Many drivers say the large digital billboards flashing ads every few seconds alo
题型：不详难度：来源：
Many drivers say the large digital billboards flashing ads every few seconds along Bay Area freeways are just too bright and too distracting. And they may be right.
A Swedish study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention concludes that digital billboards hold the gazes of drivers longer than two seconds. Previous studies have shown that anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road for that length of time increases the risks of a crash. “This study proves what is common sense when it comes to digital billboards,” says Mary Tracy, president of Scenic America, a national nonprofit group that seeks to limit billboards. “Bright, constantly changing signs on the sides of roads are meant to attract and keep the attention of drivers, and this study confirms that this is exactly what they do.”
The Federal Highway Administration allowed digital signs for the first time in 2007 after concluding they did not pose a significant danger. But a follow-up report is pending (待定的) and could be released this year. California has no law banning the billboards, and is one of 39 states that allows them. “We would need to review more research, so it’s too early to call for a ban,” says Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. “There is a role for digital messaging, such as conveying urgent information and other safety messages.”
There are more than 1,800 digital billboards nationwide, more than double the number five years ago. While no data indicate an increase in accidents due to the Bay Area signs, many drivers are opposed to them.
“Monstrosities” is what Merlin Dorfman of San Jose calls them, while insurance agent David Whitlock says he has found them a major distraction. “They’re much too bright at night,” he says. “When the advertisement switches from a bright color to a darker one, your eyes cannot adjust fast enough, and you end up losing sight of the roadway.”
Officials with sign companies could not be reached for comment, but Bryan Parker, an executive vice president for Clear Channel Outdoor, told USA Today last year that “there’s no doubt in my mind that they are not a driving distraction.”
小题1:Which of the following is TRUE?| A．The brightness of digital billboards is harmful to people’s eyes. | | B．The Federal Highway Administration banned digital signs in 2013. | | C．There is evidence indicating an increase in accidents duo to digital billboards. | | D．Digital billboards are used to convey messages. |
小题2:What do we learn from the text?| A．Scenic America is an organization that is in favor of digital billboards. | | B．Drivers in the Bay Area are against the digital billboards. | | C．California has banned digital billboards. | | D．There were about 1,800 digital billboards nationwide five years ago. |
小题3:What is Bryan Parker’s attitude towards digital billboards?| A．Supportive. | B．Indifferent. | | C．Opposed. | D．Uncertain. |
小题4:What is the main idea of the text?| A．Studies have shown digital billboards pose a danger to drivers. | | B．People’s eyes cannot adjust fast enough to the brightness of digital billboards. | | C．A study says flashing digital billboards are too distracting. | | D．Experts doubt it is necessary to limit digital billboards. |
小题5:We are most likely to find the text in the ________ section of a magazine.| A．international culture | B．traffic and safety | | C．fashion and travel | D．personal health |
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答案
小题1:D
小题2:B
小题3:A
小题4:C
小题5:B |
解析
试题分析：文章讲述了户外广告牌会吸引司机的注意力，影响司机的视觉增加交通事故的几率，针对这种情况出现了不同的反映，既有支持的也有反对的。
小题1:D细节判断题。There is a role for digital messaging, such as conveying urgent information and other safety messages.本句的意思为： 承担着传送这些数字信息的角色，比如发布紧急信息和其它的安全信息。从此句判断答案D是正确的。
小题2:B细节理解题。Many drivers say the large digital billboards flashing ads every few seconds along Bay Area freeways are just too bright and too distracting.句意为：许多司机说，在旧金山弯竖立的这些每几秒钟就闪现一次广告的数字广告牌太亮太分散注意力。由此可以判断B正确。
小题3:A细节推理题。Bryan Parker, an executive vice president for Clear Channel Outdoor, told USA Today last year that “there’s no doubt in my mind that they are not a driving distraction.”句意为： Bryan Parker, an executive vice president for Clear Channel Outdoor去年告诉今日美国（一种英文读物）说：“我看来这是毫无疑问的，它们没有引起驾驶员注意力分散。”由此可知他对户外广告牌是支持的。
小题4:C主题理解题。文章第一自然段概括了本文的中心，是围绕户外的广告牌太亮而分散了司机的注意力展开，下文是对这一观点的阐述。故答案应为C。
小题5:B 综合理解题。文章讲述的是户外广告牌对交通安全的影响，故答案B（交通与安全）是正确的。A选项是国际文化；C选项是时尚与旅行；D选项是个人健康。
考点:社会现象类文章的阅读理解。 |
举一反三
You may have seen a lot of frogs, but if you haven"t, you must have heard about frogs. However, have you heard about a frog that can kill a person?
