Expert finding in a social networks

Part I Listening Comprehension (25%)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1. A) He will attend the meeting.B) He will go to the cinema.C) He will work overtime.D) He will meet the client.2. A) She is a teacher.B) She is a student.C) She is a doctor.D) She is a nurse.3. A) The man should take a bus.B) The man should take a taxi.C) The man should walk.D) The man should drive.4. A) The woman is in a hurry.B) The woman is tired.C) The woman is late.D) The woman is happy.5. A) He doesn't like coffee.B) He prefers tea.C) He doesn't like tea.D) He doesn't like coffee or tea.6. A) The man is a good speaker.B) The woman is a good speaker.C) The man is a bad speaker.D) The woman is a bad speaker.7. A) She is going to visit her friend.B) She is going to the doctor.C) She is going to the library.D) She is going to the market.8. A) The man should exercise more.B) The man should eat less.C) The man should drink more water.D) The man should sleep more.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, there will be some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Conversation 1Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. What is the main topic of the conversation?A) Travel plansB) Career choicesC) University lifeD) Hobbies10. Why does the woman want to study abroad?A) To learn more about different cultures.B) To improve her English skills.C) To earn more money.D) To get a better job.11. What advice does the man give to the woman?A) To study hard.B) To save money.C) To choose a good university.D) To consider her career goals.Conversation 2Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. What is the woman's job?A) A teacherB) A doctorC) A psychologistD) A lawyer13. Why does the woman think stress is a problem?A) It affects physical health.B) It affects mental health.C) It affects both physical and mental health.D) It affects social relationships.14. What does the man suggest to reduce stress?A) Exercise regularly.B) Eat a healthy diet.C) Practice mindfulness.D) All of the above.15. How does the woman feel about the man's suggestions?A) She agrees with them.B) She doesn't think they will work.C) She is not sure.D) She doesn't care.Part II Reading Comprehension (35%)Section ADirections: There are 3 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage 1Ques. 16-18In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the impact of social media on young people. Many experts argue that social media canhave both positive and negative effects on adolescents. On the one hand, social media platforms provide a means for young people to connect with others, share their experiences, and express themselves. On the other hand, excessive use of social media can lead to negative consequences such as cyberbullying, addiction, and mental health issues.16. What is the main topic of the passage?A) The benefits of social media.B) The dangers of social media.C) The impact of social media on young people.D) How to use social media responsibly.17. According to the passage, what are some negative effects of social media on young people?A) Improved communication skills.B) Increased self-esteem.C) Cyberbullying, addiction, and mental health issues.D) Better job opportunities.18. What is the author's attitude towards social media?A) NegativeB) PositiveC) NeutralD) CriticalPassage 2Ques. 19-21The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has seen significant advancements in recent years, with applications ranging from virtual assistants to autonomous vehicles. One of the most exciting developmentsin AI is machine learning, which allows computers to learn from data and improve their performance over time. However, the rapid development ofAI has also raised concerns about its potential impact on society, including job displacement and ethical issues.19. What is the main topic of the passage?A) The benefits of artificial intelligence.B) The dangers of artificial intelligence.C) The impact of machine learning on society.D) The ethical implications of AI.20. According to the passage, what are some of the concerns related to the development of AI?A) Improved efficiency and productivity.B) Job displacement and ethical issues.C) Increased global security.D) Better healthcare outcomes.21. What is the author's main argument about the development of AI?A) It will bring about significant benefits to society.B) It poses serious risks to society.C) It is a neutral technology with both benefits and risks.D) It is beyond the control of humans.Passage 3Ques. 22-25Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. The effects of global warming are already being felt, and it isessential that we take action to mitigate its impact. One of the most effective ways to address climate change is through renewable energysources, such as solar and wind power. These sources are not only sustainable but also have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.22. What is the main topic of the passage?A) The causes of climate change.B) The effects of climate change.C) The solutions to climate change.D) The history of climate change.23. According to the passage, what are some of the benefits of renewable energy sources?A) They are more expensive than traditional energy sources.B) They can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.C) They are not reliable.D) They are difficult to maintain.24. What is the author's attitude towards renewable energy sources?A) NegativeB) PositiveC) NeutralD) Critical25. What is the author's main argument about the importance of renewable energy?A) It is the only solution to climate change.B) It is more expensive than traditional energy sources.C) It is essential to address climate change.D) It is not as effective as traditional energy sources.Part III Writing (30%)Section ADirections: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on the topic "The Importance of Environmental Protection". You can choose your own style and organize your ideas in the way you wish. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.Note: This is just a sample of a new high school English national exam paper. The actual exam may have different questions and formats.。

四川省部分中学2023人教版高中英语必修一Unit1TeenageLife考点大全笔记单选题1、When I came back home for the summer holiday, I found that my room up.A．cleanedB．was cleanedC．had cleanedD．had been cleaned答案：D考查过去完成时的被动语态。

句意：当我回家过暑假时，我发现我的房间已经打扫干净了。

分析句子结构可知，固定短语clean up“打扫干净”为动词短语，found后接的that引导的宾语从句里，谓语是“clean up”，因为从句里的谓语动作发生在主句谓语动作发生之前，又因主句的谓语是found是一般过去时，所以从句的谓语应该用过去完成时，以及my room与clean up之间是被动关系，所以此处应该用过去完成时的被动语态，即had been done结构。

故选D。

2、There were not many things we could do when it was raining.主句的谓语动词是？A．wereB．couldC．doD．was答案：A考查主句的谓语动词。

句意：下雨的时候，我们能做的不多。

分析句子结构可知，主句是There be句型，There were not many things we could do，句中we could do作后置定语，修饰many things。

故谓语动词是were。

故选A项。

3、The spacecraft, Shenzhou 12 was planned to stay in space for a much longer time, serving for the next decade (十年). 句子中的谓语是？A．stayB．servingC．was plannedD．was答案：C考查句子结构。

人工智能的英语单词Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that focuses on creating machines or systems that can simulate human intelligence and perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. The concept of AI has been around for several decades, but recent advancements in technology have allowed for significant progress in this field.One key term related to AI is "machine learning." Machine learning refers to the ability of AI systems to learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. It involves training algorithms with large amounts of data to make predictions or decisions. Machine learning algorithms can recognize patterns, extract insights, and make informed decisions based on the input data.Another term closely associated with AI is "deep learning." Deep learning is a subset of machine learning that focuses on artificial neural networks, which are designed to simulate the way the human brain works. Deep learning algorithms analyze vast amounts of data and automatically identify complex patterns, leading to advanced problem-solving and decision-making capabilities."Natural language processing" (NLP) is an AI technique that enables computers to understand, interpret, and respond to human language. NLP algorithms can analyze and process human language in both written and spoken forms. This technology is widely used in various applications, such as voice assistants, language translation, sentiment analysis, and text generation."Computer vision" is another important aspect of AI that focuses on enabling machines to understand and interpret visual data. Computer vision algorithms analyze images and videos to extract information and identify patterns. This technology is used in various fields, including facial recognition, object detection, autonomous vehicles, and quality control in manufacturing."Robotics" is an interdisciplinary field that combines AI with engineering and mechanical systems to create machines that can physically interact with the environment. AI-powered robots can perform complex tasks, such as assembly line operations, surgical procedures, and exploration in hazardous environments. Robotics has the potential to revolutionize industries and improve efficiency and safety."Expert systems" are AI programs designed to provide specialized knowledge and expertise in a specific domain. These systems use rule-based reasoning and knowledge representation techniques to solve complex problems. Expert systems are widely used in fields such as medicine, finance, and engineering to assist professionals in decision-making and problem-solving."Autonomous systems" refer to AI-powered machines or vehicles that can operate and make decisions independently, without human intervention. Autonomous systems include self-driving cars, drones, and robotic spacecraft. These systems rely on AI algorithms to process sensory data, navigate, and perform tasks without human control.In conclusion, AI encompasses various terms and concepts that contribute to the development of intelligent machines. These include machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, expert systems, and autonomous systems. AI has the potential to revolutionize numerous industries and has already made significant impacts in areas such as healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and communication.。

