Shark attacks not only disturb beach activities, but can affect associated tourist industries. Shark nets are a common solution to preventing shark attacks on beaches, but they cause dangers to sea ecosystems.
Seeking a cost-effective way to monitor beach safety over large areas, we have developed a system called Shark Spotter. It combines artificial intelligence (AI), computing power, and drone (无人机) technology to identify and warn lifesavers to sharks near swimmers. The project is a cooperation between the University of Technology Sydney and The Ripper Group, which is pioneering the use of drones—called “Westpac Little Ripper Lifesavers”—in the search and rescue movement in Australia.
SharkSpotter can detect sharks and other potential threats using real-time aerial imagery. The system analyses video from a camera attached to a drone to monitor beaches for sharks, send warnings, and conduct rescues. Developed with techniques known as “deep learning”, the Shark Spotter system receives imagery from the drone camera and attempts to identify all objects in the scene. Once certain objects are detected, they are put into one of 16 categories: shark, whale, dolphin, rays, different types of boats, surfers, and swimmers.
If a shark is detected, Shark Spotter provides both a visual sign on the computer screen and an audible warning to the operator. The operator confirms the warning and sends text messages from the Shark Spotter system to the Surf Life Savers for further action. In an emergency, the drone is equipped with a lifesaving flotation pod (漂浮仓) together with an electronic shark repellent (驱逐装置) that can be dropped into the water in cases where swimmers are in severe trouble, trapped in a rip, or if there are sharks close by.
In January 2018, the Westpac Little Ripper Lifesavers was used to rescue two young swimmers caught in a rip at Lennox Head, NSW. The drone flew down the beach some 800 meters from the lifeguard station, and a lifesaving flotation pod was dropped from the drone. The complete rescue operation took 70 seconds.
We believe Shark Spotter is a win-win for both marine life and beachgoers. This unique technology combines dynamic video image processing AI and advanced drone technology to creatively deal with the global challenge of ensuring safe beaches, protecting environments, and promoting tourism.
1.A Shark Spotter is ________.
A. a solution to monitor sharks
B. an equipment to identify lifesavers
C. a technology to prevent shark attacks
D. a project to pioneer the use of drones
2.When a shark is spotted near a swimmer, the system will ________.
A. take timely action B. analyze the visual data
C. classify the identified objects D. turn on “deep learning” mode
3.The example in the 5th paragraph shows us that the system is
A. efficient in saving lives B. effective in detecting sharks
C. smart in driving sharks away D. practical over the whole sea area
4.What is the author’s attitude towards the future of SharkSpotter?
A. Doubtful. B. Optimistic.
C. Negative. D. Objective.
Most of us have looked up at the stars that fill the night sky and wondered whether we’re alone in the universe. Indeed, the question of whether there’ s life out there has been something humankind ’s been asking itself for countless years. But thanks to China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), the answer to this question may come a lot sooner than we expected.
The telescope has a huge round reflector, which measures 500 meters across and has a perimeter（周长）of 1.6 kilometers. Because of its great size, it would have been both difficult and inefficient to get FAST to move like a regular telescope. Instead, FAST’s designers came up with a great solution: its surface is made up of 4450 panels which can be individually adjusted. This clever design feature allows scientists to detect radio signals from any angle with a great degree of accuracy. “Panels can change their positions through connected wires and parallel （关联的） robots. We can control their position with an accuracy of 1 mm,” Zheng Yuanpeng, chief engineer of the telescope’s panel project, told Xinhua News Agency.
FAST’s engineers also had the task of finding a suitable location. As any interference would affect its ability to detect distant radio waves, it needed to be built in a remote area. Luckily, the perfect spot was found in the beautiful mountains of Guizhou Province. “There are three hills about 500 meters away from one another, creating a valley that is perfect to support the telescope," Sun Caihong, chief engineer of FAST’ s construction, told Xinhua.
And although it wasn’t yet fully operated, FAST had already made great discoveries by October 2017. Since 1967, only around 2000 pulsars （脉冲星） have been discovered, yet FAST had detected six more by October 2017. Once FAST is fully up and running, we may finally have the answer to one of the biggest questions in history.
1.What is the purpose of mentioning the question in Paragraph 1?
A.To introduce the new giant telescope.
B.To explain why there is life in universe.
C.To remind readers to think about the life in space.
D.To emphasize the question that should be answered.
2.What can we know from Paragraph 2?
A.The telescope is made up of many panels.
B.The area of FAST is about 800 square kilometers.
C.The engineer can handle FAST’s position accurately.
D.The individual panel helps scientists catch radio signals.
3.Why was FAST built in Guizhou?
A.Because Guizhou is a remote province.
B.Because Guizhou has an ideal valley.
C.Because Guizhou has beautiful mountains.
