山东财经大学《大学英语（本科下）》期末复习题及参考答案（见后）

《大学英语（本科下）》模拟自测题

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I.VOCABULARY&STRUCTURE

Beneatheachofthefollowingsentences,therearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,C,

andD.Choosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentence.

(1)Youshouldfinishthebookreportbeforethenextweek.

A.deadlineB.dateC.targetD.goal

(2)Hehasmuchtimeandenergyforhisinvention.

A.containedB.proceededC.consumedD.pay

(3)Thecarasitapproachedtheparkinglot.

A.speedsupB.sloweddownC.brokedownD.caughtupwith

(4)Theplantconvertscrudeoilinto.

A.poisonB.pipeC.gasolineD.oxygen

(5)Don'tbetooonyourchildren.Theyarestilltooyoung.

A.shineB.internalC.copperD.severe

(6)We'dliketoatablefbrfivethiseveninginyourrestaurant.

A.reserveB.retainC.preserveD.sustain

(7)Ourteacherwasbythefunnystory.

A.nakedB.yieldedC.amusedD.expanded

(8)Tospeeduptheofletters,thePostOfficeintroducedautomaticsorting.

A.treatmentB.deliveryC.transmissionD.departure

(9)Youcanalsoalterinformationtoprotectprivacy.

A.assuredB.reserveC.intimatedD.confidential

(10)Bacteriathemselvesbysplittingintotwo.

A.repayB.mimicC.reproduceD.repeat

(11)1wishyouwouldgivemeamoredetailedofyourtrip.

A.accountB.advanceC.accuseD.count

(12)Ifthiskindoffishbecomes,futuregenerationsmaynevertasteitatall.

A.minimumB.littleC.scarceD.seldom

(13)Surelymodernwomenwanttobeofworldcurrentaffairs;theyareno

longerchainedtothekitchensink.

A.informedB.amusedC.outlinedD.swallowed

(14)Theunionleaderneededallhistosettlethequarrelbetweenthe

employerandtheemployees.

A.diplomaticB.diplomacyC.diplomaD.

certificate

(15)Ourreporterhasjustcalledtosaythatrescueteamswilltobringout

thetrappedminers.

A.effectB.affectC.conceiveD.endeavor

(16)ThoughhewashornandbroughtupinAmerica,hecanspeakChinese.

A.fluentB.smoothC.fluidD.flowing

(17)IwasadvisedtoarrangeforinsuranceIneededmedicaltreatment.

A.neverthelessB.althoughC.incaseD.sothat

(18)ItwasintheUnitedStatesthatImadetheofProfessorJones.

A.acquaintanceB.acknowledgementC.recognitionD.association

(19)Underthepresentsystem,stateenterprisesmustallprofitstothe

government.

A.turndownB.turnupC.turnoutD.turnin

(20)Acommissionwasappointedtointotheallegedillegalpaymentsby

thefootballclub.

A.bounceB.inquireC.renderD.deceive

(21)Theworkuoiilinuedfurmurethanaweekbuttherewasslillnosignof

themissingboy.

A.rescueB.researchC.vesselD.vast

(22)Miningproperties,oilandgasreserves,andtractsofstandingtimberareleading

examplesofnatural.

A.sourcesB.materialC.resourcesD.causes

(23)Vitaminsarccomplexthatthebodyrequiresinverysmallamount.

A.substancesB.materialsC.particlesD.matters

(24)Thisyearouruniversitydoesnothaveanytocontinuethe

internationalstudentexchangeprogram.

A.functionB.fundamentalC.funeralD.funds

(25)TomanyChinesepeople,teaisanpartoftheirlife.

A.incapableB.indispensableC.insensibleD.infinite

(26)Therentforthishouseis$250.Butyouneedalsopay$50firstasthe.

A.depositB.councilC.desiredD.submitted

(27)Owingtocompetitionamongtheairlines,travelexpenseshavebeen

reducedconsiderably.

