WASHINGTON --- It’s a great achievement that inspires concepts of robots with consciousness and independent minds.
When people or animals get hurt, they can usually compensate for minor injuries and keep limping along, but for robots, even slight damage can make them stumble and fall. However, a recently made robot has demonstrated a new ability: it can heal its own damage.
The new robot, which looks like a splay-legged (弓形腿的), four-footed starfish, can sense injury to itself and adapt. That ability sets the new robot apart from earlier machines. Because the robot can recover from unfamiliar places.
“There is a need for planetary robotic rovers (行星机器探测车) to be able to fix things on their own,” says Josh Bongard, a professor in the University of Vermont, who is one of the device’s creator. “Robots on other planets must be able to continue their mission without human help if they are damaged and cannot communicate their problem back to Earth.”
A typical robot functions according to a computer program, but the new robot works differently. First, sensors in its four legs observe the robot’s movements and signals to its built-in computer. From the information it collects, the robot creates its own programs that allow it to adapt to different situations. For example, when the researchers shortened one of the robot’s legs, the smart machine simply adjusted its way of walking—it used three legs instead of four.
The researchers are looking for other places to put the resilient robot to work. One spot is the ocean floor. That dark and dangerous undersea area might be a good choice for a robot that the scientists call the Starfish. “We never officially named the robot, but we usually refer to it as the Starfish, even though a real starfish has five rather than four legs,” says Bongard. “Also, a real starfish is much better than our robot at recovering from injury, because it can actually grow its legs again.” Scientists have created robots that help humans in many ways: by exploring space, fighting fires, and even performing surgery.
1.The newly designed robot distinguishes itself from the former ones because it________.
A. can communicate with people on the earth about their problems
B. works according to a certain computer program
C. can find its problems and solve them automatically
D. can explore unfamiliar places
2.An example is given in the fourth paragraph in order to explain that the robot ________.
A. is used to create new programs
B. has typical robot functions
C. has sensors to observe its movements
D. can gather information and adapt to new conditions
3.Which of the following is TRUE about the robot “Starfish”?
A. It was spoken highly of by people for its special ability.
B. It will stumble and fall if damaged.
C. It can grow its legs again once they are broken.
D. It has started to work on the ocean floor.
4.What might be the best title of the passage?
A. How the Starfish Robot Works
B. Do-It-Yourself Robot Repair
C. Robots Designed to Work on Other Planets
D. New Robot Helping Us in Many Ways
When we think about giving help to developing countries, we often think about giving money so that these countries can build schools and hospitals, buy food and medicine, or find clean water supplies. These seem to be the most important basic needs of the people we are trying to help. However, it's far from enough. Ladies and gentlemen, we've got to come up with some better ideas to help them.
I was very surprised, then, when I read about a plan to make cheap laptop computers for children in developing countries. A man called Nicholas Negroponte invented a cheap laptop computer, which can run without electricity. He decided to invent this computer after he visited a school in Cambodia.
The laptop which Mr. Negroponte has designed is a little different from the normal laptop computers you can buy in the shops. One difference is that it is covered in rubber so that it is very strong and won't be damaged easily. As an electricity supply can be a problem in developing countries, the computer also has a special handle so that children can wind the computer up to give it extra power when needed.
These special laptop computers will cost less than 100 US dollars and Mr. Negroponte wants to build as many as 15 million machines in the first year of production. The idea is that these computers will help the children's education as they will be able to access the Internet. These computers might not help the people in developing countries immediately, but by improving children's education they should help people to find their own solutions to their problems in the long term.
Another idea to help children in developing countries is to recycle old mobile phones so that they can be used again. In the UK, and, probably in many other countries too, millions of mobile phones are thrown away every year. The waste created by throwing away these old phones is very bad for the environment, so it seems to be an excellent idea to recycle them. In this way we will be able to achieve two important goals at the same time. We will reduce the waste we produce and help others. In other words, we will be able to 'kill two birds with one stone', and that is always a good thing.
