A mind-reading chip that lets you control a computer by just thinking has been made public at a conference in China. Named Brain Talker, the chip could be used to control computers, smart phones and other devices, its creators say. It has been jointly developed by Tianjin University and China Electronics Corporation.

This kind of brain-computer interface (接口) is designed to let a person control a computer, a smartphone or other electronic devices using his/her brainwaves alone-without needing any forms of verbal orders, movements, or button pressing. Brain interfaces would not only allow for the faster operation of various technologies, but also be used to assist people with disabilities, for example by letting an individual drive an electric wheelchair just by thinking.

“Brain-computer interfaces hold a promising future,” said Dong Ming. "The Brain Talker chip advances brain-computer interface technology, allowing it to become more portable, wearable and accessible to the general public.

The brain decoding (解码) chip works by picking out minor neural (神经) electrical signals in the brain and rapidly translating them into a form that the computer can understand. “This brain-computer chip has the ability to identify minor neural electrical signals and decode their information efficiently, which can greatly enhance the speed and accuracy of brain-computer interfaces，” said Dr. Dong.

Recent technology advances have allowed researchers to develop the Brain Talker chip, so it is smaller and operates faster, more precisely and with greater efficiency than existing brain-computer interfaces. Although it is not clear exactly how the device will be worn, most brain-computer interface devices are worn on the outside of the body, rather than being fixed directly into the users’ brain. Cheng Longlong, a data scientist, said that the research team will attempt to improve the performance of the Brain Talker. One day brain-computer codec chips will contribute to medical treatment, education, self-discipline, security as well as games and entertainment.

1.Why do the creators develop the Brain Talker?

A.To improve the quality of a smartphone

B.To create more efficient electronic devices

C.To make the computer portable and accessible

D.To assist people to faster drive electronic devices

2.What does Dr Dong expect of the Brain Talker?

A.It has an uncertain future B.It can record people's brainwaves

C.It can be widely used by the public D.It will advance public entertainment

3.What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A.How the chip controls computer.

B.How the brain works with a computer.

C.How the brain processes information

D.How the chip picks out neural electrical signals.

4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A.The chip will be worn inside the users’ body

B.It's too challenging to improve the Brain Talk

C.The performance of the Brain Talker is satisfying

D.Some patients will benefit from the Brain Talker

    What will you get if you ask middle schoolers to show you their city through a camera? There may be images of flowers and friends, street scenes and sneakers, and trees and trains. It can also include colorful images featuring their favorite people, places and things. Such photographs made up an exhibition that was the end result of a special citywide photography lesson called “Everyday DC”.

“DC is a place where people can all come together and be free and be with everyone that they love,” said Lauryn Tharpe, one of the four student curators (馆长) who worked with their art teacher at Brookland Middle School to put the exhibition together. “There’s more to DC than big buildings and important people.”

“Everyday DC” was inspired by a popular Instagram feed called Everyday Africa, which was started by two professional photographers who noticed the personal photos of Africa, from their perspective (视角) showing a different story than their professional work. The goal of the online photo “exhibition” was to show viewers what it’s like to live in Africa, as opposed to what people outside of Africa see in the news.

In Washington DC, students took photos to reflect their lives there. Twelve middle schools each submitted about 10 student photographs, from beautiful portraits to action shots and images of the students’ favorite foods. Tharpe and another three students were selected to be curators by their art teacher, Maame Bawuah, who coordinated (协调) the project for DC Public Schools.

“I have a lot of amazing students, although the four of them are quite exceptional,” said Bawuah, who chose the students to be curators because of their interest in both photography and museum management.

A curator is someone who collects, organizes, cares for and displays anything in a collection. To get ready for the exhibition, the curators had to take care of many tasks, including taking their photos according to different themes.

1.What do we know about the “Everyday DC” exhibition?

A.It promoted the students’ interest in museum management.

B.It reflected the diverse life from the students’ perspective.

