【推荐2】In Mountain View, California, there’s a new pizza shop — Zume Pizza. It has robots and algorithms(计算程序) running the shop. Their job is to solve a familiar problem: it’s football night and you order a ham and mushroom pizza for you and your friends. It arrives later than you’d hoped and it’s cold.

Zume co-founder Julia Collins says, “Pizza is not meant to sit in a cardboard box. The best pizza comes right out of the oven.”

In reality, people tend to order pizzas instead of eating them in a restaurant. Most pizzas are delivered in a cardboard box and are not hot when they arrive, so they don’t taste that good. Zume’s solution is a delivery truck which is equipped with 56 mini-ovens.

Here’s how it works. A customer places an order on the app. Inside the Zume factory, a team of mostly robots puts the 14-inch pizza into its own oven. Whether the truck has five pizzas or 56, it needs just one human worker — to drive and deliver them to your doorstep.

“She doesn’t have to think about when to turn the ovens on or off,” Collins says. “She doesn’t have to think about what route to take or whom to go to first. All of that is controlled by our algorithm.” Four minutes before the truck is scheduled to arrive at a doorstep, the algorithm starts the oven(or ovens) to finish cooking that order. Each pizza is then put into a special pizza box, which is not made of cardboard. The driver then parks, cuts the pizza with a special knife and delivers it hot.

When you call a pizza store and are told “It’ll take an hour,” you hang up and it doesn’t get your business. Because Zume is run mostly by robots, it doesn’t have that problem. This week, Zume is beginning to use trucks to deliver to real customers in Mountain View.

1. Which pizza tastes best, according to the text?

A．One that is made by a factory.

B．One that is right out of the oven.

C．One that is delivered to your home.

D．One that is packed in a cardboard box.

2. How does a customer order a pizza from Zume?

A．By making a call.	B．By using an app.
C．By contacting some robots.	D．By stopping a delivery truck.

3. What does the underlined word, “it”, in the last paragraph refer to?

A．Zume Pizza.	B．The truck.
C．The robot.	D．The pizza factory.

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A．The Most Popular Pizza Shop	B．An Advanced Delivery System
C．How to Make Pizza More Delicious	D．Robots Guarantee Better Pizza

【推荐3】Teachers say that the digital age has had a good influence and a not-so-good influence on American teenagers. More than 2,000 middle school teachers took an online survey. Researchers also spoke with teachers in some groups. Most teachers think the Internet and digital search tools have had a mostly positive (积极的) influence on their students’ research habits and skills. But at the same time, some teachers also point out some problems in teenagers’ using digital search tools.

The Pew Internet Project did the survey with the College Board and the National Writing Project. Judy Buchanan is the director of the National Writing Project and a co-writer of the report. She says digital search tools are helping students learn more, and learn faster. “Both teachers and students really welcome these tools because they make learning exciting. And the goal（目的）is to really help students become creators of something meaningful, and not just users of the online information.”

But one problem the survey found is that these technologies make teenagers have short attention spans (持续时间). As there is lots of information about different subjects on the Internet, teenagers’ attention is easily drawn away from their research.

Another problem the survey found is that many students trust the information they find on the Internet too much. Judy Buchanan says these students have not developed the skills to judge (判断) the online information. They need to learn a lot to tell if the information is believable. It’s something that really has to be paid attention to.

One more problem the survey found is something that might not seem like a problem at all: being able to quickly find information online. Many students think “doing research” now means just doing a quick search on Google. Teachers say the result is a drop in the wish and ability of their students to work hard to find answers. That is, they are depending too much on search engines and do not make enough use of printed books or research librarians.

Many teachers also say that the Internet makes it easy for students to copy work done by others instead of using their own abilities.

