In some science fiction movies, evil robots refuse to die, no matter how hard people fight back.
Now science fiction has become science fact. For the first time, scientists have made a robot that can take a beating (挨打) and keep on going. Scientists from Cornell University made the robot, which looks like a spider with four legs.
Until now, even the most advanced (先进的) robot was almost certain to break down when it was damaged. That is because its computer inside simply doesn’t know how to make the machine work after its shape has changed.
To deal with this problem, the scientists put eight motors (发动机) and two sensors (传感器) that read how the machine is working. They all give signals to the machine’s software. Using this information, the computer can then figure out the machine’s shape at any moment.
The new technology is a big advance in robot-making, scientists say, and it’s far from scary. It may someday help scientists create better artificial (假的) arms and legs and give new freedom to people who lose them. It might also help scientists understand how people and animals figure out their own sense of place in space.
“It has been difficult to design robots that can work well when the environment changes or when it’s damaged,” says Olaf Sporns of Indiana University in US. “With this work, we are nearer to solving this problem.”
1.Why do robots easily break down when they are damaged?
A. They cannot repair themselves.
B. The computer has changed a lot.
C. They have no computers inside.
D. The computer cannot work if the robot changes.
2.The new technology allows the robot to _________.
A. do house work for humans
B. keep working after being damaged
C. remember a lot of information
D. tell people where it is
3.The underlined word “them” in Paragraph5 refers to ________.
A. sensors B. robots
C. arms and legs D. scientists
4.How do the sensors in the robot work?
A. They can replace the computer when it’s broken.
B. They can find out where the damage comes from.
C. They help the computer learn the robot’s condition.
D. They can send signals to the person who uses the robot.
5.The passage is probably from_____________.
A. a newspaper B. an advertisement
C. a tour guide D. an application
No one can change the weather. Nobody can control the weather. But if we read correctly the signs around us, we can tell what the more important changes in the weather will be. This way of telling what the weather will be like on the following day or two is called weather forecasting.
For many centuries and in all countries, people have studied the weather and tried to make weather forecasting. Rings around the sun are a sign of coming rain. That many people feel their joints(关节) hurt is a sign of wet weather. Some birds fly high if fine weather is coming, but they fly near the ground if rainy or stormy weather is on the way. If you see a rainbow during rainy weather, this is a sign that the weather will become clear and fine. Such rainbows come in the evening. If the stars twinkle clearly at night, then fine weather will continue. If a fog appears in the morning just above a river, then the day will be warm. If the sunset is mostly red in colour, then the following day will be fine. If a rainbow appears in the morning, rainy weather will probably come.
Most of the above sayings have been made by the people who have used their eyes and brains to make weather forecasting.
1.Which of the following can be used here to replace(取代) the underlined phrase “on the way”?
A. away B. gone
C. disappearing D. coming
2.When you see the stars twinkle clearly at night, the weather will be_________.
A. warm B. rainy
C. clear and fine D. cold
3.Which of the following signs can tell the weather will probably be rainy?
A. A rainbow appears in the morning.
B. Some birds fly high.
C. The stars twinkle clearly at night.
D. Fogs appear in the morning just above a river.
4.Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A.Nobody can control the weather.
B.If the sunset is red in colour, then the next day will be fine.
C.If many people feel their joints hurt, it may be a sign of wet weather.
D.People only use their eyes and brains to make weather forecasting.
5.Which of the following sentences can suitable according to the passage?
A.活到老，学到老。 B.朝霞不出门，晚霞行千里。
C.早起的鸟儿捉虫多. D.一日之计在于晨。
★生词提示：valid有效的
SIDE A No.293083
Name: Lilian From: April1st,2014 To: June30th,2014 Price: $180 College: University of Chichester Not valid for travel unless it’s used in the bus companies of Stagecoacn, Season, Goldrider and Busabout in the UK |
SIDE B No.293083 Thank you for travelling with
If the card is found, please return to any Stagecoach driver. |
1.The card is used for________.
A. taking a taxi B. travelling by train
C. taking a bus D. entering the college
2.Lilian is________________.
A. a bus driver B. a university student
C. a teacher in a college D. a middle school student
3.The card can be used in any of the four_____________.
A. cities B. colleges
C. universities D. companies
4.According to the reading material, if you find a lost card, you can ___________.
A. sell it
B. phone Lilian
C. use it for travelling
D. give it back to any Stagecoach driver
5.You can not find _________in the card.
A. Lilian's age B. the price
C. the card number D. the time limit
Tina was a seventeen-year-old girl who always wore a bright smile. She suffered from a disease and had to use a walker most of the time. Maybe it was because she looked and people didn’t know how to come near to her. Tina usually broke the ice with people she met with a big “ ”
In one class, I gave the students an assignment (作业) to a poem. I only made the assignment worth a very small part of their total grade since I knew most of my would not do it anyway. In the class, one by one each student to correctly recite (背诵) the poem. Finally, angry and half joking, I said that the next student who recite the poem had to do three push-up (俯卧撑). To my , Tina was next. She used her walker to move to the front of the class. she recited, she made a mistake. Before I could say a word, she her walker and started doing push-ups. I wanted to say, “Tina, I was just !”But she , continued the poem and she finished the rest perfectly.
When she finished, a student asked, “Tina, why did you do that? It’s not an important assignment!”
“Because I want to be like you guys! To be .” Tina said.
Silence fell on the whole room when another student cried out, “Tina, we’re not normal! We are teenagers!
We get in all the time.”
“I know,” Tina said as a big spread across her face. The rest of the students laughed, too.
Tina got only a few that day, but she got the love and respect of her classmates. To her, that was
worth a lot more than a grade.
1.A. different B. strong C. short D. young
2.A. Sorry B. Bye C. Hi D. Thanks
3.A. recite B. copy C. find D. read
4.A. friends B. students C. teachers D. parents
5.A. started B. planned C. continued D. failed
6.A. shouldn’t B. couldn’t C. needn’t D. wouldn’t
7.A. surprise B. surprised C. excitement D. excited
8.A. Because B. When C. After D. Though
9.A. raised B. changed C. threw D. checked
10.A. wondering B. tricking C. doubtingD. joking
11.A. woke up B. gave up C. stood up D. made up
12.A. happy B. social C. normal D. fair
13.A. attention B. thought C. touch D. trouble
14.A. cry B. smile C. sadness D. joy
15.A. points B. chances C. mistakes D. successes
—Could you tell me________.?
—Quite well, thank you.
A. what do you do
B. are you good at math
C. what you think of the film
D. how you are getting on with classmates
---You're really a big help!
---________. Many people will feel kind of airsick on the plane.
A.It doesn't matter B. You're really welcome
C. Forget it D.With pleasure
