Inventions born out of love
Garbage Disposers (处理器)
John W. Hammes, an architect from Wisconsin, created the InSinkErator in 1935. Hammes got the idea after watching his wife spend time wrapping food in newspaper and throwing it out. The InSinkErator is a device, put under a kitchen sink between the sink's drain (排水管)and the trap. The disposal unit tears food waste into pieces small enough—generally less than 2 mm in diameter(直径) —to pass through the drains.
Surgical Gloves
William Stewart Halsted, M. D. (1852-1922)was a well-known US surgeon who is often called the "Father of Modern Surgery". Known for his strict insistence to sterile(无菌的) working conditions, Halsted invented rubber gloves that allowed his colleagues to lessen the transfer of germs(细菌)during their work. Yet the initial reason why he created them is more romantic than you would think. Knowing Caroline, a nurse, suffered from a skin diseuse during her work, Halsted invented the gloves especially for her and gave them to her as a gift after their marriage
Band-Aids
When Josephine Knight Dickson from New Jersey kept cutting herself while cooking for her family in the 1920s, her husband, Earle Dickson, stepped in. Dickson, a cotton buyer for Johnson &Johnson, according to the company's website, decided to invent a temporary adhesive (有黏性的) bandage for his wife. His creation became the Band-Aid we all know and use today.
Magnetic (有磁性的)Shirt Buttons
Maura Horton's husband, Don, was a football coach who had Parkinson's disease. One day, after Don struggled to button his shirt before a game, Horton decided there needed to be a better clothing option for people suffering from a disability. So, Horton designed a shirt with magnetic buttons in 2012. These buttons will finally allow everyone to dress and undress themselves efficiently.
Two teams of scientists—one in Denmark and the other in the UK—came up with the same question at about the same time: Could they identify the animals in an area from DNA that was simply floating in the air?
Testing for "environmental" DNA, or eDNA, isn't a new idea, but most of the time, scientists look for eDNA in the water. DNA in the air is usually so small that it would take a microscope to see it. "We did not think that vacuuming(用真空吸尘器吸)animal DNA from the air would work at first, but the result is pleasantly surprising," said Dr. Kristine Bohmann, one of the scientists on the Copenhagen team.
Neither team knew the other group was working on a similar experiment. One collected samples from different places at Denmark's Copenhagen Zoo, and the other at Hamerton Zoo Park in the UK. The scientists used slightly different methods to collect their samples. But basically, both teams used vacuums and fans to collect extremely tiny bits of DNA onto very high-quality filters (过滤器) .
In the laboratory, they got the DNA from the filters and made copies of it to study. By comparing their samples with examples of DNA from different animals, the scientists were able to identify many different animals at the zoos. The scientists chose to test in zoos because they had scarce animals which are not naturally and easily found in the area. As Dr. Elizabeth Clare who led the UK team said, "There's no other way I would detect DNA from a tiger, except for the zoo's tiger."
Each team only discovered the other experiment after they'd written a paper about their own results. Instead of competing, the two decided to combine their results and publish a paper together.
"We are excited that this new method could be used in the wild. Scientists have been looking for belter ways to track endangered animals without affecting them. If researchers know where animals live, they can do a better job of protecting them. The next step is to figure out how to take this method into nature," says Dr. Bohmann.
Thanks to the $10bn James Webb Space Telescope, we are beginning to "see" the radiant heat of the early universe like never before. On Monday night, to the excitement of professional astronomers and amateurs the world over, the telescope's first full-colour image of deep space was released. The striking image, taken at minimally explored wavelengths and never-before-seen resolution, reveals a large number of universal objects.
The image is yet to be fully analysed but some objects are relics(遗迹)dating to within 0. 7bn years of the Big Bang, the explosion that created our universe 13. 8bn years ago. A new era (时代)of astronomy, in which we can finally see the oldest objects in the universe and gain a fuller understanding of its origins, has officially begun.
Tuesday saw four more important results emerge from the Webb's first week of observations. Chris Lintott, professor of astrophysics at Oxford University and a researcher on galaxy (星系)formation, said he was blown away by the quality and beauty of the images. "It knocked my socks off," Lintott said on Tuesday. "I was sitting in a roomful of galaxy experts when the Stephan's Quintet image was shown, and jaws hit the floor. The Webb is going to produce some of the most amazing pictures of the space age."