A.strainedB.fierceC.eagerD.critical

(28)Ifyourletterisoverweight,yonmustpayforthe.

A.excessB.exceedC.checkedD.chased

(29)Wewon'tallowanyforeigncountrytoinourinternalaffairs.

A.devoteB.districtC.interfereD.wander

(30)Chinesesteamorfrytheirfoods,notbakethem.

A.formallyB.regularC.occasionallyD.

normally

(31)TheEuropeanUnioncountrieswereonceworriedthattheywouldnothave

suppliesofpetroleum.

A.sufficientB.efficientC.potentD.proficient

(32)Thepresidentexplainedthatthepurposeoftaxationwasto

governmentspending.

A.finauueB.expandC.largeD.budget

(33)Mr.Smithaskedhissecretarytoanewparagraphintheannualreport

shewastyping.

A.injectB.installC.invadeD.insert

(34)Effectivecommunicationisveryimportantwhenabosspeopleunder

hisleadershiplodowhathewantsthemtodo.

A.permitsB.instructsC.admitsD.persuades

(46)Weshouldconcentrateonsharplyreducinginterestratestopulltheeconomyout

of.

A.recessionB.restrictionC.retreatD.rejection

(47)Thetwentiethcenturyhaswitnessedanenormousworldwidepolitical,economic

andcultural.

A.traditionB.transportationC.transmissionD.

transformation

(48)Theclassneedsaof6pupilstocontinue.

A.minimumB.minimizeC.minimalD.minor

(49)AsI'mshortofmoneyImustdrawonmy.

A.resourcesB.reserveC.conservationD.

currency

(50)Don'tyouthinkitisthatthatfamouspopsingershouldhave

committedsuicide?

A.bizarreB.normallyC.oddD.peculiar

(51)Tonsoffoodwaslaidoutonthebigtableandcratesofbeerwere

readyforconsumption.

A.reserveB.expendedC.generatedD.stacked

(52)Theadvertisementsaysthismaterialdoesn'tinthewash,butitdoes.

A.contractB.shrinkC.slimD.dissolve

(53)FreemedicalserviceistonearlyallthecollegestudentsinChina.

A.availableB.favoriteC.convenienceD.average

(54)Thebetweenthetwoplayingperiodsofafootballgameisfifteen

minutes.

A.internalB.reserveC.intervalD.radium

(55)Inside,inthewarmlivingroom,withaglassofwinetodrinkandMozartto

listentoontheCD,shewasfarfromthetirednessshehadearlier.

A.advocatedB.conceivedC.claimedD.

accumulated

(56)Hecouldn'tjointhearmy,becausehewasbelowtheheightallowed

bytherules.

A.maximumB.minimumC.smallestD.lowest

(57)Thestuckontheenvelopesays“ByAir”.

A.labelB.diagramC.signalD.marks

(58)Thelittlegirlhasagoodimagination.Shecanmakeupstories.

A.dullB.uninterestingC.marvelousD.curious

(59)Thetalkswillbeattendedbyalltotheconflict.

A.partiesB.tenantsC.clientsD.

proprietors

(60)Heisveryinhisfamilyandneverdoesanythingagainsthiswife.

A.humorR.possessC.outerD.humble

(61)Themayortriedtoeverycitizenintheclean-upcampaign.

A.entitleB.enlistC.endangerD.enlarge

(62)Individualsportsarerunbyover370independentgoverningbodieswhose

functionsusuallyincluderules,holdingevents,selectingnationalteams

andpromotinginternationallinks.

A.drawingonB.drawinginC.drawingupD.drawing

down

(63)Thesmallfurnitureshophasbeenintoabigbusinessempire.

A.expendedB.expandedC.extremeD.

extracted

(64)Whatsheachievedinherresearchmightwhatshehadbeenexpecting.

A.extendB.cxulaimC.excessD.exceed

(65)Anemergencyisveryimportantincaseoffire.