了解校园环境和校园生活英语作文Title: Campus Environment and Campus LifeIntroduction:A university campus is not just a place for acquiring knowledge but also a vibrant and diverse community. The campus environment and campus life play crucial roles in shaping a student's overall experience. This essay aims to explore the various aspects of campus environment and campus life and highlight their importance.1. Academic Environment:The academic environment on campus sets the foundation for a student's intellectual growth. It includes state-of-the-art libraries, well-equipped laboratories, and cutting-edge research facilities. The presence of dedicated professors, expert mentors, and peer discussions fosters a spirit of learning and curiosity. Campus lecture halls andclassrooms serve as spaces where ideas are shared and knowledge is disseminated. Students can engage in academic clubs, participate in research projects, and attend seminars and workshops, enhancing their educational experience.2. Cultural Diversity:Universities are known for their multicultural environments, attracting students from various backgrounds, ethnicities, and countries. This diversity brings together a rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and perspectives. Interacting with people from different backgrounds broadens horizons, promotes tolerance, and encourages the exchange of ideas. Cultural events, international festivals, and language exchange programs create opportunities for students to celebrate diversity and build intercultural friendships.3. Extracurricular Activities:Extracurricular activities are an integral part of campus life. They provide students with opportunities to exploretheir interests outside of the academic sphere. Sports, arts, music, drama, debate, and various student societies offer platforms to explore talents, build leadership skills, andform lasting friendships. Athletics facilities such as stadiums, gyms, and sports fields promote physical fitnessand teamwork. Participating in extracurricular activitieshelps students develop a balanced lifestyle and discovertheir passions.4. Student Support Services:Campus life encompasses a range of support services that aim to enhance the overall well-being of students. Counseling centers, health clinics, and student support offices provide assistance and guidance in both academic and personal matters. Universities often have career development centers that offer career counseling, internship opportunities, and jobplacement services. These support services ensure thatstudents have access to the resources they need to thrive academically and personally.5. Social Engagement:Social engagement plays a significant role in campus life, allowing students to build networks, form friendships, and create memories that last a lifetime. Cafeterias, common spaces, and student lounges become hubs for socializing and exchanging ideas. Student clubs and organizations provide platforms for like-minded individuals to come together and work towards common goals. Networking events, parties, and cultural celebrations facilitate social interaction, helping students forge connections that can benefit them in their future careers.Conclusion:The campus environment and campus life are key factorsthat contribute to a student's overall university experience. It encompasses a broad range of elements, from the academicenvironment to the cultural diversity, extracurricular activities, student support services, and social engagement. Creating a conducive and vibrant campus environment ensures that students can make the most of their university years, grow academically and personally, and form lasting memories and friendships.。

Unit TestUnit 7 New Jobs TodayPart I Listening ComprehensionSection ADirections: Listen to the questions and decide on the best answers. The questions will be spoken twice.1. A) About three times a week.C) I certainly hope so!B) I started last month. D) As a successful lawyer.2. A) Just one. C) Mostly about sales.B) There are five of us. D) In the boardroom.3. A) You get a lot of benefits. C) Probably presentation skills.B) It’s not very well-paid. D) A tour guide.4. A) Because I wasn’t qualified.C) My last boss.B) Through social media.D) It didn’t go well.5. A) I couldn’t agree more. C) From nine till five.B) It’s not far from here.D) Yes, I love it.Section BDirections: Listen to the short conversations and decide on the best answers. Both the conversations and the questions will be spoken twice.1. A) In a classroom.C) In a restaurant.B) At a conference. D) At a job interview.2. A) Find a well-paid job. C) Go to college.B) Look for a different job.D) Take online courses.3. A) Learn to play e-sports. C) Play sports professionally.B) Get a job as an e-sports player.D) Do e-sports as a hobby.4. A) Presentation skills.C) AI.B) The 21st century job market. D) Interview skills.5. A) Through experimenting online. C) Through books and online courses.B) Through talking to friends.D) Through her college diploma.Section CDirections: Listen to the short conversation and decide on the best answers. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken twice.1. A) Because he wants to work with children.B) Because he wants a challenging job.C) Because he wants to earn a good salary.D) Because he wants to make a difference.2. A) It can be well-paid.B) You can work with adults.C) Your customers can be from all over the world.D) You can work anywhere in the world.Section DDirections: Listen to the passage and fill in the blanks. The passage will be read three times.A social media manager manages a company’s (1) _______ on a range of social media platforms. They play an important part in promoting the company’s brand image and engaging with their (2) _______. So what does a social media manager do? Their tasks include creating social media posts, (3) _______ and designing graphics. Social media managers also monitor and analyze how well social media campaigns are doing. They use metrics to track how well customers are (4) _______ their posts. They also need to respond to customers’ comments and messages, and address any queries or concerns. It can be challenging to stay up-to-date with the (5) _______, but only by doing this can a social media manager ensure that their brand’s social media presence makes an impact.Part II Vocabulary & StructureSection ADirections: Choose the best item to complete each of the following sentences.1. The salary we offer depends _______ the applicant’s age and experience.A) over C) atB) upon D) in2. Their workspace was so spacious and comfortable! It really _______ my mind.A) brought C) brokeB) brewed D) blew3. Sam was nervous at first, but before _______ he started to relax and make friends.A) long C) manyB) longer D) meanwhile4. Job postings for computer programmers are popping _______ all over the social media.A) in C) downB) up D) with5. It’s not going to impress anyone if you _______ up late for your interview.A) look C) turnB) give D) take6. Monica seems friendly and energetic, so I think she’ll fit _______ well with our team.A) in C) overB) at D) out7. Robert went into the meeting _______ with lots of great ideas for increasing sales.A) embodied C) armedB) brought D) taking8. Details like this can be very important, so you should always make a mental _______ of them.A) memo C) emailB) letter D) note9. Having your own business is very satisfying, but it’s not all fun and _______.A) quizzes C) toysB) games D) life10. You should stick _______ company procedures unless you have a very good reason for not doing so.A) at C) outB) in D) bySection BDirections: Complete each sentence with the correct form of the word given in brackets.1. Can’t you tell me what is going on? Why are you being so _______ (mystery)?2. They asked Candice if she could send in some _______ (sample) of her work.3. These old office buildings are full of character, but the _______ (maintain) costs are high.4. Over one thousand students have already _______ (enroll) in our app design course.5. Today’s recruiters _______ (recognize) the importance of social media in finding the right candidates.Part III Reading ComprehensionTask 1Directions: Read the following passage as fast as you can. Then choose the best answers to complete the exercises that follow.Are you ready for the workplace of the future?In our fast-changing world, it is crucial to keep developing your skills. Here are some simple ways to enhance your skills for the future.Be a lifelong learner: Take advantage of online courses to broaden your knowledge. Stay curious and explore the new trends in your chosen industry.Upgrade your tech skills: Technology is transforming workplaces all over the world, which means that knowing about tech is no longer just a “nice to have”. Get familiar with the digital tools and software which are relevant to your chosen career.Develop soft skills: While it’s very important to develop technical expertise, it’s equally important to develop skills such as communication and critical thinking. You can improve these skills through communication exercises and problem-solving scenarios.Be creative: The workplace of the future values innovation. Make sure you develop your creativity by trying hobbies such as writing, painting and photography. This will help you to think outside the box and bring new ideas to the table.Collaborate: Collaboratio n and teamwork are essential in today’s job market. You should join professional networks and participate in team projects whenever possible.Finally, remember that developing your skills is an ongoing process! By continuing to learn, you can ensure your place in the workplace of tomorrow.1. Which of the following approaches to lifelong learning does the writer suggest?A) Reading e-books.B) Taking online courses.C) Attending webinars.D) Going to conferences.2. What does the writer say about technology?A) Technology is not an important part of every workplace.B) Digital tools can be very difficult to use.C) It’s nice to be able to use technology, but it’s not essential.D) It’s essential to know how to use technology.3. How does the writer suggest you improve your soft skills?A) By doing online courses.B) By practicing with your friends.C) By doing communication activities and problem-solving scenarios.D) By getting plenty of work experience in your chosen field.4. Which of the following does the writer NOT suggest as a way of improving your creativity?A) Painting.B) Writing.C) Acting.D) Photography.5. Why does the writer suggest joining a professional network?A) To find a job.B) To improve your collaborative skills.C) To develop your social media skills.D) To upgrade your technology skills.Task 2Directions: Read the following poster. Then choose the best answers to complete the exercises that follow.Explore your future career!Date: Monday, August 8thTime: 10 am–5 pmPlace: Room 5, Johnson Building, College CampusAttention all students! Don’t miss out on an amazing opportunity to discover the jobs of the future at our student careers fair!Discover careers: Get ready to explore some exciting possibilities! From AI specialists to virtual designers, you’ll be able to explore the jobs of tomorrow.Connect with industry experts: Meet recruiters and professionals who are at the forefront of their fields. Network with industry experts who can provide advice and internshipopportunities.Interactive workshops: Engage in hands-on workshops which will help you to develop your skills and knowledge. Learn about the latest technologies, industry trends and how you can develop the skills needed to succeed in your chosen future career!Career guidance: Unsure about what you want to do? Our career advisors are ready to talk to you. They will help you to discover your passion, strengths and find the perfect match for your skills.Job opportunities: Take the chance to connect with employers who are looking for students like you! Explore internships, part-time jobs and future employment options.Mark the date in your calendar now! We hope to see you there.6. What is the purpose of this poster?A) To inform students about the job application process.B) To advertise a student careers fair.C) To advertise a part-time job position.D) To inform students about how to develop their skills.7. According to the poster, what will the career advisors be able to do?A) Help you to fill in an application form.B) Show you how to develop your skills.C) Help to find a match for your skills.D) Introduce you to industry experts.8. Which of the following does the poster NOT mention?A) Networking with industry experts.B) Getting advice from a career advisor.C) Connecting with employers.D) Getting your resume checked by an expert.Part IV WritingDirections: Write a card according to the given information.帮Lucy给她朋友Oscar写一张贺卡。

