You have probably read about robots replacing human labor as a new era of automation takes root in one industry after another. But a new report suggests humans are not the only ones who might lose their jobs.
In New Zealand, farmers are using drones(无人机) to herd and monitor cows and sheep, taking up a position that highly intelligent dogs have held for more than a century. The robots have not replaced the dogs entirely, Radio New Zealand reports, but they have appropriated(盗用) one of the animal's most powerful tools: barking. The DJI Mavic Enterprise, a $3,500 drone favored by farmers, has a feature that lets the machine record sounds and play them over a loudspeaker, giving the machine the ability to act as the dogs.
Corey Lambeth, a shepherd on a farm, told RNZ the machines are surprisingly effective. ''That's the one thing I've noticed when you're moving cows that the old cows stand up to the dogs, but with the drones, they've never done that,'' he said, noting the drones move cows faster, with less stress, than the dogs do.
The drones come in handy for more than just herding(放牧) cows and sheep. The robots allow farmers to monitor their land from afar, monitoring water and feed levels and checking on the animals' health without disturbing them. Jason Rentoul told RNZ that a two-hour herding job that used to require two people and two teams of dogs could be accomplished in 45 minutes using a single drone. ''Being a hilly farm where a lot of stuff is done on foot, the drones really saved a lot of man hours, '' he said.
For now, farmers say, there is still a need for herding dogs, primarily because they have a longer life span than drones, can work in bad weather and do not require an electrical socket every few hours to recharge.
1.What is the main advantage of the drones over herding dogs?
A.The drones can take up a job that the dogs hardly do well any longer.
B.The drones can frighten the old cows which are not afraid of the dogs.
C.The drones can finish a herding job more efficiently than the dogs.
D.The drones can work on a hilly farm and extreme weather while the dogs can't.
2.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.Herding dogs will gradually lose their position on the farmland.
B.The drones can only copy the dogs' barking with the current technology.
C.The drones are multi-functional and leave the animals undisturbed.
D.The market for the DJI Mavic Enterprise is pretty small because of its high price.
3.According to the passage, why can't the drones replace the dogs entirely?
A.Because the drones can't bark as loudly as the dogs do.
B.Because cows are not used to seeing the drones.
C.Because the drones are much more expensive than the animal.
D.Because the drones' power is limited and they need charging from time to time.
4.What is the author’s attitude towards the drones in the passage?
A.supportive B.objective
C.critical D.doubtful
Growing up, I thought math class was something to be endured, not enjoyed. I disliked memorizing formulas(公式) and taking tests, all for the dull goal of getting a good grade. One of my teachers told my mother that I was “slow”. But my problem wasn't with math itself. In fact, when a topic seemed particularly interesting, I would go to the library and read more about it.
By high school, no one told me that I could become a professional mathematician. What I wanted to do then was to play college football. My ambition was to get an athletic scholarship to attend a Big Ten school.
The chances of that happening were very low. But that didn’t stop my coaches from encouraging me to believe I could reach my goal, and preparing and pushing me to work for it. They made video tapes of my performances and sent them to college coaches around the country. In the end, a Big Ten school, Penn State, did offer me a scholarship.
I wish math teachers were more like football coaches. Students are affected by more than just the quality of a lesson plan. They also respond to the passion of their teachers and the engagement of their peers, and they seek a sense of purpose. They benefit from specific instructions and constant feedback(反馈).
Until I got to college, I didn't really know what mathematics was. I still thought of it as laborious(耗时费力的) calculations. Then my professor handed me a book and suggested that I think about a particular problem. It wasn't easy, but it was fascinating. My professor kept giving me problems, and I kept pursuing them, even though I couldn’t always solve them immediately. The mathematical research I was doing had little in common with what I did in my high school classrooms. Instead, it was closer to the math and logic puzzles I did on my own as a boy. It gave me that same sense of wonder and curiosity, and it rewarded creativity. I am now a Ph. D candidate in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
1.Why did the writer think math class in school was “something to be endured” before entering college?
A.Because he wasn’t interested in math.
B.Because his math teachers didn't care to push him.
C.Because he was too smart and talented for math class.
D.Because he was training hard for an athletic scholarship.
2.According to the writer, students are affected by the following things from teachers or coaches EXCEPT ________.
A.a sense of purpose B.constant feedback
C.passion D.specific instructions
3.We can conclude that after entering college, the writer ________.
A.was busy looking for math problems to solve
B.studied on his own just as he was in high school
C.met with laborious calculations in his studies
D.began to realize what mathematics really is
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Interest is the best teacher
B.Be the best—you can make it
C.Math, taught like football
D.Once your teacher, always your teacher
Attractive lakeside cottages and cabins
Lafitte’s Landing Guest Quarters, Uncertain, Texas
There are five cottages featuring high ceilings and spacious bedrooms. Lafitte’s is a certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat, so you don’t have to go far for bird-watching. Explore the lake on a steamboat, or head to Caddo Lake State Park for night adventures such as Owl Nights and Bat Watches.
