While the start of a new school year is always exciting, this year was even more so for some elementary school students in Auckland, New Zealand. They became the world’s first kids to be “taught” by a digital teacher, Will. Will is just an avatar(用户头像) that appears on the student’s desktop, tablet, or smartphone screen, not a human-like robot walking around the classroom.
Auckland energy company Vector and AI company Soul Machines worked together to develop Will, which has been modeled after the human brain and nervous system, allowing it to perform human-like behavior. The digital teacher is currently assigned to teach Vector’s “Be sustainable with energy,” a free program for Auckland elementary schools.
Just like the humans it replaced, Will is able to instantly react to the students’ responses to the topic. Thanks to a webcam(网络摄像头) and microphone, the avatar not only responds to questions the kids may have, but also picks up non-verbal cues(非口头提示). For instance, if a student smiles at Will, he responds by smiling back. This two-way interaction not only helps capture the students’ attention, but also allows the program’s developers to monitor their engagement, and make changes if needed.
Vector’s Chief Digital Officer, Nikhil Ravishankar says, “What was fascinating to me was the reaction of the children to Will. The way they look at the world is so creative and different, and Will really captured their attention.”
Will, in place since August 2018, has been a great success thus far. However, regardless of how popular it becomes, Will is unlikely to replace human educators any time soon. For one, the avatar’s knowledge base is severely restricted. But more importantly, even the smartest digital avatars could never predict and react to all the unexpected situations that educators have to deal with on a daily basis. However, it could come in handy as a “personal tutor”, providing kids with one-on-one help on specific subjects or even topics.
1.What made the students in Auckland more excited in the new term?
A. A robot teacher. B. A digital teacher.
C. New classmates. D. New tablets.
2.What’s Nikhil Ravishankar’s attitude toward Will?
A. Positive. B. Negative. C. Doubtful. D. Neutral.
3.What is Will able to do in class?
A. Think like humans. B. Satisfy all kids’ needs.
C. Grab students’ attention. D. Monitor students’ participation.
4.What is mainly discussed about Will in the last paragraph?
A. Its popularity. B. Its limitations.
C. Its function. D. Its convenience.
At the age of seven, while his friends were spending their allowances on candy and toys, Jose Adolfo Quisocola, from Peru, came up with the creative idea of an eco-bank, which allows kids of all ages to become economically independent and financially wise while also helping the environment.
Established in 2012, The Bartselana Student Bank is the world’s first cooperative bank for kids. Whoever wants to join has to bring in at least 5 kilograms(11 pounds) of solid waste(paper or plastic) and establish a savings goal. Once accepted, all bank “partners” are required to deposit at least one additional kilogram(2.2 pounds) of recyclables on a monthly basis and obey other requirements, such as attending financial education and environmental management workshops. The waste accumulated is sold to local recycling companies, who, thanks to some clever negotiation by Jose, pay a higher-than-market rate for everything brought in by Bartselana Student Bank members. The funds received are placed in the individual’s account where they collect until his／her savings goal is reached. The account holder can then withdraw his／her money, or choose to leave it and continue to grow for a bigger target.
“At the beginning, my teachers thought I was crazy or that a child could not undertake this type of project, ” Jose recalls. “They did not understand that we are not the future of the country but its present. Luckily, I had the support of the school principal and an assistant in my classroom.”
The youngster’s persistence paid off. Today, the eco-bank, which now has the support of several local institutions, has ten educational centers and begins accepting applications from kids all across Peru. On November 20, 2018, the young boy was awarded the famous Children’s Climate Prize (CCP). “Jose’s eco-bank is a brilliant way of linking economy and climate impact, both in thought and practice. The potential impact is amazing,” a judge said.
Hopefully, Jose’s success will inspire more kids and adults to come up with new ideas that create value while helping the environment. As the boy says,” Together we can change the world…we just need an opportunity…”
1.For what main purpose was the eco-bank created?
A. To educate children how to spend their allowances.
B. To help children become independent from their parents.
C. To raise children’s awareness of environmental protection.
D. To encourage children to buy whatever they want.
2.What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?
A. The history of the eco-bank.
B. The requirements of membership.
C. The wise way to deal with waste.
D. The process of running the eco-bank.
3.What is the biggest challenge Jose met at the start of opening the eco-bank?
A. Lack of enough support. B. Lack of enough money.
C. Lack of relevant experience. D. Lack of relevant knowledge.
4.What can be a suitable title for the passage?
A. An Amazing Boy，Jose
B. Recycling does Count Much
C. An Opportunity to Change the World
D. An Eco-bank, Economical and Ecological
Do you believe in the power of music? If you’re like most kids these days, you probably have an electronic device loaded with hundreds or even thousands of your favorite songs. At any moment in time, you can fill your headphones with the sounds of a particular song that suits your mood at that exact time.