雅思英语artificial artists雅思阅读Artificial artistsCan computers really create works of art?The Painting Fool is one of a growing number of computer programs which, so their makers claim, possess creative talents. Classical music by an artificial composer has had audiences enraptured, and even tricked them into believing a human was behind the score. Artworks painted by a robot have sold for thousands of dollars and been hung in prestigious galleries. And software has been built which creates art that could not have been imagined by the programmer.Human beings are the only species to perform sophisticated creative acts regularly. If we can break this process down into computer code, where does that leave human creativity? 'This is a question at the very core of humanity, ' says Geraint Wiggins, a computational creativity researcher at Goldsmiths, University of London. 'It scares a lot of people. They are worried that it is taking something special away from what it means to be human.'To some extent, we are all familiar with computerised art. The question is: where does the work of the artist stop and the creativity of the computer begin? Consider one of the oldest machine artists, Aaron, a robot that has had paintings exhibited in London's Tate Modern and the SanFrancisco Museum of Modern Art. Aaron can pick up a paintbrush and paint on canvas on its own. Impressive perhaps, but it is still little more than a tool to realise the programmer's own creative ideas.Simon Colton, the designer of the Painting Fool, is keen to make sure his creation doesn't attract the same criticism. Unlike earlier 'artists' such as Aaron, the Painting Fool only needs minimal direction and can come up with its own concepts by going online for material. The software runs its own web searches and trawls through social media sites. It is now beginning to display a kind of imagination too, creating pictures from scratch. One of its original works is a series of fuzzy landscapes, depicting trees and sky. While some might say they have a mechanical look, Colton argues that such reactions arise from people's double standards towards software-produced and human-produced art. After all, he says, consider that the Painting Fool painted the landscapes without referring to a photo. 'If a child painted a new scene from its head, you'd say it has a certain level of imagination, ' he points out. 'The same should be true of a machine.' Software bugs can also lead to unexpected results. Some of the Painting Fool's paintings of a chair came out in black and white, thanks to a technical glitch. This gives the work an eerie, ghostlike quality. Human artists like the renowned Ellsworth Kelly are lauded for limiting their colour palette - so why should computers be any different? Researchers like Colton don't believe it is right to measure machinecreativity directly to that of humans who 'have had millennia to develop our skills'. Others, though, are fascinated by the prospect that a computer might create something as original and subtle as our best artists. So far, only one has come close. Composer David Cope invented a program called Experiments in Musical Intelligence, or EMI. Not only did EMI create compositions in Cope's style, but also that of the most revered classical composers, including Bach, Chopin and Mozart. Audiences were moved to tears, and EMI even fooled classical music experts into thinking they were hearing genuine Bach. Not everyone was impressed however. Some, such as Wiggins, have blasted Cope's work as pseudoscience, and condemned him for his deliberately vague explanation of how the software worked. Meanwhile, Douglas Hofstadter of Indiana University said EMI created replicas which still rely completely on the original artist's creative impulses. When audiences found out the truth they were often outraged with Cope, and one music lover even tried to punch him. Amid such controversy, Cope destroyed EMI's vital databases.But why did so many people love the music, yet recoil when they discovered how it was composed? A study by computer scientist David Moffat of Glasgow Caledonian University provides a clue. He asked both expert musicians and non-experts to assess six compositions. The participants weren't told beforehand whether the tunes were composed by humans or computers, but were asked to guess, and then rate howmuch they liked each one. People who thought the composer was a computer tended to dislike the piece more than those who believed it was human. This was true even among the experts, who might have been expected to be more objective in their analyses.Where does this prejudice come from? Paul Bloom of Yale University has a suggestion: he reckons part of the pleasure we get from art stems from the creative process behind the work. This can give it an 'irresistible essence', says Bloom. Meanwhile, experiments by Justin Kruger of New York University have shown that people's enjoyment of an artwork increases if they think more time and effort was needed to create it. Similarly, Colton thinks that when people experience art, they wonder what the artist might have been thinking or what the artist is trying to tell them. It seems obvious, therefore, that with computers producing art, this speculation is cut short - there's nothing to explore. But as technology becomes increasingly complex, finding those greater depths in computer art could become possible. This is precisely why Colton asks the Painting Fool to tap into online social networks for its inspiration: hopefully this way it will choose themes that will already be meaningful to us.Questions 27-31Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.Write the correct letter in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.27 What is the writer suggesting about computer-produced works in the first paragraph?A People's acceptance of them can vary considerably.B A great deal of progress has already been attained in this field.C They have had more success in some artistic genres than in others.D The advances are not as significant as the public believes them to be.28 According to Geraint Wiggins, why are many people worried by computer art?A It is aesthetically inferior to human art.B It may ultimately supersede human art.C It undermines a fundamental human quality.D It will lead to a deterioration in human ability.29 What is a key difference between Aaron and the Painting Fool?A its programmer's backgroundB public response to its workC the source of its subject matterD the technical standard of its output30 What point does Simon Colton make in the fourth paragraph?A Software-produced art is often dismissed as childish and simplistic.B The same concepts of creativity should not be applied to all forms of art.C It is unreasonable to expect a machine to be as imaginative as a humanbeing.D People tend to judge computer art and human art according to different criteria.31 The writer refers to the paintings of a chair as an example of computer art whichA achieves a particularly striking effect.B exhibits a certain level of genuine artistic skill.C closely resembles that of a well-known artist.D highlights the technical limitations of the software.Questions 32-37Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G below.Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 32-37 on your answer sheet.32 Simon Colton says it is important to consider the long-term view when33 David Cope's EMI software surprised people by34 Geraint Wiggins criticised Cope for not35 Douglas Hofstadter claimed that EMI was36 Audiences who had listened to EMI's music became angry after37 The participants in David Moffat's study had to assess music without Questions 38-40Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3?In boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet, writeYES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writerNO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writerNOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this38 Moffat's research may help explain people's reactions to EMI.39 The non-experts in Moffat's study all responded in a predictable way.40 Justin Kruger's findings cast doubt on Paul Bloom's theory about people's prejudice towards computer art.。