Rates: Summer nightly rates range from $559 to $1,899
Lake Placid Lodge, Lake Placid, New York
With 17 cabins sitting along the shores of Lake Placid, the arts-and-crafts-style Lake Placid Lodge offers an exciting summer lake experience. Lakefront cabins come outfitted with hand-built beds and stone fireplaces. Go for a hike, or hit the lake for swimming, fishing, or boating.
Rates: Rates are $120 per night for double occupancy; each additional person is $20 per night.
Lake Crescent Lodge, Olympic National Park, Washington
Its cottages and cabins are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Choose between one-and two-bedroom Singer Tavern Cottages, or stay in the always favored (and often booked) Roosevelt Fireplace Cabins. Spend your days hiking in the surrounding Olympic National Park, or exploring Lake Crescent by boat.
Rates: Nightly rates for cottages and cabins range between $317 and $398.
Tamarack Lodge Resort, Mammoth Lakes, California
It is on the peaceful shores of the Twin Lakes. Choose between recently built Deluxe Cabins and old wood-and-stone cabins. Swimming, fishing, boating, biking, and hiking are popular pastimes.
Rates: Summer cabin rates range from $369 to $999 per night.
1.Where can you observe bats at night?
A.At Caddo Lake State Park B.At Lake Placid
C.At Olympic National Park D.At the Twin Lakes
2.If three people share one room in Lake Placid Lodge, how much will they pay?
A.$60 B.$120 C.$140 D.$360
3.Which of the following is difficult to reserve?
A.Cottages at Lafitte’s Landing Guest Quarters B.Cabins at Lake Placid Lodge
C.Deluxe Cabins D.Roosevelt Fireplace Cabins
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
My name is Chelsea Chowderhead. A chowder is a thick soup. My father says that our early ancestors(祖先）may have invented chowder. For me，the last name teasing(戏弄)began as soon as I started school. So when my family moved to South Carolina, I decided that it was my chance for a fresh start. I asked my dad if I could change my name.
''But the Chowderhead name has a long and rich history--,'' Dad started.
''I know, I know. ''
''Why do you want to change it? '' he asked.
I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but I didn't want to go through another school year as a Chowderhead, either. ''I get teased all the time. ''
''I know it's not always easy being a chowderhead (傻瓜), '' Dad said. ''But you shouldn't change who you are. Let people get to know you first and your name later. ''
''How can people get to know me before they know my name?” I asked.
He said, “Ask good questions, ''
I looked at him blankly (茫然地). He went on, ''When you meet someone new, ask them a good question. Once people start talking about themselves, they don't judge you. They're just happy that someone is interested in what they have to say. ''
Two days later I headed to my school for the first day of class. As soon as I got to my classroom, a girl named Claire introduced herself. She was very nice and we soon became friends.
By lunch, I'd talked to lots of people and was getting the hang (窍门)of finding the right question. But there were two kids, twin brothers, who didn't seem to talk to anyone but each other. When they looked at me, I felt as if they already knew that I was a Chowderhead. Still, my dad's advice had worked out well, so I decided to give it one more try.
注意：1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.至少使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
I asked Claire if we should sit with the twins.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
I took a deep breath, and said，“I’m Chelsea Chowderhead.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假定你是李华，你校外教Becky回美国度假即将返回，给你发来e-mail，询问你希望她帮你从美国带什么礼物。请给她回复—封电子邮件。要点如下：
1. 询问度假情况；
2. 希望得到什么礼物；
3. 表达感谢。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Becky，
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours
Li Hua
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
The lion dance is one of the most outstanding1.(tradition) folk dances in China. It can date back to the Three Kingdoms Period (220—280).
The lion2.(regard) as a symbol of bravery and strength by ancient people. They thought that it could drive away evil and protect people and3.(they) livestock such as cattle, sheep and so on. Therefore, lion dances are performed at important events, 4.(especial) the Lantern Festival.
The lion dance requires two highly-trained5.(perform) in a lion suit. One acts as the head and forelegs, and6.other the hind legs. Under the guidance of a choreographer(编舞者), the “lion” dances7.the beat of a drum, a gong(锣), and cymbals(钹). Sometimes they jump, roll, and do difficult acts such as walking on stilts(桩子).
In one lion dance, the “lion” moves from place to place looking for some green vegetables, in8.red envelopes with money inside are hidden. The acting is very amusing and everyone enjoys it very much.
In the past decades, the lion dance9.(spread) to many other countries with overseas Chinese. In many Chinese communities of Europe and America, Chinese people use lion dances or dragon dances10. (celebrate) every Spring Festival and other important events.
