CLOB Communication Support for Efficient Replicated Database Recovery
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科技之光:沟通交流的革新In the age of technological revolution, the impact of science and technology on communication has been profound and unprecedented. From the ancient times of smoke signals and drum beats to the modern era of smartphones and social media, technology has constantly transformed the way we interact and exchange ideas.The advent of the internet has revolutionized communication, breaking down geographical barriers and connecting people from all corners of the globe. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have enabled instant sharing of thoughts, experiences, and information, fostering a culture of connectivity and interdependence. These platforms have not only made it easier to stay connected with friends and family but have also provided a medium for people to voice their opinions, start movements, and bring about social change.The rise of messaging applications like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Telegram has further transformed the communication landscape. These applications allow for secure, real-time messaging, voice calls, and videoconferencing, eliminating the need for traditional phone calls or face-to-face meetings. Businesses have also leveraged these technologies to collaborate more efficiently, with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams facilitating seamless communication among teams across different time zones and locations.Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have also begun to reshape communication. Chatbots and virtual assistants, powered by AI, can now handle customer service inquiries, provide personalized recommendations, and even engage in conversation. These technologies not only improve efficiency but also enable companies to provide a more personalized and responsive customer experience.The impact of technology on communication is notlimited to the virtual world. The development of video conferencing and telepresence technologies has made remote work a reality, allowing individuals to participate in meetings and collaborations regardless of their physical location. Similarly, the advent of wearable devices like smartwatches and virtual reality (VR) headsets has thepotential to further revolutionize the way we communicate, enabling more immersive and interactive experiences.However, while the benefits of technological advancements in communication are numerous, they are not without their challenges. The proliferation of social media and other digital platforms has led to the rise of cyberbullying, misinformation, and privacy concerns. It is crucial that we continue to discuss and debate the ethical implications of these technologies and ensure that they are used responsibly and to benefit society at large.In conclusion, the influence of technology on communication has been profound, reshaping the way we connect, interact, and exchange ideas. As we continue to embrace these advancements, it is important to remain vigilant about their potential downsides and strive to create a more inclusive and responsible digital world.**科技之光:沟通交流的革新**在科技革命的时代,科技对沟通的影响深远且前所未有。
关于科技通讯的英语作文Technology has revolutionized the way we communicate in the modern world. The advancements in communication technology have transformed the way we interact, share information, and connect with one another. From the invention of the telephone to the rise of the internet and social media, the evolution of communication technology has had a profound impact on our daily lives.One of the most significant advancements in communication technology is the internet. The internet has become the backbone of modern communication, enabling us to connect with people across the globe in real-time. Through the internet, we can access a vast wealth of information, engage in online discussions, and share our ideas and experiences with others. Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, have further amplified the power of the internet, allowing us to build and maintain social connections, share content, and stay informed about current events.Another crucial aspect of communication technology is the smartphone. Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, serving as a multifunctional device that allows us to communicate,access information, and entertain ourselves. With the integration of features like cameras, GPS, and various apps, smartphones have become an essential tool for staying connected and productive. The ability to send instant messages, make video calls, and access a wide range of communication and collaboration tools has transformed the way we interact with one another.Moreover, the development of mobile communication networks, such as 4G and 5G, has significantly enhanced our ability to communicate on the go. These advancements in wireless technology have enabled seamless connectivity, allowing us to access information and communicate from virtually anywhere. The introduction of technologies like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and video conferencing has also revolutionized the way we conduct business, participate in remote learning, and maintain personal relationships.In the realm of professional communication, technology has played a crucial role in streamlining workflows and improving collaboration. Tools like email, project management software, and cloud-based storage solutions have made it easier to share information, coordinate tasks, and work together on projects, even when team members are geographically dispersed. The rise of remote work and virtual meetings has further emphasized the importance of communication technology in the modern workplace.However, the widespread adoption of communication technology has also brought about some challenges. The constant connectivity and the abundance of information can sometimes lead to information overload, causing stress and disruptions in our daily lives. Additionally, the increasing reliance on digital communication has raised concerns about privacy, cybersecurity, and the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly.Despite these challenges, the benefits of communication technology far outweigh the drawbacks. The ability to connect with people across the globe, access information instantaneously, and collaborate efficiently has transformed the way we live, work, and learn. As technology continues to evolve, it is essential that we embrace these advancements while also addressing the ethical and social implications that come with them.In conclusion, the impact of communication technology on our lives is undeniable. From the way we communicate with friends and family to the way we conduct business and access information, technology has become an integral part of our daily lives. As we move forward, it is crucial that we continue to harness the power of communication technology to enhance our personal and professional lives, while also addressing the challenges that come with this rapidly evolving landscape.。
2024年6月9月电子科技大学网络教育统考大学英语B考试题库附答案一、选择题(每题2分,共40分)1. Directions: There are 20 incomplete sentences in this section. For each sentence there are four choices marked A, B, C, and D. Choose the one answer that best completes the sentence.( ) 1. I'm sure he is up to the job because he has already______a similar position in another company.A. heldB. takenC. filledD. occupied答案:A( ) 2. The company has changed a lot over the years, but it still retains______of the original building.A. the characteristicB. the characteristicsC. a characteristicD. characteristics答案:B( ) 3. If you don't want to miss the train, you had better______.A. hurry upB. speed upC. quicken upD. accelerate答案:A( ) 4. He______a lot of money on his new house.A. spentB. costC. tookD. paid答案:A( ) 5. The government is trying to______the gap between the rich and the poor.A. narrowB. reduceC. decreaseD. diminish答案:A( ) 6. The old man______a lot of weight since he started his new diet.A. shedB. lostC. dropped答案:B( ) 7. He______a letter to his mother every week.A. writesB. writes downC. writes upD. writes out答案:A( ) 8. The teacher______the students to work hard.A. encouragesB. promptsC. persuadesD. stimulates答案:A( ) 9. The government______the development of the national economy.A. promotesB. advancesC. progressesD. forwards答案:A( ) 10. The patient______after the operation.A. recoveredC. recoupedD. recycled答案:A( ) 11. The police______the criminal to surrender.A. orderedB. requestedC. demandedD. required答案:C( ) 12. He______the agreement before signing it.A. went overB. went throughC. went intoD. went by答案:A( ) 13. The company______a new product line last year.A. introducedB. broughtC. launchedD. started答案:C( ) 14. The student______his composition in time.A. handed inB. turned inC. submittedD. delivered答案:A( ) 15. The manager______the employee for his outstanding performance.A. praisedB. commendedC. appreciatedD. admired答案:B( ) 16. The teacher______the students for their hard work.A. rewardedB. repaidC. recompensedD. remunerated答案:A( ) 17. The company______a new branch in the city.A. openedB. foundedC. establishedD. set up答案:C( ) 18. The city has______a lot over the years.A. changedB. transformedC. convertedD. shifted答案:B( ) 19. The government______the law to protect the environment.A. enforcedB. executedC. implementedD. carried out答案:C( ) 20. The student______the class with his excellent grades.A. toppedB. headedC. ledD. guided答案:A二、完形填空(每题2分,共20分)Directions: There is a passage with 10 blanks. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C, and D. Choose the one that best fits into the passage.Passage:In the increasingly globalized world we live in, learning a second language has become an (1) ____. For many people, English is the language of choice. However, learning a new language is not an (2) ____ process. It requires (3) ____ of time, effort, and dedication.One of the most (4) ____ ways to learn a new language is through (5) ____. This can be done by traveling to a country where the language is spoken or by (6) ____ with native speakers. Another effective method is to (7) ____ language courses, either in person or online. Additionally, (8) ____ books, newspapers, and websites can also help improve language skills.It is important to (9) ____ that learning a new language is a journey, and it is okay to make mistakes along the way. The key is to (10) ____ practicing and not give up.1. A. requirementB. necessityC. needD. demand答案:B2. A. easyB. difficultC. simpleD. complex答案:A3. A. a great dealB. a lotC. a large numberD. a vast amount 答案:B4. A. effectiveB. efficientC. affectiveD. effective答案:A5. A. immersionB. submersionC. involvementD. engagement答案:A6. A. interactingB. engagingC. participatingD. involving答案:A7. A. attendB. takeC. joinD. participate答案:B8. A. readingB. studyingC. analyzingD. examining答案:A9. A. realizeB. understandC. recognizeD. acknowledge答案:C10. A. continueB. proceedC. go onD. persist答案:A三、阅读理解(每题2分,共20分)Directions: There is a passage 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.Passage:The Internet has revolutionized the way we live, work, and communicate. It has opened up a world of possibilities, allowing us to access information, connect with people, and conduct business transactions from the comfort of our homes. However, along with its benefits, the Internet also brings challenges and risks.One of the major challenges is the issue of online privacy. With the vast amount of personal information being shared online, there is a growing concern about how this data is collected, stored, and used. Data breaches and identity theft have become common occurrences, posing a threat to individuals' privacy and security.Another challenge is the spread of misinformation. The Internet has made it easier for false information to circulate rapidly, leading to confusion and mistrust among users. This can have serious consequences, especially in areas such as health, politics, and finance.To address these challenges, it is important for individuals and organizations to take measures to protect their online privacy and verify the accuracy of the information they encounter. This can be done by using strong passwords, being cautious about sharing personal information, and relying on credible sources for information.Despite these challenges, the Internet remains apowerful tool for innovation and progress. It has transformed various industries, such as education, healthcare, and entertainment, by providing new platforms and opportunities. It has also facilitated global communication, bringing people from different cultures and backgrounds closer together.In conclusion, while the Internet presents challenges, it also offers numerous benefits. By taking necessary precautions and promoting responsible use, we can harness its potential and mitigate its risks.11. What is the main purpose of the passage?A. To discuss the benefits of the Internet.B. To address the challenges of the Internet.C. To compare the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet.D. To provide solutions for the challenges of the Internet.答案:B12. According to the passage, what is one of the major challenges of the Internet?A. The limited access to information.B. The spread of misinformation.C. The lack of communication platforms.D. The inability to conduct online business transactions.答案:B13. What is the suggested solution for protecting online privacy?A. Sharing personal information freely.B. Using weak passwords.C. Verifying the accuracy of information.D. Being cautious about sharing personal information.答案:D14. According to the passage, how has the Internet transformed various industries?A. By eliminating traditional methods.B. By providing new platforms and opportunities.C. By making education, healthcare, and entertainment obsolete.D. By limiting global communication.答案:B15. What is the overall tone of the passage?A. OptimisticB. PessimisticC. NeutralD. Critical答案:C四、翻译(每题10分,共30分)Directions: For each of the following sentences, please translate it into Chinese.16. The rapid development of technology has changed the way we live and work.答案:技术的快速发展改变了我们的生活方式和工作方式。
Why Polycom VoIP?• Polycom is the leading independent supplier of standards-based IP telephones.• To offer you a choice of end-to-end, integrated VoIP solutions , Polycom ensures that your Polycom phones are fully interoperable with leading standards-based IP PBX and Softswitch platforms 1.• Polycom’s comprehensive product portfolio encompasses the SoundPoint ®IP family of desktop phones, the attendant console based on the SoundPoint IP 601/650 and Expansion Module, and the SoundStation ®IP 4000 conference phone.Features and Benefits Outstanding Voice Quality• Polycom’s revolutionary HD Voice ™technology delivers voice communications of life-like interactivity, richness, and clarity*:- Exceptional sound quality, echo cancellation, and noise reduction - Support of G.722 wideband codec- Interactive two-way conversations that are as natural as being there- Polycom full-duplex 2speakerphones are compliant with IEEE 1329 standards • Network-related provisioning for superb voice quality:- Quality of Service – IEEE 802.1 p/Q, Layer 3 TOS, and DSCP 3- Dynamic jitter buffer- Sophisticated packet loss concealment algorithms Enhanced Call Handling, Security, and • Support of up to 24 simultaneous calls on up to 12 lines Advanced Applications 4, 5• Shared call / bridged line appearance • Busy Lamp Field (BLF)• Multiple call- and flexible line appearances• TLS security 3, encrypted configuration files 3, HTTPS secure provisioning 7, support of “signed” software executables 7, URL syntax for boot server address, and digest authentication•Microsoft ®LCS 2005 interoperability for telephony and presence 3- Compatibility with Microsoft Office Communicator and Windows ®Messenger 5.1 clients•XHTML micro-browser for productivity-enhancing Web-based applications 8Ease of Use• Polycom IP phones provide an easy transition from legacy PBX and Key Systems to the world of IP communications:- Intuitive user interface- Easy-to-read, high-quality LCD displays with up to 320x160 pixel resolution - A combination of up to 26 dedicated hard keys and up to 4 context-sensitive soft keys for one-touch access to essential featuresEfficient Installation, Provisioning, and Ugrades • Polycom IP phones are designed to make installation, configuration, and upgradesas simple and efficient as possible:- Centralized provisioning and upgrades from an FTP , TFTP , HTTP 7, or HTTPS server - Support of provisioning 3 and call server redundancy - Manual or DHCP set-up. Web configuration- Lower cabling expenses: dual-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet switch for LAN and PC connection 9- Choice of powering options: AC adapter or Power over Ethernet Investment Protection• Polycom IP phones can be upgraded to new firmware in the field so as to consistently meet your business communication needs as protocols develop and standards evolve • Polycom IP phones are standards-based, so there is no need to replace them when upgrading or replacing your standards-based call server* Currently available on SoundPoint IP 650 and 550. In some calling scenarios, such as IP to PSTN, Polycom HD Voice will not be available and the call will progress in narrowband instead.1Please visit /techpartners.htm for a full list of supported IP PBX and Softswitch solutions.2The SoundPoint IP 301 has a monitor-only speakerphone.3Requires SIP version 2.0.x or higher.4Most features must be supported by the call server. Please contact your IP PBX / Softswitch vendor or service provider for a list of supported features.5Not all Polycom VoIP phones support all features. Please refer to the product documentation for details.7Requires BootROM 3.0.x or higher.8Not available on the SoundPoint IP 301.9The SoundPoint IP 320 and SoundStation IP 4000 have a single 10/100 Ethernet port.Polycom ®IP TelephonesQuick Reference GuideThe Power of a Network. The Simplicity of a Phone.7SoundPoint IP 550:Cutting-edge SIP feature set meets Polycom HD Voice■Application targets: manager's / professional's office ■4 lines■Integrated PoE support (IEEE 802.3af)■Polycom HD Voice for all audio paths■320 x 160 pixel backlit grayscale graphical LCD■26 dedicated hard keys, 4 context-sensitive soft keys ■SIPWW MSRP*: $369PERFORMANCEAt-a-GlanceRev. 