Are you getting ready for a big soccer match or do you need to get excited? Maybe some hip hop with a strong beat will do the trick! Besides, you might be ready to study for a big exam the next day. To calm your nerves and help you concentrate, a little bit of Mozart might make memorization more manageable.
But is there any scientific evidence of these effects that music seems to have? You bet there is! Scientists have long recognized the power of music. Over the years, many studies have been conducted to examine in greater depth the nature and extent of the effects music has on people.
For example, scientists at the University of Missouri have found that listening to music can have a positive effect on your mood. Their research gives scientific credibility(可信性) to the behavior that many people have already experienced on their own: listening to upbeat music can brighten your day and boost your mood.
Other studies have shown that upbeat music isn’t the only type of music that can be helpful, however. When people are sad or have suffered a personal loss, sad music can be helpful because people identify with the tone and lyrias(歌词) of the music. Likewise, people under a lot of stress or experiencing upsetting situations can benefit from listening to angry music. Although angry music might not help you if you’re in a normal mood, its tone can benefit you when you are dealing with stressful and upsetting situations.
1.What does the author mainly show in Paragraph 1?
A. The importance of having an electronic device.
B. The great number of songs on the Internet.
C. The benefits of choosing a song suiting your mood.
D. The convenience of finding a song suiting your mood.
2.According to the passage, what is the power of Mozart?
A. Making you less active. B. Keeping you more refreshed.
C. Making you more focused. D. Keeping you better informed.
3.Which of the following best explains the underlined word “boost” in Paragraph 4?
A. Predict. B. Improve. C. Express. D. Ruin.
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Only upbeat music can brighten our day.
B. People will feel sad when identifying with the lyrics.
C. Everyone can benefit from listening to angry music.
D. Different music functions differently in different situations.
Here we introduce some rental houses to you.
Apartment Levant in Komiza
Overlooking one of the most beautiful fishing villages in Croatia, our two-storey house also gives you a full view of Komiza bay as well as neighboring island of Bisevo.The apartment has a wide，covered balcony and a small garden with lemon trees. It is only 10 minutes’ walk from the centre of the village, although it is on the edge of the village, with forests behind the house.
Apartment Domina
Located in the centre of the city, the apartment is protected as a historical site. All other facilities are at your fingertips such as restaurants, shops and museums. The apartment is fully equipped and air-conditioned, having a kitchen with a dishwasher, a satellite TV and the free Web access. It contains a bedroom with a double bed and antique furniture. Besides, the apartment offers pet-friendly accommodation.
Apartment Tonka
The apartment is located in an old stone house in the centre of Komiza. It offers two bedrooms, each with a separate bathroom, and a living room with a furnished kitchen. The house is only a couple of minutes away from the old harbor, along the old town’s street where you can enjoy Komiza’s rich cultural history. The bus stop is less than 200 meters away, near the fruit and vegetable market.
Pearl of Issa
This two-bedroom apartment is only a few minutes’ walk from beautiful beaches, shops, restaurants, cafés and bars. It consists of two bedrooms, a fully equipped modern kitchen, a dining room and a resting area with a sofa, which can be used as an extra sleeping place for one person, a bathroom and a balcony with comfortable garden furniture and barbecue equipment.
1.What can we learn about Apartment Levant in Komiza?
A. It is the most beautiful fishing village in Croatia.
B. It offers a chance to admire the whole Komiza bay.
C. It’s inconvenient to go to the centre of the village.
D. It lies in the center of the village with forests around.
2.Which of the following does Apartment Domina provide?
A. Portable washing machines. B. Modern furniture.
C. Free Internet use. D. Friendly pets.
3.Which of the following apartments contain two bedrooms?
A. Apartment Tonka and Pearl of Issa.
B. Apartment Domina and Pearl of Issa.
C. Apartment Tonka and Apartment Domina.
D. Apartment Domina and Apartment Levant in Komiza.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.How long did the speaker and his family live in the downtown apartment?
A. 8 years. B. 10 years. C. 30 years.
2.What was it that caused the speaker’s unpleasant childhood?
A. Strict family rules.
B. Little chance to play outside.
C. Too much school work.
3.What does the speaker think of outdoor activities?
A. Colorless. B. Dangerous. C. Enjoyable.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is “People You Meet”?
A. An office party. B. A training course. C. A radio program.
2.How many people does Mark’s office receive every year?
A. 100,000. B. 200,000. C. 500,000.
3.What do we know about Mark?
A. He is a team leader.
B. He was born in London.
C. He speaks thirteen languages.
4.What do Mark and his Co-workers usually do to help visitors from overseas?
A. Show them around. B. Plan tours for them. C. Teach them English.