A.exitB.depositC.dischargeD.elaborate

(66)Eatingtoomuchfatcanheartdiseaseandcausehighbloodpressure.

A.attendtoB.attributetoC.contributetoD.devoteto

(67)Shesaidshehadasorethroatandwasfeeling.

A.dreadB.hopefulC.appallingD.awful

(68)Thestatisticalfiguresinthatreportarenot.Youshouldnotreferto

them.

A.accurateB.fixedC.delicateD.rigid

(69)changeispreferabletoasudden,large-scalechange.

A.VisibleB.OccasionalC.ActualD.Gradual

(70)Becauseadegreefromagooduniversityisthemeanstoabetterjob,educationis

oneofthemostareasinJapaneselife.

A.sophisticateB.competitiveC.considerateD.

superficial

(71)Peopleshouldn'tdumponpublicland.

A.dustbinB.rubbleC.trashD.dirty

(72)Energyroseintheprocessofindustrialization.

A.consumeB.consumptionC.consumedD.

consumers

(73)Thehotweatherhasthemilk.

A.souredB.destroyedC.spoilD.acid

(74)Glassmayathightemperature.

A.profitB.pronounceC.stingD.melt

(75)Theideaistothefrequentincidentsofcollisiontotestthestrengthof

thewindshields.

A.simulateB.accumulateC.forgeD.assemble

(76)Thisprofessorsaysalthoughthecoloniststosomeextentwiththe

nativeAmericans,theIndians5influenceonAmericanculturewasnotextensive.

A.iiiigraludB.matchedC.mingledD.mtll

(77)Accordingtothelatestpoll,thepresident's43percentsupporthasto

32percent.

A.minimizedB.shrunkC.citedD.predicted

(78)Theysteppedasidesothattheirchildcouldnottheirconversation.

A.overhearB.overlookC.overestimateD.overwhelm

(79)Britainhasthehighestofroadtrafficintheworldover60cars

foreverymileofroad.

A.popularityB.prosperityC.intensityD.density

(80)Duringthelecture,thespeakeroccasionallyhispointbyrelatinghis

ownexperiences.

A.illustratedB.hintedC.citedD.displayed

(81)Hetriedtorelationswithhisformerwifebuthefailed.

A.measureB.shelterC.maintainD.reply

(82)Histhathehadnothingtodowiththeaffairwasgreetedwithsome

suspicion.

A.necessityB.statementC.promotionD.disposal

(83)ThenewshasjustthatthepresidentisgoingtovisitChinanextmonth.

A.comedownB.comeupC.comeaboutD.comeout

(84)Thisbookgivesabriefofthehistoryofthisancientcastle.

A.outlineB.referenceC.articleD.outlooks

(85)Politicallythesenationstendtobe,withveryhighbirthratesbutpoor

educationandverylowlevelsofliteracy.

A.reluctantB.unstableC.rationalD.unsteady

(86)Muchofthenewsprovidedbythisnewspaperis,notforeign.

A.domesticB.strainC.purchaseD.murder

(87)Forprofessionalathletes,totheOlympicsmeansthattheyhavea

chancetoenterthehistorybooks.

A.accessB.attachmentC.appealD.approach

(88)Inthetothebook,theoldscholarattachesgreatimportanceto

practicaluses.

A.digestB.prefaceC.contentD.beginning

(89)MostbroadcastersmaintainthatTVhasbeenunfairlycriticizedandarguethat

thepowerofthemediumis.

A.grantedB.implyC.exaggeratedD.remedied

(90)Allherenergiesareuponherchildrenandsheseemstohavelittletime

foranythingelse.

A.guidedB.aimedC.directedD.focused

(91)Whenaspacecrafttravels,oneofthemajorproblemsisreentryintotheEarth's

A.surfaceB.attitudeC.atmosphereD.bent

(92)Evidenceobtainedfromobservationandexperimentisoftenusedtoa

scientifictheory.

A.confirmB.confineC.conformD.

conceive

(93)WehavearrangedtngotothecinemaonFriday,hntwecanheandgo

anotherday.

