Modern-day robots are programmed to handle tasks that are normally carried out by humans. They are faster and 1. (accurate) than human workers and never ask for a pay rise or take breaks! Robots are also able to work 2. dangerous situations.
Researchers at the University of Arkansas in the United States say that the mobile robots which have been created already are ideal for the job of hospital attendants. These mobile robots store a 3. (detail) map of the hospital in their memory. The robots’ sensors can detect 4.(barrier) and quickly get out of the way. Although these robots cannot go up and down stairs, they know how 5.(press) a button of an elevator.
Researchers at a Massachusetts’ university are creating the first robot 6.can constantly change its shape according to the task it has to do. These robots are called polymorphic robots. “Polymorphic” means7. ability to take different forms. A 3D printer 8.(place) inside the robot to create the desired shape. The entire process of changing forms in this manner is called the rapid printing technology which is 9.(fair) common in the car industry to produce complex 3D structures quickly. Once the robot has performed 10.(it) task, it can be melted down and recycled into another useful part by the 3D printer.
It had been a long time since I had been to Jacksonville, Florida. I had driven to town _______ to find the old barber shop where my hair had been cut as a child. As I _______around, I was a little disappointed to see the old buildings had been _______with new high-rise ones.
After walking about a block I saw an open shoe store. Wondering whether I could get the _______, I walked in. As I stood talking to the salesman, the front door opened and a young man about twenty came into the store in a _______. “I need a new pair of shoes,” said the _______. As he turned the corner, I was _______to see that the young man had no legs.
Seeing us_______, the young man said, “When I was a _______, my parents used to buy me a new pair of shoes every year. That was such a wonderful feeling— _______I have never forgotten.”
Soon the salesman came with a large box. He put it down on the floor, took out a boot and handed it to the young man. Placing the boot _______his nose, the boy closed both eyes, and took a large breath. I did not know what to say as tears began to roll down his _______.
Suddenly we heard the salesman shouting to an old man _______who looked in the window from time to time. The young man looked at the old man and then turned to me. “Would you walk out and see what _______that fellow wears?” he_______.
Wondering why, I _______walked to the front door, opened it and asked the old man to _______. “What size shoes do you wear?” the boy asked the man. “I don’t know,” he replied, as he_______his old tennis shoes. “I would say nine and a half,” I suggested. “What’s your _______hiking boot in nine and a half?” the boy asked the salesman. Within a minute, the salesman returned with a pair of hiking boots. The boy ________out, took the boot, placed it to his nose and took a large breath. Once again, tears came to his eyes. “Sir, would you mind trying on these boots?” the boy asked the old fellow.
1.A. needing B. waiting C. hoping D. helping
2.A. ran B. wandered C. jumped D. wondered
3.A. ruined B. decorated C. dealt D. replaced
4.A. fare B. answer C. shoes D. service
5.A. boot B. car C. wheelchair D. lorry
6.A. customer B. owner C. waiter D. salesman
7.A. excited B. shocked C. ashamed D. embarrassed
8.A. determined B. willing C. delighted D. puzzled
9.A. kid B. manager C. barber D. lawyer
10.A. everything B. something C. nothing D. anything
11.A. across B. over C. to D. within
12.A. sleeves B. hands C. cheeks D. legs
13.A. in peace B. in rags C. in relief D. in return
14.A. color B. material C. price D. size
15.A. reminded B. recognized C. requested D. responded
16.A. slowly B. sincerely C. suddenly D. swiftly
17.A. elect B. enter C. express D. exist
18.A. dug out B. set down C. looked out D. looked down at
19.A. heaviest B. dearest C. best D. quickest
20.A. reached B. died C. sorted D. broke
For over one hundred and fifty years, Americans of all social classes have worn blue jeans.1. Whether they are worn for work or for fashion today.Strauss' invention continues to be popular not only among Americans but also among people around the world.
Levi Strauss was born in Germany in 1829.2. He grew up in Kentucky before moving to New York in 1847.Before becoming an American citizen and moving to the West in 1853, Strauss worked in his brother's dry goods business.This gave him a chance to produce his famous invention.After the gold rush of 1949, Strauss decided to move to the West to seek his fortunes.
Strauss did not want to be a person who searched an area for minerals.Instead, he knew he could make a good living by selling supplies to the miners.At first, he planned to sell sewing supplies and cloth.3.When he heard miners complaining that their clothes were easily broken or they usually tore their pockets during mining, he decided to use a special fabric to make pants for the miners.These pants proved so popular that he quickly ran out of materials to make more.
In 1873, Strauss received a letter from a Jewish tailor named Jacob Davis who had invented a process of connecting pockets with copper rivets(铆钉).This made the pants last a long time.Because Davis did not have the money to patent his idea, he offered to share it with Strauss if Strauss would agree to pay for the patent.4..
By the time Strauss died in 1902, he had made a great contribution to American fashion.
5.The business has been growing ever since and Levi Strauss' company is now one of the largest clothing companies in the world.
A.Nobody knew what kind of material was suitable.
B.As a young boy, he moved with his family to the United States.
C.However, he did not get much business for those products.
D.He did and Levi jeans have been made with metal rivets ever since.
E.He also made a great contribution to America's clothing industry.
F.As the business grew, Strauss got much money from it.
G.Since they were invented by Levi Strauss, they have become a symbol of American consumer culture.
A company in San Francisco, California, has found a way to turn used plastic bottles into women's shoes.
Every day, millions of Americans drink water and other liquids from plastic bottles. More than 60 million of them are thrown away each day. Many of the plastic bottles end up in landfills or are burned with other waste products.
