The world’s elderly population is increasing. The number of older people ---those age 60 years or older ---is expected to double by 2050 and is growing faster than all younger age groups across the globe. That comes with an increasing need for caregivers which can provide 24-hour care, not only at hospitals or nursing homes, but also at private homes.
Already, caregiving robots are programmed to ask questions a nurse would ask and can keep an eye on patients for falls. These robotic assistants are expected to become increasingly marketable and reach 450,000 by 2045 because of the expected caregiver shortage in the USA.
“Unluckily, the hard structure of present caregiving robots prevents them from a safe human-robot interaction(互动), limiting their assistance to only social interaction and not physical interaction,” said Ramses Martinez, an assistant professor in Purdue’s College of Engineering . “After all, would you leave babies or old people in the hands of a robot?”
Recent advances in material science have enabled the production of soft robots with deformable (可变形的) bodies or the ability to reshape when touched , but today the complex design prevents the use of this technology at home .
However, Martinez and other researchers have developed a new design method which shows promise in enabling the production of soft robots using a 3D printer.
“The soft machines move like humans. Their ability to change their body structure and movement to adapt ( 适应 ) to a wide variety of environments will improve caregiving greatly,” says Martinez .
The researchers are looking for partners to test and bring their technology to market.
1.What does the underlined word “That” in Paragraph 1 refer to?
A.The younger age group
B.The group of older people
C.The population across the globe
D.The growth of the elderly population
2.What is the disadvantage of the present caregiving robots?
A.They can’t provide safe physical interaction
B.They can’t communicate with patients
C.They can’t watch patients for falls
D.They can’t provide 24-hour care.
3.What do we know about Martinez’s new design method?
A.It requires a special kind of 3D printer.
B.It makes the production of soft robots simpler.
C.It has been put onto the market.
D.It is hard for users to master.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.The robot industry in the future
B.Effects of population ageing
C.Robots for the elderly created with 3D printers
D.The development of caregiving robots
It’s a common belief that the roles actors play might somehow reflect their true personalities. It’s usually not true, but British actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge, 34, is an exception.
In September, 2019 Waller-Bridge took home three Emmy awards for her work on Fleabag–--- best writing in a comedy series, best lead actress, and best comedy series.
Her success is partly because of her family. Descended (遗传) from British nobility, Waller-Bridge was brought up in a free environment. Her mother always told her, “You can be whatever you want if you imagine it.” So Waller-Bridge broke all the rules about what a “good” girl should do. “Our laws and moral codes don’t apply – she lives ... without fear of consequence,” The Sun noted.
That fearlessness extends to being real in her writing and acting. Unlike the can-do heroines and strong, successful women in many TV dramas, Waller-Bridge shows an imperfect but real character. Just like the character Fleabag, who always found a way to say or do the wrong thing, Waller-Bridge feels her life is a mess. “It resonated (共鸣) with the lives of stressed-out women everywhere in reality – doing their best to find balance in their lives,” a viewer wrote on US movie website IMDb. Variety magazine even calls her an “all-around icon”.
Villanelle in Killing Eve, another hit TV series developed by Waller-Bridge, was a little bit violent but showed no interest for the rules others created, which made many people see themselves in her.
“People have been scared to write characters like these. But I think, now, women are so relieved to have this new model. And, aren’t we all a bit of everything?” Waller-Bridge said in an interview with Indian Express.
With such courage and sincerity, Waller-Bridge is, without a doubt, a “golden girl” in Hollywood, Australian news website The New Daily commented.
1.What is Waller-Bridge good at ?
A.Directing films. B.Designing. C.Performing. D.Writing reports.
2.From Paragraph 3 we can know ______________.
A.Waller-Bridge grew up in a rich home.
B.Waller-Bridge is a bad girl in nature.
C.Waller-Bridge family results in her achievements.
D.Waller-Bridge’s mother gave her encouragement.
3.Who definitely interviewed Waller-Bridge according to the passage?
A.Variety magazine. B.The Sun. C.The New Daily. D.Indian Express .
4.Which is the most impressive characteristic of Waller-Bridge according to the media?
A.Staying true. B.Being hardworking. C.Being talented. D.Being brave.
Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, the co-founder of the online retail giant Alibaba, said he is donating 500,000 testing kits and 1 million masks to the United States to fight the spread of coronavirus (冠状病毒). The China-made protective gear and test kits took off from Shanghai's airport in a chartered (包租的) cargo plane Monday morning, and will be handed over to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when they arrive.
