Giving Many Poppins’s magic umbrella some serious competition is the all high-tech “Oombrella”---not only can it predict the weather, it’s also impossible to lose. The smart umbrella syncs(同步进行) with a smartphone app, sending users updates about weather conditions 30 minutes in advance, and reminders if they happen to leave the device behind. And here’s the added bonus – it won’t ever flip inside-out.
Designed by French company Wezzoo, the rainbow-colored umbrella comes in two versions – classic and modern. The classic is 3.1-ft long with a curved handle, while the modern version is 0.8-ft long with a straight handle. The company describes the device as a ‘portable weather station’, made of a reflective surface with built in sensors that record real-time data such as light, humidity, pressure, and temperature. The umbrella collects and processes this data as well as information from a social media community before sending out alerts about when it’s going to start raining.
And if the user happens to accidentally forget it at home on a potentially rainy day, or leaves it in a restaurant, similar alerts will be sent out using GPS technology to make sure you don’t lose it.
“We wanted to make this umbrella unforgettable in terms of design, too,” explains Alexandre, of Escabo design studio. “We developed an exclusive material. It makes you feel you are holding an aurora borealis(北极光) in your hands. It has effects that are amazing with the light and always changing. It really makes the umbrella special.” The ‘capsule’ that integrates all the technology, making the umbrella smart, is located in the handle.
The umbrella is all set to hit global online and physical stores this fall. According to a company spokesperson, it will retail at 9 ($86), but the early bird price on Kickstarter is 9 ($64). For those who are rather attached to their current umbrellas, the company will also release an ‘Oombrella capsule’ that can transform any umbrella into a smart device. Now, if only it could make us fly like Mary Poppins!
32. What does Paragraph 1 mainly tell us about Oombrella?
A. Its special design B. Its working principle
C. Its functions D. Its structure
33. Which of the following best shows how Oombrella works?
A. collect—process—record—predict B. process—record—collect—predict
C. record—collect—process—predict D. record—process---collect---predict
34. What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Oombrella is already on sale
B. Early buyers of Oombrella will save money
C. It’s impossible to turn an ordinary umbrella into a smart one
D. Oombrella is a magic device that can make us fly
35. What’s the purpose of the author writing the passage?
A. To introduce readers a new type of umbrella
B. To show readers how to predict the weather
C. To remind readers to take an umbrella at any time
D. To persuade readers to buy the high-tech umbrella