A group of students in Japan have created a realistic robot baby to motivate young people to start planning a family so as to increase the country’s birth rate. The automated (自动化的)doll developed at the University of Tsukuba, called Yotara, laughs and “wakes up” when a rattle is shaken.
He can become angry and sleep like a real baby and he smiles when his stomach is pressed. The robot can also sneeze and have a runny nose, thanks to a heated water pump system. The students of the Graduate school of Comprehensive Human Science at the university created the robot last year with touch sensors. A projector sends the facial features onto a warm silicon balloon which makes up Yotara’s face. The robot’s facial expression and body movements change according to pressure applied to different parts of its body.
The information collected through touch sensors（传感器）under the silicon skin is processed by a special programme. It then changes the baby’s expression projected onto the balloon-face from behind. There is a hat on the robot’s head and a colorful blanket covering the robot’s limbs which simulate wiggling(摆动) with the help of a geared motor. “We wanted to create a new type of robot that is soft, cuddly and cute,” said project leader Hiroki Kunimura.
“We’d like people to experience the innocent, joyful expressions typical of small babies. Through this experience, it would be great if some people started feeling that they wanted to have their own baby, if they started feeling that work is not everything.”
Japan’s birth rate is among the lowest in the developed world at 1.37%, compared to 2.12% in the United States and l.84%in Britain. Japan is facing serious economic consequences with over a quarter of its citizens expected to be aged over 65 by 20l5.The population is expected to reduce by a third within 50 years if the birth rate does not increase．
1.. What is the students’ purpose of creating such a baby?
A. To help old people who live alone． B. To give small children some pleasure
C. To comfort lonely young people． D. To increase the population of Japan．
2. What’s the new type of robot like in Hiroki Kunimura’s mind?
A. It can do everything for humans． B. It is clever, humorous and loyal．
C. It is gentle, lovely and smart． D. It makes humans unhappy．
3.. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Many young people in Japan don’t want to get married．
B. There may be a lack of workers in Japan in the future．
C. The lifespan(寿命)of Japanese people will decrease in the future．
D. The birth rate in Japan will start to increase slowly soon．
If you are looking for a summer camp job opportunity, the following are some summer camp jobs available for 2011 summer.
1. Fishing
Male 21----Teach fishing and fly-tying(飞钓) techniques. Live with 6-8 campers and instructors, teach basic outdoor skills, lead backpacking trips and assist with canoe trips．
Salary：$2,400.00一$3,000.00 Roaring Brook Camp Camp for Boys
480 Roaring Brook Road
Bradford, Vermont 05033, USA Contact: Dr. Candice Raines at (800) 802-747-0282
2. Athletic Trainer
International Sports Training Camp is a specialized sports camp located on a private 100- acre lake in the scenic Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania. We are renowned for our outstanding facilities, innovative programs and friendly staff.
We are looking for both students and certified athletic trainers. Great working environment caring for kids sports injuries.
Salary: $2,500.00- $2,500.00
International Sports Training Camp
1100 Twin Lake Road
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18360,USA Contact: Kara Klaus Major at(570)6202267
3. Head Cook
Will manage kitchen staff of 4,order food and prepare meals and snacks for 50-60 campers and staff daily, during sessions and training periods．
Salary: $3,000.00-$4,000.00
Burgundy Center for wildlife Studies
HC 83.Box 38DD
Capon Bridge, West Virginia 26711, USA Contact: Vini Schoene at(540)465-1516
4. Drama Department Head
Spend an unforgettable summer doing what you love in the outdoor setting! Work with talented staff and children on exciting plays, musicals and improv!
Camp Airy (for boys)is seeking an experienced individual with a theater background and experience in directing children’s productions.Supervise counselor staff and direct two major productions in our 600 seat Outdoor Theatre．
Our summer season runs from June 17 to August 18. Be sure to visit our outstanding web site at www.airylouise.org.
