A robot called Bina48 has successfully taken a course in the philosophy of love at Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU), in California.
According to course instructor William Barry, associate professor at NDNU, Bina48 is the world’s first socially advanced robot to complete a college course, a feat he described as “remarkable.” The robot took part in class discussions, gave a presentation with a student partner and participated in a debate with students from another institution.
Before becoming a student, Bina48 appeared as a guest speaker in Barry’s classes for several years. One day when addressing Barry’s class, Bina48 expressed a desire to go to college, a desire that Barry and his students enthusiastically supported. Rather than enroll Bina48 in his Robot Ethics: Philosophy of Emerging Technologies course, Barry suggested that Bina48 should take his course Philosophy of Love instead. Love is a concept Bina48 doesn’t understand, said Barry. Therefore the challenge would be for Barry and his students to teach Bina48 what love is.
“Some interesting things happened in the class,” said Barry. He said that his students thought it would be straightforward to teach Bina48 about love, which, after all, is “fairly simple — it’s a feeling,” said Barry. But the reality was different. Bina48 ended up learning “31 different versions of love,” said Barry, highlighting some of the challenges humans may face when working with artificial intelligence in future.
Bina48 participated in class discussions via Skype and also took part in a class debate about love and conflict with students from West Point. Bina48’s contribution to the debate was filmed and posted on YouTube. It was judged that Bina48 and NDNU classmates were the winners of this debate.
In the next decade, Barry hopes Bina48 might become complex enough to teach a class, though he says he foresees robots being used to better the teaching and learning experience, rather than replacing instructors completely.
1.What was Bina48’s performance like in class?
A. Far-reaching. B. Insignificant.
C. Extraordinary. D. Unattractive.
2.What does the underlined word “addressing” in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Dealing with. B. Giving a speech to.
C. Consulting with. D. Sending a letter to.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Artificial intelligence may somehow be superior to man.
B. It was quite tough for Bina48 to learn about love.
C. It was interesting for Bina48 to learn about love.
D. Humans can launch a challenge to artificial intelligence.
4.What does Barry think of the future development of Bina48?
A. It will surely be able to serve as a teacher.
B. It will completely take the place of instructors.
C. It will be able to promote learning and teaching.
D. It will be smart enough to control human beings.
The number of snow geese arriving in the Arctic each spring to breed has risen over the past few decades. At first, wildlife biologists saw this as an environmental crisis, pointing to marshes（湿 地 ） where plants were eaten by the hungry birds. In response, the federal government loosened restrictions on snow goose hunting.
But how do the Inuit, in whose backyard this is taking place, view the situation? A recent plan is giving Inuit wildlife experts the opportunity to lend their knowledge to managing the species. The snow goose study, which is supported in part by Polar Knowledge Canada and led by the Kivalliq Wildlife Board (an Inuit organization that manages hunting, trapping and fishing in central Nunavut), asked the experts to share their generations of knowledge about snow geese and their views on what should be done.
“The community had concerns about controlling the population,” says Ron, a community officer of the Kivalliq Inuit Association, “and Inuit snow goose knowledge had never been recorded. People wanted to pass on what they knew.” Inuit experts disagreed with that, considering it wasteful and unnecessary. They felt hunting more snow geese in an organized way, such as paying local hunters a minimal amount of money and distributing the birds to disadvantaged families or operating a limited commercial hunt by employing local people, would be appropriate.
Inuit wildlife experts will plan to call on scientists this fall. They say they hope to search for a common way forward and that while there may be too many snow geese in some areas, it’s not a crisis. Biologists now generally agree that there seem to be plenty of undamaged marshes available and newer research shows that some damaged areas can recover.
“Now that we have recorded and documented Inuit knowledge of snow geese,” says Ron, “when facing the crisis other people will be able to use the information to help manage the species, which is fundamental to dealing with it effectively.”
1.Why did the federal government loosen limitations on snow goose hunting?
A. To make more profits. B. To create more marshes.
C. To wipe out the hungry birds. D. To protect the ecosystem.
2.Which of the following might Inuit wildlife experts agree with?
A. Organizing large commercial hunts.
B. Using snow goose hunting to man’s best advantage.
C. Regarding too many snow geese as a crisis.
D. Hunting as many snow geese as possible.
3.What might biologists think about the marshes’ future now?
A. It’s a bit promising. B. It’s unpredictable.
C. It’s too discouraging. D. It’s hard to get better.
4.What does the underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refer to?
A. The species. B. Inuit knowledge.
C. The crisis. D. Inuit research.
At the age of seven, while his friends were spending their allowances on things like candy and toys, Jose Adolfo Quisocola was busy saving money for basic purchases. To try to get his peers（同 龄 人 ） to do the same, the boy from Peru came up with the idea of an eco-bank, the Bartselana
Student Bank, which allows kids of all ages to become financially independent while also helping the environment.
Set up in 2012, the bank is the world’s first bank for kids. To become a member, a kid has to bring in at least 5 kilograms of solid waste and set a savings goal. Once accepted, all bank “partners” are required to deposit at least one additional kilogram of recyclables on a monthly basis and observe other requirements, such as attending financial education and environmental management workshops.