A.reliableB.flexibleC.feasibleD.

probable

(94)Thesituationdescribedinthereportterrible,butitmaynothappen.

A.inclinesB.maintainsC.soundsD.remain

(95)Ithasbeenlaiddownthateachstudentmustacompositiontothe

teacheronceaweek.

A.turninB.giveupC.putforwardD.bring

out

(96)theEnglishexaminationIwouldhavegonetotheconcertlastSunday.

A.InspiteofB.ButforC.BecauseofD.Asfor

(97)Mygraiidfalherhadalwaystakenaiulcrcslinmywoik,andIhadan

equaladmirationforthestoriesofhistime.

A.splendidB.weightyC.keenD.vague

(98)Theauthorofthereportiswellwiththeproblemsinthehospital

becausehehasbeenworkingthereformanyyears.

A.acquaintedB.informC.enlightenedD.advised

(99)1leftfortheofficeearlierthanusualthismorningtrafficjam.

A.inlinewithB.incaseofC.forthesakeofD.atrisk

of

(100)Dr.Smithwasalwaysthepoorandthesick,oftenprovidingthem

withfreemedicalcare.

A.concernedaboutB.absorbedinC.tendedbyD.

remindedof

II.READINGCOMPREHENSION

Thereare7readingpassagesinthispart.Eachpassageisfollowedbysome

questions.Foreachquestionthereare4choicesmarkedA,B,C,andD.Decide

onthechoicethatbestanswersthequestion.

Passage1

[1]OnedayWaltDisneyhadavision.Itwasavisionofaplacewherechildren

andparentscouldhavefuntogether.ThemoreWaltdreamedofa“magicalpark”,the

moreimaginativeandelaborateitbecame.

[2]Theoriginalplansfortheparkwereon8acresnexttotheDisneyStudiolot

onHyperionAvenueinBurbankwherehisemployeesandfamiliescouldgotorelax.

However,theamusementparksofthe1920,sand30'sweretawdry,dirty,sleazy

places.Otherparksacrossthecountrywerenobetter.AsWaltDisneysatatabench,

atanamusementpark,watchinghisdaughtersplay,henoticedhowraggedandfilthy

thesmallamusementparkwas.Healsoobservedpeople'sreactionstodifferentrides,

andnoticedhowchildren'sparentshadnothingtodo.Theywouldbeanxioustogo

home,whiletheirchildrenwerestillhavingfun,andplaying.

[3]ThisiswhereWaltwasconjuring,andplanninganewtypeofamusement

park;onethatwouldbeclean,andwouldhaveattractionsforparentsandchildren

together.Hedreamedandhopedofbuildinga“littlefamilypark“whereparentscould

taketheirchildrenforadayoffun—forbothkidsandadults.Still,Waltfeltthatit

waspossibletobuildadifferentkindofpark...a"Ihemed"parkthathadfun

attractionsandabeautifulatmosphere...aparkthatwouldn'tdeclineintoanugly,

gaudy,cheapplace...aparkthat“wouldneverbecompleted—aslongasthereis

imaginationintheworld?'TheSecondWorldWarhadadevastatingeffectonthe

DisneyStudios.Withnomoney,Waltshelvedhisideasforthetimebeing.However,

duringthewar,Walthadtimetocomeupwithnewideas,andcreationsforhis

magicalpark.DisneylandinLosAngelesopenedtoastar-studdedfanfareonJuly17th,

1955.Constructionof“TheHappiestPlaceonEarth'、wascompletedinoneyear,a

tremendousengineeringandplanningsuccessthatisstilltobeadmired.Itsopening

wasamediaeventthatevenaslateasthe1990's,hasrarelybeenexceededfbrglitz,

glamour,excitement,anddrama.

