Market analysts in the United States have recently been quoted as saying that the biggest threat to the luxury (奢侈品) industry in the US is the tech industry. This is according to an article by fellow journalist Ashley Lutz. Her suggestion is sound. The main idea of her article is that products from Tiffany & Co. find their biggest competition not from other luxury brands but from companies like Apple. Lutz points out that luxury products are often only for “show,” while the attraction behind tech products is functionality.
You find few people in the United States today willing to purchase luxury goods at full price. It didn’t use to be that way. Luxury goods used to be actually exclusive. That meant you needed to travel to the right store to purchase them, and you didn’t even have the option of getting a deal.
Today, no one wants to pay full price for luxury goods. People have the unfortunate belief that fakes (贗品) somehow are equal to originals, and if you can’t get a deal on eBay, Amazon, or in an outlet store, purchasing a luxury product probably isn’t worth it. Luxury brands struggle to remain high-end (高檔的) images despite the reality that the American consumer is motivated much more by discounts than they are by brand names or image.
Yet people stand in line to pay full price for a new product from Apple and crowds gather to hear about a new smart phone. While electronics are updating every day, people are purchasing technology at full prices much more than they are purchasing luxury goods. What are high-tech makers doing right that luxury makers are pitifully failing at?
Carefully looking at the situation, it would appear as if the Internet didn’t hurt the luxury industry, expectation from the consumers did. What people want these days more than anything is stuff that does something. They want cars that drive, shoes that are comfortable, games that are fun to play, screens that are beautiful to look at, tools that are useful, and entertainment that is entertaining. Little of that fits into what the luxury industry has typically offered with its status, image, and fine materials. The sad reality is that luxury products aren’t that luxury any more.
小題1:What does this passage mainly talk about?
A．Nobody likes luxury goods any more.
B．Luxury goods are of poor quality nowadays.
C．Tech products become the new “l(fā)uxury goods”.
D．Iphones have taken the place of luxury products.
小題2:The underlined word “exclusive” in paragraph 2 means _______.
A．unique and with no bargainB．low in price
C．hard to findD．easy to sell
小題3:From paragraph 3 we can know that _______.
A．people have found that some luxury goods are fakes
B．people can buy luxury goods at a low price on eBay
C．luxury brands will give up high-end images
D．consumers prefer brand names to discounts
小題4:What do people pay most attention to nowadays?
A．The Internet service.B．The images of luxuries.
C．The function of products.D．The expectation from the consumers.

