The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) took place in Las Vegas, US, between 9 and 12 January. The event shows off some of the coolest new inventions that might one day be available to the public.
◆One was a robot to help people around the house. It uses artificial intelligence (AI). The computer can learn from experience and do things with AI.
The robot is designed to control household appliances, keep an eye on pets and even check the safety of the house like a soldier.
◆A smart fridge was made by Samsung. This can tell the differences about 33 food items and suggests recipes that will use up what you have.
◆In video gaming, two companies called Nvidia and Convai used AI to create more natural non-playable characters (NPCs). Usually when you meet a character in a game, what they say to you or how they do will have been decided by the game’s creators. The creators of these new AI characters say they are different now because they can act like a real person.
◆Technology company LG showed a transparent television. It’s wireless (无线的), so it can be put anywhere in a room and because it looks like a piece of glass, it can even be put in front of a window. It also has a screensaver (屏保) that can play relaxing pictures, such as fish swimming around in a tank.
◆Finally, for children, the Droyd Venym electric scooter board (滑板车) is basically a seat, low to the ground, with legs and four wheels that you control with handles. Its top speed is three miles per hour.
Some people may worry about how AI might affect their lives. If AI can create images, music and text, one day artists, musicians and writers could be replaced. To my understanding, AI still shows a bright future and aims to create comfortable lives. It helps us study lots of information and work out what is likely to happen next. It depends on how you use this new technology.
1. How many inventions are mentioned in the above passage?| A．Four. | B．Five. | C．Six. | D．Seven. |
| A．The robot can look after the babies. |
| B．The fridge can cook by using up what you have. |
| C．The scooter board can run at a speed of three meters. |
| D．The NPCs can talk with you like a human. |
| A．Positive. | B．Uncertain. | C．Negative. | D．Disappointed |
| A．The Use of AI Products | B．AI Makes People Worried |
| C．New Robots Made by CES | D．AI Inventions, In or Out? |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】We’ve all heard of smart phones, but how about smart clothing? A company called Cute Circuit has developed new football shirts for football fans. They can help deaf football fans to “feel” the atmosphere (气氛) of the stadium (运动场) during a game.
People who have hearing problems can’t listen to music as normal people do but they can feel it. Sound is made up of microphone vibrations. Deaf people can feel vibrations with the help of some part of the brain which normal people use for hearing.
How does this amazing shirt work? Cute Circuit sets microphones around Newcastle United stadium to receive the sound of the people cheering and singing. A computer program analyses (分析) the sounds picked up and changes them into data (数据). Then it will be sent to the football shirts. Little motors (发动机) inside the shirts would vibrate. Finally, the wearer will feel the sounds of the people.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing people can also use the shirts to feel live music in the concert. The very deep musical sounds of instruments like drums and basses vibrate close to the stomach. Higher sounds from instruments like the violin, the guitar or the dizi vibrate higher around the neck and arms. Besides, the shirts can be used to feel sounds while playing video games.
The football shirts were used for the first time at St James’ Park, Newcastle United stadium, on April13th. They will be available for deaf or hard-of-hearing fans at all Newcastle matches that are played at the stadium from now on.
| A．famous musicians | B．football players | C．blind children | D．deaf fans |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
| A．the violin | B．the drums | C．the dizi | D．the guitar |
| A．The shirts cannot be worn to feel the music in the concert. |
| B．Deaf people can feel the vibrations with some part of cars. |
| C．The new shirts are only available for hard- of- hearing fans. |
| D．The shirts can be used to feel the sounds of video games. |
| A．show his strong love for football | B．introduce a kind of smart clothing |
| C．encourage people to play football | D．advise people to buy football shirts |
【推荐2】YOUNG INVENTOR（发明家）COMPETITION
What you need to do is easy. Come up with an idea for a future invention（发明）that will help people in their everyday lives and draw a picture of it. It could be anything from a robot to a machine.