Salary: Depends on Experience
Camp Airy &Camp Louise
14938 Old Camp Airy Road
Thurmont, Maryland 21788,USA Contact: Steve Goldklang at (410)466-9010
1. Who would be most interested in the text?
A. College students. B. General readers. C. Holiday goers. D. Job seekers.
2. Mr. Smith always finds pleasure in fly fishing, which telephone might he dial?
A. (570)6202267 B. (570)6202267 C. (800)802-747-0282 D. (410)466—9010
3. The underlined word “improv” probably means _______.
A. formal performance B. unprepared performance
C. normal practice D. dancing and singing
4.. Which of the following statements about athletic trainers is TRUE?
A. College graduates are preferred． B. Only professional athletes can apply
C. They can earn as much as $3,500.00
D. Their job includes taking care of the injured kids
5.. Which of the following organizations offers a flexible salary?
A. Camp Airy &Camp Louise. B. International Sports Training Camp．
C. Roaring Brook Camp Camp for Boys. D. Burgundy Center for wildlife Studies
The whole world was talking about Octopus(章鱼)Paul Allen since it had a 100％correct prediction record of the matches，including Germany in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2010.The question was whether there be a prediction of the grand final, since it did not include Germany.
The answer to that much awaited question is yes. Celebrity Octopus Paul Allen does have a winner. It has picked Spain over Holland to lift the wishful prize. In a live television show all over Europe, Paul picked out a mussel(蚌)from the tank with the Spanish flag, ignoring the tank that had the Dutch flag. This means the prediction is that Spain will be FIFA World Cup 2010 champion．Regarding the place 3 and 4 playoff, Octopus Paul A11en has predicted that Germany will beat Uruguay to take the 3 rd place, which was right.
Octopus Paul Allen has become a worldwide celebrity after it has predicted with 100％ accuracy all of Germany’s World Cup games’ outcomes. It even stopped critics and experts when it correctly predicted a Serbia win over the strong Germans. Much to the sorrow of German fans，it also rightly predicted Spain having an advantage over Germany in the semifinals. And when this came true，there were many calls from angry and sad Germans fans to kill and eat it．Now let’s wait and see if this final prediction by Octopus Paul Allen comes true and its 100％accuracy record stays the same．It goes without saying. Spain will be smiling, at least right now!
1. Octopus Paul Allen became a hot topic because__________.
A. it predicted records of FIFA World Cup 2010 matches correctly
B. it was the mascot of FIFA World Cup 2010
C. it took part in the game with Germany and other teams
D. it lent a helping hand to Germany to win the game
2. From the second paragraph we know that the third place in FIFA World Cup 2010 was______.
A. Spain B. Holland C. Germany D. Uruguay
3.. According to the passage, when this news is released,_______.
A. FIFA World Cup 2010 has come to an end
B. Spain has already beaten Germany in the semifinals
C. Spain has already won the World Cup 2010 champion
D. the sad German fans have killed Octopus Paul Allen
4.. By saying “It goes without saying”, the writer means_______.
A. Spain will be FIFA World Cup 2010 champion
B. Octopus Paul Allen won’t predict anything in the future
C. Octopus Paul Allen will surely leave
D. everything goes on well
The Japanese government has launched(发起)a campaign encouraging people to go to bed and get up extra early in order to reduce household carbon dioxide emissions(二氧化碳排放).
The Morning Challenge campaign，put forward by the Environment Ministry, is based on the idea that swapping late night electricity for an extra hour of morning sunlight could greatly cut the nation’s carbon footprint．
A typical family can reduce its carbon dioxide footprint by 85 kg a year if everyone goes to bed and gets up one hour earlier，according to the campaign．The amount of carbon dioxide emissions potentially saved from going to bed an hour early was equal to 20 percent of annual emissions from household lights，“Many Japanese people waste electric power at night time，for example by watching TV until very late,”a ministry spokesman told The Daily Telegraph.“But going to bed early and getting up early can avoid wasting electrical power which causes carbon dioxide emissions.” The campaign also proposes that people take advantage of an extra hour of morning sunlight by improving their lifestyles in general by running, doing yoga and eating a nutritious breakfast.