C.It was established by Lauryn Tharpe and Maame Bawuah.

D.It exhibited photos featuring influential things and figure.

2.Why does the author mention Everyday Africa?

A.To introduce how Everyday DC came about.

B.To highlight Everyday Africa’s popularity.

C.To compare Everyday Africa with Everyday DC.

D.To show the widespread influence of Instagram.

3.What are the four curators required to do for the project?

A.Decorate the photographs on display.

B.Study professional photography skills.

C.Find fault with the submitted photos.

D.Group the photographs by theme.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.A lesson on running museums B.A citywide exhibition

C.Photograph your life D.Admire your city

    Paying it forward is a concept that involves doing something good for someone in response to a good deed done on your behalf or a gift you received. When you pay it forward, however，you don't repay the person who did something nice for you. Instead, you do something nice for someone else.

Recently, an inspiring note found inside a random book has inspired thousands of people to pay it forward.

Ashley Jost was shopping at Target when a book caught hex eye. The 27-year-old bought the book Girl Stop Apologizing and began reading it when she got home. After a few minutes her dog started barking so she put the book aside. When she got back, she noticed something on the ground. "A five-dollar note fell out, " Jost said.

She looked through the book, and in one of the last pages, there was a note that read, “To the person who buys this book: I am having a tough day. I thought maybe I could brighten someone else’s with this little surprise. Go and buy a coffee, a hamburger or a face mask. Practice some self care today. Remember that you are loved, you are amazing, and you are strong -Lisa”

Jost decided to post a photo of the note and the money on Twitter and it went like a virus. People are promising their own random acts of kindness.

“In that moment，I didn’t necessarily need the pick-me-up，but I feel obligated(有义务的)to share it， and I’m hearing back from people who did,” Jost said. “The ripple effect is pretty unbelievable.

After seeing her Twitter post, Lisa mailed Jost a card. "She said it made her cry in a good way,” Jost said. But Lisa still didn’t give away who she was. She left no return address. Lisa wrote it had been a difficult time in her life and she just wanted "to create something positive-she never really expected this to happen the way it has.”

1.What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A.The origin of"paying it forward". B.The effects of"paying it forward

C.The benefits of"paying it forward" D.The definition of"paying it forward".

2.Why did Lisa put a five-dollar note in a book?

A.To go through the hardest time in her life.

B.To cheer up the person who buys the book

C.To repay the person who did something nice

D.To set off a round of paying it forward

3.What does the underlined word "ripple" in Paragraph 6 mean?

A.Edge B.Chain

C.Mass D.Side

4.Lisa posted a card to Jost to ___________.

A.make friends with Jost B.tell Jost about her story

C.express appreciation to Jost D.let Jost know what made her cry

    Being stuck at home doesn't mean that learning stops. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Here are some activities and resources to foster kids' imagination and build their curiosity at home.

Let's Get Down to the Science

The science lab at school may be closed, but you can still put on goggles and a white lab coat and learn at home. This Test Tube Experiment Kit will make you feel like a genius in no time. Kids will get the chance to learn about basic chemistry, physics, and more by creating pop-resistant bubbles, bouncy balls, and other objects.

To Infinity（无穷）and Beyond

Earth is a part of the Milky Way galaxy, but did you know there are around 100 million galaxies in the universe? There are so many fun and fascinating things to learn about space that the possibilities truly go to infinity and beyond. A great way start your child's educational space adventure is with this Real Life Sticker and Activity Book.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Biology class is in session! Here's your chance to get up close and personal with a great white shark without putting on a wetsuit. This 4D Great White Shark Anatomy Kit allows you to get an inside look at what makes these predators of the deep so powerful. And then take an even deeper dive into a shark's world with I Am Shark .

Take advantage of this time at home and find new ways to keep exploring the world around you.

1.What is common among these activities above?

A.They are all performed outdoors.

B.They are all associated with physics.

