Science fiction paints a future where robots play an important part in everyday life. A technology firm is trying to make that future a reality today with an affordable robot called Artibo. Artibo is small. Its brain, or AI block, is a cube (立方体）that fits in your hand. That block connects to a motor block and two silicon wheels. Assembled, it's about four inches tall.
Artibo is much more than just a robot that you program to move around. Artibo’s designers want it to provide companionship and be a resource for learning coding. With its camera, microphone and connection to a cloud-based AI, it can respond to voice commands or function like a walkie-talkie(对讲 机).It talks like a chatbot and can tell bedtime stories. It can even help you learn other languages!
Artibo isn’t quite ready for stores yet, though. It’s part of a crowdfunding project. Crowdfunding is a program where you put a request online to a crowd of people. Supporters can then pay large or small amounts to help you finish a project. Artibo will first be available to people who have paid to help bring it into production.
Using computer code to program your own toys is nothing new. LEGO first released a robot kit in 1998. Since then, programmable robots have become one of the best-selling units in the LEGO product line. Programming robots might sound comparable to rocket science, but anyone can program one using nothing more than a tablet or a smartphone and code blocks.
Code blocks allow you to program simple or complex commands by assembling visual blocks of code on the canvas ( 画 布 ）of a computer screen. Just drag and drop a variety of code blocks from a programming menu, link them together, and watch how your robot responds. In Artibo’s case coding doesn’t stop there. Unlike other similar programmable toys, Artibo will also allow you to write your own code. So as your familiarity with coding increases, you won’t lose interest in Artibo.
1.According to the passage, the purpose of developing Artibo is .
A.helping people learn anything they want and providing companionship
B.providing a robot that can move, accompany and help people learn coding
C.chatting with people, telling bedtime stories and supplying languages
D.helping people raise money on line and creating programmable robots
2.What can be concluded from the passage?
A.Programming robots is not really complicated.
B.Programming robots is advanced like a rocket.
C.Programming robots can be used in smartphones.
D.Programming robots used in toys is not new at all.
3.The passage implies that _______.
A.People can program various orders even without code blocks.
B.Anyone can control Artibo freely unlike other programming toys.
C.The more familiar you’re with coding, the more you’ll like Artibo.
D.Artibo is popular in the world especially among young people.
Wild Track is an organization that aims to protect endangered animals like rhinos. They use a computer program that runs photos of animal track through an algorithm (演算法).Then the program makes the same observations as a tracker would, allowing scientists to know where individual animals go. However, the program itself needs “training”.
It starts with collecting good photos of prints from endangered animals in captivity ( 圈养）.As people send in photos of tracks from animals in the wild, the FIT program can compare it to tracks from animals it “knows”. As the program becomes more accurate, Wild Track hopes it will become a major tool for monitoring any endangered species.
Anyone can help Wild Track by taking images of tracks and sending them to a partner organization called naturalist.org. The only tool you need is a digital camera or cellphone. After finding a clear track, place one ruler along the bottom of the footprint and another along the left side. Below the footprint, place a note containing your exact name and the date. Holding the camera or cellphone directly above the track, take a photo showing the footprint, rulers and note. Later, visit naturalist.org and follow the instructions on the site to send your photo.
Wild Track needs photos of footprints made not only by animals in captivity but also those living in the wild. In wild places, you should take care not to disturb animals in their natural environment. If you intend to photograph in a wild area that is unknown to you, then you should not go there alone. Instead, go with someone who is familiar with the region and experienced at tracking.
1.How does the writer begin this article about Wild Track?
A.By discussing the software that it employs.
B.By praising its recent efforts to raise funds.
C.By explaining how and when it was founded.
D.By summarizing different opinions about it.
2.According to this article, which animals are Wild Track mainly interested in?
A.Those which cause a threat to human settlements.
B.Those which are now at risk of becoming extinct.
C.Those which have been illegally kept as pets.
D.Those which disappeared from the Earth long ago.
3.What does this article talk about in detail?
A.A list of locations worth exploring.
B.A strategy for acquiring equipment.
C.A warning not to engage in hunting.
D.A technique containing several steps.
4.What does the article suggest doing in wild areas?
A.Admiring the wild landscape.
B.Preparing well for wild weather.
C.Leaving wild creatures alone.
D.Consuming a diet of wild plants.
Monaco Grand Prix
The air is fresh with the heat of early summer as you arrive in the beautiful country of Monaco on the day of the race. Your______ to the Monte-Carlo neighborhood is bursting with color as classic styles of European architecture catch your eye. When you reach the race course area, you are led to the harbor where you will watch the race from the ______ of a friend’s yacht (游艇）.Soon, the Formula One cars will pull onto the starting point and the race will begin.