It is the latest action dealing with climate change by the Japanese environment ministry，which is faced with the challenge of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels within the next decade．
It was the same government department that launched the Cool Business campaign five years ago, which encouraged workers to wear short—sleeved shirts and offices not to turn air conditioning lower than 28 degrees during the summer.
1.. Why are Japanese encouraged to go to bed and get up early?
A. Because it is of great benefit to their health．
B. Because Japan is a country without enough electricity.
C. Because it can give off less carbon dioxide． D. Because it is a good habit．
2... The underlined word“swapping” means___________.
A. comparing B. exchanging C. turning D. competing
3... In general，a Japanese family gives off _________of carbon dioxide every year.
A. 85 kg B. 170 kg C. 425 kg D. 850 kg
4.. We can draw a conclusion that_________.
A. People can save energy and reduce emissions by changing their lifestyle
B. Japanese often don’t have nutritious breakfast
C. Japanese prefer to wear short—sleeved shirts in summer
D. Yoga is very popular with the old Japanese
5... What is the main idea of the passage?
A. The Japanese government has launched the Cool Business campaign．
B. What can we do to cut carbon emissions?
C. Change your lifestyle and you can become healthy．
D. Japanese are encouraged to go to bed an hour early to cut carbon emissions．
Every morning a woman made some bread for members of her family and an extra piece for whoever needed it. She would always 36. the extra piece on the windowsill(窗台).
She 37. an old man came every day and took the extra piece without expressing his 38. . This went on day after day. The woman felt very 39. . In order to punish him, she decided to add 40. to the bread she 41. for him! As she was about to place it on the windowsill, she 42. and gave up eventually. Immediately, she prepared another one and put it on the sill. 43. , the man came that day, picked up the bread and left, totally 44. of the anger in the heart of the woman.
That evening, there was a 45. on the door. As she opened it, she was 46. to find her son standing in the doorway. He had gone to a distant place to 47. his fortune. For many months she had heard no news of him.
Looking at his mother he said 48. , “ Mom, it is truly 49. I’m here. My business 50. so I had to beg for food on my way home. I would have died this morning, but just then an old man passed by. He was 51. enough to give me a piece of bread, and said, ‘ this is what I eat every day. Today, I shall give it to you, for your 52. is greater than mine!’ ”
As the mother 53. those words, her face turned pale. She 54. the poisoned bread that she had made that morning. Had she not thrown it away, it would have been eaten by her own son and he would have 55. his life!
1... A. cut B. taste C. place D. sell
2.. A. doubted B. noticed C. hoped D. worried
3.. A. appreciation B. concern C. regret D. sympathy
4.. A. strange B. sad C. satisfied D. angry
5.. A. sugar B. salt C. poison D. milk
6.. A. cared B. applied C. prepared D. begged
7... A. agreed B. hesitated C. accepted D. understood
8.. A. As usual B. On the way C. As a result D. On the other hand
9... A. uncertain B. unaware C. unashamed D. unafraid
10.. A. message B. key C. knife D. knock
11.. A. curious B. surprised C. nervous D. disappointed
12.. A. assess B. spend C. seek D. bring
13... A. cheerfully B. carefully C. proudly D. weakly
14.. A. normal B. amazing C. terrible D. necessary
15.. A. failed B. succeeded C. grew D. continued
16... A. unique B. smart C. kind D. mean
17.. A. strength B. job C. help D. need
18.. A. said B. wrote C. read D. heard
19.. A. threw B. remembered C. kept D. discovered
20.. A. lost B. saved C. started D. built
Here are some Christmas presents, ____you can choose one for yourself.
A. in which B. from which C. between which D. through which
