanced diet．

B．To introduce the finding of a new study．

C．To remind parents of children's health．

D．To tell the history of vending machines．

Computer people talk a lot about the need for other people to become “computer-literate.” But not all experts (專家) agree that this is a good idea.
One pioneer, in particular, who disagrees is David Tebbutt, the founder of Computertown UK. Although many people see this as a successful attempt to bring people closer to the computer. David does not see it that way. He says that Computertown UK was formed for just the opposite reason, to bring computers to people and make them “people-literate.” David Tebbutt thinks Computertowns are most successful when tied to a computer club but he insists there is an important difference between the two. The clubs are for people who have some computer knowledge already. This frightens away non-experts, who are happier going to Computertowns where there are computers for them to experiment on, with experts to encourage them and answer any questions they have. They are not told what to do, they find out.The computer experts have to learn not to tell people about computers, but have to be able to answer all questions people ask. People don’t have to learn computer terms(術(shù)語(yǔ)), but the experts have to explain in plain language. The computers are becoming “people-literate.”
小題1:Which of the following is David Tebbutt’s ides on the relationship between people and computers?

A．Computer learning should be made easier.

B．There should be more computer clubs for experts.

C．People should work harder to master computer use.

D．Computers should be made cheaper so that people can afford them.

小題2:We can infer from the text that “computer-lilerate” means_______.

A．being able to afford a computer

B．being able to write computer programs

C．working with the computer and finding out its value

D．understanding the computer and knowing how to use it

小題3:The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to the idea that Computertowns ___.

A．help to set up more computer clubs

B．bring people to learn to use computers

C．bring more experts to work together

D．help to sell computers to the public

小題4:David Tebbutt started Computertown UK with the purpose of______.

A．making better use of computer expert

B．improving computer programs

C．increasing omputersales

D．popularising computers

BERLIN — With the crisis in Japan raising fears about nuclear power, Germany and Switzerland said on Monday that they would reassess the safety of their own reactors.
Doris Leuthard, the Swiss energy minister, said Switzerland would put off plans to build nuclear plants. She said no new ones would be permitted until experts had reviewed safety standards.
Germany will put off “the recently decided extension of the running time of German nuclear plants,” Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters. “This moratorium（延緩）will run for three months and it will allow for a thorough examination of the safety standards of the county’s 17 nuclear power plants.
The European Union called for a meeting on Tuesday of nuclear safety authorities to assess Europe’s preparedness.
Germany’s foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, called for a new risk analysis of the country’s nuclear plants, particularly regarding their cooling systems. He is the leader of the Free Democratic Party, which strongly supports nuclear power.
A previous government, led by the Social Democrats, passed a law in 2001 to close all the country’s nuclear plants by 2021. But Mrs. Merkel’s government changed that decision last year to extend the lives of the plants by an average of 12 years.
In Switzerland, Doris Leuthard said she had already asked to analyze the exact cause of the problems in Japan and draw up new or tougher safety standards “particularly in terms of seismic(地震的) safety and cooling.”
In Russia, the Prime Minister said his government would “draw conclusions from what’s going on in Japan.”
小題1:Where can you most likely read this passage?

A．In a newspaper.	B．In a magazine.
C．In a science report.	D．In a diary.

小題2:How will Germany react to Japan’s nuclear crisis?

A．Germany will close all the country’s nuclear plants.

B．Germany will hold a meeting of nuclear safety authorities.

C．Germany will change the decision made last year.

D．Germany will delay the extension of nuclear plants running time.

小題3:The author mentions all the following EXCEPT ______.

A．The moratorium in Germany will give time to examine the nuclear plants safety standards.

B．Switzerland will not build new nuclear plants unless they meet the experts’ safety standards.

C．The Social Democrats in Germany shares the same view with the Free Democratic Party.

D．Russia will try to learn something from the nuclear power crisis in Japan.

小題4:What is the best title of the passage?

A．Watch Out for the Danger of Nuclear Power

B．Europe Is against Building Nuclear Plants

C．Nuclear Plants in Europe Are Delayed

D．Opinions on Nuclear Power Are Opposite.

Mr. Brown first went to look at the underground-fire when he was seven. “Through the hole in the earth you could see the orange fire, but you had to look fast because it was so hot,” said Mr. Brown. In 1898,he saw the fire once more.
Now, we can only see the smoke. The fire Mr. Brown saw is not the underground-fire. In fact ,there are 260 coal fires in the world. They are harmful and dangerous. Then how to put them out?
Scientists have tried to set fire to underground coal to speed up the fires. In this way, the burning of underground coal would be soon finished.
小題1:Mr Brown said that we had to take a fast look at the fire because_________.

A．it was in the hole	B．it was very hot
C．it was orange	D．it was harmful

小題2:How many coal fires are there in the world?

A．There’s only one	B．It’s hard to say
C．There are 260	D．The article doesn’t tell us

小題3:What’s one of the best ways to put out the underground fire?

A．To cover the holes with stones	B．To speed the fire
C．To see the fire burning	D．To do some experiments

小題4:What is the best title for the article?

A．Watching the Underground-fire

B．A Way to Put out the Underground Coat Fires

C．The Burning Earth

D．Coal and Coal Fires

A new system that scans customers’ fingerprints and subtracts（減去）the grocery bill from their bank accounts has taken supermarkets in Germany to use the new system. “Almost a quarter of our customers pay with their fingers,” said an employee at the headquarters. Edeka has tried the system at 70 of its supermarkets. It says it will introduce it at 200 others because customers like it.
“At first we thought that only the young who really keep up with the latest technology would be interested, but we were wrong,” said Stefan Sewoester from IT Werke. “Almost two-thirds of the people who use the system are 40 and older,” he said.
IT Werke, a computer company, is one of the pioneers of fingerprint payment software in Germany. It has helped about 150 shops, canteens and bars to put in the fingerprint scanning machines. Each costs about 2,000 euros.
To sign up for the service, customers must have their fingerprints taken and leave their addresses and banking details with the shop. The shop then takes the cost of goods directly out of the customer’s bank account.
“It is especially a good thing for elderly people. Now they do not have to remember their pin to pay with their bank cards, or to scratch around for their glasses or cash.” Sewoester said.
The stores benefit from the system too. It saves more than time in the check-out line. It also cuts out the hidden costs of accepting electronic card payments.
小題1:According to the passage, the fingerprint system______.

A．was invented by the Edeka supermarket chain

B．has caused payment revolution in Germany

C．is more popular with young people

D．is preferred by most American customers

小題2:To apply to pay with fingers, customers are required to do all of the following EXCEPT______.

A．have their fingerprints taken

B．leave their addresses

C．give the shop information about the bank accounts

D．have their phones connected with computers

小題3:Why do elderly people benefit much from the fingerprint machine?

A．They will spend less time on shopping..

B．They are not forgetful.

C．They don’t like to pay in cash

D．They always fail to find their bank cards.