Researchers in Japan have installed (安装) on a train a speaker that barks like a dog and snorts like a deer in order to prevent collisions with animals on the tracks.
The country has been troubled by a problem with trains colliding with deer on its railways. According to Japan’s transport ministry, there were 613 cases of train services delayed for at least 30 minutes resulting from collisions with deer and other wild animals in 2018-19.
Deer are attracted to railway lines because of a need for iron in their diets. They lick (舔) the rails to pick up iron filings caused by the action of wheels against tracks. This dietary need has led to a constant battle to keep the deer separate from the danger of a fast-moving train. In the past, flashing red lights and even lion faces have been unsuccessfully trialed in an attempt to keep deer off the tracks.
This new device has been invented by a team at the country’s Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRD). RTRI officials explain that deer have a habit of repeatedly snorting short, shrill sounds to warn other deer when they sense danger. The barking of the hunting dog, which drives deer to panic, strengthens the effect of the warning noise, according to the RTRI. When the deer hear a combination of a 3-second-long recording of a deer’s snort and 20 seconds of a barking dog, they panic and flee rapidly.
RTRI researchers say late-night tests, at times when deer are most frequently seen by railway tracks, have resulted in a 45 percent reduction of deer sighting. Future plans include still barking sites where deer are commonly seen, but the unpleasant noises will not be so loud in areas where people live beside the tracks.
1. Why are deer attracted to train tracks?| A．To get close to the passing trail. | B．To get nutrition from train tracks. |
| C．To hunt for food near the train tracks. | D．To gather together at night near railways. |
| A．Robots. | B．Hunting dogs. |
| C．Lion face paintings. | D．Specially designed tracks. |
| A．Its inventors drew inspiration from deer’s habit. |
| B．It will be put to use in areas where deer appear. |
| C．It will affect people who live beside the track. |
| D．It has decreased more than half of deer sighting. |
| A．A dietary habit of deer. |
| B．A traffic problem caused by deer. |
| C．A battle between human and animals. |
| D．An invention designed to keep deer off the tracks. |
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【推荐1】If you could sail around the world with only one companion, who would you choose? Guirec Soudee, a 24-year-old man from France, chose his pet chicken.
Soudee has been sailing around the world for two years. No matter which country he sails to, Monique, the hen, is by his side. He found her in the Canary Islands and knew right away they were meant to be best companions. “I didn’t speak any Spanish and she didn’t speak any French, however, we could always have a small talk, even though she didn’t understand me.” Soudee joked.
He had always wanted a companion for his journey and originally thought about bringing a cat, before deciding it would be too much work to look after on a boat. Upon meeting Monique, Soudee realized a hen was the perfect choice. He believed they could communicate with each other well.
Not only does it cost little to raise Monique, but she lays eggs as well — some things that are always a plus in a situation where storing a lot of food can be a challenge. She lays about six eggs a week on average, even in cold climates like Greenland, where Soudee and Monique are docked(进港) now.
And what happens when the weather at sea gets bad? Usually Soudee lets Monique stay freely on the boat, but when the winds get terrible he ensures she is safe in her hutch so that she doesn’t fall out of his boat and into the sea. Another thing Soudee must care for is the rule in every country he visits. They had met with customs officials in Canada. He was permitted to keep her, but he knows they might not always be so lucky.
Although Monique can sometimes get on his nerves, Soudee says she ’ s much better than a human companion aboard. “She follows me everywhere. All I need to do is shout ‘Monique!’ and she will come to me, sit on me, listen to my small talk and give me company,” he said.
After visiting Greenland, they’ll head down the Bering Strait to Nome, Alaska. From there the destination is undecided, but Soudee will certainly discuss where they should travel to next with Monique.
