For those who are tired of doing the laundry, Samsung has found an answer: a washing machine that can tell you when your laundry is done via a smartphone app (application).

Strange though it may seem — "my wife already does that" was a common response among attendees viewing the device when it was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week — Samsung is just one of many appliance makers racing to install a large number of internet-connected features in machines in an effort to make them "smart".

Last year, it was a refrigerator that tweeted. This year, it's Wi-Fi-enabled laundry machines and fridges that can tell you when your groceries are going bad.

The washers and dryers, available starting in the spring, connect to any smartphone through a downloadable application. The phone can then be used as a remote control, so the machines can be turned on and off while their owner is at work or on the bus.

Samsung says it's not just something new — the app connection actually has some practical uses.

"If you started to dry clothes in the morning and forgot to take them out, you can go to your phone and restart your dryer for the time when come home, so your clothes are refreshed and ready to go." said spokesperson Amy Schmidt.

The company also says that with electricity rate (电价) varying depending on the time of day, more control over when the machines are used can help save money.

Perhaps, but what they will probably really accomplish is what all good technologies do — enable laziness. Rather than getting up to check on whether the laundry is done, users will instead monitor it on their phones while watching TV.

1. What can be inferred from the common response of the attendees at the CES?

A．The machine will be a big success.

B．their wives like doing the laundry.

C．The machine is unrelated to their life.

D．This kind of technology is familiar to them.

2.We can conclude from Samsung's statements that ________.

A．the app connection makes life easier

B．it is better to dry clothes in the morning

C．smartphone can shorten the drying time

D．we should refresh clothes back at home

3.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．The laundry should be frequently checked

B．Lazy people like using such machines

C．Good technologies also cause problems

D．Television may help do the laundry

 

“Racism (种族歧视) is a grown-up disease,” declares the saying on Ruby Bridge’s website along with a photo of Mrs. Bridge today, a 6-year-old girl four decades ago. In the photo, she is walking up the steps of the William Frantz Public School in New Orleans, a little black girl accompanied by two officers who protect her on her way to school.

Her name then was Ruby Nell. It was Nov. 14, 1960. She was the first black child to enroll at this all-white elementary school according to the court order to desegregate in New Orleans schools. Her story is moving -- she was a very courageous child -- and remains a significant proof against intolerance (不宽容) of all kinds. Ruby’s photo brings out another powerful image on her website: Norman Rockwells symbolic painting for Look magazine on Jan. 14, 1964, “The Problem We All Live With.”

Rockwell was an illustrator of exceptional skill and charm. He produced a vast number of unforgettable images over a long career, many of them involving children. His American kids are innocent and appealing, but often, at the same time, decidedly naughty. His method was to photograph his models, and the resulting paintings were photographic． But it is revealing to see how the artist slightly changed facial expressions from photo to oil painting in order to make his paintings communicate with the viewer. Communication, even persuasion, lay at the back of his work; this was art for effect.

“The Problem We All Live With” belongs to Rockwell’s later work, when he began openly showing his strong belief in liberty. This is a highly persuasive image. Before he arrived at the final copy, one sketch (草图) shows the little girl closer to the two officers following her than to those in front. In the finished picture, the girl seems more determined, independent, and untouched． The unfriendly tomatoes thrown on the wall are behind her now, and she, is completely unaffected．

1.Ruby Nell was protected by officers on her way to school, because   .

A．she was a little fighter against racism

B．she was very young, short and timid

C．she was the first black to study in an all-white school

D．she was chosen by the com t0be’wi’th white children

2.According to the passage, “The Problem We All Live With” is a(n)     .

A．social program for American children

B．famous painting by Norman Rockwell

C．photo displayed on Ruby Bridges’ website

D．exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum

3.The word “desegregate” in paragraph 2 probably means“   ”.

A．fight against the white	B．end racial separation
C．struggle for freedom	D．stop the black-white conflict

4.The main topic of this passage is   .

A．how Rockwell encouraged Ruby to fight against racism

B．how Ruby won her fight to go to an all-white school

C．how Rockwell expressed his protest in .Iris work

D．how persuasive Rockwell’s earlier work of art is

 

“Racism (种族歧视) is a grown-up disease,” declares the saying on Ruby Bridge’s website along with a photo of Mrs. Bridge today, a 6-year-old girl four decades ago. In the photo, she is walking up the steps of the William Frantz Public School in New Orleans, a little black girl accompanied by two officers who protect her on her way to school.

       Her name then was Ruby Nell. It was Nov. 14, 1960. She was the first black child to enroll at this all-white elementary school according to the court order to desegregate in New Orleans schools. Her story is moving -- she was a very courageous child -- and remains a significant proof against intolerance (不宽容) of all kinds. Ruby’s photo brings out another powerful image on her website: Norman Rockwells symbolic painting for Look magazine on Jan. 14, 1964, “The Problem We All Live With.”

       Rockwell was an illustrator of exceptional skill and charm. He produced a vast number of unforgettable images over a long career, many of them involving children. His American kids are innocent and appealing, but often, at the same time, decidedly naughty. His method was to photograph his models, and the resulting paintings were photographic． But it is revealing to see how the artist slightly changed facial expressions from photo to oil painting in order to make his paintings communicate with the viewer. Communication, even persuasion, lay at the back of his work; this was art for effect.

       “The Problem We All Live With” belongs to Rockwell’s later work, when he began openly showing his strong belief in liberty. This is a highly persuasive image. Before he arrived at the final copy, one sketch (草图) shows the little girl closer to the two officers following her than to those in front. In the finished picture, the girl seems more determined, independent, and untouched． The unfriendly tomatoes thrown on the wall are behind her now, and she, is completely unaffected．

Ruby Nell was protected by officers on her way to school, because    .

