1、Unit 1 Living with technology被骗好多年 电梯关门按键根本没用Most people do not have the patience to wait a few seconds for the elevator doors to shut, so they push the close button to speed up the process.大多数人没有等待电梯自动关闭的耐心（虽然这个过程只有几秒钟），所以他们按关门键来加快关门速度。However, some say this feature has been obsolete since the 1990
2、s, suggesting the button is a complete fake it will not close the doors any faster.然而，许多人称，自20世纪90年代起，电梯关门按键就已被淘汰，这说明目前的关门键完全是摆设，它们根本不会加快关门速度。Experts reveal that there numerous buttons in the world that do not live up to their name, but are present to make us feel in control.专家称虽然世界上有许多名不副实的按键，但它们的存
3、在让我们有一种掌控感。The Americans With Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, mandating that elevators stay open long enough for someone with a physical disability, such as on crutches or in a wheelchair, to make it inside, Karen W. Penafiel, executive director of National Elevator Industry Inc., told Christop
4、her Mele with The New York Times in an interview.于1990年通过的美国残疾人法案要求电梯开门时间保持足够长，从而照顾身体残疾者，例如拄拐人士或坐轮椅者，方便他们进入电梯。国家电梯产业股份有限公司的执行总裁凯伦佩尼亚菲耶尔在接受纽约时报的克里斯托弗米尔采访时这样说道：Although these buttons are useless to the average person, they do perform their proper function for firefighters and maintenance workers but o
5、nly with a code or designated keys. 尽管这些按键对普通人而言没有作用，但对于使用密码或特定钥匙的消防员或维修人员来说，这些按键能够很好地发挥其作用。Penafiel explains since an elevators lifespan is around 25 years, it is safe to say that a majority, if any, do not have a functioning close button but the open button works when it is pushed.佩尼亚菲耶尔解释称，由于一部电梯
6、的寿命在25年左右，我们大可以认为，就算大多数电梯的关门键都不起作用，但开门按键是有效的。As bizarre as it seems to place fake buttons in an elevator or other devices, they are there for good reasons.虽然在电梯或其他设备中安置一个假按键的行为似乎很奇怪，但这些假按键有着一定的存在原因。Perceived control is very important, Ellen J. Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard University who
7、 has studied the illusion of control, told Mele in an email. 具有自认为的控制感是很重要的，曾研究控制错觉的哈佛大学心理学教授艾伦J朗格在给米尔的一封邮件中写道：It diminishes stress and promotes well-being. 这种感觉能够减少人们的压力并且增加他们的幸福感。Another expert, John Kounios, a psychology professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, said that these buttons are
8、there to add an illusion of control if they werent, people would feel a lack of control which is linked to depression.另一位来自费城德雷塞尔大学的心理学教授约翰库尼奥斯说，这些按键的存在是为了让人们产生一种控制错觉。如果没有这些按键，人们会感到缺乏控制力，从而引发抑郁。And those people who know the little white lie will still continue to push these decoy buttons because the
9、 doors eventually close and that is the desired reward, he said.他说，而对于知道这个善意骗局的人而言，他们还是会继续按这些按键，因为门最终会关上，而这就是他们想要的结果。However, elevators arent the only deceitful devices crosswalk signals in New York City are also on the list.然而，不止是电梯纽约市人行横道的过马路按键标志也同样骗了我们。The New York Times revealed in 2004 that the
10、 Big Apple pulled the plug on a majority of its pedestrian buttons long ago, as a result of computer-controlled traffic signals.2004年纽约时报报道称，如今交通指示灯受电脑控制，所以纽约市早就拔去了大多数人行横道的按键电源。City figures state that out of the 3,250 crosswalk buttons, 2,500 of them were replaced with mechanical placebos, or non-fu
11、nctioning mechanisms.根据纽约州数据显示，总计3，250个人行横道按键中被换为无效按键的有2，500个。The reason the buttons are still in place is because it costs about $1 million to remove them.这些无效按键之所以还在，是因为移去它们大约需要花费100万美元。But New York City isnt alone in this let down, as ABC conducted a survey in 2010 that found only one working cro
12、sswalk button in Austin Texas, Gainesville, Florida and Syracuse, New York.但纽约市不是唯一一个安有大量无效人行横道按键的城市。根据美国广播公司2010年的调查，德克萨斯州的奥斯汀市、佛罗里达州的盖恩斯维尔市和纽约的锡拉丘兹市的人行横道都只有一个有用的按键。Depending on where you work, you may not want to trust the thermostat that everyone has access to.根据工作地点的不同，也许你不愿信任每个人都能操控的温度调节器。In 20
13、03, the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News found that many offices install dummy thermostats 51 out of 71 people in the survey confirmed their office in fact has one.2003年空调，供暖和制冷新闻发现，许多办公室安装的温度调节器没有反应。参加调查的71人中有51人承认他们的办公室里就有这样一个没用的调节器。One respondent David Trimble of Fort Collins, Col