03/07Polycom Headquarters:4750 Willow Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588 (T) 1.800.POLYCOM (765.9266) for North America only. For North America, Latin America and Caribbean (T) +1.925.924.6000, (F) +1.925.924.6100 Polycom EMEA:270 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4DX, (T) +44 (0)1753 723000, (F) +44 (0)1753 723010Polycom Asia Pacific:8 Shenton Way, #11-01 Temasek Tower, Singapore 068811 (T) +65.6389.9200, (F) +65.6323.3022© 2007 Polycom,Inc. All rights reserved.Polycom, the Polycom logo, SoundPoint and SoundStation are registered trademarks and HD Voice is a trademark of Polycom, Inc. in the U.S. and various countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. Specifications are subject to change without notice.* Subject to change without noticeSoundPoint IP 301:Entry-level two-linedesktop IP phone that delivers remarkable value■Application targets: common areas, warehouse ■2 lines■PoE support with optional cable ■Monitor-only speakerphone ■4 line x 20 character-based LCD■12 dedicated hard keys, 3 context-sensitive soft keys ■SIP , MGCPUS MSRP*: $180SoundPoint IP 501:Three-line desktop IP phone that delivers exceptional voice quality■Application targets: office, SOHO, hotel room ■3 lines■PoE support with optional cable■Full-duplex speakerphone with Acoustic Clarity Technology■160 x 80 pixel grayscale graphical LCD■24 dedicated hard keys, 4 context-sensitive soft keys ■SIP , MGCPUS MSRP*: $270SoundPoint IP 330 and 320:Entry-level IP phones with enterprise-grade features and outstanding voice quality■Application targets:- Cubicle, call center (SoundPoint IP 330)- Common areas, dorm rooms, wall-mounted deployments (SoundPoint IP 320)■2 lines■Integrated PoE support (IEEE 802.3af)■Full-duplex speakerphone with Acoustic Clarity Technology ■102 x 33 pixel graphical LCD■15 dedicated hard keys, 3 context-sensitive soft keys ■Two-port 10/100 Ethernet switch (SoundPoint IP 330)■Single 10/100 Ethernet port (SoundPoint IP 320)■SIPWW MSRP*: $179 (SoundPoint IP 330)$139 (SoundPoint IP 320)SoundPoint IP 430:Full-duplex speakerphone, built-in PoE, and a graphical LCD■Application target: cubicle ■2 lines■Full-duplex speakerphone with Acoustic Clarity Technology■Integrated PoE support (IEEE 802.3af)■132 x 46 pixel graphical LCD■16 dedicated hard keys, 4 context-sensitive soft keys ■SIPWW MSRP*: $239SoundPoint IP 601:Six-lines, advanced functionality, and Expansion Module support■Application targets: manager’s office, telephone attendant's desk■6 lines (standalone) / 12 lines (with Expansion Module)■Integrated PoE support (IEEE 802.3af and Cisco Inline Power)■Full-duplex speakerphone with Acoustic Clarity Technology ■320 x 160 pixel grayscale graphical LCD■26 dedicated hard keys, 4 context-sensitive soft keys ■Support of up to three Expansion Modules (SIP only)■SIP , MGCPUS MSRP*: $399SoundStation IP 4000:The clear IP conferencing solution■Full-duplex conference phone featuring Acoustic Clarity Technology■10-ft. microphone coverage expandable to 20-ft.x 30-ft. with optional extension microphones ■PoE support with optional PoE Interface Module ■248 x 68 pixel backlit graphical LCD ■SIPUS MSRP*: $1,099SoundPoint IP Expansion Module:Turn the SoundPoint IP 601/650 into a high-performance attendant console■Application target: telephone attendant's desk ■14 illuminated keys configurable as a line key, or a speed dial with BLF■160 x 320 pixel grayscale graphical LCD ■Plug-and-play, hot-swappable■Cord-free, no AC adapter required – power and signaling are provided by the host phoneWW MSRP*: $299SoundPoint IP 650:High-performance IP phone with Polycom HD Voice ™■Application targets: executive office■6 lines (standalone) / 12 lines (with Expansion Module)■Integrated PoE support (IEEE 802.3af)■Polycom HD Voice for all audio paths■320 x 160 pixel backlit grayscale graphical LCD ■26 dedicated hard keys, 4 context-sensitive soft keys ■Support of up to three Expansion Modules ■USB port for future applications ■SIPWW MSRP*: $449ENTRY-LEVELMAINSTREAMATTENDANTCONFERENCE。
Communication is an essential aspect of human interaction,and it plays a vital role in our daily lives.It is the process of sharing information,thoughts,and feelings with others.Effective communication is crucial for building relationships,resolving conflicts, and achieving goals.Here are some key points to consider when discussing communication in an English essay:1.Importance of Communication:Begin your essay by highlighting the significance of communication in various aspects of life,such as personal relationships,professional settings,and global interactions.2.Types of Communication:Discuss the different forms of communication,including verbal,nonverbal,written,and digital.Explain how each type serves a unique purpose and can be used effectively in different contexts.3.Barriers to Communication:Identify common obstacles that can hinder effective communication,such as language barriers,cultural differences,and emotional states. Provide examples of how these barriers can be overcome.4.Active Listening:Emphasize the importance of active listening in communication. Explain how it involves not just hearing the words but also understanding the message, interpreting the intent,and responding appropriately.5.NonVerbal Cues:Discuss the role of body language,facial expressions,and tone of voice in conveying messages.Explain how these nonverbal cues can sometimes contradict or reinforce the verbal message.6.Cultural Influences on Communication:Explore how cultural backgrounds can affect communication styles.Discuss concepts such as highcontext and lowcontext cultures and their impact on the way people communicate.7.Technological Advancements:Reflect on how technology has transformed the way we communicate.Discuss the benefits and challenges of digital communication,such as social media,email,and instant messaging.8.Effective Communication Strategies:Offer tips for improving communication skills, such as being clear,concise,and respectful.Discuss the importance of empathy and understanding in effective communication.9.Conflict Resolution:Explain how effective communication can be used to resolve conflicts.Discuss the use of assertive communication and negotiation techniques to reachmutually beneficial outcomes.10.Future of Communication:Conclude your essay by speculating on the future of communication,considering the impact of artificial intelligence,virtual reality,and other emerging technologies.Remember to provide specific examples and reallife scenarios to illustrate your points. Use a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary to make your essay engaging and informative.。
Carbohydrate Polymers 101 (2014) 1043–1060Contents lists available at ScienceDirectCarbohydratePolymersj o u r n a l h o m e p a g e :w w w.e l s e v i e r.c o m /l o c a t e /c a r b p olReviewFunctionalized bacterial cellulose derivatives and nanocompositesWeili Hu,Shiyan Chen ∗,Jingxuan Yang,Zhe Li,Huaping Wang ∗State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials,Key Laboratory of High-performance Fibers and Products,Ministry of Education College of Materials Science and Engineering,Donghua University,Shanghai 201620,Chinaa r t i c l ei n f oArticle history:Received 9August 2013Received in revised form 23September 2013Accepted 29September 2013Available online 6 October 2013Keywords:Bacterial cellulose Modification Nanocomposites Functionalizationa b s t r a c tBacterial cellulose (BC)is a fascinating and renewable natural nanomaterial characterized by favor-able properties such as remarkable mechanical properties,porosity,water absorbency,moldability,biodegradability and excellent biological affinity.Intensive research and exploration in the past few decades on BC nanomaterials mainly focused on their biosynthetic process to achieve the low-cost preparation and application in medical,food,advanced acoustic diaphragms,and other fields.These investigations have led to the emergence of more diverse potential applications exploiting the function-ality of BC nanomaterials.This review gives a summary of construction strategies including biosynthetic modification,chemical modification,and different in situ and ex situ patterns of functionalization for the preparation of advanced BC-based functional nanomaterials.The major studies being directed toward elaborate designs of highly functionalized material systems for many-faceted prospective applications.Simple biosynthetic or chemical modification on BC surface can improve its compatibility with differ-ent matrix and expand its utilization in nano-related applications.Moreover,based on the construction strategies of functional nanomaterial system,different guest substrates including small molecules,inor-ganic nanoparticles or nanowires,and polymers can be incorporated onto the surfaces of BC nanofibers to prepare various functional nanocomposites with outstanding properties,or significantly improved physicochemical,catalytic,optoelectronic,as well as magnetic properties.We focus on the preparation methods,formation mechanisms,and unique performances of the different BC derivatives or BC-based nanocomposites.The special applications of the advanced BC-based functional nanomaterials,such as sensors,photocatalytic nanomaterials,optoelectronic devices,and magnetically responsive membranes are also critically and comprehensively reviewed.Crown Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Contents 1.Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................10442.Construction strategies of BC-based functional nanomaterials .....................................................................................10452.1.Biosynthetic modification .. (1045)2.1.1.Altered BC structure ................................................................................................................10452.1.2.Nanocomposites .. (1046)2.2.Chemical surface modification ...............................................................................................................10462.3.In situ formation of nanostructures . (1047)2.3.1.In situ formation of nanostructures through reduction reaction ..................................................................10482.3.2.In situ formation of nanostructures through precipitation reaction...............................................................10482.3.3.In situ formation of nanostructures through sol-gel reaction (1048)2.4.Ex situ introduction of components..........................................................................................................10492.5.Other combined strategies ...................................................................................................................10493.Applications of BC-based functional nanomaterials .................................................................................................10533.1.Sensors........................................................................................................................................10533.2.Photocatalytic nanomaterials . (1053)∗Corresponding authors.Tel.:+862167792950;fax:+862167792726.E-mail addresses:chensy@ (S.Chen),wanghp@ (H.Wang).0144-8617/$–see front matter.Crown Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved./10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.09.1021044W.Hu et al./Carbohydrate Polymers101 (2014) 1043–10603.3.Optoelectronics (1054)3.3.1.Electrically conductivefilms (1054)3.3.2.Optically transparentfilms (1055)3.3.3.Flexible displays (1056)3.3.4.Photoluminescent and photochromicfilms (1056)3.4.Magnetically responsivefilms (1057)4.Concluding remarks (1058)Acknowledgements (1059)References (1059)1.IntroductionIt is well known that cellulose is a very important and fasci-nating biopolymer and an almost inexhaustible and sustainable natural polymeric raw material,which is of special importance both in industries and in daily lives.In the past decade,the design and development of renewable resources and innovative prod-ucts for science,medicine and technology have led to a global revival of interdisciplinary research and utilization of this abun-dant natural polymer.Formed by repeated connection of glucose building blocks,cellulose possesses abundant surface hydroxyl groups forming plentiful inter-and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds,characterized by its hydrophilicity,chirality,biodegrad-ability,and broad chemical-modifying capacity(Klemm,Heublein, Fink,&Bohn,2005).The properties of cellulose largely depend on the specific assembling and supramolecular order controlled by the origin and treatment of cellulose(Eichhorn et al.,2010).Bacterial cellulose(BC)has the same molecular formula as plant cellulose, but with unique and sophisticated three-dimensional porous net-work structures.Intrinsically originated from the unique structure, BC demonstrates a serious of distinguished structural features and properties such as high purity,high degree of polymerization(up to8000),high crystallinity(of70–80%),high water content to99%, and high mechanical stability,which is quite different from the natural cellulose(Barud et al.,2011).These specific parameters are determined by the biofabrication approach of BC(Fig.1)and the controllable shape and supramolecular structure through the alter-ation of cultivation conditions during fermentation.These amazing physicochemical properties have attracted significant interest from both research scientists and industrialists.So far,BC has wide appli-cation in variousfields including medical,food,advanced acoustic diaphragms,and so on(Klemm et al.,2011).These research and exploration have led to the emergence of more diverse potential applications exploiting the functionality of BC nanomaterials.In view of expanding the scope of BC applications,it is important to take full advantage of the unique structure and properties of BC nanomaterials to develop novel BC-based nanomaterials with ground-breaking new features.Various modification methods have been explored to open up possibilities for endowing BC with new functionalities(Klemm et al.,2011).Simple biosynthetic or chemical modification on BC surface can improve its compatibility with different matrixes and expand its utilization in nano-related applications.Another notable feature of BC is its high aspect ratio and abundant active functional hydroxyl groups,which makes it suitable for combination with different nanostructures by provid-ing powerful interaction of BC with surrounding species,such as inorganic and polymeric nanoparticles and nanowires(Huang& Gu,2011).This novel concept breaks new ground to make optimum use of the specific chemical properties of the guest substrates,in association with the unique features of renewable BC resources. As a promising template in the synthesis of a great variety of nanostructures with designed properties and functionalities,BC can play the role of reducing agent,structure-directing agent and stabilizer(Yang,Xie,Deng,Bian,&Hong,2012).The polymeric or inorganic ingredients can be incorporated and cooperatively inter-act with BC nanofibers to attain some functional products.Such new high-value materials are the subject of continuing research and are commercially interesting in terms of new products from the inexhaustible and sustainable natural polymeric raw material.In the last few