Researchers have been looking forward to using tiny flying robots to settle important tasks. The various machines could be used to help astronauts on space missions, and even to help bees with plant pollination(授粉). However, fitting the heavy electric equipment that is used to power and control the wings into the tiny robot has been challenging. Now thanks to RoboBee X-Wing—the world’s lightest aerial vehicle that can fly not tied to a power source.
Made by Harvard researchers, the insect-inspired robot weighs only 259 milligrams, has four wings whose distance is 3.5 centimeters, and stands 6.5 centimeters high. Its four small wings, which can flap up(拍动) to 170 times a second, are controlled by actuators(驱动器). They become small when the electricity passes through them. Six small solar cells, fitted above the wings to prevent them from disturbing the flight, provide the power.
RoboBee X-Wing is powered by six solar cells. To test its flying abilities, the team, led by doctor Noah Jafferis and PhD student Elizabeth Helbling, exposed the RoboBee X-Wing’s solar cells to LED lighting. To their delight, the tiny robot’s wings began to flap, and it rose, keeping a flight for about half a second. Though the robot lost its flight ability as soon as the power source was turned off, its short flight was cheered for its huge effect on the future of tiny flying robots.
However, though the current RoboBee X-Wing is a step in the right direction, it is not quite ready for main time. The researchers also hope to experiment with other power sources, such as batteries, sun light or radio frequency signals, and to add more advanced “brains” and sensor systems to navigate and complete tasks independently.
1.What can we know about small flying robots according to the first paragraph?
A.They are made to do ordinary tasks by scientists.
B.They can be used only for very dangerous task.
C.They can be powered directly by the energy of the sun.
D.It’s not easy to fit the heavy electric equipment into them.
2.Why is RoboBee X-Wing considered having a big effect on the future of tiny flying robots?
A.Because it is ready for the instant use.
B.Because it can take off and fly out of control.
C.Because it can fly not tied to a power source.
D.Because it can settle important tasks.
3.Which of the following is TRUE about RoboBee X-Wing?
A.It can’t be used in crowded places.
B.It can be used for giving directions.
C.It can use radio signals to power itself.
D.It still can’t be used widely at present.
4.In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?
A.Entertainment. B.Science.
C.Education. D.Health.
The United States has about 475,000 school buses ---all painted yellow. Each day they carry more than 25,000,000 children, half of all schoolchildren in the country. But these buses, on average, use four liters of diesel （柴油） fuel to travel less than sixteen kilometers. When the school year began last fall, diesel averaged 55 cents a liter nationally. The price nearly doubled, to a dollar and 8 cents, by the end of school in June.
Bob Riley speaks for the American School Bus Council. He says fuel prices for schools are not much lower than others have to pay. As a result, schools are looking for ways to reduce transportation costs. Bus routes are being redrawn or, in some cases, canceled. Some areas are buying buses that use natural gas or other alternative fuels. Other steps include fewer field trips and less travel by sports teams. And some school districts may end any bus service not required by law.
Studies show that school buses are the safest form of transportation to and from school. The American School Bus Council says cuts in bus service are bad for children and possibly the environment. It says removing buses from the road will mean an increase in other vehicles transporting students. Spokesman Bob Riley says another concern is that reducing bus services might reduce attendance.
But it could also get more children to walk or bicycle to school. And that would surely make people happy at the National Center for Safe Routes to School. More kids walking or biking safely to school is the aim of a three-year-old federal program, part of an international movement. The goal is to increase physical activity and reduce air pollution. The United States will celebrate Walk to School Day on October eighth this year. But for some students, high fuel prices could make every day a walk-to-school day.
1.What does this passage mainly tell us?
A.High fuel prices’ influences on school buses.
B.New measures to transport school students.
C.The safest form of student transportation.
D.The origin of Walk to School Day.
2.What can we learn from Paragraph 3?
A.Cuts in bus service will have negative results.
B.The US government is encouraging cuts in bus services.
C.The US schools are searching for the safest transportation means.
D.Reducing bus service will do a lot of good to the environment.
3.In order to cut down transportation cost, many schools take the following measures EXCEPT__.
A.changing some bus routes
B.stopping some bus routes
C.asking parents to drive children to and from school
D.using other types of fuels
4.The National Center for Safe Routes to School encourages more children to walk or bike to school in order to ____.
A.save more fuels and diesel for the country
B.keep the children safe on their way to school
C.make the children live a simple life
D.keep the children healthy and the environment clean
Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September, 1897, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nice other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sévigné in Paris.
Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities (设备) to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognised in the form of a Military Medal by the French government.
In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity (辐射能). Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956.
1.Why was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal?
A. Because she received a degree in mathematics.
B. Because she contributed to saving the wounded.
C. Because she won the Nobel Prize with Frederic.
D. Because she worked as a helper to her mother.
2.Where did Irene Curie meet her husband Frederic Joliot?