[4]Nowadays,theentertainmentgianthasWaltDisneyParksandResortsinfive

differentplacesaroundtheworld.TheyaretheDisneylandResortinLosAngeles,

WaltDisneyWorldinFlorida,TokyoDisneyResort,TokyoDisneySea,Disneyland

ResortParisandHongKongDisneylandrespectively.TheWallStreetJournal

reportedonJanuary9,21)09thatDisneyandtheShanghaigovernmenthadsigneda

proposaloutliningthelegalandfinancialframeworkfbritsfirstthemeparkin

mainlandChina,targetingoneofthelargestandmostprosperousmarketsinAsia.

Nowtheproposaliswaitingforbeingapprovedbythecentralgovernment.Thisis

reallyasensationamongChinesechildrenandtheirparents.

[5]AmongtheexcitingDisneyparksandresorts,DisneyWorldinFloridaisthe

biggestamusementresort,twicethesizeofManhattan.ItwasopenedonOctober1,

1971,fiveyearsafterWaltDisney'sdeath.Itattractspeopleofmosttastesandmost

incomegroups,andpeopleofallages,fromtoddlerstograndpas.WithinWaltDisney

WorldResortthereare4ThemeParks,2WaterParks,2shopping,diningand

entertainmenlareasandoneworld-classsportscomplex.Thecentralattractionofthe

resortistheMagicKingdom.ThisthemeParkfeaturesenchantingentertainmentand

classicallraclionsucrus，sevenwhimsicallands.TouristscanincclbelovedDisney

Characters,watchparadesandspectacularfireworksandseehowfairytaledreamscan

cometrue.Almosteverywhereyougo,therearemodelsofpeopleandanimals.

Besides,theymoveandtalkmostrealistically.Thereis,forexample,theHallof

Fame,whichdisplaysmodelsofalltheAmericanPresidentssinceGeorge

Washington.ThePresidentstalk,usingtheactualwordstheyonceusedasliving

Presidents.Ihcrcismuchelsetosee:Advcnturcland,Fronticrland,bantasyland,

Tomorrowland,NewOrleansSquare,andToontown.Eachoftheoriginallandshas

beenalteredandhadnewattractionsaddedovertheyears.

[6]DisneylandnearLosAngeleshasalotofwonderfulthingstoseeanddo,but

WaltDisneyWorldinFloridahasahugenumberofwonderfulthingstosecanddo.

Thetwoplacesarealmostincomparable.IfyouhadasingledaytospendataDisney

themeparkyouwouldchooseDisneylandwithoutapassingthought.Ifyouhavea

week,though,you'llgotoWaltDisneyWorld.Infact,inonefullweekit'snot

possibletoseeeverythingattheFloridacomplex.

[7]EventhoughWaitDisneywasn'tabletoseehowhisparkprosperedand

grewintothe21stCentury,hislegacystilllivesonwithus.ThroughoutDisneyland

andthroughouttheentireworld,hewillalwaysbethere."TheHappiestPlaceon

Eabh“willalwaysbethere,too.

(1)WhatimpelledWaltDisneytohavetheideaofbuildinghis"magicalparks”？

A.Thetawdry,dirty,andsleazyamusementparksofthe1920sand1930s.

B.Hisdaughters,lovefbr“magicalparks”.

C.Hisownlovefbr“magicalparks”.

D.Amcricans,lovefbr“magicalparks”.

(2)Whatdoesthethirdparagraphmainlytalkabout?

A.Becauseoflackofmoney,Waltshelvedhisideasforthetimebeingduring

theSecondWorldWar.

B.WhatWall'samusementparkslooklike.

C.TheSecondWorldWarhadadevastatingeffectontheDisneyStudios.

D.TheopeningofDisneylandinLosAngeleswasamediaevent.

(3)Sofar,huwmanyWallDisneyParkshavebeenopenedaround(lieworld?

A.3.

B.2.

C.5.

D.4.

(4)InwhichcityofthemainlandChinawilltheDisneyWorldbeopenedverysoon?

A.Beijing.

B.Guangzhou.

C.Shenzhen.

D.Shanghai.

