Hurricane-force winds built up ___ powerful waves at sea.

The Amazon Echo, a voice-driven cylindrical computer that sits on a table top and answers to the name Alexa, can call up music tracks and radio stations, tell jokes, answer trivia questions and control smart appliances; even before Christmas it was already resident in about 4% of American households. Voice assistants are proliferating in smartphones, too: Apple’s Siri handles over 2bn commands a week, and 20% of Google searches on Android-powered handsets in America are input by voice. Dictating e-mails and text messages now works reliably enough to be useful. Why type when you can talk? Simple though it may seem, voice has the power to transform computing, by providing a natural means of interaction. Windows, icons and menus, and then touchscreens, were welcomed as more intuitive ways to deal with computers than entering complex keyboard commands. But being able to talk to computers abolishes the need for the abstraction of a “user interface” at all. Just as mobile phones were more than existing phones without wires, and cars were more than carriages without horses, so computers without screens and keyboards have the potential to be more useful, powerful and ubiquitous than people can imagine today. Voice will not wholly replace other forms of input and output. Sometimes it will remain more convenient to converse with a machine by typing rather than talking (Amazon is said to be working on an Echo device with a built-in screen). But voice is destined to account for a growing share of people’s interactions with the technology around them, from washing machines that tell you how much of the cycle they have left to virtual assistants in corporate call-centres. However, to reach its full potential, the technology requires further breakthroughs—and a resolution of the tricky questions it raises around the trade-off between convenience and privacy. Computer-dictation systems have been around for years. But they were unreliable and required lengthy training to learn a specific user’s voice. Computers’ new ability to recognise almost anyone’s speech dependably without training is the latest manifestation of the power of “deep learning”, an artificial-intelligence technique in which a software system is trained using millions of examples, usually culled from the internet. Thanks to deep learning, machines now nearly equal humans in transcription accuracy, computerised translation systems are improving rapidly and text-to-speech systems are becoming less robotic and more natural-sounding. Computers are, in short, getting much better at handling natural language in all its forms Although deep learning means that machines can recognise speech more reliably and talk in a less stilted manner, they still don’t understand the meaning of language. That is the most difficult aspect of the problem and, if voice-driven computing is truly to flourish, one that must be overcome. Computers must be able to understand context in order to maintain a coherent conversation about something, rather than just responding to simple, one-off voice commands, as they mostly do today (“Hey, Siri, set a timer for ten minutes”). Researchers in universities and at companies large and small are working on this very problem, building “bots” that can hold more elaborate conversations about more complex tasks, from retrieving information to advising on mortgages to making travel arrangements. Many voice-driven devices are always listening, waiting to be activated. Some people are already concerned about the implications of internet-connected microphones listening in every room and from every smartphone. Not all audio is sent to the cloud—devices wait for a trigger phrase (“Alexa”, “OK, Google”, “Hey, Cortana”, or “Hey, Siri”) before they start relaying the user’s voice to the servers that actually handle the requests—but when it comes to storing audio, it is unclear who keeps what and when.【小题1】According to Paragraph I the American Echo ___ A．has been sold out before Christmas B．has been used by most American families C．came out the market later than Apple’s Siri D．is more useful than smart phones in fictating e-mails 【小题2】What can we infer about the technology of voice computing? A．It is more effective and convenient than typing B．It needs to be improved in some important aspects C．It increases a person’s chances of communicating with others D．It will replace other forms of input and output in the near future 【小题3】What are some users of voice -driven devices concerned about? A．The devices will be in charge of theit life B．The devices need to be activeated before working C．They are in the dark about their data’s ownership D．Their voices can be recognized by every smart technology? 【小题4】What’s the author’s attitude towards voice-driven technology? A．Worried B．Doubtful C．Supportive D．Objective

2015年12月第三套Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay based on the picture below. You should focus on the impact of social networking websites on reading. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.​​​​​​​

