After a friend recommended that he join a secret Google project six years ago, Brian Torcellini became a driver in a driverless car.
Torcellini，31, leads a crew of test drivers who are legally required to ride in Google’s fleet of 48 driverless cars . They only take a control in emergencies. Otherwise, they make observations that help the company’s engineers improve the driverless cars.
The driverless cars already have covered more than 2 million miles in six years of testing on private tracks, on highways and city streets. The vehicles have traveled more than half that distance in automated mode (自动模式)，with one test driver in place to take control of the car if the technology fails or a potentially dangerous situation arises. Meanwhile, another driver sits in the front passenger seat taking notes of the problems that need to be fixed.
The job of the test driver requires a sense of adventure, something Torcellini acquired when he began to surf in high school. His other hobbies include fishing and scuba diving.
While the engineers who are programming the robot cars have technical backgrounds, most of the test drivers don’t. Torcellini worked in a book store. He dreamed of becoming a writer. He ended up at Google in 2009. Espinosa, 27, was working in a bicycle shop before he was hired as a test driver two years ago . Stephanie Villegas, 28, was a swim instructor, before becoming a test driver. Other test drivers were former soldiers and former photographers. They all share at least one thing in common: spotless driving records. Besides this, the job also requires a combination of good judgment, patience and fearlessness.
Before they are entrusted (托付) with the cars，Google’s test drivers must complete three-week training courses. The drivers are taught to take control of the robot car whenever there is any moment of doubt or danger.
Google employs “dozens” of test drivers but won't reveal the precise number . California law requires two test drivers per vehicle.
1.What do you know about Brian Torcellini ?
A. He is in charge of a crew of test drivers.
B. He used to be a swim instructor.
C. He led a secret Google project.
D. He has technical backgrounds.
2.The driver sitting in the front passenger seat is responsible for .
A. fixing the car problems
B. driving in emergencies
C. recording the car problems
D. monitoring the car driver
3.We can infer that .
A. Stephanie Villegas is interested in scuba diving
B. Brian Torecellini is very fond of literature
C. Espinosa is an excellent cyclist in California
D. driverless cars are very popular in California
4.The underlined word “this” refers to .
A. having good judgments
B. having clean driving records
C. breaking the traffic rules
D. having technical backgrounds
Those accustomed to browsing through thousands of books in large bookstores may find Japan’s Morioka Shoten a little strange. That’s because this tiny bookstore that is located in Ginza,Tokyo sells only a single book at a time.
Opened in May 2015, Morioka Shoten is the brainchild of Yoshiyuki Morioka. He began his career as a bookstore clerk in Tokyo’s Kanda district before branching out to open his own store. It was here while organizing book reading and signing that he realized that customers usually came into the store with one title in mind. Morioka began to wonder if a store could exist by selling multiple copies of just one single book. In November 2014, he partnered with Masamichi Toyama to establish a unique bookstore with the philosophy of “A Single Room with a Single Book”.
The selections that are picked by Morioka change weekly and vary widely to attract customers with different interests. Recent choices include The True Deceiver, an award-winning Swedish novel by Tove Jansson, Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales, and a collection of Karl Blossfeldt’s photography of plants. Morioka has also selected books written by a famous Japanese author Mimei Ogawa.
To highlight his only offering, Morioka often uses clever tricks. For example, when selling a book about flowers, the storekeeper decorated his shop with the ones that had been mentioned in the book. He also encourages authors to hold talks and discussions so they can connect with customers. Morioka says his goal is for the customers to experience being inside a book, not just a bookstore.
Risky as the idea might seem, things appear to be going well. The storekeeper says he has sold over 2,100 books. Things can get better given that his bookstore is becoming increasingly popular not just among the locals but also visitors form other countries.
1.Why is Morioka Shoten unique?
A. It is popular with feigners.
B. It sells books of different topics.
C. It is decorated with colorful flowers.
D. It sells various copies of a book in a week.
2.Why does Morioka encourage authors to hold talks?
A. To introduce his bookstore.
B. To advocate his philosophy.
C. To make books better understood.
D. To help readers make more friends.
3.What’s the author’s opinion about the bookstore’s future?
A. Risky B. Promising.
C. Unpredictable. D. Hopeless
Scientists announced on Thursday, February 11, 2016, at a press conference in Washington, D. C that the more than half-century search for gravitational waves finally succeeded. They confirmed that they had detected gravitational waves caused by two black holes mixing together about 1. 3 billion years ago. It had been the first time the phenomenon was directly detected since it was predicted by Albert Einstein l00 years ago.
A China led space gravitational wave detection project is recruiting (招募) researchers from around the world, china news, com reported. The Tianqin project was started by Sun Yat-sen University in Zhuhhai. It centers on research of key technologies in space gravitational wave detection. To make the project more competitive，global talents in areas such as gravity theory，space gravity experiments and precision measurement are sought with an annual salary of up to 1 million yuan ($ 153.000). according to the report.