14、orado, wrote The News that individuals felt better that they have the ability to control the temperature in the office following the installation of a decoy thermostat.科罗拉多州柯林斯堡的一位记者戴维特林布尔在新闻报中写道，办公室在安装无效温度调节器后，人们会因为感到有能力掌控办公室温度而会感到开心。This cut down the number of service calls by over 75 percent, he
15、wrote.他写道：这减少了75%的维修请求。苹果8手机或将使用无线充电器充电Apple may be the next big company to embrace wireless charging. Sources say that Apple has been developing tech to charge the upcoming iPhone 8 without those messy wires.苹果可能是下一个使用无线充电技术的大型公司。有消息称苹果一直在开发即将出台的苹果8的无线充电技术。While a few phones out there today are cap
16、able of charging on those little circles you see at coffee shops, Apple has yet latch on, maybe hoping to improve the technology even further.现在只有极少数手机能够使用咖啡店里的小圆圈充电，苹果打算抢占先机，可能希望进一步发展此项技术。While you cant take the charging stations with you quite yet it will still be possible to boost your battery po
17、wer simply by placing your phones sensors on a small pad.虽然你并不能随身携带充电站，但是你可以将手机感应器放在一个小型平板上，这样就能给手机充电了。【试题导读】对于科技，我们一点也不陌生，也许你会发出疑问：科技？科技在哪里？你看，科技就在你身边：电视、电脑、手机、MP3、火箭、卫星、宇宙飞船好多好多，几天几夜都说不完。总之生活离不开科技，科技在为生活服务。点点滴滴，时时事事，科技无处不在。高考试题对科技这一话题的考查主要以阅读理解的形式呈现，从下面的高考试题可见一斑。I. 阅读理解（2015江苏卷）A体裁话题词数难度建议时间说明文电子垃
18、圾3908分钟In the United States alone, over 100 million cell-phones are thrown away each year. Cell-phones are part of a growing mountain of electronic waste like computers and personal digital assistants. The electronic waste stream is increasing three times faster than traditional garbage as a whole.E
19、lectronic devices contain valuable metals such as gold and silver. A Swiss study reported that while the weight of electronic goods represented by precious metals was relatively small in comparison to total waste, the concentration(含量) of gold and other precious metals was higher in So-called e-wast
20、e than in naturally occurring minerals.Electronic wastes also contain many poisonous metals. Even when the machines are recycled and the harmful metals removed, the recycling process often is carried out in poor countries, in practically uncontrolled ways which allow many poisonous substances to esc
21、ape into the environment.Creating products out of raw materials creates much more waste material, up to 100 times more, than the material contained in the finished products. Consider again the cell-phone, and imagine the mines that produced those metals, the factories needed to make the box and pack
22、aging(包装) it came in. Many wastes produced in the producing process are harmful as well.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that most waste is dangerous in that the production, distribution, and use of products as well as management of the resulting waste all result in greenhouse gas rele
23、ase. Individuals can reduce their contribution by creating less waste at the start for instance, buying reusable products and recycling.In many countries the concept of extended producer responsibility is being considered or has been put in place as an incentive (动机) for reducing waste. If producers
24、 are required to take back packaging they use to sell their products, would they reduce the packaging in the first place?Governments incentive to require producers to take responsibility for the packaging they produce is usually based on money. Why, they ask, should cities or towns be responsible fo
25、r paying to deal with the bubble wrap (气泡垫) that encased your television?From the governments point of view, a primary goal of laws requiring extended producer responsibility is to transfer both the costs and the physical responsibility of waste management from the government and tax-payers back to
26、the producers.58. By mentioning the Swiss study, the author intends to tell us that _ .A. the weight of e-goods is rather smallB. E-waste deserves to be made good use ofC. natural minerals contain more precious metalsD. the percentage of precious metals is heavy in e-waste59. The responsibility of e
