Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new method that doesn't require any special equipment and works in just minutes to create soft, flexible,3D-prnted robots.
The innovation comes from rethinking the way soft robots are built : instead of figuring out how to add soft materials to a rigid robot body, the UC San Diego researcher started with a soft body and added rigid features to key components. The strictures were inspired by insect exoskeletons,which have both soft and rigid parts — the researchers called their creations
“flexoskeletons (柔性外骨骼）”.The new method allows for the construction of soft components for robots in a small bit of the time previously needed and for a small bit of the cost.
“We hope that these flexoskeletons will lead to the creation of a new class of soft robots, ” said Nick Gravish， a mechanical engineering professor at the Jacobs School of Engineering at the UC San Diego and the paper ’ s senior author. “ We want to make soft robots easier to build for researchers all over the world. ”
The new method makes it possible to build large groups of flexoskeleton robots with little hand assembly (装配）as well as assemble a library of Lego-like components so that robot parts can be easily swapped.
Researchers detail their work in the April 7 issue of the journal Soft Robotics. The team plans to make their designs available to researchers at other institutions as well as high schools.
One flexoskeleton component takes 10 minutes to print and costs less than $1. Flexokeleton printing can be done on most low-cost commercially available printers. Printing and assembling a whole robot takes under two hours.
The final goal is to create an assembly line that prints whole flexoskeleton robots without any need for hand assembly. These small robots could do as much work as one massive robot on its own — or more.
1.What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?
A.The origin of the new method.
B.The function of the new method.
C.The advantages of the new method.
D.The cost of the new method.
2.What’s Nick’s attitude towards flexoskeletons?
A.Indifferent. B.Skeptical.
C.Curious. D.Hopeful.
3.What will researchers intend to do with flexoskeletons?
A.Benefit moss students.
B.Produce a lot of flexoskeleton robots.
C.Build robots by hand.
D.Create many larger ones.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A.New Robos Made of Special Equipment and Materials
B.A New Method of Building Giant,Soft and Flexible Robots
C.Flexoskeletons Make Soft Robots Faster and Cheaper to Make
D.Flexoskeletons Create Lots of Soft Robots with Hand Assembly
Legos have been a kind of popular toys for children for more than 60 years. When children get older, boxes of plastic Lego bricks often end up unused and stored in out-of-the-way places around the homes. Parents sometimes end up throwing the Legos away.
Now, the Lego Group toy company is testing a program to make sure the unwanted bricks do not go to waste. The program is called Lego Replay. It aims to make sure the unwanted building blocks continue to make children happy.
Tim Brooks is the Lego company’s vice president of environmental sustainability. He said, "Nearly all Lego bricks we see that are out there have lots more play value in them — multi-generation of play value. It’s a waste of energy and resources to grind them up (碾碎）and make new bricks. ”
Brooks said the idea came from parents who do not know what to do with the old bricks. Placing old Legos in waste containers is not a good answer. Birds and other wildlife may try to eat what looks like Colorful food — with deadly results.
With the Lego Replay program, parents load unwanted Legos of all shapes and colors into boxes. Then, they go to the program website and print out a mailing label. The boxes are sent to processing centers, where the bricks are sorted, cleaned and shipped to aid groups and donation centers.
The Lego Replay test program is set to last through March. If it is successful, the program may be expanded to include other Lego products.
The Lego Group is also looking at other materials to use in their toys. While plastic has proved to be the strongest material, Lego has begun making some bricks out of sugar cane(甘蔗).
1.What’s the main purpose of Lego Replay?
A.To entertain those children without toys.
B.To make unwanted Lego bricks reused.
C.To prevent parents to throw the Legos away.
D.To avoid using unwanted bricks by storing them.
2.Where are unwanted Lego bricks sorted and cleaned according to Lego Replay?
A.At processing centers.
B.At donation centers.
C.On the program website.
D.In the owners’ homes.
3.What does Brooks probably agree with?
A.Lego bricks waste too many resources.
B.Unwanted Lego bricks still have value.
C.We should store old Legos in waste containers.
D.Lego bricks are favorite food of some birds.
4.What does the Lego Group explore according to the last paragraph?
A.More other Lego products.
B.Proper use of plastics.
C.Similar products to sugar cane.
D.New materials of producing bricks.