gretap用法**Gretap 的基本用法：**Gretap 主要用于在两个网络接口之间创建一个GRE（通用路由封装）隧道，从而实现不同网络之间的连接与通信。

它可以将一种协议的数据包封装在另一种协议的数据包中进行传输，常用于虚拟专用网络（VPN）的搭建等场景。

例如，在网络管理员想要连接两个地理位置分散且使用不同网络地址段的局域网时，就可以利用Gretap 来构建安全的隧道连接。

**固定搭配：**常见的搭配有“gretap interface”，用于指定创建GRE 隧道的网络接口；“gretap remote”，用来设定远程端点的地址；“gretap local”，确定本地端点的地址等。

这些搭配组合起来，就能完整地配置一个Gretap 隧道。

**双语例句：**1. 我简直不敢相信，用Gretap 就能像搭积木一样轻松构建网络隧道。

就好比给两个遥远的岛屿架起了一座隐形的桥梁，让数据可以自由穿梭。

Is it amazing that Gretap can build network tunnels as easily as building blocks? It's like building an invisible bridge between two distant islands, allowing data to travel freely.2. 你知道吗？Gretap 和那神奇的魔法传送门有点像，只要设置好本地和远程地址，数据就能瞬间被传送到另一个网络世界。

Do you know? Gretap is a bit like a magical teleportation portal. As long as the local and remote addresses are set, the data can be instantly transferred to another network world.3. 嘿，朋友！当我第一次使用Gretap 时，感觉自己像是个网络探险家，在不同网络的海洋里开辟出了一条专属的航道。