27、-waste treatment should be extended _ .A. from producers to governmentsB. from governments to producersC. from individuals to distributorsD. from distributors to governments60. What does the passage mainly talk about?A. The increase in e-waste.B. The creation of e-waste.C. The seriousness of e-waste
28、.D. The management of e-waste.【试题分析】本文是一篇科普说明文。文章主要介绍了电子垃圾的产生、危害以及相关的解决措施。58. B 【解析】推理判断题。文章第一段告诉我们，每年有大量废弃电子产品被随意丢弃。紧接着第二段首句指出：电子设备中含有有用的金属，如金和银，并用Swiss study佐证这一观点，因此可以推知是为了告诉我们电子垃圾值得充分利用。故选B项。59.B 【解析】细节理解题。文章第六、七、八三段围绕生产者责任延伸展开的，最后一段做了总结， 根据a primary goal of laws requiring extended producer resp
29、onsibility is to transfer both the costs and the physical responsibility of waste management from the government and tax-payers back to the producers 可知B项正确，是对该句的同义压缩。故选B项。60.D 【解析】主旨大意题。纵观全文，文章先描述了废弃电子产品被随意丢弃这一现象，接着指出电子垃圾的可利用价值和潜在风险，主要是由于对废弃电子产品的管理不善造成的，最后呼吁政府和生产商对此承担一定的责任。故选D项。（2015天津卷）B体裁话题词数难度建议
30、时间说明文社会机器人的功能与作用3086分钟Whether in the home or the workplace, social robots are going to become a lot more common in the next few years. Social robots are about to bring technology to the everyday world in a more humanized way, said Cynthia Breazeal, chief scientist at the robot company Jibo. While ho
31、usehold robots today do the normal housework, social robots will be much more like companions than mere tools. For example, these robots will be able to distinguish when someone is happy or sad. This allows them to respond more appropriately to the user.The Jibo robot, arranged to ship later this ye
32、ar, is designed to be a personalized assistant. You can talk to the robot, ask it questions, and make requests for it to perform different tasks. The robot doesnt just deliver general answers to questions; it responds based on what it learns about each individual in the household. It can do things s
33、uch as reminding an elderly family member to take medicine or taking family photos.Social robots are not just finding their way into the home. They have potential applications in everything from education to health care and are already finding their way into some of these spaces.Fellow Robots is one
34、 company bringing social robots to the market. The companys Oshbot robot is built to assist customers in a store, which can help the customers find items and help guide them to the products location in the store. It can also speak different languages and make recommendations for different items base
35、d on what the customer is shopping for.The more interaction the robot has with humans, the more it learns. But Oshbot, like other social robots, is not intended to replace workers, but to work alongside other employees. We have technologies to train social robots to do things not for us, but with us
36、, said Breazeal.41. How are social robots different from household robots?A. They can control their emotions.B. They are more like humans.C. They do the normal housework.D. They respond to users more slowly.42. What can a Jibo robot do according to Paragraph 3?A. Communicate with you and perform ope
37、rations.B. Answer your questions and make requests.C. Take your family pictures and deliver milk.D. Obey your orders and remind you to take pills.43. What can Oshbot work as?A. A language teacher.B. A tour guide.C. A shop assistant.D. A private nurse.44. We can learn from the last paragraph that soc
38、ial robots will _. A. train employeesB. be our workmatesC. improve technologiesD. take the place of workers45. What does the passage mainly present?A. A new design idea of household robots.B. Marketing strategies for social robots.C. Information on household robots.D. An introduction to social robot
39、s.【试题分析】本文是一篇说明文，文章主要介绍了社会机器人的功能与作用。 41. B 【解析】细节理解题。根据文章第二段While household robots today do the normal housework, social robots will be much more like companions than mere tools.可知社会机器人更像人或不是纯粹的工具。故选B。42. D 【解析】细节理解题。根据文章第三段it responds based on what it learns about each individual in the household.
