It is becoming increasingly important for researchers to closely monitor our ocean life. However, observing sea creatures up close is almost impossible since human presence scares them. Now, thanks to the The Soft Robotic Fish, also known as SoFi, researchers may be able to keep a close eye on the sea creatures.
Built by MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), the white remote-controlled robot resembles the real fish, complete with a tail that waves from side to side. Though not the first autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) created to monitor the ocean, SoFi settles many of the problems that have blocked the usefulness of previous robot fish.
Previous AUVs have had to be linked to boats because of radio frequency communications don’t work well underwater. To overcome the problem, Director of the CSAIL Daniela Rus and her team used sound waves. The technology can travel greater distances allowing divers to pilot SoFi from up to 50 feet away.
Also limiting the usefulness of traditional AUVs is the risk of collision. With the outside made of soft silicone (硅树脂) rubber and flexible plastic that keeps its inbuilt electronics dry, SoFi poses no such danger. “Collision avoidance often leads to unnecessary movement, since the robot has to settle for a collision-free path,” says Rus. “ In contrast, a soft robot is not only more likely to survive a collision but also could use it as information to form a more workable movement plan next time around.”
During test dives, SoFi moved alongside the ocean life at depths of 50 feet for up to 40 minutes at a time, taking photos and making videos. The researchers say sometimes the fish would swim alongside the strange-looking robot-fish out of curiosity, while at other times they took no notice of its existence.
While SoFi presently only records video, future versions will include sensors. The researchers also hope to make it more autonomous. “We imagine someday it might help us uncovers more secrets from the amazing underwater world that we know so little about,” says Rus.
1.What can we learn about SoFi?
A. Its tail is flexible. B. It is the first AUV.
C. It is closely controlled. D. Its presence scares sea animals.
2.What can be learned from paragraph 3?
A. Sound waves travel faster than radio.
B. Radio does not work well underwater.
C. Previous AUVs use radio to communicate.
D. A boat travels along with SoFi on the water.
3.How does SoFi differ from traditional AUVs?
A. It is controlled above.
B. It can avoid a collision.
C. It can smartly adjust its movement plan.
D. It is set for a collision-free path.
4.Where is the passage possibly taken from?
A. A news report. B. A science fiction.
C. A social website. D. A short biography.
As more Europeans arrived in America 500 years ago, they were in such great need of the land that they and the Native American Indians battled constantly. By the end of the 19th century, most Indian tribes (部落) were moved to reservations. A lot of their children were taken away to boarding schools to learn to speak English. By the end of the 20th century, more than half of the Native Americans in the US were living in the cities. They gave up speaking their old tribal language and only used English. As a result, many Native American languages disappeared and with that their culture.
Today some American Indian languages are usually spoken by the older members of the tribes who still live on the reservations. In North America there are 150-170 languages that have at least one speaker. One ancient language spoken by the Northern Paiute tribe has over 100 speakers.
But the good news is that some of these people are keeping their culture and language alive. They are also receiving help from the National Geographic Society’s Enduring Voices project, whose aim is to help languages around the world which are dying out. The team meets these “last speakers”. The experts interview them and they are recorded with video, pictures and so on. They also tell old stories which are written down in English so people can learn more about the cultures.
Recording the language and culture is only part of the project. The next stage is to pass on the language to the next generation. The Salish tribe is an excellent example of how schools can help. The tribe lives on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. Their language is spoken by about 50 people aged over 75. So now, the local people have set up a school. It has 30 students aged two to twelve during the day and there are also courses for adults in the evening.
1.Why did Europeans fight with the American Indians?
A. To live in American cities B. To occupy more living space
C. To have Indians speak English D. To make Indian cultures disappear
2.What does the underlined word “They” refer to in Paragraph 3?
A. The experts B. The recordings
C. The Indian cultures D. The last speakers
3.What can we know about the Salish tribe?
A. It has its own language school. B. It has given up speaking English.
C. Its next generation speaks English. D. Its language is only learnt by adults.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Learning American Indian Languages
B. Researching on American Indian Languages
C. Saving American Indian Languages
D. Finding Lost American Indian Languages
My husband and I were taking care of Lizzy, our daughter Melanie’s pet dog, on April 17 while Melanie was in the early stage of labour at the hospital. We received a text from our son-in-law, Joe Levanti, that Melanie was about to give birth. Tom and I sprang from our chairs suddenly. It’s a tradition in our immediate family to wait at the hospital for a birth. This would be Melanie and Joe’s first child.