Agenda-setting theoryAgenda-Setting Theory states that the news media have a large influence on audiences, in terms of what stories to consider newsworthy and how much prominence(显著性) and space to give them.[1] Agenda-setting theory’s main postulate （假定）is salience（突出）transfer. Salience transfer is the ability of the news media to transfer issues of importance fromtheir day-by-day selection and display of the news, editors and news directors focus our attention and influence our perceptions of what are the most important issues of the day. This ability to influence the salience of topics on the public agenda has come to be called the agenda setting role of the news media."[2] Related to agenda setting is agenda building theory which explores how an issue comes to the attention policy makers and media. [3]History FoundationFollowing the era of limited media effect paradigm（典范）, established by Lazarsfeld and colleagues’ The People’s Choice research, the development of agenda setting hypothesis signals “the rediscovery of a powerful effects m odel.” The powerful effects model can be traced back to Cohen (1963)’s argument that “the mass media may not be successful much of the time in telling people what to think, but the media stunningly successful in telling their audience what to think about.”[4]On a related note, agenda-setting model brought about a paradigm shift: the rejection of persuasion as a central organizing paradigm.[5]That is, media is not telling audiences what to think, but what to think about.The media agenda is the set of issues addressed by media sources and the public agenda which are issues the public consider important.[6] Agenda-setting theory was introduced in 1972 by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw in their ground breaking study of the role of the media in 1968 presidential campaign in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.The researchers surveyed 100 undecided voters during the 1968 presidential elections on what they thought were key issues and measured that against the actual media content.[7]The ranking of issues was almost identical with acorrelation of .97, and the conclusions matched their hypothesis that the mass media positioned the agenda for public opinion by emphasizing specific topics.[8]Subsequent research on agenda-setting theory provided evidence for the cause-and-effect chain of influence being debated by critics in the field.Causality: Agenda Setting or Agenda Reflection?To confirm agenda-setting hypothesis, evidence should show that media agendas precede public agendas. In this regard, Kosicki raised a point that “if real world problems are driving both audience interest and news coverage, then it is not meaningful to attribute the cause to media.” He continued, therefore, saying that “a more meaningful case of agenda setting is one in which a problem is ongoing at a relatively constant level and media attention comes and goes in response to its own cues.”[5]One particular study made leaps to prove a cause-effect relationship. The study was conducted by Yale researchers, Shanto Iyengar, Mark Peters, and Donald Kinder. The researchers had three groups of subjects fill out questionnaires about their own concerns and then each group watched different evening news programs, each of which emphasized adifferent issue. After watching the news for four days, the subjects again filled out questionnaires and the issues that they rated as most important matched the issues they viewed on the evening news.[9]The study demonstrated a cause-and-effect relationship between media agenda and public agenda. As of 2004, there were over 400 empirical（经验的）studies examining the effects of Agenda Setting.[10]The theory has evolved beyond the media's influence on the public's perceptions of issue salience to political candidates and corporate reputation.[11]FunctionsThe agenda-setting function has multiple components:▪Media agenda are issues discussed in the media, such as newspapers, television, and radio.▪Public agenda are issues discussed among members of the public.▪Policy agenda are issues that policy makers consider important, such as legislators.▪Corporate agenda are issues that big corporations consider important.These four agendas are interrelated. The two basicassumptions that underlie（潜在）most research on agenda-setting are that the press and the media do not reflect reality, they filter and shape it, and the media concentration on a few issues and subjects leads the public to perceive those issues as more important than other issues.Media agenda in the market placeThe key role of agenda-setting is to promote（宣传）social consensus （社会合意）and create sense of community（团体）. This social function is threatened by growing number of media channels. The expanding choice of information causes the more fragmented（碎片）the media system. As compared to initial agenda-setting study in McCombs’ Chapel Hill, the media environment has changed considerably.Under these circumstances, citizens’ participation in agenda-building processes is necessary to build a sense of community. In order to maintain a healthy democracy, it is necessary to have the numerically major, but politically marginalized（忽视）people’s voices heard by allowing them to participate in the pressure system at least to a certain degree. In this sense, building public agendas is an indispensable process that keeps a democracy alive.[12]DiffusionThe media uses diffusion（传播）to spread ideas and aid in its agenda setting. Opinion Leaders and boundary spanners（扳手）are very important to the media at using their networks（关系网）to pass on the flow of information.An opinion leader is often someone who is thought of by others to know a significant amount of information on a topic or is an "expert". This could be anyone from a specialist in a certain field, a politician who is the head of a specific congressional（议会）committee（委员会）, or a mom who is very active in the PTA. They are often at the center of a social network, more attentive to outside information and capable of influence. Since the opinion leaders are those in a social network who are most likely to watch the news or pay attention to the news media, they are an extremely important tool at spreading information to the masses.Boundary Spanners are those in a social network who can span across various social networks. They can be essential to the flow of novel information. Boundary spanners can be used by the news media in setting its agenda by getting information and ideas to a variety of social networks, rather than just one.A study showing the effects of diffusion（传播流）was Project Revere（尊敬）. Sociologists at the University of Washington from 1951 to 1953 would drop leaflets from an airplane onto a town. They then would see how long it would take for the information to pass by word of mouth to those who did not get a leaflet. Their findings showed that children are very effective in the diffusion process, thus proving how easy it is for a child to be affected by the news media.The Accessibility Bias and Controversy（争论）S. Iyengar's article titled "The accessibility bias in politics: television news and public opinion" looks at just this theory. He states, "In general, 'accessibility bias' argument stipulates(以…为条件，规定)that information that can be more easily retrieved（检索）from memory tends to dominate judgments, opinions and decisions, and that in the area of public affairs, more accessible information is information that is more frequently or more recently conveyed by the media."[13] Although there has been a widely held assumption that the primary （首要的）mechanism of agenda setting and priming （引爆点）is accessibility（可到达性）(i.e., the ease with which a set of ideas or knowledge can be retrieved from memory), noempirical evidence confirmed the mediating role of accessibility.[14]Rather, findings indicate that there is more to agenda setting than accessibility. For example, research on the concept of need for orientation（导向需求）suggests that the degree of agenda-setting effects is dependent upon perceived（察觉的）issue relevance and orientation toward resolving uncertainty. Furthermore, Nelson et al., found that perceived importance of specific frames plays a major role in shaping public perceptions of the issue at hand, whereas accessibility plays only a minor role.