Researchers from the Institute for Human Ma succeeded in training a 165-pound human-like robot, called Atlas, to move across narrow blocks using a system called LIDAR.
At first sight, a robot walking across several blocks may look like a simple thing but many actions that humans can do easily are difficult for robots as heavy as Atlas.
Our joints （关节） and a natural balance system allow us to deal with different obstacles （障碍）easily. Besides, our small, narrow feet allow us to move around tight obstacles easily, or step over obstacles, while supporting ourselves.
With atlas, LIDAR uses a pulsed laser（脉冲激光器）to measure the distance between objects and this is done by the machine so it can step correctly on the blocks. It also builds a map of the area Atlas's going to travel across, and then uses a‘ path planning algorithm（算法）’to determine each step it should take. The robot is able to balance with its human-like feet and joints which give it ranges（范围）of movement.
Presently Atlas is successful with about half of its tests, according to IHMC, but the company is already working to increase that rate by improving the robot's balance and the range of movement in its joints.
Perhaps the most interesting setting for using human-like robots is outer space. The team say that when humans explore other planets, robots like Atlas could go before that to develop a habitat suitable for human beings to live in. But researchers believe they would be immediately useful in dangerous emergency situation. Their ability to walk on different types of land could make them perfect for searching a fallen building or an earthquake for people trapped, where a wheeled robot would get stuck.
1.Why is Atlas' weight mentioned?
A.To show the success of the research. B.To compare Atlas with other robots
C.To make readers interested in the topic. D.To tell how Atlas walks independently.
2.What does Atlas depend on to keep balance?
A.LIDAR. B.Its natural joints.
C.Narrow blocks. D.Its weight.
3.What can we learn about Atlas?
A.It can easily walk across different obstacles. B.It is still under improvement.
C.A pulsed laser decides each step it takes. D.It helps create a map of outer space.
4.What might Atlas do in the distant future?
A.Save lives in dangerous situations. B.Rebuild fallen houses
C.Forecast earthquake. D.Explore possible living space.
When I first met George, I was in my early 30s. My children were just entering school life allowing me to escape from endless housework. At 65, George had recently left work and was seeking a rewarding hobby for his golden years. For both of us, we loved painting and we met at a local TAFE painting class. Thus began a friendship that was to last for 25 years —until the day he died.
George was an energetic man who lived life to the full. He loved his family, his friends, and was loyal and outspoken. As the only male in a painting class full of women, George quite enjoyed it. He ruled the roost（栖息处）and we were his hens. He loved his singular（单一的）role and looked after his hens with the same attention he gave to everything.
He took to painting with passion and devotion. He carefully housed his expensive painting tools a box—a red metal tool box—built to bear hard knocks. Not fancy, but smooth and shiny and very red.
In 2004, I learned that he was very ill and went to visit him. “He's very confused and may not recognize you,” Penny, his daughter, warned. But as I bent over, George opened his eyes —“Bev!” he said, and with surprising strength, held my hand. ”I’ve always been hoping to leave my box to you. I'm afraid I can’t paint anymore, and you have the best talent and are most likely to use it," he said. With tears in my eyes, I accepted the gift on the proviso（附带条件）he could take it back at any time. He never did. He died two days later.
Today I still use much of his equipment kept in the box. As I paint I big personality, generous spirit and unfailing encouragemen. The box is still in good shape, very red. The original shop sticker is still firmly in place although the price has worn off.
But that's all right because to my mind something, like friendship, are beyond price.
1.What does the author focus on in Paragraph 1?
A.Difference in their ages. B.Reasons for their hobby.
C.Beginning of their friendship. D.Time of George's death.
2.How did the author feel about their painting class?
A.It was love-filled. B.It was encouraging. C.It was unequal. D.It was difficult.
3.What does the author intend to do in writing the text?
A.Introduce a close friend. B.Honor the memories of a friend.
C.Prove the importance of a hobby. D.Appreciate her friend’s gife.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Value of Devotion B.A Meaningful Life C.Keys to Friendship D.A Red Box
You have the ability to decide if you are happy or not. Happiness is a choice. You can't on someone else to make you happy.
You can choose your emotions（情感）. True happiness comes from within; it can't be forced by outside forces. So how do you choose happiness? The same way you choose a new pair of shoes. When you're buying new shoes, you choose a pair that you like and feel good. You wouldn't buy a pair of shoes that you don’t like or that don't fit well, right? You choose it because that's what you want to experience in your life. So why do we keep choosing emotions and feelings that don’t make us feel good?
