Global Positioning Systems are now a part of everyday driving in many countries. These satellite-based systems provide turn-by-turn directions to help people get to where they want to go. But, they can also cause a lot of problems, send you to the wrong place or leave you completely lost. Many times, the driver is to blame. Sometimes a GPS error is responsible. Most often, says Barry Brown, it is a combination of the two.
We spoke to Mr. Brown by Skype. He told us about an incident involving a friend who had flown to an airport in the eastern United States. There he borrowed a GPS-equipped car to use during his stay. Barry Brown: “And they just plugged in an address and then set off to their destination. And, then it wasn’t until they were driving for thirty minutes that they realized they actually put in a destination back on the West Coast where they lived. They actually put their home address in. So again, the GPS is kind of "garbage in garbage out".”
Mister Brown says this is a common human error. But, he says, what makes the problem worse has to do with some of the shortcomings, or failures, of GPS equipment. Barry Brown: “One problem with a lot of the GPS units is they have a very small screen and they just tell you the next turn. Because they just give you the next turn, sometimes that means that it is not really giving you the overview that you would need to know that it’s going to the wrong place.”
Barry Brown formerly served as a professor with the University of California, San Diego. While there, he worked on a project with Eric Laurier from the University of Edinburgh. The two men studied the effects of GPS devices on driving by placing cameras in people’s cars. They wrote a paper based on their research. It is called “The Normal, Natural Troubles of Driving with GPS.” It lists several areas where GPS systems can cause confusion for drivers. These include maps that are outdated, incorrect or difficult to understand. They also include timing issues related to when GPS commands are given.
Barry Brown says to make GPS systems better we need a better understanding of how drivers, passengers and GPS systems work together.
小题1:In Paragraph 2, Mr. Brown mentioned his friend in the conversation to _____________.| A．build up his own reputation | | B．laugh at his stupid friend | | C．prove the GPS system is only garbage | | D．describe an example of human error |
小题2:With which of the following statement would Barry Brown most likely agree?| A．GPS units are to blame for the most GPS service failures. | | B．We should introduce higher standard for the driving license. | | C．Cameras are urgently needed to help improve GPS systems. | | D．Drivers, GPS systems and passengers should unite to improve GPS systems. |
小题3:What is Mr. Brown’s attitude towards GPS?| A．Unconcerned | B．Prejudiced | C．Objective | D．Critical |
小题4:What would be the best title for the text?| A．driving with GPS can be difficult | | B．driving confusions can be caused by small screen | | C．driving without GPS should be much more convenient | | D．GPS equipment in driving: to be deserted or improved? |
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小题1:D
小题2:D
小题3:C
小题4:A |
试题分析：文章讲述了GPS可以给司机带来便利，也会误导司机。
小题1:段落大意题：从第二段的内容：They actually put their home address in. 和下面的句子:Mister Brown says this is a common human error.可知Mr Brown是在举人的错误的例子。选D
小题2:细节题：从最后一段的句子：Barry Brown says to make GPS systems better we need a better understanding of how drivers, passengers and GPS systems work together.可知Barry Brown认为GPS系统，司机和乘客应该一起努力提高。选D。
小题3:写作态度题：作者只是客观的评价GPS的优缺点，选C
小题4:主旨题：从第一段的：But, they can also cause a lot of problems, send you to the wrong place or leave you completely lost.可知文章讲的是GPS带来的困难。选A
点评：这篇文章有些抽象，考查题型多样细节题，推理题，主旨题都有，需要结合上下文提供的语境和信息进行概括和判断。要求较高 |
核心考点
试题【Global Positioning Systems are now a part of everyday driving in many countries.】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
“In wilderness(荒野) is the preservation of the world.” This is a famous saying from a writer regarded as one of the fathers of environmentalism. The frequency with which it is borrowed mirrors a heated debate on environmental protection: whether to place wilderness at the heart of what is to be preserved.
As John Sauven of Greenpeace UK points out, there is a strong appeal in images of the wild, the untouched; more than anything else, they speak of the nature that many people value most dearly. The urge to leave the subject of such images untouched is strong, and the danger exploitation(开发) brings to such landscapes(景观) is real. Some of these wildernesses also perform functions that humans need—the rainforests, for example, store carbon in vast quantities. To Mr. Sauven, these “ecosystem services” far outweigh the gains from exploitation.
Lee Lane, a visiting fellow at the Hudson Institute, takes the opposing view. He acknowledges that wildernesses do provide useful services, such as water conservation. But that is not, he argues, a reason to avoid all human presence, or indeed commercial and industrial exploitation. There are ever more people on the Earth, and they reasonably and rightfully want to have better lives, rather than merely struggle for survival. While the ways of using resources have improved, there is still a growing need for raw materials, and some wildernesses contain them in abundance. If they can be tapped without reducing the services those wildernesses provide, the argument goes, there is no further reason not to do so. Being untouched is not, in itself, a characteristic worth valuing above all others.