[18]Therefore, as Weaver argued, “not all persons are equally affected by the same amount of prominence of media coverage, and not all easily accessible information is considered important.”Cognitive Effects Model（认知层面作用模式）Early media effects studies done by Berelson, Lazarsfeld, and McPhee showed that political campaigns have very little effect on voters, but instead that those closest to them (family and friends) as well as cognitions.The Cognitive effects model found that the media has an indirect influence on an audiences' attitude. A viewer（观看者）already has set ideas and opinions, the media cannot do much to change those. However by showing certain stories moreoften than others and shaping the agenda they can shape what an audience puts importance on. For example, if the media reports more on the economy than on international news, then people will have more information on the economy and think that the issue is more important than other things that are going on around the world.Characteristics/Tenets（信念）Research has focused on characteristics of audience, the issues, and the media that might predict variations in the agenda setting effect.Humans are curious by nature, we as a species have an innate drive to understand the environment around us. This disconnect of not knowing our surroundings or dissonance（不协调）, as Leon Festinger would put it, means we either need to change our way of thinking or change our behavior to come back into a state of consonance or connection. Orientation is a term（名词）to describe the need for individuals to orient themselves to their surroundings/environment. In the case of agenda setting theory, we know that news media provide this orientation.Mccombs states that, "need for orientation is a psychologicalconcept, which means that it describes individual differences in the desire for orienting cues and background information." Two concepts: relevance and uncertainty, define an individual's need for orientation. Relevancy（关联）is the first and of primary importance as an individual will feel less dissonant if a situation or issue is not personally relevant. Hence, if relevancy is low, people will feel the need for less orientation. There are many issues in our country that are just not relevant to people, because they do not affect us. Many news organizations attempt to frame issues in a way that attempts to make them relevant to its viewers/readers. This is their way of keeping their viewership/readership high "Level of uncertainty is the second and subsequent defining condition（决定条件）of need for orientation. Frequently, individuals already have all the information that they desire about a topic. Their degree of uncertainty is low."[21]When issues are of high personal relevance and uncertainty low, the need to monitor any changes in those issues will be present and moderate the need for orientation. If at any point in time viewers/readers have high relevance and high uncertainty about any type of issue/event/election campaign there was a high need for orientation.Research done by Weaver in 1977 suggested that individuals vary on their need for orientation. Need for orientation is a combination of the individual’s interest in the topic and uncertainty about the issue. The higher levels of interest and uncertainty produce higher levels of need for orientation. So the individual would be considerably likely to be influenced by the media stories（报道）(psychological aspect of theory).[6] Research performed（做）by Zucker in 1978 suggested that an issue is obtrusive（强迫人…的）if most members of the public have had direct contact with it, and less obtrusive if audience members have not had direct experience. This means that agenda setting results should be strongest for unobtrusive issues because audience members must rely on media for information on these topics.[6]Media salience（传媒显著性）: a key independent variable（变量）in agenda setting theory is mostly recognized as a single construct. Theoretical explications（理论解释）of media salience scholarship varies throughout the agenda setting literature. Spiro Kiousis perused the relevant literature and discovered that 3 dimensions of media salience emerged: attention, prominence, and valence.[22]Thus developing his multi-construct model of media salience.▪Attention: based on the amount of coverage/exposure the news media give an object.▪Prominence: A framing technique used to highlight or position an attribute/object in a context that communicates its importance. Kiousis also refers to just the presence of news stories covered by prestigious news organizations(e.g. Washington Post, New York Times, etc...) as a signaling factor to the public in giving news stories prominence. And, ▪Valence: Refers to the affective (emotional) elements of the media content. "Attribute coverage also transmits cues that shape the overall affective salience of issues, candidates, and other objects (e.g., how interesting or appealing they are). Therefore, affective elements in news can also enhance or reduce the overall salience of objects."[23]Quote on agenda setting- "The media doesn't tell us what to think; it tells us what to think about"- Bernard C. Cohen (1963) Characteristics of Agenda-setting Research Based on the agenda-setting literature, Kosicki [24]summarized the following characteristics of agenda-setting studies:1. Agenda-setting research deals with the importance or salience of public issues.2. A public issue is seen as a rather broad, abstract, content-free topic domain, devoid of controversy or contending forces.3. Agenda-setting studies have a twin focus on media content and audience perception: both measuring the amount and time devoted to a certain issue by mass media and the amount of public attention to that issue are integral components of agenda-setting research4. Agenda setting is characterized by some desire to deal with a range of issues rank-ordered into an agenda.5. Agenda setting is proposed as an effect of specific media content or trends in that content, not a general effect of watching television or reading newspapers or newsmagazines. edit Framing and Second-level Agenda setting: Similarities, Differences, and Controversiessetting have the following characteristics:Similarities:- Both are more concerned with how issues or other objects are depicted in the media than with which issues or objects are more or less prominently reported.- Both focus on most salient or prominent aspects of themes or descriptions of the objects(对象) of interest.- Both are concerned with ways of thinking rather than objects （对象）of thinkingDifference:- Framing does seem to include a broader range of cognitive processes –moral evaluations, causal reasoning, appeals to principle, and recommendations for treatment of problems –than does second-level agenda setting (the salience of attributes of an object)Based on these shared characteristics, McCombs and colleagues[26]recently argued that framing effects should be seen as the extension of agenda setting. In other words, according to them, the premise（前提、假设）that framing is about selecting “a restricted number of thematically relatedthe process of transferring the salience of issue attributes (i.e., second-level agenda setting). That is, according to McCombs and colleagues’ arguments, framing falls under the umbrella of agenda setting.According to Price and Tewksbury[28], however, agenda settingand framing are built on different theoretical premises: agenda setting is based on accessibility, while framing is concern with applicability （适用性）(i.e., the relevance between message features and one’s stored ideas or knowledg e). Accessibility-based explanation of agenda setting is also applied to second-level agenda setting. That is, transferring the salience of issue attributes (i.e., second-level agenda setting) is a function of accessibility.For framing effects, empirical evidence shows that the impact of frames on public perceptions is mainly determined by perceived importance of specific frames rather than by the quickness of retrieving frames. That is, the way framing effects transpires(发生) is different from the way second-level agenda setting is supposed to take place (i.e., accessibility). On a related note, Scheufele and Tewksbury [30]argues that, because accessibility and applicability vary in their functions of media effects, “the distin ction between accessibility and applicability effects has obvious benefits for understanding and predicting the effects of dynamic information environments.”Taken together, it can be concluded that the integration of framing into agenda setting is either impossible because they are based on different theoretical premises or imprudent（不谨慎的）because merging the two concepts would result in the loss of our capabilities to explain various media effects. Agenda setting vs. FramingScheufele and Tewksbury argue that “framing differs significantly from these accessibility-based models [i.e., agenda setting and priming]. It is based on the assumption that how an issue is characterized in news reports can have an influence on how it is understood by audiences;”[31] the difference between whether we think about an issue and how we think about it. Framing and agenda setting differs in their functions in the process of news production, information processing and media effects.(a) News prod uction: Although “both frame building and agenda building refer to macroscopic mechanisms that deal with message construction rather than media effects,” frame building is more concerned with the news production process than agenda building. In other words, “how forces and groups in society try to shape public discourse about an issue by establishing predominant labels is of far greater interest from a framing perspective than from a traditional agenda-setting one.”(b) News processing: For framing and agenda setting, different conditions seem to be needed in processing messages to produce respective effects. Framing effect is more concerned with audience attention to news messages, while agenda setting is more with repeated exposure to messages.