1. What is so special about Soudee’s sailing around the world?| A．He sails with a pet friend for company. |
| B．He sails around the world for just two years. |
| C．He had no difficulty communicating with anyone. |
| D．He travelled around the world with only one companion. |
| A．She can understand him best. |
| B．She adds more pleasure to his trip. |
| C．She helps him store a great deal of food. |
| D．She lays eggs and listens to his small talks. |
| A．Monique does a better job than humans. |
| B．Soudee enjoys Monique’s company a lot. |
| C．Monique is perfect but sometimes annoys Soudee. |
| D．Soudee feels grateful for what Monique has done. |
| A．In Canada. | B．In Greenland. |
| C．In France. | D．In Alaska. |
【推荐2】According to a study published last week in the journal Science, scientists have found a way to change a plant’s genes (基因) in order to make it use sunlight more quickly. Someday, the results could increase the amount of food produced around the world.
By changing a plant’s genes, the scientists were able to increase leaf growth on plants by 14-20 percent. Specifically, scientists changed the plant’s protective (保护的) system. “Normally, this system is activated when a plant gets too much sunlight,” said scientist Krishna Niyogi, co-author of the study. “When the plant senses the light, it gets rid of extra energy and creates more leaves. When the plant is in the shade, the protective system is turned off. But the process is slow.”
Stephen Long is the lead author of the study. He compared a plant’s protective system to light-adjusting glasses. “When a person wears the glasses outside during the day, the lenses (镜片) darken and lighten depending on how sunny it is. Plants do the same thing,” he said. “But in plants the adjustment can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. This makes it hard for plants to get the right amount of sunlight needed to create food.”
The new study sped up the process. By changing the plant’s genes, it’s more quickly than normal to turn on and turn off the protective system. As a result, leaf growth on the plants scientists used in the study increased. Leaf growth on two plants increased by 20 percent, while leaf growth on a third plant increased by 14 percent. Scientists conducted the study on tobacco plants. But they thought the genetic modification would produce the same results in corn or rice.
1. What does the plant’s protective system need to keep activated?| A．Mild shade. | B．Leaf growth. |
| C．Genetic changes- | D．Enough sunlight. |
| A．Because it isn’t always sunny. |
| B．Because leaf growth increases too slowly. |
| C．Because the light-adjustment process is a bit long. |
| D．Because the protective system is turned on and off more quickly. |
| A．Development. | B．Decoration. |
| C．Change. | D．Copying. |
| A．Changing how a plant uses sunlight could mean more food in the future . |
| B．When the plant is in the shade, its protective system is turned off slowly. |
| C．Too much sunlight will damage plants’ protective system. |
| D．It is hard for plants to create food without enough sunlight. |
【推荐3】Raccoon dogs (貉), an animal native to Shanghai, have been spotted in nearly half of surveyed residential complexes in a suburban district of Shanghai, an investigation involving mass participation of city residents found.
Among the 50 surveyed residential complexes in Songjiang District, 22 have tracks of raccoon dog activity, with the number ranging between 1 and 50, and an average of 10.82 per residential community, compared to 6.02 per residential community ten years ago. The average population density (密度) of the animal is 1.08 per hectare (公顷). Seven residential complexes have recorded more than 10 raccoon dogs.
“We found that cat food and rubbish would significantly change the population density of the animal, leading to an abnormal increase,” said Wang Fang, a researcher at Fudan University’s School of Life Sciences. “Improper management of waste and cat food leads to one extra raccoon dog per hectare, doubling the normal figure. Meanwhile, the space of residential complexes and building layouts have no direct connection with the population density of the animal.”
Since 2019, a program was launched by the Shanghai Forestry Station, a conservation biology research team at Fudan University and the Shan Shui Conservation Center. It focuses on the research and protection of raccoon dogs, and the improvement of biological diversity. Various methods such as on-site visits, monitoring of infrared cameras (红外摄像机), the analysis of food habits, and GPS tracking are taken.
For the first time, a program involving the public, with participants nicknamed “citizen scientists,” started in June to study the movement of the animal and population, as well as people’s attitude toward them. Meanwhile, it drew more than 300 applications. In the future, the study will be expanded with more “citizen scientists” invited, the Shanghai Greenery and Public Sanitation Bureau said.