Think big and get creative! The aim（目标）is to design（设计）something that is fun as well as helpful. Think about what the future might look like and what would make life easier and more enjoyable. Why not give your invention a name, too?
| Who can enter? Anyone aged between 9 and 16 can join in our competition. If you enter as a team, your team should have 3 members at most. |
| How to enter? Send a picture of your invention to prize@noisycrow. com between January 1st and February 1st, 2022. |
| WIN! You could win a book card and a robot friend, a Wonder Workshop Dash Robot! |
| Got a question? CLICK HERE |
| A．Mike, aged 9; Toby, aged 8. |
| B．Linda, aged 15; Susan, aged 17. |
| C．Dave, aged 12; John, aged 13; Lucy, aged 14. |
| D．Jenny, aged 10; Kate, aged 10; Alan, aged 16; Bill, aged 16. |
| A．A picture and a robot. | B．A machine and a picture. |
| C．A book card and a machine. | D．A robot and a book card. |
| A．Your invention must be about robots. |
| B．You’d better give your invention a name. |
| C．You can call them if you have any questions. |
| D．You should send your picture before February 22nd. |
【推荐3】Do you ever find yourself standing in front of rubbish bins, not sure whether the piece of waste in your hand is recyclable or not? To solve this problem, four Hong Kong high school students have invented a smart rubbish bin that uses the camera system to sort the waste. The students named the bin Waste Collection Point.
Connected to a computer, the bin uses a camera to tell the kind of the waste it receives and sorts it into plastic, paper, glass, or other kinds. To make sure the bin can sort waste correctly, the team tested every product in the school shop and took at least 500 pictures of each one. “To train the camera system, we had to take many photos from different angles, so it has a better rate of accuracy,” said one of the students.
The idea of the smart bin was born two years ago, when the students were in Grade Ten. At that time, people from the city crowded into their village because of the terrible disease. They left behind a lot of rubbish and caused more pollution.
“All the bins were full, and there was even rubbish on the mountain,” the students recalled, “Every weekend, we had to join the villagers in picking up the waste.”
The students decided to develop a special recycling bin that would encourage people to protect the environment. Although school ended at 2 p. m., the team would continue to work on their invention until 6 or 7 p. m. at school. Even when their school was closed last year, they would still meet and work together online.
“Our bin is now in its third generation. Before graduation, we hope it can be widely used in the city.” The students said, “Then it will be easier than ever for people to recycle and protect our environment.”
1. According to the first paragraph we know the ________ of Waste Collection Point.| A．price | B．size | C．use | D．colour |
| A．精准度 | B．参与 | C．知名度 | D．熟练度 |
| A．the hit of the terrible disease | B．villagers’ encouragement |
| C．testing every product | D．rubbish caused pollution |
| A．four young inventors | B．a new invention |
| C．the rubbish problem | D．saving the earth |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
【推荐1】①Imagine this: you and your friend are on a video call. He or she picks up a book, and you feel like you’re holding the book as well. You can shake hands or give your friend a high five, even though you’re apart.
②A pair of special gloves might make this a reality. Researchers at the University of New South Wales, Australia, have made gloves that can recreate the sense of touch. They call this haptic device a “soft skin stretch device SSD.”
③The SSD works like this: One user’s gloves create 3D force signals when they touch something. The signals are sent to the other user’s gloves, which vibrate to create the same vibration that the first user is experiencing. This allows the second user to experience the same sense of touch. “It is like wearing a second skin,” said Thanh NhoDo, one of the researchers who created the gloves.
④Now, haptic technology is already being used in life. It is used in medical practice. Two doctors in separate places could work together during an operation-one touches the patient’s body with the SSD while the other doctor feels the same sensation and completes the actual operation.
⑤It is also used in military training. Imaging a soldier who stays at home can also finish the training—One soldier can hold a gun with SSD while the other soldier feels the same sense of touch and then finishes the real training.
