题目内容
Donald ___ sixteen tomorrow.
- A.is being
- B.going to be
- C.shall be
- D.will be
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remember being a burned person with scars; pain is a permanent part of her body. She still has to have two further operations. Yet she is a confident, outgoing teenager who offers inspiration and hope to other young burns victims.
other people would react years ago.”Why are we addicted to upgrades? According to Donald Norman, American author of the book The Design of Everyday Things, “planned obsolescence”（计划性报废） is the trick behind the upgrading culture of today’s consumer electronics industry.
The New York Times cited Norman last month, saying that electronics manufactures strategically release new upgrades periodically, both for hardware and software, so that customers on every level feel the need to buy the newest version.
“This is an old-time trick– they’re not inventing anything new,” he said.
Thomas Wensma, a Dutch designer, despises the “planned obsolescence” of companies, as recently reported by UK-based The Guardian.
Wensma said this is a wasteful system through which companies – many of them producing personal electronics – release shoddy products simply because “they know that, in six months or a year, they’ll put out a new one”.
But the new psychology of consumers is part of this system, as Wensma said to the newspaper: “We now want something new, something pretty, the next shiny thing.”
____________________
“It’s to the damage of the consumer and the environment,” as the New York Times quoted Norman. “But perhaps to the betterment of the stockholder.”
In its most recent fiscal(财务的) year, Apple’s profit margin was more than 21 percent, reported the Los Angeles Times. At Hewlett-Packard, the world’s biggest PC manufacturer, it was only 7 percent.
“Steven Jobs pushed the principle of ‘planned obsolescence’ to new heights,” the newspaper commented on the company’s profits and marketing strategy. “Apple’s annual upgrades of its products generate sales of millions of units as owners of one year’s MacBook or iPhone line up to buy the newest version, even when the changes are incremental.”
Peer pressure
As to Li Jijia, the need for upgrading his smart phone comes mainly from friends and classmates. When the majority of friends are switching to the latest devices, he worries about feeling left out.
“Some apps and games require better hardware to run,” said Li. “If you don’t join in, you lose part of the connection to your friends.”
【小题1】Donald Norman believes that electronics makers strategically release new upgrades periodically because __________.
| A．customers need the latest version | B．technology is developing so fast |
| C．they want to invent something new | D．they can make a lot of money |
| A．positive | B．negative | C．indifferent | D．neutral |
| A．Huge profits | B．Apple’s principle |
| C．Environmental damage | D．Marketing strategy |
| A．the new psychology of consumers is also to blame for the wasteful system |
| B．young people are always fond of something new, pretty and shiny |
| C．if you don’t upgrade your smart phone, you will lose contact with your friends |
| D．needs of consumers help to promote the development of electronics industry |
Ammie was only 18 months old when she had an accident that scarred her for life. While her mother was away for a moment , the curious baby reached up to a hot kettle in the kitchen and poured boiling water all over her body.
An ambulance was called and rushed the baby to a nearby hospital. About 20 percent of Ammie’s body had been burned and all of her burns were third degree. The doctors could tell immediately that Ammie’s best chance of survival was specialized burns unit some miles away at Glasgow Royal hospital.
There , using tissue taken from unburned areas of Ammie’s body, surgeons performed complex skin grafts（植皮手术）to close her wounds and control her injuries , an operation that took about six hours. Over the next 16 years, Ammie underwent（经历）12 more operations to repair her body.
When she started school at the age of 4, other pupils made cruel comments or simply wouldn’t play with her . “I was the only burned child in the street, the class and the school,” she recalls, “Some children refused to become friends with me because of that.”
Today, age 17, Ammie can only ever remember being a burned person with scars ; pain is a permanent part of her life, she is still awaiting two further operations. Yet she is a confident, outgoing teenager who offers inspiration and hope to other young burnt victims.
Ammie’s parents have been a great support to her. “They told me people had a problem with my burns, the problem with my burns, the problem was theirs not mine,” says Ammie. “They taught me to cope with other people’s reactions and constantly reminded me I was valued and loved.” Ammie’s positive attitude to life means she is often contacted by burns charities（慈善机构）, helping younger patients build their self-respect to live with permanent scars.
Now she is a member the Scottish Burned Children’s Club. “Ammie provides so much encouragement for the younger ones. She is optimistic and outgoing and a perfect role model for them , ” say Donald Todd, chairman of the club.
This month, Ammie will join some younger children on a summer camp. “I’ll show them how to shrug off unkind stares from others , ” she says. Ammie loves wearing fashionable sleeveless tops（无袖上衣）, and she plans to show the children at the summer camp that they can too. “I don’t go to great lengths to hide my scars,” she says. “I gave up wondering how other people would react years ago.”
【小题1】Ammie was taken to Glasgow Royal hospital because .71—75 DDABD
| A．it was the nearest hospital to her home |
| B．it was the only hospital curing her burns |
| C．surgeons there were skilled at performing skin grafts |
| D．it was a local hospital excellent at treating burns |
| A．12 | B．13 | C．14 | D．15 |
| A．ignore | B．avoid | C．accept | D．tolerate |
| A．Shy, pessimistic and discouraged. |
| B．Strong-minded, optimistic and helpful. |
| C．Fashionable, sensitive and easygoing. |
| D．Careful, confident and intelligent. |
| A．Ammie had an accident and had to do many operations. |
| B．Ammie was a brave girl after the accident. |
| C．Ammie helped many younger patients. |
| D．Ammie has a positive life through many operations. |