Since 50 years ago, scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers. Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines.
Recently, two researchers, Jose Millan and Michelle Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, demonstrated (展示) a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person’s thoughts.
In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts.
“Our brain has billions of nerve cells. These send signals through the spinal cord (脊髓) to the muscles to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles,” Tavella says, “Our system allows disabled people to communicate with external world and also to control devices.”
The researchers designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp (头皮) and sends them to a computer. The computer interprets the signals and commands the motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair also has two cameras that identify objects in its path. They help the computer react to commands from the brain.
Prof. Millan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that interprets brain signals and turns them into simple commands. “The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two categories: communication, and controlling devices. One example is this wheelchair.” He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can benefit from. And the other is to guarantee that they can use the technology over long periods of time.
1.What is BCI?
A.BCI is a technology that can link the human brain with computers.
B.BCI is a technology that can help to update computer systems.
C.BCI is a technology that can help the disabled to recover.
D.BCI is a technology that can control a person's thoughts.
2.How did Tavella operate the wheelchair in the laboratory?
A.By controlling his muscles. B.By talking to the machine.
C.By using his mind. D.By moving his hand.
3.Which of the following shows the path of the signals described in Paragraph 5?
A.scalp→computer→cap→wheelchair
B.scalp→cap→computer→wheelchair
C.computer→cap→scalp→wheelchair
D.cap→computer→scalp→wheelchair
4.Which of the following would be the BEST title for the text?
A.Switzerland, the BCI Research Center
B.New Findings about How the Human Brain Works
C.Robotic Vehicles Could Help to Cure Brain Injuries
D.BCI Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled
Buster used to be a lovely dog playing and running on a farm all day. His life had a big change after his handler Will’s presence because Will found he did extremely well in sniffing tests. Will thought Buster had a special talent and decided to let him become a member of RAF police working dogs. Buster began working with Will in 2007, and the pair was sent to Afghanistan’s deadly Helmand province. There, Buster saved countless lives by sniffing out explosive devices (IEDs), as well as weapons. He joined his comrades repeatedly on foot patrols hunting Taliban terrorists and tracking down bombs. He also acted as a useful diplomatic tool, due to his friendly approach to local children. The RAF soon had a long train of children in tow, as Buster drew in his crowd and entertained them.
After his glittering service with the RAF, Buster retired in 2011,and died in 2015 at the age of 13 at the home of his handler, Will, in Lincolnshire where he had been enjoying retirement with his handler Will, his wife Tracy and their two dogs who will inherit (继承) their father’s career.
Over the course of his career, Buster is thought to have saved more than 1,000 lives. He also helped patrol British bases and searched vehicles at check points, and upon retirement was made the official RAF Police mascot (吉祥物). Buster’s brave exploits were even documented in Will’s book, which was published in January and soon became a best-selling one.
Buster completed five tours of duty in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Iraq and earned a row of campaign medals, and it was because of his great efforts in these austere environments full of wars and confrontations that he would be remembered. It was the saving of countless lives by searching out IEDs that saw the honor of official lifetime mascot of the RAF Police bestowed (授予) upon Buster. The RAF police are now planning to commemorate Buster as part of a special event to celebrate RAF Police Working Dogs.
1.Which is NOT the achievement of Buster in Helmand province?
A.He succeeded in saving a lot of people.
B.He became popular among local children and kept them safe.
C.He sniffed out many explosives.
D.He was a great helper in hunting Taliban terrorists.
2.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.Buster was born at Will’s home in Lincolnshire.
B.Buster’s children will also be a member of RAF police working dogs.
C.Buster was bestowed the mascot during working in Afghanistan.
D.Buster’s death in a campaign is a great loss for the RAF Police.
3.Which word can best replace the underlined word “austere” in the last paragraph?
A.Severe. B.Respectable.
C.Vast. D.Powerful.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.A heroic sniffer dog’s legendary life.
B.The requirements of being a lifetime mascot.
C.Buster’s cooperation with his comrades.
D.The love between Will and his dog.
Captain Henry, a 98-year-old American retired fisherman, has become a first-time author, having written and published his autobiography In a Fisherman's Language after learning to read at the age of 91.