It's time to reevaluate how women handle conflict at work. Being overworked or over—committed at home and on the job will not get you where you want to be in life. It will only slow you down and hinder your career goals.Did you know women are more likely than men to feel exhausted? Nearly twice as many women than men ages 18—44 reported feeling "very tired" or "exhausted" , according to a recent study.This may not be surprising given that this is the age range when women have children. It's also the age range when many women are trying to balance careers and home. One reason women may feel exhausted is that they have a hard time saying "no." Women want to be able to do it all volunteer for school parties or cook delicious meals—and so their answer to any request is often "Yes, I can."Women struggle to say "no" in the workplace for similar reasons, including the desire to be liked by their colleagues. Unfortunately, this inability to say "no" may be hurting women's heath as well as their career.At the workplace, men use conflict as a way to position themselves, while women often avoid conflict or strive to be the peacemaker, because they don't want to be viewed as aggressive or disruptive at work. For example, there's a problem that needs to be addressed immediately, resulting in a dispute over should be the one to fix it. Men are more likely to face that dispute from the perspective of what benefits them most, whereas women may approach the same dispute from the perspective of what's the easiest and quickest way to resolve the problem—even if that means doing the boring work themselves.This difference in handling conflict could be the deciding factor on who gets promoted to a leadership position and who does not. Leaders have to be able to delegate and manage resources wisely – including staff expertise. Shouldering more of the workload may not earn you that promotion. Instead, it may highlight your inability to delegate effectively.What does the author say is the problem with women?A.They are often unclear about the career goals to reach.B.They are usually more committed at home than on the job.C.They tend to be over-optimistic about how far they could go.D.They tend to push themselves beyond the limits of their ability.Why do working women of child-bearing age tend to feel drained of energy?A.They struggle to satisfy the demands of both work and home.B.They are too devoted to work and unable to relax as a result.C.They do their best to cooperate with their workmates.D.They are obliged to take up too many responsibilities.What may hinder the future prospects of career women?A.Their unwillingness to say "no" .B.Their desire to be considered powerful.C.An underestimate of their own ability.D.A lack of courage to face challenges.Men and woman differ in their approach to resolving workplace conflicts in that .A.women tend to be easily satisfiedB.men are generally more persuasiveC.men tend to put their personal interests firstD.women are much more ready to compromiseWhat is important to a good leader?A. dominant personality.B.The ability to delegate.C.The courage to admit failure.D.A strong sense of responsibility.

2024·江苏盐城联盟校调研)-|||-In conversations with strangers,people commonly tend to think they should speak less than half the-|||-onversation time to be likable.But we've discovered this idea is wrong.Our data shows that people tend to-|||-hink they should speak about 45 %of the time to be likable in a one-on-one conversation with someone-|||-ew.However,it appears speaking up a bit more is actually a better strategy.-|||-In our research,we randomly assigned people to speak for 30%,40%,50 %,60%of the time in a con--|||-versation with someone new.We found that the more they spoke,the more they were liked by their new-|||-partners.This was only one study with 116 participants,but the outcome is supported by other researchers'-|||-findings.For example,a previous study randomly assigned one in a pair to take on the role of "speaker"and-|||-the other to take on the role of"listener".After engaging in 12-minute interactions listeners liked speakers-|||-more than speakers liked listeners because listeners felt more similar to speakers than speakers did to lis--|||-teners.This outcome suggests the reason people prefer those who speak up:Learning more about a new-|||-partner can make you feel like you have more in common with him or her.2024·江苏盐城联盟校调研)-|||-In conversations with strangers,people commonly tend to think they should speak less than half the-|||-onversation time to be likable.But we've discovered this idea is wrong.Our data shows that people tend to-|||-hink they should speak about 45 %of the time to be likable in a one-on-one conversation with someone-|||-ew.However,it appears speaking up a bit more is actually a better strategy.-|||-In our research,we randomly assigned people to speak for 30%,40%,50 %,60%of the time in a con--|||-versation with someone new.We found that the more they spoke,the more they were liked by their new-|||-partners.This was only one study with 116 participants,but the outcome is supported by other researchers'-|||-findings.For example,a previous study randomly assigned one in a pair to take on the role of "speaker"and-|||-the other to take on the role of"listener".After engaging in 12-minute interactions listeners liked speakers-|||-more than speakers liked listeners because listeners felt more similar to speakers than speakers did to lis--|||-teners.This outcome suggests the reason people prefer those who speak up:Learning more about a new-|||-partner can make you feel like you have more in common with him or her.

Why do schools offer early decision?A. To make sure they get qualified students.B. To avoid competition with other colleges.C. To provide more opportunities for applicants.D. To save students the agony of choosing a school.

一本好书的标志是你一旦开始读就放不下来，这通常是因为其话题对你很重要，贴近你的内心，或者你深有感触。(feel strongly about)______

4 Identify the rhetorical and stylistic devices employed in the Chinese sentences and their English translations. Comment on the effects of the rhetorical or stylistic devices in each pair.1. 虽然我国经济总量跃居世界第二，但大而不强、臃肿虚胖体弱问题相当突出，主要体现在创新能力不强，这是我国这个经济大块头的“阿喀琉斯之踵”。Despite being the world's second largest, China's economy is obese and weak. Inadequate capacity for innovation is its Achilles' heel.2. 核武器是悬在人类头上的“达摩克利斯之剑”，应该全面禁止并最终彻底销毁。Nuclear weapons, the Sword of Damocles that hangs over humanity, should be completely prohibited and thoroughly destroyed over time.3. 经济全球化曾经被人们视为阿里巴巴的山洞，现在又被不少人看作潘多拉的盒子。Economic globalization was once viewed as the treasure cave found by Ali Baba in The Arabian Nights, but it has now become a Pandora's box in the eyes of many.