小題1:C
小題2:A
小題3:B
小題4:C

試題分析：文章大意：美國奢侈品行業(yè)所面臨的威脅。其最大威脅來自美國的高科技行業(yè)。并分析了個中原因。
小題1:C 主旨大意題。根據(jù)第一段的闡述：“據(jù)稱美國的市場分析人士最近表示美國奢侈品行業(yè)面臨的最大威脅來自美國的高科技行業(yè)。消息來自一位記者同行阿什麗·魯茲Ashley Lutz的文章她的報(bào)道非�？尚旁撐恼碌囊c(diǎn)在于蒂芙尼公司Tiffany Co發(fā)現(xiàn)其產(chǎn)品的最大競爭者并非其他奢侈品牌而是蘋果這樣的公司。魯茲指出奢侈品經(jīng)常僅用于炫耀而科技產(chǎn)品背后的吸引力在于它的功能性”我們可以得到答案。
小題2:A 詞義猜測題。上文說“在美國你會發(fā)現(xiàn)很少有人愿意出全價(jià)購買奢侈品了”說明“奢侈品在過去是一種獨(dú)特的不打折（不討價(jià)還價(jià)）的商品”。
小題3:B推理判斷題。從本段中“如果你不能在e電子港灣（eBay）、亞馬遜或一家打折店里買到折價(jià)商品而去購買奢侈品，這可能會被認(rèn)為是非常不值的�！笨梢酝茢唷叭藗兛梢栽趀電子港灣以打折的價(jià)格即低價(jià)買到奢侈品”。
小題4:C 推理判斷題。根據(jù)最后一段“審視這一情況時，看起來傷害奢侈品行業(yè)的好像不是互聯(lián)網(wǎng)，而是消費(fèi)者的預(yù)期。人們眼下最想要的是具有某些功用的東西。他們想要好開的汽車、舒適的鞋、有趣的游戲畫質(zhì)、出眾的屏幕、實(shí)用的工具以及精彩的娛樂。這些訴求基本上與奢侈品行業(yè)傳統(tǒng)上提供的產(chǎn)品及其看重的身份形象和精良材質(zhì)不搭邊。一個悲慘的現(xiàn)實(shí)是奢侈品不再那么奢侈了�！蔽覀兛梢酝茢啻鸢�。
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Ever wonder how much a cloud weighs? What about a hurricane? A meteorologist(氣象學(xué)者) has done some estimates and the results might surprise you.
Let's start with a very simple white puffy cloud — a cumulus cloud（積云）. How much does the water in a cumulus cloud weigh? Peggy LeMone, senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, did the numbers. "The water in the little cloud weighs about 550 tons," she calculates. "Or if you want to convert it to something that might be a little more meaningful … think of elephants."
The thought of a hundred elephants-worth of water suspended(懸浮的) in the sky begs another question — what keeps it up there?
"First of all, the water isn't in elephant-sized particles（微粒）, it's in tiny tiny tiny particles," explains LeMone. And those particles float on the warmer air that's rising below. But still, the concept of so much water floating in the sky was surprising even to a meteorologist like LeMone. "I had no idea how much a cloud would weigh, actually, when I started the calculations," she says.
So how many elephant units of water are inside a big storm cloud—10 times bigger all the way around than the "puffy" cumulus cloud? Again, LeMone did the numbers: About 200,000 elephants.
Now, ratchet up(略微調(diào)高) the calculations for a hurricane about the size of Missouri and the figures get really massive(巨大的). "What we're doing is weighing the water in one cubic meter theoretically pulled from a cloud and then multiplying by(乘上) the number of meters in a whole hurricane," she explains.
The result? Forty million elephants. That means the water in one hurricane weighs more than all the elephants on the planet. Perhaps even more than all the elephants that have ever lived on the planet.
小題1:The weight of      is NOT mentioned in the passage.
A．a(chǎn) cumulus cloudB．a(chǎn) tornado
C．a(chǎn) hurricaneD．a(chǎn) storm cloud
小題2:How did Peggy LeMone feel about the result of her calculations?
A．She found it not convincing.
B．She thought it needed further calculations.
C．She was quite surprised at it.
D．She considered the calculations inaccurate.
小題3:What can be inferred from the passage?
A．A storm cloud weighs about 200,000 elephants.
B．The water in a hurricane weighs more than that in any other kind of cloud.
C．There are less than forty million elephants living on the earth.
D．The water in the cloud is in very tiny partials.
小題4:What is the best title for the passage?
A．How Much a Cloud WeighsB．How Much a Hurricane Weighs
C．Surprising ResultsD．Elephants in the Sky