⑥“However, it is difficult to recreate the sense of touch in some environments. We still have a long way to go in the future,” said by Mai Thanh Thai, lead researcher of the SSD project.
1. Even though you and your friend are apart, you can give your friend a high five through _______.| A．a pair of special gloves |
| B．a computer hard drive |
| C．a video chat app |
| D．a magic book |
| A．already being widely used |
| B．only used by Australians |
| C．too expensive to be used |
| D．still in need of improvement |
| A．①/②③④/⑤⑥ |
| B．①②/③④⑤/⑥ |
| C．①/②③④⑤/⑥ |
| D．①②/③④/⑤⑥ |
| A．SSD-AHelper In Life |
| B．SSD-ATrainer In the Army |
| C．SSD-Making Your Dreams Realized |
| D．SSD-Making Your Sense of Touch Shared |
【推荐2】ChatGPT is a smart AI chatbot tool.
Developed by US company OpenAI, ChatGPT is a powerful tool.You can ask it to write stories and emails, create recipes, translate languages.
Some schools in the US, Australia and France don’t allow the use of ChatGPT. In the US, for example, schools order students not to use ChatGPT on the district’s networks and devices(设备).
The move comes out of worries that the tool could make it easier for students to cheat on schoolwork.
| A．It is not right to stop using ChatGPT. |
| B．It can even answer all kinds of questions. |
| C．However, not all educators say “no” to ChatGPT. |
| D．In the past months, it has swept the education world. |
| E．Some also worry it does not help build problem-solving skills. |
| F．Teachers are making changes to their classes to stop ChatGPT from being used. |
【推荐3】Jason lost his eyesight after a car accident. He never thought he would be able to see light or movement again. But now with the movement of a switch, his world suddenly grows brighter. It is not full or normal sight, but Jason can experience the world around him.
The new technology uses several parts. One is a small device(装置) placed in the brain. The other parts are a video camera on sunglasses and a video processor(处理器) that can be carried in a person’s clothes. When the user points the camera, a signal goes to the processor and then back to the glasses. The glasses then communicate wirelessly with the device in the brain. The information causes a pattern(模式) to develop in the brain. The pattern helps users sense movement and shapes of light. Basically the video camera and the video processor perform the functions of what the eye normally does. And it all happens in seconds.
Jason is one of just two people in the U. S. testing this technology. He describes what he sees. “There’s little white dots on a black background. It’s like looking up at the stars at night. It was just amazing to have some form of eyesight again.”
He adds that now he can do everyday activities around his home that he once could not. It is easier to walk outside. “Crossing the road is much easier and much safer for me because I can look down and just follow the white line that’s painted on the road.”
The researchers believe that one day this technology could help people who have lost their eyesight because of illnesses. It may also help those with poor eyesight or who were born blind.
1. Which of the following is true about Jason?| A．He was born blind. | B．He can now see as clearly as before. |
| C．He can now sense light and movement. | D．He was confident about being able to see again. |
| A．to carry five devices with him | B．to learn to take photos in the street |
| C．to receive a small operation on his head | D．to communicate with the device in the brain. |
| A．表现 | B．结构 | C．目的 | D．功能 |
| A．protects him from car accidents | B．helps him become independent |
| C．teaches him about everyday activities | D．gives him more time to be alone |
| A．Blind Man Given a Chance to See | B．A New Device Helps Eye Doctors |
| C．Development of a New Technology | D．To Experience the World Around You |
【推荐1】How green are you? Do you know how to be green?
We all need a healthy environment, but we produce waste every day and it does harm to our environment. Though we are young, we can still do something to help. In fact, even the simplest everyday activities can make a real difference to the environment. Here are some ideas for you.
Reduce
Reduce means “use less”. Don’t waste things. This saves money and reduces pollution and waste going into the environment. Before we buy something new, think whether it is really necessary—or maybe the old one will be just as good! When we do buy things, choose local products if possible, and try not to buy too many things from abroad.
