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to be frank, suffer from, due to, sit around, in other words, more often than not, make a list of |
Google's new camera, called Clips, is a small, smart device. It comes with a case that has a clip (夹子), but it's not designed to be worn on your clothing. Most interestingly, it uses artificial intelligence to take photography out of your hands so it can capture moments on its own.
This roughly 2inch by 2inch camera, with a threehour battery life and Gorilla Glass for toughness, is intended for candid moments, like when a child does something cute that may happen too quickly for you to pull out your smartphone.
Onboard the Clips device, it uses machine learning algorithms (计算程序) to help capture scenes. Those algorithms include face recognition. "Once it learns that there's a face you see frequently, it'll try to get nice photos of those faces," said Juston Payne, the device's product manager. And they also want it to recognize facial expressions, which involved "training it to know what happiness looks like". The Google team also trained it to recognize what not to shoot—like when a child's hand is over the lens, or if it is tossed in a dark purse.
The only way to see the images is by connecting the camera with your phone, as it has no screen for viewing or editing.
Were people concerned it could seem strange? Yes, Payne admitted. But they said they addressed that by making it obvious what it is. A green light on the front signals that it is on. Besides, unlike a camera meant to monitor your home, it is not connected to the Internet.
"This product is only possible because of the way that silicon has advanced," Payne said, noting that it was only in the past year or so that they could squeeze the technology down into a device this size. Going forward, we're likely to get more assistance from the artificial intelligence packed into our apps and gadgets (小装置).
Farmer John and Farmer Bob were neighbours. For more than 30 years, they had been getting along very well.
Then their good relationship broke. It began with a small thing, then bitter words, and then weeks of silence. One morning Farmer John woke up to find a stream between the two farms. "It must be Bob," thought John.
Then one day there was a knock at John's door. He opened it to find a carpenter (木匠) standing in the doorway.
"I'm looking for a few days' work." said the carpenter.
"I do have a job for you." said John. "Look across the stream at that farm. That's my neighbour Bob's. He dug a stream between the two farms. I want you to build a fence—an 8foot fence. I don't want to see his place or his face any more. I don't have such a neighbor!"
The carpenter said, "I think I know what to do, sir, and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you." Farmer John helped the carpenter get the materials (材料) ready and then he was off for the day.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide. There was no fence there at all!
It was a bridge! And the neighbour, Bob, was coming across, with his hands outstretched. "Hi, John! You're quite a fellow to build this bridge!"
Then they met in the middle, taking each other's hands. "I'm terribly sorry for what I have said and done. We should be good to each other," said Farmer Bob.
Then they turned to see the carpenter, who was ready to go. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I have a lot of other jobs for you," said Farmer John. "I'd love to stay," said the carpenter, "but I have more bridges to build."
They were a happy family: four daughters all in the same school in different grades. The youngest, Janice, who was in my class, seemed to be glued (粘) to her mother's skirts. The three older girls took the bus to school every morning, but Janice was always driven to school by her mother.
One Friday, Janice's mother asked for a chat with me. She said in a soft voice, "My husband is going to Europe on business for two weeks, and he insists that I go with him. I have tried to explain over and over that Janice needs me here. But he thinks that she will be fine without me so I have no option; I have to go. I have told the babysitter to drive her every morning. Will you please give Janice special attention and help her? I want to be sure everything goes well for her."
I told her that we would make every effort to support Janice. I even volunteered to meet Janice at her car so she would see a familiar face. As a mother myself, I'd like to help. Janice's mother thanked me for my understanding.
On Monday morning, expecting a tearful, anxious child, I planned a special program of fun and games. I waited outside to greet Janice, but just then the bus arrived and not three, but four girls got off. Janice skipped along joyfully, saying "goodbye" to her sisters as she ran with two friends into the classroom. I walked slowly into the classroom and called Janice over to ask how the bus ride went. Impatiently she said, "Oh, I always want to take the bus with the other kids, but Mother needs to be with me. You see there won't be any more babies, so I have to be a baby a little longer. While she is away, I'll just ride the bus every day. I am five, you know."
Some people think only school children do not agree with their parents. However, it is not true. If it's hard for you to communicate with your parents, don't worry about it. Here are some advice for you to bridge the generation gap.
Don't argue with your parents. Don't get to your parents when you are angry. Your parents possibly won't consider your ideas if you are shouting at them. And you can't express yourself well if you are angry.
Perhaps you and your parents disagree on something. You can keep your disagreement and try your best to accept each other. Michael's mother didn't agree with him about buying a motorcycle. They argued over it. But they finally came to a compromise. Michael bought the motorcycle, but only drove it on certain days.
Of course, your parents might refuse to compromise on something. In these situations, it is especially important to show love and respect for them.
Talk about your values (价值观). The values of your parents are probably different from those of your own. Understanding your values might help them see your purposes in life.
A good relationship with your parents can make you a better and happier person. It is worth having a try.
A. Go to some place to cool off.
B. Try to reach a compromise (和解).
C. Tell your parents what you care about, and why.
D. Make sure you understand why you are unhappy.
E. Showing respect will keep your relationship strong.
F. Communication is a problem for parents and children of all ages.
G. If you don't think you can speak to them at the moment, try writing a letter.
My wife and I like watching plays, so we will go to the theater whenever we have time. But before we buy tickets, we would like to know if the play is good or bad. When a new play comes, we (usual) read the newspaper to get information about it. Last week a new play was put on at the theater. The newspaper said it was very (interest) so we decided to go on Saturday night. My wife took a long time to make her (decide) about what to wear and we left our house a little late. the time we got to the theater, the first act had already (begin). After the play was over, we met some friends, lived next to us several years ago. Then we went dancing. By the time we got home, it was about two o'clock in the morning. I'm not used to (stay) out so late and I was (extreme) tired.
When I was younger, I did not have the money to go out for evening like this. Though I can afford it now, I don't have the energy(enjoy) it.
A farmer grew some vegetables in his garden. One day his wife was ill and he had no money. He had to sell some cabbages and carrots in the market. The next morning he took two baskets of vegetables to town. But it was snowing hard that afternoon and there were few people in the street. When his vegetables were sold out, it was dark. He bought some medicine and hurried to his village.
On his way home he saw a person lying on the snow. He placed his baskets on the ground and was going to help the person to get up. At that time he found it was a dead man and there was much blood on his body. He was so afraid that he ran away quickly, without taking the baskets with him.
The next afternoon the farmer was sent to the police station. Having shown the baskets, an officer asked, "Are these yours?" "Yes, sir," the farmer answered timidly (胆怯地). "Have you killed the man?" "No, no, sir," the farmer said in a hurry. "When did you see the dead man?" "About seven last evening." "Did you see who killed the man?" "No, sir." The officer brought out a knife and asked, "Have you seen it yet?" "No, sir." The officer became angry and told the policeman to beat him up and sent him to prison. The officer wanted to trap the farmer into the confession (供认), but the farmer didn't admit he was the murderer.
注意：
1）所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2）应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3）续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已经为你写好；
4）续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1：
The officer was so angry that he asked the policeman to beat him up again.
Paragraph 2：
The farmer was lucky. A few days later，