It’s never too early to protect your family’s financial well-being. Yet because most of us are so busy juggling work and family commitments, we tend to neglect the things that don’t require immediate attention. Some day, we think, we’ll take care of the three essentials-retirement savings, insurance coverage and estate planning. Unfortunately, emergencies can strike and then it’s too late. "Failure to plan is a huge mistake," Barbara Raasch, managing director at Wealth and Tax Advisory Services, Inc. , told us. How can you avoid the "should have, could have, would have" scenario By putting these three items at the top of your "to do" list-protect your future, protect your family and protect your legacy (遗产). The national savings rate averaged around 0.4% for the first half of this year, according to the U. S. Department of Commerce, meaning Americans spent a shopping 99.6% of their after-tax earnings. Even more frightening, in July the savings rate dropped below zero. We all know we should save more. But with so many goals to save for-a house, the kids’ college tuition, your retirement, occasional vacations and a small emergency fund-it’s easy to feel there’s just not enough money to do it all. Budget. The first step is to create a budget. Once you know what you’re spending your money on, you can figure out What you don’t need to spend it on-and stock those savings away. "Every month you have to pay yourself first," says Joe Moglia, CEO of Ameritrade. "Take a little out of your paycheck." It doesn’t have to be much-it could be foregoing(放弃) that extra lattice or getting the DVD free at the library. Retirement. Just about every survey of American investors these days shows that retirement is a main reason for saving. Yet an astounding number of people ignore the opportunities offered by employment-based retirement plans. According to a recent survey by Aon Consulting, more than 20% of those eligible for a 401k plan do not participate at all, while another 53% do not save at a rate high enough to take full advantage of their employers’ matching contribution-the closest thing to free money in the retirement savings universe. Consider it money that grows without being taxed. Emergency reserves. Many financial planners recommend that you have enough money in a savings or money-market account for at, least six to nine months of essential expenses, including your mortgage or rent, insurance premiums, credit card payments, utility and grocery bills and other fixed expenses, such as car payments or student loans. And it’s always a good idea to have cash on hand once you are confronted with emergency situations. For example, if the ATMs in your neighborhood are out, you can have enough to cover your immediate needs for a week or so. A major illness, an extended disability (残疾) or the loss of a job could wipe out your financial reserves and any prospect of being able to save enough to achieve your other life goals. Here’s what you need to protect your savings: Health insurance. A recent study of court records and direct interviews indicated that about half of personal bankruptcies in the U. S. are caused in part by medical debts. Only people over 65 are entitled to the medicare. So people under that age face enormous bills and many of them lack insurance. If your company provides medical benefits, you have the most cost-efficient coverage available. Sign up. If you’re responsible for your own medical insurance ,you may want to look into health savings accounts ( HSAs ), a combination of a high deductible health plan and a tax-deductible savings account allocated to health care expenses. The funds in the account grow tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free to pay for any qualified medical expenses, including over-the-counter medications, dental care, eyeglasses and other costs not usually covered by conventional health insurance plans. Disability insurance. Over 80% of Americans don’t have adequate disability coverage, according to a survey by the Consumer Federation of America and the American Council of Life Insurers. You may already have disability insurance through your employee benefits plan, either as paid sick leave or actual disability payments if you’re unable to work for an extended period of time. But these programs tend to pay far less than your weekly salary. For the self-employed, having a financial safety net is even more crucial. Life insurance. If your family member dies prematurely, a life-insurance policy will provide immediate funds for funeral expenses, and may help replace your lost income. "Life insurance isn’t a priority if you are single, but if you have a spouse or dependents, you want to make sure they’re taken care of, "says Barbara Raasch. Employers frequently offer coverage as part of their benefits package. One of the most thoughtful legacies that anyone call leave is peace of mind. No one wants to mar the memory of a loved one with" I think this is what Mom wanted but she never said" doubts. You can prevent that with the right advance directives (指示) and documents: A will. Over half of the adult population in this country dies without a will. This is not just senseless; it’s downright irresponsible. "If you die without a will, "says Karin Barkhorn, an estate planning attorney at Bryan Cave LLP," the state determines how your assets are dispersed." What’s more, the government could end up collecting a lot more tax than necessary. A living will. Also known as a health care directive, a living will specifies what medical measures should be used to keep you alive if you are incapacitated. The agonizing Terri Schiavo case earlier this year showed how the absence of a living will can rip a family apart. Health care providers are generally required to comply with the wishes you describe in your living will. Durable power of attorney. This document authorizes a loved one to make financial decisions on your behalf should you become unable. It allows someone to renew your CD at the bank, pay bills, sell stock or even sell your home or business, based on the agent’s determination of what is best for you. "If you are in the hospital and cannot pay your bills or sign a check, someone will have to do it," says Raasch. "If any of your assets are held in your name only, your spouse can’t touch that money unless the court appoints him guardian. The emotional turmoil of your loved ones having to go to court will only add to your misery. "Although it’s best to have these documents prepared by a family-law attorney, you can cover the basics on your own with software such as Quicken’ s WillMaker Plus or Kiplinger’s WillPower. Retirement savings. Insurance coverage. Estate planning. These are the foundations of a financial well-being plan. Take care of your family and yourself today.We work out a budget so as to ______. A．avoid unnecessary spendingB．buy the favorite DVDC．earn more creditsD．spend freely on favorite things

We were not altogether sure that the ______ would miss the Earth.A. embroideryB. vergeC. milestoneD. comet