C.They are all carried out by the way of experimenting.

D.They all recommend some resources for kids to study.

2.Which book favors children interested in stars?

A.This Test Tube Experiment Kit.

B.Real Life Slicker and Activity Book.

C.4D Great White Shark Anatomy Kit.

D.I Am Shark .

3.The shared goal of the activities is to .

A.gain financial benefits B.save kids from boredom

C.explore new technologies D.inspire kids to study at home

假定你是李华，得知某英文报社计划暑期组织中学生去英国游学，你有意参加。请你给外籍负责人史密斯先生写一封邮件询问有关情况。内容包括：

1. 时间及课程安排；2. 费用情况；3. 报名方式。

注意：1. 词数100左右（开头和结尾已给出，但不计入总词数）；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Mr Smith,

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

每句中最多有两处。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（＼）划掉。

修改：在错的词下画一横线，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。

Ten years ago, when I began my senior high school study, I found them difficult to learn English well because there were so much new words and grammar rules to recite. Hard though I might try, but I still did poorly in the English exams. Honest speaking, it was hardest time in my life. One day I was considered giving up when suddenly my mother found my problem. She told me that if I didn’t complete that I wanted to do, it could directly influence my future. Under the help of my mother, I made rapid progresses in English little by little. At the end of the term, I get the highest mark in English.

单词拼写

1.Taking exercise is _____________ (有益的) to your health.

2.All of a sudden, a warm feeling of _____________ (同情) rose up in my heart.

3.Apparently, I had difficulty___________ (使适应) myself to life in the city, let alone finding a job to my delight.

4.It suddenly s________  me that we ought to make a new plan.

5.I have already made an _____________ (道歉) to her for not replying to her email.

6.It never o_______ to me that he was lying all the time.

7.They live in the house ___________ (遗弃) by their grandparents many years ago.

8.S_________ this opportunity, and you will succeed in time.

9.Seeing the girl struggling in the lake, he threw himself in the icy water without h_______.

10.R________ of what happens, my claim is safe and secure.

    One rainy afternoon I was sitting at home feeling so bored._____ feeling sorry for myself，I wanted to meet people and have new _____ so I decided to start volunteering.I found a website where I could volunteer on a farm in France.

Volunteering _____ so many opportunities to have fun and share _____  stories.It was the first time for me to work on a farm.It was almost a(n) _____  holiday as food and accommodation were provided.It was not one  _____ holiday，however，as I had to _____ fifteen horses and sheep！I soon discovered that I was a(n)  _____  farmer but it did not matter because I made some great friends and also improved my _____．

However，you do not ______ go abroad to volunteer.I have had plenty of adventures at home as volunteering can become a ______．For example，I love ______ so I had a good laugh waving my arms in order to ______ my local choir(合唱团)．At university，I organized a concert for charity with my friends.It was really ______ to find bands and raise money for a cause.

It is true that you feel good volunteering but there are also other ______．I once volunteered as a steward (干事) at a charity sports event where the organizers ______ gave me cupcakes from an expensive London bakery to thank me for my ______．I also volunteered in a charity shop so I found loads of nice cheap clothes to ______ my wardrobe.

While this is all fun，my favourite aspect of volunteering is ______ and sharing stories.My terrible ______ at farming has given me funny stories to tell!

