Washing windows on a skyscraper is a dirty job. Hanging off the side of a building can also be dangerous, notes Oliver Nicholls, 19. So this 12th-grader invented a robot to handle the job.
Some recent incidents inspired his project. In one, a couple of high-rise window washers were standing on a platform that fell down. No one died, but the pair was seriously injured. Oliver also witnessed someone fall and break his leg while cleaning a glass awning (雨篷) over the entrance to a building.
The new robot is about the size of a medium-sized picnic cooler and weighs 12 to15 kilograms. It's designed to hang off the side of a building from ropes, just as current window－washing platforms do. A hose（软管）carries water to the robot. A cable (电缆) delivers it electric power. The computer controls the robot up-and-down movements by adjusting the ropes from which the robot hangs. When the robot needs to move from one window to another, a set of propellers（螺旋桨） starts to work. They push the robot a short distance away from the building, while the ropes slide along a railing（栏杆）to carry the robot over to the next window. Then, as a different set of propellers holds the robot tight against the window, the cleaning cycle repeats. Oliver tested his robot by cleaning sample windows he'd built in his backyard. The robot’s propellers can hold the robot against a building even in winds as high as 45 kilometers per hour, the teen reports. He performed those tests using his family’s leaf blower.
Besides limiting the chance of injury, this window-washing robot could save building owners a bit of money. If commercialized, Oliver estimates it would cost about ＄11,000. That's about the same cost as hiring a crew to clean a 7-story building. So Oliver suspects his robot might be able to pay for itself after cleaning just one such building.
1.What encouraged Oliver to develop his project?
A.His interest in housework. B.The accidents he experienced.
C.The high costs of washing windows D.Risks facing high-rise window washers.
2.What do we know about the robot?
A.It carries water itself. B.It is supported by a platform.
C.It hangs from ropes while working. D.It can produce power while working.
3.Why did Oliver test his robot with a leaf blower?
A.To record its working speed B.To see its wind-resistance ability
C.To test whether it could remove the windows D.To know if it needed a different set of propellers
4.What does the last paragraph imply about the robot?
A.It is costly but time-saving. B.It still has many limitations.
C.It has huge commercial potential D.It has become a favorite of building owners
Visitors to Britain are sometimes surprised to learn that newspapers there have such a large circulation. The “quality” newspapers are often held up as an example of impartial journalism, but the Daily Mirror and the Daily Express usually impress newspapermen even more because they both sell about four million copies every day. British families generally buy a newspaper every morning and frequently take two or three on Sundays, but the vast circulation figures obtained are not only due to the Englishman’s thirst for news.Because the newspapers are all published nationally, copies can be delivered everywhere at the same time.
Though people abroad often know the names of the national papers, they seldom realize that there is another branch of the British press which sells almost as many copies. Local newspapers have a weekly circulation of 13 million. Almost every town and country area has one. Nearly all of them hold their own finance and many of them are very profitable.
These papers are written almost entirely for readers interested in local events — births, weddings, deaths, council meetings and sports — but the content is naturally influenced by the kind of community they serve. Editors prefer to rely on a small staff of people who all know the district well. A great deal of local news is regularly supplied by clubs and churches in the neighbourhood and it does not get out of date as quickly as national news. If there is no room for it in this week’s edition, an item can sometimes be held until the following week.
The editor must never forget that the success of any newspaper depends on advertising. He is usually anxious to keep the good will of local businessmen for this reason. But if the newspaper is well written and the news items are carefully chosen to attract local readers, the businessmen are grateful for the opportunity to keep their products in the public eye.
Local newspapers do not often comment on problems of national importance and editors rarely hold with taking sides on political questions. But they can often be of service to the community in expressing public feeling on local issues. A newspaper can sometimes persuade the council to take action to provide better shopping facilities, improve transport in the area and preserve local monuments and places of interest.
1.The Daily Mirror impresses newspapermen more because_____.
A.it has a larger circulation than many other famous papers
B.it is of better quality than many other papers
C.it is sold nationally
D.it is delivered everywhere in Britain
2.Local papers are preferred by readers who_____.
A.are interested in news B.are much interested in local events
C.want to get news as quickly as possible D.work in churches and clubs
3.According to the passage,businessmen would like to advertise in papers if _____.
A.the papers are well written B.the news items are carefully chosen
C.the news involves them D.the papers are popular and can attract readers
4.The last paragraph implies(暗示)that ______.
