Put "crottin de chevre" into Google Translate, and you'll be told it means "goat dung (粪) So if it appeared on a menu, you might feel sick of it. Actually, you have missed a delicious cheese made of goat's milk that is often served as a starter in France.
Such misunderstandings are why Google admits that its free tool, used by about 500 million people, is not intended to replace human translators. Tourists might accept a few misunderstandings because the technology is cheap and convenient. But perhaps in business, law or medicine, these services often fall short. "Using Google Translate can lead to some serious errors, especially when words have multiple meanings, which is often the case in fields such as law or engineering, says Samantha Langley, a translator in France.
That is not to say professional translators do not use Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tools. Some applications can help them take the dull work out of repetitive translations. CATs are even used as part of modern language degree courses these days. So how good are they?
One of the most popular new tools is the so-called translation earphone. Usually paired with a smartphone app, they pick up spoken foreign languages and translate them for the user. "It has taken decades of research to combine that with speech recognition technology, which has allowed us to make a huge leap forward in terms of accuracy," says Andrew Ochoa, chief executive of Waverly Labs, which produces translation earphones. "For meetings and conferences, wearable translators like Waverly's are undoubtedly popular. But even this new generation tech has limitations. Users must wait at least a few seconds for a phrase to be translated, or more if the internet connection is poor."
And computers still lack the subtlety (微妙) of human communication. "I find it's actually harder to desert part of the sentence and rebuild it than to just create something from scratch." says Antonio, a translator. But he thinks this problem could be resolved within the next 10 years.
There's a new frontier in 3D printing that's beginning to come into focus: food. Recent development has made possible machines that print, cook, and serve foods on a mass scale. And the industry isn't stopping there.
Food production
With a 3D printer, a cook can print complicated chocolate sculptures and beautiful pieces for decoration on a wedding cake. Not everybody can do that — it takes years of experience, but a printer makes it easy. A restaurant in Spain uses a Foodini to "re-create forms and pieces" of food that are "exactly the same," freeing cooks to complete other tasks. In another restaurant, all of the dishes and desserts it serves are 3D-printed, rather than farm to table.
Sustainability(可持续性)
The global population is expected to grow to 9.6 billion by 2050, and some analysts estimate that food production will need to be raised by 50 percent to maintain current levels. Sustainability is becoming a necessity. 3D food printing could probably contribute to the solution. Some experts believe printers could use hydrocolloids (水解胶体) from plentiful renewables like algae(藻类) and grass to replace the familiar ingredients(烹饪原料). 3D printing can reduce fuel use and emissions. Grocery stores of the future might stock "food" that lasts years on end, freeing up shelf space and reducing transportation and storage requirements.
Nutrition
Future 3D food printers could make processed food healthier. Hod Lipson, a professor at Columbia University, said, "Food printing could allow consumers to print food with customized nutritional content, like vitamins. So instead of eating a piece of yesterday's bread from the supermarket, you'd eat something baked just for you on demand."
Challenges
Despite recent advancements in 3D food printing, the industry has many challenges to overcome. Currently, most ingredients must be changed to a paste(糊状物) before a printer can use them, and the printing process is quite time-consuming, because ingredients interact with each other in very complex ways. On top of that, most of the 3D food printers now are restricted to dry ingredients, because meat and milk products may easily go bad. Some experts are skeptical about 3D food printers, believing they are better suited for fast food restaurants than homes and high-end restaurants.
Successful people not only have healthy morning habits, but also know how to finish off their day right. And they all have particular habits.
Read a book. They all know the importance of educating themselves every single day in order to achieve better results in their professional and personal lives. Reading will make you more likely to succeed.
Organize the following day. Having a well﹣written plan can really benefit the tasks you have set for the day. It is really difficult to remember all the things you need to do. Successful people know the importance of a well﹣planned day. So before you go to bed, write down your 3 most important goals for tomorrow.
Spend time with family. Life is not all about work. We all need to enjoy ourselves and spend quality time with the people we love.Going for a walk, playing a game with your kids or just enjoying a movie night, can all be really great exercises to strengthen your close relationships.
Get a workout. I am sure you have heard this many times, but exercise can really benefit your body, mind, and build your self﹣confidence to help you keep a healthy lifestyle.
If you like getting things done in the evening, this could be the best time of your day to work on some art. By creating something artistic, you might even discover some hidden talents.
A. Create your art at night.
B. We must create something meaningful.
C. Many successful people read every day.
D. It is useful for improving your thinking.
E. Why not write them all down in a notebook?
F. Successful people know how to make time for their family.
G. After a tiring day, it is important for you to go out and get your body moving.
New research brings some good news for lovers of spicy(辛辣的) foods, after finding that eating hot red chili peppers might help to extend lifespan(寿命).