40、It can do things such as reminding an elderly family member to take medicine or taking family photos可知选D。43. C 【解析】细节理解题。根据第五段中的which can help the customers find items and help guide them to the products location in the store可知，此机器人可以做售货员。选C。44. B 【解析】推理判断题。根据最后一段Breazeal 的话We have technologies to t
41、rain social robots to do things not for us, but with us可以推断出社会机器人可以和我们一起工作。故选B。45. D 【解析】主旨大意题。根据全文内容可知，文章主要介绍了社会机器人的功能与作用。故选D。I. 完形填空 体裁话题词数难度建议时间议论文科技进步对生活的影响31015分钟The concept of solitude (独处) in the digital world is almost non-existent. In the world of digital technology, e-mail, social networki
42、ng and online video games, information is meant to be 1 . Solitude can be hard to discover 2 it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have 3 our culture.The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n) 4 as weve known it. People have become so 5 in the world of networks and con
43、nections that one can often be contacted 6 theyd rather not be. Today we can talk, text, e-mail, chat and blog, not only from our 7 , but from our mobile phones as well.Most developed nations have become 8 digital technology simply because theyve grown accustomed to it, and at this point not 9 it wo
44、uld make them an outsider. 10 , many jobs and careers require people to be 11 . From this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a 12 to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.I suppose the positive side is that solitude is
45、still possible for anyone who 13 wants it. Computers can be 14 and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be connected and on has many 15 , as well as disadvantages. Travelers have ended up 16 on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. They can also make people feel 17 and
46、forced to answer unwanted calls or 18 to unwanted texts.Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society 19 across generations. Some find todays technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyones view on the subject, its hard to imagine what life would be like 20 daily advancements
47、 in technology.1. A. updatedB. receivedC. sharedD. collected2. A. thoughB. untilC. onceD. before3. A. respectedB. shapedC. ignoredD. preserved4. A. edgeB. stageC. endD. balance5. A. sensitiveB. intelligentC. considerateD. reachable6. A. even ifB. only ifC. as ifD. if only7. A. mediaB. computersC. da
48、tabasesD. monitors8. A. bentB. hardC. keenD. dependent9. A. findingB. usingC. protectingD. changing10. A. AlsoB. InsteadC. OtherwiseD. Somehow11. A. connectedB. trainedC. recommendedD. interested12. A. pleasureB. benefitC. burdenD. disappointment13. A. slightlyB. hardlyC. merelyD. really14. A. cut o
49、utB. shut downC. taken offD. broken down15. A. aspectsB. weaknessesC. advantagesD. exceptions16. A. hiddenB. lostC. relaxedD. deserted17. A. trappedB. excitedC. confusedD. amused18. A. turnB. submitC. objectD. reply19. A. varyB. ariseC. spreadD. exist20. A. beyondB. withinC. despiteD. withoutII. 阅读理
50、解体裁话题词数难度建议时间说明文科技小礼物2395分钟Not sure what gift to buy for your loved one? Think technology!Consider these fun and useful tech gift ideas. Note that all of websites mentioned below offer international shipping. There may be additional shipping costs.Mini Laptop RiserIf youre loved one uses a laptop, y
51、ou can make their computer time more enjoyable with a Mini Laptop Riser. You can bend the riser to the shape and height that works best for you. The riser is lightweight, so you can bring it with you when you are away from your work station. The Mini Laptop Riser is available from Etsy for $ 10. 95.