1. What do the statistics in paragraph 2 indicate?| A．More hectares of land are damaged by raccoon dogs. |
| B．Local people like raccoon dogs better than ever before. |
| C．The number of the raccoon dogs is increasing in the city. |
| D．The reproduction of raccoon dogs has reached a peak. |
| A．Severe climate changes. | B．Enough food sources for the animal. |
| C．The destruction of the habitat. | D．The protection of human beings’. |
| A．An introduction to the Shanghai Forestry Station. |
| B．A breakthrough made by Fudan University. |
| C．A program of protecting raccoon dogs. |
| D．An analysis of biological diversity. |
| A．Worrying. | B．Accessible. | C．Disappointing. | D．Bright. |
【推荐1】The Third China Electronic Information Expo was held at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center(会展中心)from 9 April to 11 April. It attracted more than 1,600 companies to display their products. There were more new inventions on show this year. Here are some of them.
A smartmirror can connect to the Internet. You can get the latest news about the fashion world when you touch the mirror gently with your finger. And it can help you make good choices about the types and styles of clothes that best suit you. You can also send messages on the mirror.
In the past, home robots could only do simple work like cleaning the floor or washing dishes. But a newly-made home robot can not only cook meals and serve food, but also play some musical instruments when you want to have some fun.
Smartwatches are made for kids. Kids can use them to make telephone calls and even play games. They really like smartwatches. Their parents like them as well because they can know their kids’ locations through the signals sent by the smartwatches. Besides, kids can use them as common watches to read the time.
One of the products made by DJ1 is a drone---a plane that can fly without a pilot. This kind of drone is used in many fields. Some drones have already been used at tourist attractions like Dongchong, Xichong, Yangmeikeng and Dapeng Geological Park in Nan’ao. The drones allow the police to monitor and control the traffic flow during rush hours.
Thanks to the development of science and technology, our life is full of miracles. New inventions make our life smarter and more convenient.
1. How many days did the Third China Electronic Information Expo last?| A．One day. | B．Two days. | C．Three days. | D．Four days. |
| A．A drone. | B．A smartwatch. | C．A robot. | D．A smartmirror. |
| A．Sports. | B．Science. | C．Culture. | D．Education. |
【推荐2】Video calls are a common occurrence, but have you imagined being able to touch the person on the other end of the line? Scientists are making this a reality.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales, Australia, have invented a soft skin stretch device (SSD), a haptic device that can recreate the sense of touch.
Vibration is the most common haptic technology today and has been built into many electronic devices.
The haptic devices could allow users to feel objects inside a virtual world or at a distance. This could be especially beneficial during such times like the COVID-19 pandemic when people rely on video calls to stay connected with loved ones.
| A．The new technology overcomes issues with existing haptic devices |
| B．Haptic technology mimics the experience of touch by stimulating localized areas of the skin |
| C．However, haptic feedback with vibration becomes less sensitive when used continuously |
| D．And their glove with 3D force sensors will measure these interactions |
| E．Or it could be used in medical practices |
| F．The haptic glove with the SSDs can receive sensors from your friends |
| G．When emergency happens, people can even keep contact with friends and family members |
【推荐3】Austrian painter Gustav Klimt created some of his best-known masterpieces during the first decade of the 20th century.
To study these paintings, art historians have long had to make do with black-and-white photographs. Thanks to machine learning, however, researchers have now restored (恢复) historical images of the Faculty Paintings to almost their original colors.
To create the images, Google Arts and Culture and the Belvedere Museum in Vienna developed a tool that selected information about Klimt’s use of color from different sources. The data set included newspaper descriptions of the Faculty Paintings and 80 full-color reproductions of Klimt paintings from the same period.
Google engineer Emil Wallner spent nearly six months coding the AI algorithm (编写人工智能算法) to create color predictions.