Consuming hot red chili peppers might reduce death risk, say Chopan and Littenberg from the research team. In hot peppers, such as Mexico peppers, the strong flavor comes from a compound(复合物), which does not exist in sweet peppers or onions. Studies have suggested that this compound can offer a welth of health benefits.
A study of more than 16,000 people in the United States revealed that individuals who consumed red chili peppers had a lower risk of death from all causes over an average of 18 years than those who did not eat the spicy food. Compared with participants who did not consume hot red chili peppers, those who did were found to be at 13 percent reduced risk of all-cause death.
For example, a recent study reported by Medical News Today, found that the compound might have the potential to stop breast cancer, while an earlier study linked the compound to a reduced risk of digest system cancers. Still, the available data suggested that hot red chili pepper consumption was most strongly associated with a reduced risk of death from heart disease.
While the researchers are unable to identify the concrete compound by which red chili peppers might extend lifepan, the team says that it is likely due to the compound that is effectively against obesity(肥胖症).
Overall, the team says that these latest findings support those of the 2015 study, linking spicy food intake to reduced risk of death by showing “a significant decrease in death associated with hot red chili pepper consumption.” However, Chopan and Littenberg note that the earlier study was only conducted in Chinese adults, so the now research makes these findings more credible.
Peyto Lake, Canada
Located in Banff National Park. Canada's first national park Peyto Lake is one of the most wonderful lakes in the world. What makes it truly beautiful is its unique greenish-blue color, and placement in the Canadian Rockies. Named after trail guide Bill Peyto, this lake is located at a height of 1,860m.
Entry Details: $9.80 adult, $8.30 senior, $4.90 youth, and $19.60 family.
Best Time to Visit: July, August, and September
Lake Argentino, Argentina
Located in the Patagonian province in Argentina, the lake is truly beautiful. Surrounded by glaciers and snow-covered mountains, the lake presents visual delights like none other. With a maximum depth of 500 meters, it's the biggest freshwater lake in Argentina. The lake is famous for fishing.
Entry Details: $15~$20, changes as per season, but entry for tourists above 70 years of age is always free.
Best Time to Visit: December to March, and late November
Lake Baikal, Russia
Being the world's oldest and deepest lake, Baikal is about 395 meters long, 49 meters wide and 1,637meters deep. It holds more water than the Five Great Lakes of America combined, and is thus the largest freshwater lake globally. Located in the south Russian region of Siberia, a trip to view this lake is a trip of a lifetime!
Entry Details: No Entrance fee here
Best Time to Visit; March to April
Lake Como, Italy
Considered one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe, Lake Como has attracted tourists since Roman times. Located in Lombardy, Como is one of the deepest lakes in Europe. Surrounded by vil1as and palaces, this lake has attracted some of the wealthiest. Today, many celebrities(名人) have houses here. Here you can enjoy water sports, take a flight over the lake, or try skiing during the winters-every tourist has something he's going to like!
Entry Details: Free
Best Time to Visit: July and September
My brother is exactly one year older than me. We look like twins, but we are completely1.By the time we got to middle school it was clear that my older brother2meditation (冥想),while I was a born3who liked the stage. I took his relative silence to be unfriendly. We simply didn't4.
I didn't5having a bad relationship with my brother because I was busy at school.6, I threw myself into the world of music. I practised singing in the bedroom every day to remain at my best and be7for roles; my brother would meditate on a window seat. He might feel high school was already hard enough8my noisy singing. So space to practise became a(n)9between us because we shared a room.
At the start of the term, I practiced "Circle of Life" for a musical play. This was the first time I10to learn a song, because my voice cracked (破音) when I changed to a head voice. I was annoyed in that period and11practising, announcing I had reached the ceiling of my singing career. For the first time in years my brother12quietwhen I got home.
After two days of this, my brother asked me to13him in meditation. Feeling my anger at my failure to sing this song14, I accepted. My brother said, "When your mind calms down, you simply come back. Don't blame yourself." I got the message, and it soon became my new15.I kept trying at the song, no longer getting16at myself. And just in time for the trial (选拔) performance, I was able to17power in my singing despite the change to a head voice. It was important for me to learn that you don't have to always get everything18the first time and that good things come with19.I now understand why my brother prefers the20.
About six years ago, I was sitting on a plane next to a woman who was extremely energetic. I was tired and wanted to take a nap, but she tapped me on the shoulder to introduce herself.
"Hi, my name is Helga."
As we talked, it came up that I had started an organization in high school called R.A.K.E. (Random Acts of Kindness, Etc.). As I described what we did, Helga got very serious and said to me, "There is nothing more important in the world than kindness."