1. The result of the survey shows ________.

A．digital search tools need to be greatly improved

B．digital search tools are generally good for teenagers

C．teenagers have difficulty in using digital search tools

D．American teachers enjoy using digital search tools

2. Using digital search tools makes teenagers ________.

A．less trusting of online information

B．more independent in doing research

C．more willing to work hard to find answers

D．less able to pay full attention while searching

3. To do better in research, teenagers should ________.

A．spend more time searching online

B．ask their teachers for more advice

C．make better use of printed materials

D．learn more knowledge of search tools

4. The passage mainly tells us ________.

A．all the students like using digital tools

B．the Internet is playing an important role

C．teachers encourage their students to use digital tools

D．digital tools bring about something helpful and problems

【推荐1】As anyone who freelances (做自由职业) knows, there are lots of advantages of working at home alone. But there are drawbacks too, like the potential loneliness. No wonder co-working spaces are becoming so popular, they permit self-employed individuals to feel like they are part of all office environment, while making them get some work done too. But renting a co-working space does cost money.

Now a Swedish project is aiming to change that by turning people’s under-used homes into temporary co-working spaces, available to freelancers for free. Hoffice was started by freelancers Christofer Gradin Franzen and Johline Zandra about a year ago in Stockholm when they invited a few people into their home office to work together. It was a great success, and the project has since spread to a number of cities in Europe, North and South America, Australia, India and Japan. Anyone can sign up and offer their home space as a free co-working space, or go find a Hoffice near them.

On a Hoffice day, everyone arrives and starts work at a certain hour. After 45 minutes，everyone gets up to take a break, stretch, do qigong or yoga for 10 to 15 minutes. Afterwards，people can gather around again, and re-state their intentions and goals for the rest of the work day, as a way to motivate each other. Meals can be eaten together at a certain hour, potluck-style (家常饭) or by bringing their own lunch.

This process creates an encouraging and supportive work environment. As some freelancers describe, “By working at Hoffice, we give ourselves and each other the gift to spend our days in a social working environment, where we are extremely productive without ignoring our other human needs. We also make sure to give ourselves and each other what we need to feel calm, happy, inspired and creative during the working day.”

So Hoffice is not just about sharing space; it’s also about a free exchange of ideas. And perhaps the best thing is that Hoffices are free to use.

1. Hoffice was started to________.

A．change people’s attitude to work	B．encourage people to be more social
C．provide a co-working space for free	D．improve people’s working conditions

2. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3？

A．How a Hoffice day works.	B．How people respond to Hoffice.
C．What people share at Hoffice.	D．What Hoffice means to people.

3. Some freelancers’ descriptions of Hoffice suggest that they________.

A．work longer than before	B．benefit a lot from the working style
C．expect more people to join them	D．can’t be separated from each other

4. What do we know about Hoffice according to the text?

A．It is suitable for people from all walks of life.

B．It has created many new job opportunities.

C．It has been around for quite a few years.

D．It is becoming increasingly popular.

【推荐2】In the near future, IoT (Internet of Things) will drive huge innovation (革新) in the way our food is grown. Plants will have a “voice”, not a human voice, but a voice based on data that can tell people, computers, and machines when, for example, they are thirsty, or need more sun, medicine, etc.

Take vertical (垂直的) farms, for example. Farming is moving indoors where the growth of plants can be monitored and controlled. The facilities are built vertically, so growing areas can be put in piles. This greatly reduces the amount of land needed for farming.

From an IoT point of view, vertical farms are connected in two ways. First, small sensors (传感器) in the soil or connected to plants tell a control system exactly how much light, water, and nutrients are needed to grow the healthiest crops. Sensors will also tell vertical farmers when crops are nearing their peak for harvesting at just the right time to make sure it’s still fresh when it reaches its final destination.

Second, vertical farms will be connected to other networks and information systems, including databases that track local demand. For example, local restaurants may input when they need fresh food supplies. And vertical farmers could get that information so they know which crops to grow in what quantities. This type of IoT system would have been unimaginable a generation ago.

