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.”

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

2.Thomas Wensma’s attitude to the “planned obsolescence” is __________.

A．positive           B．negative          C．indifferent         D．neutral

3.What subtitle can best fit into the blank in the text?

A．Huge profits                           B．Apple’s principle

C．Environmental damage                   D．Marketing strategy

4.The writer takes the example of Li Jijia to show that __________.

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

阅读下列各小题，根据汉语提示，用句末括号内的英语单词完成句子，并将答案写在答题上的相应题号后。

1.__________________ that you may have made the wrong choice?（occur）

你是否曾经想到过也许你做出的是错误的选择？

2.The explosions at the Boston Marathon are reported __________________ and over a hundred injuries. (cause)

据报道，波士顿马拉松爆炸事件导致了三人死亡和一百多人受伤。

3.He has given us several phone calls, ___________________ his sincerity and determination. (convince)

他给我们打了好多通电话，这让我们相信了他的真诚和决心。

4.Before becoming prime minister, Mrs Thatcher ____________________ several cabinet posts. (occupy)

在成为首相之前，撒切尔夫人已出任过好几个内阁职位。

5.________________ in the investigation was a great shock for everybody. (confirm)

调查中所证实的事情让每个人大吃一惊。

6.Tom opened the door, and there _________________ who he had seen twice. (stand)

汤姆打开门，门口站着一个女孩，他曾见过两次。

7.His desire that __________________ actually keeps everybody away from him. (obey)

他想要每个人都顺从他，事实上却使得每个人都远离他。

8.It was not until months later _________________ living all alone without family and friends around. (adapt)

直到数月之后他才适应了没有家人和朋友在身边独自生活。

9.The more he insisted he was innocent, ________________ believe him. (seem)

他越坚称自己无辜，他们似乎越不相信他。

10.In those rough times mistakes, which _______________, were crowding in at the same time and my life was totally messed up. (avoid)

在那些诸事不顺的日子里，本可以避免的错误全都同时发生了，我的生活完全一团糟。

请根据以下提示，结合你生活中的一个事例，用英语写一篇短文。

There is a crack in everything, and that is how the light gets in.(Leonard Cohen, a Canadian singer)

注意：①无须写标题，不得照抄英语提示语；

②除诗歌外，文体不限；

③内容必须结合生活中的一个事例；

④文中不得透露个人姓名和班级；

⑤词数为120左右。

Actually it’s one’s _____________ rather than one’s diploma that counts when applying for a job. The HR manager attaches importance to your practical abilities.

A．commitment       B．competence       C．potential          D．patent

It struck me like a blow when I saw his ___________ on the legal document which sold our house to another family.

A．identifications                          B．initials

C．recognitions                           D．characteristics

 At the end of the term, you should reflect yourself over what you have ____ and what is left undone, and make up your new year plan.

A．accumulated       B．accommodated     C．attained           D．abandoned

After years’ study with the help of Professor Henry Higgins, Eliza was able to________various levels of English usages, such as standard and substandard.

A．indicate           B．differ             C．distinguish         D．mark

Jack narrowly fell off the cliff, but managed to__________ until help came.

A．keep on          B．hang on           C．live on            D．count on

 Wang Haijian, Hubei bombing principal, was shot to death for his leading role in __________ a homemade bomb near a branch of state-owned China Construction Bank in Wuhan on Dec. 1, 2011.

A．set off            B．set aside          C．set down          D．set out

Of all the __________ entertaining TV programs nationwide, So You Think You Can Dance on Shanghai Dragon TV is my favorite. I’ll definitely tune in on Sunday evening.

A．moral            B．arbitrary          C．conventional       D．current