When you think of robots, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Do you think of science fiction movies like Star Wars, where robots of all shapes and sizes are part of daily life? The word “robot” itself comes from a play written in 1920 by Karel Capek. In the play, people create robots to do some everyday tasks.
Today, most robots don’t look human. Modern robots take many forms and are good at many things, from sweeping the floors in your home to working in factories. They are even exploring the surface of the moon. But there is an interesting irony(讽刺) in the world of robotics which describes a surprising problem: What humans find easy is extremely complicated for a robot. However, what humans find difficult is pretty easy for a robot. For example, picking up clothes in a messy room is simple for people. But that kind of chore is very hard for a robot. Another example is the game of chess. People might find it difficult to win the game of chess all the time. But robots like Alpha-Go can be programmed to play it very well.
This is because robots are very good at doing things in controlled environments. However, moving through a room filled with random(随机的) objects is hard for robots, along with picking up objects of different shapes and sizes without damaging them. In short, it is very difficult for them to deal with certain types of variables.
It turns out that one of the most difficult things to improve in robots is their ability to control objects. Luckily, great progress is being made in the development of robots. On the one hand, exciting developments in making human-like hands and legs are underway. On the other hand, the biggest progress might result from using virtual learning(虚拟学习) to “teach” robots through computer simulations(模拟). In this way, robots can “guess” what to do without an order when they meet unfamiliar things in the real world.
Soon, robots may be able to do those things that humans find simple. That means big changes in what robots can do and how they can help us with daily tasks. Robots might make movies a reality.
1.What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?
A.To give an example.
B.To present the topic.
C.To explain what robots are.
D.To show how robots develop.
2.According to the passage, what might be difficult for robots?
A.Playing chess.
B.Washing the dishes.
C.Making cars in factories.
D.Gathering up clothes in a mess.
3.What’s the writer’s opinion about robots in the future?
A.They will cause further problems for people.
B.They will deal with new things depend on orders.
C.They can hardly develop until they look like human.
D.They can benefit people more by making improvements.
Food for Good
In late August, after Hurricane(飓风) Dorian passed, José Andrés led a team of chefs and other volunteers to the disaster area, where they immediately set up kitchens and cooked 30,000 meals a day. Because of their arrival, people affected by the disaster could eat fresh and healthy food, which was unimaginable in the past.
Before 2016, people in the disaster areas were only able to get prepackaged(预先包装的) meals, which usually didn’t taste great and some of the food was even unhealthy. Andrés, who owns several popular restaurants in the United States, thought he could solve the problem. As a chef, he has the experience of creating delicious dishes and running a kitchen. What’s more, he can even design dishes that suit the local tastes. So he set up the World Central Kitchen (WCK), an organization offering freshly made and healthy meals free for people affected by natural disasters.
Last year, WCK, with only 25 staff members, fed millions of survivors(幸存者) of 13 disaster areas around the world. How could they make it? Much of its work was done by volunteers from the disaster areas. The youngest volunteer once was even a 10-year-old girl who could run parts of the kitchen on her own. “She became a general in my army of volunteers,” Andrés said. The girl and 20,000 volunteers served almost four million meals after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico.
“You know good food has great power. A hot meal expresses love, hope and humanity.” Andrés said, “It is so important when people are deeply affected by disasters.”
1.What did José Andrés and his team do after Hurricane Dorian?
A.They built new houses.
B.They taught how to cook.
C.They sent medicine to the sick.
D.They offered freshly made meals.
2.Who worked in the WCK?
A.25 doctors and nurses.
B.Some chefs and volunteers.
C.A ten-year-old girl and her family.
D.Many officers from the government.
3.According to Andrés, the power of good food can ______.