Today, vertical farms are being experimented. Yet, the numbers point to a bright future for the industry, especially as the world’s population continues to grow. For example, Green Sense Farms in Chicago is able to harvest crops 26 times a year using 85 percent less energy, one-tenth the water, and no pesticides. A side benefit of lower energy use is lower CO₂ output of two tons per month, with the added benefit of creating 46 pounds of oxygen every day.

1. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Voice machines help plants speak up.

B．Farmers are all turning to vertical farming.

C．IoT has brought great innovation to our future life.

D．Vertical farms driven by IoT are a future for agriculture.

2. How do sensors attached to plants work?

A．By recording farmers harvesting crops.

B．By monitoring farmers working their fields.

C．By analyzing information to preserve crops.

D．By passing information on to a control system.

3. According to Paragraph 4, the IoT system can help ________.

A．expand the output of crops	B．match supply with demand
C．determine the needs of farmers	D．move restaurants onto farms

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the future of vertical farming?

A．Negative.

B．Indifferent.

C．Optimistic.

D．Doubtful.

【推荐3】The Google Brain team has been working on computing systems called “neural networks”—systems that were designed based on how neurons work in the human brain.

This time, they gave a mission to three of the neural networks, which they named Alice, Bob and Eve. Each of the networks had its own job—Alice sent messages to Bob, Eve tried to “eavesdrop”(偷听) and find out the messages, and Alice and Bob had to figure out a way to hide the messages from Eve. All the help that Alice and Bob got from the researchers before the mission began was made up of a set of numbers, which Eve didn’t have access                    to.

At first, Alice was not very good at sending secret messages. But slowly it worked on a way to encrypt(加密) them—putting information into a special code so that others could not understand it if they got the information—using he numbers given by researchers. And after practice, Bob also came to be able to decrypt(解密) Alice’s messages. Without the numbers or keys, Eve failed to understand Alice’s “speech” most of the time.

This test is considered a big step in the development of computers’ learning skills. “Computing with neural networks on this scale has only become possible in the last few years, so we truly are at the beginning of what’s possible, ” Joe Sturonas of US encryption company PKWARE told New Scientist magazine.

Unfortunately, the test happened only one week after UK physicist Stephen Hawking, While speaking at Cambridge University, warned how AI(artificial intelligence)could develop a will of its own. This could be “either the best or the worst thing ever to happen to human being”, he said.

But just as Sturonas pointed out, no matter what the possibilities of computers are in the future, they are just starting out. We still have plenty of time to work out a solution before they get anywhere near becoming a threat to humanity.

1. For what purpose was the test conducted?

A．To study how neurons work in the human brain.

B．To study how computing systems work and learn.

C．To find out a more effective way to keep secrets.

D．To find out a more powerful way to break the codes.

2. How does the computing system work in the test?

A．encrypting—messages—code—messages—decrypting

B．messages—encrypting—code—decrypting—messages

C．code—messages—encrypt—decrypting—messages

D．messages—code—decrypting—encrypting—messages

3. What can we learn from Hawking’s warning?

A．AI must be a blessing.	B．AI should be forbidden.
C．AI is sure to be a failure.	D．AI is a double-edged sword.

4. What’s Sturonas attitude towards the development of AI?

A．Hopeful.	B．Doubtful.
C．Puzzled.	D．Panicked.

【推荐1】Radio newsreaders and television hosts at Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE are very angry at being told to pronounce words according to the Queen’s English.

A report in The Irish Sun newspaper says that RTE’s workers have been given an A-Z style guide of words which instructs them on how to pronounce certain words in an effort to make sure they are clearly understood. The A-Z comes with videos containing lessons of how to “properly” pronounce the “problem” words. An official at RTE told the Irish Sun that producers gave the guide to keep up standards. “The guide is there for anyone who needs it.” he said, “RTE often get letters from the public over how certain words were mispronounced. The word ‘issue’ is a big one at the moment, people don’t like how it’s pronounced. There is an expectation that as the national broadcaster we are correct.”