A. At the Curie Institute.
B. At the University of Paris.
C. At a military hospital.
D. At the College of Sévigné.
3.When was the second child of Irene Curie and Frederic Joliot born?
A. In 1932. B. In 1927.
C. In 1897. D. In 1926.
4.In which of the following aspects was Irene Curie different from her mother?
A. Irene worked with radioactivity.
B. Irene combined family and career.
C. Irene won the Nobel Prize once.
D. Irene died from leukemia.
Below are the future optional majors for you to take into consideration before entering college.
Architecture
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Architecture is the design of the built environment: buildings and their surroundings. As a profession, it is an art, science, and business with careers(职业)available in schools of architecture, and in architectural research. Department of Architecture Design 101 Alumni Hall Phone: 513-529-7210
Accountancy
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Accountancy is the language of business. Accountants prepare profit and loss statements, cost studies, and tax reports. They can work for any size firms, ranging from a large international firm to a small local accounting practice, and government. Farmer School of Business Student Services Office Phone: 513-529-1712
Journalism
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Journalism includes the fields of Media & Culture, and Interactive Media Studies. In addition to fundamental reporting, writing, and editing skills, journalism combines the art of communication with the science of digital technology. Graduates may become magazine editors, reporters, or copywriters.
Department of Media, Journalism & Film 206 Williams Hall Phone: 513-529-5893
Anthropology
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Anthropology is the study of humans. Individuals and societies are complex and dynamic, which means anthropology covers a lot of ground. The study of people can lead to almost any career path, including education, health care, social work, international development, government and human relations.
Department of Anthropology 120 Upham Hall Phone: 513-529-8399
1.Which of the following directly involves the art of communication?
A.Architecture. B.Accountancy.
C.Journalism. D.Anthropology.
2.What is the unique advantages of majoring in anthropology?
A.Graduates will receive further education for free.
B.Graduates will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree.
C.Graduates can apply for a position in government.
D.Graduates have a wider range of job chances.
3.Who is the passage most likely intended for?
A.Ordinary job hunters. B.Senior high school graduates.
C.College staff. D.Social workers.
A couple in ordinary clothes walked into the Harvard’s outer office. “We want to see the president(校长),” the man said softly. “He will be busy all day,” the secretary spoke_________, concluding that the couple had no _________ with Harvard from what they wore. “We’ll _________,” the lady replied.
Four hours, the secretary _________ them, hoping that the couple would finally become _________ and go away. They didn’t. And the secretary grew_________ and finally decided to disturb the president. Someone of his _________ obviously had no time to spend with nobodies, but he _________ people in such clothes filling in his outer office.
The president, frozen-faced, walked _________ toward the couple. The lady told him, “We had a son that __________ Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard and was very happy here. But he was accidentally__________. And my husband and I would like to ________ a memorial(纪念物) to him somewhere on campus.” The president wasn’t __________; he was shocked, “Madam,” he said __________. “We can’t put up a statue(雕像) for every person who studied in Harvard and died.”
“Oh, no.” the lady__________ quickly, “In fact, we thought we would give a building to Harvard.” The president __________ at the couple and then shouted, “A building! Do you know how much a building costs? The cost of the Harvard’s buildings is over 7.5 million dollars.”
For a moment the lady was __________. The president was pleased. He could __________ them now. The lady turned to her husband and said quietly. “Is that all it costs to __________ a university?” Her husband nodded. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California, where they established the university __________ after them—a memorial to a son.
1.A.impatiently B.excitedly C.enthusiastically D.awkwardly
2.A.concern B.problem C.interest D.business
3.A.wait B.accuse C.explain D.oppose
4.A.persuaded B.drove C.ignored D.served
5.A.satisfied B.shameful C.nervous D.discouraged
6.A.embarrassed B.grateful C.annoyed D.panic
7.A.importance B.action C.character D.age
8.A.invited B.observed C.thanked D.hated
9.A.cheerfully B.hopefully C.proudly D.eagerly
10.A.affected B.attended C.applied D.abandoned
11.A.killed B.dismissed C.disabled D.forgotten
12.A.keep B.buy C.build D.leave
13.A.disappointed B.sensitive C.touched D.deserved
14.A.curiously B.delightedly C.sadly D.coldly
15.A.explained B.apologized C.changed D.argued
16.A.smiled B.glanced C.pointed D.laughed
17.A.desperate B.amazed C.ambitious D.silent
18.A.help out B.attract to C.get rid of D.put up
19.A.buy B.start C.access D.develop
20.A.named B.looking C.followed D.taking
There is a new problem____the popularity of private cars that road conditions need ____.
A.involve at; to be improve B.involved in; to be improved
C.involving in; improving D.involving at; improving