(c) Locus of effect: Agenda-setting effects are determined by the ease with which people can retrieve from their memory issues recently covered by mass media, while framing is the extent to which media messages fit ideas or knowledge people have in their knowledge store.edit Levels of agenda setting▪The first-level agenda setting is most traditionally studied by researchers. Simply put, the focus is/was on major issues/objects and the transfer of the salience of those objects/issues. From these broad issues, agenda setting evolved to look not only at the major issues/objects, but to attributes of those issues.▪In second-level agenda setting, the news media focuses on the characteristics of the objects or issues. This transfer of attribute salience is considered second-level effects or attribute agenda-setting. "The second dimension refers tothe transmission of attribute salience to the minds of the public. More specifically, each object has numerous attributes, or characteristics and properties that fill out the picture of that particular object. As certain perspectives and frames are employed in news coverage, they can draw public attention to certain attributes and away from others."[32] In this level the media suggest how the people should think about the issue. There are two types of attributes: cognitive (subtantative, or topics) and affective (evaluative, or positive, negative, neutral).▪Additionally, there are several theoretical concepts that fall under the umbrella of attribute agenda setting.Some of these include: status conferral, stereotyping,priming, gatekeeping(which happens in both levels),compelling arguments, and of primary importance, the concept of framing.Status Conferral（地位赋予）: Status conferral refers to the amount of attention given to specific individuals. "The news media bestow prestige and enhance the authority of individuals and groups by legitimizing their status. Recognition by the press or radio or magazines or newsreels testifies that one has arrived, that one is important enoughto have been singled out from the large anonymous masses, that one's behavior and opinions are significant enough to require public notice."[33][34] 2Stereotyping: Stereotyping is best defined by Taylor;"Consensus among members of one group regarding the attributes of another." Furthermore, a cognitive orientation view of stereotyping helps illustrate why this helps attribute salience transfer. "The cognitive orientation view assumes that humans are limited in the amount of incoming information that they can process, and hence form stereotypes as one way to reduce the cognitive burden of dealing with a complex world."[35]Which reaffirms the previous notions of our brains being cognitive misers.3Priming: There are perspectives as to what primingactually is, but the primary concept is such: "According to the priming theory, news media exposure presumably causes the activation of related knowledge, which is more likely to be retrieved and used in later judgments because it is more accessible in memory and comes to mind spontaneously and effortlessly.", it's the actual act of linking two different elements in order to generate a general known idea.[36]The concept of priming is supported by theaccessibility bias argument as well as the principle of resonance as some attributes may resonate longer with individuals than others. Iyengar and Kinder,[37]define priming as “changes in standards that people use to make political evaluations.” This definition is primarily focused on the political realm as Scheufele and Tewksbury[38] go on to say that “priming occurs when news content suggest to news audiences that they ought to use specific issues as benchmarks for evaluating the performance of leaders and government.” As individuals make their choices in supporting/voting for a (n) candidate/issue, they are more likely to add this evaluative dimension to their decisions. This still follows the accessibility bias argument (memory based models) and Iyengar and Kinder[39] take it a step further by arguing that “priming is a temporal extension of agenda setting” and that just making issues/candidates sa lient, can affect people’s decisions/judgments when making choices about political candidates/issues.Gatekeeping: The concept of gatekeeping attempts to answer the question of who sets the news media agenda? Mccombs,[40]states that we need to look at "three key elements: major sources who provide information for newsstories, other news organizations, and journalisms norms and traditions." Major sources include: elected leaders(national/local leaders), political campaigns, organizations, interest groups, public information officers, and public relations professionals. Other news organizations refers to how news organizations feed off of each other, borrowing stories from one another or at times paying for them. It is widely known that the New York Times is considered the intermedia-agenda setter for most news organizations (i.e., most new organizations take their lead from the times). Mccombs[41] notes that "journalists validate their sense of news by observing and the work of their colleagues. Local newspapers and televisions stations note the news agenda offered each day by their direct competitors for local attention. Local outlets also note the agenda advanced by new organizations with higher status. In the US these are the major regional newspapers, the Associated Press, the national television networks, and the elite newspapers in New York and Washington." Many times the executive editor/producer in news organizations have to make the final decision with regard to what gets printed/televised and what doesn't. Finding stories that arenewsworthy can be difficult, but most journalists look for these characteristics throughout the information they collect. These generally are: impact, proximity, timeliness, prominence, importance, conflict, contradiction, contrast, novelty, and human interest. Scanning the environment and looking for these characteristics to ensure a story is newsworthy, is a major part of the norms and traditions followed by journalism.Framing: Although many scholars have differing opinions of what exactly framing is, Mccombs[42]defines it as, "the selection of - and emphasis upon - particular attributes for the news media agenda when talking about an object (the fact of cutting and trimming news stories in order to filter it and shape it as the sender wish) . In turn, as we know from attribute agenda setting, people who frame objects, placing various degrees of emphasis on the attributes of persons, public issues or other objects when they think or talk about them." In other words, it is not just what is said in news reports, but how subjects are characterized and presented. It is through this unique characterization/portrayal of issues/objects that communicates certain meanings to audiences apart from just stating facts and figures; thewhole is greater than the sum of its parts. Entman, 1993 not only defines frames as “involving selection and salience. To frame is to select some aspects of a perceived reality and make them more salient in a communicating text, in such a way as to promote a particular problem definition, causal interpretation, moral evaluation, and/or treatment recommendation for the item described.”[43] But also goes on to describe these four functions: “1) defining problems-determining what a causal agent is doing with what costs and benefits, usually measured in terms of common cultural values; 2) diagnosing causes-identifying the forces creating the problem; 3) making moral judgments-evaluate causal agents and their effects; and 4) suggesting remedies-offering and justifying treatments for the problems and predict their likely effects.”[44] It is through these four functions that the news media can highlight/characterize certain issues/candidates/problems/attributes and/or choose to ignore others. Furthermore, Tankard, Hendrickson, Silberman, Bliss, and Ghanem"' defined news media framing as "the central organizing idea for news content that supplies a context and suggests what the issue is through the use ofselection, emphasis, exclusion and elaboration."[45]When the news media supply the context, select what to emphasize or exclude information, they show us how to think about an object/issue/candidate. In order for this to be effective the audience must be able to internalize the information and “individual’s therefore apply interpretive schemas or “primary frameworks” (Goffman, 1974, p. 24)[46] to classify it meaningfully.”[47] Journalists, political campaigns, and the news media use these primary frameworks as a baseline to make the understanding of issues easier for audiences, thus making them less complex.▪Clearly, trying to operationalize a definition for news framing can be very tedious as subjective definitions vary from scholar to scholar. Matthes states in his meta-analysis of framing literature that, “translation of framing definitions to concrete, operational steps is not transparent in a huge part of the literature. Some definitions are general, giving little information about how to operationalize frames.”[48] UsageThe theory is used in political advertising, political campaigns and debates, business news and corporate reputation,[11] business influence on federal policy,[49] legal systems, trials,[50]。