years,growing worldwide activity can be observed regarding extensive scientific investigation and increas-ing efforts for the practical use of the BC materials.There is an increasing annual publication activity on BC(also known as micro-bial cellulose or bacterial nanocellulose)since2000as presented in Fig.2.In recent years,the investigation and utilization of BC in functional materials have been the focus of research,and a growing number of works have been included in thisfield.Functional BC-based nanomaterials are especially an attractive topic because they enable the creation of materials with improved or new properties by mixing multiple constituents and exploiting synergistic effects, such as electronic,optical,magnetic,catalytic properties and bioac-tivity.With a special property or several remarkable functions, functional BC-based nanomaterials are a type of high value-added materials possessing potential applications in specificfields.In this review,recent developments on BC-based advanced functional nanomaterials including modified BC nanomaterials,functional BC-based nanocomposites and their applications will be discussed and reviewed.A variety of surface functionalization through biosyn-thetic or chemical modification will be considered,which can improve the functionality of BC nanomaterials and expandits Fig.1.The illustration of biofabrication process of BC.W.Hu et al./Carbohydrate Polymers101 (2014) 1043–10601045Fig.2.The illustration of the annual number of publications on BC since2000 (SciFinder Scholar search system,search term“bacterial cellulose”).potential applicationfields.Various approaches to the preparation of functional BC-based nanocomposites by incorporating different guest substrates including small molecules,inorganic nanoparti-cles or nanowires,and polymers on the surfaces of BC nanofibers are summarized,which mainly focus on the preparation methods,per-formances and some formation mechanisms of specific functional nanomaterials.2.Construction strategies of BC-based functional nanomaterialsAlthough BC nanomaterial has unique physical and chemical characteristics,its high degree of crystallinity and sole functional group lead to its poor dissolubility and processability,thereby limiting the applicationfields.BC possesses an abundance of hydroxyl groups on the surface,where modification can be easily achieved.It can be modified to achieve alternative functional groups and patterns of functionalization using in situ and ex situ modification methods as shown in Fig.3.The properties of BC derivatives are primarily determined by the type of the functional groups.In particular,modified BC with more than one functional group possessing different surface characteristics such as lipophilic–hydrophilic properties,magnetic and optical properties combined with a controlled pre-set functionalization pattern is in the center of interest.2.1.Biosynthetic modificationThe shape and supramolecular structure of BC can be controlled by the change of cultivation conditions such as the type of strain, carbon source,and additives(Heßler&Klemm,2009;Klemm et al., 2006).Studies have demonstrated the potential for manipulating the biogenesis of BC in order to produce modified BC nanofibers with a controlled composition,morphology,and properties.The inclusion of additives in the nutrient media components during biosynthesis can influence the assembly and microstructure of BC including the crystallinity,crystalline polymorphism,crystal-lite size and ribbon width.The presence of additives in the media may interfere with the bacterial cells or bind directly to the cel-lulose during production,thereby affecting the yield,structure, morphology and physical properties of BC.The in situ generation of composites can also be effectively regulated during biosynthesis by the inclusion of additives and dispersed particles.2.1.1.Altered BC structureAs a remarkable benefit of BC,the ultrastructure and morphol-ogy of BC can be altered by introducing additives not specifically required for bacterial cell growth in the media.The effects of the water-soluble agents in culture media on the aggregation and crystallization of BC microfibrils were intensively studied.Adding various water-soluble chemical reagents can modify the microfib-rillar features of the cellulosic ribbons.Adding nalidixic acid or chloramphenicol produced ribbons with an apparently larger width,probably because several ribbons from a cluster of cells whose dividing process was inhibited,combined or intertwined. While adding dithiothreitol produced ribbons with only45%width of the control ribbons on average(Yamanaka&Sugiyama,2000). Fig.3.Schematic illustration of the generalized synthetic routes to modified BC nanomaterials(Chen et al.,2010;Geng et al.,2011;Heßler&Klemm,2009;Hu,Chen,Xu, et al.,2011;Ifuku et al.,2009;Oshima et al.,2008;Shen et al.,2009;Yamanaka&Sugiyama,2000).1046W.Hu et al./Carbohydrate Polymers101 (2014) 1043–1060The pore system and water content of BC can be controlled in situ by the incorporation of water soluble polymers such as carboxymethylcellulose(CMC),hydroxypropylmethyl cellu-lose(HPMC),methylcellulose(MC),poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)and polyethylene glycol(PEG)to the culture medium(Seifert,Hesse, Kabrelian,&Klemm,2004).In the presence of these additives,the pore system and elasticity of BC,as well as the water adsorption and water holding capacity can be controlled.It has been claimed the addition of HPMC,CMC and MC can cause decreased crystallinity and crystal size,as well as greater thermal stability and pore size (Chen,Chen,Huang,&Lin,2011).Along with the formation of porelike network structure,the water retention ability and the ion absorption capacity increase.The functionalized BC produced with CMC also showed good adsorption performances for copper and lead ions(Chen et al.,2009).Nevertheless the presence of PVA in the culture medium results in a reduced water absorption ability and a slightly higher copper ion capacity in comparison with original BC.The addition of-cyclodextrin or PEG400causes a remarkable pore size increase(Heßler&Klemm,2009).Surprisingly,these co-substrates act as removable auxiliaries not incorporated in the BC samples.Other polymers such as Tween80,urea,fluorescent bright-ener and sodium alginate(NaAlg)have also been incorporated into the BC fermentation medium,with the observed differences in pore size,degree of polymerization,crystallinity,fiber widths and mechanical strength(Huang,Chen,Lin,Hsu,&Chen,2010; Ruka,Simon,&Dean,2013;Zhou,Sun,Hu,Li,&Yang,2007). The results revealed that the addition of urea can increase the mechanical strength.The bundle widths of BC produced withfluo-rescent brightener increased and the cellulose network void grew. BC produced with NaAlg added has a lower crystallinity,a smaller crystalline size and an enhanced yield.2.1.2.NanocompositesIn particular,the additives can be in situ incorporated into the growing BCfibrils to create a novel type of nanocomposites,which represents a very specific and important modification method of BC.This in situ technique can combine the properties of altered supramolecular structure of BC with those of the incorporated com-ponents.So far,researchers have put different efforts to obtain BC nanocomposites by applying various additives such as organic com-pounds,polymers and inorganic substances(Klemm et al.,2011).The biological fermentation of BC in presence of cationic starch leads to the formation of double-network BC composites by incor-poration of the starch derivative in the BC network(Heßler& Klemm,2009).This double-stage structure consists of an opaque upper and a transparent under part.As shown in Fig.4a,in case of the upper layer,the additive adsorbs at the cellulosefibers and causes an irregular distribution of the pore sizes.The under layer indicates the incorporation of the starch into the solvate shells of the BC prepolymer,forming an exciting skinnyfilm structure (Fig.4b).Other characteristic examples include the additives of poly(ethylene oxide)(Brown&Laborie,2008),PVA(Gea,Bilotti, Reynolds,Soykeabkeaw,&Peijs,2010)and starch(Grande et al., 2009)in the media for the formation of nanocomposites with the incorporation of these additives into the network of BC.Along with the increase of the additive content,the cellulose crystallized into smaller nanofibers,which further bonded together into bundles. The BC nanofibers were well dispersed in the composites and the nanocomposites typically show significantly improved mechanical properties.The inorganic additives can drastically modify the performance of BC.BC/multiwalled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs)composites can be obtained in the presence of MWCNTs in an agitated cul-ture(Park,Kim,Kwon,Hong,&Jin,2009;Yan,Chen,Wang,Wang, &Jiang,2008).Interestingly,a core–shell structure model was demonstrated,with the packed MWNTs attached nascent sub-elementaryfibrils as the core of the cellulose assemblies as shown in Fig.4c.While in the static culture method,band-like assemblies with sharp bends and rigidness were produced in the presence of MWCNTs.Similarly,the crystallinity index,crystallite size,and cellulose I␣content also changed,which may be attributed to the interaction between the hydroxyl groups of treated MWCNTs and the sub-elementary BCfibrils,interfering with the aggre-gation and crystallization of BC microfibrils.By adding silica or titanium precursor into the static growth medium,the SiO2and TiO2nanoparticles about several tens of nanometers in size can be incorporated onto BC microfibrils(Geng et al.,2011;Yano,Maeda, Nakajima,Hagiwara,&Sawaguchi,2008)(Fig.4d).It is inferred that the basic proteins in the outer membrane of bacterium cell act as the catalyst for the hydrolysis and condensation of inorganic precur-sor,the surface of both outer membrane and BC nanofibers renders the nucleation and growth sites for inorganic nanoparticles.The space-temporal effect endows bacteria the delicate control ability over formation of the nanocomposites.2.2.Chemical surface modificationAlthough the biosynthetic modification of BC is a kind of green sustainable technology,the strict microbial fermentation environ-ment restricts the introduction of some additives.Other questions involving the interaction mechanism between the additives and microfibrils growth,as well as the structure control of BC nanofibers still need to be addressed.While chemically modified methods are not limited by the required types of pared to the biosynthesis method,its more clearly defined objectives and prin-ciples make it a feasible modified method for BC material.Since the chemical composition of BC is similar to plantfibers,it can also be carboxymethylated,acetylated,phosphorylated,and mod-ified by other graft copolymerization and crosslinking reaction to obtain a series of BC derivatives.The introduction of new functional groups to the BC structure can endow BC with various features such as hydrophobicity,ions adsorption capacity and optical proper-ties while maintaining the unique three-dimensional nano network and excellent mechanical properties of BC.In most cases,the modification of BC focuses on the improve-ment of its applicability and performance in different application fields.Several methods have been employed to achieve BC derivatives with improved metal ions absorption capacity.The functionalized diethylenetriamine-BC(EABC),amidoximated BC (Am-BC)and phosphorylated BC have been prepared as new adsor-bents for metal ions(Chen,Shen,Yu,Hu,&Wang,2010;Oshima, Kondo,Ohto,Inoue,&Baba,2008;Shen et al.,2009).The experi-mental data showed that the microporous network structure of BC was maintained after the modification and these novel adsorbent showed good adsorption performances for different metal ions.To anchor metallic ions on BC nanofibers,the carboxylate groups have been introduced onto the BC nanofiber surface using the2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyradical(TEMPO)-mediated oxidation system(Ifuku,Tsuji,Morimoto,Saimoto,&Yano,2009).The oxida-tion can proceed under mild aqueous conditions maintaining the crystallinity and crystal size of BC nanofibers.In order to improve the dispersability and compatibility in dif-ferent solvents or matrices that are suitable in the production of nanocomposites,the acetylation of BC based on a non-swelling reaction mechanism was reported recently.BC could be partially acetylated by thefibrous acetylation method to modify its physical properties,while preserving the microfibrillar morphology(Kim, Nishiyama,&Kuga,2002).The hydrophobicity of the acetylated surface is advantageous for maintaining a large surface area on drying from water and would make the microfibrils compatible with other hydrophobic materials.While most of the chemicallyW.Hu et al./Carbohydrate Polymers101 (2014) 1043–10601047Fig.4.SEM images of freeze-dried upper part of BC/starch composite(a),under part of BC/starch composite(b),middle layer of BC/MWCNTs composites(c),and BC/SiO2 nanocomposites(d)(Geng et al.,2011;Heßler&Klemm,2009;Park et al.,2009).modified techniques require tedious solvent exchanges that strongly diminish the environmental benefit of the use of BC.A major thrust of recent BC modification research focused on the design of more economical and environmentally friendly method to obtain novel BC derivatives.Thus,a solvent-free derivatization system appears as an important goal to get BC derivative prod-ucts with hydrophobic surfaces with a minimum environment impact.In line with the solvent-free BC derivatization concept,BC preserving the microfibrillar morphology has been partially acety-lated using acetic anhydride in the presence of iodine as a catalyst (Hu,Chen,Xu,&Wang,2011).Another example is the reported vapor-phase technique which has been applied recently for the surface esterification of BC microfibrils with the help of gaseous trifluoroacetic acid mixed with acetylating agents(Berlioz,Molina-Boisseau,Nishiyama,&Heux,2009).Experimental results have shown the acetylation proceeded from the surface to the interior crystalline core of BC nanfibers.Hence,for moderate degree of sub-stitution,the surface was fully grafted whereas the cellulose core remained unmodified and the originalfibrous morphology was maintained.The obtained acetylated BC membrane shows more hydrophobic surface and good mechanical properties as shown in Fig.5,which is in favor of enhancing the hydrophobic non-polar polymeric matrix.2.3.In situ formation of nanostructuresBC has unique micro-nano porous three-dimensional network, which can facilitate the penetration of various metal ions into the interior.It also possesses a great deal of hydroxyl and ether bonds,forming the effective reactive sites to anchor metallic ions on the surface of the nanofibers.Then a variety of inorganic nanoparticles or nanowires can be formed through precipitation, oxidation–reduction and sol–gel reaction as shown in Fig.6.Dif-ferent from the doped nanoparticles into BC matrix,the size and morphology of the nanoparticles can be regulated by adjusting the structure of BC template and the in situ preparation condi-tions.At the same time,the nanospace in the BCfibers can behave as an effective nanoreactor to prevent the unwanted agglomera-tion phenomenon,ensuring the effective dispersion of the formed nanoparticles in the BC matrix.In the process of in situ preparation of BC-based nanocompos-ites,the second components such as metal and polymer in the form of particles orfibers can be introduced into the BC matrix,while retaining the unique three-dimensional nanoporous network of BC.BC can be viewed as a soft template to control the synthesis of desired nano-materials or nano-structure with specific size and shape.This can obtain a variety of novel functional materialswith Fig.5.(a)FE-SEM image of vacuum-dried acetylated BC,and the inset shows the profile of water droplets on the membrane surface.