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Can a fish hear fishermen moving along the stream? What are the facts about the ability of a fish to see? Can they tell the difference between colors?
The sharp hearing of a fish has been proved by two scientists, who trained a fish to expect its food when it heard the sound of a whistle. And a slight sound two hundred feet away could drive fishes away. That should make fishermen start thinking.
One scientist had made experiments to prove fish can recognize different colors such as red, brown, yellow and green.
Fish also have an eye for different shapes. One scientist proved this by teaching fish to connect certain patterns with food. He used a small circle and a square. If the fish swam towards the circle, they received food as a reward. If they swam towards the square, they received nothing. The fish learned in time to go to the circle but not to the square. Does this mean that in time fish might learn to leave alone all food on hooks that they have seen often before? Here is something for all fishermen to think about!
These facts help to make more believable some of the “believe it or not” stories that have been told about fish. It is clear that fish have sometimes shown their ability to gain knowledge as man does. A good example of what we might call “thinking” by a fish is given by an experience of Dr. Andrew Gage. Fishing over a bridge, he hooked a fish. It struggled and dragged the line two hundred feet away before he stopped it. Then it swam back to the bridge. The clever fish then swam round a pile and, with a sudden push, broke the line. If the story ended there, one could say that the fish had freed itself by chance. However, Gage went on fishing. Below him he could see the fish that had broken loose. After another twenty minutes the fish again seized the food on the hook. This time it did not swim out but swam round one of the piles and again broke the line.
Many stories are told of the fish that get away and the clever “old hand” ones that can’t be caught. The more often a fish is nearly caught, the more difficult it will be to interest it next time.
小題1:The last two paragraph’s mainly discuss _________.
A．whether a fish can think as man does
B．how a fish could escape from danger
C．how to catch a fish more easily
D．whether a fish is believable
小題2: What’s the best title of the passage?
A．Fish can hear and see
B．How clever is a fish?
C．Fish can play tricks
D．How scientists help fishermen.
小題3:We can infer from the last paragraph that _________.
A．it’s difficult to catch fish;
B．fish are cleverer sometimes than fishermen
C．fish seem to learn by their experience
D．fewer people will be interested in fish

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Risk of death is 3.5 t0 5 times greater for obese smokers than it is for people who have never smoked and are at a normal weight, according to a study published in the November, 2006 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
The study, which began with a self-administered questionnaire taken between 1983 and 1989, asked more than 80,000 radiologic technologists aged 22 t0 92 questions about age, height, weight and smoking behavior.
BMI (body mass index) was calculated, with a BMI of 30 t0 34.9 being considered obese, and 35 and over being very obese. Smoking behavior was analyzed by looking at a person's tobacco consumption level, number of years smoked, and current smoking status. Researchers then followed participants through December of 2002, noting the number of deaths that occurred.
The study involved researchers from the National Cancer Institute, the University of Minnesota and the American Registry of Radiolegic Technologists.
Key Findings:
20 percent of obese adults in the United States smoke.
Obese smokers face a greater risk of death from cancer and circulatory disease.
Current smoking is a greater risk factor for death by cancer than obesity is, generally speaking.
The higher a person's pack-years (number of packs smoked per day times the number of years smoked) are, the greater the risk of death.
Men and women of all ages faced an elevated risk of death due to circulatory disease as BMI increased. And for those who were both obese and currently smoking, risk of circulatory disease increased 6 to 11 times under the age of 65, as compared to their never-smoking, normal weight counterparts.
While it's not surprising that obesity coupled with smoking is a recipe for trouble, it is important to highlight this growing health concern in America today.
Taking Charge of Your Health
Making healthy choices can be difficult when we're constantly bombarded with products that are hazardous to our health, but it's not impossible. With education and some motivation, we all have the ability to make lasting changes for the better. If you're an overweight smoker worried about gaining weight due to quitting, take heart. It's never too late to change your course and even reverse damage to some extent.
小題1:What is the probably the best title of the text?
A. Obese smoking and death             B. Key findings about smoking
C Taking charge of your health           D. Obesity and smoking
小題2:Which of the following is true according to the text?
A．Obese smokers are less likely to suffer from cancer
B．Obese smokers are more likely to suffer from cancer
C．Obese smokers .tend to gain fewer body mass index.
D．Obese smokers tend to get heavier than those Who never smoke
小題3:According to the  author, it is________to get rid of smoking.
A．easy and possibleB．difficult and impossible
C．easy ant worthwhileD．difficult but worthwhile
小題4: What is the American Journal of Preventive Medicine?
A. An medical institute.                  B A research center.
C. A medical magazine                   D. A TV station
小題5: What is the purpose of the text?
A．To inform the readers of the findings about obese smoking.
B．To warn the readers of the danger of obese smoking.
C．To tell us what obese smoking is.
D．To call on the obese smolkers to quit smoking.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Last week Jay McCarroll and The HSUS (The Humane Society of the United States) made a bold fur-free statement on the runway, marking a new chapter for the fashion industry and animal protection. The encouraging response to McCarroll’s show confirmed that change is happening in fashion.
McCarroll has good reasons for rejecting fur. Each year, tens of millions of amimals, including dogs and cats, needlessly suffer and die to fuel the fur industry. But what did Jay McCarroll use in place of fur?“I have patchwork pieces that contain all sorts of combinations of fabrics. The rest is cotton, nylon, polyester…you name it. I even have some stuff made out of bamboo / cotton blend. Anything but fur and leather,”he told Fashion Wire Daily.
“So many people want to protect animals and live their lives without causing unnecessary cruelty. More than two thirds of Americans have pets, and we share a bond with animals every day. Saying no to fur can help millions of animals, and we want to show our respect to leading designers like Jay who embrace compassion(同情) as the fashion,”said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The HSUS.“It is great to see leaders in the fashion industry recognizing that the animals need their fur more than we do.”
小題1:Which of the following is true about Jay McCarroll?
A．He is a famous fashion designer.
B．He is the executive vice president of the HSUS.
C．He is an editor of Fashion Wire Daily.
D．He is the head of an animal protection organization.
小題2:What does“a new chapter”in line 2,paragraph 1 mean?
A．A new unit of a book.B．The beginning of a new trend.
C．The latest issue of a magazine.D．A newly established organization.
小題3:Which of the following is NOT recommended for clothing by Jay McCarroll?
A．Polyester.B．Bamboo.C．Leather.D．Patchwork pieces.
小題4:What do we learn from this passage?
A．Human beings depend emotionally on animals.
B．Fashion can go hand in hand with compassion for life.
C．Fur is more effective than bamboo/cotton blend for clothing.
D．Fur is more expensive than other materials for fashion designers.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