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Art lovers can explore these colorful recreations online. The restored paintings are paired with an online exhibition, “Klimt vs. Klimt: The Man of Contradictions”, which explores the painter’s life and works.
| A．It was stored with other precious artworks |
| B．But not all of Klimt’s paintings survive today |
| C．It also included 1 million pictures of the real world |
| D．That suggests that these three Klimt paintings were not saved |
| E．He says some parts of the final paintings surprised the researchers |
| F．With machine learning, we can predict that Klimt used certain colors |
| G．That offers viewers a sense of what Klimt’s works looked like before their destruction |
【推荐1】Legend has it that the performing arts began when a Greek singer named Thespis invented tragedy.In 534 B.C., Thespis was performing a hymn（赞美诗）to the god Dionysius.Such hymns,called dithyrambs,were usually sung by a lead singer and a chorus.Thespis added a speaking actor.Performances at the annual Dionysian festival soon included plays with three actors as well as the standard hymns.By 449 B.C.,the Greeks were giving prizes to the best actor and the best playwright at the festival.A modern word for actor—thespian recognizes the debt today's drama owes to Thespis.
Performing in a Greek play required physical strength.Because each play had only three actors,performers had to play several roles.Chorus members both sang and danced.Being in the chorus for the many performances given at a festival was said to be as demanding as competing in the Olympic Games.
The Theater of Dionysius in Athens could hold 20,000 people.Even those in the front rows were quite a distance from the actors.Performers used grand gestures and wore masks so that they could be seen by everyone in their huge audience.Tragic（悲剧的）actors wore long clothes and masks.Comic actors wore short costumes that let them move freely and masks designed to make them look ugly or silly.Sometimes the chorus were dressed up to look like animals.
Another legacy（遗产）of the ancient Greeks is the deus ex machina,or "god from the machine".If a playwright was having trouble with the plot,he might have a god appear through a trap door（天窗）.The god would rescue the main character and find a solution to any difficult plot situations.Modem writers might not call on gods,but they do sometimes use unlikely ways to end a story.A character or an event that brings a complicated plot to an unlikely conclusion is still called deus ex machina.
1. We can learn from Paragraph 1 that .| A．the word "thespian" means "debt" in English |
| B．the Dionysian festival was held once a year |
| C．there were four actors in early Greek drama |
| D．the first tragedy was performed in 449B.C |
| A．it was not easy to get a chance to perform in the chorus |
| B．the best actor and the best playwright would be given money |
| C．the playwright must play a role in the performance |
| D．the audience sat very close to actors to have a good view |
| A．the actors' distance from the audience |
| B．the play's beginning |
| C．the number of performers |
| D．the actors' clothes |
| A．a kind of tragedy popular with ancient audience |
| B．a type of character that modern writers often write about |
| C．a way ancient Greek dramatists used to develop the plot |
| D．a style of performance first used by ancient Greek actors |
【推荐2】One third of adults over 65 in America have never used the Internet, and half don’t even have Internet access at home. In San Francisco, “the center of technology”, 40% of older adults do not have basic digital literacy skills.
This situation is becoming appalling as over 10,000 Americans turn 65 every single day. By 2050, 22% of Americans will be 65 or older. Meanwhile, technology is developing very fast. This means that a large number of people will be unable to proficiently use emergent technology.
Many people believe that seniors aren’t required to participate in our technological future because they’ll be retired and relaxed soon. But this is the farthest thing from the truth. Baby boomers are currently experiencing a different boom: With more people getting older than ever before, their life expectancies (寿命) are also increasing dramatically. With medical advancements, the number of American people projected to live into their 90’s has doubled since 1965.
However, they don’t have strong financial or educational support. It is not a problem, it’s a crisis. More than half of employees over 50 have been laid off in what’s being called “forced retirement”. And few organizations are actively helping older employees make the transition from full-time jobs to part-time ones. For those fortunate enough to be employed, 3 out of 5 older workers experience prejudice.
The easiest solution is to teach digital literacy. If they want to survive the forthcoming retirement crisis, they should get enough digital knowledge and skills to operate today’s tools and tomorrow’s platforms. With every crisis comes an opportunity. Tutoring, customer service, editing, research, book-keeping, and other virtual assistance-based work open the doors. But again, digital knowledge is first required to live in our high-tech society and growing economy. So try to get more online and navigate the growing number of sites and apps.