Webb's "first deep field", as the image of deep space released on Monday is known, is a picture taken over 12.5 hours. It shows the cotton-wool-like galaxy cluster(团)SMACS 0723 centrally in the foreground, plus bright white stars.
As Lintott points out, bigger light-collecting mirrors result in sharper images, of the type that Webb is now delivering. The investment in the James Webb Space Telescope's large foldable mirror has paid off. It is hard to believe that the Earth-orbiting telescope, regarded as one of the most complex engineering projects ever attempted and nearly cancelled a decade ago, has begun operating successfully.
In my memory, winters always used to be really unpleasant. You had to wear more clothes just to keep warm when you went outside. You were often cold and wet. If you didn't have a terrible slide, you'd arrive home to an ice-cold house. And that would mean turning on the heating and waiting. It's a miracle (奇迹)you didn't get cold to the bone.
Fortunately, things don't have to be so challenging any more. Technology, engineering and design have advanced giving us new solutions to old problems. It means dealing with winter needn't be like skating on thin ice.
With a smart thermostat(恒温器), our homes can be comfortable when we need them. Many models feature smartphone apps that allow you to regulate temperature remotely, so we can warm up the house before we arrive home. According to techradar. com, the largest UK- based consumer technology news and reviews website, Tado's model features voice control, while the Nest 'learns' your habits and automatically heats the home for you.
Clothes have been given an upgrade, too. Electronic thermal jackets heat up when you turn them on. What better way to keep comfortable in the dead of winter? At the touch of a button, or through an app on our phones, the clothing generates heat from elements placed inside. Many models offer three levels of heating which stay warm for over 12 hours.
Finally, there is the headgear—Beanies (女帽) and earmuffs (耳罩) that feature speakers included in the fabric using Bluetooth technology so we can listen to our favourite music or, in some cases, have a phone call using the in-built microphone. At the same time we can keep the head warm and avoid cold.
For many, the thought of winter used to be enough to make their blood run cold. But using technology, life needn't freeze up. With the right solutions, there's no reason why winter can't be really, really cool.
Certain brands and products can be easily recognized at a glance by people worldwide. Just mentioning the words golden arches(拱门)brings to mind burgers and fries from McDonald's. With such universal popularity, many people are confused as to why these large and famous companies do so much advertising and have such large advertising budgets.
Most business owners who are just starting to understand how vital advertising is to their growth. Putting in the time and money to market your company can help it grow over time. Continuing to advertise after achieving success helps businesses maintain a positive image with the public. It can also help attract new customers as demographics (客户群体) change as time passes. Furthermore, advertising helps to inform your customers of updates to old products and introduce new ones. However, the ultimate goal of advertising for both big and small companies is to earn more income and maximize profits.
ls it better to stick to traditional forms of media, like newspapers and television, or embrace(接纳)new forms of online advertising on social media sites? While many new smaller companies tend to focus their limited budgets on social media and internet marketing, it is usually better for larger, well-established companies to do both. For example, over 95% of homes receive television signals, while only around 75% of the population has access to the internet. Also, older, wealthier people are more likely to notice television advertising than online advertising. While the focus of advertising might change over time, companies must certainly continue to use it to grow.
A. Is advertising necessary? B. After all, shouldn't their global success speak for itself? C. This same principle holds true for older successful brands. D. Therefore, television advertising gives companies access to more people. E. Another major question companies must find the answer to is how to advertise. F. The money invested in these advertisements could be used for more worthwhile businesses. G. Almost everyone is familiar with the red labeling of Coca-Cola or the symbolic flower logo of Huawei. |
Walking by Mr. Groll's yard is the worst part of our morning walk—the unfriendly shape nearby that shades us: Mr. Groll.
"Hello, Mr. Groll." I 1 him as I do every morning. And he never answers me. But I know he's there, watching, behind his fence. Why does he 2 me? It's a mystery(迷) . Maybe he's afraid of me because I'm blind. 3 scare grown-ups sometimes. Then I 4 hearing him playing with my friend Jimmy, who's in a wheelchair. Maybe Mr. Groll does not like Vietnamese 5 . No. Every Saturday Mr: Groll and my big brother, Lien, help each other with yard work.