52、 The device comes in a number of colors.Mini QuadcopterWould your loved one 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. You can s
53、et the controls for your skill level. The Mini Quadcopter is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $ 39.95.Indoor Snowfall LightGet 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 sn
54、owfall. You can control the speed of the snowfall, unlike the real weather. The Indoor Snowfall Light is available from Sharper Image for $ 59.99.1. The Mini Laptop Riser is helpful for _.A. people who like carrying small bagsB. people who are in fashionC. computer-using peopleD. coffee-drinking peo
55、ple2. What can we know about these technology products?A. The Indoor Snowfall Light can be got from Sharper Image.B. Mini Laptop Riser is available for the prices beginning at $ 39.95.C. Mini Laptop Riser can be controlled with its remote control.D. Mini Quadcopter can be used to see the latest weat
56、her conditions.3. What is the main purpose of the author in writing the text?A. To introduce present technology.B. To show different functions of high-tech gifts.C. To attract readers to the websites to look through.D. To recommend presents to readers to buy for loved one.I. 完形填空 【试题分析】这是一篇议论文。独处理念在
57、当今数码世界几乎不复存在，新技术使我们连接成了一个社会，并塑造了我们的文化。能够被连接在一起既有优势也有弊端。不管人们对这一话题持何种态度，如果没有日常技术进步，很难想象生活会是什么样子。1. C 【解析】根据上一句The concept of solitude (独处) in the digital world is almost non-existent.可知，独处理念在数码世界几乎不存在，因此信息的意义在于分享。share分享。故选C。2. C 【解析】句意：独处一旦被放弃就很难发现。once一旦。故选C。3. B 【解析】根据上文In the world of digital tech
58、nology,可知，从这方面来说，新技术塑造了我们的文化。shape塑造。故选B。4. C 【解析】句意：被联系的渴望使独处消亡。bring sth to an end结束。故选C。5. D 【解析】根据下文connections that one can often be contacted可知，在网络交织的世界里，人们已经变得如此随处可及。reachable可获得的。故选D。6. A 【解析】句意：即使他们不情愿也能经常被联系上。even if即使。故选A。7. B 【解析】根据下文but from our mobile phones as well.可知，今天，我们不仅可以通过电脑，也可
59、以通过手机交谈，编辑短信，发邮件，聊天和写博客。computers电脑。故选B。8. D 【解析】根据下文because theyve grown accustomed to it,可知，大多数发达国家已经依赖数码技术，仅仅因为习惯于此。dependent依赖的。故选D。9. B 【解析】句意：这个时候，不使用数码技术将会使他们成为局外人。use使用。故选B。10. A 【解析】句意：而且，许多工作和职业需要人们联系在一起。Also也。故选A。11. A 【解析】根据上文connections that one can often be contacted可知，对那些可能不想总是能够被联系上的
60、人来说，随处可及可能感觉像个负担。connect联系。故选A。12. C 【解析】根据下文who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.可知，对那些可能不想总是能够被联系上的人来说，随处可及可能感觉像个负担(burden)。故选C。13. D 【解析】句意：我认为，积极的一面是对于任何真的想要独处的人来说仍然是可能的。really真正地。故选D。14. B 【解析】根据下文can be turned off可知，电脑可以被关机，手机也是。shut down关闭。故选B。15. C 【解析】根据下文as well as disa