1. What does the underlined word “appalling” probably mean in paragraph 2?| A．Confusing. | B．Terrible. | C．Controllable. | D．Inspiring. |
| A．A possible crisis after they retire. | B．A possible decline in aging. |
| C．Failing to receive good healthcare. | D．Tending to double their life span. |
| A．The features of high-tech jobs. | B．The way out for baby boomers. |
| C．Potential industries in the future. | D．The importance of developing technology. |
| A．Have a good sense of crisis. | B．Avoid retiring at an early age. |
| C．Look for many part-time jobs. | D．Improve digital literacy actively. |
【推荐3】Since his students began using Quizlet, English teacher Tristan Thorne has noticed an improvement in their ability to learn and use new words. Quizlet is a learning App, a computer program you use on your mobile phone. It can help users build and test their knowledge of English words. Quizlet has word sets for millions of subjects. And, it is quickly becoming a useful mobile tool for language learners.
Thorne teaches at Columbia University in New York City. Thanks to learning Apps, Jeff Strack, another English teacher, has also noticed improvement in his students’ ability to remember information. He teaches at Hostos Community College, also in New York. He and Thorne are part of a growing number of language educators adding mobile Apps to their classes.
Strack and Thorne seem to agree that the days when teachers would not permit the use of mobile phones are gone. When they use Apps, language learners communicate more differently than in a traditional classroom. Users act on or respond to something, instead of just listening to new information.
Thorne believes that Apps can help learners become more active in learning. For example, each week, his students are required to add vocabulary words into Quizlet for others to use. He says some Apps also make it easy for students to know their language strengths and weaknesses.
The biggest improvement Strack has seen in his students is that they are much more active in wholeclass or smallgroup discussions. “Apps let all students take part in the activity, whether it’s a game, quiz or practice activity, ” he says.
Many existing learning Apps are designed for students of all ages and levels. Some are designed for group activities. Some support independent learning. Still some are good for homework. Thorne says he especially likes Quizlet and three other Apps: QR Codes, Socrative and Evernote.
1. What do Strack and Thorne do to improve their teaching?| A．They design learning Apps for their students. |
| B．They allow their students to use mobile Apps to study. |
| C．They don’t allow their students to use Apps after class. |
| D．They order their students not to use mobile phones in class. |
| A．save much time and money | B．take an active part in learning |
| C．remember their weaknesses | D．improve personal designing skills |
| A．They are designed for different uses. | B．They are too few to choose from. |
| C．They are only designed for homework. | D．They have three types in total. |
| A．Great Changes in Science and Technology | B．The Use of Mobile Phones Will Be Gone |
| C．Ways to Choose from Different Mobile Apps | D．Better Language Learning with Mobile Apps |
【推荐1】How do kids behave when there are no adults around？Donette Mabes from New Jersey says，"You never really know because you're not watching them all the time. "
Donette had always just thought her son was a troublemaker-until recently，when 13-year-old Gavin Mabes and some middle school friends arrived at a skate park. The park was empty except for little Carter Brunell，who was there with his mother celebrating his fifth birthday.
Carter is on the autism spectrum（自闭症）. Big groups of older kids can make him nervous，so his mom，Kristen，was fully prepared to get him out of there. But she wasn't prepared for what happened next.
Gavin led the way and the others followed. The only surprise was that Gavin didn't start trouble. He started a friendship. "Gavin is just going around with Carter and making him feel special. And the rest of his friends then started singing Happy Birthday to him，"Kristen said，“That really blew me away，because I just saw the kindness in the world. And I wanted Carter to have a good birthday. ”
It was such a great birthday, and such a kind deed, even the local police department responded. They decided to hold a pizza party for them. But here's the best part: Since their first meeting, Gavin and his friends have continued to play with Carter.
As for the moms, this was the sweetest moment. Knowing your kid treats others kindly is better than seeing your kid treated kindly by others, even when you're not watching. "I was just so proud of him. He's good," Donette said.