About 10 years ago,I sat in my office,struggling to write an annual progress report for my leader. I enjoy writing scientific papers that engage my creativity and further my research. But report writing doesn’t come with any reward apart from the momentary satisfaction of finishing something. Like other routine paperwork,I find it hard to get through. So that day,I offered myself a reward : When I finished the report,I'd give myself 2 hours to examine slides (载玻片)under the microscope — a task I've always loved but never had much time for as a staff member. It ’ s a strategy I call " just for fun"，.
The strategy was born out of challenges I experienced in graduate school. I usually delayed putting together reports for university administrators until threatening letters arrived. I never felt that paperwork was advancing my science, but rather sapping my energy and time for research. One of my committee members recognized and understood my difficulties. Then he told me about his strategy of rewarding himself with a fun project when he completed a task that he didn’t particularly enjoy. He advised me to think about doing something similar. I immediately liked the idea.
Over the course of my career，this strategy helped me complete and move past the parts of my job that I didn’t particularly enjoy. The rewards I gave myself provided a way to relax and reminded me why I love being a scientist.
As for that annual report,I spent an ordinary morning on it but got it done. Then I hurried over to the microscope ， eager to inspect a series of slides that my collaborators (合作者) had sent a couple of weeks earlier. To others， it may have looked like work. But to me,it was just for fun.
1.Why does the author dislike report writing?
A.He receives too little from it.
B.It is extremely easy to finish.
C.It needs too much creativity.
D.He doesn’t major in writing.
2.What does the underlined word " sapping" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Acquiring. B.Consuming.
C.Lacking . D.Providing.
3.How did the author get his strategy?
A.Through the inspiration of his report writing.
B.Through the reward of his collaborators.
C.Through the instructions of university administrators.
D.Through a committee member’s suggestion.
4.What can we learn from the author’s experience?
A.Choose a career you really like.
B.Seek fun when doing science research.
C.Motivate yourself to finish boring tasks.
D.Reward yourself with a new strategy.
With summer break coming up for children across the United States，now it 's time to plan a fantastic summer trip for your family.Her are a few of the best places you can take your family to this year and any year for that matter.
Montgomery，Alabama
Montgomery is an important site for learning about the history of the Civil Rights Move-ment. Children with their families can visit the Civil Rights Memorial Center to take a tour of the exhibits and learn about the hopes and dreams and the struggle for equality in the country.
Kenai Peninsula，Alaska
If you are looking for a wonderful outdoor adventure，the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska is a fantastic trip. While visiting this region of Alaska，you can explore the Kenai Mountains in Kenai Fjords(峡湾）National Park，where your kids can see glaciers，fjords and especially the Harding Icefield Fishing is another wonderful activity to enjoy at this destination.
Channel Islands，California
The Channel Islands are an amazing archipelago (群岛）) off the coast of California. Here visitors can enjoy the Channel Islands National Park. The Channel Islands National Park protects five of the islands. Within the protection of the park there is a wide variety of wildlife，as well as natural and cultural resources. You should keep an eye out for seals，sea lions，dolphins,and many more.
Memphis，Tennessee
Memphis is a fantastic destination for families that enjoy music. This city played a great role in the evolution of Blues music. You certainly won't want to miss out on a trip to Graceland while exploring Memphis.The home of Elvis Presley is open to visitors for tours,where you can travel through the life and rise of Elvis.
1.Where can you enjoy exhibitions during your trip?
A.Montgomery. B.Kenai Peninsula.
C.Channel Islands. D.Memphis.
2.What can you do in the Kenai Peninsula?
A.Listen to some music.
B.Explore various wildlife.
C.Try risking outdoors.
D.Watch all kinds of fishes.
3.What’s the main purpose of the text?
A.To give children some instructions.
B.To introduce some trip sites for families.
C.To advertise some famous attractions.
D.To encourage children to learn in summer.
假定你是李华，你校学生会将举办一年一度的“校园美食节”活动，请你作为学生会主席给外教Mr. Johnson写一封邮件，内容包括：
1. 邀请他参加；
2. 介绍美食节情况；
3. 期待回复。
注意：1. 词数100左右。
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3. 开头结尾已经写好，不计收入总词数。
Dear Mr. Johnson,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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。
I am a senior three student and I’m devoted myself to my lessons every day. I dare not waste single minute because I am afraid he will be left behind by others. With much exams to take, I feel nervous. To make matters worse, I have had difficulty in fall asleep since last week. I can’t concentrate myself to the teacher in class, feeling sleepy but tired. Yesterday my parents tell me to have a walk outdoors. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” they said to me. So I followed their advices. I felt more relaxing after some rest. I have decided to take more exercise from today on.