The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation have donated much-needed materials to areas suffering in the epidemic (泛滥) over the past few weeks, including Japan, South Korea, Italy, Egypt, Iran and Spain, according to a tweet (推文) from the Jack Ma Foundation on Friday.
Ma said the outbreak presents “a huge challenge to all humankind in a globalized world,” and that he has drawn from his own country's experience that quick and accurate testing as well as protective equipment for medical personnel are most effective in preventing the spread of the virus.
The past experience shows us that if we take it very seriously and are positive, we surely have the ability to kill out the virus.
Now it is as if we were all living in the same forest on fire. As members of the global community, it would be irresponsible of us to sit on the fence, panic, ignore facts or fail to act. We need to take action now!
1.Jack Ma has sent much-needed materials to the countries except .
A.the USA B.Iran C.North Korea D.Italy
2.From China’s experience, which is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the virus?
A.Long-term testing and protective equipment for medical personnel.
B.Proper testing and protective equipment for doctors and nurses.
C.Taking medicines immediately and staying at home.
D.Correct labeling to the virus and staying at home.
3.What’s the meaning of the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?
A.The forest where we are living is on fire.
B.We are all facing the same trouble of coronavirus.
C.We are irresponsible to take action to overcome the virus.
D.All of us are the members of the globe and it is easy to overcome the virus.
4.Which statement is not correct according to the text?
A.Jack Ma is one of the founders of the online retail giant Alibaba.
B.The protective equipment will be handed over to the CDC.
C.Jack Ma has just donated much-needed materials to the countries in Asia, America, and Europe.
D.If we take the virus seriously, we are able to solve the problem of coronavirus.
Got 48 hours to relax yourself? You’ll make full use of your timeand have great fun at these amazing destinations.
Alabama: Gulf Shores
For relaxing weekend getaways in Alabama, head south to the white-sand beaches of Gulf Shores. Get on the water for some deep-sea fishing. History lovers can get a lesson in the Civil War along a 90-mile path with more than a dozen historic sites.
Alaska: Homer
How does fresh seafood sound? You’ll find it in Homer, located in south-central Alaska, which is either a short flight or a great four-hour scenic drive on the Seward Highway from Anchorage. Get your fill of fishing in Kachemak Bay, explore local trails and enjoy exceptional birding in this remote natural setting.
Arizona: Sedona
Adventurous types can get their fill in the magical red rocks of Sedona, which is said to be the location of healing centers of energy. People flood to the area to meditate, practice yoga and more. Sedona also offers fantastic hiking, off-roading, biking, and even climbing.
Arkansas: Hot Springs
Relax and renew in Arkansas’ hot waters in Hot Springs, an art community with Art Deco architecture that is also the home of Hot Springs National Park. Make time for a visit to Bathhouse Row, a National Historic Landmark of eight bathhouses, and Superior Bathhouse Brewery, which produces beer made of the hot spring water inside the National Park. Don’t miss these National Parks that are off the beaten path.
1.Which activity can be found in both Gulf Shores and Homer?
A.Going fishing. B.Taking a flight.
C.Enjoying beautiful birds. D.Visiting historic sites.
2.What is Superior Bathhouse Brewery known for?
A.Its bathhouses. B.Its paths.
C.Its self-made beer. D.Its architecture.
3.Where is this text most likely from?
A.A diary. B.A survey. C.A novel. D.A magazine.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What difference does the speaker talk about first?
A.Some expressions. B.Traffic rules. C.The food.
2.What does the speaker think of the weather in London?
A.Changeable. B.Great. C.Uncomfortable.
3.When does the speaker finish work now?
A.At 5 p.m. B.At 8:30 p.m. C.At 9 p.m.
4.Where did the speaker use to go on Friday evening in America?
A.To the club. B.To the gym. C.To the restaurant.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What did the man do on Sunday?
A.He went to the museum. B.He visited the old castle. C.He watched a football match.
2.How did the man find the movie?
A.Special. B.Interesting. C.Boring.
3.Who is Helen most likely to be?
A.The man’s friend. B.The man’s wife. C.The man’s daughter.
4.What food did the man have?
A.Italian food. B.Thai food. C.Chinese food.