1. The author gives the example of Mr. Negroponte's cheap computers _______.
A. to show what high tech can bring us.
B. to illustrate the kindness of people in the developed countries
C. to show how to find business opportunities in developing countries
D. to give an example of how to help developing countries
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE about Mr. Negroponte's cheap computers?
A. His computers don’t need any power to function well.
B. His computers are covered with rubber so that they are very cheap.
C. His computers will help children in developing countries to have better education.
D. His computers will help people in developing countries to find all the solutions.
3.Where does this passage probably come from?
A. A magazine B. A newspaper C. A lecture D. An advertisement
“I usually put my mobile phone in my bag, and I often feel like it is ringing when there actually is no phone call. Now I always want to keep it in my hand, being afraid that I might miss important calls or messages,” Miss Liu tells her doctor.
Miss Gu, a news worker, has to take her mobile phone with her all the time so as not to miss any calls from her office or readers. Gradually, she started to experience a great “panic” about her mobile phone. “Every night when I’m about to fall asleep, I often wake up with a start, feeling that my phone is ringing. Although I’m sure that I have turned it off, I still feel that it is ringing, clearly.”
The above phenomenon is what we call “mobile-phone acouasm (幻听)”. The mobile phone has now become a “new organ” in a white collar’s daily life, and “mobile-phone acouasm” has become a common phenomenon among office workers.
According to a report of China Youth Daily, “mobile-phone acouasm ” most likely results from people’s dependency on hi-tech products. It is associated with certain professions, such as salesmen, consultants and journalists. They use mobile phones almost continuously.
Constantly being in the “stand-by” mode, the strong psychological tension gives them acouasm. Meanwhile, a large number of this year’s graduates are joining the family of acouasm suffers due to the hard job-hunting experience.
“You know that the rings are not from your phone, but you always take it out and have a look. This is subconscious (潜意识) from your body sending you a signal, telling you that you must take a break to reduce your pressure,” Professor Sun Li from Huadong Normal University explains.
There are many ways to solve the problem. The professor says that the key is to deal with pressure from work. “This is just a kind of self-protection”; the most important thing is to find out the source of your pressure. And then take part in some activities that are not related to your work. You can do anything that can relax your body and mind.
1. According to the passage the phrase “mobile-phone acouasm” refers to .
A. people’s being addicted to mobile phones
B. people’s feeling the unreal phone rings
C. mobile phones’ going wrong frequently
D. mobile phones’ disturbing people constantly
2.How does “mobile-phone acouasm ” come about ?
A. Some mobile phones are in poor quality.
B. Some people develop the dependency on mobile phones.
C. Some people listen to the music on mobile phones too much.
D. Something is wrong with some people’s hearing.
3.What kind of people are more likely to suffer from “mobile-phone acouasm” ?
A. Those who use mobile phones too often.
B. Those who like mobile phones very much.
C. Those who lead a busy life.
D. Those who lead a free life.
4.What is the most important measure to deal with “mobile-phone acouasm ” ?
A. To buy a mobile phone of good quality.
B. To turn off your mobile phone.
C. To get rid of pressure from work.
D. To have your ears examined regularly.
One of the most famous nursery rhymes(摇篮曲) in the English language is Mary Had a Little Lamb(羔羊). It has touched many children who have read it. It is about the deep love between a young girl and her pet lamb. The poem is from a true story that happened in the early part of the 19th century in the town of Sterling, Massachusetts, in the USA.
Mary Sawyer (1806－1889) lived on a farm with her family. One day, when she was about nine years old, she saw a little lamb that had just been born and left behind by its mother. It was very weak and looked as if it would die at very moment. Mary took pity on the lamb and spent the whole night looking after it. Eventually, it grew strong and became a very close friend with Mary, following her everywhere she went.
One day, the lamb even followed Mary to school. At first she wanted to turn it back but her brother suggested that it would be fun to take the lamb to school. During the class, she hid the lamb under her desk. But when she was called to go to the front of the class, to her surprise, the lamb followed her. Though the students and the teacher thought it was funny to see a lamb at school, the teacher had to ask Mary to keep the lamb outside of the school.