I was curious about what she had said, and as the plane took off, she began telling me a story about the last time she had flown.
It was three years ago and she was heading back to her hometown because her father had become very ill.
Just as the plane was about to leave, her father's doctor called to inform her that her father had suddenly passed away. For the three hour plane ride, she sat in stunned(受惊的) silence.
When she arrived at the airport in her hometown, she walked to the nearest bench(长椅), sat down and cried.
For two hours, she sat and wept while thousands of people just walked on by.
"Not a single person stopped and asked if I was OK that day. It was on that day that I realized kindness isn't normal."
Helga's words have stuck with me for all these years. I'm reminded all the time that for many of us, kindness is not usually our "default setting (默认设置)".
We spend so much time worrying about our own problems that we walk by or ignore other people in need of a bit of kindness.
So, I've made it my mission to do my part in making kindness "normal".
Now, I travel to schools all across the US to speak about compassion(同情),empathy(同感),and love.
I'm proud to share my stories with students, teachers, and parents about our need for character, compassion, and kindness.
Providing young people with practical ways to exercise kindness makes my job more satisfying than any other I can think of.
And when I give my talks, I always have my conversation with Helga in the back of my mind.
根据下列图示用英语写一篇有关酒后驾驶危害的短文,发表在校园论坛上,倡导全校学生规劝家长防止酒后驾车。
参考词汇:酒alcohol;财产property
注意:
1.词数100左右;
2.可以适当增加细节,使行文连贯;
3.短文的标题和开头已经为你写好(不计入总词数)。
Say No to Drunk Driving
Drunk driving accidents do not happen, they are invited.
从2016年底以来,共享单车突然就在国内火爆起来。重庆的街头巷尾也随处可见小黄车的身影,确为大家带来了许多便利。可存取不限的共享单车也可谓命运多舛:被恶意破坏,刷漆据为己有,关进自家走廊不让别人用等不良现象也屡屡被媒体曝光。学生作为共享单车主要的使用群体之一,请分享你对此现象的看法。
内容提示:
1. 共享单车的现状和问题;
2. 你对这些问题的看法;
3. 你的建议
注意:(1)词数100字左右;
(2)符合语言规范,行文连贯。
备用词汇:shared bicycle 共享单车
Travel Tips That Are No Longer True
We all love a great trip, but some of the classic tips for travelers no longer hold true. 16
1. Book a plane ticket far in advance to save money.
This myth may have been true back in the 1960s, when flights were less common than they are today. Back then, the demand for a flight would naturally increase as the date approached, there being few other options. 17 According to recent studies, the best time to buy a domestic ticket was between six and seven weeks before.
2. 18
Don’t ignore the benefits of going straight to the hotel to negotiate a good deal on a room. Many hotel chains offer rate guarantees and encourage customers to book directly. Hotels also frequently have discounts or some offers that third-party websites don’t know. Apart from this, hotels give the upgrades, not the booking agents.
3. Avoid street food.
19 If this means standing up at a cheap street stall (摊位), then follow the crowd. Don’t sit down at a restaurant and spend four times more, on the simple assumption that it’s the only safe option. Can you see what’s going on in the kitchen?
4. Carry your money in a special pocket or pouch.
This is the fastest way to stand out from locals — who will have their money in a wallet or purse. Only take what you need when you leave your hotel room. 20
A. When in Rome, do what the Romans do.
B. The best hotel prices are on travel websites.
C. And make sure to put your wallet in a front pocket.
D. This is only true if you are buying products that are heavily taxed.
E. Let yourself relax in a warm room for one or two people in single beds.
F. These days, many alternatives for the most popular routes mean that demand stays steady.
G. Check the updates on these tall tales (无稽之谈) to save cash and add experience to your trip.
Electronic Village Program (Thursday , June 18 , 2017)
Nearpod
◎9:00 am to 10:00 am
◎Room 501
Nearpod is a software program that creates a rich context(语境)for students to learn vocabulary. The presenter will show how to use it.
TEO
◎2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
◎Room 502
Our students come from different backgrounds but have the same desire to learn on-line. The presenter will use examples from his first on-line class to explain how any teacher can begin teaching on-line with TEO.
Kahoot
◎10:30 am to 11:30 am
◎Room 601
Kahoot software can be used to create grammar tests which can be graded on a network. It can provide students with instant feedback (反馈),including reports about their strengths and weaknesses.
Prezi
◎3:30 pm to 4:20 pm
◎Room 602
Uses of Prezi in listening and speaking courses draw students' attention to speaking more fluently. The presenter will show how students can use Prezi to confidently present on a variety of topics, including introducing. family, friends, and hobbies.