A.local papers seldom comment on politics
B.local papers can sometimes influence policy making
C.local papers are more concerned about their own communities
D.local papers do not take sides on problems of national importance
Hobbs was an orphan（孤儿）. He worked in a factory and every day he got a little money. Hard work made him thin and weak. He wanted to borrow a lot of money to learn to paint pictures, but he did not think he could pay off the debts.
One day a lawyer said to him, “One thousand dollars, and here is the money.” As Hobbs took the package of notes, he was very dumbfounded. He didn’t know where the money came from and how to spend it. He said to himself, “I could go to find a hotel and live like a rich man for a few days; or I give up my work in the factory and do what I’d like to do: painting pictures. I could do that for a few weeks, but what would I do after that? I should have lost my place in the factory and have no money to live on. If it were a little less money, I would buy a new coat, or a radio, or give a dinner to my friends. If it were more, I could give up the work and pay for painting pictures. But it’s too much for one and too little for the other.”
“Here is the reading of your uncle’s will（遗嘱）,” said the lawyer, “telling what is to be done with this money after his death. I must ask you to remember one point. Your uncle has said you must bring me a paper showing exactly what you did with his money, as soon as you have spent it.”
“Yes, I see. I’ll do that,” said the young man.
1.Hobbs wanted to borrow money to _______.
A.study abroad B.work abroad C.pay off the debts D.learn to paint pictures
2.What does the underlined word “dumbfounded” （in Paragraph 2） probably mean?
A.Surprised. B.Frightened C.Satisfied. D.Excited.
3.With the money he got, at first Hobbs _______.
A.planned to have a happy life for a few days B.decided to give up his work in the factory
C.was to give a dinner to his friends D.had no idea what to do
4.Hobbs was asked to _______.
A.tell the lawyer what he did with the money after spending it
B.read his uncle’s will
C.buy some pictures
D.tell the lawyer what was to be done with the money
Smart Home Products for Living a Connected Life
What makes something a smart home product? Generally, it’s defined by its ability to connect to a Wi-Fi network, allowing users to interact（互动）with it from their smartphones.We’ve rounded up some cool, diverse offerings that you’ll love to have in your home.
Nest Cam IQ
walmart.com
$299.00
The Nest Cam IQ is a beautifully designed home security camera that can recognize faces. It can warn you if there’s a stranger in your home. The device also supports two-way communication via built-in microphones and a powerful speaker.
Logitech Harmony Elite
amazon.com
$249.99
The Logitech Harmony Elite is one of the best universal remote controls available on the market. It can control just about every piece of electronics you own（it supports over 270，000 devices！）in every room of your house or apartment, including TVs，streaming devices, and sound systems.
Apple HomePod
bhphotovideo.com
$349.00
The Apple HomePod has better audio quality than any other smart speaker available today. Available in white or space gray, the Siri-powered device also allows you to control a number of devices with your voice.
August Smart Lock Pro
amazon.com
$279.99
The August Smart Lock Pro is compatible（兼容的）with most locks. A mobile app allows you to manage access to the lock, check its usage history, and get informed when someone opens the door. You can control it and check on the state of your door with voice commands.
1.What can the Nest Cam IQ help you do？
A.Properly use your smartphone camera
B.Control electronics with your voice.
C.Check the locks of your house.
D.Keep your home safe.
2.Which device can help you operate almost all your electronic equipment remotely？
A.Nest Cam IQ.
B.Apple HomePod.
C.August Smart Lock Pro.
D.Logitech Harmony Elite.
3.Which column of a website is the text most probably taken from？
A.Technology.
B.News.
C.Society.
D.Education.
假定你是李华，你的英国好友Tom 在中国做交换生，在与同学相处时遇到一些问题，写信向你求助。请你回复并提出自己的建议。
内容包括：
1. 文化差异；
2. 相互尊重；
3. 互相帮助。
注意：1. 词数100 左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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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 Sir or Madam,
I booked a room in your hotel for my friend Tom yesterday. But I am real sorry to tell you that I had to change my booking now. My friend Tom had planned to visit our city this summer vacation, but I booked Room 101 for him. However, I was telling that an unexpected thing happened, that he had to deal with by himself. As the result, he couldn’t come as plan. He had to change into the booking date for the room. I would appreciate if you could push the booking date back the week. I hope this will not cause you any troubles. I am looking forward to your early reply.
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