1.A.Apart from B.Due to C.Instead of D.But for

2.A.experiences B.discoveries C.opportunities D.changes

3.A.recommends B.demands C.offers D.seizes

4.A.popular B.fantastic C.familiar D.important

5.A.impressive B.free C.cheap D.special

6.A.unique B.regular C.typical D.convenient

7.A.attend to B.research into C.hunt for D.communicate with

8.A.skillful B.suitable C.hard－working D.awful

9.A.English B.French C.Russian D.Chinese

10.A.normally B.basically C.naturally D.necessarily

11.A.hobby B.trend C.job D.reality

12.A.dancing B.writing C.singing D.performing

13.A.greet B.control C.organize D.conduct

14.A.powerful B.hopeful C.meaningful D.successful

15.A.adventures B.advantages C.factors D.achievements

16.A.generously B.cautiously C.equally D.proudly

17.A.services B.patience C.determination D.choices

18.A.decorate B.replace C.beautify D.update

19.A.creating B.imagining C.choosing D.completing

20.A.offence B.shame C.attempt D.annoyance

    Do you know what a big dream is?1.Or, is a big dream something that provides only entertainment? Children dream big dreams, but there are three barriers to realizing dreams. They often kill them before they ever have a chance to grow.The SelfImmediately following the birth of a big dream, a negative self-talk takes over and gives all the reasons why it cannot happen. This inside voice is the ego（自我）. It’s there for protecting and should be listened to.2.Most people are influenced by the inside voice. That’s why only a handful of people make their dream come true.3.Family and friends are a lot like the ego. They want to protect those they love, so they will often list all the reasons why the big dreams won’t come true. Sometimes, family and friend destroy dreams of those they love most, out of their own fear of being left behind.The WorldIf one gets past the first two barriers, one has to face the world.4.In the past, big dreamers were locked up and sometimes even killed when they were shown to the world. Fortunately, in most of the world today, big dreamers just get laughed at.The way to realize a big dream is with confidence and action. When children have confidence and then take action, they will be ready to accept any failure. The truth is that every great dreamer whose dreams have never seen the light of success knows failure well.5.

A.Does a big dream show one’s future ?

B.They simply fail until they succeed.

C.How Big Dreams Die

D.It is the last and the most terrible barrier.

E.Family and Friends

F.Sometimes it is right, but more often it is wrong

G.And their big dream is to be a rock star or a famous artist.

    For high school leavers starting out in the working world, it is very important to learn particular skills and practice how to behave in an interview or how to find all internship(实习). In some countries, schools have programs to help students onto the path to work. In the United States, however, such programs are still few and far between.

Research shows that if high schools provide career-related courses, students are likely to get higher earnings in later years. In Germany, students as young as 13 and 14 are expected to do internships. German companies work with schools to make sure that young people get the education they need for future employment.

But in America, education reform (改革) programs focus on how well students do in exams instead of bringing them into contact with the working world. Harvard Education school professor Robert Schwartz has criticized education reformers for trying to place all graduates directly on the four-year college track. Schwartz argued that this approach leaves the country’s most vulnerable(易受影响的) kids with no jobs and no skills.

Schwartz believed that the best career programs encourage kids to go for higher education while also teaching them valuable practical skills at high school. James Madison High School in New York, for example, encourages students to choose classes on career-based courses. The school then helps them gain on-the-job experience in those fields while they’re still at high school.

However, even for teens whose schools encourage them to connect with work, the job market is daunting. In the US, unemployment rates for 16-to 19-year-olds are above 20 percent for the third summer in a row. “The risk is that if teenagers miss out on the summer job experience, they become part of this generation of teens who had trouble in landing a job,” said Michael, a researcher in the US.

1.What’s the main idea of the text?

A.Arguments about recent US education reform.

B.Tips on finding jobs for high school leavers.

C.The lack of career-based courses in US high schools.

D.Advice for American high school leavers.

2.According to Robert Schwartz, _________.

A.there is no need for kids to go for higher education in the US

B.teenagers in the US can’t miss out on the summer job experience

C.education reform should focus on students’ performance in exams

D.students should get contact with the working world at high school

3.The underlined word “daunting” in Paragraph 5 most probably means __________.

A.discouraging B.interesting

C.creative D.unbearable

4.What can be inferred from the text?

A.High school leavers with no practical skills can’t find a job at all.

B.Unemployment rates for US teenagers remain high at the moment.

C.Students with career-based courses never have problems finding a job.

D.US companies work with schools to prepare young people for future employment.