Reuse
Reuse means “use again”. Use things for as long as possible. When we buy things, make sure that they last a long time. We should look after them so that they will last, and we should repair them if we can instead of throwing them away and buying new ones. Don’t use a paper cup of a paper bag. It’s better to use a china cup and a lunch box because you can use them again.
Recycle
Recycle means “change things into something else”. Though it takes energy to change something into something else, it’s better than throwing things away or burning them. Find out what can be recycled in your neighborhood and take part in recycling programs. We should also buy products made from recycled materials, such as recycled paper, to help save trees.
So please remember these three words: reduce, reuse and recycle.
1. What is the passage about?| A．How to produce things. |
| B．How to burn things. |
| C．How to be green. |
| A．Don’t waste things. |
| B．Always throw away old things. |
| C．Always buy new things. |
| A．You can burn them. |
| B．You can use them again. |
| C．You can throw them away. |
| A．waste, reuse and recycle |
| B．repair, burn and recycle |
| C．reduce, reuse and recycle |
| A．a magazine | B．a dictionary | C．a storybook |
Indoor plants might look as if they just sit around not doing much, but in many ways they are the unknown heroes of the home. Not only do they look beautiful, but studies have shown that they can increase people’s happiness by improving their mood (情绪), reducing stress and helping their memory. What’s more, indoor plants are easy to look after and are not very expensive.
Indoor plants, also known as houseplants or pot plants, are plants that like to grow indoors. For many of these plants, they are not good to be grown outside in the UK, especially in the winter. Instead, they grow better inside, where it is warmer. So they are easy to be looked after.
“There are many benefits to growing plants indoors. I find that during the winter months, plants around the house can really lift your mood,”Botanic Gardens, who works at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, in London, told The Week Junior. There is also a research showing that pot plants can clean the air around them by removing harmful chemical from paints or cooking, as well as CO2.
Most indoor plants are very cheap. You can buy them from supermarkets, plants garden centers or online. Younger plants are often cheaper than fully grown ones, and you get to care for them as they mature(成熟)—which is part of the joy of growing plants. Learning about how to plant can be very meaningful. It can bring a new interest and draw more attention to people’s lives and help to bridge the gap between home and nature.
1. According to Paragraph 1, indoor plants can increase people’s happiness by ________.① reducing people’s stress ② protecting people’s eyes
③ improving people’s mood ④ helping people’s memory
| A．①②③ | B．①②④ | C．②③④ | D．①③④ |
| A．Chances. | B．Skills. | C．Advantages. | D．Ways. |
A．  | B．  | C．  | D． |
| A．How to Grow Plants | B．Bring Nature Indoors |
| C．The Methods of Planting | D．Outdoor and Indoor Plants |
June 5 is World Environment Day. Nowadays more and more people are trying different kinds of ways to face environmental problems around the world. What are people doing to protect our home—the earth?
Most people are changing their shopping habits. On the one hand, secondhand clothes may be a smart choice. People are willing to buy the secondhand ones to wear in special situations because they only wear them once or twice. On the other hand, there are some companies for renting (租) clothes and renting clothes is cheaper than buying them. So people are able to save money and protect the environment.
Several large companies have begun developing paper bottles to take the place of glass and plastic ones because there are lots of customers worrying about the environment. They think paper bottles have many advantages. The most important is that paper bottles are easy to recycle and weigh less than glass or plastic ones as well.
A zero-waste life is that people hardly create any rubbish. A zero-waste theme store provides a number of everyday, practical and pleasant zero-waste products. The store helps people start on a one-stop, zero-waste life journey. A zero-waste life follows the 6R principle (原则)—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle and Rot.
All in all, the earth is our home and it’s our duty to protect it.
1. Few people around the world are trying different kinds of ways to face the environmental problems.2. In order to save money and protect the environment，people can not only buy second-hand clothes but also rent clothes.
3. Lots of companies have developed paper bottles successfully and put them into use.
4. People can buy many everyday, practical and pleasant zero-waste things in every store.