Each of the cars in the Monaco Grand Prix is ______, but all of them are fast and modern. The race course also ______ as being complex and difficult, with a frightening hairpin (发夹）turn along a very narrow street. ______ these streets at speeds over 150 kilometers per hour, drivers must take over. Even the slightest ______ could turn a multi- million dollar car into a pile of waste. The driver who claims first place receives an award and will go down ______ as one of the world’s finest drivers.
Indianapolis 500
On race day the grandstands (大看台）are filled with excitement as you enter the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. You find your seat, ______ yourself against the harsh heat and marvel at the huge black oval (椭圆形的）track below. Moments later, a fleet of Indy Cars rolls onto the track, ______ themselves in 11 neat rows of three. The sound of 33 turning engines rings in your ears, and you cheer with the crowd as the powerful cars take off from the starting line.
Unlike Monaco Formula One cars, Indy cars are more uniform in their ______. They tend to be much longer, and reach 260 kilometers per hour. Since the drivers must race for 500 miles, the race is quite long, ______ three to five hours. The resulting wear and tear on each car is managed with short stop. The driver’s excellent team performs ______ at amazing speeds. The dangerous nature of this race requires ______ communication between the drivers and their teams. They must plan short stops ______ or the driver loses precious time and it could ______ them the race.
1.A.memory B.aim C.anxiety D.ride
2.A.comfort B.position C.bottom D.direction
3.A.colorful B.fashionable C.unique D.similar
4.A.comes out B.stands out C.turns out D.points out
5.A.Crossing B.Constructing C.Driving D.Competing
6.A.touch B.spot C.error D.hole
7.A.in history B.in advance C.in return D.in all
8.A.pushing B.drawing C.fighting D.fanning
9.A.following B.arranging C.warning D.urging
10.A.design B.preparation C.display D.regulation
11.A.timing B.extending C.delaying D.lasting
12.A.check B.maintenance C.device D.condition
13.A.short B.special C.constant D.loud
14.A.professionally B.positively C.directly D.carefully
15.A.cost B.sacrifice C.defeat D.fail
Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
This weekend many families in America will celebrate Mother’s Day. The event dates back to May 9, 1914, 1. America’s President Wilson established the official holiday. Some people had begun campaigning for the holiday a few years 2. (early). Finally in 1914, the president made it official. He declared that each second Sunday in May 3. (dedicate) to thanking the nation’s mothers. He also ordered all government buildings 4. (display) the national flag on that day. According to President Wilson, this was done “as a public expression of …love …for the mothers of our country.”
Before long, people in other countries 5. (begin) asking for a similar holiday to celebrate their mothers. Mexico celebrated its first official Mother’s Day on May 10, 1922. May 10th became their annual holiday because the country preferred a fixed date to 6. that changed.
Other countries are happy to share the day with the United States. Some on the list include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Japan and Turkey.
Oddly enough, the U.S. Congress rejected a Mother’s Day resolution at first. Today, though, Mother’s Day is a highly popular holiday. It’s also very successful commercially. Along with giving cards, candy and flowers, 7. (take) moms out for brunch is a very popular gesture. America’s National Restaurant Association says Mother’s Day is the year’s most popular day for eating out.
But why do we honor our mothers? Many moms lovingly dedicate their lives to their children. Moms sacrifice time, sleep and often their own dreams. Moms try to provide a strong foundation 8. children can build their lives. With 9. (love) care, mothers guide their children toward adulthood.
When we consider everything our mothers have done for us, how can we not honor them? There’s no need to wait for a national holiday, though. Every day is a great opportunity to tell our mothers 10. they mean to us.
假定你是李华，China Daily最近拟刊登介绍中国传统文化的文章，请用英语给编辑写封信，谈 谈自己的想法，要点如下：
1. 在你看来，最具中国特色的传统文化的是什么？(剪纸、京剧、功夫、孔子文化……)
2. 此传统文化对于中国的意义；
3. 我们应该如何更好地保护此传统文化？(不少于两点)
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear editor,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10 处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。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:在错的词下画一横线，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。
It was in our school hall where our school held a variety show last week. Filling with enthusiasm, all the teachers and students were attended the show, which proved lively and fantastic. The hall was beautiful decorated. There were twenty shows at all, including singing, dancing and role play. The shows were such wonderful that we all enjoyed it very much. All the performer were trying their best to show their talents to the audiences. As far as I am concerned, the variety show is meaningful activity as it can help us to relax ourselves from our busy study and enriched our school life at the same time.