Choosing to be after you realize your anger has shown up can be beneficial. We choose our feelings; no one can do that for us. If we let others influence our emotions, we are giving them power over us. When others cause us anger or pain, we are giving them our power.
We need to keep in check our feelings and not react immediately to what is thrown at us. We need to think our actions out instead of just reacting to what someone says or does.
Remember that we can always choose happiness. At first it will be difficult to just change your thoughts and feelings from anger, self-doubt, or fear to joy and happiness. But it is only a thought away. Don’t be lost in what happens to you unnecessarily but realize what is causing you to feel that way. Realize that thoughts, feelings and emotions can change. Then move on and choose to be happy.
1.How did the author develop her idea in Paragraph 2?
A.By making a comparison. B.By referring to a social problem.
C.By giving reasons. D.By describing her own experience.
2.What does it mean if we choose to be happy rather than angry?
A.We're making others happy B.We're better controlling our feelings.
C.We're getting to know our emotions. D.We’re sharing power with others.
3.Which of the following best explains “keep in check” underlined in Paragraph 4?
A.Express. B.Set down. C.Improve. D.Hold back.
4.What's the main idea of the text?
A.How to choose our feelings. B.Where to find happiness.
C.Making decisions to be cheerful. D.Thinking twice before actions.
Essay
| A Time to Break Silence The Essential Works of Martin Luther King. Jr. for Students King, Martin Luther Book-2013 A Time to Break Silence presents Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most important writings and speeches in a user-friendly way for students. Included are some of his most well-known and frequently taught classic works, like “I Have a Dream, "as well as lesser-known pieces such as “The Sword that Heals", which speak to problems young people face today. |
| A Work in Progress Franta, Connor Book-2015 In this memoir（回忆录）of life beyond the camera, Connor Franta shares the lessons he has learned on his journey from small-town boy to Internet sensation（引起轰动的人）. Exploring his past with humor, his present with humility（谦逊）, and his future with hope, Connor shows his private struggles while providing heartfelt words of wisdom for young adults. |
| Dare Me Devine, Eric Book-2013 When Ben Candido and his friends, Ricky and John, decide to post a YouTube video of themselves surfing on top of a car, they finally feel like the somebodies they are meant to be instead of the social nobodies that they are. Overnight, the video becomes the talk of the school. Every dare brings an increased risk of bodily harm, and the risks become even more complex when a mysterious donor offers money to their dares in exchange for a cut in the online income the videos bring in. |
| How to Make A Wish Blake, Ashley Herring Book-2012 Grace, tough and wise, has nearly given up on wishes, thanks to a childhood spent with her unpredictable, drinks-too-much mother Maggie. Then Grace meets Eva, a girl who believes in dreams in spite of her own difficulties in life. When Eva tells Grace that she likes girls, Grace's world opens up and she begins to believe in happiness again. When Grace must choose between Maggie and Eva, will she give up the future for the life she has? |
1.In which field might A Time to Break Silence help its readers?
A.Job hunting. B.Entertainment. C.Family life. D.Education.
2.Which book may you want to read if you're interested in how one grows to be a success?
A.A Time to Break silence. B.A Work in Progress.
C.Dare Me. D.How to Make a wish.
3.What do Dare Me and How to Make A Wish have in common?
A.They’re both about friendship. B.They both came out in 2017.
C.They both have electronic copies. D.They're both easy to understand.
假定你是李华，你班交换生Jim将要参加“Studying in China” 汉语演讲比赛，来信向你咨询。请你给他写一封邮件，内容包括：
1. 推荐一个演讲话题；
2. 说明推荐的理由；
3. 建议他做哪些准备工作。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 邮件的开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Jim,
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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。作文中共有10处错误，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。
Last month I went to the island of Lesvos in Greece for a holiday with my wife. Strange enough, even though I went there for a rest, I actually worked harder than I had ever done ago. Instead of spending my days on the beach sunbathing and swimming in the sea, I end up helping the locals deal with the endless arrival of refugees, many of them were struggling to get to the beach after their boats had turned over.
Anyway, this holiday turned out to be one of the most unforgettable experience of my life. When I’m alone these days, I am disturbed by the memories of the faces of parents who could not find out their children and the sound of people screamed for help. What the people of Lesvos did help these people, opening their homes to them and sharing the fewer possessions they themselves owned, was absolutely amazing. It was completely touched by the generosity of the people of Lesvos.