(b)Tensile stress–strain behaviors of air dried BC and acetylated BC(Hu,Chen,Xu,et al.,2011).1048W.Hu et al./Carbohydrate Polymers 101 (2014) 1043–1060Fig.6.Schematic diagram of the in situ preparation of nanoparticles/BC nanocomposites.unique features and outstanding ing BC as a tem-plate in the in situ synthesis of nano-materials has the following advantages:BC is a kind of environment-friendly and renewable material which can be produced from a wide range of raw mate-rials.The shape,structure and properties can be easily adjusted during the biosynthesis,pretreatment and chemical modification process.Furthermore,the BC matrix can be removed by calcination to obtain the pure inorganic nanoparticles and nanowires structure.Therefore,BC with controllable structure and pore size can provide restrictive environment to ensure a variety of nanostruc-tures effectively embedded in the matrix.The method does not require severe conditions,and is simple and easy to implement,which can obtain the nano-particles with narrow size distribution.So far,this method has been applied to synthesize different nano-materials such as metal,semiconductor and electrically conducting polymers through different preparation methods.2.3.1.In situ formation of nanostructures through reduction reactionThere have been some reports regarding the application of BC as a soft template to in situ form different metal nanoparticles by the reduction reaction as shown in Table 1.The size and mor-phology of the formed nanoparticles can be controlled by using different reducing agents including sodium borohydride (NaBH 4),triethanolamine,hydrazine (NH 2NH 2),hydroxylamine (NH 2OH),ascorbic acid,polyethylenimine (PEI)and so on (Barud et al.,2008;Yang,Xie,Hong,Cao,&Yang,2012;Zhang et al.,2010).These reducing agents can serve as an assistant material for stabilizing nanoparticles,preventing their aggregation.In addition,BC itself can be used as a reductant to produce metal nanoparticles (Yang,Xie,Deng,et al.,2012),without introducing additional reducing agent or stabilizing agent,thus avoiding the secondary pollutants and guaranteeing the feasibility of its applications in medical and catalytic field.2.3.2.In situ formation of nanostructures through precipitation reactionWell-separated nanofibrils of BC create an extensive surface area forming active sites for metal ion adsorption,and the sub-sequent introduction of precipitating agent will react with the immobilized metal ions to generate the initial nuclei of metal or oxide.Then the nuclei continue to grow,thereby further forming functional inorganic nanoparticles as shown in Fig.7.The growth of the nanoparticles was readily controlled by repeated alternating dipping of BC membranes in the metal ion and precipitating agent solution followed by a rinse step.So it is feasible for BC to serve as an excellent matrix in the synthesis of nanoparticles through the in situ precipitation reaction.CdS and CdSe nanoparticles have been synthesized and stabi-lized on BC nanofibers using in situ precipitation method (Li et al.,2009a;Yang et al.,2012a ).At first,hydroxyl and ether groups of BC anchored Cd 2+or thioglycolic acid capped Cd 2+,then the anchored Cd 2+reacted with S 2−or Se 2−to generate CdS or CdSe nanoparti-cles on the BC nanofibers as shown in Fig.8.The results indicatedthat nanoparticles with the diameter of 20–30nm deposited on BC nanofibres are well-dispersed in the BC nanofibre-network.AgCl nanoparticles with a size of several tenths of nanometers have been in situ synthesized in the three-dimensional non-woven network of BC nanofibrils (Hu et al.,2009).The growth of the nanoparticles was readily obtained by repeated alternating dipping of BC mem-branes in the solution of silver nitrate or sodium chloride followed by a rinse step.The nanopore is essential for introduction of silver ions and reaction with Cl −to form AgCl particles into BC fibers and removal of the excess chemicals from BC fibers.BC can serve as an excellent matrix in the in situ synthesis of the Fe 3O 4nanoparticles through the coprecipitation reaction (Zhang et al.,2011).The ultrafine network architecture of BC gives a good tunnel for Fe 2+/Fe 3+adsorption and ensures the effec-tive anchoring of absorbed ions onto the BC nanofibers through ion–dipole interactions.After being rinsed with distilled water to remove the unanchored ions,the obtained ions/BC complexes were immersed into the excessive NaOH solution.The interaction between Fe 2+/Fe 3+and OH −can induce the formation of Fe 3O 4nanoparticles with the diameter of 80–100nm as shown in Fig.9.During the in situ formation process of different nanostruc-tures,the size and size distribution of the formed nanoparticles are controllable by adjusting synthetic parameters such as the con-centration of metal ions.When the concentration of metal ions is too high,the BC nanofibers fails to fully immoblize and dis-perse the large number of metal ions due to the limited hydroxyl reactive sites shown in Fig.10.Meanwhile,the presence of excess metal ions would result in the agglomeration of the nanoparticles due to the higher aggregation speed than the orientation speed in the particle growth process.Therefore the concentration of the reaction solution needs to be reduced appropriately to ensure the metal ions and nanoparticles effectively dispersed and fixed onto the surface of the nanofibers.However,when the concentra-tion is too low,the loading amount of the nanoparticles will be significantly reduced,which would degrade the performance of the final products.The exploration of optimal reaction conditions would be particularly important to achieve the effective dispersion of nanoparticles with sufficient loading amount,thereby obtain-ing the functional nanocomposite materials with excellent optical,electrical,magnetic and antibacterial properties.2.3.3.In situ formation of nanostructures through sol-gel reactionTaking advantage of the ultrafine nanofibrous structure,as well as abundant porous channels inside the network,BC nanomateri-als can be used as the templates to in situ prepare metal oxides through the sol–gel reaction.The schematic diagram of the in situ preparation process is described in Fig.11.When immersing BC into the precursor solution,the inorganic ions can be immobilized onto the BC nanofibers.Then it can be solidified to form the gel through hydrolysis and condensation,and subsequently heated to form the desired oxides.BC template can stabilize and disperse the formed oxides nanoparticles through van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding interaction,prompting generated nanoparticles distributed along the surface of nanofibers.The BC template can。
英语作文模板三卷英文回答:Section 1: Reading Comprehension。
1. What was the main idea of the passage?The main idea of the passage is that technology has significantly impacted the way we communicate, with both positive and negative effects.2. What are some of the positive effects of technology on communication?Some of the positive effects of technology on communication include:Increased accessibility and convenience。
Enhanced collaboration and productivity。
Access to a wider range of information。
Breaking down geographical barriers。
3. What are some of the negative effects of technology on communication?Some of the negative effects of technology on communication include:Reduced face-to-face interaction。
Privacy concerns。
Information overload。
Digital divide。
4. How has technology changed the way we communicate with family and friends?Technology has changed the way we communicate with family and friends in a number of ways, including:Increased frequency and speed of communication。
2024江苏成教英语学位英语考试真题全文共3篇示例,供读者参考篇12024 Jiangsu Continuing Education English Degree Examination - English Test QuestionsPart I: Reading Comprehension (40 points)Read the following passages and choose the best answer to each question.Passage 1:During college, students have many different kinds of experiences. Some students choose to study abroad while others prefer to stay closer to home. Studying abroad can be a great way to experience a new culture, meet new people, and improve language skills. However, studying abroad can also be challenging as students have to adapt to a new environment and face homesickness.1. What is the main idea of the passage?A. Studying abroad is the best option for all college students.B. College students should never study abroad.C. Studying abroad has both benefits and challenges.D. Studying abroad is not a good way to meet new people.2. According to the passage, why is studying abroad challenging?A. Students do not get to experience a new culture.B. Students do not have to adapt to a new environment.C. Students do not face homesickness.D. Students cannot improve their language skills.Passage 2:Technology has changed the way we communicate with each other. Many people now use social media platforms to stay in touch with friends and family. However, some experts argue that this can lead to a decrease in face-to-face interactions and a lack of genuine relationships.3. What is the main topic of the passage?A. The benefits of using social media to communicate.B. The negative effects of using social media to communicate.C. The importance of face-to-face interactions.D. The history of communication technology.4. According to the passage, what is a potential downside of relying on social media for communication?A. Increased face-to-face interactions.B. A decrease in genuine relationships.C. Improved communication skills.D. Greater social connectedness.Part II: Writing (60 points)Choose one of the following topics and write an essay of approximately 300 words.1. Describe a memorable experience you had while studying English. How did it impact your language learning journey?2. Discuss the role of technology in language learning. What are the benefits and challenges of using technology to improve language skills?3. Do you think studying abroad is necessary for language proficiency? Why or why not?Remember to support your arguments with examples and explanations.Best of luck on your exam!篇22024 Jiangsu Adult Education English Degree English Exam QuestionsPart I: Listening Comprehension (30 points)Section A: Short ConversationsDirections: In this section, you will hear several short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. The conversations and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a conversation and the question about it, read the four possible answers on your paper, and decide which one is the best answer to the question you have heard.1. A. She thinks the man is a great dancer.B. She agrees to go dancing with the man.C. She would rather stay home and watch TV.D. She prefers eating dinner than going dancing.2. A. At 8:30.B. At 9:00.C. At 9:15.D. At 9:30.Section B: PassagesDirections: In this section, you will hear several passages. The passages will be read twice. After you hear a passage, you must complete the questions. You will hear the questions only once. Choose the best answer to each question.3. A. 120.B. 150.C. 75.D. 100.4. A. They are high in calories.B. They can cause headaches.C. They can lead to tooth decay.D. They may affect the memory.Part II: Reading Comprehension (40 points)Section A: Multiple Choice QuestionsDirections: In this section, you will read several passages. Each passage is followed by several questions. Read the passage and choose the best answer to each question. Answer the questions according to what is stated or implied in the passages.Passage 1Are you a coffee lover who needs a caffeine fix to start your day? If so, you're not alone. Millions of people around the world rely on their daily coffee to wake them up and keep them going. But is all that caffeine really good for you?5. According to the passage, why do many people need coffee in the morning?A. To relax.B. To stay awake.C. To improve their memory.D. To have a good taste.6. What is the main topic of the passage?A. The benefits of coffee.B. The harmful effects of coffee.C. The origin of coffee.D. The different types of coffee.Passage 2Many people believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It provides the body with the necessary fuel to start the day off right. However, some individuals prefer to skip breakfast for various reasons.7. Why do some people choose to skip breakfast?A. They are not hungry in the morning.B. They want to lose weight.C. They don't have enough time.D. They don't like breakfast foods.8. What is the main idea of the passage?A. Breakfast is essential for a healthy lifestyle.B. Skipping breakfast can lead to weight gain.C. People should eat breakfast to maintain energy levels.D. Breakfast foods are not appealing to everyone.Section B: True or False StatementsDirections: In this section, you will read several statements that are either true or false. Read the passages carefully and decide whether each statement is true or false.Passage 3As the world becomes increasingly globalized, proficiency in English has become a valuable skill. Many companies require their employees to be fluent in English to communicate effectively with customers and colleagues from around the world.9. Proficiency in English is not important in today's globalized world.A. TrueB. False10. Many companies expect their employees to speak English well.A. TrueB. FalseSection C: Fill in the BlanksDirections: In this section, you will read a passage with blanks. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best completes the passage.Passage 4Computers have become an essential part of our lives. They are used for various purposes such as communication, research, entertainment, and work. With the advancement of technology, computers have (11) ___________ our daily activities easier and more convenient.Part III: Writing (30 points)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic of "The Importance of Lifelong Learning". You should write at least 150 words on the answer sheet.Good luck on your exam!篇32024 Jiangsu Adult Higher Education English Degree ExaminationPart I Listening Comprehension (25 points)Section A Conversations (5 points)Directions: In this section, you will hear five short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. The conversations and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a conversation and the question about it, read the four possible answers on your paper, and decide which one is the best answer to the question you have heard.1. A. She prefers to take the subway.B. She doesn't know how to get there.C. She will drive her friend to the airport.D. She will not be able to drive her friend to the airport.2. A. It was rewarding.B. There were too many participants.C. He didn't enjoy it very much.D. He was not lucky in the game.3. A. The woman has trouble sleeping.B. The man is worried about the woman.C. The man advised the woman to see a doctor.D. The woman is looking for someone to help her.4. A. She will not take the final exam.B. She will take the last exam of the semester soon.C. She will sign up for the final examination.D. She needs more time to study for the final exam.5. A. The man has an appointment this afternoon.B. They have already met today.C. The woman missed their appointment this morning.D. The man will call the woman tomorrow.Section B Mini-talks (10 points)Directions: In this section, you will hear ten short mini-talks. At the end of each mini-talk, a question will be asked about what was said. The mini-talks and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a mini-talk and the question about it, read the four possible answers on your paper, and decide which one is the best answer to the question you have heard.6. A. The man is richer than the woman.B. The woman is wealthier than the man.C. The man wants to sell the car.D. The woman wants to buy a car.7. A. To meet an overseas friend.B. For business.C. For sightseeing.D. To attend a wedding.8. A. They may not be able to go to the exhibition.B. They need to buy tickets beforehand.C. They are not interested in the exhibition.D. They have already bought the tickets.9. A. The woman has been to France.B. The man is going on a business trip to France.C. They will go on a trip to France together.D. The woman wants to go to France next year.10. A. Talking on the phone while driving.B. Sending messages while walking.C. Listening to music while biking.D. Texting while driving a car.11. A. The man dislikes spicy food.B. The man doesn't like Chinese food.C. The man enjoys Chinese hot pot.D. The man prefers Western cuisine.12. A. She missed the presentation.B. She got lost on her way to the presentation.C. She enjoyed the presentation.D. She will attend the presentation.13. A. To greet a colleague.B. To book a resort.C. To arrange a meeting.D. To invite a guest.14. A. They will go to the embassy.B. They will watch a movie.C. They will have dinner.D. They will visit a museum.15. A. They will have a farewell dinner.B. They will not go to the party.C. The woman will attend the party alone.D. They will go to the party together.Section C Passages (10 points)Directions: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, read the four possible answers on your paper, and decide which one is the best answer to the question you have heard.PassageOne16. A. A singer.B. A teacher.C. A banker.D. A doctor.17. A. An office.B. Her old job.C. A fashion show.D. Her singing career.18. A. The man.B. Her mother.C. The woman.D. Her friends.Passage Two19. A. He is a taxi driver.B. He is a professor.C. He is a surgeon.D. He is a police officer.20. A. He saved a drowning swimmer.B. He rescued a child from a burning car.C. He stopped a group of bank robbers.D. He helped a lost tourist find their way.21. A. He refused to take any reward.B. He received a medal from the president.C. He was given a large cash prize.D. He was promoted in his job.Passage Three22. A. Going to see a movie.B. Having a meal.C. Going to a concert.D. Shopping for clothes.23. A. They wanted to escape the crowd.B. It was too late to watch a movie.C. They were hungry.D. They didn't like the movie.24. A. The museum was closing.B. The concert was sold out.C. The restaurant was full.D. The shops were closing down.Part Ⅱ Reading Comprehension (40 points) Section A (10 points)Directions: For each blank in the following passage, there are four choices given below, and you are to choose the one that best fits the context. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.One of the greatest pleasures of visiting a foreign city is wandering ____25____ its markets. In some countries, markets are very formal, offering an array of goods ____26____ in fairly organized stalls. The _____27____ ones are those that are less organized and have an exciting air of uncertainty. In Ghana, for example, the traditional markets can be ____28____ overwhelming with their constant hustle and bustle, but this is where one can find the most intriguing goods, from colorful fabrics to handmade crafts. In India, markets not only sell goods but are places where people come together to socialize and share news. The smells of cooking and incense fill the air, and the constant noise is like ____29____ to a symphony of humanity.25. A. alongB. aroundC. acrossD. within26. A. exceptB. displayedC. incurringD. amend27. A. bestB. vestC. testD. nest28. A. almostB. easilyC. nearlyD. frequently29. A. hearingB. yieldingC. bindingD. fulfilling Section B (10 points)Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.(1) Renting an apartment can be a great way to have more freedom and space, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Once you've found the perfect apartment, you'll need to sign a lease, which is a legal document saying you agree to live in the apartment for a certain amount of time and pay rent. Always read the lease carefully before signing. Make sure you understand all the terms and conditions.(2) The next step is moving in. This can be a difficult process, but if you organize your move properly, it will go much more smoothly. Use a checklist to make sure you don't forget anything important, and consider hiring a moving company if you have a lot of furniture or heavy items.(3) Once you're settled in, be sure to communicate with your landlord about any issues or repairs that need to be done in the apartment. It's their responsibility to make sure the apartment is in good condition. Finally, make sure to pay your rent on time every month to avoid any issues.(4) Renting an apartment can be a great experience if you're prepared and know what to expect. Enjoy your new space and make the most of it!30. What does a lease agreement do?A. Allows you to live in an apartment for free.B. States that you agree to live in an apartment and pay rent.C. Allows you to move out whenever you want.D. Provides a checklist for moving in.31. How can you make sure your move goes smoothly?A. Hire a moving company.B. Don't use a checklist.C. Move heavy items yourself.D. Ignore any issues in the apartment.32. Whose responsibility is it to make repairs in the apartment?A. The tenant's.B. The landlord's.C. The moving company's.D. The neighbor's.33. What should you do to avoid issues when renting an apartment?A. Pay your rent late.B. Don't communicate with your landlord.C. Read the lease carefully.D. Ignore any problems in the apartment.Section C (10 points)Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.Years ago, people used to think that intelligence was a fixed trait, something you were born with and couldn't change. But the latest research suggests that intelligence can actually be developed and improved throughout your life. This idea is known as the growth mindset.People with a growth mindset believe that their abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work and determination. They see failures as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than as signs of incompetence. This mindset can lead to greater success in all areas of life, from school and work to relationships and personal growth.So how can you develop a growth mindset? One way is to embrace challenges and see them as opportunities to learn.Instead of avoiding difficult tasks, take them on and see them as chances to improve and grow. Another important aspect is to persevere in the face of setbacks. Don't give up when things get tough; instead, see challenges as a chance to learn and try again.By developing a growth mindset, you can unlock your full potential and achieve success in all areas of life. So next time you face a challenge, remember that with hard work and determination, you can overcome it and grow as a person.34. According to the passage, what is the growth mindset?A. The belief that intelligence is fixed and cannot be changed.B. The idea that intelligence cannot be developed.C. The belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work.D. The belief that intelligence is fixed and cannot be improved.35. How do people with a growth mindset view failures?A. As opportunities to learn and grow.B. As signs of incompetence.C. As chances to give up.D. As reasons to avoid challenges.36. What is one way to develop a growth mindset?A. Avoiding challenges.B. Giving up when things get tough.C. Embracing challenges and seeing them as opportunities to learn.D. Ignoring difficulties and setbacks.37. According to the passage, how can developing a growth mindset lead to success?A. By avoiding challenges.B. By persevering in the face of setbacks.C. By giving up easily.D. By seeing failures as signs of incompetence.Section D (10 points)Directions: Read the following text and answer the questions that follow.(1) The Internet has changed the way we live in many ways, but one of the most significant changes has been in the way we communicate. With the rise of social media platforms, we can now connect with people from all over the world instantly and easily.(2) Social media has also changed the way we consume news and information. Instead of waiting for the evening news or the morning newspaper, we can now get news updates in real-time through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.(3) However, social media also has its downsides. With the rise of fake news and misinformation, it can be difficult to know what news sources to trust. It's important to fact-check information before sharing it with others.(4) Social media has also been criticized for its impact on mental health. With the rise of social comparison and the constant need for validation from likes and comments, many people feel pressured to present a perfect image of themselves online.(5) Despite its drawbacks, social media can be a valuable tool for connecting with others, sharing information, and building communities. It's important to use social media responsibly and be aware of its potential pitfalls.38. How has social media changed the way we communicate?A. We can only connect with people in our local area.B. We can only communicate through email.C. We can connect with people from around the world instantly.D. We can only communicate in person.39. How has social media changed the way we consume news and information?A. We can only get news updates from newspapers.B. We can only get news updates from the evening news.C. We can now get news updates in real-time through social media.D. We can only get news updates through phone calls.40. What is one downside of social media mentioned in the passage?A. It's a valuable tool for connecting with others.B. It can be difficult to fact-check information.C. It has a positive impact on mental health.D. It doesn't affect mental health.41. According to the passage, why do many people feel pressured on social media?A. Because they don't care about likes and comments.B. Because they don't need validation.C. Because they feel the need for constant validation.D. Because they prefer to present a perfect image of themselves online.Part III Writing (15 points)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 60 minutes to write an essay on the topic of "The Importance of Lifelong Learning". You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below in English.1. Definition of lifelong learning2. Importance of lifelong learning3. Ways to achieve lifelong learning4. Personal opinion and conclusionRemember to write clearly and present your explanation cohesively.Good luck with your exam! Remember to manage your time wisely and stay focused throughout each section. Best of luck in your English Degree Examination!。
The modern era has brought about a plethora of benefits that have significantly transformed the way we live,work,and interact.From technological advancements to social changes,the advantages of living in the modern world are manifold and farreaching.Here are some of the key benefits that the modern age has to offer:1.Technological Advancements:The most apparent benefit of modernity is the rapid pace of technological innovation.Smartphones,the internet,and artificial intelligence have become integral parts of our daily lives,making tasks more efficient and accessible. For instance,communication has been revolutionized with instant messaging and video calls,making it possible to stay connected with people across the globe.2.Medical Breakthroughs:Modern medicine has seen remarkable progress,leading to the development of lifesaving treatments and vaccines.The eradication of many diseases that were once widespread,such as polio and smallpox,is a testament to the power of modern medical science.cational Opportunities:Access to education has never been easier.With the advent of online learning platforms,individuals can pursue higher education and acquire new skills from the comfort of their homes,regardless of their geographical location.4.Global Connectivity:The modern world is more interconnected than ever before. Social media and other digital platforms have made it possible to share ideas,cultures, and experiences on a global scale,fostering a sense of global community.5.Economic Opportunities:The modern economy is characterized by a global marketplace,providing opportunities for trade and investment across borders.This has led to economic growth and the creation of jobs,lifting many out of poverty.6.Environmental Awareness:While modernization has had its environmental costs,it has also led to a greater understanding of the need for sustainable practices.Renewable energy sources,such as solar and wind power,are becoming more prevalent,and there is a growing movement towards reducing waste and conserving resources.7.Cultural Diversity:Modern society is more culturally diverse than at any other time in history.This diversity is celebrated through various forms of art,music,and cuisine, enriching the cultural landscape and promoting tolerance and understanding.8.Travel and Exploration:Modern transportation has made it possible to travel to the farthest reaches of the world with relative ease.This has opened up opportunities for exploration,tourism,and cultural exchange.9.Legal and Social Progress:Modern societies have made significant strides in terms of legal and social progress,with many countries enacting laws that protect individual rights and promote equality.This has led to a more inclusive and just society.10.Entertainment and Leisure:The modern world offers a vast array of entertainment options,from streaming services to virtual reality experiences.This has transformed leisure time,providing endless opportunities for enjoyment and relaxation.In conclusion,the modern era is characterized by a host of benefits that have improved the quality of life for many.While challenges such as climate change and economic inequality persist,the potential for positive change and progress is greater than ever before.It is up to individuals and societies to harness these benefits responsibly and work towards a future that is both sustainable and equitable.。
2025年全国大学英语CET四级考试模拟试卷及答案指导一、写作(15分)WritingTask: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic “The Importance of Reading in Life.” You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. You should base your essay on the outline given below:1.Introduce the significance of reading in daily life.2.Discuss the benefits of reading, such as expanding vocabulary, improving writing skills, and enhancing knowledge.3.Conclude by expressing your personal views on the importance of reading.Example:Reading: The Key to a Wealthy MindIn today’s fast-paced world, reading has become an essential part of daily life. It is not merely a hobby but a crucial tool for personal and professional growth.Firstly, reading greatly expands one’s vocabulary. By encountering new words and phrases in various contexts, individuals can enrich their languageskills and express themselves more effectively. Moreover, reading improves writing skills by providing examples of good sentence structure and persuasive arguments.Secondly, reading broadens one’s knowledge. Whether it’s through novels, non-fiction books, or articles, reading exposes us to different cultures, ideas, and perspectives. This not only fosters critical thinking but also helps us understand the world around us better.In conclusion, reading is an invaluable activity that enriches our minds and enhances our lives. It is through reading that we can continue to grow, learn, and adapt to the ever-changing world. As such, I firmly believe that reading should be a lifelong pursuit.Analysis:This example essay effectively addresses the topic by following the given outline. The introduction clearly states the significance of reading in daily life. The body paragraphs then discuss the benefits of reading, with the first paragraph focusing on vocabulary expansion and the second on knowledge enhancement. The conclusion summarizes the essay’s main points and reinforces the importance of reading.The essay demonstrates a good command of language, with a variety of sentence structures and appropriate vocabulary usage. It also maintains a coherent flow of ideas, making it easy for the reader to follow the aut hor’s argument.二、听力理解-短篇新闻(选择题,共7分)第一题Passage OneNews Item 1:A new study reveals that the number of people working from home has doubled in the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many companies have embraced remote work as a way to reduce costs and improve employee satisfaction. However, experts warn that this trend may lead to increased mental health issues among workers. The study suggests that employers should provide support systems to help employees manage the challenges of working from home.Questions:1、What is the main topic of the news item?A) The benefits of working from home.B) The challenges of working from home.C) The increase in remote work during the pandemic.D) The impact of remote work on mental health.2、Why have many companies embraced remote work?A) To reduce costs.B) To improve employee satisfaction.C) Both A and B.D) To address the COVID-19 pandemic.3、What is the concern expressed by experts regarding the trend of workingfrom home?A) It may lead to a decrease in employee satisfaction.B) It may increase mental health issues among workers.C) It may cause a decline in productivity.D) It may lead to more workplace accidents.Answers:1、C2、C3、B第二题News Item 1:A new study has shown that consuming green tea may help reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that compounds in green tea called polyphenols can protect brain cells from the damage caused by toxins. The study followed over 1,000 individuals over a period of 10 years. Those who consumed green tea regularly were 50% less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those who did not.Questions:1、What is the main finding of the study conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles?A) Green tea can completely cure Parkinson’s disease.B) Regular consumption of green tea may reduce the risk of developingParkinson’s disease.C) Only those who drink green tea are at risk of develop ing Parkinson’s disease.D) Polyphenols in green tea are harmful to brain cells.2、How long did the study follow the participants?A) 5 yearsB) 7 yearsC) 10 yearsD) 12 years3、According to the study, what percentage reduction in the risk of developing P arkinson’s disease was observed in regular green tea consumers compared to non-consumers?A) 20%B) 30%C) 40%D) 50%Answers:1、B) Regular consumption of green tea may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.2、C) 10 years3、D) 50%三、听力理解-长对话(选择题,共8分)第一题听力原文:A. Man: Hey, are you ready for the CET-4 exam?B. Woman: Yeah, I’ve been studying really hard for the past few months.I think I’m ready.A. Man: That’s good to hear. Do you have any tips for the listening section?B. Woman: Well, I would say practice is key. Listen to English news, watch English movies, and try to understand the conversations.A. Man: And what about the reading section?B. Woman: I would focus on reading a variety of materials like newspapers, magazines, and online article s. It’s important to get used to different styles of writing.A. Man: I see. And what about the writing section?B. Woman: For the writing section, I would recommend practicing writing essays on different topics. It’s also important to check your grammar and punctuation.A. Man: That makes sense. I’m going to do the same thing. Good luck!B. Woman: Thanks, and good luck to you too!