Teenagers at one German school are learning how to achieve happiness alongside other traditional   35  such as maths and languages.
The class sits in a circle with their eyes shut and they count from one to ten: someone starts, the   36  voice comes from the far right, a third from the other side.
The aim of the game is to   37  for an opportunity to shout out the   38  without clashing (相撞) with another voice or leaving a pause. On the first try,  39  of the young Germans try to be first, while a few are too shy to join in. But by the fifth   40  , they develop a rhythm (節(jié)奏) . The message gives other people space but also claims your own. This is a requirement for social well-being.
Unlike schools in other nations, German schools do not usually have school sports teams or seek to build school spirit. Many teens admit they are   41  and confused, but school is not usually the place to find relief.
The Willy Hellpach School in Heidelberg is the first in the nation to develop a happiness   42  It is   43  for 17-19years old students to prepare for university entrance exams. "The course isn't there to make you happy," Ernst Fritz-Schubert, the school principal, warned pupils, "   44  rather to help you discover the ways to become happy. "
Cooking a meal together will be one of the class   45  , along with improving body language under the   46  of two professional actresses.
The course is taught for three periods a week. Despite the happy subject, the pupils themselves insist it is no laughing matter.
"In the first period, we had to each say something   47  about another member of the class and about ourselves. No laughing at people or teasing," said Fanny, 17.
The message is that self-esteem (自尊) improves   48  too.
Research by the school shows it is not the first to start happiness classes and they also exist at some US universities, but are mainly based on positive thinking, using   49  from studies of depression.
"That would be too one-sided for us. We want to show how decent (好的) food or exercise can help too," the principal said.
小題1:
A．subjectsB．objectsC．customsD．habits
小題2:
A．sweetB．nextC．lastD．loud
小題3:
A．lookB．seeC．findD．listen
小題4:
A．nameB．personC．numberD．treasure
小題5:
A．a(chǎn)llB．fewC．mostD．none
小題6:
A．roundB．limitC．sheetD．zone
小題7:
A．happyB．lonelyC．curiousD．pleased
小題8:
A．movementB．classC．courseD．a(chǎn)pproach
小題9:
A．intendedB．madeC．managedD．a(chǎn)pplied
小題10:
A．a(chǎn)ndB．butC．soD．or
小題11:
A．testsB．examsC．exercisesD．homework
小題12:
A．guidanceB．lookoutC．permissionD．cooperation
小題13:
A．backwardB．positiveC．negativeD．rude
小題14:
A．a(chǎn)tmosphereB．a(chǎn)chievementC．happinessD．score
小題15:
A．inspectionsB．instructionsC．motivesD．findings

