GPS has completely transformed how we get around. But other animals have long had their navigation (导航) systems built right in --- like ants and bees.
“We know their eyes are quite sensitive to polarized light (偏振光), and the sky has a particular pattern of polarized light, connected with the position of the sun.” says Barbara Webb, a bioroboticist at the University of Edinburgh. You can see polarized light firsthand if you take a pair of polarized sunglasses and spin them against the sky --- the light passing through the lenses changes. Webb says the insects have polarization like that built into flat sides of their compound eyes. “You can think of it as the equal of having a little polarization directional filter (滤镜) over them or lots of sunglasses pointed in different directions.”
But Webb was curious about whether there's really enough information in the sky to give insects an accurate sense of direction. So her team built a sensor modeled after a desert ant eye and put it under artificial light meant to simulate the sky. They then fed that sensor input into a model meant to copy the brains of desert ants and other insects with a sky compass. And they found that with the insects' natural sensing and processing equipment, they can likely sense compass direction down to just a couple degrees of error.
A system based on that of insects could someday be a cheap, low-energy alternative to GPS. “Insects have very tiny brains, a brain that's using hardly any energy. And yet they're still able to navigate better than we can with GPS, which is a huge system.” Webb is now working on building a robot that can, like the desert ant, use light to get its direction. Although after sundown, it may have to ask for directions.
1.What make(s) it possible for ants and bees to sense the direction?
A.Flat eyes. B.Polarization.
C.A directional filter. D.Polarized sunglasses.
2.Why did Webb and her team build a sensor?
A.To copy the brains of desert ants.
B.To model after the desert ant eye.
C.To satisfy their desire for answers.
D.To test an accurate sense of direction.
3.What is the future navigation system supposed to do?
A.To save energy. B.To be a substitute for GPS.
C.To guide the blind. D.To help GPS work better.
4.What is the main purpose of the passage?
A.To introduce an invention.
B.To praise a scientific achievement.
C.To present new scientific findings.
D.To encourage people to learn science.
Sometimes when we are in our darkest hour, something completely unexpected happens that can give us a little bit of hope and comfort.
Jessica was a healthy woman. One day, she woke up and something was not right. After she was sent to the hospital, her heart rate slowed by nearly 50 percent. It took nine days for doctors to zero in on what was causing her problem.
After several weeks, Jessica was able to move her lips. Staff noticed this and introduced Jessica to Consuelo Gonzalez, a professional lip reader. Consuelo can understand what people are saying by the shape their lips make. She can also understand how annoying it is to not be able to communicate because she has been completely deaf since the age of 8.
For a few hours each week, Jessica could have long conversations with Consuelo, diving into the ocean of words she dearly missed. Through Consuelo, Jessica asked the doctors and nurses questions she had long wanted answers to. She also talked to Consuelo about the vivid dreams she was mixing up with reality.
In fact, there are other ways for Consuelo to earn a living by reading lips, but she says helping patients separate horrible dreams from reality is the most rewarding way she can use her unique skill. “What is really wonderful is being able to use this skill to create healing and to create communication between human beings. That’s what feels good. That’s what’s the best: Love.”
After four and a half months in the hospital, Jessica finally recovered. Consuelo was there, holding Jessica’s hands. Jessica eventually went back to work as a math professor. After her experience she wrote a new living will. One thing she added is that if she ever becomes incapacitated like this again, she is never to be left alone.
1.What did Consuelo do for Jessica?
A.She cured Jessica’s heart disease.
B.She helped Jessica communicate.
C.She taught Jessica how to read lips.
D.She made Jessica’s dream come true.
2.How does Consuelo feel about her job?
A.Horrible. B.Confident. C.Worried. D.Satisfied.
3.Which of the following best explains “incapacitated” underlined in the last paragraph?
A.Seriously ill. B.Desperately lonely.
C.Less reliable. D.More fortunate.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.A close friendship. B.A good living will.
C.An unusual skill. D.A new treatment.
The best way to see the world’s architectural marvels is to visit them in person.
Singapore
The architecture of Singapore is futuristic, to the point that visitors may feel like they have stepped onto a science fiction film. The Gardens by the Bay is one of the most visually striking creations that it has to offer, consisting of large parkland dotted with strange but wonderful structures.
Barcelona
Every year millions of people flood into this colorful Spanish city to see the unique works of famed architect Antoni Gaudi. The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia is the most popular of these and is still being built, in spite of the fact that work began all the way back in 1882. So if you want to avoid the crowds you can take your pick on your trip.
Athens
Ancient architecture is abundant in Athens, with buildings that have stood for thousands of years still managing to tower. From the inspiring remains of the Parthenon to various spirits including Zeus and Hephaestus, Athens is the place to visit if you are eager to see architecture filled with history.
Dubai
If you are looking for breath-taking architecture, Dubai will satisfy your curiosity. From the eye-watering height of the Burj Khalifa to the impressive achievement of the Palm Island, everything seems bigger in Dubai and there is luxury (奢华) in almost every aspect of the city, earning it a serious reputation on the international travel scene.
1.What is special about the architecture of Singapore?
A.Super modern. B.Extremely old.
C.Pretty colorful. D.Rather plain.
2.Which is one of the works of architect Antoni Gaudi?
A.Burj Khalifa. B.The Gardens by the Bay.
C.Parthenon Temple. D. The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia.
3.Where will you travel if you are curious about old tales behind architecture?
A.To Singapore. B.To Barcelona. C.To Athens. D.To Dubai.
假定你是李华,你校今年暑假将要为外国学生举办一场汉语夏令营活动。请给你的美国朋友Jason写封邮件,邀请他参加。内容包括:
1.时间和地点;
2内容:汉语学习、中国传统文化等;
3.报名方式和截止日期。
注意:1.词数100左右;
2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Dear Jason,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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。该文中共有十处错误，每句中最多有两处，错误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（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
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.只允许修改十处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Life is a long journey, and our problems are like rocks on the road. How do I handle it? Most of the time, I turn to my teachers to help or write about my problems online instead of share my troubles with my parents. They go to work early and come home lately. They look so tiring after a day's work. Although I tell them about my difficulty, they may turn a deaf ear to me. Therefore, I still want to tell them all my troubles someday. I don't expect them to give me any useful advices. I just want them listen to me and comfort me.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
The Palace Museum, also known1.the Forbidden City（紫禁城），is a much-visited and much-photographed tourist2.（attract）. This Chinese palace with a history of about 600 years receives millions of visits every year and lots of TV programs have showed the place in recent years.
However, it still3.（have）secrets, and a new program designed to explore those unknown are as and the stories within is set to show the palace in a new light. The variety show, Shang Xin Le Gu Gong, broadcast its first episode（一集）on Beijing TV and online streaming media site, iQyi com, on November9. That first episode won wide acceptance from audiences and was thought highly4.on Douban.com. “It brings many elements（元素） together, and everything in the show is5.（perfect）matched and turns out amazing." said6.online user. “It brings me the thrill I felt when I stepped into the Palace Museum for the first time."
In each one - hour - long episode, the actors and actresses switch between playing guides and historical figures 7.（include）emperors and royal family members of the Qing Dynasty（1644 - 1911）. They focus on areas8.are still not accessible to the public and the stories surrounding them. In the show, the actors and actresses are also joined by designers who will create9.（product）based on10.they see. The most popular ones, based on an online vote, are to be turned into souvenirs（纪念品）for sale.