Mr.Henry spent most of his life without even his closest family members knowing he was illiterate. Forced to quit school in the third grade to take odd jobs, he kept the secret close to his chest, only telling his late wife. Henry's granddaughter, Marlisa, told reporters how he used tricks, like waiting for others to order at restaurants first, to avoid the issue.
A family argument in his 90s, she said, aroused his desire for education.“He signed a document he could not read about where he was going to live, Marlisa said. Starting with his name, he eventually moved on to the ABC's and children's books. He put them down since his wife fell ill. After the tragic loss of his wife, he went back to reading and began to log (记录) his life. He wrote about his family's voyage from Portugal to the US, how he went on to captain a boat, and his many journeys at sea.
His life stories have become so popular that nearly 800 copies were sold in the first two weeks after the book's release. One thousand more have since been printed as requests for the book flood in from as far as Germany. And now even Hollywood producers have approached Mr. Henry about buying the rights to his life story for a big screen adaptation.
The family also now has a book agent and a deal in the works to publish a second edition. Meanwhile, the family says they are reconnecting and closer than ever as a result of Henry's late-life efforts.“Everyone has a story,” Marlisa said, “It teaches that when you're down and out, never give up.”
1.When did Henry begin writing his life story?
A.When he was 91 years old. B.After his wife passed away.
C.When he was 98 years old. D.After he retired from work.
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A.A Hollywood producer wishes to make a movie out of Henry's book.
B.Henry never told anyone that he couldn't read or write.
C.Henry began his reading with some famous novels.
D.Henry's book was well-received only by Americans.
3.How did Henry's family benefit from his writing?
A.The family got more money from the 2nd edition.
B.The family ties were rebuilt and strengthened.
C.His family moved from Portugal to the US.
D.His family story has been made into a movie.
4.What message can Henry's story give us?
A.An idle youth, a needy age. B.Every coin has two sides.
C.Practice makes perfect. D.It is never too old to learn.
Winners Club
You choose to be a winner!
The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers. It has been made to help you better manage your money. The Winners Club is a transaction account (交易账户) where you receive a key-card so you can get to your money 24/7 – that’s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
It’s a club with impressive features for teenagers:
●No account keeping fees!
You’re no millionaire so we don’t expect you to pay large fees. In fact, there are no account keeping or transaction fees!
●Excellent interest rates!
You want your money to grow. The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better if you make at least two deposits (储蓄) without taking them out in a month.
●Convenient!
Teenagers are busy – we get that. You may never need to come to a bank at all. With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers (方便柜员机) and to bank from home using the phone and the Internet. You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account. This could be your pocket money or your pay from your part-time job!
●Mega magazine included!
Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money. There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members.
The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers. And it is so easy to join. Simply fill in an application form. You will have to get permission from your parent or guardian (so we can organize that cool key-card) but it is easy. We can’t wait to hear from you. It's the best way to choose to be a winner!
1.Who is the Winners Club intended for? .
A.Parents . B.Winners.
C.Teenagers. D.Adults.
2.Which of the following is TRUE about the Winners Club?
A.Services are convenient for its members.
B.The bank opens only on work days.
C.Special gifts are ready for parents.
D.Fees are necessary for the account keeping.
3.What is the purpose of this text?
A.To introduce a new banking service. B.To provide part-time jobs.
C.To organize key-cards. D.To set up a club.
假设你是李华，你收到朋友李磊的信，他告诉你他不适应高一数学老师讲的课， 在学习数学方面有些困难，以至于跟不上其他同学，因此他感到非常着急。请你给李磊写一封信，想办法帮助他解决这方面的困难。
参考词汇：适应adapt to
要求：1. 不要逐字翻译，可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
2. 词数100左右，信的开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Li Lei,
I have got your letter.______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Best wishes!
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文,请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（
），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（
）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1、每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Tina, 14, is hard-working student. She studies hard, follows the rules at school, and do whatever her parents, teachers and even friend tell her to do. She seems to be used to say “yes” to everything. But Tina is not always happy about this. “Sometimes her friends invite me to do something together, but I’ve got the other plans already,” Tina said. “And sometimes people ask too much favors from me. For example, every day a student is in duty to keep the classroom clean, and there is one girl whom always wants to change shifts (轮班) with me. I don’t feel like helping her, because I just cannot say no.” “I wish I could change,” Tina thought to herself.