However, Irish linguistics expert Professor Raymond Hickey called the RTE’s actions “internalized colonialism (内化殖民主义)”. He expressed his disbelief that Irish speakers were being asked to use words with an English accent. He said: “The basic problem is RTE expects its workers to speak as if they were English. Why? We have our own form of English, which is different but fully reasonable and accepted worldwide.” Professor Hickey specially talked of some examples of the words Irish hosts are being asked to pronounce with a British English accent. He said: “The Irish don’t pronounce the TH [in ‘birthday’] as a fricative, but as a stop with no breath…The same is true of ‘news’ — the Irish pronunciation is and always has been ‘nooze’.”

1. When told to speak the Queen’s English, RTE’s newsreaders and hosts showed great ________.

A．anger	B．interest
C．expectation	D．disbelief

2. Why did RTE provide its workers with an A-Z style guide?

A．Because some newsreaders and hosts were angry.

B．Because the workers expressed the need clearly.

C．Because it expected the workers to speak in the British way.

D．Because they often make mistakes when reading the letters

3. The official at RTE mentioned the letters from the public ______.

A．to make sure the guide is clearly understood

B．to explain why RET needed to take actions

C．to show how some words are mispronounced

D．to show how difficult it is to be a host

4. In Hickey’s opinion, the Irish way of the word “news” is ________.

A．internalized colonialism

B．to be changed into the Queen’s English

C．reasonable and accepted

D．the same as the British way

【推荐1】International pressure may be the only way to stop the Brazilian government from taking a “suicide” path in the Amazon, one of the country’s most respected scientists has said, as the world’s biggest rainforest continues to be destroyed by thousands of deliberate fires.

The large number of fires — set illegally to clear and prepare land for crops, cattle and buildings– has resulted in the state of Amazonas to declare an emergency, created heavy smoke clouds that have drifted hundreds of miles, and raised international concerns about the destruction of a carbon sink, which refers to the use of plant photosynthesis (光合作用) to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

On Wednesday, the UK trade minister Conor Burns was shaking hands with his counterparts in Brasilia and declaring a desire to “deepen relations”. Asked about the fires, he declined to comment but reportedly said Bolsonaro’s government had ambitions to bring prosperity to its people.

Scientists say the ongoing destruction will have serious consequences for Brazil and the world.

Carlos Nobre, a senior researcher with the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo, said the increase in cutting down forests was taking the rainforest closer to a tipping point beyond which the usually humid forest would become an extremely dry place, with serious consequences for the climate, wildlife and forest creatures.

Nobre said destruction of forests was on course to rise by 20-30% this year and was “very likely” to pass 10,000 sq km for the first time in more than 10 years. The trend has been worsening for several years, but it has accelerated under Bolsonaro, who has weakened the environment agency and expressed support for miners, farmers and loggers.

“The situation is very bad. It will be terrible,” Nobre told the Guardian. “A very large number of these fires are due to the cultural push that ministers are giving. They are pushing deforestation because it is good for the economy. Those who do illegal deforestation are feeling empowered.”

1. What is the attitude of Nobre towards the Bolsonaro’s government in handling the fires?

A．Approval.	B．Indifferent.
C．Enthusiastic.	D．Negative.

2. What is the main cause of Amazon fires according to the passage?

A．Global warming.	B．The dry weather.
C．Fires set illegally to clear and prepare land.	D．The carelessness of farmers.

3. What does the underlined word “deforestation” in the passage mean?

A．destroying the land of the forest	B．planting more trees
C．protecting the forest	D．cutting down or burning the trees in an area

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Big Fires	B．Deforestation
C．The lungs of the earth are burning	D．Amazon Rainforest

【推荐2】Triple Olympic and world sprint（短跑） champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica said on Monday he expects years of fast feats to ease doping doubts in athletics and has no plans to play American football.