That very day, a young man called John Roulstone was visiting Mary’s school. He was so moved by the love between the child and her little pet lamb that he wrote a poem which he handed to Mary the next day. His poem contained twelve lines.
Later, Sara Josepha Hale added another twelve lines to the poem and published it in 1930 under the title “Mary Had a Little Lamb”. The poem has become a classic, loved by children all over the world. The appeal (吸引力) of the poem lies not only in the funny idea of a sheep going to school but also in the true love between the little girl and her pet. The town of Sterling has honoured Mary’s lamb by building a statue (雕像) of the lamb with Mr Roulstone’s poem below the statue.
1.The underlined word “eventually” in the second paragraph most probably means .
A. fortunately B. gradually C. finally D. kindly
2. Why did the poem become a classic?
A. It had another twelve lines added.
B. It was written by a young man.
C. It describes the true love between a little girl and her pet lamb.
D. A statue of lamb was built in the town of Sterling.
3.Which could be the right order of the following events according to the passage?
a. The poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb” became popular.
b. Mary’s brother suggested that she take the lamb to school.
c. People built a statue to honor the lamb.
d. Mary found a little lamb.
e. A young man was moved by the story and wrote a poem.
A. d. b. e. c. a B. d. b. e. a. c
C. d. e. b. c. a D. d. e. b. a. c
4.Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?
A. Mary’s mother was also fond of the little lamb.
B. Mary and the little lamb developed a very close friendship.
C. Mary wrote to John Roulstone and asked him to write the poem.
D. All children were allowed to take their pets to school in America.
As the big weekend approaches, my feelings about you and your marriage are personal and it's more 36 to me that you realize how much I love you and how 37 I am of the amazing woman you have become.
My memory for details is terrible, 38 my memory for how 39 you were as a child is vivid. I loved tossing (轻扔) you 40 in the air in the pool in Marine, and reading 41 books on the floor of the Denver book store with you on my knees.
When I think of you as an adult, it is your 42 that has led you to your vegetarian lifestyle. It is your heart that helps you care for family and friends 43 . For these 44 I have selected three hearts that are this dad's gift to his 45 to marry daughter.
One heart is a small golden box with a 46 of you and me together. It will 47 you that of the men in your life I loved you 48 and will always love you forever and ever.
The second heart is made of jade (玉) and has the Chinese character "Fu". Jade represents luck and "Fu" means 49 . Maria and I want your life to be filled with 50 .
The third heart is just pretty and represents your 51 , inside and 52 kind. You are a wonderful, loving 53 from God, a beautiful human being. So we are delighted that you are entering this exciting part of your life.
Finally, the wedding (婚姻) will be amazing. I can't wait to see you walk down in your beautiful dress. And I can't wait to dance with you in 54 . My hope is that the event and the whole weekend will bring 55 memories.
This from your devoted and proud...Dad
1.A. important B. difficult C. surprising D. appropriate
2.A. pride B. proud C. afraid D. aware
3. A. and B so C. but D. otherwise
4.A. troublesome B. precious C. little D. hardly
5. A. hard B. deep C. high D. carelessly
6.A. philosophy B. scientific C. maths D. kids
7.A. mind B. virtue C. character D. heart
8.A. in need B. in short C. in detail D. in danger
9.A. purposes B. people C. reasons D. occasions
10.A. never B. ever C. soon D. fortunately
11. A. diary B. picture C. book D. ring
12.A. inform B. equip C. remind D. mind
13.A. first B. last C. more D. least
14.A. wealth B. power C. beauty D. happiness
15.A. it B. both C. all D. that
16.A. behavior B. shape C. beauty D. body
17.A. deep B. furthest C. out D. top
18.A. human B. gift C. message D. punishment
19.A. celebration B. festival C. holiday D. agreement
20.A. short B. lasting C. old D. strange
--- Let’s hurry, Mum!
--- Take it easy, my dear! The shop open till ten o’clock on Saturdays.
A．is staying B．stays C．is stayed D．had stayed