       A．she was a little fighter against racism

       B．she was very young, short and timid

       C．she was the first black to study in an all-white school

D．she was chosen by the com t0be’wi’th white children

According to the passage, “The Problem We All Live With” is a(n)      .

       A．social program for American children

       B．famous painting by Norman Rockwell

       C．photo displayed on Ruby Bridges’ website

       D．exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum

The word “desegregate” in paragraph 2 probably means“    ”.

       A．fight against the white B．end racial separation

       C．struggle for freedom D．stop the black-white conflict

The main topic of this passage is    .

       A．how Rockwell encouraged Ruby to fight against racism

       B．how Ruby won her fight to go to an all-white school

       C．how Rockwell expressed his protest in .Iris work

       D．how persuasive Rockwell’s earlier work of art is

 

Kindle:Amazon’s 6″Wireless Reading Device

Only ＄299.00

Slim:Just over 1/3 of an inch , as thin as most magazines

Lightweight:At 10. 2 ounces ,lighter than a typical paperback

Wireless:3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle , anytime , anywhere ; no monthly fees , service plans , or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots .

Books in Under 60 Seconds ; Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds ; no PC required .

Paper-like Display : Reads like real paper ; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even more beautiful images .

Long Battery Life : 25% longer battery life ; read for days without recharging .

Storage : Carry your library with you ; Holds over 1,500 books .

Read-to-Me : With the new text-to-speech feature , Kindle can read every newspaper , magazine , blog , and book out loud to you .

Free Book Samples : Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy .

Large Selection : Over 300 , 000 books plus US and international newspapers , magazines , and blogs available .

Low Book Prices : New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99 , unless marked otherwise .

Protect your Kindle for two full years—Add an additional year and more comprehensive protection than the one-year manufacturer’s warranty(保修), including coverage for accidental drops and damage . This helps avoid the inconvenience and costs associated with a broken device . The warranty stays with the device even if it is gifted or sold to another party .

The Kindle Extended Warranty is offered and sold by an experienced service management company , Service Net Retail Solutions (Service Net) . If your Kindle experiences a covered failure during the plan’s term , Service Net will replace your unit at no additional cost .

What is Covered

◆ Two years of coverage for failures due to normal operation of device

◆ Tow years of coverage for accidental drops or damage

How it Works

◆ Purchase 2-year Extended Warranty plan for your qualifying Kindle ( you will receive an information packet in the mail )

◆ Contact Service Net customer service at (877) 441-3836 if your Kindle fails

◆ Receive a replacement Kindle and return your damaged device to Service Net

1. The ad is intended for those who          .

A. prefer listening to pop music            B. are fond of playing video games

C. like reading novels                    D. want to look up new English words

2. Kindle is especially helpful to those        .

A. whose eyesight is very bad              B. whose English is not very good

C. who are blind and deaf                 D. who are very slim

3. We can learn from the passage that        .

A. you can download a whole book free of charge

B. you have to pay some fees when you download a whole book

C. the battery can only last a few hours before recharging

D. you can get a book downloaded in less than half a minute

4. If you have your Kindle damaged by chance within two years after you purchase the 2-year Kindle Extended Warranty plan , you         .

A. can get your money back

B. can have your unit repaired free of charge

C. can get a new unit free by returning the damaged one

D. can have your unit repaired at a low cost

 

Guide to Stockholm University Library
Our library offers different types of studying places and provides a good studying environment.
Zones
The library is divided into different zones. The upper floor is a quiet zone with over a thousand places for silent reading, and places where you can sit and work with your own computer. The reading places consist mostly of tables and chairs. The ground floor is the zone where you can talk. Here you can find sofas and armchairs for group work.
Computers
You can use your own computer to connect to the wi-fi specially prepared for notebook computers; you can also use library computers, which contain the most commonly used applications, such as Microsoft Office. They are situated in the area known as the Experimental Field on the ground floor.
Group-study Places
If you want to discuss freely without disturbing others, you can book a study room or sit at a table on the ground floor. Some study rooms are for 2-3 people and others can hold up to 6-8 people. All rooms are marked on the library maps.
There are 40 group-study rooms that must be booked via the website. To book, you need an active University account and a valid University card. You can use a room three hours per day, nine hours at most per week.
Storage of study material
The library has lockers for students to store course literature. When you have obtained at least 40 credits (学分), you may rent a locker and pay 400 SEK for a year’s rental period.
Rules to be followed
Mobile phone conversations are not permitted anywhere in the library. Keep your phone on silent as if you were in a lecture and exit the library if you need to receive calls.
Please note that food and fruit are forbidden in the library, but you are allowed to have drinks and sweets with you.
【小题1】The library’s upper floor is mainly for students to ______.

A．read in a quiet place

B．have group discussions

C．take comfortable seats

D．get their computers fixed

【小题2】 Library computers on the ground floor ______.

A．help students with their field experiments

B．contain software essential for schoolwork

C．are for those who want to access the wi-fi

D．are mostly used for filling out application forms

【小题3】What condition should be met to book a group-study room?

A．A group must consist of 8 people.

B．Three-hour use per day is the minimum.

C．One should first register at the university.

D．Applications must mark the room on the map.

【小题4】A student can rent a locker in the library if he ______.

A．can afford the rental fee

B．attends certain courses

C．has nowhere to put his books.

D．has earned the required credits

【小题5】What should NOT be brought into the library?

A．Mobile phones

B．Orange juice

C．Candy

D．Sandwiches