Me and Chó! An idea 6 my mystery. Maybe I do know why Mr. Groll doesn't talk to me! So, I attach Chó to a post, and I 7 my way along the fence.
"Mai! Be 8 !" Mr. Groll's loud voice steadies my 9 while his hand steadies my elbow(肘部).
"You solve my mystery. It isn't because I'm blind that you don't like me. Or because I am a Vietnamese." I 10 . "It's Chó who scares."
He 11 his large voice. "I like you, Mai. And Chó, too. But up close, Chó scares my 12 away," he says.
I tell him, "Your fear of Chó may be big, but 13 is bigger. We will help. Come with me." I hear a smile in Mr. Groll's voice. "OK," he says, "I 14 you, my friend."
Then I take Mr. Groll's hand in mine and guide it to Cho's head. 15 , Mr. Groll pets Chó's ears. Friendly Chó—good Chó—swings her tail. Our new friendship begins.
China-made autonomous sweepers are grabbing attention all over the globe, as the country uses its technological expertise(专长) (release)new quality productive forces in the field of cleanliness.
A Shanghai-based high-tech company has received world's first road testing license for autonomous sweepers. The company's latest product, (launch)in March, combines three cleanliness tasks—sweeping, road spraying, and garbage transportation and is able to cut overall cleanliness operation costs by 70 percent. Equipped technologies including millimeter-wave radars (雷达), cameras and high-precision positioning, the sweepers can achieve precise edge fitting, safe obstacle(障碍) avoidance, emergency avoidance, flexible turning and direction switching during operation.
In recent months, its advanced technology and features have attracted the attention of several local residents as well as(visitor). The vehicles operate powerfully, especially during extreme weather. After completing the daily cleaning tasks, they (automatic) drive to the garbage collection area and complete dumping(倾倒)task by(they).
Liang Haiming, director of Hainan University's Belt and Road Research Institute, said that unmanned sweepers made in China have advantages in automation technology, smart management and the application of new energy, helps to improve safety and work (efficient).
"In addition to cleanliness, the field of autonomous driving (include)limited and low-speed environments such as distribution, shared travel, public transportation, ports and terminals, and mining operations," Liang said.
I remember wondering if we should even be friends when I found out that my new friend Karina did not share my opinions about some stuff. It was hard to imagine disagreeing with her about anything, because when we first met, we got along so great.
It was as if we'd known each other forever. Whenever we got to pick a partner at camp, we picked each other. Whenever we had a break, we hung out together. And the more time we spent together, the more we realized how amazingly alike we were. We both had two lovely cats. We both liked baking extra-creative cookies.
But then something happened. The tent camp was next to a piece of beautiful land that had a bunch of giant old trees on it. Whenever it was nice out, we'd get to eat our lunch at picnic tables that were right by some of those trees. "Whoa!" said Karina one day. "Look at the millions of holes all the way up and down this trunk."
"That's amazing," I said. "A special kind of woodpecker(啄木鸟)makes those holes to store acorns (橡子)."
"Pretty cool! "said our counselor, Miguel. "Now, let's all be sure to keep this magical forest as clean and perfect. Don't forget to put your trash and recyclables in the bins."
And that's when things got complicated. "Hey," said our friend LeVar. "Have you guys heard that shopping-mall rumor (传闻)? They want to cut down a bunch of those trees to make room for a shopping center."
"That's terrible!" I said. "We have to stop that."
"I disagree," said Karina. "My parents said the shopping center would make new jobs for people."
"But think of all the birds and squirrels that would lose their homes!" I said. "I want people to have jobs, but not if it means cutting down trees."
"Don't you think people's jobs are more important than trees?" Karina asked.
"Can't we figure out how to make jobs without destroying nature?" I answered.
"You know," Karina said, super seriously, "maybe we're not quite as alike as we thought."
I sighed sadly.
注意:(1)续写词数应为150个左右; (2)请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Maybe two people with opposite points of view just aren't meant to be friends, I was thinking. |
We ended up having much more fun at the tent camp |