(5)AmongtheexistingDisneyparksandresorts,whichoneisthebiggest?

A.WaltDisneyWorldinFlorida.

B.DisneylandResortinLosAngeles.

C.HongKongDisneyland.

D.TokyoDisneyResort.

Passage2

[1JHumorisaphenomenonwhichisinfluencedbyculture.Itcanbedifficultto

determinewhataspectsdefineacertainsenseofhumor.Anation'switislinkedtothe

historicaldevelopmentofthecountry.Howfunnysomebodyfindsacertainincident

dependsonmanyfactorsincludingage,personalexperience,levelofeducationand

geographicallocation.Thereforehumorissomethingwhichisnotalwaystransferable

inanothercountry.

[2]Whatsomebodyfromoneareamayfindhilariousmaynotbeamusingatall

tosomebodyfromanotherlocation.Whetherornotsomeonegetsajokeisdetermined

bytheirinterpretation,filteredbytheculturalcontext.

[3]Whataboutwhenbothcountriesspeakthesamemothertongue?Doesthat

meanthattheywillthensharethesamesenseofhumor,orcandifferencesstilloccur?

Let'staketheexampleofBritainandAmerica.NotonlydoAmericansandBritsspell

theword“humor“differently,mostclaimthatAmericanhumorandBritishhumorare

quitedifferentinnature.Timeandlimeagain,peoplesaythatBrilsandAniciicaus

don't"get"eachother'ssenseofhumor.Towhatextentisthistrue,ifatall?

[4]There'sareceivedwisdomintheU.K.thatAmericansdon'tgetirony.Itis

oftenbelievedtobeoneofthemostcommondifferencesbetweentheBritishand

Americansenseofhumor.Thisisofcoursenottrue.Oneofthemajordifferences

seemstobehowoftenbothcountriesuseirony.Britsuseironyonadailybasis.We

useitasliberallyasprepositionsineverydayspeech.Wcteaseourfriends.Wcuse

sarcasmasashieldandaweapon.Weavoidsincerityuntilil'sabsolutelynecessary.

Wemercilesslytakethepissoutofpeoplewelikeordislikebasically.Andourselves.

Thisisveryimportant.Ourbrashnessandswaggerisladenwithequalportionsof

self-deprecation.Thisisourlicensetohanditout.

[51ButitisnotthefoundationofAmericanhumor.IthinkAmericans

understandBritishirony(mostofthetimeanyway!);whattheydon'tunderstandis

theneedtouseitsofrequently.WhenAmericansuseironytheytendtostatethatthey

were“onlykidding”.TheyfeeltheneedtomakeajokemoreobviousthanBritsdo,

maybethisstemsfromafearofoffendingpeople.

16]TheAmericansenseofhumorisgenerallymoreslapstickthanthatinBritain.

Ithinkthisarisesfromaculturaldifferencebetweenthetwo.Theirjokesaremore

obviousandforward,abitlikeAmericansthemselves.Britishjokes,ontheotherhand,

tendtobemoresubtlebutwithadarkorsarcasticundertone.Thereisusuallya

hiddenmeaning.ThismaystemfromthefactthatBritishcultureismorereserved

thanAmericanculture.

[7]Americanssay,“Haveaniceday"whethertheymeanitornot.Britsare

terrifiedtosaythis.Wctellourselvesit'sbecausewcdon'twanttosoundinsincere,

butIthinkitmightbefortheoppositereason.Wedon'twanttocelebrateanything

toosoon.Failureanddisappointmentlurkaroundeverycorner.Thisisduetoour

upbringing.Americansarebroughtuptobelievetheycanbethenextpresidentofthe

UnitedStates.Britsaretold,“Itwon'thappenforyou.”