I look forward to seeing these views taken further, and to their being challenged by the other participants. One challenge that suggests itself to me is that both cases need to take on the question of spiritual value a little more directly. And there is a practical question as to whether wildernesses can be exploited without harm.
This is a topic that calls for not only free expression of feelings, but also the guidance of reason. What position wilderness should enjoy in the preservation of the world obviously deserves much more serious thinking.
小题1:John Sauven holds that________________.| A．many people value nature too much | | B．exploitation of wildernesses is harmful | | C．wildernesses provide humans with necessities | | D．the urge to develop the ecosystem services is strong |
小题2:What is the main idea of Para. 3?| A．The exploitation is necessary for the poor people. | | B．Wildernesses cannot guarantee better use of raw materials. | | C．Useful services of wildernesses are not the reason for no exploitation. | | D．All the characteristics concerning the exploitation should be treated equally. |
小题3:What is the author’s attitude towards this debate?| A．Objective. | B．Disapproving. | C．Sceptical. | D．Optimistic. |
小题4:Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?CP: Central Point P: Point Sp: Sub-point(次要点) C: Conclusion |
Nowadays it is found that school students seldom pay much attention to sports. Is it because they have no 32 in sports? It may not be the fact. They often say they have 33 more important things to do.
34 are these important things? Examinations! They have to 35 themselves for the most important School Certificates of Education Examination（毕业会考）, and also to 36 with the test and the exams in school. So many of them tend to 37 bookworms.
In the summer holidays of the former years they could do 38 they liked, but in the summer holidays of the 39 years, they have to 40 all their time to the preparation. So studies have 41 them from going in sports.
Because of the pressure 42 their parents and teachers, they have to work harder and spend most of their time on books. Many parents 43 their children to pass this examination in order to get a stepping stone for higher studies or better jobs. As for the 44 themselves, they want to get good results so that they can 45 their studies in the universities. So it is necessary that they 46 up their school activities, especially sports.
Indeed, a complete education cannot go 47 physical training, for a quick mind seldom 48 along with a weak body. It is well said, “All work no play 49 Jack a dull（迟钝的）boy.” In one word, without a strong body, you can never 50 anything, let alone a great success in 51
| 小题1: | | A．lesson | B．time | C．interest | D．place |
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| 小题3: | | A．Where | B．How | C．Which | D．What |
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| 小题4: | | A．prepare | B．get | C．make | D．ask |
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| 小题5: | | A．agree | B．fight | C．work | D．deal |
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| 小题6: | | A．have | B．become | C．change | D．grow |
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| 小题7: | | A．something | B．change | C．anything | D．which |
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| 小题8: | | A．this | B．that | C．last | D．present |
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| 小题9: | | A．spend | B．take | C．cost | D．give |
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| 小题10: | | A．separated | B．divided | C．taken | D．prevented |
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| 小题13: | | A．students | B．teachers | C．parents | D．examinations |
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| 小题14: | | A．develop | B．improve | C．further | D．stop |
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| 小题16: | | A．for | B．after | C．with | D．without |
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| 小题17: | | A．goes | B．gets | C．lives | D．lies |
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| 小题18: | | A．turns | B．makes | C．gets | D．brings |
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| 小题19: | | A．receive | B．achieve | C．do | D．accept |
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| 小题20: | | A．sports | B．exams | C．training | D．life |
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I come from a city on the United States’east coast. It’s a ten-hour flight for me to get home from Shanghai. When I got off the plane, I took photos of the blue sky and white clouds along the way. After two weeks, I returned to Shanghai. Much to my surprise, the blue sky in Shanghai that I liked before was not as blue as that in the US. I couldn’t help wondering what had happened.
A few days later, I went to tour Waitan (a famous tourist attraction in Shanghai) by the Huangpu River with some of my friends. There we saw five Ferrari sports cars by the side of the road. The red and yellow cars looked so nice that everyone was looking at them. However, when I turned my head, I noticed the sky over Waitan, I was shocked to find that the buildings in the Lujiazui area on the other side of Huangpu River could hardly be seen. It was then that I realized that Ferrari cars could be bought with money, but a blue sky couldn’t.
Shanghai is an important economic (经济的) and trade center in China. It has made great contributions (贡献) to the whole nation’s economic development. However, we need to protect the environment during economic growth. Pollution is poisoning our air and our rivers. Without clean air and rivers, how will people be able to survive?