These small brightly colored amphibians (两栖动物) live in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America. They are best known for their ability to kill persons even though they are no more than 2 inches long. If we touch their poisonous skin without proper protection (such as gloves), we may die! For animals of this size that can be so deadly, they are certainly one of the world"s most poisonous animals! Who are they? They are poison arrow frogs or, simply, poison frogs.
Poison frogs acquired their name from the Indians. The Indians catch and kill many of these frogs before hanging them upside down over a campfire. As the frogs get hot, the poison drips out of their skin. The Indians collect the poisonous liquid in a bottle and dip(蘸) the tips of their arrows into the bottle. Once the tips are dried, they are ready to be used for their arrows for hunting.
There are about 170 different types of poison arrow frogs in the world. Though most species have bright markings, either in stripes or patches, on their black bodies, some just wear noticeable single-colored coats. Their shocking skin colors-usually in yellow, red, green, blue or orange-serve as a warning sign to other animals. The sign simply says,” Stay away or pay with your life!” They certainly do not bluff.
小题1:We can infer that the Indians may kill poison frogs in order to______.| A．treat diseases | B．avoid being bitten | | C．hunt animals | D．eat their meat |
小题2:According to the passage, poison frogs______.
A can grow to several meters long B. like to change colors on the back
C. have bright-colored skin or markings D. are on the edge of dying out
小题3:Which of the following best explains the last sentence of the passage?| A．Poison frogs don"t want to kill others. | | B．Poison frogs do not just scare others. | | C．Poison frogs want to stop others from coming near. | | D．Poison frogs just pretend to be dangerous animals. |
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In every British town, large and small, you will find shops that sell second-hand goods. Sometimes such shops deal mostly in furniture, sometimes in books, sometimes in ornaments and household goods, sometimes even in clothes.
The furniture may often be “antique”, and it may well have changed hands many times. It may also be very valuable, although the most valuable piece will usually go to the London salerooms, where one piece might well be sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds. As you look around these shops and see the polished wood of chests and tables, you cannot help thinking of those long-dead hands which polished that wood, of those now-closed eyes which once looked at these pieces with love.
The books, too, may be antique and very precious; some may be rare first printings. Often when someone dies or has to move house, his books may all be sold, so that sometimes you may find whole libraries in one shop. On the border between England and Wales, there is a town which has become a huge bookshop as well.Even the cinema and castle have been taken over, and now books have replaced sheep as the town’s main trsde.
There are also much more humble shops, sometimes simply called “junk shops”, where you can buy small household pieces very cheaply. Sometimes the profits from these shops go to charity. Even these pieces, though, can make you feel sad; you think of those people who once treasured them, but who have moved on, to another country or to death.
Although the British do not worship their ancestors, they do treasure the past and the things of the past. This is true of houses as well. These days no one knocks them down; they are restored until they are often better than new. In Britain, people do not buy something just because it is new. Old things are treasured for their proven worth; new things have to prove themselves before they are accepted.
小题1:Books found in second-hand book shops may _____.| A．be copies of the earliest printing | B．be on sale for the first time | | C．never be worth very much | D．never be rare |
小题2:Second-hand goods sometimes fill you with sadness because_____.| A．they are too expensive for average buyers | | B．they remind you of the original owner | | C．they are now neglected | | D．they are sold for charity |
小题3:Which of the following word can best take the place of the word “antique” in the second paragraph?| A．invention | B．possession | C．material | D．relic |
小题4:According to the passage, the British people_____.| A．do not respect old things because they are not fashionable | | B．like to build new houses simply because it is fashionable to do so | | C．like to buy new things because they are fashionable | | D．do not like to buy things simply because they are fashionable |
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High-quality customer service is preached（宣扬）by many, but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done.
Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store（零售店）, but instead will warn their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers and anyone who will listen. Store managers are often the last to hear complaints. “Storytelling hurts retailers(零售商) and entertains consumers,” said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group. “The store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.”
The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered（塞满了的）shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude sales people.
During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting(业余兼职的) local police to work as parking attendants to direct customers to empty parking spaces. Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store display, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions. Most importantly, sales people should be skillful and polite with angry customers.
“Retailers who’re enthusiastic and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren"t so friendly.” said Professor Stephen Hoch. “Maybe something as a greeter at the store entrance would help.”
Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filling complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong.
