第三部分 阅读理解 (共15小题;每小题2分，满分30分)

请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸(卡)上将该项涂黑。

A

The Internet of Things (IoT) (物联网) aims to get everything and everyone talking. Attaching sensors to “things”, such as cows, cars and refrigerator, and then assigning them unique IP addresses allow them to “talk” to the Internet. Of course, the IoT will involve much more than a handful of sensors. Networking company Cisco estimates that 50 billion Internet-connected devices and objects will be sending over data by 2020.

Specific Benefits

The IoT will allow people to track things and processes like never before. Airplane manufacturers will be able to continuously track the condition of airplane parts, allowing them to do preventive maintenance and avoid costly downtime. Consumers could install smart meters in their homes to monitor energy usage and observe energy price changes in real time. That would allow people to adjust their habits and use electrical appliances during lower-priced hours.

Some fears

Some critics fear that the IoT could end up being a fashion that people lose interest in over time. Having Twitter feeds on refrigerator doors may sound cool at first, but the attraction could fade as quickly as the excitement over last year’s smartphone! Other critics are doubtful that companies making Internet-connected appliances will provide long-term software updates. If that happens, a refrigerator or washing machine that should last 10 years or more could last two or three due to software that’s outdated.

A Positive Example

Early this year, owner of the Tesla Model S electric car received a recall notice alerting them to a charger plug needing to be fixed. Amazingly, owners of the Model S sat back while the company performed an “ over the air” wireless update. Customers confirmed the update by tapping on the car’s touchscreen console to see that the Model S was running the latest software version. No trip to the dealer was required!

Perhaps Tesla’s remote fix is a sign of things to come. Someday soon, people’s lives might become a lot more efficient and convenient thanks to the IoT.

56. How do researchers get everything and everyone talking?

A. By establishing the IoT and launching a handful of sensors.

B. By connecting sensors with them and appointing them unique IP addresses.

C. By communicating with them all the time through the IoT.

D. By sending people to track them day and night and collect useful data.

57. What else do critics worry about the IoT besides its probably ending up being a fashion?

A. People will lose interest in it as quickly as the thrill over last year’s smartphone.

B. Refrigerators and washing machines will be replaced by other devices in a few years.

C. Whether related companies will provide long-term software updates or not.

D. The software provided by companies will be outdated easily and quickly.

58. According to the passage, when owners of the Telsa Model S electric received a recall notice, they __________.

A. just waited in the car while the maintenance is being done through wireless update.

B. were required to go to the nearest 4s store to make some adjustments or repairs.

C. could definitely depend on the IoT to send them the charger plug to be fixed.

D. had to confirm the update with the help of the equipment provided by the company.

B

The new Swedish gender-neutral (性别中立的) word “hen” was introduced at two Stockholm nurseries in 2012. It is used for describing either male or female, or someone not wanting to be described with those terms. Today “hen” is frequently used by Swedish children and adults alike. Now other European countries are joining the gender-¬neutrality trend.

“Fourteen major retailers(零售商) have made changes since we started our campaign almost two years ago,” reports Tricia Lowther, a mother-of-one in northern England and a member of the Let Toys Be Toys initiative, which lobbies for gender-neutral toy aisles. “They’ve taken down boys’ and girls’ signs. The blue and pink aisles remain, but things are happening.” The retailers doing away with boys’ and girls’ toy signs are major ones indeed: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Boots. Marks & Spencer has gone even further, making its toy labelling gender-neutral.

In the efforts to achieve gender equality in the children world, no country has gone as far as Sweden. The nurseries that first introduced “hen” still use it, and others have joined them. “All children should be able to wear what they want. Dresses are not just for girls. And pink is a beautiful colour that should be available to everybody,” says Maria Hulth of a gender equality consulting firm.

“Sweden is really the pioneer,” says Lann Hornscheidt, a professor of gender studies. “No other country has made such an effort to break down gender barriers among children.”

Though there are no official statistics regarding the number of Swedish nurseries using “hen”, Maria Hulth notes that individual teachers now often opt to use “hen” even when it’s not the nursery’s policy. But, she notes, “Swedish nurseries’ and primary schools’ gender-neutral efforts don’t end at the neutral word. They’re putting a lot of effort into avoiding words like boys and girls, instead just saying ‘children’.

To its supporters, Sweden’s nursery world of “hen” and pink-for-all is a civil rights heaven. But, Dr David Eberhard argues that a new word won’t change the fact that the vast majority of people identify either as men or women. “Whatever you choose to call people, the biological differences between men and women remain,” he notes. “We should treat each other with respect, but ignoring biological gender differences is crazy. Making us the same won’t create more equality.” He thinks boys should be allowed to play with dolls – and girls with cars – if they like to. “But”, he adds, “calling them hen instead of him or her? That’s child cruelty.”

Given that Sweden is the world’s fourth most gender-equal country, as measured in the World Economic Forum’s latest gender gap report (only Iceland, Finland and Denmark score higher), practices like the use of “hen” suggest an already progressive country trying to fix a minor problem.

“Far from it, the gender gap creates poverty among women,” argues Hornscheidt. “Movements like the use of “hen” are all part of an effort to create a more just world.”

59.The author mentions some major retailers in Paragraph 2 to show___________.

A. the influence of the gender-neutral campaign

B. these retailers’ efforts to promote toy sales

C. the importance of making boys and girls equal

D. the varieties of toys for children to choose from

60.The underlined word “opt” in Paragraph 5 is closes in meaning to ___________.

A. hesitate B. prefer C. pretend D. refuse

61. Which of the following would Lann Hornscheidt most probably agree with?

A. Both men and women should wear pink clothes to show equality.

B. Kids and adults will stay equal if they both use the word “hen”.

C. Sweden has taken the lead in advocating the real gender equality.

D. There are no biological gender differences between men and women.

62. What is the purpose of the passage?

A. To seek a new solution to gender inequality.

B. To introduce a new development in gender equality.

C. To stress the significance of Sweden’s gender neutral movement.

D. To compare Sweden’s education with that of other European countries.