Gravitational waves are not easily detectable. When they reach the Earth, an extremely sensitive detector is needed, as other sources of noise can overwhelm the signal. Luo Jun. president of Sun Yat sen University said the detection of gravitational waves is a huge challenge and the project reflects the research competence of China.
The 15-billion yuan project aims to send wave-detection satellites into space in 15 to 20 years with construction of a research center and observatory to be started soon. Researchers will likely cooperate with other scientists from the European Space Agency’s LISA Project.
Gravitational waves are ripples (涟漪) in space time generated during the earliest moment of the universe, when the universe experienced a brief but disordered period of expansion. The detection of gravitational waves is believed to help scientists understand more mysteries of the universe.
1.What can we learn about gravitational waves?
A. They caused black holes to mix together.
B. They came out about half a century ago.
C. They wore proved true by Albert Einstein.
D. They have been discovered recently.
2.According to the passage, the Tianqin project is intended to .
A. develop technologies to detect space gravitational waves
B. attract talented researchers from across the globe
C. conduct various space gravity experiments
D. seek precision measurement in space
3.The underlined word “overwhelm” in the third paragraph probably means “ .”
A. absorb B. replace
C. remove D. cover
4.The main purpose of the passage is to .
A. explain the importance of the gravitational wave detection
B. present some new findings in space exploration
C. introduce a gravitational wave research project
D. encourage international cooperation in scientific research
The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union, a historic decision that will reshape the nation^ place in the world and is already upsetting governments across the continent. The surprising turn of events caused a fall in the financial markets, with the value of the British pound and stock prices falling.
The campaign to leave the EU won by 52 percent to 48 percent. More than 17 million people in the UK—made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — voted to sever ties with the EU, a Political and economic partnership comprising 28 countries across Europe. About 16.1 million voted to remain.
The result raises serious questions about the future of the EU. The British go out from the union-nicknamed Brexit — is just the latest in a series of crises to annoy the EU. The alliance is already dealing with economic bad results from the global financial collapse of 2008, along with a record arrival refugees to Europe due in part to Syria’s civil war.
Some British citizens believe the EU has too much influence over Britain’s authority and that the country’s industries would be more profitable on their own. Others want Britain to reclaim control of its borders and reduce how many people enter the country to work They say the EU’s open-border policy allows unlimited numbers of immigrants to come in from poorer nations—and that those people take jobs from British workers. Those who campaigned to stay in the EU, meanwhile, argued that the UK and its economy is stronger within the alliance.
Now the UK will become the first nation to leave the European Union. The decision is a huge blow the alliance because Britain is one of its most powerful members. “The main impact will be massive disorder in the EU system for the next two years,” said Thierry de Montbrial, of the French Institute of International Relations. “There will be huge political change costs on how to solve the British exit.” The decision could also have a domino effect, he warned, with other countries following the UK’s lead and exiting the EU.
1.What does the underlined word “sever” mean?
A. Settle down. B. Take over.
C. Break off. D. Build up.
2.Most British wanted to leave the EU because they believe .
A. they can help immigrants to create more job chances
B. they expect the EU to have an open border policy
C. they want to set up their own authority
D. they will lead a better life on their own
3.What did Brexit make Thierry worry about?
A. More countries will do as the UK does.
B. Scotland win their independence from the EU.
C. The EU will pay back more money to the UK.
D. The economy in the EU will suffer loss.
4.What might be the most suitable title for the passage?
A. The UK Wins Independence with Votes
B. The UK Votes to Leave the European Union
C. The UK Makes a Historic Decision Again
D. The UK Remains Separated from the World
假如你是某校学生会主席李华，准备在高一年级学生中举办一次“英文海报设计比赛”活动。请根据下面的提示，写一则英语书面通知。
1.活动目的：丰富校园生活，提高创新意识和英语水平。
2.展出地点： 教学楼三楼报告厅。
3.展评时间：5月16日—20日。
注意： 1.词数100左右。
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
A Notice
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The Student Union
April 27, 2017
文中共有10处语言错误。每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：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，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。
Dear David,
Sorry to learn that you’ve put on weight. Eat too much food in McDonald’s and KFC must be the reason, I guess.
You have to realize that food is not always as healthy as was said in the advertisements. If you know much about them, we will find fried chicken and French fries are rich in fat, sugar and salt. They can make you to gain weight and become sick.
That you ought to have every day are noodles, rice, fruit and vegetables rather than the junk food. Energy-giving food, body-building food and protective food makes up a balanced diet. In word, you must have an idea of how a healthy diet should be and stick to it.
I hope my advices can help you improve your health.
Yours,
Li Ming