A.improve chefs’ creativity
B.help volunteers save energy
C.bring survivors warmth and hope
D.make chefs’ restaurants more popular
The Most Unusual Traditions in the World Each country or region(地区) has its own laws and traditions, and some of them cause sincere surprises and misunderstanding among people of other countries and regions. | |
| Boxing Day In Australia, Boxing Day is on December 26, the day after Christmas. On the day, workers, businessmen, and the poor traditionally are presented with gifts. People spend time with their families and loved ones. They watch sports, play games, hunt, go for walks and eat Christmas leftovers(剩饭). People also love to shop on Boxing Day. |
| Throwing Cinnamon(肉桂) to Those Still Single at 25 In Denmark, people throw cinnamon to anyone who is single, as long as they are over the age of 25. Sometimes the person is put in the water with lots of cinnamon sticks on his or her birthday, mostly by friends and family members. It encourages the singles to look for their partners before they are 25. |
| Burns Night In Scotland, Burns Night is celebrated in honor of the poet Robert Burns and his contribution(贡献) to the Scottish culture. On the 25th of every January, people prepare a dish called Haggis, a kind of sausage. The tradition is to read the poem on that dish written by Burns before eating. |
| Flowered Clothes In Hawaii in America, people are very friendly. They welcome each visitor with a long necklace made of beautiful fresh flowers. Men visitors are invited to wear bright flowered shirts and women often wear long flowered dresses. People often say “Aloha” to each other. Aloha means both hello and good-bye. It also means “I love you”. |
1.Boxing Day is on ______.
A.December 26 B.one’s 25th birthday
C.January 25 D.December 25
2.Burns Night is celebrated in ______.
A.Australia B.Denmark C.Scotland D.America
3.______ is the tradition in Hawaii.
A.Throwing cinnamon on the singles
B.Reading the poem on the dish
C.Eating Christmas leftovers
D.Wearing flowered clothes
The Fish I Didn’t Catch
I still remember my first fishing trip as if it were but yesterday. It was a still, sweet day of early summer. I received the first fishing pole from my uncle’s hand, and walked with him towards the _____.
My uncle, who knew where the best hangouts of fish were, kindly placed me at the most favorable point. I threw out my line as I had so often seen others, and ____ eagerly for a bite. Nothing came of it. “Try again,” said my uncle. Suddenly the bait(鱼饵) went down out of sight. “Now for it,” I thought, “Here is a fish at last.”
I made a strong pull, and brought up a tangle of weeds(一团海草). Again and again I cast out my line and drew it back ____. I looked at my uncle appealingly(可怜巴巴地). “Try once more,” he said, “We fishermen must have ____. It took me a whole day until I got my first fish.”
Suddenly something pulled hard at my line, and swept off with it into deep water. Jerking it up, I saw a big fish wriggling(扭来扭去) in the sun. “Uncle!” I cried, looking back in uncontrollable ____, “I’ve got a fish!” “Not yet,” said my uncle. As he spoke, there was a plash(泼溅) in the water, my hook hung empty from the line. I had lost my ____. My patience was used up.
I sat down on the nearest stone and ____ to be comforted. Even my uncle promised that there were more fish in the river. He refitted my bait, put the pole again in my hands, and told me to try my luck once more.
“But remember, boy,” he said, “Never show off catching a fish until he is on dry ground.”
Though years have now passed, I have always been reminded of the fish that I did not catch. When I hear people show off a work as yet undone, I call to mind that scene by the river, and the wise warning of my uncle, “It’s no use to talk too ____ about anything until it’s done.”
1.A.river B.hill C.park D.forest
2.A.listened B.jumped C.waited D.read
3.A.broken B.empty C.open D.shiny
4.A.hope B.courage C.intelligence D.patience
5.A.sadness B.satisfaction C.disappointment D.excitement
6.A.prize B.money C.way D.job
7.A.forgot B.refused C.reminded D.wanted
8.A.carefully B.directly C.proudly D.actively
— Mary, could you tell me ________ this novel?
— Oh, I bought it in Wangfujing bookstore last Sunday.
A.where did you buy B.where will you buy
C.where you bought D.where you will buy
Tokyo 2020 Olympics ________ in 2021 because of coronavirus(新冠病毒).
A.held B.will hold C.was held D.will be held