A San Francisco start-up company called Rothy's, however, turns this plastic waste into environmentally friendly shoes. Roth Martin is the company's co-founder. He explains how they turn plastic into soft material for women's feet. They take the plastic, clean it, and break it down into small pieces. Then they press them through a device that makes soft fibers. Those fibers are then combined together. This is done by a 3D machine. It is designed to reduce waste while making the shoes. The knitted stuff and the inner part of the shoe are then attached to the shoe's outer part, called the sole. This outer sole is also made from environmentally friendly material: responsibly sourced no-carbon rubber.
Rothy's shoes are sold online. They are flat shoes, with either a rounded or pointed toe. They come in different colors and designs. They cost either $ 125 or $ 145 per pair, depending on the design. After American actress Gwyneth Paltrow discovered them last year, the demand for the shoes grew. Martin says there is no shortage of material to fill that demand. “We're not going to run out of water bottles any time soon. So we have a limitless supply of material, and I think that is a good sign for our future.” When the environmentally friendly shoes wear out, customers can return them at no cost to a company that uses the recycled material to make other products.
For now, the shoes are only available to be shipped in the United States. However, the company says it will add international shipping in the near future.
1.How are used plastic bottles usually dealt with?
A. They are used to make shoes. B. They are buried or burned.
C. They are changed into soft materials. D. They are returned to factories for reuse.
2.What does the underlined word “knitted” in the third paragraph mean?
A. Combined. B. Fixed.
C. Spotted. D. Repaired.
3.Which of the following directly helped to increase the sales of Rothy's shoes?
A. The design and color. B. The reasonable price.
C. The company's advertisement. D. The star power of Gwyneth Paltrow.
4.What is the purpose of the text?
A. To advertise a new kind of shoes.
B. To introduce a new way of recycling plastic waste.
C. To describe the process of making shoes.
D. To stress the importance of environmental protection.
About Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle plays an important role in Scotland's capital. During the Wars of Scottish Independence the castle changed hands many times. In 1314 it was retaken from the English in a sudden night attack by Thomas Randolph, nephew of Robert the Bruce.
The castle was home to kings and queens. Queen Margaret died here in 1093, and Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth to James VI in the royal palace in 1566. From the 1600s onwards the castle was a military (军事的) base. Later it also held prisoners of war. Parts of the castle are still a military base, but it is now a worldfamous visitor attraction.
Opening Hours
The castle opens daily at 9:30 am. Closing time varies seasonally.
1 April－30 September: it closes at 6 pm.
1 October－31 March: it closes at 5 pm.
The castle is closed on 25th and 26th December. On January 1st it is open from 11 am to 5 pm and normal hours start from January 2nd.
Last admission is 1 hour before closing.
Ticket Types and Prices
Beat the queues and book ahead online using our web store for fasttrack entry at no extra cost. Members do not need to queue at the ticket office, and simply need to show their card at Visitor Information.
Prices
Adult(16～59 years) | ￡16.50 |
Child(5～15 years) | ￡9.90 |
Special(60＋years and unemployed) | ￡13.20 |
Children under 5 years old go free. They must be accompanied by an adult.
Guided Tours
A guided tour is included in your ticket price—our guides love sharing their stories. They are experienced, knowledgeable and are always happy to answer questions, so it's a great way to discover the castle's amazing past. Guided tours take place throughout the day and the meeting point is through the Portcullis Gate past the audio booth by the clock.
1.What can be inferred about Edinburgh Castle from the text?
A. It was used as a prison in the 1500s.
B. It now works only as a tourist attraction.
C. It was once owned by nonScottish people.
D. It was the birthplace of Queen Margaret.
2.When can visitors visit Edinburgh Castle on New Year's Day?
A. 3 pm～5 pm. B. 4 pm～6 pm. C. 10 am～12 am. D. 9 am～11 am.
3.How much should jobless Jack and his twin grandchildren aged 5 pay in all to visit Edinburgh Castle?
A. ￡36.30. B. ￡33.00. C. ￡16.50. D. ￡13.20.
4.What does the text say about guided tours of Edinburgh Castle?
A. They cost no extra money.
B. They are provided only at certain times.
C. Questions aren't welcomed during them.
D. They are provided only at the Portcullis Gate.
Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image. But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words.
For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents’ home in Boise in nine hours. We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement and have strong opinions about everything.
Road trips felt risky, so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.
But then Banner, our lamb was born. He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise. I had two choices: leave Banner with my husband, or take him with me. My husband made the decision for me.
That is how I found myself on the road with four kids, a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through. We took the country roads out of necessity. We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him. The kids chased him and one another. They’dget back in the car breathless and energized, smelling fresh from the cold air.
We explored side roads, catching grasshoppers in waist-high grass. Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother, or fish leaping out of the water, it was better than the best ride down the freeway. Here was life and new horizons．
We eventually arrived at my parents' doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.
I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique. On an empty section of road, everyone started quarreling. I stopped the car, ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead. I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence.
Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight. But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of journey—and the best part of yourself.
1.Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents' home?
A. It was less tiring. B. It would befaster and safer.
C. Her kids would feel less confined. D. She felt better with other drivers nearby.
2.The author stopped regularly on the country roads to ________．
A. take care of the lamb B. take a deep breath
C. relax in the fresh air D. let the kids play with Banner
3.What does the author discover from the trip according to Paragraph 6?
A. Freeways are where beauty hides.
B. Getting close to nature adds to the joy of life.
C. Enjoying the beauty of nature benefits one's health.
D. One should follow side roads to watch wild animals.
4.What could be the best title for the passage?
A. The Road to Bravery B. Creativity out of Necessity
C. Charm of the Detour D. Road Trip and Country Life