现在生活和以前生活的对比英语作文全文共3篇示例，供读者参考篇1Changing Times: A Contrast of Modern Life and The PastAs a student living in the 21st century, it's hard for me to imagine what life was like just a few decades ago, let alone further back in history. The rapid pace of technological advancement has transformed almost every aspect of our daily existence. Simple tasks that were once arduous ortime-consuming have been automated and streamlined. Information that was once difficult to access is now quite literally at our fingertips. And the way we interact, communicate, and entertain ourselves has been revolutionized. While I'm immensely grateful for the innovations that make my life easier, I can't help but feel a tinge of nostalgia for simpler times gone by.Let's start with one of the most drastic changes – how we access information and learn. In the era before the internet and personal computers, doing research for a school project was an incredibly tedious process. Students had to physically go to libraries and scour through books, encyclopedias, and archaiccatalog systems just to gather a few relevant facts and figures. Contrast that antiquated approach with the resources I have at my disposal today. With a few taps on my laptop, I can access a seemingly infinite wealth of knowledge from trusted online sources. Digital databases, e-books, academic journals, expert opinions – it's all there awaiting my queries. While this unprecedented access is undeniably valuable, I sometimes worry that we're becoming overly reliant on technology as a crutch for genuine learning and critical thinking.Of course, technology hasn't just transformed academics – it has reshaped virtually every aspect of day-to-day life. Simple acts like shopping, banking, and staying in touch with loved ones have been streamlined through online platforms and mobile apps. In many ways, this increased convenience and connectivity is amazing. I can video chat with my grandparents across the country, order clothes or groceries without leaving my dorm room, and handle complex financial transactions with a few clicks. However, part of me wonders if all this ease and instantaneous digital gratification is further distancing us from the beauty of human interaction and experience.My parents and grandparents have nostalgically recounted the joys of writing letters, enjoying leisurely conversations overthe phone, and even doing mundane tasks like grocery shopping in person and handling physical cash. They bemoan the fact that such simple pleasures have become afterthoughts in our modern world of emotionless texting, faceless financial apps, and impersonal online ordering. As much as I value efficiency, I can't deny there's something special about taking the time for those analog experiences. Maybe we've sacrificed too much on the altar of convenience.Then there's the subject of entertainment and leisure activities. Back in the 20th century, having fun was a much simpler affair. My parents fondly recall things like playingpick-up sports with neighborhood kids, having family board game nights, or even just spending summer evenings outside catching lightning bugs. Contrast that with today's recreational norms of bingeing shows, getting absorbed in videogames, dindly social media, or just mindlessly scrolling on our devices. Don't get me wrong, I'm as mesmerized by the latest streaming craze as anyone. But I have to wonder if we're missing out on the simple joys and relationship-building that came from pre-digital age fun.Even our social interactions and sense of community have shifted in this modern era. My grandparents came from a timewhen neighbors looked out for each other,town halls were a hub of civic engagement, and joining local clubs or groups was the norm. These days, many of us are seemingly disconnected from that sense of real-world communion. Our interactions are often filtered through screens and wifi signals. Our communities have extended to virtual environments, with friendships forged via online games and social networks. I'm certainly not immune to this cultural shift– some of my closest friends are people I've never actually met in person. While篇2Life Today vs. Life in the PastCan you imagine living without Netflix, Uber, or even the internet? It seems crazy, right? We're so accustomed to modern conveniences that it's hard to picture a world without them. But people did live that way not too long ago, and their lives were vastly different from ours today.Let's start with technology, which has transformed our world in countless ways. Just think about how we communicate now compared to the past. Instead of writing letters that took days or weeks to arrive, we can instantly message anyone anywhere with our phones or computers. We can video chat face-to-face withrelatives on the other side of the globe. If we need to look something up, we have the entirety of human knowledge at our fingertips via search engines.Our predecessors definitely didn't have those capabilities. Can you fathom having to walk to a library and search through books and records manually to find basic information? Or having to visit a place in person to gather details about it? Research was so much more time-consuming and difficult before the internet.Speaking of the internet, it has opened up a whole new world when it comes to entertainment as well. We can stream movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, or anything else we want on demand with a few taps on our devices. Our parents and grandparents actually had to wait for things to come on at a scheduled time over radio or television. Wild, right?The way we work has also been revolutionized by modern technology. Working remotely from home was unheard of a few decades ago. Most people had to commute to and from an office daily. Communication between colleagues and companies was sluggish through mail, fax, or phoning an intermediary. Imagine how much less efficient that made businesses. Now we have tools like email, video conferencing, online workspaces, and more that allow seamless collaboration.Innovation hasn't just impacted our work and leisure though – it's changed core aspects of our daily living too. We have microwaves, dishwashers, washing machines, and other appliances that have automated household chores and saved us countless hours of tedious labor. Our homes are temperature controlled with heat and air conditioning that people in past eras couldn't have fathomed.And let's not forget how convenient services like food delivery and ridesharing are now. If our great-grandparents needed takeout, they had to physically go pick it up themselves. Same for getting somewhere without their own transportation –they had to walk, take a bus, or pay for a pricey taxi service. But now we can have meals from any restaurant brought right to our doorstep with an app, and another app can summon an affordable ride across town or across the city at any time.Of course, with all these modern advancements comes certain drawbacks as well. We're more sedentary than past generations who had to do manual labor and walk more often. Our reliance on technology has atrophied some basic skills like problem-solving, navigating without GPS, socializing in person, and being patient. And the omnipresence of screens and socialmedia has been linked to higher rates of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.There's no question that we live in an unprecedented era of comfort and convenience. But at what cost? Our ancestors lived harder lives, but also simpler ones in many ways. They weren't constantly plugged in and bombarded with streams of information and obligation like we are. While their lives lacked many modern luxuries, they were in some ways richer for it. They were more connected to the outdoors and the present moment, spent quality time with family and neighbors, and allowed time to follow through on projects without endless distractions like we struggle with.So which is better – our modern tech-infused existences or the more stripped-down living of the past? There are arguments for both. All we can really do is be grateful for the advantages we have now while trying to retain some of the benefits of yesteryear like strong community bonds, patience, and presence. The key is finding balance in our lives so we can enjoy incredible innovations while avoiding their potential pitfalls.After all, progress isn't inherently good or bad – it's how we adapt to it that determines whether it enhances our overall well-being or detracts from a life fully lived. Our lives may havemore convenience, but sometimes convenience isn't everything. Just some food for thought next time you reach for that smartphone without thinking twice.篇3Life Today vs. Life in the PastAs a student living in the modern age, it's hard for me to imagine what life was like for my ancestors just a couple of generations ago. The world has changed so rapidly in recent decades that the experiences and daily routines of today's youth are vastly different from those of our grandparents andgreat-grandparents when they were our age. Let me highlight some of the most striking contrasts between life now and life back then.TechnologyPerhaps the most obvious difference is the sheer amount of technology that exists today compared to the past. I was basically born with an iPhone in my hand—having instant access to virtually all the world's information at my fingertips is something I've never known life without. My great-grandparents, on the other hand, lived most of their lives before personalcomputers were even invented, let alone modern smartphones and high-speed internet.It blows my mind that they used to have to rely on physical encyclopedias and books for research rather than just Googling anything they wanted to know. Can you imagine having to go to an actual library and search through card catalogs and physical volumes just to look something up? What a hassle! I can't even fathom trying to write a research paper that way now. With the internet, I have unlimited knowledge quite literally at my fingertips 24/7.Not only that, they didn't have email, texting, video calls, or social media to effortlessly stay connected with people across long distances. If they wanted to get ahold of someone, they actually had to give them a call on a landline telephone or mail them a physical letter and wait days or weeks for a response. So antiquated! These days, I video chat with friends from different continents daily without even thinking about it. Crazy how much communication has been revolutionized in just a few decades.EntertainmentThe entertainment world has transformed just as much as communication technology. My great-grandparents' options for entertainment seem so limited compared to everything youngpeople have access to today. They basically just had radio, books/newspapers, and eventually television with just a few channels once it was invented. Certainly no Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, video games, or any of the immersive digital entertainment I enjoy constantly.Portable music players like iPods and Spotify didn't exist back then either—if you wanted to listen to music, you had to play records or cassette tapes. The video game consoles and games I take for granted would have seemed like magic from the future to previous generations. Things we consider basic entertainment essentials now were revolutionary, unimaginable technologies to them at the time.TravelThanks to the internet and modern air travel, the world feels much smaller and more accessible now than it did in the past. My great-grandparents barely went anywhere besides their hometown for most of their lives. Only the elite and wealthy could really travel far distances back then since it was so difficult and expensive.In contrast, I've been traveling internationally with my parents since I was a toddler. Just a few years ago, we went on an incredible family vacation to Europe, exploring several differentcountries over a couple of weeks—something their generation couldn't have even dreamed of doing at my age. Cheap airfare and travel info everywhere online makes travel so much more practical and convenient now than it used to be.Careers and EducationSpeaking of travel, my college experience is a world apart from the limited options my grandparents had. Most of them stayed in-state and had to commute from home sinceout-of-state tuition was way too pricey and very few could afford living on campus. Their degrees were much morecareer-tracked and specialized from day one too.Nowadays, we have so much flexibility to create our own, highly interdisciplinary degrees combining different fields. I'm actually one of the many students studying remotely and earning their degree online while living wherever they want, which wasn't really possible before internet learning. We can take all kinds of classes not taught at our school through virtual platforms. There are SO many opportunities my age that kids decades ago could only dream about.And after college, the range of potential career paths and ability to change jobs/pivot professions is much greater now. Many of the jobs I'm considering didn't even exist a generationago. In today's fast-paced, tech-centric world, tomorrow's possibilities are limitless in ways previous generations couldn't have fathomed. It's both an exciting and paralyzing amount of optionality for this new reality of life as a young person.Social/Cultural ShiftsNot everything is necessarily superior today though. My grandparents speak with nostalgia about how close-knit their communities and social circles used to be. In many ways, modern society has become quite impersonal, transitory, and disconnected compared to the past.When they were young, most people stayed embedded in the same tight-knit community for life rather than constantly moving around chasing career opportunities like we do now. They had strong bonds with neighbors, shopkeepers, community groups that all knew them and their families well.These days, it's totally normal to not have a clue who lives next door, rarely see the same cashier twice, and not be involved in neighborhood/community happenings beyond quick shallow interactions. Our social circles seem to constantly be in flux as friends come and go. Many lament the loss of that stable sense of permanent community and belonging.Society has also become much more fast-paced, individualistic, and materialistic now with the rise of consumerism, social media, and cultural fragmentation. My grandparents recall a simpler time of sticking to traditions, consuming less, and having richer face-to-face social bonds.Rather than constant bombardment of new trends, advertisements, and ideologies like we have today, they had a more grounded sense of identity and being part of something bigger than themselves. You could argue there was less choice, but also less noise, pressure, and detachment back then.The EnvironmentAnother major difference from the past is the heightened level of environmental degradation and climate consciousness today. Thanks to pollution, habitat destruction, waste accumulation, and activities contributing to climate change, the world's landscapes and ecosystems have deteriorated rapidly within the span of just a couple generations.When my great-grandparents were young, the planet was still relatively pristine and unaltered compared to its current state. They could enjoy unspoiled natural settings in a way my generation can't due to smog, urban sprawl, landfills, etc. Now we're acutely aware of our environmental footprint and theurgency for sustainability at all costs to avoid even further destruction.While progress has allowed us to dramatically raise quality of life standards for humanity, it's come at a steep price of ecological devastation that didn't exist until recently. Issues like rising sea levels, plastic pollution, and holes in the ozone layer were unthinkable concerns of the past. Today, averting environmental catastrophe is one of the most pressing challenges my generation faces inheriting from our ancestors' activities.Final ThoughtsIn many regards, life today is exponentially more convenient, hyper-connected, dynamic, and opportunity-filled than anything previous generations experienced. The marvels of modern technology have completely transformed education, careers, entertainment, communication, travel, and every other aspect of my life as a young person today.At the same time, this unprecedented rate of change and progress has introduced a whole new set of challenges around social fragmentation, environmental destruction,over-stimulation, and anxiety about the future that my ancestorsdidn't have to grapple with. There are certainly pros and cons to weigh.While I'm immensely grateful for the comforts and possibilities of today's reality, part of me is a bit wistful imagining the simplicity, rootedness, and sense of real community that once existed not too long ago. Perhaps the wisest path is taking the best pieces of our modern condition while retaining some of the outdated philosophies and values that still have merit.Either way, compared to the static, circumscribed lives my great-grandparents knew, the future for today's youth contains uncharted territory, rapid disruption, and seemingly limitless frontiers to explore. As daunting as it can feel, I have to embrace the overwhelming blessing and responsibility of growing up in one of the most dynamic eras of transformation our civilization has ever witnessed.。