小题1:Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints?| A．Most shoppers won’t complain even if they have had unhappy experiences. | | B．It is difficult for customers to have easy access to store mangers. | | C．Few customers believe the service will be improved after their complaints. | | D．Shoppers would rather tell their unhappy experiences to people around them. |
小题2:What does Paula Courtney imply by saying the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?| A．The same products can be bought in other retail stores. | | B．It is not likely the shopper can find the same products in other stores. | | C．New customers are sure to replace old ones. | | D．Not complaining to the manager causes the shopper some trouble too. |
小题3:What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?| A．Hiring of efficient employees. | | B．Manners of the salespeople. | | C．Huge supply of goods for sale. | | D．Design of the store display. |
小题4:To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to ______.| A．voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directly | | B．settle their disagreements with stores in a friendly way | | C．put pressure on stores to improve their service | | D．shop around and make comparisons between stores |
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Why Doesn"t Anybody Copy Apple?
Apple’s products are the envy of the world. They have been amazingly successful and are widely imitated, if not copied. The minute Apple launches a product, everyone knows how to compete．This idea that the basis of competition is set by Apple and then the race is on to climb the path of improvement is unquestionable. When Apple releases a product that defines a category or dramatically changes the structure of an industry, it becomes obvious what needs to be built. But what I wonder is why everyone wants to copy Apple"s products but nobody wants to copy being Apple?
I can think of two reasons. Firstly, Apple is not worth copying because it"s not successful; secondly, Apple"s success cannot be copied because it is a magical process.
There is a great deal of evidence for the first assumption. The idea of Apple being successful is not something reflected in its stock price. Being valued lower than the average company in the S&P（标准普尔）500 indicates that to whatever degree Apple was successful in the past, and it"s not seen by the vast majority of observers as successful in the future. Why should one bother copying Apple if it results in being punished with a low valuation? If one works really hard at innovation（革新）and then that innovation becomes commoditized（商品化）very quickly, why should one bother?
When innovation practitioners are asked what makes Apple successful, the answers regarding the cause of this success border on the mythical. The fabulous part of this assumption is the " chief-sorcerer" theory of success which places one magician, like Steve Jobs, in charge of casting all the right spells．
What about Apple"s own opinion of what makes it tick? Tim Cook refers to a great team and integration（一体）of hardware, software and services as unique Apple advantages. It"s a better explanation. Integration is something that can take a long time, but it is possible with great effort. A few companies are starting to make moves in that direction, but efforts are half-hearted. There is no "move the Earth" feeling to become an integrated company from Samsung, Google or Microsoft.
My own suspicion is that Apple is more aware of what makes it special than it lets out. However, as Tim points out, it"s not a formula. It"s complex, it"s subtle, but it"s not magic. It"s a process that requires a degree of faith and courage.
小题1:When a new product of Apple comes out, often it _________.| A．ruins an industry dramatically | | B．puts itself in an unbeatable position | | C．starts a revolution of an industry | | D．is soon overtaken by imitated products |
小题2:According to the passage, other companies don"t "copy being Apple" because_________.| A．Apple is not a successful company | | B．they have no access to relevant resources | | C．it"s hard to find a magician like Steve Jobs | | D．being Apple takes more than time and efforts |
小题3:We can infer from Para. 5 that _________.| A．other companies are dedicated to integration | | B．Apple itself is fully aware of its unique advantages | | C．Apple will hold the leading position in this industry | | D．other companies don"t have an extraordinary team as Apple does |
小题4:What does the author think of Tim Cook"s statement?| A．Neutral. | B．Disappointing. | C．Indifferent. | D．Acceptable. |
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Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict.” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.” Today David wears casual clothes—khaki pants and a sports shirt—to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. “I am working harder than ever.” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work. In the United States, the change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday（but only on Friday）.This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday”. “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing.” said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code.” “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative（保守的）dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale（心境，士气）. Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative influence on productivity. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”
小题1:David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict,” because .| A．he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt | | B．he couldn’t stand a clean appearance | | C．he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time | | D．he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes |
小题2:David Smith wears casual clothes now, because .| A．they make him feel at ease when working | | B．he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes | | C．he looks handsome in casual clothes | | D．he no longer works for any company |
小题3:According to this passage, which of the following statements is FALSE?| A．Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code. | | B．Comfortable clothes make employees more productive. | | C．A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees. | | D．All the employers in the U. S. are for casual office wear. |
小题4:According to this passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?| A．Company workers started to dress down about fifty years ago. | | B．Dress-down has become an everyday phenomenon since the early 90s. | | C．“Dress-down Friday” was first given as a favor from employers. | | D．Many workers want to wear casual clothes to impress people. |
小题5:In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned EXCEPT . | A．saving employees’ money | | B．making employees more attractive | | C．improving employees’ motivation | | D．making employees happier |
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