21. Nearpod can be used to ______.
A. help vocabulary learning B. teach listening on-line
C. offer grammar tests D. gain fluency in speaking
22.If you want to improve your speaking skills, you can go to ____.
A. Room 501 B. Room 602 C. Room 601 D. Room 502
23.Which of the following can assess your grammar learning?
A. Nearpod. B. Prezi. C.TEO. D. Kahoot.
24.A teacher who wants to learn on-line teaching is expected to arrive by ____.
A. 2:00 pm B. 10:30 am C. 9:00 am D. 3:30 pm
We all know what a brain is. A doctor will tell you that the brain is the organ of
the body in the head. It controls our body's functions, movements, emotions and
thoughts. But a brain can mean so much more.
A brain can also simply be a smart person, If a person is called brainy, she is smart
and intelligent. If a family has many children but one of them is super smart, you could say, "She's the brains in the family. " And if you are the brains behind something you
.are responsible for developing or organizing something. For example, Bill Gates is the
brains behind Microsoft
Brain trust is a group of experts who give advice. Word experts say the phrase
"brain trust" became popular when Franklin D. Roosevelt first ran for president in
1932, Several professors gave him advice on social and political issues facing the U. S.
These professors were called his "brain trust. "
These ways we use the word "brain" all make sense. But other ways we use the
word are not so easy to understand. For example, to understand the next brain
expression, you first need to know the word “drain." As a verb to drain means to,
remove something by letting it flow away. So a brain drain may sound like a disease
where the brain flows out the ears. But, brain drain is when a country's most educated
people leave their countries to live in another. The brains are, sort of, draining out of the
country.
However, if people are responsible for a great idea, you could say they brainstormed
it. Here, brainstorm is not an act of weather. It is a process of thinking creatively about
a complex topic. For example, business leaders may use brainstorming to create new
products, and government leaders may brainstorm to solve problems.
If people are brainwashed, it does not mean their brains are nice and clean. To
brainwash means to make someone accept new beliefs by using repeated pressure in a
forceful or tricky way. Keep in mind that brainwash is never used in a positive way.
25. According to the text, if you're the CEO of Bai Du you can be called
A. the brains behind Bai Du
B. Bai Du's brain trust
C. the brain drain of Bai Du
D. the organ of Bai Du
26. Why did Roosevelt successfully win the election?
A. Because he was smart at giving advice.
B. Because word experts were popular.
C. Because he got his brain trust.
D. Because he was the brains behind America.
27. Which of the following expression is always used in a negative way?
A. Brain trust B. Brain drain C. Brainstorm D. Brainwash
With hospitals and nursing homes tending to thousands of patients every year accidents can and do happen. These incidents whether they are through carelessness or otherwise, can leave patients feeling powerless. That’s not the case.
“There is growing public awareness. People are feeling they have more rights and they have tools in hand to make a complaint,” said Ralph Montano, spokesman for the California Department of Public Health, which regulates hospitals and long-term care facilities in the state.
That department received more than 6000 complaints about hospitals in 2007; in the most recent year statistics are available. The complaints can be about mixed-up lab results, medicine errors, foreign objects left in a patient during surgery or a host of other topic.
Similarly, the California department of Aging received 43,000 nursing home complaints in 2014. Some said patient abuse or neglect of patients; others reported missing items. And some commented on the quality of the food.
But finding the channels through them to put forward a complaint can be tiring and time consumption. Many consumers simply don’t bother, and some become lost in the system. Whether the complaint is against a hospital or a long-term care facility, the process is similar—and many people can help, including the facility’s staff, insurance company representatives and state regulators.
If you want to make a complaint while in the hospital, Patti Harvey, vice president of quality and patient care
services for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, recommends talking with the bedside nurse. If that doesn’t work, you can talk with other people higher in the chain of command, up to the hospital administrator. If the problem isn’t still taken care of—say you disagree with your treatment plan or have a problem with your doctor—member service offices at each hospital can help address your concerns.
1. Why are there more complaints from patients?
A. Because there are more departments to deal with complaints.
B. Because in the hospital there are more accidents than before.
C. Because it’s convenient for people to put forward complaints.
D. Because hospitals have more and more rights.
2. Many consumers don’t make a complaint because __________.
A. complaints are bad for a long-term care facility
B. few accidents happen
C. many complaints are lost
D. it takes time to make a complaint
3. The last paragraph mainly tells us _________.
A. to solve problems with the hospital quickly
B. something about Patti Harvey
C. how to make complaints in the hospital
D. we should say we disagree with the treatment plan
4. Who can help if you complain against a hospital or a long-term care facility?
A. Jack—a representative of an insurance company.
B. Peter—a medical officer from the government.
C. Rudy—a headmaster of a medical university.
D. Tom—a teacher of a medical school.