“You take Lizzy out before we leave, and I’ll be waiting for you in the car!” I told Tom. I started the car and waited impatiently. I saw my husband walk out of the front door- but then out shot Lizzy and she was running down the street at great speed.
My husband ran after the dog, and I followed in my car. “Lizzy! Lizzy!” we shouted as fear filled our heart. We chased her up and down our Bellwood Avenue. “She’s running onto Wireless Road!” we both screamed with fear. Lizzy dashed back and forth in the busy street. My husband kept up his chase on foot. I shouted to my husband, “Tom! Be careful when you cross the street!”
Within minutes, traffic was actually stopped on Wireless Road. A half-dozen good people got out of their cars to help. Soon, she ran into a safer area and then back to our street. With the help of six strangers, we caught her within a few anxious minutes. Everyone cheered, and we thanked the helpers again and again.
With Lizzy safely back inside, we drove straight to the hospital and were able to see our daughter in the delivery room. My husband and I are forever grateful to the strangers who might have saved Lizzy’s life and who enabled us to be there at the beginning of a precious new one.
1.Why was the author going to the hospital?
A. Because she didn’t feel herself that day.
B. Because her pet dog was hit by a car.
C. Because her daughter was ill in hospital.
D. Because her daughter was giving birth at the hospital.
2.How did the author feel while Tom was running after the dog?
A. Concerned B. Impatient
C. Thankful D. Regretful
3.Where was the dog finally caught?
A. On Wireless Road B. In a safer area
C. On Bellwood Avenue D. In the author’s car
4.What is the purpose of writing this text?
A. To show us how they got back their pet dog.
B. To tell us how they managed to see their daughter.
C. To express their sincere thanks to the kind strangers.
D. To tell us what trouble their pet dog has caused them.
Learning Java by OnlineGatha
Price: $1.5 Words: 93,560 Language: English Published: May 21, 2018
This book has been designed for students as well as teachers to help them out in learning the fundamental concepts of the Java Programming Language. It uses a bottom-up approach in explaining various topics -- that is, it explains basic syntax(句法) and gradually moves towards the complex problems.
Ice Age by John Gribbin & Mary Gribbin
Price: $3.99 Words: 26,790 Language: English Published: December 15, 2014
John and Mary Gribbin tell the remarkable story of how we came to understand the phenomenon of Ice Ages. How frequently do Ice Ages occur? How do astronomical rhythms（节律） affect the Earth's climate? Have there always been two polar ice caps? What does the future hold?
The Pool Bible by Ken Walker
Price: $14.95 Words: 77,400 Language: English Published: March 21, 2013
Maintain your own pool - and save pots of money! A plain-language guide to care and maintenance of swimming pools by an expert in the field. The secrets of water balance and pH are laid bare for the backyard pool-owner! The Pool Bible is full of tips, tricks & advice. Save 10% of the cover price in the first 12 months or YOUR MONEY BACK. (PS - No-one has asked for a refund yet.)
The Oblivion Stone by Alexandra Moody
Price: $3.99 Words: 85,430 Language: English Published: February 12, 2018
A battle between the humans and the Unfaih appears on the horizon, and Sloane and Rhyn must take measures to stop the violence that threatens to destroy everyone they love. Can they find the solution in time? Get your copy of the third book in The Liftsal Guardians series now!
1.What’s the theme of the book by OnlineGatha?
A. Computer science B. School life
C. Climate change D. A TV program
2.What does the book The pool Bible promise its readers?
A. Quick delivery B. A free present
C. The chance of a refund D. Better after-sales service
3.Which book is published as part of a series?
A. Ice Age B. The Pool Bible
C. Learning Java D. The Oblivion Stone
高三毕业在即，我校《金苹果》英语报要征集同学交往中的印象深刻的事。请向报纸投稿，叙述你与同学交往中的一件令你印象深刻的事，并谈谈感悟。文中不能透露真实姓名。
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Translations
1.嫌疑人已抓获，所有相关证据已移交警方． （concern）
2.众所周知，学习方法因人而异，适合你的不一定适合我． （necessarily）
3.我突然想到，我忘记提醒班长集合时间了，随即给他发了一个消息． （It）
4.学生表达自我的能力越强，他们就越可能在入学面试中脱颖而出，这促使了他们将练习演讲作为每日常规．（rule）
