跳马2016年12月英语六级第二套

2021年1月8日发(作者：山云)
2016.12（卷二） Section A
It is important that scientists be seen as normal people asking and answering
important questions. Good, sound science depends on _____（26）, experiments and
reasoned methodologies. It requires a willingness to ask new questions and try new
approaches. It requires one to ask risks and experience failures. But good science
also requires _____（27）understanding, clear explanation and concise presentation.
Our country needs more scientists who are willing to step out in the public _____（28）
and offer their options on important matters. We need more scientists who can
explain what they are doing in language that is _____（29）and understandable to the
public. There of us who are not scientists should also be prepared to support public
engagement by scientists, and to _____（30）scientific knowledge into our public
communications.
Too many people in this country, including some among our elected leadership, skill
do not understand how science works or why robust, long-range investments in
research vitally matter. In the 1960s, the United States _____（31）nearly 17% of
discretionary（可酌情支配的）spending to research and development, _____（32）
decades of economic growth. By 2008, the figure had fallen into the single _____
（33）. This occurs at a time when other nations have made significant gains in their
own research capabilities.
At the University of California （UC）, we _____（34）ourselves not only on the quality
of our research, but also on its contribution to improving our world. To _____（35）
the development of science from the lab bench to the market place, UC is investing
our money in our own good ideas.
A．arena B．contextual C．convincing D．devoted E．digits F．hasten
G. hypotheses H. impairing I. incorporate J. indefinite K. indulge
L. inertia M. pride N. reaping O. warrant
Are We in an Innovation Lull？[A]Scan the highlights of this year's Consumer
Electronics Show (CES), and you may get a slight feeling of having seen them before.
Many of the coolest gadgets this year are the same as the coolest gadgets last year－
or the year before, even. The booths are still exciting, and the demos are still just as
crazy. It is still easy to be dazzled by the display of drones（无人机）,3D printers,
virtual reality goggles（眼镜）and more
catalog. Upon reflection, however, it is equally easy to feel like you have seen it all
before. And it is hard not to think: Are we in an innovation lull（间歇期）?
[B]In some ways, the answer is yes, For years, smartphones, television, tablets,
laptops and desktops have made up a huge part of the market and driven innovation.
But now these segments are looking at slower growth curves－or shrinking markets
in some cases－as consumers are not as eager to spend money on new gadgets.
Meanwhile, emerging technologies－the drones, 3D printers and smart-home
devices of the world－now seem a bit too old to be called
[C]Basically the tech industry seems to be in an awkward period now,
any one-hit wonder, and there will not be one for years to come,
president and chief executive of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). In this
eyes, however, that doesn't necessarily mean that innovation has stopped. It has just
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grown up a little. industries are going out of infancy and becoming
adolescents,
[D]For instance, new technologies that are building upon existing technology have
not found their footing well enough to appeal to a mass audience , because, in many
cases, they need to work effectively with other devices to realize their full appeal,
Take the evolution of the smart home, for example. Companies are pushing it hard
but make it almost overwhelming even to dip a toe in the water for the average
consumer, because there are so many compatibility issues to think about. No average
person wants to figure out whether their favorite calendar software works with their
fridge or whether their washing machine and tablet get along. Having to install a
different app for each smart appliance in your home is annoying; it would be nicer if
you could manage everything together. And while you may forgive your smartphone
an occasional fault, you probably have less patience for error message from your
door lock.
[E]Companies are promoting their own standards, and the market has not had time
to choose a winner yet as this is still very new. Companies that have long focused on
hardware now have to think of ecosystems instead to give consumers practical
solutions to their everyday problems. dialogue is changing from what is
technologically possible to what is technologically economist
Shawn DuBravac works for CTA－which puts on the show each year－and said that
this shift to a search for solutions has been noticeable as he researched his
predictions for 2016.
[F]
gadgets,said John Curran, managing director of research at Accenture. over
the last couple of years, and in this one in particular, we are starting to see
companies shift from what is the largest screen size, the smallest from factor or the
shiniest object and more into what all of these devices do that is practical in a
consumer's the technology press conferences, which have been
high- profile in the past and reached a level of drama and theatrics fitting for a Las
Vegas stage, have a different bent to them. Rather than just dazzling with a high cool
factor, there is a focus on the practical. Fitbit, for example, released its first
smartwatch Monday, selling with a clear purpose－to improve your fitness－and
promoting it as a
Apple's iOS, Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows phone.
[G]That seems to be what consumers are demanding, after all. Consumers are
becoming increasingly bored with what companies have to offer: A survey of 28,000
consumers in 28 countries released by Accenture found consumers are not as excited
about technology as they once were. For example, when asked whether they would
buy a new smartphone this year, only 48 percent said yes－a six-point drop from
2015.
[H]And when it comes to the hyper-connected super-smart world that technology
firms are painting for us, it seems that consumers are growing more uneasy about
handing over the massive amounts of consumer data needed to provide the
personalized, customized solutions that companies need to improve their services.
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That could be another explanation for why companies seem to be strengthening
their talk of the practicality of their devices.
[I]Companies have already won part of the battle, having driven tech into every part
of our lives, tracking our steps and our very heartbeats. Yet the persistent question of
－or, perhaps more tellingly,
－dogs the steps of many new ventures. Only 13 percent of respondents said that
they were interested in buying a smartwatch in 2016, for example－an increase of
just one percent from the previous year despite a year of high-profile launches. That
is bad news for any firm that may hope that smartwatches can make up ground for
maturing smartphone and tablet markets. And the survey found flat demand for
fitness monitors, smart thermostats（恒温器）and connected home cameras, as well.
[J]According to the survey, that lack of enthusiasm could stem from concern about
privacy and security. Even among people who have bought connected devices of
some kind, 37 percent future. A full 18 percent have even returned devices until they
feel they can get safer guarantees against having their sensitive information backed.
[K]That, too, explains the heavy Washington presence at this year's show, as these
new technologies intrude upon heavily regulated areas. In addition to many senior
officials from the Federal Trade and Federal Communications commissions, this
year's list of policy makers also includes appearances from Transportations Secretary
Anthony Foxx, to talk about smart cities, and Federal Aviation Administration
Administrator Michael Huerta, to talk about drones.
[L]Curran, the Accenture analyst, said that increased government interest in the
show makes sense as technology becomes a larger part of our lives. is an
incompatibility in the rate at which these are advancing relative to the way we're
digesting it,he said, is becoming bigger and more aspirational, and
penetrating almost every aspect of our lives. We have to understand and think about
the implications, and balance these great innovations with the potential downsides
they naturally carry with them.
ers are often hesitant to try smart-home devices because they are
worried about compatibility problems.
year's electronics show featured the presence of many officials from the
federal government.
market demand for electronic devices is now either declining or not growing
as fast as before.
analyst suggests it is necessary to accept both the positive and negative
aspects of innovative products.
Consumer Electronics Show in recent years has begun to focus more on the
practical value than the showiness of electronic devices.
innovative products were found at this year's electronic products show.
ers are becoming more worried about giving personal information to tech
companies to get customized products are services.
Consumer Technology Association is the sponsor of the annual Consumer
Electronics Show.
consumers wonder about the necessity of having their fitness monitored.
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