1. Why did Carter go to the skate park?| A．To go skating with his friends. | B．To play with Gavin and other friends. |
| C．To attend a pizza party there. | D．To celebrate his birthday with his mom. |
| A．frightened me | B．surprised me |
| C．troubled me | D．upset me |
| A．Seeing their kids treated kindly. | B．Seeing their kids treating others kindly. |
| C．Seeing their kids playing happily. | D．Seeing their kids doing well in school. |
| A．An act of kindness made a boy's birthday special. |
| B．How kids behave without adults around. |
| C．Carter was polite and kind to others. |
| D．Mothers were proud of their sons. |
【推荐2】I'm sure you know the song "Happy Birthday". But do you know who wrote the song and for whom it was written？
The retired professor, Archibald A. Hill in Lucasville, USA could tell us the story. Ninety-seven years ago，two of Mr. Archibald Hill's aunts，Miss Patty Hill and Miss Mildred Hill were asked to write some songs for a book called "Song Storied for the Sunday Morning". Miss Patty Hill and Miss Mildred Hill were both kindergarten teachers then. They loved children very much and wrote many beautiful songs for the book. One of them was the famous "Good Morning to You." The song said，"Good morning to you，good morning to you，dear children，good morning to all." This song was very popular at that time among kindergarten children. But not many grown-ups knew it. A few years later little Archibald was born. As his aunt，Miss Patty Hill sang the song "Happy Birthday" to the melody（曲调）of "Good Morning to you" to her little nephew. She sang the song like this：Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Archie! Happy birthday to you!
Miss Patty Hill and her sister had never expected that this song would become so popular，but it really did. People all over the world like the song because of its simplicity in tune（曲调）and friendliness in words.
1. Archibald A. Hill was ______ .| A．English | B．American | C．Russian | D．Australian |
| A．son | B．student | C．brother | D．nephew |
| A．Because they are musicians. |
| B．Because they were asked to write for a book. |
| C．Because they love children. |
| D．Because their nephew asked them to do so. |
| A．The song really became popular |
| B．Their wish would really come true |
| C．People all over the world like to listen to the song |
| D．Yes，but the song didn't become popular. |
【推荐3】The global energy crisis is approaching. What can we do? Here are some steps you can take.
Cooling puts the greatest stress on your summer energy bill and the power grid. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Clean or replace filter monthly or as needed.
For central air conditioning systems and room air conditioners, look for the ENERGY STAR, the federal government’s symbol for energy efficiency. For central air, purchase the system with the highest possible Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. (SEER)
Use energy efficient ceiling fans either alone or with air conditioning. Ceiling fans do a great job of circulating air. When used with air conditioning, fans allow you to raise the thermostat and cut costs. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms, so before you leave, turn off the ceiling fan.
Let a programmable thermostat “remember for you” to automatically adjust the indoor climate with your daily and weekend patterns to reduce cooling bills by up to 10 percent. You can come home to a comfortable house without wasting energy and creating pollution all day while you are at work.
Try to make your home airtight enough to increase your comfort, make your home quieter and cleaner and reduce your cooling costs up to 20 percent.
Cut your air conditioning load, and reduce pollution by planting leafy trees around your home and fixing reflective bricks on your roof.
Close blinds or shades on south-and west-facing windows during the day, or fix shading equipment to avoid heat build-up.
Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers. And use fluorescent bulbs, which provide bright, warm light while using at least two-thirds less energy, producing 70 percent less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
Drive the car that gets better gas mileage whenever possible if you own more than one vehicle. If you drive 12,500 miles a year, switching 10 percent of your trips from a car that gets 20 miles per gallon to one that gets 30 mpg will save you more than £65 per year.
Carpool. The average U.S. commuter could save about £260 a year by sharing cars twice a week with two other people in a car that gets 20.1 mpg-assuming the three passengers share the cost of gas.
1. According to the passage, the thermostat is used to ________.| A．make rooms quieter | B．control room temperature |
| C．turn off the air conditioner | D．reduce room air pollution |
| A．planting leafy trees around your home |
| B．turning off the ceiling fan before you leave your house |
| C．keeping your south-facing windows open during the day |
| D．using fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs |
| A．using energy-efficient ceiling fans |
| B．sharing cars with others on workdays |
| C．turning off everything not in use |
| D．reducing 10% of your car trips every year |