Appearing on ESPN programs and in light-hearted races outside the television sport network's studios, Bolt said he feels he must prove himself to a skeptical sports world in the wake of past doping scandals（诽谤）.

"I have to prove myself to the world that you can run fast without it," Bolt said.

Bolt cited the speeds he and countryman Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay have achieved without positive doping tests.

"We just （have to） continue to run fast," Bolt said．"In a couple of years everyone will continue to watch again and have less doubts."

Bolt won gold in the 100m, 200 and 4x100 relay in world record times at last year's Beijing Olympics and last month in Berlin set world records of 9.58 seconds in the 100 and 19.19 in the 200 and helped a relay title in a World Championships treble.

"I want to be a legend in the sport．For me it's all a focus on winning championships after championships," Bolt said.

"I don't consider myself a legend．When I defend my titles I will consider myself a legend."

Bolt's defending of World and Olympic gold should be the feature attraction of the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, and the 2012 London Olympics.

1. Why does Usain Bolt say that he has no plans to play American football?

A．Because he wants to ease doping doubts in athletics.

B．Because he wants to show his fast feats.

C．Because he is doubted by some people.

D．Because he runs fastest in the world．

2. How many times did Usain Bolt break the world records?

A．three times．	B．four times．
C．five times．	D．eight times．

3. What does the passage mainly tell us?

A．Usain Bolt plans years of fast feats to ease doping doubts.

B．Usain Bolt is doubted for his athletics.

C．Usain Bolt set world records again in Berlin last month.

D．Usain Bolt wants to a legend in the sport.

4. The passage can be read ___________.

A．on TV	B．on the Internet
C．in a book	D．in a newspaper.

【推荐3】As a greenhouse gas,carbon dioxide-or CO2-helps warm the atmosphere. But too much of that gas has been driving an atmospheric fever. Recently, a team of researchers found a way to turn CO2 into a useful product. The researchers are turning CO2 into ethanol(乙醇) which is often added to gasoline. Although adding ethanol reduces the energy in gasoline, it offers a nice tradeoff: it helps gasoline burn more cleanly. So making ethanol from CO2 would be better for the environment.

To do that, the researchers developed a brand-new catalyst(催化剂)which could accelerate the chemical reaction. With it, the voltage(电压)needed to start the new CO2-to-ethanol reaction is far less than what's needed to start similar reactions. And although chemical reactions often make many unwanted byproducts, this new one does not. More than 90 percent of the final product is ethanol.

The new catalyst uses a bed of carbon to support copper atoms(铜原子).Those copper atoms are spread out. When electricity runs through the catalyst,copper atoms join up, forming groups of 3 or 4 atoms. By firing powerful X-rays at them, the research team could “monitor the chemical reaction as it happens”. Those atom groups activate the catalyst, helping the CO2 react with water. The CO2 now divides into carbon and oxygen atoms. And the water divides into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. All of these freed atoms now rearrange themselves to form ethanol.

Although many scientists describe the new process as “very cool”, they are still a bit skeptical. “A closer look at the reaction is needed,” chemist Anna Klinkova says. “It could be more complex than what is presented.” The researchers are continuing to experiment with the new process. They also hope to make other useful materials from carbon dioxide. “That's why the new study isn't a final step,” a researcher says. “This is just the beginning of this long research journey. ”

1. Why is ethanol added to gasoline?

A．To make driving less costly.

B．To turn CO2 into clean energy.

C．To reduce the gasoline consumption.

D．To lessen the harm of gasoline burning.

2. What's the advantage of the new catalyst?

A．It gives off little CO2.

B．It is environment-friendly.

C．It increases the output rate.

D．It lowers the voltage in the reaction.

3. How can researchers observe the reaction process?

A．By using X-rays.

B．By dividing CO2.

C．By joining up copper atoms.

D．By rearranging the atoms in CO2.

4. What's Anna Klinkova's attitude to the new process?

A．Supportive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Negative.

D．Particular.