选择题:1、What are the speakers mainly discussing?A. Preparation for the CET-4 examB. Different sections of the CET-4 examC. Tips for improving English listening skillsD. The importance of practice for the CET-4 exam2、What does the woman say about the listening section?A. She suggests focusing on reading materials.B. She thinks it’s important to practice listening to English news.C. She recommends studying grammar for the listening section.D. She suggests practicing writing essays for the listening section.3、What does the woman say about the reading section?A. She believes it’s important to study grammar for the reading section.B. She thinks it’s important to practice listening to English news.C. She recommends focusing on a variety of reading materials.D. She suggests practicing writing essays for the reading section.4、What does the woman suggest for the writing section?A. She recommends studying grammar for the writing section.B. She thinks it’s important to practice listening to English news.C. She suggests focusing on a variety of reading materials.D. She recommends practicing writing essays on different topics.答案:1、A2、B3、C4、D第二题Listen to the following conversation and answer the questions.W: Hi, John. How was your weekend?M: Oh, it was great. I decided to take a trip to the countryside. I went to visit an old friend who lives there.W: That sounds nice. Did you do anything specific?M: Yes, we went for a hike in the mountains. It was beautiful. We also stopped by a small village for lunch.W: Did you try any local dishes?M: Absolutely. We had this delicious chicken dish with potatoes and vegetables. It was so flavorful.W: That sounds amazing. How long did you stay?M: We spent the whole day there. We didn’t leave until evening. It was a perfect getaway.W: I wish I could go somewhere like that. What did you do when you got back?M: I just relaxed and took a nice, long shower. I was exhausted from all the walking.W: Sounds like a good way to unwind. Do you think you’ll go back anytime soon?M: I think so. My friend and I are planning another trip next month.1.What did the man do over the weekend?A) He stayed home.B) He visited a friend in the countryside.C) He went to the beach.D) He had a staycation.2.Why did the man go to the countryside?A) To see a family member.B) To attend a conference.C) To go hiking.D) To visit a museum.3.What did the man and his friend do while in the countryside?A) They watched a movie.B) They went shopping.C) They went for a hike.D) They had a picnic.4.What did the man say about the local food?A) It was too spicy.B) It was not as good as he expected.C) It was delicious and flavorful.D) It was too expensive.Answers:1.B) He visited a friend in the countryside.2.C) They went for a hike.3.C) They went for a hike.4.C) It was delicious and flavorful.四、听力理解-听力篇章(选择题,共20分)第一题听力篇章Passage OneQuestions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage.American football, originally a college game, was introduced into the United States by Walter Camp, who is called the “Father of American Football.” Camp was a coach at Yale University, and he is known as the man who invented the system of numbering the players on the field. The game was originally played by using a soccer ball. Camp suggested that a ball resembling a prolate spheroid (椭球体) be used. This ball is rounder than a soccer ball and is used in American football today.The rules of the game were also established by Camp. He divided the field into two sections, with the goal line in the center. The game was played with a single ball, and each team tried to carry the ball across the opponent’s goal line. The first team to do so would win the game. Camp also introduced the concept of tackling, which is the act of tackling an opponent to the ground. This is still a fundamental part of the game today.Over the years, American football has become a professional sport, with teams competing in the National Football League (NFL). The NFL is the most popular professional football league in the United States. The game is also played in high schools and colleges across the country.1、What is Walter Camp known for in American football?A)、Being the founder of the NFL.B)、Inventing the system of numbering players on the field.C)、Introducing the game to the United States.D)、Establishing the rules of the game.2、What did Camp suggest as a replacement for the soccer ball in the early days of American football?A)、A ball with a square shape.B)、A ball resembling a prolate spheroid.C)、A ball with a flat surface.D)、A ball with a hole in the center.3、According to the passage, what is the main objective of each team in an American football game?A)、To score points by carrying the ball across the opponent’s goal line.B)、To tackle the opponent’s players to the ground.C)、To win the game by scoring the most points.D)、To pass the ball to the opponent’s team.第二题PassageIn recent years, the concept of “slow living” has gained significant attention around the world. This movement encourages people to slow down their pace of life and appreciate the present moment. One of the key principles ofslow living is the emphasis on local and sustainable consumption.The fast-paced modern world has led to increased stress, anxiety, and a sense of being overwhelmed. Many people feel that they are constantly chasing after time, and they often forget to take care of their physical and mental health. Slow living advocates believe that by reducing the pace of life, individuals can achieve a better work-life balance and lead a more fulfilling life.One way to practice slow living is by supporting local businesses and consuming locally produced goods. This not only helps to strengthen the local economy but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation. For example, buying fresh produce from local farmers’ markets not only supports local agriculture but also ensures that the food is fresh and nutritious.Moreover, slow living encourages people to connect with others and build strong communities. Activities such as cooking together, sharing meals, and engaging in community service are all part of the slow living philosophy. These activities foster a sense of belonging and reduce social isolation.However, the transition to slow living can be challenging. It requires a conscious effort to change habits and prioritize experiences over material possessions. It also means being more mindful of one’s consumption and making sustainable choices.Questions:1、What is the main idea of the passage?A) The benefits of fast livingB) The importance of consuming locally produced goodsC) The concept and principles of slow livingD) The challenges of practicing slow living2、According to the passage, what is one of the positive effects of slow living?A) Increased stress and anxietyB) A better work-life balanceC) Higher levels of social isolationD) Less appreciation for the present moment3、Why is supporting local businesses important in the context of slow living?A) It helps to reduce the carbon footprint of long-distance transportationB) It encourages people to consume more material possessionsC) It promotes global economic dominanceD) It leads to the decline of local agricultureAnswers:1、C2、B3、A第三题Passage OneWhen it comes to working with animals, you might think of a veterinarian,a person who treats sick animals. But in the United States, some people work with animals without treating them. They train them to do certain things. These people are known as animal trainers.The work of an animal trainer can be difficult. Not all animals are willing to do what they are asked. Sometimes, a trainer has to work for hours without getting any results. But when an animal finally performs a task correctly, the trainer feels a great sense of satisfaction.Many animal trainers work with animals that perform in shows. These animals might be seen in circuses, zoos, or on television. They can also be seen in commercials. Animal trainers work with many different kinds of animals. Some work with dogs, cats, and other pets. Others work with animals that are not pets, such as horses, dolphins, and even bears.Animal trainers use different methods to train animals. They use positive reinforcement, which means that they reward an animal when it does something right. They also use negative reinforcement, which means that they punish an animal when it does something wrong. Some trainers use a combination of both methods.Training animals can be dangerous. A trainer might be bitten or scratched by an animal. Even when an animal seems friendly, it can still be unpredictable. That’s why animal trainers must be careful and patient.Questions:1、What is the main purpose of the passage?A. To describe the difficulties faced by animal trainers.B. To explain the different methods used by animal trainers.C. To discuss the various types of animals that animal trainers work with.D. To introduce the concept of animal trainers and their work.2、According to the passage, how do animal trainers feel when an animal finally performs a task correctly?A. DisappointedB. AnnoyedC. SatisfiedD. Bored3、What is one potential danger associated with being an animal trainer?A. Being late for workB. Not getting enough sleepC. Being bitten or scratched by an animalD. Forgetting to feed the animalsAnswers:1、D2、C3、C五、阅读理解-词汇理解(填空题,共5分)第一题Read the following passage and then answer the questions by choosing the most suitable word for each blank from the four choices given below.In the fast-paced modern world, technology has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. It has revolutionized the way we communicate, work, and even how we interact with others. One of the most significant advancements in technology is the internet, which has transformed the way we access information and connect with people from all over the world.However, despite its numerous benefits, technology also poses several challenges. One of the most pressing issues is the impact it has on our mental health. Excessive use of smartphones and other electronic devices can lead to problems such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Additionally, the internet has made it easier for people to become victims of cyberbullying and online scams.1、It is crucial to maintain a balance between technology and our personal lives to ensure a healthy lifestyle.2、The internet has made it easier for people to access information, but it has also increased the risk of falling victim to online scams.3、Excessive use of smartphones and other electronic devices can have severe consequences for our mental health.4、In today’s world, technology has become an integral part of our daily lives.5、One of the challenges of technology is the negative impact it can haveon our mental well-being.A. indispensableB. revolutionizeC. accessD. cyberbullyingE. indispensableF. revolutionizeG. accessH. cyberbullying答案1、A2、H3、D4、E5、B第二题Reading PassageAs the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the importance of cultural competence has become more pronounced. Cultural competence refers to the ability to understand, appreciate, and interact effectively with people from different cultural ba ckgrounds. This skill is particularly valuable in today’s globalized economy, where companies and organizations are more likely to work with international partners and clients.One key aspect of cultural competence is the ability to communicate effectively across cultures. This involves not only understanding the linguistic differences but also being aware of the non-verbal cues and social norms that vary from one culture to another. For example, a high-context culture, like Japan, relies heavily on non-verbal communication and indirect communication, while a low-context culture, like the United States, tends to value direct and explicit communication.The following passage contains vocabulary that may be new to you. Choose the most appropriate word from the list below to complete each sentence. Thereare more words than sentences, so there will be some extra words. Do not use any of the words more than once.Vocabulary List:1.Acculturation2.Cohesion3.Diversify4.Harmony5.Integration6.Intricate7.Mnemonic8.Paradoxical9.Proliferate10.SynergySentences:1、The company has decided to__________their workforce to better represent the diversity of their client base.2、After years of living abroad, she felt a sense of__________with her new culture.3、The manager emphasized the importance of cultural__________in order to foster a positive work environment.4、The museum exhibit showcased the__________designs of various civilizations throughout history.5、To remember the names of all the new employees, he used a__________device to create memorable associations.Answers:1.Diversify2.Acculturation3.Cohesion4.Intricate5.Mnemonic六、阅读理解-长篇阅读(选择题,共10分)第一题Reading Passage OneIn recent years, there has been a growing concern about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health. While social media platforms offer numerous benefits, such as connectivity and access to information, they also pose significant risks to the mental well-being of users, especially teenagers. This passage explores the effects of social media on young people’s mental health and discusses potential solutions to mitigate these risks.Paragraph 1Social media has become an integral part of daily life for many young people. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter allow teenagers to connect with friends, share experiences, and express themselves. However, this constantexposure to the curated lives of others can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression.Questions:1、What is the main concern expressed in the first paragraph?A. The benefits of social media.B. The risks of social media.C. The impact of social media on daily life.D. The role of social media in teenagers’ lives.2、According to the passage, which of the following is a potential negative effect of social media on young people’s mental health?A. Increased self-esteem.B. Enhanced social skills.C. Reduced feelings of inadequacy.D. Heightened anxiety and depression.Paragraph 2Research has shown that excessive use of social media can lead to sleep disturbances, as teenagers spend more time on their devices rather than getting enough rest. Additionally, the constant need for validation and approval from peers can contribute to feelings of low self-worth and anxiety.Questions:3、What is one consequence of excessive social media use mentioned in the second paragraph?A. Improved sleep quality.B. Increased self-worth.C. Reduced anxiety.D. Sleep disturbances.4、Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a potential negative effect of social media use on mental health?A. Anxiety.B. Depression.C. Improved social skills.D. Sleep disturbances.Paragraph 3To address these issues, some experts suggest implementing stricter regulations on social media platforms, such as age restrictions and content filtering. Others argue that parents and educators should play a more active role in monitoring and guiding youn g people’s use of social media.Questions:5、What measures are suggested to mitigate the negative effects of social media on young people’s mental health?A. Implementing stricter regulations on social media platforms.B. Encouraging young people to use social media more frequently.C. Reducing the amount of time spent on social media.D. Ignoring the potential risks of social media.Answers:1、B2、D3、D4、C5、A第二题Reading Time: 40 minutesDirections: For this part, you are allowed 40 minutes to read a long passage and answer the questions on it. You should write your answers on the Answer Sheet.Passage:In the digital age, the way we communicate has undergone a remarkable transformation. With the advent of the internet and various digital platforms, the traditional methods of communication such as postal mail and landline phones have become less prominent. One of the most influential digital communication tools is social media. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have revolutionized the way people connect and share information. However, along with these advancements come challenges and concerns.1、The first challenge of digital communication is the potential for misinterpretation. Without the nuances of face-to-face communication,text-based messages can be easily misunderstood. This can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and even legal disputes.2、Another significant challenge is the issue of privacy. With the vast amount of p ersonal data being shared online, individuals’ privacy is at risk. Cybersecurity breaches have become increasingly common, and the consequences can be severe, ranging from identity theft to financial loss.3、Despite these challenges, digital communication offers numerous benefits. It allows people to connect with others across the globe instantaneously. This has facilitated international collaborations, business partnerships, and cultural exchanges. Additionally, digital communication is cost-effective and time-efficient.4、However, there are concerns about the impact of digital communication on face-to-face interactions. Some argue that excessive reliance on digital communication leads to a decline in interpersonal skills and the ability to engage in meaningful conversations.5、The following questions are based on the passage above.Questions:1、What is the main challenge of digital communication mentioned in the passage?A) Lack of face-to-face interactionB) Potential for misinterpretationC) High cost of communicationD) Difficulty in maintaining privacy2、Which of the following is NOT a challenge of digital communicationaccording to the passage?A) Privacy issuesB) Instantaneous connection with people worldwideC) Decline in interpersonal skillsD) Cybersecurity breaches3、What benefit of digital communication is mentioned in the passage?A) Increased risk of legal disputesB) Cost-effectiveness and time efficiencyC) Decline in face-to-face interactionsD) Enhanced cybersecurity4、What concern is raised about the impact of digital communication on face-to-face interactions?A) It leads to a decrease in the ability to engage in meaningful conversations.B) It increases the risk of cybersecurity breaches.C) It causes a decline in interpersonal skills.D) It leads to misunderstandings and conflicts.5、Which of the following is a positive aspect of digital communication mentioned in the passage?A) Increased risk of legal disputesB) Cost-effectiveness and time efficiencyC) Decline in interpersonal skillsD) Difficulty in maintaining privacyAnswers:1、B2、B3、B4、A5、B七、阅读理解-仔细阅读(选择题,共20分)第一题Reading Passage 1Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage.The digital revolution has transformed the way we live, work, and communicate. One of the most significant impacts has been on education. Online learning platforms, virtual classrooms, and educational apps have become increasingly popular, offering new opportunities for students and educators alike.In many countries, traditional classrooms are being augmented with digital tools and resources. Teachers are incorporating interactive whiteboards, tablets, and educational software into their lessons to enhance student engagement and understanding. This integration of technology has led to a more dynamic and engaging learning environment.However, the digital transformation of education also raises concerns aboutits impact on students’ social skills and mental health. Some argue that excessive reliance on digital devices can lead to isolation and anxiety, especially for younger students who are still developing their social and emotional abilities.Despite these concerns, the benefits of digital education are undeniable. Online learning platforms provide access to a vast array of resources that can supplement traditional classroom teaching. Students can access educational materials from around the world, engage in collaborative projects with peers, and receive personalized learning experiences tailored to their individual needs.1、What is one of the significant impacts of the digital revolution on education?A. Increased access to educational resources.B. Improved social skills among students.C. Reduction in teacher workload.D. Enhanced classroom engagement.2、How are digital tools and resources being used in traditional classrooms?A. To replace textbooks and traditional teaching methods.B. To augment existing teaching methods and enhance engagement.C. To reduce the number of students in each classroom.D. To provide students with more time for independent study.3、What is a concern raised about the digital transformation of education?A. The increase in the number of educational apps available.B. The potential negative impact on students’ social skills and mental health.C. The reduction in the quality of classroom instruction.D. The loss of interest in traditional learning methods.4、What is one of the benefits of online learning platforms?A. They require students to work independently at all times.B. They limit studen ts’ access to educational materials from other countries.C. They provide personalized learning experiences for each student.D. They are only useful for students who are already highly motivated to learn.5、How does the passage describe the role of digital tools and resources in education?A. They are a complete replacement for traditional teaching methods.B. They are being used to supplement and enhance traditional teaching methods.C. They are only beneficial for students who have access to advanced technology.D. They are being used to reduce the number of students in each classroom.Answers:1、A. Increased access to educational resources.。
CLOB:Communication Support for Efficient Replicated Database Recovery∗F.Castro-Company J.Esparza-Peidro M.I.Ruiz-Fuertes L.Ir´u n-Briz H.DeckerF.D.Mu˜n oz-Esco´ıInstituto Tecnol´o gico de Inform´a ticaUniversidad Polit´e cnica de Valencia46022Valencia,SPAIN{fcastro,jesparza,miruifue,lirun,hendrik,fmunyoz}@iti.upv.esAbstractReplication protocols using an eager update propaga-tion strategy commonly need a reliable broadcast service;i.e.,a broadcast primitive with atomic delivery and,in somecases,also with total order.This communication serviceprovides some appropriate features for the recovery tasks,although in some cases this will lead to partial blockingof the replica taken as the source in the updating process.CLOB is a framework for reliable broadcast protocols thatlog the missed update messages in case of failure,beingable to automatically resend these updates when the faultydestinations recover.This behaviour is easily configurableand allows an efficient recovery mechanism in case of short-term failures,which can be combined with other version-based recovery protocols in order to manage long-term out-ages.1.IntroductionAtomic broadcast protocols[7]have been widely usedto provide communication support for database replica-tion protocols based on the eager update propagation tech-nique[6].They lead to efficient solutions for guarantee-ing one-copy serializability,because the transaction com-mit phase can be done without requiring a distributed vot-ing phase[15],and with constant interaction;i.e.,the write-sets of each transaction may be propagated at commit time,but they do not need to be transmitted before.As a result,the communication costs can be highly reduced with thesetechniques,at least when no failures arise.When some replicas of the database have failed,the re-maining active ones have to maintain some additional datain order to allow their future recovery.According to[12],term failures,but discarding the log and notifying accord-ingly the database replication protocol modules in case of long-term outages.This kind of support can be easily com-bined with version-based recovery protocols.To this end, once a failure is detected the database replication protocol must follow its traditional version-based management for recovery purposes,but it will be discarded if the replica is able to rejoin the system soon.In this case,CLOB automat-ically propagates the missed update messages to the recov-ering replica,which receives and applies them avoiding any additional waiting time both in the source and destination replicas.On the other hand,if the outage period exceeds a given threshold,the reliable broadcast service will notify the replication protocol about that,discarding the message logs maintained by CLOB and delegating the recovery man-agement to the upper-layer components.This framework is thoroughly described in the follow-ing sections.To this end,the rest of the paper is structured as follows.Section2describes the system model.Section 3shows the overall architecture where CLOB may be ter,section4gives the main characteristics that CLOB introduces in the broadcast protocols pluggable in this framework.Section5provides some performance re-sults.Finally,section6presents some related work and sec-tion7concludes the paper.2.System ModelDatabase replicas are placed each one in a different node of a partially synchronous distributed system,where clocks are not synchronised but message transmission time can be bounded.The database is fully replicated in each node,i.e., each replica has a complete copy of the whole database.A group membership service is assumed.The set of pos-sible system nodes is known in advance,and a primary par-tition model is used in case of network partitions;i.e.,only the active subgroup with a majority of the preconfigured nodes,if any,is allowed to continue in case of a network partition.This characteristic will prevent communication when the system is started,until at least a majority of the system nodes are able to exchange messages among them. Thus,the needs for message logging are reduced in these initial phases.Moreover,the consistency of the database is trivially ensured in case of network partitions,since only the primary subgroup is able to continue,and it will be the only one who creates the log of missed updates,resending it when the subgroups are joined.A partial-amnesia crash failure model[4]is assumed for processes,whilst links may produce omission failures.This failure model is more realistic than the crash or fail-stop failure models[7],where a node is assumed to stop once it has failed,forcing to recover with another node identifier and without any previous state.A strict adoption of such models implies a complete database transfer in each recov-ery and that action will be too costly.The typical user of the CLOB support is a database repli-cation system.Such a system has to use a constant interac-tion[15]approach in order to propagate its updates among replicas;i.e.,the replica that has initially processed a given transaction propagates its updates to the rest of replicas only once.A linear interaction policy(i.e.,one that propagates the updates each time the transaction updates the database, instead of grouping them in order to multicast a unique message)needs additional parameters to decide when the logged messages can be removed.Note that in the linear interaction case all messages have to be logged,even if all the nodes are active,removing them when the transactions associated to them have been com-pleted(either committing or aborting).When a node fails, all the transactions already started in the other nodes have to be tagged,and their currently logged messages have to be maintained in the log in order to provide a complete se-quence of messages for each transaction needed in the re-covery process of such a faulty node.The algorithm de-scribed in this paper does not consider this case,and the log only maintains the missed updates.However,this does not work in a linear interaction system,because all the trans-actions are propagated to all replicas when they start,and in the faulty replica,all initiated transactions are removed from the system when it restarts,aborting them.As a result, with the scheme outlined in the following sections,CLOB only sends the missed updates,and part of them correspond to some transactions that have been aborted due to the fail-ure.For these transactions,we need to send all their mes-sages,including also those that were sent to the faulty node immediately before its failure.These extensions are not de-scribed in this paper,but have to be applied if we use a sys-tem based on linear interaction.3.Architecture OverviewThe CLOB support needs to be on top of a membership service and below the database replication protocol,which is the main user of the CLOB services,as it is shown in figure1.The membership service needs to use an unreli-able transport;for instance,one based on UDP.Each time the system membership changes,either due to a node join, a node failure or a network partition,its notifications have to be delivered to both the CLOB broadcast protocol and to the database replication protocol placed on top of it,and in such order.These four layers can be easily integrated in a more ellaborated architecture,as the one used in GlobData[9], where all these components build up the COPLA manager, placed on top of the database management layer called UDS [1].Another sample could be the RJDBC middleware[5].Inthis latter case,these layers have been integrated as a JDBC-compliant driver with database replication support which runs on top of the native JDBC driver for the DBMS be-ing used.On top of the database replication protocol several addi-tional layers could be placed.For instance,one representing the client applications that use the database.Additionally, each node will be able to access a local database replica. This is done using a common DBMS API to be called by the database replication protocol.4.CLOB DescriptionA broadcast protocol needs to comply with these require-ments in order to be included in the CLOB layer:•Logging of missed messages.•Logging of received messages.•Configurable removal of missed messages.Let us see in the following sections why these require-ments are needed.4.1.Logging of Missed MessagesIf a system node is placed in a non-partitioned group,or in a subgroup with a majority of the preconfigured nodes it will log all the messages it delivers if at least one of the preconfigured nodes has failed.These logged messages will be sent to the unavailable nodes when they rejoin the sys-tem,and will be automatically removed when all the con-figured nodes were available and once they would have re-ceived such messages.The broadcast protocol being used has to be at least a reliable one with FIFO order[7],as the one used in the FOB database replication protocol[13].In such cases, the database replication protocol requires some additional mechanisms to decide which transactions can be commit-ted.For instance,in the FOB case a voting phase is needed. On the other hand,when an atomic causal broadcast proto-col[7]the database replication protocol may not need such a voting phase[14].However,our basic log-based recov-ery support will be identical in both cases.In order to achieve an easy management,the log is di-vided in several segments.Each segment stores all messages that were sent and delivered between two consecutive view change events,and it has a header that includes this infor-mation:•A segment ID composed by the identifier of the new group view being installed.•A header core with the identifiers of all the nodes that were faulty when the segment started.Thus,when a node rejoins the system,the following al-gorithm is used tofind and transmit the appropriate se-quence of messages it has missed:1.The history of log segments is scanned until the old-est segment which has the recovering node ID in its header core is located.2.As a result,all the active nodes know which messagesare needed by the recovering node–all messages in the sequence of log segments that starts in the one located in the previous step–and these messages are packed ina recover message and transmitted using point-to-pointcommunication to such recovering node.To this end,a given criterion is used by the pre-viously available nodes in order to decide which one of them will act as source of the data transfer.For in-stance,the node with greatest identifier lower than the recovering one.3.Once this message transfer has concluded,the recov-ering node will broadcast an acknowledgement mes-sage.4.Once the previously active nodes receive this acknowl-edgement message,they start to remove the recovering node ID from the headers of all log segments transmit-ted to it.5.If in the previous step the headers of some log seg-ments become empty,such segments are removed from the log.The previous algorithm allows an easyfinding of the set of messages to be transmitted,and it also provides a sim-ple log removal criterion in its last step.Unfortunately,it is not fault-tolerant:what does it happen when one of the pre-viously active nodes fails in or before step3?At a glance, its log headers will not be updated,so its log of sent mes-sages will not be accurate and becomes useless once it re-covers.Thus,the following extensions are needed to deal with failures in this recovery algorithm:•The log of sent messages isfiltered in a recovering node before it requests to be accepted again in the sys-tem;i.e.,before its membership monitor sends itsfirst message to the rest of system nodes.In thisfiltering process,the header cores are re-moved in all the log segments maintained by the re-covering node.