小题1:The author mentioned the Ferrari sports cars in order to _______.| A．tell us that Shanghai is a developed city | | B．ask us to stop driving sports cars | | C．tell us how much people like cars | | D．focus our attention on air pollution |
小题2:What can we learn about the author?| A．He comes from Shanghai. | | B．He likes to visit different places. | | C．He wants to buy a Ferrari sports car. | | D．He is socially responsible (责任). |
小题3:Who might be interested in this passage?| A．Those who love Ferrari sports cars. | | B．Those who care about the environment. | | C．Those who want to travel in Shanghai. | | D．Those who like to take photos. |
小题4:What is the best title for this passage?| A．Money Can Buy Ferraris, But Not a Blue Sky | | B．Where People Should Live | | C．Different Opinions on Cars | | D．Different Places Have Different Skies |
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You will spend hours at the gym training your body, but do you ever think about training your brain? Here are four ways to keep your brain mentally (脑力上地) active and healthy.
Play games
Your brain is a muscle just like the ones in the rest of your body. If you don’t use it, you will lose it. For example, doing a crossword puzzle (纵横填字游戏) once a day is a good way to give the brain the exercise it needs. This kind of puzzle is good at training different areas of the brain. But remember that when doing this puzzle, you should gradually increase the complexity (复杂度); otherwise, it will become repetitive (重复乏味的) and stop being mentally challenging.
Talk aloud
Although it might sound strange to you, talking aloud is a great way to boost your memory. A good exercise to try is counting to 99 in threes as fast as you can.
Be a team leader
If you find you can do your work very easily, you should find a new task. It is important that your job should be mentally challenging. Complex jobs are often more challenging and make the brain work a little harder.
Learn a language
A study found that, compared with those who could speak only one language, the people who could speak two languages had a slower rate of cognitive (认知能力) decrease. Learning a new language is very challenging and it makes sure that different areas of the brain have their lights on.
小题1:What is the main idea of this passage?| A．Why you should train your brain. | | B．How to be a good team leader. | | C．Training the brain is more important than training the body. | | D．How to make your brain healthy and work actively. |
小题2:Which word can replace the word "boost" in the third paragraph?| A．Change. | B．Promote. | C．Decrease. | D．Lose. |
小题3:We should gradually increase the complexity when doing crossword puzzles because ______.| A．if we don’t use our brain, we will lose it | | B．we should make our brain face different challenges | | C．our brain is a muscle like other parts in our bodies | | D．these puzzles can work on different areas of the brain |
小题4:Which group of people have a slower rate of cognitive decrease?| A．Those who don’t often do crossword puzzles. | | B．Those who don’t often count to 99 in threes. | | C．Those who do their work very easily. | | D．Those who can speak more than one language. |
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Technology is making life easier for some dairy farmers．They use robotic systems to milk their cows．Cows are trained to follow a series of paths that lead to milking stations．Only one cow at a time can enter a station．
Once inside，the cow is rewarded with food．As the cow eats，a robotic arm cleans and connects the animal to the milking machine．A few minutes later，milking is complete．The gate is opened，the cow is released and the next cow enters．
The robotic systems are designed to operate 24 hours a day．The cows get to decide when they want to be milked．Cows are milked an average of about three times a day．Some are milked four to six times a day．
The cows wear collars around their necks that identify them to the system．A computer keeps records on their eating and milking．A cow is released from the station if the computer decides it should not be milked．
The automated system also measures the temperature and color of freshly produced milk．Milk is thrown away if it does not pass the tests．
Professor Plaut believes the systems will appeal（吸引） especially to the next generation of farmers．She means young people who are more interested in technology and less interested in working all the time on the farm．Still，she says the price of robotic milking systems will continue to limit their use．
Doug and Tina Suhr have more than 100 cows on their family farm．Last year it became the fourth farm in southeast Minnesota to get a robotic milking system．A recent story in a local agricultural newspaper said the first robot cost 175 000 dollars．The second cost 150 000．
Doug told AgriNews that wages that would have been paid for one employee in five years will pay for one robot．He says the increase in milk production reaches a high of more than six kilograms per cow per day．
小题1:From the first paragraph，we can infer________．| A．the robotic system is designed to reduce labor | | B．cows can be raised by robots in the future | | C．robots direct cows into milking stations | | D．cows are kept clean by robots on some farms |
小题2:Besides milking cows，the robotic system also can______．| A．adjust the temperature of milking stations | | B．judge the quality of fresh milk | | C．improve the appetite of cows | | D．keep fresh milk for two weeks |
小题3:Why is the robotic system not popular now?| A．Because young people have no interest in it． | | B．Because it is difficult to learn how to use it． | | C．Because people can’t afford to buy it． | | D．Because it usually causes the waste of milk． |
小题4:According to Doug，what is the wage of an employee?| A．150 000～170 000． | B．750 000． | | C．150 000～30 000． | D．30 000—32 000 |
小题5:The best title for the passage may be_________．| A．Letting robot milk your cow | B．Milking cows by hand | | C．Improving the quality of milk | D．Drinking fresh milk every day |
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