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

College is a lifetime investment (投資) — the gift of a college education can open the door to a world of opportunity for your child or grandchild. Savings（儲蓄）, even not so many at a time, can make a big difference.
With the cost of a college education continuing to rise, the key is to start saving early and regularly. By saving a set amount at set times, your money can grow as your child does. According to the College Board, the average cost for four-year public colleges has increased by nearly 51% over the last 10 years and these costs will almost certainly continue to rise. Saving for college can help with the increasing cost of a college education and help you be well prepared when your child is ready for college.
Saving for your child’s college education is an investment in their future. The savings you make today will pay off in increased earnings in the future. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, college graduates earn an average of $1 million more than high school graduates during their careers. The value of your investment in a college education will continue to grow for a lifetime.
Set your college saving goals realistically. You may not be able to save enough for all four years’ fees, but you could save enough to give your child the right start.
More and more families depend on student loans(貸款) to pay for college. By saving for college, families will have less burden of paying off loans and help their children leave school without worrying about paying off loans.
小題1:From the second paragraph we can learn that_______________.
A．the College Board increased public college costs
B．public college costs will increase by 51% in the next ten years
C．it’s not too late to start saving when your child is ready for college
D．saving can help deal with the rising cost of college education
小題2:Savings for college education _____________.
A．will increase in the value in the futureB．make one earn a lot
C．help create good jobsD．a(chǎn)re wise for businessmen to invest
小題3:Which of the following is TRUE about saving for college?
A．You should save to help children get scholarships more easily.
B．It’s better to increase the savings as the child grows.
C．It’s better to save early and regularly.
D．You should set a further and bigger saving goal.
小題4:Who are the expected readers of the passage?
A．Parents.B．High school students.C．EducatorsD．Bankers.
小題5:Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A．When to Save for Children’s College Costs
B．How to Make a Good Investment
C．Why We Should Save for Children’s College Costs
D．How Much Four-Year College Costs

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Multitasking
People who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two things at once, a new research suggests. The findings, based on performances and self-evaluation by about 275 college students, indicate that many people multitask not out of a desire to increase productivity, but because they are easily distracted (分心) and can’t focus on one activity. And “those people turn out to be the worst at handling different things,” said David Sanbonmatsu, a psychologist at the University of Utah.
Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues gave the students a set of tests and asked them to report how often they multitasked, how good they thought they were at it, and how sensation-seeking (尋求刺激) or imperative (沖動) they were. They then evaluated the participants’ multitasking ability with a tricky mental task that required the students to do simple mathematical calculations while remembering a set of letters.
Not surprisingly, the scientists said, most people thought they were better than average at multitasking, and those who thought they were better at it were more likely to report using a cellphone while driving or viewing multiple kinds of media at once. But those who frequently deal with many things at the same time were found to perform the worst at the actual multitasking test. They also were more likely to admit to sensation-seeking and impulsive behavior, which connects with how easily people get bored and distracted.
“People multitask not because it’s going to lead to greater productivity, but because they’re distractible, and they get sucked into things that are not as important.” Sanbonmatsu said.
Adam Gazzaley, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not a member of the research group, said one limitation of the study was that it couldn’t find out whether people who start out less focused   toward multitasking or whether people’s recognizing and understanding abilities change as a result of multitasking.
The findings do suggest, however, why the sensation-seeker who multitask the most may enjoy risky distracted driving. “People who are multitasking are generally less sensitive to risky situations.” said Paul Atchley, another researcher not in the group. “This may partly explain why people go in for these situations even though they’re dangerous.”
小題1: The research led by Sanbonmatsu indicates that people who multitask       .
A．seek high productivity constantly
B．prefer handling different things when getting bored
C．a(chǎn)re more focused when doing many things at a time
D．have the poorest results in doing various things at the same time
小題2:When Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues conducted their research, they          .
A．a(chǎn)ssessed the multitasking ability of the students
B．evaluated the academic achievements of the students
C．a(chǎn)nalyzed the effects of the participants’ tricky mental tasks
D．measured the changes of the students’ understanding ability
小題3:According to Sanbonmatsu, people multitask because of their        _.
A．limited power in calculationB．interests in doing things differently
C．inability to concentrate on one task D．impulsive desire to try new things
小題4: From the last paragraph, we can learn that multitaskers usually____  .
A．drive very skillfully
B．go in for different tasks
C．fail to react quickly to potential dangers
D．refuse to explain the reasons for their behavior