D.Because Guizhou has the ability to build it.
4.What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?
A.FAST’s timeline. B.FAST’s future.
C.FAST’s operation. D.FAST’s discoveries.
I was in the seventh grade, and we had moved to New Jersey in November. By then, everyone already had had their own friends, and no one wanted to talk to a new girl. To make things worse, they put me in “Section L”. I found out later that everyone called Section L “Loserville”. It was sort of an open secret that it was the section for troublemakers and not-so-smart kids. When I found out, I wanted to scream. I had always been a good student and had amazing friends, and now everyone thought I was a loser!
I did text my friends in Illinois almost every night, especially my best friend, Ana. At first my friends wanted to hear all about it. But then some stopped texting back once I said something about how miserable I was. One night when I was texting with Ana, I complained about another friend who had just done that.
Ana’s texts came really fast for the next few minutes and they surprised me. She said that she was tired of hearing about how bad everything was in New Jersey, too. She said she did not want to hurt my feelings but that I needed to stop feeling so sorry for myself all the time, I had to try to make things better.
The next day, I thought a lot about what Ana had said. She was right!
I wish I could say that everything changed overnight after that, but it didn’t. I was still stuck in “Loserville”, and some people were still mean to me, even though I tried to just stay out of their way.
But what did change was me—I stopped feeling so sorry for myself and did something about making friends. I signed up to make sets for the school play. I met a lot of new people there, and suddenly I had friends to say hi to in the halls!
I still miss Illinois sometimes, but life in New Jersey isn’t so hard anymore. Even though I couldn’t change my situation, I could change my attitude—and that made all the difference.
1.“Loserville” is a section for ________.
A. failures B. good students
C. class secrets D. newcomers
2.The writer complained all the time in the new environment because ________.
A. Ana didn’t text back to her B. her friends hurt her feelings
C. she was unfairly treated D. she was a good student
3.What made a difference in changing the situation?
A. She went back to Illinois.
B. She ended friendship with Ana.
C. She fought back with her classmates.
D. She began to make friends with others.
4.The best title for the passage can be ________.
A. Lasting Friendship B. An Incidence at School
C. Say Goodbye to “Loserville” D. Unhappiness in “Loserville”
Yellowstone National Park is the flagship of the National Park Service and a favorite to millions of visitors each year. The park is a major destination for all members of the family. By driving the grand loop road, visitors can view the park from the comfort of their vehicle and also take a rest at one of the many roadside picnic areas.
How much is the entrance fee?
$25 - Private, noncommercial vehicle;
$20 - Motorcycle or snowmobile (winter);
$12 - Visitors 16 and older entering by foot, bike, ski, etc.
This fee provides the visitor with a 7-day entrance permit for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
A $50 park annual pass provides entrance for a single private non-commercial vehicle at Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The $10 Interagency Senior Pass (62 and older) is a lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Where can you stay?
Inside Yellowstone, you can choose to stay in modern or historic hotels and cabins inside the park like the Old Faithful Inn, the world’s largest log structure. For those who want to be a little closer to nature, there are 12 campgrounds with a range of services from primitive pit toilets to shower and laundry facilities. There’ s also RV camping with and without dumping stations.
Staying outside the park gives you unique Old West experiences but still keeps you close to park attractions.
If you’re taking a road trip to Yellowstone, you’ll want to check out our Hotels and Cabins On The Road section.
1.The entrance fees listed on the web page don’t apply to _______.
A.temporary residents in the USA
B.vehicles involving business activities
C.visitors out of a certain age range
D.private motorcycles and snowmobiles
2.What are you likely to acquire in the Old Faithful Inn?
A.Unique old west experiences.
B.Primitive pit toilets and shower.
C.Knowledge of origin of the park.
D.RV camping with dumping sites.
3.Where does the passage probably come from?
A.A magazine. B.A textbook.
C.A notice. D.A travel guide.
为了帮助学生了解更多的电脑知识，学校邀请了浙江大学计算机系(the Computer Department)的陈教授来校作讲座。假如你是校学生会主席李华，请根据所给提示，代表学生会用英语写一则通知，要点包括:
1. 主讲人；
2. 讲座时间和地点；
3. 参加对象；
4. 注意事项。
注意:1.词数80左右，标题和结尾已为你写好
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯
NOTICE
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Student Union
按给出的中文意思，根据括号内所给的英语或所提要求，翻译下列句子.
1.自从他大学毕业，他就梦想出国旅游。(ever since)
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2.像往常一样，我说服了同学改变想法。(persuade)
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3.比起看电视，我更喜欢读书。(prefer)
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4.我将充分利用我的课余时间来丰富自己的词汇量。(enrich)
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5.他是个意志坚定的人，从不向困难屈服。(定语从句)
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