•Step2of the previous algorithm does not consist in the transmission of only the sequence of messages missed by the recovering node,but also of the headers of all the older log segments(initially not intended for the re-covering node)where its node ID did not appear,if any.Note that we only need to transmit the headers,since the message logs themselves are already in the logs of the recovering node,and have beenfiltered in the step described above.These additional headers are packed separately and placed in anotherfield of the recover mes-sage.They will allow that the recovered node could play a source role in future recoveries of other cur-rently faulty nodes.•Note that the previous item leads to include in step 2all the segment headers.As a result,the step4is also locally run in the recovering node,filtering thus all the received segment headers which contained its own node ID.•It is also worth noting that if any of the headers of the recovering node remains empty once the transmit-ted headers of the recover message have been applied, such empty headers are removed and their associated log segments,too.The latest item in the previous list avoids some problems in case of failure during the recovery process.For instance, let us assume that a node A is active in a given system view, with its log segments correctly maintained.Then,a node B rejoins the system,producing a view change event.As a re-sult,all the log segments missed by B have to be transmitted to it.When B is terminating its recovery process,it broad-casts an acknowledgement message to all system nodes.If B were the unique member of some of the segment headers, these headers and their associated log segments would have been removed from the log once this acknowledgement was received.But,let us assume that A failed when it decided to remove such segments,but without updating their headers nor starting such removal.When Afinally recovers,none of these segments nor their headers will be transmitted to A,and it has to remove them from the log.So,this sam-ple justifies that allfiltered and cleaned headers that have not been retransmitted in the recover message must be re-moved from the log.4.2.Logging of Received MessagesAll the messages broadcast and received by the system nodes are locally logged in their destination nodes until the target application–in our case,the database replication pro-tocol that applies the received messages in its local database replica–is able to acknowledge that these messages have been processed.If the node fails before the target applica-tion has processed such message,when the node recovers the same message is locally delivered again,without need-ing any communication with its sender.Note also that in the log described in section4.1,CLOB also logs those messages sent and delivered–indeed,if some node is faulty and both logs are maintained,both of them share their messages;i.e.,messages are not stored twice–,but the rationale of both logs is different.The missed log stores all messages delivered by each node in a view where at least one of the preconfigured system nodes is un-available.This is needed to build up the source of messages to be transmitted to those unavailable replicas when they re-cover.On the other hand,the receiving log always stores all delivered messages,independently of the current set of available nodes,and its function consists in guaranteeing that all delivered messages have beenfinally processed. The aim of this second log is to avoid message losses. Note that in a system based on virtual synchrony,once a node failure is detected a view change event is started and completed.Thus,all system nodes may know which was the last message delivered in the faulty node.However,de-livery of a message does not always imply its processing, since the node may have failed before such a processing was completed.Traditionally this has not been a problem in systems that use virtual synchrony,since in the recovery protocol the complete state of the replicated object is trans-ferred to the recovering replica.So,there is no problem in such cases with missed messages.These assumptions are not valid in our CLOB support,since it tries to minimize the amount of information being transferred in the recov-ery process.Thus,CLOB tries to send to the recovering replica only those messages that such replica was not able to deliver. So,if a message was delivered in a replica immediately be-fore its failure,some mechanism is needed to guarantee that such message isfinally processed.To this end,a message is logged in its destination nodes as soon as it is received and tagged as deliverable,once the broadcast protocol decides on that.This latter step depends on the broadcast protocol being used.Messages are discarded from this log as soon as the des-tination component acknowledges their processing.In order to do so,the CLOB broadcast protocols need an additional operation for their users that initiates the message removal from the log.These protocols need to associate an identi-fier to each message they have delivered,and this identifier is the one needed to request the removal of such message once it has been processed.Note also that a node may fail once it has processed a message,but before it has requested its removal.In our tar-get scenario this can be a problem,since this may lead to processing the same message twice.To prevent this,the database replication protocol has to ensure that it knows which has been the history of updates already applied. Thus,this database replication protocol needs to add a table (named DELIVTABLE contents are made in the same transaction,en-suring the atomicity of these changes.Additionally,the up-date on DELIVing this support,when a database replica is being recovered its local CLOB module will redeliver all messages that were not removed from the receiving log,and the database replication protocol will pro-cess all messages in this set whose identifiers were greater than the one recorded in the DELIVTABLE as described above.This recovery mechanism–i.e.,a log-based recovery one–is not optimal for all failure scenarios,as already stated in section1.If a node remains failed during a long period of time,there are other version-based recovery mechanisms that may reduce a lot the amount of information to be trans-mitted,shortening thus the recovery time,since the num-ber of required updates in the recovering database replica is minimized.As a result of this,the automatic recovery process out-lined in previous sections is highly recommended for short-term outages,but it is not adequate for long-term ones.On the other hand,CLOB is responsible for the log-based re-covery strategy,whilst a version-based one can only be sup-ported by the database replication protocol placed on top of CLOB.Both solutions can be easily combined,using the log-based solution for short-term failures and the version-based solution for medium-or long-term ones.Thus,CLOB uses a configurable parameter that selects which recovery strategy has to be used depending on the size of the sending log that the available nodes maintain whilst some of the database replicas remain crashed or in-accessible.This parameter may have the following values:•-1:Version-based recovery is not possible.The send-ing logs have to be always in use,independently of their size.This value will be used by those database replication protocols that are not based on item ver-sioning,as[5,10].•0:Log-based recovery is disabled.The sending logs will not be used.This will only happen if the broadcast protocol being used does not comply with the CLOB requirements described in section4.However,the re-ceiving log management will still be active with this configuration.•Positive values:These values express the affordable size of the sending log,in KB.Whilst the sending log remains smaller than such size,log-based recov-ery will be automatically used.Once such size is ex-ceeded for a given faulty node,such node will be re-moved from the header cores of the sending log and it will be forced to recover using a version-based ap-proach managed by the database replication protocol itself.Note that in these cases,version-based recovery has to be started as soon as a replica fails,but it will not be used if such replica recovers soon.Let us see what happens when positive values are used, since in such situations both recovery techniques have to be prepared in parallel,but only one of them isfinally applied depending on the size of the sending log.So,we have two cases:•Sending log smaller than the configured size.In this case the log-based recovery solution will be automati-cally applied.Once the recovery is completed,all repli-cas have to notify(using a CLEARSTATE notification is transferred to the upper layer once the step4has been completed in the algorithm described in sec-tion4.1;i.e.,no additional broadcast is needed,since the CLEAR•Sending log greater than the configured size.When the log stored for a given node(say N f)is greater than the configured maximum size,a VERSIONRECOVERY message implies that the database consistency protocol has to manage the recovery,without any help from the logging mecha-nism of the broadcast protocol.As a result,in both cases an additional local notifica-tion is needed to synchronise the adoption of the appropri-ate recovery technique,guaranteeing that the same decision is taken in all replicas.This is a minimal cost,since no ad-ditional broadcast has been needed to complete this step.5.Performance ResultsIn order to check the performance gains that may intro-duce the CLOB algorithm,we have simulated its use as a supporting tool for the FOBr[3]version-based recovery protocol.In these tests,a database with6000objects and four replicas has been used.The nodes are set in a cluster with a high-speed interconnection network,so communica-tion latency is negligible.The tests correspond to the best case environment for FOBr;i.e.,one where the transactions executed during the failure period have accessed multiple times the same ob-jects.In such a case,FOBr only needs to transfer the lat-est state version of these objects,whilst a log-based solu-tion still has to transfer all the logged messages.During the time a node remains failed,a sequence of transactions accessing objects in a set of15objects is re-peated multiple times.As a result,each accessed object has been updated multiple times and it needs to be transferred only once using FOBr.Figure2shows three different configurations of the CLOB support for the FOBr algorithm,depending on the size of the parameter discussed in section4.3.This param-eter takes the following values in our tests:•-1:It is shown as CLOB(-1)in thefigure,and it cor-responds to the log-based recovery solution.Remem-ber that this value prevents the use of the version-based protocol.•0:This value does not use the log-based recovery,us-ing only the log to ensure the delivery of the receivedmessages.The recovery tasks are completed using only the version-based protocol.•100K:When the log size exceeds100KB,the version-based recovery algorithm is used,otherwise the log-based solution is taken.In this test,this corresponds to approximately12missed transactions.Note that this value does not provide optimal re-sults in this example,but it is difficult tofind out in advance the optimal value for this parameter.This op-timal value depends on the application access pattern.In this test we can see that such optimal value corre-sponds to the size of the log when the updates of8 missed transactions have to be transferred,but we have used afixed access pattern for all transactions and this will not happen in a real environment.Thus,infigure2,the set of accessed objects corresponds only to15in each one of the active nodes.As a result,in CLOB(0)(i.e.,the version-based configuration)each of the source nodes need only to transfer the state of these15ob-jects.As we can see,the CLOB(-1)(i.e.,the log-based con-figuration)solution is still better than CLOB(0)if a low number of transactions has been executed whilst the recov-ering node was faulty.The CLOB(100K)configuration provides the same val-ues than the CLOB(-1)one if the size of the log does not arrive to100KB.This has been the optimal value when less than8transactions have updated the database objects. Once the log size exceeds this100K threshold,the recov-ery times provided by CLOB(100K)are similar to those of the CLOB(0)configuration for this sample.As we can see,CLOB cannot always guarantee the op-timal results,but its overall performance is good if a cor-rect threshold configuration is made.Take also into ac-count,that the tests shown infigure2are specially tailored to the version-based recovery algorithm.Other access pat-terns will provide different behaviours for the lob-based and version-based recoveries,and this may produce a longer ini-tial interval where the log-based solution is better than the version-based one.In such cases,the value of the CLOB threshold has less significance than in the sample shown in this test.We can design another test more appropriate to the CLOB behaviour.For instance,we may use a sequence of four different transactions,accessing each one of them to 15different objects;i.e.,the set of accessed objects is four times greater than in the previous test.Its cost for a log-based recovery algorithm will be identical to the one shown above,but the time needed to recover using a version-based algorithm is four times greater than in the previous case.The results of this second test,without modifying the CLOB threshold are shown infigure3.In this case,CLOB has pro-duced an optimal recovery time in the interval that includes 1to12missed transactions,but used the version-based ap-proach when more than12transactions have been missed.It does not use the optimal approach for the interval between 12and22missed transactions,but again this depends on the correct configuration of the threshold.In spite of all the problems outlined above tofind out the optimal threshold,we have shown that the overall results of these two samples are better than those obtained using only one of the traditional recovery approaches(version-based or log-based).6.Related WorkUsually,the best recovery protocols for replicated databases have been based on a logging technique [10,11,12,14],but this implies that the amount of infor-mation to be transmitted may be high in long-term out-ages.On the other hand,log-based solutions do not need to lock in read mode the database to transfer the database state in the source replica,and this ensures that the source repli-cas will not block during the state transfer of the recovery process.In version-based replication protocols[3,8,12,13]only those data items that have been changed during the fail-ure period are transferred to the recovering replica,reduc-ing thus the amount of information to be transmitted.This is the best technique in long-term outages.Our CLOB approach allows an easy transition between both techniques.Moreover,it automatises the logging tasks, freeing the database replication algorithm from these con-cerns.Currently,there are no systems with complete sup-port for both recovering approaches.The work described in[12]studied both of them,but itfinally proposes as the best approach one based on log-based transfers with lazy propagation in several phases.This may ensure,as the solu-tion presented in[10],a minimal blocking time in the non-recovering replicas,but such a characteristic is also achiev-able in CLOB.Moreover,CLOB ensures a minimal effort in the database replication protocol in order to achieve this, at least when the log-based case is used.7.ConclusionsThe framework described in this paper allows an easy combination of automatic log-based and protocol-specific version-based recovery techniques.Such a combina-tion provides a recovery solution with good overall per-formance,but requiring some additional storage space that has to maintain both the log of missed messages and the version-based information needed to complete the re-covery.However,version-based information is only a lit-tle percentage of the usual log-based one,as it can be seen in several examples[8,3],and this extra space require-ment can be balanced with the performance gains.References[1]J.E.Armend´a riz,J.J.Astrain,A.C´o rdoba,J.R.Gonz´a lezde Mend´ıvil,E.Mart´ınez,and J.Bataller.A persistent stor-ing service for use by consistency protocols.In IASTED In-ternational Conference on Applied Informatics,pages1–6, Innsbruck,Austria,Feb.2002.[2]K.Birman and R.van Renesse,editors.Reliable DistributedComputing with the Isis Toolkit.IEEE-CS Press,Los Alami-tos,CA,USA,1994.。