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

New genetic analysis has revealed that many Amazon tree species are likely to survive human-made climate warming in the coming century, contrary to previous findings that temperature increases would cause them to die out. A study,   1  in the latest edition of Ecology and Evolution, reveals the   2  age of some Amazonian tree species -- more than 8 million years -- and   3  shows that they have survived previous periods as warm as many of the global warming imagined periods   4  for the year 2100.
The authors write that, having survived warm periods in the past, the trees will   5  survive future warming, provided there are no other major environmental changes.   6  extreme droughts and forest fires will impact Amazonia as temperatures   7 , the trees will stand the direct impact of higher temperatures. The authors   8  that as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions to minimize the risk of drought and fire, conservation policy should remain   9  on preventing deforestation（采伐森林）for agriculture and mining.
The study disagrees with other recent researches which predicted tree species’ extinctions   10  relatively small increases in global average air temperatures.
Study co-author Dr Simon Lewis (UCL Geography) said the   11  were good news for Amazon tree species, but warned that drought and over-exploitation of the forest remained major   12  to the Amazon’s future.
Dr Lewis said: “The past cannot be compared directly with the future. while tree species seem likely to   13  higher air temperatures than today, the Amazon forest is being transformed for agriculture and   14 , and what remains is being degraded by logging, and increasingly split up by fields and roads.
“Species will not move as freely in today’s Amazon as they did in previous warm periods, when there was no human   15 . Similarly, today’s climate change is extremely fast, making comparisons with slower changes in the past   16 .”
“With a clearer   17  of the relative risks to the Amazon forest, we   18  that direct human impacts -- such as forest clearances for agriculture or mining -- should remain a key point of conservation policy. We also need more aggressive   19  to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to make minimum the risk of drought and fire impacts and   20  the future of most Amazon tree species.”
小題1:
A．a(chǎn)dvertisedB．describedC．publishedD．presented
小題2:
A．frighteningB．surprisingC．excitingD．interesting
小題3:
A．stillB．neverthelessC．howeverD．therefore
小題4:
A．a(chǎn)ssessB．confirmC．forecastD．promise
小題5:
A．particularlyB．probablyC．merelyD．possibly
小題6:
A．SinceB．AlthoughC．When D．If
小題7:
A．riseB．change C．dropD．end
小題8:
A．considerB．decideC．guaranteeD．recommend
小題9:
A．basedB．builtC．focusedD．made
小題10:
A．in relation toB．in response toC．in reply toD．in reference to
小題11:
A．findingsB．thoughtsC．inventionsD．writings
小題12:
A．threatsB．disadvantagesC．embarrassmentsD．instructions
小題13:
A．a(chǎn)cceptB．tolerateC．permitD．Require
小題14:
A．farmingB．plantingC．cateringD．mining
小題15:
A．powerB．influenceC．desireD．violence
小題16:
A．difficultB．clear C．easyD．important
小題17:
A．beliefB．directionC．understandingD．suggestion
小題18:
A．doubtB．concludeC．calculateD．prefer
小題19:
A．thoughtB．guidanceC．protectionD．a(chǎn)ction
小題20:
A．secureB．a(chǎn)dvanceC．sacrificeD．evaluate

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