[8]YetcertainAmericancomedieshavegainedhugesuccessinBritainandvice

versa.Therefore,althoughtherearedifferencesbetweenbothcomicstyles,thereis

stillanappiccialioiianduiidcrslaiidiugof(heoiliersenseofhumur.BoththeBritish

andAmericanversionsofthecomedyTheOfficearehugelysuccessfullyonboth

sidesoftheAtlantic.Bothshowshavetheirownculturaldifferences,yettheyportray

alifestylewhichbothAmericansandBritsalikecanrelateto.Althoughbothnations

havesubtledifferencesintheirwit,theycanappreciatetheother'ssenseofhumor.

(1)Accordingtothispassage,allofthefollowingfactorsinfluencehowfunnya

personfindsacertainincidentexcept.

A.Age

B.gender

C.personalexperience

D.levelofeducation

(2)Whatisthemainideaofthethirdparagraph?

A.Inthisparagraph,thequestionwhetherBritsandAmericanssharethesame

senseofhumorornotisputforward.

B.Inthisparagraph,theauthoremphasizesthatBritsandAmericansdon't

understandeachother'ssenseofhumor.

C.Inthisparagraph,theauthoremphasizesthatAmericanhumorandBritish

humorarequitedifferentinnature.

D.Inthisparagraph,thequestionthattowhatextentAmericanhumoris

differentfromBritishhumorisputforward.

(3)Whatisthetopicsentenceofthefourthparagraph?

A.Thefirstsentence.

B.Thefourthsentence.

C.Thefifthsentence.

D.Thesecondsentence.

(4)Accordingtothefourthparagraph,thedifferencebetweenAmericanhumorand

Britishhumorliesintheuseof.

A.Joke

B.Sarcasm

C.Irony

D.inelaphor

(5)WhyareBritishjokesmoresubtlethanAmericanjokes?

A.BecauseBritsaremorestraightforward.

B.BecauseBritsaremoreslapstick.

C.BecauseBrilsaremoreopen.

D.BecauseBritishcultureismorereservedthanAmericanculture.

Passage3

[1JIt'stimeforyoutotakestepNo.1andacknowledgethatthereisaproblem

thatyouarepowerlesstoresolve—thatthemomentyouandyourdatefinishordering

dinneryoupulloutyoursmartphonesandstarttextingsoyoudon'thavetofacethe

possibilityofsilence;thatyouhavecometobelievethatyoumore-or-lessactually

havereadWarandPeacebecauseyoureadtheplotsummaryonWikipedia;thatyou

findoutwhatyourkidisuptonotbytalkingtoherbutbymonitoringherFacebook

page;thatatworkyousimplycannotgomorethan10minuteswithoutsurreptitiousiy

checkingemailnomatterhowmuchelseyouhavetodo.

\2\Butthinkoftheupsides.Youcannevergetlostanymore,youalwaysknow

howtopackfbrwhereveritisyou'regoing.Youdealwithfewermediocremeals,

fewerhotelswithlousyservice.Therearenoticketlinesforthemovie,noneedfor

pick-uplinesatbarsorexcruciatingintroQ-and-Asatparties,noriskofboredomas

youplayTempleRunorcheckstockpricesbetweensubwaystops.Goneisthe

frustrationofnotbeingabletoidentifythesongyou'rehearing,ortheinadequacyof

notknowingthemeaningoftheacronymthattheknow-it-allinthenextofficeusedat

yesterday'sstaffmeeting.Instantexpertiseoneverysubject,andallthedatayou

couldimaginetobackupyourownpersonalconvictionsabouttheevilsofgluten,

deliveredtoyourbraininpredigestedparagraphs.Cameraatthereadyforeveryphoto

op,voicerecorderforwhateverideapopsintoyourheadandoutofyourmouth.So

whatifyourattentionspanhasbeenfragmentedintonanoseconds,ifyoumeasure

yoursociallifebyFacebookfriends,yourprofessionalworthbyGooglehits,andthe

worstwordsyoucanimagineare“airplanemode”?

[3JWcaiuallone-iiiarsliiuallowOCDnaruissisls,grantedbyourdevicesthe

magicofcomprehensiveinstantgratifica