61、dvantages可知，能够被联系上既有优势也有弊端。advantages优势。故选C。16. B 【解析】根据下文mobile phones have saved countless lives可知，旅行者最后迷失在大山上，手机挽救了无数的生命。lost迷失的。故选B。 17. A 【解析】根据下文forced to answer unwanted calls可知，手机也会使人们感到受限制。trap困住。故选A。18. D 【解析】根据上文forced to answer unwanted calls可知，被迫接骚扰电话，回复骚扰短信。reply to回复。故选D。19. A 【解析】根据下
62、文Some find todays technology a gift. Others consider it a curse.可知，对于我们被连接成一个社会，不同的人态度不一。vary变化，呈多样化。故选A。20. D 【解析】句意：不管人们对这一话题持何种态度，如果没有日常技术进步，很难想象生活会是什么样子。without没有。故选D。II. 阅读理解【试题分析】文章给拿不定主意给爱的人买什么礼物的人提供了一些建议买一些科技小礼物。1. C 【解析】细节理解题。根据文章第二段的句子If youre loved one uses a laptop, you can make their co
63、mputer time more enjoyable with a Mini Laptop Riser.可知，The Mini Laptop Riser对使用电脑的人有用。故选C。2. A 【解析】细节理解题。根据文章最后一段的句子The Indoor Snowfall Light is available from Sharper Image for $ 59.99.可知，The Indoor Snowfall Light可以从Sharper Image买到。故选A。3. D 【解析】主旨大意题。根据文章开头的Not sure what gift to buy for your loved
64、one? Think technology! Consider these fun and useful tech gift ideas.可知，作者推荐一些科技产品给那些要给爱的人买礼物的人。故选D。I. 重点单词识记1. drawback n. 缺点，缺陷；不利条件2. principle n. 原理，法则；道德原则，行为准则3. delay vt. & vi. (使)推迟，延迟；n. 延误，延迟4. foresee vt. 预料，预见，预知5. sceptical adj. 怀疑的6. ample adj. 足够的，充足的，丰裕的7. insurance n. 保险；保障措施8. allr
65、ound adj. 功能齐全的；全面的9. scan vt. & vi. 浏览，粗略地读；审视，端详；扫描10. elegant adj. (物品) 雅致的，精美的；(人或其举止) 优雅的11. circumstance n. 条件，环境，状况12. merely adv. 仅仅，只不过13. dial vt. & vi. 拨(电话号码)，打电话14. shallow adj. 肤浅的，浅薄的；浅的15. sacrifice vt. 牺牲，献出；n. 牺牲，舍弃；祭品16. distribute vt. 使分布，分散；分发，分配；分销 distribution n. 分布；分发，分配17. e
66、ventually adv. 最后，终于 eventual adj. 最后的，最终的18. casual adj. 非正式的，随便的；漫不经心的，不经意的 casually adv. 便装地；不经意地19. obvious adj. 显然的，显而易见的 obviously adv. 显然，明显地20. translation n. 翻译；转化 translate vt. & vi. 翻译；使转变，变为21. reject vt. 拒绝，拒收；不予考虑，不予录用 rejection n. 拒绝，抵制22. oppose vt. 反对，抵制，阻挠；与竞争 opposed adj. 反对的；对立的2
67、3. typical adj. 平常的；典型的，有代表性的；特有的 typically adv. 通常，一般；典型地，具有代表性地II. 重点短语识记1. keep in touch with 与保持联系2. contribute to 有助于；对作出贡献3. benefit from 得益于4. wind up 上发条5. answer for 对负责6. above all 最重要的是7. pay attention to 注意8. in other words 换句话说9. face to face 面对面地10. be absorbed in 专心于，全神贯注于11. in general 通常，一般情况下12. for good measure 额外13. rid.of. 使免除，使摆脱版权所有：高考资源网()