The waste accumulated is sold to local recycling companies, who, thanks to Jose’s efforts, pay a higher-than-market rate for everything brought in by the bank members. The money received is placed in the personal account where they collect until the savings goal is reached. The account holder can then withdraw the money, or choose to leave it and continue to grow for a bigger target. “At the beginning, my teachers thought I was crazy or that a child could not undertake this type of project,” Jose recalls, “They did not understand that we are not the future of the country but its present. Luckily, I had the support of the school headmaster and an assistant in my class.”
The boy’s efforts paid off, and by 2013, the bank had over 200 members, who brought in one ton of recyclable waste. Today, the eco-bank, which now has the support of several local institutions, boasts ten educational centers. They are designed to teach the over 3,000 students, aged 10 to 18 , to become financially independent, use their money wisely, and help the environment.
Not surprisingly, Jose’s efforts have earned him several national and international awards. On November 20, 2018, Jose won Children’s Climate Prize, which comes with a medal and $5,500 in prize money and is given to a child or youth who has accomplished an extraordinary achievement for the climate or environment.
1.Why did Jose set up the bank?
A. To raise money and set up a recycling company.
B. To buy necessities and donate them to needy kids.
C. To save much money and protect the environment.
D. To educate the students and help them win prizes.
2.How can a kid be admitted to the eco-bank?
A. By donating to the eco-bank.
B. By turning in one kilogram of waste in a month.
C. By sending in an application.
D. By presenting a goal and a certain amount of waste.
3.How did the teachers feel about Jose’s program?
A. Doubtful. B. Excited.
C. Moved. D. Worried.
4.What is paragraph 4 mainly about?
A. How the environment is improved. B. What the project has achieved.
C. How tons of waste has been recycled. D. What support the local institutions get.
While it’s books that make a library, being in lovely surroundings may provide inspiration and help you work a little bit harder. Here are some of the coolest libraries of the world.
Library of Birmingham – Birmingham, U.K.
The new Library of Birmingham is said to be not only Britain’s biggest public library, but also the largest in Europe. Designed by Dutch architects, this replacement for the Birmingham Central Library was opened in 2013 and has a wealth of resources within its walls, including adults and kids’ libraries, music collections, a Shakespeare Memorial Room, and even a gym room. Gardens crown the roof, while the changing seasons bring variations in the shadows and reflections inside.
National Library of France – Paris, France
The National Library of France, which now contains an astonishing collection of 30 million, dates back to the 14th century and this royal library was set up at the Louvre by King Charles V. The Library was moved to Rue de Richelieu site in 1868, with major design work carried out by French architects Henri Labrouste and, following his death, Jean-Louis Pascal. Here, the reading rooms are elegance itself. There are more than just books to be found.
State Library of New South Wales – Sydney, Australia
The public State Library of New South Wales holds the honor of being the oldest institution of its kind in Australia. It was originally set up as the Australian Subscription Library in 1826, but it wasn’t until 1942 that its permanent home was ready. Designed by Sydney architect Walter Liberty Vernon and completed in 1910, the magnificent sandstone Mitchell Wing is one of the architectural highlights.
Seattle Central Library – Seattle, Washington, USA
Seattle Central Library’s distinctive design ensures it stands out. Architect Rem Koolhaas is one of the names attached to its design. Architects sought to envelop the 11-story building with “a layer of transparency”, using a skin of glass and metal. The finished article houses about 1.45 million books and other things, as well as more than 400 computers available for public use. The building, which opened in 2004, was included on the American Institute of Architects’ list of America’s 150 favorite buildings in 2007.
1.Which of the following library has the longest history?
A. Library of Birmingham B. National Library of France
C. State Library of New South Wales D. Seattle Central Library
2.What can you do in Library of Birmingham?
A. Attend a concert. B. Act a play.
C. Take some exercise. D. Enjoy new technology.
3.What do National Library of France and Seattle Central Library have in common?
A. They have computers available. B. They were moved to a new place.
C. They won awards for architecture. D. They were designed by more than one person.
假设你是红星中学高三学生李华，请根据以下四幅图的先后顺序，介绍你在伦敦冬令营期间与同学们自行前往博物馆的完整过程，并以“My Experience in London”为题，给校刊“英语园地”写一篇英文稿件。
注意：1. 词数不少于60； 2. 开头已给出，不计入总词数。
My Experience in London
Last winter vacation, my classmates and I went to London to attend a winter camp.
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在成长的过程中，我们总是对未来的职业充满憧憬。近期你班将以“My Dream Career” 为题举行演讲比赛。请你根据以下要求写一篇英语演讲稿，内容包括：
1. 你的理想职业； 2. 选择它的理由；3. 实现的途径。
注意：
1. 词数100词左右；
2. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数；
3. 可根据内容要点适当发挥，以使行文连贯。
My Dream Career
Good morning everyone!
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Thank you for listening!
